A/N: This story, like most of my others, lean more towards the A/U. I will still have a lot of the same storylines but they will be spaced out more so than the pace of the show.

"Watching me sleep is creepy, even by your standards." Alex said when she woke from her nap to see Tig was in the room.

"You got the best TV in the whole clubhouse. Besides, I didn't want to wake you. You looked peaceful." Tig placed the remote control on the dresser. "How are you feeling princess?" Alex thought back to Happy's way of helping her and couldn't help but smile.

"Better. What's up?" Alex knew that Tig being in her room was bigger than just wanting to watch television.

"Get dressed and come downstairs. Clay wants to talk to you." Tig kissed Alex on the forehead and she pushed the covers back. She grabbed a simple pair of sweatpants and tank top before going in the bathroom to wash her face and brush her teeth.

Walking downstairs she was greeted with half of the club sitting there waiting for her. She smiled at everyone before taking a seat next to Bobby.

"We got a lead on Caruso. He has a home in Rio and we believe that's where he is hiding out." Alex sat there not a bit surprised. She knew Caruso would run and she knew that he would be keeping a close eye on what happens in Charming.

"So what happens now?" Alex asked Clay.

"Well if it was up to Tig, we would keep you locked in the clubhouse forever." Alex immediately opened her mouth to begin to argue but Clay put his hand up to stop her in her tracks. "But we know that we can't do that so we came up with some stipulations. We want you to stay at the clubhouse for the foreseeable future, you are not to go ANYWHERE without someone with you and no more running off trying to solve shit on your own." Alex sighed as she leaned her head back. She really didn't want to agree with them but she knew deep down that it was because they all cared about her.

"Fine."

A few days later and Alex had thrown herself completely into her work. Most of the guys didn't mind being on babysitting duty considering that Alex was spending most of her time at Cara Cara. She hadn't seen Happy since he had left her room a few days prior and she was trying not to think too much about what that meant. She was walking into her office while looking over an invoice when Gemma's voice made her stop.

"Hey baby."

"Hey. What are you doing here?"

"Just wanted to stop in and see how you were doing." Alex sighed as she threw a file on her desk before taking a seat.

"It's exhausting and apparently all this time here has made some of the guys think they are porn experts." Alex held up a Burger King napkin to show Gemma. "This is a list of possible movie names that Juice came up with. Pussy n Boots and The Humping Games are the least offensive." Gemma snorted back a laugh.

"So what's your plan?" Alex rubbed her forehead as she tried to get her bearings together.

"I have a few ideas for some films lined up; I'm just waiting for the sets to be finished. As much as I hate to admit it, Ima is our most profitable girl. I wanted to bring Lyla into the forefront but she's been having some struggle."

"Why?"

"I think she's really falling for Opie and it's conflicting with her job. I have her set up to do a couple of fetish films for the next couple weeks. Figure by that time, maybe she will have a better handling on what's going on." Alex grabbed a notepad and started to run down her list. "I have Juice working on revamping the website as well as working on a sister site. Bobby's helping me with the books; the prospects are helping me with set design. Oh and I want to throw a party next week to help boost morale and the reopening of Cara Cara being fully back in business."

"Well I can help with the party. Get some of the other girls to start pulling their weight." Alex nodded as her phone rang.

"Hello? Yes this is she. Really? All of them? Okay. Thank you very much." Alex hung up the phone and pushed her chair back.

"Everything alright?" Alex smiled.

"Perfect. That was the doctor. All of the girl's test results came back clean. Looks like Cara Cara is finally reopened for business." Alex walked out of the office and started to gather the girls to give them the news. Gemma stood up and crossed her arms as she watched Alex's movements with hawk like eyes.

"Gemma? What are we staring at?" Bobby asked a few minutes later when he came to stand beside her. Gemma saw all the signs, she knew them well. Alex had yet to talk about what happened to her and now she seemed to be driving herself crazy trying to keep busy. She knew it was only a matter of time before the shit hit the fan. "Gemma? What are you watching?" Bobby asked again.

"Alex's self-destruction."

Another long day, another late night and Alex was in the office going over the expense account. She looked up when she heard one of the main doors open and was shocked to see Tara walk in. It was nearly midnight and Alex couldn't imagine that Tara being here was for a friendly visit.

"Hey." Alex set her pen down and raised an eyebrow.

"Dr. Tara Knowles in a porn studio? I never thought I would see the day." Alex's tone held no malice, just a friendly banter.

"I tried calling you but I didn't get an answer." Alex looked around the cluttered desk and shrugged.

"I don't even want to try and find my phone in the midst of all this shit. What's up?"

"Your last round of test results came back. They were all negative." Alex nodded her head as she stood up to open a file cabinet.

"That's good." She grabbed the file she needed on of the new girls and turned back to Tara. "Was there something else you needed?" She watched as Tara reached in her purse and put a pamphlet on the desk.

"It's a support group." Alex gritted her teeth.

"Stop talking."

"Alex, you need to deal with what happened." Alex glared at the doctor.

"You don't know dick about what I need. Tara, I am thankful that you saved my life but this shit right here? It's none of your business." Alex picked up the pamphlet and threw it in the trash.

"The people that love you are worried about you."

"And they decided you would be the best person to come and talk to me?" Tara shook her head.

"No. No one knows I'm here. I just…I just want to help." Alex shook her head.

"You can help me by backing off." Alex walked around Tara and opened her office door. "I'll see you later doc."

"Gemma was raped." Tara blurted out before she could take it back. Alex slammed the door closed and leaned against it.

"What did you say?"

"A couple of months ago, Gemma was gang raped by three different men. Nobody knows but me and Unser. She's trying to deal with things just like you are, by avoiding it as if it never happened. It doesn't work that way Alex. Every day that Gemma doesn't deal with what happened to her is another day that she gets closer to being on the brink of insanity. The same thing could be said about you. The difference is everyone knows what happened to you, everyone wants to be there to help you and you are shutting the world out." Alex ran a hand over her face as she tried to process everything that Tara had just said. She looked at the woman in disbelief.

"I can't….I can't deal with this right now." Alex yanked the door open and practically ran out of the studio. Tara leaned against the desk and shut her eyes.

"Shit."