Heroin and Vodka
Author's note: Ok. I know its been some time since I last updated. But my internship is almost done with and I'm going to be out of town for the next couple of weeks. So I plan to dole out TWO chapters instead of one to keep you guys busy. So, without further ado, I give you chapter 11!
Chapter 11
Annalise walked up the steps leading to her door. She had just returned from another session and she was actually feeling…happy for a change. Her life had recently taken the turn for the better and opening up to Isaac about her dead child had actually been a relief to her. While she had been unable to write a letter to her dead son, Isaac had informed her to not get too worked up over it and that she was progressing quite well.
Start Flashback
Annalise had just finished her session and was about to leave when Isaac called out to her. Annalise turned around.
"Annalise… I just wanted to inform you that you are progressing really well. I have never had a patient before who has been so…compliant and willing. It's a miracle that you haven't fallen off the wagon already given the state of your life." He took a deep breath. "I guess…all I wanted to say…is that I'm proud of you." he replied softly, with a gentle smile on his face.
Annalise's eyes softened as she gazed up at the man.
"Well…its not all me. The ice cream's helped a lot too, you know." she replied with a wry grin.
Isaac chuckled.
End Flashback
As she approached the door, she noticed a woman standing outside her door, on the porch. She looked to be around middle aged and had soft wavy blonde hair.
Annalise gazed up at the woman.
"Can I help you?" she asked.
The woman came forward.
"I certainly hope so." She took a deep breath. "I'm Jacqueline Roa. Isaac's ex-wife."
Upon hearing this, Annalise's eyes immediately narrowed.
"Is this normal for you?" she asked sarcastically. "Stalking your ex? Visiting his patients?"
"No." the woman replied.
"Then how do you know who I am?" Annalise demanded.
"I'm a therapist too." Jacqueline replied.
"Ok." Annalise nodded. "So, you're both violating confidentiality."
Jacqueline sighed.
"Let me explain." she replied.
"I could have your license." Annalise threatened.
"I know what I'm risking by being here, Annalise. That's how serious this is. He's in a fragile place." She looked down. "We lost our daughter Stella…a few years ago. Suicide."
Annalise turned around to face her.
"Why are you telling me all this?" she demanded.
"I think Isaac is using again." Jacqueline replied, looking back up.
Annalise's eyes widened fractionally.
"How do you know?"
"Because I've seen it before. The not sleeping, the stress…"
"So I'm triggering it? That's what you're saying?" she demanded, angrily.
"Your situation is triggering him." She took a deep breath before continuing. "I'm an addiction specialist too. Which means I could be your new counselor for the disciplinary board. And I would never ask this of just any patient. But you can survive this. I'm afraid Isaac won't."
Annalise walked into Isaac's study. Her hands were trembling slightly.
Get a hold of yourself, Annalise she mentally berated herself.
Isaac shut the door and turned to meet her eyes.
"So, shall we begin?" he asked. Noticing her expression, he stopped. "Everything ok ?" he asked, patiently.
Annalise took a deep breath before finally locking eyes with Isaac.
"This is our final session." she declared.
A puzzled expression appeared on his face.
"Is this because of our last session? It isn't uncommon for patients to shut down after expressing themselves in such a manner."
"It isn't that." she replied.
"Then what is it?" he asked.
Annalise diverted her eyes from his penetrating gaze.
"I'm getting too close." she whispered.
"What?" Isaac asked.
"Don't make me say it again." Annalise replied.
"Annalise, I—" but Annalise cut across him.
"I'm not going to repeat what happened with Sam." Saying this, she grabbed the door, flung it open and walked out into the lobby.
Isaac quickly overtook her and appeared in front of the door leading outside, blocking her exit.
"Have you been drinking?" he asked.
"No." Annalise replied.
"This is classic relapse behavior. Shutting down, running away. Come back inside. We can work through this." Isaac replied.
"I've already found another therapist." Annalise informed him, looking back up at him.
The puzzled expression crossed his face once more, before being replaced by firm resolve.
"You're going to have a relapse, Annalise. If you walk out of here, that's what's going to happen. You're going to drink again."
Tears formed in her eyes, but Annalise remained firm.
"Just let me go." she almost begged.
Isaac made no move to stop her this time as she walked through the door, and disappeared around the corner.
No sooner had she turned the corner, did the tears begin to flow down her cheeks. This…had undoubtedly been the hardest thing that she had done in months. That was including the debacle that occurred back at the Hapstall mansion a few weeks ago.
In the few months that she had known him, Isaac had started off just as any other therapist. Critical of her faults, strict about her sobriety. But over the months, she had steadily begun to enjoy their sessions. She had come to know the man as he truly was. A warm, caring individual. The man began to eerily remind him of how Sam used to be all those years back. He too had been warm and inviting. Of course, at that time she had hardly known he would turn out to be a cheating bastard as it was.
But there was something else about Isaac that she couldn't quite place her finger on. The man was calm and reserved. Of course, Isaac was also sharp and knew his way about the law as well as he had asked Annalise quite a few pertinent questions regarding her profession, which frankly no one had ever asked her before. She had to think quite critically to answer these questions.
If truth be told, she was half afraid of getting too close to him. The man had over the months become more than her therapist.
Author's note: Ok. I know this chapter's a bit on the shorter side. I promise the next one is going to be much longer and juicy. So, read and review.