Season 5: Alex went to jail and Norma never died. That's all you need to know. ;)

"Alex Romero, you have a visitor," the correctional officer taps blatantly against the hard metals of Alex's cell.

Alex's been here for less than three days, and he had a feeling of who his visitor was.

His wife.

As soon as Officer Gutbrod opened his cell and had him follow him to the visitor's room, Alex felt anxious to see her. She's been everything he thinks about ever since he got here.

There were more than five tables inside that tiny room, but a particular one had a blonde waiting for him. Then Norma hears the loud door snap shut, locking eyes with her husband.

"No touching," Officer Gutbrod commands, unabatingly waiting for Alex to sit down.

"How are you?" Norma lets out a broken whisper, evident tears in her eyes.

"I'm better now that you're here," Alex sighs, leaning forward a bit. "How are you? How are you feeling?"

"How can you ask me that?" Norma breathes. "How can you ask me how I'm doing when... when you're here."

Alex takes a deep breath. "I know, baby. I know it's hard for you. It is for me too. But I'm going to get out of here soon, okay? The DEA has nothing on me."

"If the DEA had nothing on you, you wouldn't be here, don't you think?" she whispers. "Who do I need to talk to? Tell me. Who do I need to go to to have you released from this hell hole?"

"You're not going to do anything," Alex instructs her.

"Why not? I'm your wife. I'm here to help you. To support you," she reasons quite hurt. "I don't care what I have to do, but I need to get you out of here. They're going to kill you."

"No one is going to kill me, honey," Alex guarantees.

"How do you know? You don't know that. You're the Sheriff. Half of these prisoners are here because of you. I can't let that happen. I won't."

Norma's tears escape freely down her cheek. "Do you have any idea how hard it is for me to see you here? To know what all of these assholes are capable of?"

"Baby, you have to trust me, okay?" Alex requests, dying to reach for her hands. Eager to touch and feel her light skin upon his. "Everything's going to be okay."

Norma scoffed. "Don't you want to come home? Why do I feel like you don't want me to do anything to get you out of here?"

"Because I don't," he responds softly, bringing his voice down to an almost whisper. "Because I don't want you to risk your life for me. I don't want to expose you. You're my wife. If they want to hurt me, they'll go to you. I can't let that happen, Norma. I can't and I won't."

"I don't care," she sobs quietly. "I don't care what I have to do. I need to get you out of here."

Alex closes his eyes in order to try and block the image of the sorrow and desperation on her face. He rests his forehead on his closed fist, trying as best as he could to not let her feel how worried he really was.

"Why are you doing this?" she whispers, her voice breaking as she tries to find a good reason as to why he doesn't want her help.

Alex looks at her and then locks eyes with her. Her eyes were red and puffy, he knows how hard this is for her. But he has to protect her at all costs. "I don't want you involved in anything. I got myself into this mess and I'm going to get out of it on my own, okay? I'd go crazy if something happens to you because I wasn't careful or because I'm not thinking straight when it comes down to all the possibilities of me getting out of here. I'm not risking your life. I'd never forgive myself for that."

"But I'm the one that wants to do it," she whimpers. "I'm not asking for permission."

Alex looks despairing at this point. "There's no one you can go to, anyway."

"Yes, they are. We-I just have to find them."

Alex lets out a long sigh. "Norma..."

"I want you home," the blue of her eyes breaks every single barrier inside him. "That's where you need to be. Not here, surrounded by murderers and only God knows what."

"Baby..." Alex murmurs. "I'm the Sheriff. You said it yourself. People here respect me."

"No, they don't," she wasn't buying it. "Not anymore. They don't see you as a threat anymore."

"Norma..."

"Please," she begs as tears start rolling down her wet cheeks. "I can't do this. I can't take it, baby. I hate seeing you here, knowing that you're in danger. It kills me."

"I know it does, honey. Because I feel the same way. But we're going to get through this, okay? I promise."

Norma shakes her head in denial. "No, no. Don't make promises you can't keep."

"When have I ever broken a promise? I'm going to take care of it."

Norma nods her head and breaks eye contact with him. She relaxes her head on her opened palm, facing the other tables as she wept softly in front of him. Her eyes shut in dismay and all Alex wants to do is hold her; tell her that everything will be okay.

"Baby, look at me," Alex whispers.

Norma refuses and keeps her eyes shut.

"Please," his voice low and hurt. "I need you to be strong for me. That's the only thing that's going to help me get through this."

Norma opens her eyes and gazes back at him. "Don't ask me that. Because I'm not strong. I can't pretend that you're not here and move on with my life... I can't do it."

"I just-I need you to be open to all possibilities. If I don't ever get out of here-"

"No. No, stop. Don't even finish your sentence."

"Please," he implores with a broken heart.

"Do you love me?" she asks abruptly.

"Of course I do."

"Then you'd let me do this. If you love me like you say you do, you'd let me do this for you."

"Don't. Don't play that card. Don't do that," he states. "Because I love you is why I'm trying to keep you safe."

"By doing what?"

Alex takes a deep breath and breaks eye contact with his wife.

"Look at me!" she commands.

"Norma, I've been the Sheriff for more than two decades. I've seen and done stuff that people in this town consider illegal. I've killed. I've been shot at. I sent a lot of drug dealers to prison. I ended the drug trade. I've been through hell in this crummy town and not once did I think twice about doing any of that because it's what needed to be done. I can take all of that, I can take the blame if that's what they want me to do..."

Norma looks at him in a way that's breaking every single one of his bones.

"I'd do all of that if I have to... But I won't lose you. I don't want you to risk your life. Because that's what's going to happen. There are scumbags out there without a sense of morality. You're everything I have and if something happens to you... I won't be able to go on. Not without you."

"So how do you expect me to sit back and wait?" Norma cries. "How can you ask me to do that?"

"I will figure something out, okay? You have to trust me."

"Who's working for the DEA? Who's responsible for you being here in the first place?"

Alex looks around before speaking. "The DEA was onto me for a long time. I told you, remember?"

"Yes, I do."

Alex signals. "They were watching me. But I don't think they have anything on me. This is all suspicion and they have to lock me up to prevent me from running away."

Norma looks at him for a moment before speaking. "When you get out of here, I want to move. I don't want to be here any longer. This town disgusts me."

Alex, for the first time, smiles. "I'd love that. I promise you we will. I'll be out of here soon, I promise."

Norma wipes her nose with the back of her hand. "What type of garbage are they feeding you? You look thin already."

Alex grins at her dramatic observation. "I'm okay, baby. Trust me, you're the one keeping me sane."

"I miss you," she mutters. "I just need you to go home."

"And I will," he affirms. "I'll be home before you know it."

"I love you," Norma cries. "A lot."

"Keep loving me, please," Alex pleads. "Your love is the only thing keeping me alive right now."

Norma looks down and the furrows her eyebrows. Alex leans over and finally seizes her hands. Officer Gutbrod oblivious to the act. "I love you more than my own life. I need you to be safe, okay? I'm going to get a lawyer and everything will work out. Would you promise me that you will stay out of trouble?"

Norma tightens the grip on their hands. "I promise."

"Look at me when you say it," Alex whispers.

Norma locks eyes with him again. "I promise."

"That's all I need," Alex says. "Please take care of yourself. If something happens to you-"

"Nothing will happen to me, I promise."

Alex nods. "I miss you. I love you."

"I love you more, honey," her voice breaking again. "A lot more."

Officer Gutbrod clears his throat and they catch him staring blankly at their clasped hands. They let go of each other immediately.

"I hate that I can't touch you," Alex says.

Norma gives him a weak smile in return.

"Have you eaten anything?" Alex asks, major concern in his voice.

"I'm fine," she responds.

"You don't look fine."

"I'm not regularly hungry... I can't sleep appropriately since you've been here. It's driving me crazy."

"Norma..." Alex scolds. "You have to eat. You have to rest."

"Well, I can't!" she says carefully.

"Sure you can, honey."

"I just want you home," she whimpers. "That's all I want."

"I'll be home soon," Alex reassures her. "I promise."