Author's note: This is my next story. It doesn't have much action in it, mainly drama and all that. I hope you like it.

Disclaimer: I own none of these characters.

Summary: After a heated argument, Alex does something that changes the lives of the Walkers' as they know it.

Time Apart

(Bribri14)

Week 1

Enough

Walker Ranch

Alex sat in the living room with her head in her hands waiting for her husband to return home. It was around twelve a.m. and she was getting worried. He hadn't called her in hours and her patience was getting low. She was agitated at everything. She was about to explode with words once Walker walked into the house. She was glad the kids weren't home to hear what she was about to say to her husband.

"Alex, what are you doing up?" Walker asked her walking to the sofa his wife sat on.

"Waiting up for you", Alex was obviously upset, "Walker we need to talk".

"Right now?" Walker asked walking to the kitchen and grabbing an orange.

"Yes, right now", Alex followed him.

"Okay, Alex, I'm all ears", he said sitting at the kitchen table not realizing how serious she was.

"Walker, I'm tired", Alex sat down across from him, "I'm so tired of this", Alex was straightforward and honest.

"Tired of what?" Walker asked completely oblivious to his wife's feelings.

"I'm tired of the late nights, Walker! I'm tired of going to bed alone at night and waking up alone in the mornings! I'm tired of crying my self to sleep! I'm tired of feeling like I'm alone!" Alex exclaimed, tears escaping her eyes, "I'm tired of feeling like I'm only the mother of your children instead of your wife! I'm just tired of being tired, Walker", she calmed down.

Walker knew what she said was completely and utterly true. He couldn't stand the thought of Alex being unhappy. He took in every word that escaped her mouth and he understood where she was coming from.

"Alex, you knew what you were getting into when you married a Texas Ranger", Walker said, the only words that circled around his brain.

"I'm so tired of that excuse, Walker", Alex whispered, the tears leaving her eyes, "Yes…Yes I did know what I was getting into, but I loved you too much to let that get in the way of my… our happiness. And I thought that I was more important to you then your job".

"You are, Alex, but…".

"But what?" Alex asked him wiping her eyes with her sleeve, "But you made a commitment to being a ranger just like you made a commitment to me, Walker!", she became enraged, "You made a commitment to me, doesn't that mean anything to you?" she asked her eyes full of tears and body trembling.

"Yes, it does, Alex. It means everything to me", Walker walked to where his wife was and sat next to her taking her hands in his, "It means the world to me, Alex. You mean the world to me, our family means the world to me".

"Then why don't I feel like I mean the world to you?" she asked slowly moving her hands from Walker's.

"I don't know".

"Walker… when I was a little girl my parents would always fight and argue. I remember crying myself to sleep because of it." Alex stood at the counter not looking at Walker, "When I got older, I promised myself that when I got married I would never put myself or my kids through that", Alex's voice became softer as she turned around to look at Walker, "Oh, Walker, don't you see? I'm breaking that to promise".

"We can fix this", Walker said unconvincingly.

"You don't seem enthused", Alex turned back to the counter to hide the tears that were streaming uncontrollably down her face.

"No, Alex, I am", Walker walked over to where she stood.

"I can't… Walker, answer this question honestly", Alex looked deeply into his eyes, "Are you still in love with me?" she asked not believing she asked that question.

"Of course I'm still in love with you", Walker grabbed her by the shoulders, "Don't ever doubt that, Alex".

"That's just it, Walker. I doubt it all the time", Alex declared, "It's just not the same anymore. It's not how it used to be", Alex looked deeper into his eyes, "How did this happen, Walker?"

"I don't know".

"I don't know if I can do this anymore", Alex walked out of the kitchen.

"What are you talking about?" Walker asked following her into the living room.

"I can't pretend any more. I can't pretend like I'm still happy".

"Are you leaving?" Walker whispered.

"I… I just need… I need some time", Alex grabbed her keys and purse and walked out of the house into the pouring rain.

"Alex", Walker called for her.

"I'm so sorry, Walker", Alex whispered getting into her car.

Walker stood on the porch watching his wife leave. He felt so cold and empty. His whole life just walked out the door. He couldn't believe what had just taken place. He didn't feel this coming. He didn't get any signs or feel anything changing until now. All he could do was walk back into his home… His home, it didn't even feel like a home without Alex.

Walker walked back into the house, a tear falling from his eye. His heart was broken to pieces, it shattered everywhere the moment Alex walked out. He walked into the living room and looked at the picture, his favorite picture of him and Alex. Just looking at it made his heart break even more, if that was possible. He picked the picture up from its place and looked at it. He stared at it for a while before he lay on the sofa, picture on his chest, and fell asleep.

Gordon Cahill's

Alex knocked on her father's door, her eyes puffy and cried out. She patiently waited for her father to open the door so that she could vent.

"Alex", Gordon said sleepily.

"Oh daddy", Alex hugged her father tightly.

"You're soaked, honey. Come in", Gordon took her arm and led her to the sofa, "What are you doing here?"

"I… I left Walker", Alex cried.

"You left Walker", Gordon couldn't believe his ears.

"Yea", Alex put her head in her hands, "I was so tired of it, daddy. I was tired…", Alex couldn't find the strength to talk anymore.

"It's okay, honey", Gordon understood as he hugged his daughter, "We need to get you out of these clothes", he stated helping his daughter up and leading her into his guest bedroom.

Alex's Room

She couldn't sleep. She couldn't do anything at the moment. Her mind was set on her husband. So many emotions took over her and thoughts as well. How was she going to break it to her kids? How was she going to deal with the constant pain? How was she going to fix her marriage?

Alex decided that if she couldn't sleep she would write. She took out her diary and started to write.

Dear Diary,

I left my husband today, hardest decision I've ever had to make in my life. I opened up to him, though. I told him I needed time. I didn't tell him for what, I know he knew. How did my marriage end up this way? Someone once told me that God never puts more on you then you can bear... This is too much… I can't handle this. I can't deal with the pressure and the hurt and the pain. I don't want to be without him, I don't want to not have Walker in my life. I want him to be here no matter what, at any cost. I want things to go back to the way they were. I can't take it. But for right now, my eyes are all cried out. I did what I thought was best for us, I hope he sees and understands that.

Alex