Saving Us

Chapter 8

Alex Romero sat shaking in his police SUV. He was parked in his driveway remembering his and Norma's argument. He felt like a total screw up. He had tried to do something for Norma's sake and ended up realizing that he was just as selfish as his father. His father who had drove his mother to suicide.

Alex had pledged his whole life to be a better man and yet here he was. Alone. That was the reason he killed Bob in the first place because he was so sick of being alone. He thought maybe if he removed Norma's problem she would see him as her hero and he wouldn't be so lonely anymore.

'Stupid.' He thought miserably smacking the steering wheel.

Now he had to face that Norma was afraid of him. She'd never see him as her hero only as a pathetic murderer. She already had one murderer to deal with.

On that topic, he still had to figure out what to do about Bradley Martin. He was very confused about the whole situation. He thought she had killed herself. Clearly she didn't so why did she fake her suicide? Or did someone fake it for her and keep her hidden?

He shivered at the thought of Norman holding her hostage somewhere this whole time. He needed answers and sadly there was only one place that he could get them. He turned his engine on and drove back out to the Bates Motel.

When he arrived at the motel he pulled in determined to ignore Norma. He was there as a cop to question her sons about Bradley. He couldn't let himself get distracted by her.

He parked outside the office and prayed Norma had gone to bed. He got out to be greeted by Emma leaving the office. Her lipstick slightly smeared.

She smiled. "Hey sheriff Romero! Norma's-"

"Not looking for Norma." It was better he didn't know where she was. "Do you know where I can find Dylan and Norman?"

"Dylan's in the office." Explains the smeared lipstick. "I think Norman's upstairs. Everything okay?"

"Yeah I just need to talk to them."

"I meant with Norma." She said awkwardly.

"Uh yeah. We're just uh at an impasse." He said uncomfortably.

Emma nodded and started walking around him she stopped right beside him and whispered. "I'm really rooting for you guys."

He straightened up shocked. "Uh um thanks."

She patted his back and went to her car. He looked back at her and shook his head. Was it really that obvious?

He walked into the motel office to see Dylan wiping lipstick off his mouth in the mirror.

"You better not let your mother catch you two doing that in here." Alex said from behind him.

Dylan jumped and turned around. "Seriously man, don't sneak up on people like that!"

He was just like his mother so Alex decided to re-use a line from an encounter with Norma. "Didn't realize walking into a motel office constituted as sneaking up on someone."

Dylan rolled his eyes. "Norma's-"

Could everyone stop assuming that was why he was there? "Not here for Norma."

Dylan raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What are you here for then?"

Alex took a step forward. "What happened the night I found Norman?"

"Norman and Norma had a fight and he said he was leaving with Bradley Martin." Dylan shrugged.

Alex played dumb. "The one who committed suicide last summer?"

"No, well yes, but she didn't really."

"Really? How do you know that?" Alex questioned. He missed interrogating.

"Norman and I uh helped her fake her suicide and get out of town." Dylan said awkwardly.

"How come?"

"She killed Gil Turner for killing her father." Dylan confessed.

Alex smiled this was it. Their escape hatch. Killing Gil would have made her a serious target.

"What is it?" Dylan asked.

"Bradley Martin is dead. Found her in the trunk of the car from the harbor." Alex said simply.

Dylan stared at him. "You're going to protect Norman."

Before he could respond the door opened. He turned to see Norma soaking wet. She barely noticed him as she stomped by to get a towel. He glanced out the window it wasn't raining.

He couldn't help asking. "Why are you wet?"

She glared at him through the wet hair on her face. "A pipe broke in room 4."

"Want me to take a look?" Alex asked sincerely.

"Have at it sheriff plumber guy."

He left the office with Norma huffing and puffing behind him. He opened the door to room 4.

"Woah did you have some rock stars staying here or something?"

Norma narrowed her eyes and he walked through the water into the bathroom. The porcelain sink was on the floor. The pipe uncontrollably sprayed water everywhere. He looked at it in shock.

"Oh so is this out of your area of expertise? Looks pretty bad." Norma said in a cocky tone.

Alex sloshed through the water to the pipe. He leaned down and turned the lever at the base of the pipe. The water stopped. Alex turned and raised an eyebrow at her.

"That wasn't there before." She said weakly.

A smile tugged at the corner of his lips. He looked down trying not to laugh.

Norma threw her arms up and motioned to her soaking wet body. "Do you think this is funny?"

He bit his lip attempting to conceal his smile. "No no of course not."

"Really how funny is it now?" Moving towards him with arms open.

"You wouldn't dare." He said taking a step back. She continued moving towards him. "Come on please."

The back of his foot hit the tub and she quickly wrapped her arms around him tightly. "Gah! You're cold and wet! This isn't fair I already did this once this week!"

She laughed and rubbed her face in his chest. He regretted leaving his jacket in the vehicle but at the same time was happy to have Norma's arms around him. He hugged her back.

"I'm sorry about our fight earlier." Norma said quietly. "You're not bad Alex, you did it for me. You shouldn't have but I'm happy that you care so much."

Alex rested his head on her shoulder. "I'm sorry too."

"And I'm sorry that I can't help being crazy sometimes." She said sadly.

"You're not crazy."

She looked up at him and laughed. "You might want to try saying that again later when you didn't just call me a crazy bitch."

"Okay you're a little crazy but I wouldn't have you any other way." He pulled away from her. "Let's get this cleaned up."

"You'll help? Alex you don't have to."

"I know." He said with a smile.

"Okay. I'm going to get changed and... Grab some alcohol. We're in for a long night." She hurried off.

Alex smiled at her back. He was so incredibly in love with her.