The rest of the story will follow the plot of the season 3 finale, except for Bradley's murder. Let me know what you think of my storyline choices so far!

Norma's legs went numb and began to tremble. Losing her footing, she fell to her knees onto the bathroom floor. Sick began to rise in her burning throat. Norman lay submerged in bloody bathwater. Standing up shakily, Norma leaned over the tub. He was not breathing, and she further analyzed his unconscious state, looking for the source of the blood loss. Skimming his fully clothed body, she found the source. Norman was wearing a white t-shirt, now sickeningly tinted light red. His bare arms were slit open, deep wounds, but not very long. Norma was now in hysterics due to her revelation. These were self-inflicted. Norman wanted to stop himself from burdening everyone around him with his undiagnosed illness. The evidence of this lay in the kitchen knife she spotted sunken at the bottom of the tub by Norman's seemingly lifeless hand.

But Norma refused to believe that he was that far gone. Maternal instincts took over her as she reached forcefully into the bath to pull Norman out, as she had done before when he had forgotten to breathe underwater. Disregarding the grimness of the situation, she hauled him out of the tub carefully, and laid him on the tiled floor. She whimpered at the gruesome slashes on his forearms, the paleness of his skin, and the bloody residue coating the entirety of his stone cold body.

Frantically, she ran down the hallway to find her cell. She didn't know whether to call the police, or to call Alex, or if Alex would come anyway if she phoned the police station. Norma decided on calling Alex directly. It was him and him only that she found herself trusting. Trembling, she dialed his number, and as always, he picked up on the first ring.

"Romero."

"Alex. Alex please. You-you have to come quick. It's Norman. H-he hurt himself and he needs medical attention now. I need you. Please."

"Norma, I'm on my way right now. I'll get them to bring over an ambulance right away, okay?" His voice was eerily calm, but she could also hear a hitch in his voice.

"Please, please hurry." She hung up and sat down by Norman's body. Pushing his damp hair off his forehead, she felt how frigid his skin was, and she sobbed to herself. Help was on the way, but she felt more alone than she ever had before. People like Norman, whoever those may be, needed the attention of those lavish therapeutic centers, she thought. No amount of money she had could cover the cost, and now, this was what she had to come to terms with. She felt as though she had driven her son to commit this act, almost as if it were to lift a heavy weight off her shoulders. However, this had only made the burden tougher to bear, despite her trying to tell herself Norman was no burden. Now more than ever, she needed to do what was right: he needed help. Help that she could not give him.

Minutes later, fervent knocks on the door and numerous doorbell rings only meant one thing. Norma flew downstairs and opened the door. Paramedics rushed in and all Norma could do was point upstairs. As they hurried up the staircase, Norma could only watch in absolute terror. She looked back out the door to see if Alex was coming. And there he was.

He was in his uniform, hurriedly making his way up the stairs. He closed in, finally reaching Norma at the door. Alex's face was distraught, and he was at a loss of words. Without uttering a word, he curled his arm around her waist. She wasn't expecting it, and she sucked in, turning away from him. Alex Romero was the king of bad timing when it came to displaying his affection towards her. This made Alex gradually let go of her waist. He was still after all this time not yet an expert at discerning her words and actions, and he was determined to figure her out.

They stood, waiting for the paramedics to rush down the steps with Norman. To Norma, it felt like several lifetimes before they came downstairs. Swiftly, they carried off Norman on a stretcher, and out the door. Alex gulped and studied Norma's face. She was disconnected, staring off with wide, horrified eyes. Alex talked smoothly to her, coaxing her back to reality.

"Norma? Norma I'm going to take you down to the station to talk about Norman and what you know. Just you and me, okay?" With that, he lightly put his hand on her back to lead her out the door and into his police van. Norma indifferently followed him into the car.

Alex started the car, and glanced over at her. Seatbelt unbuckled, staring out the window, not facing him.

"Norma. Please talk to me. I have to know that you're alright." He meant to sound austere, but he ended up sounding like he was begging her. Norma weakly turned her head to face him. Her blue eyes were glistening with tears.

"He's broken. I don't know what I can do anymore. He's slipping farther and farther away from me. I can't do it on my own, and I don't want you to see me like this." Her lower lip began to quiver, and she wiped a single tear from her cheek.

Alex cocked his head to watch her for a split second while driving. He focused his attention back to the road, and sped up.

"You'll be able to check on him soon. The doctors will call me when he's stable."

Finally making it to the station, Alex swerved to a stop and turned back to Norma. Drinking her in for a brief glimpse, he waited for her to move or say something. Without displaying any emotion, Norma got out of the car and started heading towards the station doors.

Alex knew this wasn't the time to patronize her, so he led her into his office. Without uttering another word to her, he concocted Norma some coffee and placed in front of her. He watched her as if she were a tragic piece of fragile art. She sank into his desk chair, hands shakily bringing the coffee mug to her lips. All Alex could do was stand and watch her. Wait for her to collect herself so he could conduct the interview. The only problem was that this would hardly be a professional questioning. He had to know all the intimate details, all the inner struggles, all the catalysts involved in Norman's attempted suicide. But these were not easy subjects, especially for Norma to open up about. Yet Alex felt more entwined with her than he ever had. The acceptance of his apology back at the motel, the allowance of her own tears. He had a feeling she would let him in again.

Norma set down the coffee, and wiped the tears from her heavy eyes. Alex walked over to his desk where she was, and sat on the edge of the desk to face her.

"Whenever you're ready, you can talk to me. I also have to tell you about something I've done. Something that I fear has sealed my fate around here." Alex clenched his jaw, awaiting a reaction from her.

Little did Alex know about Norma's impulsive behavior involving men when she felt grief stricken. Bob had touched on it before Alex had done away with him. He knew about her previous flings with some of the men in White Pine Bay, but with him it was different. What they had was slow burning. That is why it took him with his deepest desire's surprise what she had done next. Even though he was utterly turned on by it, he didn't want to be a plaything of hers. Yes, he did want her, but not like this.

In her solemn state, she leaned in and muttered hoarsely, "Maybe in a bit." It wasn't what she said remarked that made his blood rush. From where he was perched on the desk, and where she was sitting, she reached towards him. Norma ran her hand up his thigh, inching up slowly at first. He was stunned, and the next thing he knew, she began rubbing him in circles just below his most sensitive area. Alex couldn't bear it anymore. This was everything and nothing he wanted at that moment.