Her Eyes

Chapter 48: EARLY MORNINGS

Alex woke up with the light from the window shining in his eyes. He glanced over at the vacant side of the bed, sighing slightly. His life has changed a lot in the last three years they've known each other. Alex never really talked to anyone about anything other than work...yet here he was nearly sharing his life with someone. He's been more stressed than he's ever been; he's been the happiest he's ever been in a long, long time.

He gazed at her as she stepped into the room, fully dressed. "Oh, you're up." She smiled at him. "I was just about to wake you. I didn't want you to be late for work."

"I'm the sheriff—I can go into work whenever I want," he grumbled, yawning a bit. He stood up from the bed and made his way to her. She always seemed sad these days—like she'd lost a piece of herself. She was in recovery, and he was her aid. He gave her a sad morning smile. "You okay?"

She nodded softly. "I'll be all right."

He gazed at her, desperately trying to heal her with the soft touch of his hand at her shoulder. "You can talk to me...about anything."

Her eyes never left his. "I know." He didn't believe her.

His removed his hand and headed towards the door. "All right. Well I'm gonna head off to work." He could feel her eyes on him; it pained him.

"He thinks there's something going on between us." Her voice was rushed—almost like she didn't want him to hear her.

He turned around to face her. "Is there?"

She stared at him for a moment, allowing the silence to calm them both. "If there was would you be leaving?"

A pain formed inside him. "I don't know what you want from me." Her eyes dropped to the floor between them. She's probably heard this a thousand times. She knows she's difficult—it's what makes her special. In some way, it's what makes her desirable. She knows this. He watched her carefully. "What am I supposed to do?" She had nothing to say. She knew he was right. She couldn't look at him. "How many times have you walked out on me?"

She shook her head in disbelief. "You don't get to do this."

"I don't get to do what, Norma? I'm trying to have a little bit of honesty between us. That's how these things work. Normal people tell each other things. They don't just bottle everything and keep it all to themselves." He could feel his voice becoming hoarse from yelling. Alex was normally a very stoic person...but for some reason around her his emotions seemed to burst out of him. Because the truth was...he's been holding it all in too. They were a lot more alike than they thought they were.

She stared at him with hurt eyes. "When have you ever told me anything?"

He moved closer to her, bringing their faces inches apart. "If I had something to tell you...I'd tell you."

She opened her mouth to reply, but the sound of the doorbell cut her off. "I'll be right back." He watched as she left the room, leaving him alone yet again. He loved her so much that it hurt every time she kepts something from him. He knew that she was just as guarded as him. He just wished he could break down her wall the way she's managed to break down his. The love he felt for her was unlike anything he'd ever experienced. He needed her. She was his reason to live—to breathe. He could hear the faint sound of a familiar female voice. He didn't associate with many females...just Norma, Deputy Lynn, Regina. His eyes widened at the realization. He shuffled down the steps after her.

"Sheriff Romero," Agent Babbit greeted, confusion grazing her face.

He glared at her, reaching Norma's side. "What are you doing here?" It came out more angry than annoyed.

She gave him a wide grin. "I just thought I'd stop by and ask Mrs. Bates a few questions...maybe talk to her son. If that's okay with you, Sheriff."

He furrowed his brow. Of course it wasn't okay. "How did you—"

"You're a quite the hermit," she cut him off. "I asked a couple of the officers down at the station about you. They said that if I wanted to know anything to talk to Mrs. Bates at the Bates Motel. So here I am." She stared at him with that same smug look on her face. "What are you doing here? You didn't stop by to warn her I was coming, did you?"

He narrowed his eyes. "I have a life outside of work."

She laughed haughtily. "I'm sure you do." He didn't like what she was implying. He hated her more than anyone. Everyone else he hated...was dead. She glanced over at Norma, who had her eyes on Alex. "Now I came by to talk to Mrs. Bates. You can stay if you want...but that dead girl isn't going to solve her own murder, now is she?"

His gut twisted. He was humiliated. He didn't want to leave Norma alone with her, but he knew it would look even more suspicious if he stayed. He turned towards Norma and looked at her softly, secretly trying to prepare her for what she was about to experience. "I'll stop by later and we'll finish up what we started." She nodded, her eyes connecting with his. "Goodbye, Norma." He moved past Babbit and slowly traveled down the steps to his SUV. He'd kill her if she made things worse for Norma. It was his job to protect her. She was broken, and he was slowly gluing her pieces back together. And he be damned if Liz Babbit went in and screwed it up. He didn't need her around. He didn't need anyone... but Norma.