Heroin and Vodka
Author's note: Ok. I know I'm a little late publishing this chapter. But I was actually busy preparing for my mid-sem exams this month. Anyways, enough about my life. This chapter begins Season 3. Now I have quite some original twists planned for this Season. So, it won't be exactly like canon as planned earlier. Don't worry. Major plot points will still remain pretty much the same. Anyways, without further ado, lets begin Season 3.
Disclaimer: I do not own How To Get Away With Murder. Its characters and plot are the sole property of Shonda Rhimes and Pete Nowalk.
Chapter 13
Annalise walked into class, a slight spring in her steps. It was the third semester of law school and she had just had Nate over the last night. Nothiong murderous had occurred in the past two therapy sessions with Isaac had been going great and she had been sober for 5 months now which was quite an achievement. All was well.
Well, except for Frank.
Her trusted(past tense) associate had been missing ever since her return from Memphis 2 months ago. Ofcourse, she now knew the full extent of the man's involvement in the death of her baby. So, she was glad that she wouldn't have to face him ever again.
She sighed and shook her head, trying to clear it. She glanced up at the class, spotting the familiar faces of the Keating 5, who were just taking their seats. Laurel was seated in the front row and occasionally kept glancing at Wes, who was seated two rows behind her, pointedly looking away. Micheala was seated in B4 and looked quite tired and worn out. Asher was occupying the seat right behind her.
She cleared her throat.
"Congratulations." She said. " You've each been hand chosen to take part in my very first criminal law legal clinic." She turned to the board and pulled down the slide, turning away. "In here, you're not just students, but actual practicing lawyers responsible for your own cases and clients." She smiled challengingly.
"You finally get to be me."
It was then that she noticed the look on her student's faces. Most were looking apprehensively over her shoulder. Micheala was gaping at the board. She quickly turned to face the board.
There was a picture of her pasted on the slide. Her face was marked with red ink and shining red letters displayed the word 'KILLER' on it.
Class was over and she packing her bag when she spotted the Keating 5 who were gathered on the podium in front of her. She rolled her eyes.
"Wonder why people think I favor you?" she said sarcastically.
Conner was the first to speak.
"Wait…you aren't at all concerned?" he asked, incredulously.
"About what?" Annalise asked.
"The flyer?" Laurel asked.
"Its just a piece of paper." she replied, turning to her.
"It said 'Killer' on it." Asher spoke up.
"I've been called worse." she replied.
As she made to leave, she sighed and turned back around, facing them.
"Everything's fine." She replied, trying to placate them." The police have moved on. Nothing's happened all summer."
"Like that means anything." Micheala responded.
"It means that we're safe." Annalise countered. "And you want to know why? We're good people now." She looked over at the rest of them. "Say it to yourself till you believe it."
She walked into Isaac's office at 2 PM sharp for her session. As usual, Isaac was seated on his couch with a notepad and pen ready in his hands. He smiled as she sat down opposite to him.
"I hope you've been doing well since our last session, Annalise?" he asked.
"Same old, same old." she replied, with a smirk. "You know, I would have thought we would have moved past this since I have actually been seeing you for 5 months now."
Isaac mirrored her smirk and chuckled.
"Its basic protocol, Annalise. I'm merely doing my job, you know." he replied, jovially.
"Yeah, me too." Annalise replied." …" she replied, putting her bag away. "What are we here for today?"
"Today…we'll be picking up were we left off last session." he replied.
Annalise's face darkened.
Isaac spotted the change in expression and sighed.
"Its time, Annalise. You need to get over Sam's death if there is any hope of you getting over your alcoholism."
Annalise rolled her eyes.
"Like I told you in our last session, I am already over it."
Isaac pursed his lips.
"Now why do I feel there's more to this story than that."
Annalise looked up, meeting his gaze. It was a piercing gaze that she often noticed in the therapist's eyes, almost as if he could immediately tell that she was lying.
Her mind flashed back to that fateful night of the bonfire.
6 months ago…
"I know nothing. About you. Us." she replied grabbing a couple of shirts and coats and shoving it into a trolley.
"Why are you doing this?" Sam demanded.
Annalise rounded on him.
"You knew she was pregnant. How stupid could you be?" She huffed, stuffing the trolley shut with her hands. " Bonnie? Ofcourse she'd tell me." She zipped the trolley shut and walked past him towards the flight of stairs.
"Alright. Annie wait…" Sam replied, attempting to stop her.
Annalise climbed down the stairs and reached the landing.
"I lied, ok? Yes. But only because you'd think I killed her…" he replied.
"Didn't you?" Annalise replied, throwing the bag down in front of the door.
"No. God no." Sam replied.
Annalise turned away, walking back into the living room.
"Annie, wait…" Sam tried.
She shook him away.
"You've lied so much, your words mean nothing to me. You mean nothing to me."
"Would you just stop for one second?" Sam demanded.
"No, I'm done saving your ass. I'm done believing you. I'm done loving you. Get out of this house!" She yelled.
"I'm begging you to not give up on me." Sam pleaded.
"I already have." Annalise fired back.
"I'm your husband. I love you and—" but he was cut off.
"Get out of this house or I'm calling 911." Annalise threatened, grabbing the phone off the desk.
Sam rushed to her, snatching the phone away from her hands and throwing it on the floor.
"I'm not leaving until you talk to me!" he yelled.
Annalise looked into his eyes. They were dark and unreadable in the darkness of the living room.
"I'm not a violent man, Annie." Sam spoke up.
Annalise huffed, walking away.
"Everyone's violent if given the chance." she replied.
"No. Not me. You know that." Sam countered, following after her.
"I tried to believe you all this time. I tried to…I just didn't listen to myself." Annalise replied.
"Just calm down. I'm still the man you married." Sam replied.
"You're not that man anymore." Annalise denied vehemently."And I don't think you ever were. Which is why you chose me isn't it? I've been the window dressing for you. The black woman in your arms so you could hide. So that people only saw the good guy. Maybe it took me twenty years to see it but I do see it."
She looked into his eyes. His expression appeared defiant.
"And that's why you killed Lila—because she was pregnant and you knew that if it got out people would see you for the pathetic man you are." she yelled.
"You think I killed her?" Sam demanded." Why not just go to the police? Why get them to run a DNA test instead? So you cover your own ass. Because that's who you are—some scared little girl who just pretends to be strong but is just weak and selfish."
"I did everything I could to protect you!" Annalise yelled.
"You did everything you could to make my life miserable!" Sam fired back.
Annalise was silent for a few seconds. She removed a strand of hair which had fallen over her face.
She spoke.
"I've been screwing another man."
Sam turned to her.
"His name is Nate. And boy, is he good to me." She walked steadily up to him. "He know me .Just what I like and how I like it He know how to make me scream and groan and sweat. And so I let him take me wherever he wants. On this counter. On my desk. In our bed—"
"You hypocrite." Sam replied before turning away.
"I'm thinking about him right now." Annalise replied.
"You're blaming me when you've been cheating all this time…" Sam replied, walking away.
"Which is how I could sleep with you all these months because I would think about him and I'd be able to stand you on top of me—". Sam suddenly whoirled around, and grabbed her neck with his two hands, shoving her into the wall.
"And I think of Lila everitime I get off with you!" he yelled, choking her.
"I bet you did, didn't you?" Annalise replied. "Kill her, huh? You enjoyed it, didn't you? Strangling her and watching the life go out of her body? You still think about it, don't you? Your hand around her neck while you're still inside her? Its exciting you, isn't it?You want to do it to me now, don't you? Go ahead. Kill me. Kill me. Kill me!" she bit back.
Sam barred his teeth before he let go.
"Your'e a monster." he replied softly.
"Monster huh? Is that all you got? You can do better than that." she replied, panting.
"You want the truth?" he asked, before inching his face closer to her's. "You're nothing but a piece of ass. That's what I saw. When I first net you in that office that day. Cuz'I knew you'd put out." He pursed his lips. "That's what you were really good for—dirty, rough sex. I'm too ashamed to tell anyone about it. Its how foul you are. You disgusting slut."
Annalise nodded.
"Well…at least you were finally able to tell the truth."
End Flashback
"He called me a slut." she replied, looking into Isaac's eyes. "My husband."
Isaac's eyes widened, before softening.
"Why?" he asked.
Tears formed in Annalise's eyes before they began to trail down her cheeks.
"It was the night I last saw him." she sobbed. "We had a fight. And he called me a slut. Said all I was good for was rough, dirty sex."
Annalise had turned her gaze away from him, ashamed. This was something she had never confided in anyone. No one knew what had happened that night between her and Sam.
She fearfully turned her gaze back to Isaac. She was surprised when she caught what looked like anger in his eyes. His eyebrows were knitted together in a frown. But the look passed.
Isaac left his couch and sat down next to her. Without warning, he pulled her into an embrace.
"Annalise…" he replied, softly. "You are an amazing woman. You are smart and witty. You are courageous and strong. You are a bit neurotic." He replied, with a chuckle. "But you are as stable as any woman I have ever counseled."
Annalise pulled away from him. Isaac let go.
"Sam was wrong." he continued, staring into her eyes. "You are much more than just sex. I…believe there is so much more to you than your sexuality. You have come so far in our sessions. The only reason you have come as far you have is because you are a far more capable woman than what Sam had defined you as."
Annalise coughed, embarrassed.
"Ok. That's enough at my expense." she replied, with a small laugh.
Isaac couldn't help but laugh out loud. Annalise was amazed to hear his laughter. She realized that she had never heard him laugh before. It was soft and gentle. His eyes lit up with happiness and warmth.
"Ok… so our next session is going to be on a much lighter note. Meet me at Joe's diner at 7:30 AM sharp tomorrow."
Annalise raised her eyebrows.
"Are you asking me out? Because you're my therapist and that's unethical." she replied, with a playful smirk.
Isaac chuckled.
"Its not a date, Annalise. It's…umm….how do I put this? It's something I do with each of my patients…we exchange irrelevant information regarding our lives and get to know one another better. You are not cut out for another session so soon. So I'm taking things slowly from here on out." he concluded. "Not to mention, Joe's waffles are worth dying for." he replied, with a smile.
"Oh." she replied. She couldn't help but feel a slight twinge of disappointment. "Sure. Alright. I'll be seeing you at 7:30 tomorrow then."
As Annalise exited Isaac's office, he turned back to stare at the shut door.
She recalled the hug.
She had frozen up at first. She wasn't used to being hugged, especially ever since Sam's death. Yet it hadn't felt wrong. She had melted into his arms without much resistance.
She recalled Isaac's words. Annalise had heard the sincerity in his voice. His voice had held nothing but warmth and compassion.
She could honestly say that the man meant much more to her than just a therapist. Sure, when they had started out, he had been strict and had called her out on her bullshit. But as she came to know the man, she had noticed a different side to him. He was kind and gentle. Sure, he was a stickler when it came to her sobriety. But he also listened intently to everything she said, never once growing weary of her narcissism. He offered her sound advice and guided her on to the right path, never straying too far away from her.
She couldn't help but look forward to their 'date' next day.
Author's note: There you go. A nice Isaac-Annalise moment. And now, Isaac has asked her out on their first unofficial date! Don't worry. It's not really going to be a date. I have something special planned for that and it won't be happening any time soon. Sorry to disappoint you guys. The next chapter will be out late August as I have to prep for my semester exams.
Anyways, read and review.