Whirlwind

A/N. So I'm not sure what I'm exactly doing here, I just know that with those previews, this season looks like it's going to be the best one yet. I think this will be a multi-chapter narrative (that will probably go AU because this show never goes in the direction I expect, in the best way possible), but it could just be a collection of one shots. We'll find out together :)

He hated the woman. Completely. Totally. He hated her just as much as he loved her.

This was a new feeling for him. He'd loved women in the past. Beautiful women he enjoyed getting to know better, who made him feel less lonely, who enriched his life but never consumed it like this. He'd never murdered for anyone before.

He murdered for this woman.

And what did she do for thanks? Asked for more. "I need you to beat someone up, get Norman out of a 48 hour hold in county." "I want to marry you for your insurance." At least for the second one she'd offered him something in return. "I'll sleep with you if you want."

He found the idea repulsive.

Not sleeping together, not sex with Norma Bates, he thought about that more often than he cared to admit. But just the way she said it. With zero interest in it, just something she was willing to do for her son. It wasn't personal. She didn't seem as though she cared about him. She didn't say that she would want to sleep with him.

Part of her was ruined for him. He knew she took a causal attitude toward sex. Hell, Deputy Shelby had given him a brief preview of what sex with Norma was like even though at the time he'd had no interest in it. Norma didn't seem to think sex had anything to do with feelings. Usually the only women he knew who held her attitude on sex were prostitutes. He didn't want that. He actually wanted to marry someone he loved, preferred to have sex with someone he cared about.

He wasn't used to being the romantic in any relationship.

He poured himself a drink. He knew he'd have to leave for work in an hour, but one drink wouldn't matter. He thought about his response. What he should have said was, "There's an insurance office down on Main Street. Guy who runs it, name is Paul, he won't screw you over." He now actually worried she would go out and marry someone else. A thought that twisted his gut though he refused to identify the feeling it was.

He finished his drink and reached to pour a second. He could handle two before work. Even if someone thought of him as a drunk, he was still a better sheriff than his old man had ever been.

He didn't want to think about his father. It would just cause him to get shitfaced rather than going into work. Bob Paris' words still echoed in his mind.

"You've turned into your father."

The whiskey burned a trail down his throat. Bob knew, possibly better than anyone, how much hurt those words would be on him. He remembered once as a child, playing with Bob since they were both too young to understand how different they were, as their fathers talked behind closed doors. Alex had fallen down and his shirt lifted, exposing harsh red welts on his back.

Bob had seemed innocently confused by them. "What happened to your back?"

"Nothing," Alex had scrambled up, covering himself quickly.

"Doesn't look like nothing." Bob's voice lowered as his eyes darted to where their fathers were talking. "Did he do that to you?"

"I said it was nothing."

"But…"

"Drop it, Bobby."

He had, but they both knew what those marks were. They both knew that his father was a mean bastard and his mother too lost in her own problems to do anything about it.

A time after that, Bob had asked his father if Alex could stay over. The request had been granted, much to the displeasure of Alex's father (who couldn't overrule anything a Paris said). Bob had told him that he thought it would be nice for Alex to get out of his house and away from his parents. He'd meant it as a good deed.

Alex remembered his father had delivered the worst beating of his life over the helplessness the situation had caused.

That was Bob Paris for you, even when he tried to help, it lead to horrible things.

Alex wanted another drink, but also wanted to get to work today. The DEA had set up shop but was planning on leaving today. He wanted to make sure it happened. They'd done enough to destroy the delicate balance in his town

He went to make a cup of coffee. One of the few luxuries he had was his coffee machine. French press, expresso drip, it had everything. But he found himself using still his cheap Mr. Coffee most mornings for convenience. But today, he would make himself a decent cup of coffee.

The action might make him forget.

Norma stopped to buy a newspaper. She figured if Norman was awake when she got back that would be the excuse she used. "Oh, I just wanted a paper, honey. See what the progress was on that damn bypass that's ruining our lives."

She wasn't sure what she'd say if he asked why she'd locked him in her room. Habit, maybe? Even though she'd never locked her room before. She would think of something.

Norma was surprised to see the headline "Bob Paris Still Missing." She wasn't sure what to think about that. Alex (or should she say Sheriff Romero) had made it clear that he would be going to jail, but no one could find him. She wasn't sure if she could feel relief about that as he might be somewhere hiding in the Caribbean spreading lies about her family. And he was a ghost would could turn up at any time and turn everything she'd worked so hard for turn into shit.

But a part of her wondered if Bob Paris had really gotten away, if maybe the only way he'd be turning up was as a body.

It made her think of Alex's words, "I'm not magical, Norma."

But he was. At least to her. Every time she had come to him with a problem, the problem was solved. Usually courtesy of Alex's gun and/or a cover-up story. Even with the flash drive, he'd turned into Sheriff Romero and screwed her over, but she had wondered since hearing about Bob Paris gone missing, which was again perfect for her.

It's why she had went to his place to ask him to marry her. His health insurance would help her with Norman. Norman, who was her entire world, who she would do anything for. She had been disappointed with his no.

The funny thing was when he suggested she marry someone else, she realized she'd never even considered that. Maybe it was because he was the only stable man in her life she hadn't given birth to, but Alex was the only person she had considered for a potential fake husband. That's what appealed to her about a fake marriage to Alex, he was stable. He would keep her and her family safe. He wouldn't surprise her in a way should wouldn't be able to handle, she got enough of that from Norman. She just wasn't sure he was trustworthy. She wasn't sure that the cop in him wouldn't come out if he knew who her youngest son really was. In fact, she was almost positive that it would be Sheriff Romero and not Alex who would deal with Norman Bates.

She didn't want that.

Norma had never really thought about the man she was marrying until now. Marriage had just been a solution to a problem. The groom was just whoever she could get. The first one she'd been a teenager, wanting so badly to get out of the hell that was her home life, she would have married the devil himself to get out. She instead ended up with a teenager who had been sweet but too young to handle much of anything, let alone being married to Norma Bates. It had ended after two years to the relief of them both.

Norma had managed to be single for about a year, but every time she looked at Dylan, she saw Caleb. She wanted to escape her past. She wanted a home she'd always dreamed about, one that didn't involve crazy, abusive people. When she found Sam Bates, she figured she could make her dream a reality with him.

It hadn't worked. He turned out to be just another version of her dad, but he'd given her another son. This one perfect, untainted by the sins of her past. She didn't care about her disappointing husband anymore, she would make her life happy with her boy. They would be the best mother and son ever.

That wasn't turning out as she had hoped either. But that was life, just one disappointment after another.

As she parked her car, she looked up at the quaint, Victorian house she had though would be a perfect new beginning for her family. And she realized that she didn't want to go in. She didn't want to be in there, alone with her son. Romero had said no and Dylan was in Portland with Emma. (She should probably send flowers or something to the girl, now that she thought about it.) It was just her and Norman, which is how she used to always want it.

But as she turned off the engine, she made no move to leave her car. She found herself terrified to go into that house. She dreaded what the next crisis would be with Norman. She was sacred of his blackouts, which she now knew she couldn't control. She remembered what Caleb and Dylan had told her. "He thinks he's you." "He's dangerous."

Not her sweet Norman. No, he was a good boy.

Yet she didn't want to leave her car. She wanted to drive back to Alex's and tell him everything. He would take the burden away, keep her safe, solve her problem.

She inhaled deeply. No. She didn't need Alex Romero. Didn't need anyone. She was a strong, independent woman who loved her son. She was a good mother and she wouldn't be afraid of her child. She would get him the help he needed, would get him into Pineview.

They wouldn't be taking him away from her. He would understand that.

She grabbed the newspaper from her passenger seat, opened her door and began her climb up the steps to her home with Norman Bates.

Sheriff Romero was happy to say good-bye to Liz Babbit. He didn't like her questioning his past and position. He didn't want her looking too deep. Coffee in hand, Deputy Lin popped out of nowhere, "Hey Sheriff."

Romero was worried. Lin was like an eager puppy dog. He said nothing, knowing she wouldn't stay quiet for long.

She didn't' disappoint, "There's a woman waiting for you in your office."

Don't let it be Norma. Deputy Lin really needed to learn not to let people in his office when he wasn't around. "Who?"

Lin looked down at a note, "Says her name is Rebecca Hamlin."

Jesus Christ. That was almost as bad as Norma Bates. He didn't need to see Becky right now. He didn't respond to Lin and walked into his office.

Becky's smile hit him right in the heart. She looked as good as he remembered. He didn't let it show, "What are you doing here Becky?"

"You know, Alex, most people start with hello. How have you been?"

Romero shut the door behind him. "You know me better than that."

Her smile grew. "I suppose so, but the pleasantries are important."

She sounded so much like the rich people in the town. The person she once was. He was sick of dealing with people like that. "What are you doing in my office, Becky?"

"You know, nobody calls me that anymore. I go by Rebecca now."

Romero itched for drink #3. "Fine. Rebecca, what do you want?"

She stood, walking around his desk, leaning back on it. He remembered when she used to do this. Usually right before she asked him to take her on the desk.

She must really want something.

"A lot has been happening in this town since I left. So many people in jail. Bob Paris missing."

Romero waited for her point. Rebecca moved now to sit on his desk. She crossed her legs, her skirt going up several inches. "What's going on with you, Alex?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean it's like you're in a free-for-all. You've changed. Why?"

"You've been gone for eight years, you have a different name. Of course I've changed; we all change."

Rebecca bit her lip. "You don't like the name Rebecca?"

"I was referring to your last name. How is your husband?"

"We're getting divorced."

"My condolences."

Rebecca got up. "Yeah, I never should have married him. I was just hurt." The look she gave him left no question as to who had hurt her. "But he was nice, even though the divorce was exhausting. The whole thing just made me homesick."

Romero knew this was the part where she tried to make him feel bad for her, started talking about good memories. He knew every play from her playbook. "I have a lot of work to do."

She got up. "Well, I'm in town for a couple of weeks, so I'm sure we'll see each other again." She moved to leave, but turned back around in his doorway. "Any suggestions on where to stay?"

"Family home not good enough for you anymore?"

"A hotel would come with less baggage, I think. Still just the King and the Seafarer."

"New ownership on the Seafarer. It called the Bates Motel now."

"Bates?"

"It's her name."

"Her?"

"Yes, the owner's a woman."

Rebecca nodded. "I may check it out. I never did like Keith."

The sheriff thought about telling her about Keith's death, but restrained himself. He didn't want more questions about it. He also thought about telling her to stay at the King, as he saw no good coming from Becky meeting Norma. He said nothing though. It would be better not to let her know anything.

She hesitated for a moment longer, as though waiting for a kiss. She ducked her head and then said, "Good-bye, Alex."

He said nothing back.

He did not want her here and was still wondering why she was here now.

Norma walked into her house. She thought about calling out for Norman, but wondered if he could still be sleeping. He'd sleep all day if she let him.

It would be better if he'd opened the hotel. She missed Emma. Not that there were many guests these days, only the summer months brought in any foot traffic. She placed the newspaper down in the entryway and began to walk toward the kitchen.

That's when she saw the woman on the couch. She nearly screamed at the sight of the body, but settled for a gasp.

She recognized her – Audrey DeCody. Why was this woman here? Norma didn't bother checking for a pulse.

Her first reaction was to call out for Norman. "Norman!" She took the steps two at a time. "Norman!" She moved to unlock the door, but it was already open. She could feel her breath coming in pants. "Norman!"

Where was he? Where was her son?