Heroin and Vodka

Author's note: Alright. This was a difficult chapter to write. I had to get creative. A lot. Things between Isaac and Annalise are going to go downhill from the next chapter onwards. Anyways, you will find out soon enough. Read on.

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 14

"What kind of dream were you having?" Nate asked. "Tossing and turning all night. Talking gibberish…Annalise?"

Annalise turned to face him.

"Was it a sex dream? Is that why you won't tell me about it?" he asked sarcastically.

"Who said it was a guy?" Annalise chuckled. She made to rise out of bed. But Nate grabbed her and pulled her back in.

"Oh no. No way am I allowing you to leave me all high and dry." He said, kissing her softly. Annalise kissed him back before pulling away.

"Hurry up and shower. I'm going to be late for work." She replied.

"Work?" Nate asked quizzically. "I thought Middleton didn't open till 10. Its only 7 now." he said, glancing at the clock on the opposite wall.

"Well…its this breakfast thing I'm having with my th—a colleague." she said, quickly correcting herself. She didn't want Nate knowing about Isaac. She would rather it remain the way it was.

If she had slipped up, Nate hadn't noticed. He nodded before heading off into the bathroom.

Annalise sighed in relief.

Man, she thought, status-quo is hard.

Besides she had more pressing concerns to attend to than breakfast with Isaac. She quickly walked up to her dresser and pulled out a drawer. She pulled out the burner phone and flipped it open. It was 7:02. She quickly dialed a number, her hands trembling slightly. She waited with bated breath as she put the phone to her ears. The phone rang twice before someone answered.

She waited for a reply but none came. She was about to redial when a voice answered.

"I didn't….I didn't have a choice." A voice answered, sobbing. Annalise went cold.

It was Frank.

"He's dead." he replied quietly.

Annalise's blood froze.

"Annalise?" Frank asked.

She quickly hung up and slid the burner back into her drawer. She began to hyper ventilate. The whole room began to spin around her.

She had another innocent man's blood on her hands.

She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. She had to get ready. The only thing that was keeping her sane was the thought of meeting her therapist. Oddly, the moment she began thinking about Isaac, the negative thoughts began to recede. She sighed in relief as she began to get ready.

Annalise arrived at Joe's diner at 7:30 AM sharp. Frank and his various misdoings were still swirling around in her head. She put on a forced smile as she began to search for Isaac.

"Annalise." Isaac called out from a booth at the corner. She walked over to him. He must have noticed the look on her face because he asked "Is….everything alright?"

"Oh yes. Why shouldn't it be?" she said sitting down opposite to him.

"Ok." he said. "I've already ordered by the way. I hope you don't mind."

"Oh no. I haven't kept you waiting, have I?"Annalise asked.

"Oh no no. I've only been here for a couple of minutes." Isaac replied.

The waiter came by and served two plates full of waffles and eggs. She then poured two steaming cups of coffee and left.

Annalise took an experimental bite of the waffle as Isaac watched her expectantly. Her eyes widened.

"You were right. These are worth dying for." Annalise replied with a sigh.

Isaac chuckled.

"Told you so." he replied before taking a bite of his own waffles.

"So." Annalise replied, taking a sip of her coffee. As the warm caffeine touched her lips, she felt a rush of warmth seep through her being. Coffee was another thing Isaac had recommended as a remedy to alcohol. "What do you want to talk about?"

"You tell me." Isaac replied, pouring some syrup onto his waffles. "The ball's in your court."

Annalise nodded before taking another sip of her coffee.

"Would it be at all inappropriate if I talked about my love life?" Annalise asked experimentally, as she gazed up at Isaac.

Isaac swallowed his bite before replying.

"I'm all ears, Annalise."

Annalise nodded before she began.

"I'm seeing this man—Nate. I think I've mentioned him before."

Isaaac nodded.

Annalise took another customary sip of her coffee before continuing.

"Well…its just this thing. We've been seeing each other for a while and its all going great—well, at least the sex is great." Annalise replied with a chuckle. She looked up at Isaac. She thought she saw a flash of something pass across his eyes. But it was momentary and was gone in an instant. Annalise dismissed it casually, having mistakenly seen something else.

"It's just—Nate himself. I'm no feeling that thing." she replied with a sigh.

Isaac quirked his eyebrows.

"What thing?" he asked.

"You know— the thing. That spark. Its missing. I mean, don't get me wrong. He's a great man and all...but its just…" she trailed off, staring frustratingly at her plate of half- eaten waffles.

Isaac set down his fork before taking a sip of his coffee.

"Well I'm no marriage counselor. Believe me." Isaac replied with a chuckle. Annalise couldn't help but smile. "But there seems to be more to this than your'e letting on, Annalise. And I'd like to hear the whole thing out for myself before I tell you my piece."

Annalise sighed. As usual, Isaac could always sense when she was not telling him the full story.

"Its just…I did something awful and I don't think he's forgiven me yet for it."

"What did you do, Annalise?" Isaac asked, intrigued.

Annalise remained silent as she began to contemplate as to how to get around this situation. She couldn't honestly tell her therapist the truth—that he had framed him for her husband's death. So, she decided to go with the lesser truth.

Isaac sighed.

"Annalise, if you don't tell me what it is, how can I—?"

"We had an affair." Annalise blurted out.

Isaac nodded. "Ok, lets hear it."

Annalise sighed.

"Where do I begin?" she asked, puzzled.

"Lets begin at the beginning. I've always found that helps." Isaac replied with an encouraging smile.

Annalise nodded before she began.

"It was in March. I met him during one of my trial preps. We had a few drinks and we hit it off. Ever since he would come over every alternate day and before I knew it—we were sleeping together…" she trailed off.

Isaac nodded.

"And then?" he asked.

"Sam never knew. I don't think he even doubted me." she replied with a wry smile on her face. Ofcourse, that cheating son of a bitch was off screwing Lila so how would he know?

She took a deep breath before continuing.

"It wasn't so much as me cheating on Sam that hurt me. What really got to me was when I found out why Nate was cheating on his wife—Leah. Turns out she had stage 3 breast cancer and only had a few weeks left to live at most."

Annalise stopped before speaking again.

"Leah knew. She knew I was screwing her husband. Ever since then, I believe Nate is still angry with me about it. For coming into his life—for ruining what was left of his marriage."

Annalise looked up at Isaac. His warm eyes held a deep, sympathetic look.

"Annalise. You shouldn't have to feel sorry for yourself. From what I can understand, Sam clearly wasn't a husband worthy of your guilt." Here he paused, took a deep breath, before continuing. "And besides, I believe Nate has already forgiven you for your transgression. Or else…" he paused, "…or else he wouldn't still be with you."

Annalise gulped, before nodding steadily.

"Good." Isaac replied with a wide smile. "Now I do believe I've come to know you a little better than before."

With that said, he set down his fork and took one last sip of his coffee. The waitress came over and took the dishes away.

Annalise made to take the cheque but Isaac quickly snatched it away.

"I'm paying." he replied forcefully, already having pulled out his wallet, "This was my idea. You're my patient." he replied in a tone that left no room for argument.

Annalise sighed in defeat before nodding.

"But next time, it's my turn." she replied challengingly.

Isaac glared over challengingly at her.

"We'll just have to see about that." he fired back, in an equally challenging manner.

Both therapist and patient glared at one another before their glares dissipated and the two began to laugh.

"No. Seriously Annalise. This was good." Isaac replied after a while. "I guess I'll be seeing you next week then."

"Sure." Annalise nodded before departing.

She had arrived all flustered and worried and had left completely relaxed and at peace with herself. She didn't give a shit about Frank. He could go and kill himself for all he was worth.

Author's note: There you go. Annalise and Isaac's first unofficial date. I know it may seem a little out of it but that's all you're going to be getting for now. I apologize if Annalise seems a little too OOC in this chapter—but that's just how the character is portrayed in the show as well— she may appear all fierce and tough and ready to kick your ass in court, but inside, she still as insecure as anyone of us really.

The next chapter will be out by mid-September latest.

Anyways, read and review.