Chapter 1 – Kopus Aftermath

That did NOT just happen…

That did NOT seriously just happen.

Shaking her head as everything that had just happened ran through her head again. Her eyes widened as the beat up police car stopped in front of the house; Phillip Kopus told his mom to get everyone in the house and then watched as and Jack Kopus –his father- got out of the police car with the dead police officer shot in the head sitting slumped over the passenger side window.

Jack pointed a shot gun at his son and yelled about him being set up. Phillips deep voice asking him 'how does it feel old man?'. Jack fired off the shot gun in the air and Phillip stood there and stood his ground.

Tiana tried keeping Marie in the house, but she was scared to death her ex-husband was going to kill their son.

Junior had been the wildcard in the whole thing when he pulled out a gun and shot Jack in the side just as Jack cocked the shotgun and was getting ready to pull the trigger on his own son. Junior was in a sort of trance as a heard of cops showed up and yelled for him to put the gun down. It was clear he'd never hurt anyone let alone kill someone before. He dropped the gun and started to run off through the trees; Phillip tore after him to stop him, but the cops wrestled both to the ground and cuffed them.

Tiani stood behind Marie as she wrapped her arm around her shoulders as Marie cried and watched as Phillip and Junior were taken away in separate cars.

Phillip looked over at Tiani Blackwater and made sure their eyes locked before he swallowed hard. "Take care of my mom; you hear me? Take care of her for me."

Tiana could only nod her understanding his request. She stood with Marie as they watched the cop cars disperse, and the coroner came in and bagged the cops body and the police tow truck came and picked up the cop car.

"C'mon Marie, let's get you inside. I'll make you some tea. Tiva is coming by to check on you." Tiani stated as she helped Marie turn around and walk into the house. After she situated her on the couch she looked over at a very pregnant Paige. "How you doing little momma?" She asked as she squatted down in front of the girl.

Paige smiled as she rubbed her swollen nearly 8 month pregnant belly. "I'm okay. I'm a little shaken up, but okay none the less."

"I'll make you some tea too. Both of you just sit tight and try to relax." Tiani said before she stood and walked into the kitchen as she put some water on to boil. She stared out the window and honesty could say she wanted to choke Phillip Kopus for putting not only his cancer stricken mother through all this bullshit but her foster daughter Paige and foster son Junior through it as well.

Tiani had heard through the grapevine that since Phillip had been back in town Junior had been hanging out with him. She'd had her own suspicions when she'd heard about the local nursing homes pharmacy being robbed and then the pharmaceutical truck being hijacked and found burned up on a road outside of town.

She wasn't going to lie - Phillip Kopus was a very handsome man, but there was something about him; quiet and observing most of the time. He talked when something needed to be said; bullied people to get what he thought he needed out of life. If he really loved his mother he would either stop all his nonsense and be the son Marie needed or get the hell out. She had a few arguments with him, most of which ended with him calling her a bossy bitch. She'd glared at him and told him at least she wasn't a lazy good for nothing son who only caused his momma heartache and pain. He'd growled in her face before he walked away. She was pretty sure he'd called her a cunt under his breath. She would address THAT at a later time.

Tiani was pulled from her thoughts as the kettle began to whistle at her. She poured two cups of tea and put some milk and sugar in both and took them out to Marie and Paige. "Here ladies, sip it don't gulp it or you'll both have stomach aches."

Tiani looked out the front window and noticed everyone had gone home. "Clearly Paul's party is over." Paul had been the little boy that had been hit by the crazy white lady's car and pretty much left for dead. He'd survived barely. His parents had settled out of court and today had been his homecoming party; Phillip and his idiot father had managed to ruin that as well. "I'm going to clean up; you two take it easy and yell if you need me."

Marie grabbed Tiani's arm. "Thank you. You know you don't have to do that."

Tiani shook her head. "It's my pleasure Marie."

She walked out front and started folding up the lawn chairs and stacking them next to the house. The other ladies at the party had packed up the food and given the left over to Paul's family. She cleaned off and folded tables and watched as her sister pulled up in her blue Chevy Colorado pick up before throwing it into park.

"Please tell me you're okay Tia?" Tiva begged as she jumped out of the car and tackled her sister with a hug.

Tiani let out an 'oomph' as her little sisters body collided with hers as she returned the hug. "I'm fine Tiv. I'm just shaken up like everyone else. Marie and Paige are inside; you might want to check on the momma to be she was shaken pretty good." Tiani informed her sister.

Tiva nodded as she grabbed her back pack of supplies before heading into the house.

Why did anyone think today could just be a normal day was beyond Tiani. She had been Marie's caregiver since she'd found out about the cancer. She took care of Marie during the day and in the evening she worked at the local nursing home.

Tiani had spent her entire life in the Ramapo Mountains with her sister Tiva. Their parents had been killed by a group of teens who had been drinking and driving and drove onto the Ramapo Reservation. They were fairly young and after they'd been put in the New Jersey foster care system; they'd been abused by their foster parents for ten years, they both ran away and got back to the Ramapo rez – where they had been ever since. Their own people took them in and took care of them both. Tiva had gone to medical school and had become an Oncologist; trying to cure cancer patients one at a time. Tiva was a little more timid and quiet until she got to know someone.

Tiani was the opposite. She'd learned early in life that no one would help her but her so she had to protect her little sister and usually ended up taking the brunt of the abuse from their foster parents while in New Jersey. When they got back to the rez, Tiani decided she wanted to help those who couldn't help themselves and became a caregiver to the sick.

Her little sister had long since left and she promised she'd be home soon and they would cook dinner together. Her head snapped up as the Police officers pick up that took Phillip away pulled up. She couldn't imagine what the hell was going on. She watched as Phillip got out of the truck with the Officer Jensen. "What is going on?" She noticed he had blood on his face and a couple of cuts and generally fucked up.

Phillip rolled his eyes. "None of your business."

Tiani shook her head as she walked up and gripped his chin. "Walk into a wall with your face or did someone finally get tired of your shit and kick your ass."

Officer Jensen chuckled. "Wow does she know you or is she psychic?"

"Shut up." Phillip huffed out. "Where is my mother?"

Tiani scoffed. "In the house trying to calm down; please do not upset her more than she already has been."

"Don't tell me what to do or you can leave now." Phillip growled out.

"I don't work for you and I don't answer to you. I'll leave when I am damn good and ready." She turned and walked into the house.

Phillip growled lowly in the back of his throat. "I'm going to strangle her with my bare hands."

"I wouldn't suggest that because personally I think she could take you. She might be short but she looks feisty and she doesn't look like she would put up with your shit." Harold chuckled out.

"Again…Shut up." Phillip stated before he sighed heavily. He knew Tiani was right, but Harold had to explain why he was letting him go so his mother didn't freak out and think he'd escaped. "C'mon you're going to tell her not me."

Harold chuckled as he followed the big man into his childhood home.

Tiani stood in the kitchen leaning against the wall as she watched Officer Jensen lay down some bullshit about how they couldn't hold him because he hadn't been directly involved with the shooting. Of course they said nothing about his bloodied face.

"Tiana can you clean up this mess of a boy and find my son somewhere in there?" Marie asked hopeful.''

Tiani walked out of the kitchen as she grabbed her medical bag. "Sure thing Marie; c'mon Rocky Marciano let's get you cleaned up." She said as she turned and walked to Junior's room in the back of the house. She felt her knees get weak when Phillip walked in and pulled his long sleeve shirt off and sat on the toilet lid in his black beater.

"Go ahead and say it I'm sure you've got something you want to say." Phillip's deep voice filled the bathroom.

Tiani opened her bag and pulled a few things out. "Why would I have something to say? It's not like you haven't heard it all before…Right?" She dabbed some gauze around his eye to be careful and not get blood in it.

"Yea but I know what you're thinking. You always have something to say to me so do it already and get it over with." Phillip demanded.

"Why? It's not like you'll listen so what's the damn point?" She asked in a clipped tone.

This woman drove him fuckin nuts. She was a beautiful woman from her long black hair that stopped in the middle of her back to her smoky grey eyes to her long legs that he hated to admit he wouldn't mind having wrapped around his waist to her sneaker covered feet. Her voice was soft when she wasn't mad and stern when she was pissed off; which he seemed to have a knack for doing. Harold was right she probably could kick his ass if given half a chance.

"Because you like to bust my balls all the time what's so different now?" He asked truthfully he winced when she brushed the gauze against a cut under his eye. "Damn it…" He cussed as his head jerked back away from her touch.

"I'd say sorry but I'm really not so I won't lie." Tiani stated as she continued to clean up his face. "So are you gonna say who kicked your ass?" She asked.

Phillip did like that about her; she was always straight forward with him and didn't take any of his shit. "Harold kicked my ass for me. I taunted him about something I probably shouldn't have and while I was cuffed he kicked the shit out of me."

"Whatever you were taunting him about I'm sure you deserved it." Tiani stated honestly. She knew Phillip could be a fuckin shithead when he wanted to be and he had no shortage of smart ass come backs and comments at his disposal.

"Yea…I did." Phillip admitted.

Tiani looked up from her back as she pulled out some bactine and cotton balls. "Did you really just admit you deserved this?" She watched as he nodded. "What has gotten into you?" She asked as she popped the top on the bactine and doused a couple of cotton balls. "This is going to sting."

Phillip nodded as he waited for it before he growled. "Shit!" He watched her; she was actually being gentler than he figured she'd be. He was a dick to her half the time and was surprised she hadn't punched him in the face before now. God she smelled good; like the lilacs that grew in his mother's back yard.

"So why do you like to bust my balls?" Phillip couldn't help asking.

"Why? Because I know you're smarter than the stupid shit you pull. Because somewhere deep inside of you I know you're a good son to Marie. I would like to think eventually you'll get your shit together and BE the son Marie deserves to have. I mean you do understand how sick your mom is right?" Tiani asked as she put her stuff away. She was pleased with the blood free face he could present to his mom now.

Phillip stood up. "Don't you think I know how sick she is?" He pointed to himself as he suddenly could feel his temper starting to elevate. "Who are you to question me?"

Tiani shook her head. "I don't think you know shit when it comes to your mom's cancer. I think you think as long as it isn't your problem then you really don't have to deal with it. Hell Junior took out your dad; cancer can take out your mom then you can do whatever you want and you don't have to worry about anyone but you."

Phillip growled as he narrowed his eyes at his mother's caregiver. "Why are you being such a bitch? Ever since I've known you; you don't date you don't do anything fun, you are constantly working or your constantly at home. Why do you feel the need to keep tabs on me when your life isn't all that thrilling either?"

"You know something Phillip. At least you still have your mother. My parents were killed when I was 6 and my sister was 5. We were thrown into a foster system in Jersey and abused for the next ten years until we finally ran away one night. We had the worst life and yet we are both still fully functioning adults in the real world. You have a mother who has loved you your whole life and you are nothing but a source of pain and heartache for her. You'd make a hell of an adult someday if you would just learn to grow the fuck up."

Tiani continued to throw her stuff back in her bag before she stopped and looked up at Phillip's 6'4" frame. "I don't date because the last guy I gave a damn about hurt me; which just makes me hate ever person on the planet with a dick. You get abused enough in life and you don't want to put out the effort to give a shit about your own life. The only thing I'll tell you is get your shit together and get a real job; stop doing stupid shit and be here for your mother. Her chemotherapy is ONLY going to get worst and she's going to have days where she will desperately need you and it doesn't matter who lives under her roof. She needs YOU. You are her flesh and blood son only you can save your mother from letting the cancer consume her. She needs a reason to live; fucking give her one and stop being a childish asshole for once in your life."

Phillip watched as she grabbed her bag and walked out to the living room where she said her good byes before he heard her car fire up and she left. He sighed heavily as he walked into the living room.

"Phillip is everything alright? Tiani left in a hurry." Marie asked softly from her spot on the couch.

Phillip shook his head as he walked over and sat next to his mom. "I think I struck a nerve with her." He watched as his mom started to say something. "Don't worry; I'll make it right. I don't know how but I will." He promised her.

He really did have the knack for pissing her off.