NOTE - Pretend that Norma and Alex's argument in 4x09 was just before Halloween, not Christmas. Suspend your disbelief!

Happy Halloween! I can't remember who exactly requested a Halloween fic, or indeed if ANYONE did (my memory is atrocious!) but it definitely contains elements that have been requested by Brooklyn and Reane (a LONG time ago) and probably other smutty little horn dogs that I'm forgetting. ALSO, there's a moment in this story massively inspired by DoomedSometimes' amazing story Hurricane. I suggest you all go and read it (right after you read this one!)

Hope you enjoy! ;)

You crossed over a line, and you are never crossing back.

I will never trust you again.

Her words rang in his ears for a long time after she stormed out, after he smashed the shit out of his desk and cut his hand picking up the broken photo frame which held their one and only wedding photo.

"I will never trust you again."

He wished she'd slapped him, like she had that day at his house. She'd screamed that she'd hated him and she'd slapped and punched him with all of her might, but somehow he knew that she didn't mean any of it. That's why he'd just let her, eventually pinning her hands when it seemed like she might actually be hurting herself more than him, letting her cry herself out, safe in the knowledge that she was lying to him and to herself.

It was different this time though. She was so blind when it came to Norman, he felt like she'd really meant the words she'd spat at him with such venom, her eyes dark and steely as she had swept past him, maybe sweeping out of his life for good. His hope faded with every second she stayed gone, long after the clicking of her heels had disappeared, long after he'd trashed his office, and stood there panting, bleeding onto the framed picture.

There was a tentative knock on the door and his heart soared as he jogged over to it, wrenching it open and sighing at the sight of Regina standing there.

"Hey." She said in her calmest, and most soothing voice, the one she used when speaking to victims of horrible crimes, and he glared at her. She glanced down at his hands, gasping a little at the sight of his wedding picture, smashed and smeared with a streak of his blood.

"You ok?"

"I'm fine." He said immediately. He glanced down at his hand again. "It's nothing."

That wasn't what she meant, and he knew it, but he didn't feel like explaining anything right now. She pushed into the office before he could stop her.

"God." She breathed out, as she surveyed the destruction, bending to pick up an errant pen from the floor like she had to start somewhere.

"Stop." He choked out, as she sank to her knees, sweeping up a handful of pens and pencils from the ground. "Regina. Stop. I've got it." He protested weakly and she cast a sad glance up at him, depositing the pens back into the pot.

He stood frozen on the spot as she ignored him, bending to pick up a handful of papers, important notes for their most recent case, and he sighed, his eyes drifting shut.

"Stop it. Get out." He spat out in annoyance, and he heard her sigh heavily, depositing the papers back in order on his desk.

"I'm not Janine. You don't get to talk to me like shit." She said simply, a small smile playing on her lips, as he glared at her.

"I don't talk to Janine like shit." He shot back grumpily, though he knew it wasn't true. Since becoming Sheriff, he'd been appointed his own personal assistant, a sweet, overenthusiastic blonde, who seemed to annoy him just by breathing near him. He couldn't help himself when he snapped at the girl, or sighed with annoyance while she stuttered and stumbled over his notes for the day. He was almost sure she had a crush on him but she was half his age and he quickly dismissed the idea as some kind of low-key mid life crisis, instead assuming it was nerves that made her so jittery in his presence.

"Yes you do. She's terrified of you." She chastised gently, as she gingerly picked at a few chunks of broken glass, dropping them into the bin, before reaching into his bottom drawer for his first aid kit.

"Here. I know you wont let me, but you should clean that up." She jerked her head at his cut. "Be a shame to die of an infection before that wife of yours comes around."

He gasped a little at the mention of his wife. Regina stared at him impassively for a moment, before slamming the green box onto his desk and turning away from him, clearly as uncomfortable as he was at any kind of serious talk.

"She will come around, ya know." She added quietly, glancing up at him imploringly, before she turned, flouncing out of the room suddenly.

"Thanks." He managed to mutter out, but he wasn't sure she'd heard him, as she slammed the door shut behind her, clicking away from him, and he was immediately sure he'd been underestimating Regina this whole time.

He stared at his hand for a long time, thinking he should clean it, his gaze darting to the first aid box, before he gave up on the notion, reaching instead for the bottle of bourbon behind him. He splashed a little onto his cut, wincing as the alcohol bit into the tiny gash across his palm, before leaning back to take a swig straight from the bottle, relishing the burn in his throat.

It was hours later, after he'd drank too much bourbon to drive safely, and he was beginning to think about sleeping on the couch in his office that his thoughts turned to her safety. How could he be so stupid, drinking too much and barely thinking of her? In truth, he had deliberately kept his thoughts from straying to her, but now, whiskey soaked and tired, he couldn't help his mind from drifting to his wife, suddenly wondering where she was, what she was doing and whether or not she was safe. How could he be so selfish, to have only focused on his own sorrow and not her well being, and, as he stumbled to his feet, he hated himself for a moment.

It was after midnight by the time he finally found his way to the motel parking lot, swinging in his truck at a dangerous speed, knowing he'd stupidly broken a lot of laws to drive his way to her tonight. He couldn't bring himself to regret it though, as he drunkenly peered up at her window, just needing to see her moving, see her alive before he pulled away and went to sleep.

Getting out of his car, he stared up at her window, the one his eyes had always been so drawn to when he had stayed in the motel, desperately wanting to catch a glimpse of her today. He felt like a creep - Peeping on his wife, but he just needed to see her moving, to know she was ok, and he would leave. He waited and waited, seeing that her lamp was on, but not seeing any movement in the shadows, feeling more and more uneasy as the night went on.

He wasn't sure how long he stared up at the house, willing her to get up, to move past the window, or turn her light out, or something, anything. But she didn't. And before he could stop himself, he was swinging out of his truck, lurching unsteadily up towards the house, pausing to stare unhappily at the already-wilting pumpkin sitting on her porch. They'd carved it together, after Norman had proclaimed he was "too old for that now" and locked himself in the basement all day, and Alex had noted the way Norma's face fell, her gaze flicking to the oversized pumpkin in her hands.

"I'll carve it with you." He had offered, stepping forwards, taking the heavy vegetable from her hands and settling it down in their table. "But I warn you. I'm more artistic than I look!" He had cracked his knuckles like they were about to create a masterpiece, and she had giggled, and he had pretended Norman wasn't listening to every tinkle of laughter from where he was glowering in the basement.

"Aw. Our baby!" She had blurted out when they were done, both cocking their heads at the incredibly ugly face they had created together, and his arm froze as he moved to wrap it around her shoulder. She felt him tense, and floundered for a second.

"Oh... Erm, no. I mean..." She bumbled, realising what she'd said, giggling nervously, as visions of babies with azure eyes framed with dark lashes flickered through both their minds. He had given her arm a little squeeze, smiling at her nervous babbling over the word "baby", like he was about to run a mile at the mere mention of the word, and kissed her gently.

"I would hope our babies would be less ugly." He joked quietly, jerking his head at the jack o lantern that was staring a lop-sided stare at them, and she laughed suddenly, and then the timer on the oven had gone off, signalling her pumpkin pie was ready, and she had watched her taking it out, wondering if they would finish the conversation they had started another day?

But now, it seemed like no, they wouldn't be finishing that conversation any time soon. That felt like a lifetime ago now, though it was only a couple of days, and he tore his gaze away from the hideous pumpkin they had created together, not wanting to dwell on it a second longer, using his key to quietly let himself in and start tiptoeing up the stairs.

Her door was partially open, the soft light from her bedside lamp spilling out into the hallway, as he made his way to her room as quietly as he could. Rounding the door, he gasped sadly as his eyes fell upon her lying on the bed, apparently in a fitful sleep, murmuring softly, a frown furrowing her brow. Her face was ruddy and pink, dark mascara tracks marring her cheeks and staining her pillow, but it was her hands that gave him hope. They were clutching hard at one of his shirts, his oldest, softest flannel, holding it against her chest, cuddling it against her body desperately. She nuzzled her nose against it, inhaling deeply, and then sniffling unhappily in her sleep and he smiled at her, pleased that she didn't seem ready to let him go just yet. Maybe there was hope after all?

He puffed out a relieved breath at the floor, strangely pleased to have found her so emotionally affected by their argument, clinging on to something of his, clearly not as done with him as she had pretended. He was turning to leave, when his eyes landed on her dresser, just inside the door, his heart sinking.

There it was. His mother's wedding ring. The ring she had passed down to him to one day give to the woman he loved. The ring he had given to Norma, now casually discarded on her dresser. He glared at it, blinking a few times, like he could will it back onto her finger. She knew what that ring meant to him - He had told her of it's importance mere days after their wedding, one quiet morning, as they lay entwined together, their breathing returning to normal, him telling her the whole sad story while she gasped softly, eventually leaning up to press a soft kiss against his lips, promising she'd "never take it off".

But she had. He stared at it for a moment longer, before shooting a wary look over at the bed, checking she was still asleep, his hand darting out to impulsively snatch the ring before he could stop himself. It was his, technically, if she didn't want it anymore. And that's what he told himself, whiskey and hurt clouding his judgement as he rushed down the stairs, not noticing the door to Norman's room creaking shut as Alex fled the scene of the crime.

He woke the next day on his couch, bleary eyed and fully dressed, half a tumbler of whiskey still taunting him from his coffee table. He sat up, groaning, rubbing the bridge of his nose, freezing as his eyes landed on the ring lying next to the glass, glinting innocuously in the early morning light that was hatefully filtering through the gap in his curtains.

"Oh god." He muttered to himself, running his hand through his hair, realising he really had stolen his mother's ring from his wife. He was hoping he'd dreamt it.

"Happy Halloween!" Janine's voice seemed especially shrill today as he dragged himself through the door to the station, blinking blearily at the horrifically bright fluorescent lights above him, glaring at the garlands of little paper ghosts and jack o lanterns that were adorning the tops of the doorways.

"Yeah." He muttered, stomping past her before stopping, taking a deep breath and walking backwards to her, to double check he had seen what he thought he'd seen.

"What is on your head?" He breathed out, through gritted teeth.

"Bunny ears!" She replied proudly, shaking her head a little, the fluffy white bunny ears flopping back and forth.

"Janine..." He started, his voice low and menacing, ignoring the bright little smile she was shooting him, noticing the way her blonde curls were framing her chipper little face. Had she always worn her hair like that? Was it always so light? So short? He glared immediately when he realised how similar it was to Norma's hair, wondering if she'd always looked like that, or if she'd cut her hair to look like his wife? He panicked at the thought, and reached forward before he could stop himself, ripping the headband off her head and tossing it to the ground, making her gasp in surprise.

"This is a police station, not the playboy mansion. Save it for your boyfriend." He grumbled, casting his eyes down as her face crumpled.

"I don't have a boyfriend." She whispered out and he just sighed heavily, stalking away from her, towards his office. He didn't have the energy or the patience for little Janine today, but he felt the tiniest twinge of guilt as he paused at his door, noticing her sadly bending to pick up the headband from the floor.

The rest of the day was a stressful blur, with him barking the word "Coffee" at Janine through the intercom, and then making her take it away when she'd brought him one with cream and sugar in it.

"Black, Janine. Black coffee. How long have you worked here? How many coffees have you made me? Jesus. I'll do it myself." He had grumbled, going and making his own coffee and sitting back down at his desk, turning the ring over and over in his hands, staring forlornly at it.

There was a knock at the door, and he jumped, slipping the ring back into his pocket and hurriedly picking up a pen, feeling like a kid who had been caught not doing his homework.

"What?" He yelled at the door, trying to rearrange his face into something that looked like he'd been hard at work. It swung open to reveal Regina standing there looking intensely unimpressed at him.

"What?" He repeated, a little more quietly this time, and she sighed, shaking her head at him.

"Just thought I should let you know that Janine is crying at her desk."

He blinked slowly at her, unsure of what to say.

"Because of you." She clarified, keeping her tone slow and patronising.

He rubbed his hand across his forehead, huffing out an exasperated sigh.

"What did I do?" He mumbled, like he had no idea.

"You know what." She crossed her arms across her chest, tapping her foot at him, and raising one eyebrow.

He softened a little at her stern expression, thinking over his harsh words to the girl before, regretting them a little now his hangover was wearing off and he was feeling a little more human.

"Ok, ok." He muttered, holding his hands up in defeat and pressing the button on the intercom.

"Janine? Can you come in here?" There was a long silence, where the static over the ancient line buzzed and crackled, and he could tell she was wiping her tears in surprise. He rarely called her in. In fact, he rarely called her to do anything more than make coffee, since he preferred to do things himself, and anything he couldn't manage was automatically passed to Regina's desk. The girl was mostly paid to drink coffee and check facebook all day, and, as long as she was out of his way and kept her puppy-dog-eyes to herself, he didn't really mind.

"Yeah. Sure." Her voice finally crackled through, sounding small and watery and seconds later, she appeared in the doorway, glancing warily from Regina to Alex.

"Am I getting fired?" She whispered, sniffling deeply, her bottom lip trembling.

"No!" Alex barked at her, immediately infuriated by her prescence. Regina shot him a look and his tone softened.

"I need your help with something. Regina usually does it, but she's swamped this year so..."

Regina nodded solemnly, as Janine gazed quizzically at them both.

"I need you to get me a costume for the Halloween carnival tomorrow night."

Janine gasped with delight, looking like she desperately wanted to clap her hands together with delight and he held up a hand, fixing her with a serious look.

"Nothing tacky. Or anything that involves make up. Or a mask. Just something simple. I usually wear something that could pass for regular clothes...?"

She nodded seriously, biting her lip as she listened to him.

"I'm trusting you with this. Don't fuck it up." She nodded at him again, and Regina gave her an encouraging smile.

"I wont. I promise." She said breathlessly, before sliding past Regina, back out into the hallway.

"Well that was stupid." Regina said finally, a small smile playing on her lips.

"What? You said I made her cry? I was trying to be nice." Alex had returned to pretending to intensely read his notes again, not noticing Regina biting her lip to stop herself from laughing.

"You haven't noticed what Janine's been reading on her lunch breaks, have you?" He didn't notice her pointed tone, or her wry smile, as he continued to stare intently at the papers in his hands, shuffling between them like he was the busiest man alive.

"Surprisingly no. I really couldn't care less what you all do on your breaks."

Regina let out a little chuckle, and then disappeared out of the doorway, just as he glanced up in confusion, ready to ask her what she meant.

Pretending to work eventually segued into actually working, and after spending the morning napping on his stapler, there was plenty to catch up on late into the evening. Everyone else had gone home, and he was staring forlornly at a statement when his whole desk vibrated at his phone lit up next to him.

Norma Bates calling.

It buzzed across the surface with every ring, and he just watched it, taking a deep breath. He should just leave it. She'd made it very clear how she'd felt. He didn't need another screaming match. Or maybe she was ringing about the ring? Maybe she knew he'd taken it? That was a conversation he wanted to avoid, his hand unconsciously slipping into his pocket, nervously toying with the ring there.

Or maybe she was hurt?

The second the thought crossed his mind, he made the decision, reaching for the phone and sliding to answer.

"Yeah?" He said gruffly, like he had been in the middle of something incredibly important.

"Alex?" She was whispering and straight away, he sat up a little straighter in his seat, his senses on alert.

"Norma?"

"Alex? I need you to come back." She whispered desperately and he froze, not wanting to breath, straining to hear her. She was using the same rushed, fearful tone she'd used the day she'd left him that terrifying voicemail. The last time she'd sounded this scared had been the day Norman had had to be taken away. The day it seemed like she was genuinely afraid he'd hurt her.

"I need you to come to the house." She murmured, sounding panicked and there was a sudden shouting in the background that he recognised as Norman's voice there.

"No-one honey! I was just calling you for dinner." Her voice suddenly rang out crisp and sharp and there was the muffled sound of footsteps.

"I thought I heard you talking to someone?" Norman's voice sounded strange and paranoid.

"I was, silly! You! I was just calling you for dinner!" Her tone was tense and tight and then the light went dead and Alex was standing up and grabbing his keys before he could even process anything.

He got into his car, his senses returning to him for a moment as he lifted the phone that was still tightly grasped in his hand, scrolling through the numbers as he began to drive.

"Lahey, this is Sheriff Romero. I got a possible 10-96 at the Bates Motel out on the highway. Driving out there now. ETA ten minutes. Request back up asap. Officers are advised to remain outside the property, and to call Doctor Edwards at Pineview facility. Let him know that Norman Bates may need to be readmitted tonight." He waited for only a second, for confirmation that Lahey had received his message before he took off.

He drove there at an illegal speed, running the sirens the whole way, only turning them off for the last half a mile along the darkened road to the motel, eventually even turning his headlights off as he quietly rolled his car into the parking lot.

He glanced up at the house, his stomach sinking at the sight of it, foreboding and dark up on the hill, as he stalked up to it, drawing his gun on instinct as he reached the top of the steps, hearing the muffled sound of yelling voices from inside. Reaching into his pocket, he breathed a sigh of relief that his key was still in his pocket, turning it in the lock as quietly as possible, swinging open the door silently and stalking into the house. The only light was coming from the open kitchen door, and he could see shadows pacing up and down from inside the room.

"Honey, you're sick. This isn't you." Norma's voice rang out, soft and soothing and gentle, and he closed his eyes for a moment, relieved to hear her alive and well.

There was a slamming sound, of a fist or a palm on her ugly kitchen table and he heard her gasp.

"Don't talk to me like I'm an idiot! You think I don't know what's been going on? What was your plan? To play the victim, like you always do?"

"Norman, I don't-"

"Stop, Mother! I saw him! I saw him coming out of your room last night!"

Alex stopped in his tracks, managing not to gasp at Norman's words. This was all his fault.

"Honey..." She started gently. "That didn't happen. Sometimes you see things that aren't-"

"I KNOW WHAT I SAW! Don't play me for a fool, Mother. Did you really think I would believe that break up story? You crying right here at this table, like your whole world had ended, like you couldn't even breathe without him?"

Alex froze again, frowning at Norman's words, picturing Norma doing just that. His heart hurt to think of her so upset, and he longed to hold her, to erase the hurt that had been done.

"It was a great act, Mother! And then sneaking him in while I slept?" His tone was dripping with contempt and disgust.

"It wasn't an act, Norman! I really don't know what you're talking about. He wasn't here. I swear!" Norma sounded tearful and Alex picked up his pace as quietly as he could, tiptoeing closer to the kitchen.

"I told you. It's over between me and him. He tried to take you away from me." Her tone was softer, more pleading now, and there was the sound of a chair scraping on the floor, followed by soft footsteps. "I told you. I could never trust him... Not now..."

Alex was almost at the door, his heart sinking at her words.

"Then why was he here?" Norman sounded small and lost, like a little kid.

"He wasn't, honey-"

"YOU'RE A LIAR!" Norman roared suddenly. "You're lying to me! He was here!" Alex took a deep breath, raising his weapon, preparing to round the corner, when Norman lowered his voice suddenly, and Alex had to still to hear him.

"Maybe Dylan was right? Maybe you are a whore-"

There was a sudden slapping sound and Alex had heard enough, turning the corner suddenly, just in time to see Norman turn his face back to Norma, one hand drifting up to cup his cheek, the other curling into a fist and pulling back a little, like he was preparing to strike. In a split second, Alex watched as the light went out in Norman's eyes, his whole face changing, the sweet boy he knew was in there dissolving into a cruel, vicious sneer and he stepped forward before things could escalate, before Norman could land the punch he suspected he was building to.

"Norman! Stop!" They both turned to look at him, their mouths dropping open in shock at the sight of him there. Norman had her cornered, standing in the exact same spot Alex had stood in the morning after him and Norma had spent the night together, when he had grabbed her and kissed her and let her know he didn't regret anything. The thought made his heart hurt now, and his gaze drifted down to where her hands were gripping the work surface either side of her, flattening herself back against it, pulling away from Norman's aggressive body language.

Alex held a hand out to Norma, keeping a wary eye on Norman the whole time. Norma glanced at the gun in Alex's hand, her fearful gaze flickering back to Norman for a second before she tentatively slid out from where he had her pinned, taking tiny steps as she slowly moved away from him, rushing the last couple of steps to grasp Alex's hand gratefully, letting him push her behind him a little.

"Norman? You're going to have to go back to Pineview, ok?" Alex spoke forcefully, watching as Norman cocked his head to the side, like he wasn't in there anymore, like he had no idea what was going on.

There was a sudden flurry of activity from the door, and Alex was secretly grateful his deputy had ignored his instructions to stay outside as all three of them flicked their gaze to their hallway.

"Oregon PD!" Lahey's voice boomed out, as he looked Alex up and down, noting the way he was holding the crying Norma behind his back, training his weapon on Norman, and Lahey nodded at him for a moment, before sweeping past him into the kitchen towards Norman.

"Hey, son. Just take it easy, ok?" Norman appeared to have shut down, his eyes glazed over, his body slackening as Lahey crossed over to him warily, taking out his cuffs and sliding them onto the passive boy's wrist behind his back. "Are we taking him in?" He directed the question quietly to Alex, who felt Norma's grip around his wrist tighten.

"No. No. Just... take him out to the car. He needs help. I'll be right out." Alex murmured, eventually turning to Norma, noticing she was crying now, watching as her eyes followed Norman as Lahey led him out of the house.

"Norma?" He said quietly, like he was speaking to a wounded animal. "Norma, I know this is hard but-"

"Take him back to Pineview." She said stoically, avoiding his gaze, still staring at the open doorway.

"Are you... Are you sure?"

"Yes." She said emotionlessly, crossing the kitchen to grab a pen from one of the drawers. She turned back to him, tears still silently streaming down her face, even though her gaze was steely. "What do you need me to sign?"

He reluctantly left her for a moment after she had signed the paperwork, and he had taken in out to Lahey.

"This is all off the books, ok? No reports on this." He had reminded the younger man, who nodded reassuringly before casting a glance at the catatonic boy in the backseat.

"Yes boss."

He had expected to come back in to the emotionless creature of only a minute ago, expecting to have to treat her for what he suspected was shock, so he was surprised when she launched herself at him the moment he stepped through the door.

"I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry." She whispered out against his neck, as his hands reluctantly came to wrap around her back.

"Are you hurt? Did he hurt you?" He muttered against the top of her head, relieved when she shook her head.

"I just... I'm sorry!" She sobbed out desperately as her hands fisted in the back of his shirt, clutching at him. "You were right! You were right and I just couldn't- I couldn't..." She trailed off as she dissolved into hysterics, and she cried loudly against his chest, her knees shaking under her, her shaky hands still clinging onto him.

"Shhhh..." He murmured against her hair, bending as her legs went weak from exhaustion, one hand sliding under her knees, the other wrapping tightly around her back, scooping her up against his chest.

He deposited her gently in her bed, pulling back to take in her distressed, uncertain face, before he tore his eyes away from her, reaching to pull each little chunky wedged heel off her foot, throwing them behind him and tugging the comforter over her legs. Her hand found his, just as he tried to pull away, knowing if he looked at her face again, he would be lost - He would never leave.

"Stay." She whispered gently, her grip on his hand tightening, tugging him back, pulling him back to her.

There was a moment of deliberation, where her face crumpled and she cast her eyes away from him, not bearing to look if he left her, and his mind was made up, toeing his shoes off and climbing up onto the bed.

Her body immediately relaxed a little as he lay himself down stiffly next to her, reaching for him, rolling her body against his. Her head tucked itself against his chest, her hand wrapping around his side, cuddling up against him. The tears began again, in earnest now, and he could only listen as she cried against him, her tears soaking through his shirt, her sobs shaking through his body.

"I'm sorry I didn't listen to you-" She started quietly, and he wrapped his arms around her naturally, giving her a little squeeze.

"Let's not talk about it now." He offered, and she nodded, sniffling against him.

He lay awake for most of the night, listening sadly as she cried herself to sleep against his chest, listening as she slept fitfully, murmuring unhappily into his shirt, kicking her long legs out a few times, before he eventually fell into a uneasy, unhappy sleep just as the sun came up.

When she woke up, she was alone, the sun pouring in through the slit in the curtains, reaching for him, finding his side of the bed cold. She sat up groggily, noticing she was still fully dressed, realising they had just gone to bed in their clothes, too exhausted by the day to get ready for bed.

She didn't bother changing, just quickly brushed her teeth and wiped the mascara residue from under her eyes, not wanting to look at herself for too long before she swept downstairs, pleased to find him sitting at her kitchen table, a cup of coffee in his hands. He barely glanced up when she entered the room.

"Good morning." She trilled, like everything was fine, as she swept into the room, smiling at him. He smiled tightly in return, jerking his head at the coffee maker.

"There's a fresh pot..." He muttered, as she poured herself a cup in a dainty little coffee cup, leaning against the counter to drink it.

"Thank you." She said suddenly, and he wasn't sure if she was talking about the coffee, or last night so he just nodded.

"It's ok." He murmured back, before he pushed his chair back suddenly, crossing over to the sink to place his coffee cup into it.

"I gotta go-" He mumbled, cut off as she suddenly swung her body towards his, leaning in to kiss him. It was only at the last second that he turned his head, offering her his cheek instead of his lips, and she pecked his cheek reluctantly, before lowering her gaze.

"I'll see you at the Halloween carnival, ok?" He whispered, frowning at how sad she looked.

"Oh. Aren't we going together?" She said hopefully, her eyes darting down to his chest and then back up to his face, looking childishly hopeful.

"I have to work late. I'll just meet you there?" He said noncommitally, noticing the way her face fell at his words, nodding gently at her.

"Ok." She sniffled, and he pretended not to notice.

"Bye." He whispered, avoiding her gaze, before grabbing his keys from the table and taking off.

She caught up to him by the door, suddenly catching up to him out of nowhere and spinning him around to face her, crushing her lips against his before he could pull away. She kissed him aggressively, her hands winding into his hair, her tongue brushing against his bottom lip and for a moment, he was glad to let her. But, as her teeth grazed his lip, he jerked his head back a little, pulling away from her to fix her with an inquiring stare.

She fell back suddenly, pulling him against her, gasping as she flopped back against the wall, her grip pulling him flush against her body. Her hands clutched at the back of his jacket, fisting in the leather there, holding him against her as she let out a soft little moan into his mouth. He allowed her to rub herself against him, her breasts pressing against his chest, feeling every hard breath, before he came to his senses, wrenching his lips away. She panted at him, opening her eyes to stare at him in confusion, immediately leaning forwards to try and capture his lips again.

"Stop, ok?" He murmured, and she pulled back, frowning at him. "Just... don't." He said wearily, puffing out a sigh.

"Alex-" She started, but he held up a hand to stop her, suddenly looking very exhausted. His hands reached for where her hands were wrapped around his neck, grasping her wrists lightly to unhook them from him.

"Nothing has changed, Norma. I crossed a line, remember?" He echoed back the harsh words she had spat at him in his office. "You don't trust me. It's..." He pushed himself away from her, tearing himself away from the heat from her body and from the sad, confused look that was crumpling her face.

"Nothing has changed."

She opened her mouth to speak, immediately not sure what she was going to say, before he span away from her suddenly, leaving her standing dumbfounded in her hallway. He didn't dare glance back, knowing he would change his mind if he saw her standing there, too stunned to speak or stop him, her mouth hanging open as she just watched him go.

Part 2 coming soon...;)

Fun fact! I didn't know that Alex's receptionist had a name in the show, so I called her Janine in all my fics. And since I have now learnt the error or my ways, I decided to address this and make Janine her own character. I just wasn't ready to let Janine go, ya know? :)