Heroin and Vodka
Authors's note: Like I promised, the next chapter is finally out. I've been planning this chapter for months and I'm really excited now that I get to share it with you guys. Anyways, the Season 5 premier is out. So what are your thoughts about it? Do let me know in the review. I'm personally hyped for Season 5. Can't wait for the mid-finale to get my answers. Anyways, without further ado, lets begin.
Disclaimer: I do not own How To Get Away With Murder. Its plot nad characters are the sole property of Pete Nowalk and Shonda Rhimes.
Chapter 19
Annalise was walking through the campus with a smile on her face and a slight spring in her step. This was a rare sight in itself, as things around Annalise were more often than not chaotic. But currently, all was fine with the world.
Frank had (successfully) framed Charles Mahoney for the murder of his father, Wallace Mahoney. This meant that after months of much anxious waiting, Wes was finally safe. Annalise had a soft corner in her heart for the boy. She knew she was responsible for the boy's mother's death. This was precisely the reason why she had chosen him off the waitlist at Middleton—to ensure that she could keep the boy under watch.
Sometimes she couldn't help but feel that Wes detested him. After all, had she not chosen Wes for her 'Keating 5', then he wouldn't have gotten involved in the mess with Sam. While Wes had never outright came out and said it to her face, she still had a nagging suspicion that the boy secretly mistrusted and disliked her.
Other than Frank messing up her life as usual, she had thankfully not heard from him. Annalise was pretty sure she would end up killing the man if she ever saw him again.
Other than that, life was all fine and dandy. Of course, her sobriety was at an all time low, since last week's mishap. But Isaac had promised her she wouldn't be relapsing again any time soon and that he would be present to help her all the way through.
She couldn't help but feel warm at the thought of the man. It was strange as she had been having these odd feelings within her for a week now. It was a strange warmth which seeped through her body and lit up like a flame in her heart, shining brightly and strongly.
Shaking her head, she entered the class as all the students took their respective seats and the class quieted down. Everyone was at the edge of their seats as it was the day of their mid-term.
Annalise cleared her throat before gazing up at the class.
"Welcome to your mid-term exam." she replied, as she assessed each of their faces. "Before each of you, is a case file for your client—" She paused to click the remote in her hand, the screen flaring to life, displaying an image of a convict. "—Ted Mundy. Its 1989, and he is weeks away from the electric chair for the violent murder of thirty young women. You each get one minute to convince me, the Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court, to overturn his death sentence. Does , an infamous serial killer, rapist and necrophile deserve to live? You better convince me that he does or a sociopath dies on your watch."
It had been a long day. Exam days were usually always long. She had to not only take the exam, but had to assess the student's performance there and then itself. The good thing was that Wes, Connor, Micheale, Asher and Laurel had each secured the passing grade, which was quite a relief in her opinion. As she crossed her lawn, she spotted Bonnie sitting on the porch. She looked up at her as she walked towards her.
A forbodding feeling rose in Annalise's chest as she spotted the expression on Bonnie's face.
"He in there?" she asked quietly.
Bonnie didn't need to ask whom she was referring to. She nodded mutely.
"Go home." Annalise ordered, walking past her and climbing the stairs.
"No." Bonnie replied.
"You had your time with him, lied to my face about it. This is my time." she replied. "Leave."
The door opened as she walked in. It creaked shut behind her. She made her way to the living room and spotted Frank seated on the couch.
He gulped.
"Thank you for seeing me." he replied.
Annalise didn't dignify him with a response.
"I begged Sam to let me tell you. Everyday after we got back, you were just…locked up in that bedroom. But…he woudn't even let me in the house. He knew me so well. Knew how to make me do what he wanted. And the more time went on, I thought….maybe he was went back to work, got better."
Annalise's head was pounding as she heard the word 'better'. How dare he assume she got better?
"I never got better." She replied quietly. "You watched me suffer all those years. You watched me think that I killed my boy."
Frank was avoiding eye contact with Annalise.
"You watched Sam and I fall apart. And you said nothing."
"Sam wouldn't let me." Frank tried.
Annalise had had enough of Frank's excuses. But she didn't her anger show just yet.
"Oh. You had all those months to apologize. And all you can do is blame Sam?" Her voice began to break. "Y-You killed my son."
Tears ran down Frank's eyes as he began to cry.
"That was you." Annalise sniffled. "And you had the nerve…the nerve to stay in my life. Make me trust you, take care of you."
"I just want to fix this." Frank replied.
"How can you do that? Hmm? How are you going to do that, Frank? You're going to erase is all? Take everything away? Give me my baby back?"
"I can try." Frank replied, softly.
"You cant." Annalise asserted.
"I can." Frank replied, as he put his hand behind him and pulled out a semi-automatic, cocking it, placing the nozzle at his throat. "Let me fix it." he cried.
All was quiet for a minute as none of them spoke.
"What's taking you so long, huh?" Annalise whispered. "You think I'm going to fell guilty about it?"
"I love you Annalise." Frank sobbed. As he was about to pull the trigger, Bonnie appeared around the corner.
Her eyes widened as she spotted Frank.
"Frank. Don't." she whispered.
"Get out." Annalise replied.
"This just hurts her more." Bonnie tried.
"You'll do this for me." Annalise asserted.
"This isn't what she wants." Bonnie replied.
"This is exactly what I want." Annalise replied.
"You made your point!" Bonnie's voice rose.
"She can't survive this." Bonnie cried.
"Pull it. Do it." Annalise replied, egging him on.
"I can't survive this." Bonnie sobbed.
"Pull the trigger. Pull it." Annalise screamed.
"Please don't, Frank!" Bonnie cried.
""Sam was wrong about you, Frank." Annalise replied.
"She doesn't mean any of this." Bonnie replied. Tears streaming down her face.
"That's all you'll ever be—sick and depraved. Its time for you to go." Annalise replied scathingly. "You know what you are deep down inside. That's why you pulled that gun, right? So you can do something good for once. This is your chance."
Frank continued to sob, eyes shut.
"Look at me Frank!" Bonnie replied, "Only me. This only makes it worse for her."
"I can handle it." Annalise asserted.
"She's saying this because she's hurt." Bonnie replied.
"If you do this, you're making her a killer." Bonnie asserted.
"It's all she wants ." Frank replied, vehemently.
"Its not." Bonnie sobbed.
"It is." Annalise replied, with force.
"She knows this was Sam." Bonnie tried.
"But Sam didn't kill anyone. It was you." Annalise replied.
"You know me, Frank." Bonnie replied, "You know this will kill me."
"You deserve better than me." Frank replied, pushing the nozzle deeper into his throat, as he prepared to pull the trigger.
"Frank. You love me, right? You know me better than anyone. So, please. Do this for me." She reached out and placed her hand over his. "That night meant everything to me. You love me. You don't have to say it. Just don't do this." She pulled the gun away from his hand and set it on the countertop. Frank began to sob, as he rested his head on her lap and began to cry. She looked up at Annalise, who was watching quietly.
"I'm sorry." Frank replied.
Annalise was quiet for a few moments before she replied.
"You should have done it." she replied, hatefully. She turned and strode towards the door.
"Where are you going?" Bonnie asked.
"Away from you two pathetic people, that's all." she replied, slamming the door shut behind her.
As she stepped outdoors, the cool November breeze hit her face, clearing her mind of all that had transpired in the last few minutes.
Her first thought was to grab a few much needed drinks at the bar round the corner. But Annalise knew she couldn't possibly go about risking her sobriety once again. Which left her with only one option.
There was a knocking at the door. Isaac had just seen his last patient to the door a few minutes ago. He had been about to turn in when he heard the knocking at the doore. He had a hunch about who had come calling so late at night.
As he walked down the hallway leading to the door, he spotted Annalise's familiar silhouette against his door. He smiled softly.
He had quite gotten used to Annalise's presence at this time. She had been coming over much frequently in the last week since her breakdown, not wishing to take any chances with her sobriety, which was currently at an all time low. But Isaac had faith in her. He was confident she would be able to recuperate just fine.
"I was wondering when you'd show up—" but he abruptly stopped as she spotted the look on her face.
Tears were streaming down her face. Her eyes were all scrunched up in pain. Her hair was disheveled and her make up was running down her face.
Isaac's eyes widened in shock.
"Annalise! What's wrong?" Isaac asked, as he reached out and pulled her inside.
Annalise began to sob. She buried her head in his chest, tears streaming down her face.
"Annalise." Isaac replied, forcing his voice to be calm. One of them had to be and he was the therapist here. "What happened?"
His soft baritone broke the depressing cloud hovering over her head. She raised her head and looked up at the man. His eyes were soft and warm.
"I-I don't know what to say." Annalise replied.
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Isaac couldn't help but chuckle softly. He reached out and gently brushed her tears away.
"Firstly, come in. Settle down. We can talk later." he replied.
He led her to his study and sat her down on her usual couch. Annalise was busy wiping the tears away from her eyes. Isaac disappeared for a few minutes before he reappeared, a cup of steaming hot cocoa in his hands. He handed it to Annalise. Annalise accepted it gratefully and took a tentative sip. The warmth of the cocoa seeped down her throat, warming her insides.
Isaac waited patiently as Annalise finished her cocoa. She gently set the cup down on the desk before looking up at him.
"I'm pathetic. I know." she replied.
Isaac raised an eyebrow. He got up and sat down beside her.
Annalise was pointedly looking away from him.
Isaac reached out and placed his finger under her chin and raised her head. Annalise's eyes locked with his.
"I've known you for eight months now, Annalise and that is not a word I'd use to describe you." he replied, softly.
Annalise couldn't help but smile softly at that.
"Where do I begin?" she replied, a tiny smile playing around the edges of her lips.
"I've heard the beginning is always a great place to begin." Isaac replied, with a small smirk.
Annalise mirrored the smirk before she began to chuckle. Her chuckle evolved into full-fledged laughter and soon both of them were laughing softly.
Annalise's phone began to vibrate. She glanced down at the phone. It was Bonnie.
Irritated, she clicked 'Receive' and put the phone to her ears.
"What is it, Bonnie?" she asked, annoyed.
When Bonnie's voice sounded from the other end, it was high-pitched and there sounded to be a lot of other voices in the background. She could hardly make out what she was saying.
"Come back Annalise. Something terrible has happened."
Annalise's blood froze as she heard Bonnie's reply. Her voice sounded shaken and petrified with fear.
Isaac spotted the change in Annalise's expression and frowned.
"What is it, Annalise?" he asked, worried.
Annalise lloked up at Isaac. Her pupils were contracted with fear.
"Something…has happened." she replied, getting up. "Could you give me a ride back home, Isaac? I didn't bring my car."
Isaac nodded.
"Sure." he replied.
Annalise was silent the entire way. It wasn't the awkward type of silence that they two usually shared. Isaac had actually gotten used to that type of silence long ago. No. This was different. This was an eerie type of silence. The only sound he could hear was her soft breathing and the occasional honking of a car.
As Isaac rounded the street leading up to Annalise's house, he spotted it. At first, he couldn't believe what he seeing. He thought maybe he was hallucinating or something. But despite repeatedly closing and opening his eyes, in rapid succession, the image before his eyes refused to fade.
Towering flames engulfed Annalise's house as they were licking away at the remnants of the house.
The fire brigade had arrived and were attempting to douse the fire. A large number of people had gathered in front of the house.
As the car came to a stop in front of the house, Annalise rushed out. She pushed her way through the crowd and appeared at the front. Isaac attempted to follow her.
She was soon stopped by one of the fire brigadiers.
"I'm afraid you can't go any further. Mam." he replied.
"This is my house." Annalise tried. "I need to—"
But she was cut off as she spotted a trolley being lifted into an ambulance nearby. She couldn't see clearly as it had a sheet coving its contents.
"Who is that? Tell me. Tell me." she whispered.
"Mam, we can't let you move any further. This is restricted area." the man replied.
But Annalise wasn't having any of that. She pushed past the man and went off dashing towards the ambulance. The man attempted to stop her but failed. Isaac rushed behind her, pusing aside the security man as well.
Annalise rushed up to the ambulance.
"I need to see who it is." she asked.
"Mam, I'm not authorized to show you the body." the attending replied.
"That's alright. I live here."
The attending sighed and nodded. Isaac watched almost in a daze. Everything seemed to slow down around him. It was almost as if time itself had frozen. It was a feeling he had often experienced when he had been high. But something deep within him told him that such wasn't the case this time.
The attending pulled back the sheet to reveal who it was.
Annalise recoiled in horror as she spotted who it was. She began to sob and bawl vehemently, her screams rending the still night air.
Isaac attempted to look past Annalise. His eyes fell on the corpse.
His eyes widened in recognition and shock.
It was Wes Gibbins.
Author's note: There you go. The mid-finale you've all been looking forward to. It took me quite some time to plan out this chapter. This is also the longest chapter so far. Hope you liked it.
The next chapter will be out by mid-October. So, stay tuned. Oh and do read and review, guys.