Heroin and Vodka

Author's note: Hey guys. I decided to push out this chapter earlier than I thought cuz I have no idea when I'm going to get to upload again. I have two semesters worth of exams coming up this December. So, that's not something I'm looking forward to. Anyways, at least I have the mid-finale of Season 5 to look forward to this week. I really want to know who Gabriel is. It's a more intriguing mystery than who's in the snow. Also, I know the last chapter was kind of depressing. I know. I had a hard time writing it myself. But things will get better from this chapter onwards. Trust me. Anyways, read on.

Disclaimer: I do not own How To Get Away With Murder. Its plot and characters are the sole property of Pete Nowalk and Shonda Rhimes.

Chapter 23

It was the day of Wes's memorial. As Laurel and Micheala walked up to Asher, Connor and Oliver, she sighed. She had just been discharged from the hospital that day and definitely wasn't looking forward to doing this today. She just wanted to go back to her apartment and fall asleep on her bed.

As she came up to them, Asher stepped forward.

"Hey. How're you feeling? Ner-Nervous?" he asked.

Laurel smiled softly.

"Well, I wasn't. Until you just said that."

Asher looked away.

"Sorry. What I meant was you look great."

"No." Micheala replied. "She will look great once she puts these on." She pulled out a pair of heels from her bag and helped Laurel put them on.

As they walked into the church, they spotted a group of people already seated.

"Who the hell are all these people?" Asher asked, perplexed.

"Tragedy whores." Connor muttered.

As she stepped up, Laurel spotted a large picture of Wes placed on the pulpit. A painful lump rose in her throat.

As the others took their respective seats, Laurel walked up to the pulpit and behind the podium.

"So…" she said, glancing at the picture. "…Wes. Where do I start? Umm…" She spotted Meggie, Wes's ex girlfriend seated in the front. She smiled encouragingly at her. Laurel took a deep breath before speaking.

"Wes was a really great guy. Like really just…good." Here she paused before moving on "And that says a lot because he didn't really have an easy . It was actually really… dark. Like his mom died when he was twelve. Suicide. And his father…" she trailed off, breaking into tears.

"Oh God." Asher whispered, mortified.

"…But we don't really have time to get into that." Laurel continued. "My point is that its awful, isn't it? That this is what happened to him. Like—"

It was then that she was interrupted by a soft crying in the front row. Looking forward, she spotted a blonde woman on the seat, sobbing.

Something inside Laurel snapped right then.

"Why are you crying?" Laurel demanded. "Did you even know Wes?" She turned away from her and looked up at the rest of the gathered people. " Did any of you?" When no one replied, Laurel nodded. "I take it that's a no. Law school isn't really about making friends, right? Yeah, I bet some of you are really happy that he's dead cuz that means your ranking goes up one. Great." she said, raising her hands in a thumbs up.

Micheala decided to intervene there and then.

"Ok. I'm going up there."

"Like there's not even a body to bury." Laurel ranted. "You're all vultures glomming on to this tragedy like it's your own! Well, it's not your tragedy!" she replied, banging her fists on the podium.

"Stop." Micheala whispered, walking up beside her.

"It is Wes's and he deserves better than this funeral with you phony ass people!" she replied, breaking down completely. "So just go cry somewhere else!" she shouted. She shook off Micheala's arm from her shoulders and walked off the pulpit. She quickly took off her heels and walked out, slamming the door shut behind her.

Annalise was back at her cell.

This day could not have gotten worse.

A disastrous trial had ensued in which Bonnie failed to place the blame on Frank and evict Annalise's charges. A phone call later and she had learnt that Bonnie had failed to negotiate a release with the judge.

And what was worse—Annalise hadn't heard anything about Isaac. Bonnie had tried contacting him but each time her calls had gone to voicemail. She had even gone down to his place, but no one had answered the door. Annalise couldn't forget the pained look she had seen on the man's face as Denver had questioned him brutally. It was burned into her memory.

Things were most certainly not looking up for Annalise Keating.

She turned to face her cellmates. Claudia was lying on her bunk whereas Jasmine was busy playing solitaire with a deck of cards.

As she watched Claudia, an idea suddenly entered her mind. She got up from her bed. It was worth a shot. She was sick and tired of this cell where she couldn't pee without her cellmates checking her out, especially Claudia. Jasmine on the other hand, was far more accommodating in that regard.

She braced herself. She had nothing left to lose now.

"Your boys seem nice." Annalise started. "How old?"

Claudia shifted to face her.

"Louis is eight. Tommy twelve." she replied with a sigh.

Annalise nodded. She took a deep breath.

"Such a shame." she drawled out. "They already know what a disappointment you are."

"Excuse me?" Claudia asked, sitting up.

"They were probably celebrating the moment you were hauled off to jail cuz they didn't have to deal with your cracked up mess anymore."

Jasmine turned her attention from her cards to Annalise, her eyes widening slightly.

"Shut your mouth." Claudia replied, getting agitated.

"They don't love you." Annalise continued, ignoring her. "I saw it on their faces."

"Say another word about my boy." Claudia demanded, getting up from her bunk.

"Your boys wince when you hug them." Annalise stated, looking right into Claudia's eyes. She couldn't help but feel a vindictive sense of satisfaction. "Why?"

"Ok. Cool it." Jasmine replied, trying to shush Annalise. Claudia had meanwhile stepped closer to Annalise and was now inches away from her.

"Did you touch them?" Annalise demanded, ignoring Jasmine. "That's it, isn't it? You didn't just neglect them. You molested them. They were too afraid to say anything, sexually abused by their mother—"

Annalise was cut off by a punch, courtesy of Claudia. Her head slammed against the bars. She continued to punch Annalise into the bunk.

"Guards!. Guards." Jasmine shouted, trying to grab the attention of the prison guards.

Bonnie walked into the medical bay of the jail, her eyes widening as she spotted Annalise.

"Oh my God! Annalise what happened?" she asked, walking up to her.

She was banged and bruised pretty bad. Her face was swollen in multiple areas and both her eyes had bruises under them.

"Take a picture." Annalise replied.

"Annalise, what—" Bonnie replied, but Annalise cut her off.

"Take a picture." Annalise repeated.

Bonnie nodded hesitantly and fished her phone out of her bag.

The judge was forced to grant bail when Bonnie had threatened to release the pictures and declare a law suit against the D.A's office for civil rights violation.

As Annalise walked out of the holding unit of the prison, she spotted Bonnie awaiting her arrival. She smiled softly.

"Let me drive you back. You can crash at my place."

Annalise shook her head.

"You go. I have somewhere else to be."

Bonnie's eyes lit up as she nodded understandably.

As Annalise neared Rittenhouse Square, hear heart began to beat faster and faster. It had been two weeks since she had seen Isaac. She had to see him. She couldn't possibly put this off any longer.

As she walked down to his clinic and rapped on the door, she hoped and prayed that he was in and would answer.

After three minutes of waiting, and no reply, Annalise knocked again, this time louder than before. A few seconds later, she heard shuffling from inside. Soon, a silhouette appeared behind the door and Isaac opened it.

His eyes widened upon spotting Annalise.

"Annalise?" Isaac asked in shock. "What are you doing here? Did you get bail? And what happened to your face?"

Annalise couldn't help but smile softly upon seeing him. He seemed alright. Although, as Annalise gazed into his eyes, he thought they looked darker and more murky than usual.

"May I come in?" she asked.

"I-of course." Isaac replied immediately, stepping aside and inviting her in.

As they entered his clinic, Annalise sighed in satisfaction.

She had missed this place so much—the comforting lighting, the fan which continued to rotate at a slow rate, the inviting couches…and the man himself.

Isaac walked in and shut the door behind her.

"Mind filling me in on what I've missed?" he asked with a chuckle.

Annalise nodded and took a seat. Isaac occupied his usual couch. She was about to begin when her eyes fell on a random piece of paper lying on the center table between them. She dismissed it casually.

Annalise then filled Isaac in on everything that had happened in the past few days. When Annalise began to relate her plan on goading her cell mate into beating her up, so that she could be released, Isaac's eyes widened.

"Annalise, that was very reckless of you. You could have been seriously injured." he reprimanded.

Annalise rolled her eyes.

"It was the only way, Isaac. The judge wasn't very eager to offer me bail anyway." she replied.

Isaac nodded. A silence fell over them before Isaac broke it.

"So…do we know who's behind this?" he asked.

Annalise's eyes widened fractionally. She looked away from him.

"You don't believe I'm guilty?" she asked.

Isaac got up from his seat and walked over to the couch beside her. He sat down. Reaching out, he took his hands in his.

"Annalise look at me." Annalise turned hesitantly to face him. "I never doubted you to begin with." he replied softly. He pressed her hands slightly. "Besides, I know how much you cared for Wes? What could be your motive for all this? And as for burning down your house…" he paused. "…I can't think of a reason you'd do it. Unless you were broke and were looking for the insurance money." he broke off with a chuckle.

Annalise couldn't help but chuckle as well. As soon as she did, pain erupted from one of the bruises on her face. She winced.

Isaac's eyes widened.

"I'm so sorry, Annalise. I completely forgot to patch you up." he replied, getting up.

"Don't worry about it." Annalise replied, shaking off the pain. "I'll go and get it seen at the hospital later."

Isaac rolled his eyes.

"Don't be insane. I have the supplies right here. It'll only take a few minutes."

Annalise sighed before relenting and nodding. Isaac left the room to gather his supplies.

As Annalise was seated on her couch, her eyes washed over Isaac's familiar, comforting study. As she was gazing over the study, her eyes once again fell on the intrusive little paper. She picked it up. As soon as she did, something powdery slipped off the paper and fell on the desk.

Annalise's eyes widened in understanding.

As Isaac walked into the room with a bottle of Purell and bandages, Annalise rounded on him.

"Isaac, what is this?" she demanded.

Isaac's eyes zeroed in on the piece of paper clutched in her hand. His eyes widened before he averted his gaze from her.

Annalise awaited his reply.

After a few seconds of silence, Isaac spoke up.

"I'm high, Annalise." he replied softly.

Annalise's eyes widened. She had hoped she had been wrong in her suspicions. But Annalise could clearly see the truth in his eyes.

"Why, Isaac?" she asked softly. You've been good for so long." she replied softly, walking up to him. "How did this even happen?"

Isaac sighed and nodded. He put the supplies on the table and sat down on his couch. He took in a deep breath before he spoke.

"It happened on the day of your bail hearing…"

Begin Flashback

Isaac slammed the door shut on his car. He was perspiring heavily and panting. Slowly, the panting evolved into hyperventilation.

His mind flashed back to Denver's words during the hearings.

Were you staging your daughter's suicide?

Why kill her?

Were you molesting her?

Isaac cried out in frustration and slammed his fists angrily against the steering wheel.

Panting, he loosened his tie and reached into his coat pocket and fished out his phone. He opened his 'Contacts' and was about to call Jacqueline when suddenly an idea seized him. It was a much better one than calling his ex-wife.

He revved up his car and left the parking lot.

It was evening and Isaac was walking down the pavement of Central Road, his mind on one particular destination. As he neared the food stall, he turned to face the lady at the counter.

"Cheese burger and fries." he replied.

The woman nodded, taking down the order. "You want anything else with that?" she asked.

This was it. He was about to say no, when his mind flashed back to Denver's harsh words at the hearing. Steeling himself, he turned to face the lady again.

"Could I…have that in wrapping foil?"

As Isaac reached home, he entered his study and shut the door. He pulled out the parcel from the brown paper bag. Quickly, he dumped the cheese burger and fries into the trash bin next to his table and tipped the bag over.

A small plastic container fell onto the table. It contained what looked like pills.

Taking a paperweight, he began to ground the pills into powder. As he did so,his mind violently flashed back to that eventful night two years ago.

The night he had lost his daughter, Stella. And it had all been his fault. Tears streamed down his face.

After having completely grounded the pills, he put away the paperweight. He gazed down at the piece of paper.

Flashes of memories kept pouring into his head.

Stella's first birthday party, when Isaac had lifted the young girl into his lap and had watched as she blew the candles on her cake.

Stella was 17 and she had just graduated high school. Isaac watched her, proudly, as she gave the valedictorian speech.

…

Stella was lying on the bathroom floor, face up. Her eyes were wide open and still.

Unable to bear the pain anymore, he grabbed the paper and shoved its contents into his mouth.

End Flashback

As Annalise watched Isaac, a horrible feeling of guilt crept up in her heart.

This was all her fault. If she had never arrived at his house on that night, none of this would have ever happened. She had forced her friend to take the stand for her.

And now, he was suffering.

She looked up at him as he finished talking.

"Heroin?" she asked him, softly.

Isaac shook his head.

"K-Pex." he replied. "Its an opioid." He raised his hand toward the door. "If you want to walk out of here right now, I'd understand."

Annalise closed her eyes before opening them.

"Why'd you do it?" she asked.

Isaac was silent for a few seconds as if searching for an answer.

"It was a mistake." he replied, shortly.

"A mistake that felt good." Annalise replied understandingly.

"Look at me! Look at how much I'm hating myself here." he shouted. He took a deep breath, before calming down. "I had been sober for twenty-three years and I threw all that away for nothing…" he trailed off.

Annalise watched as tears streamed down Isaac's face. He was crying softly.

Her heart wrenched in pain. Here was the man who had stood beside her all these months, guiding her and holding her hand. The mere thought of him always filled Annalise with strength. Isaac had refused to give up on her when she had fallen off the wagon last month. This time, it was her turn to stand by his side. She got up and walked over to the couch beside him. She sat down. Raising her hand and placing it on Isaac's back, she began to stroke it softly.

"It wasn't for nothing, Isaac." she replied, speaking softly. "We…all fall off the wagon occasionally. You can't let this get the better of you. You stood by my side when I lost my sobriety. Now.." She took a deep breath. "...It's my turn.

Isaac stopped crying and raised his head to look at her. His eyes shone with tears.

"Thank you." he replied softly. "For not judging me."

Annalise shook her head softly.

"Why would I judge you?" she asked, as she took his hand in hers. "You didn't judge me when I lost my sobriety. It's my turn to look out for you. You'll need to go to AA meetings, NA, whatever."

Isaac nodded.

"If it makes you feel any better, I'll accompany you." Annalise replied softly.

"You don't have to do that. Besides, you have yourself to worry about and—" but Annalise cut him off immediately.

"You are my problem. Let me take care of you." she replied haughtily.

Isaac couldn't help but chuckle softly. Annalise smiled at that. She was glad she had managed to cheer him up.

As Annalise watched Isaac laugh, her heart lightened. The oppressive cloud which had been hovering over her head for the past few weeks ever since Wes's death, lightened and almost vanished.

Isaac stopped laughing. A silence hung over the two. But it was a comfortable one.

As Annalise watched Isaac, the man leant in closer and tapped his head against hers. Raising her head, she leant into his chest and kissed him.

As their lips touched, Annalise felt a rush of emotions she had never experienced before. She felt a rush of helplessness, a sinking yielding and a surging tide of warmth. She felt his arms wrap around her waist, pulling her closer. He bent back her head across his arm, and kissed her softly at first, and then with a swift gradation of intensity that made her cling to him as if he was the only solid thing in a dizzy, swaying world.

Is this what she had been wanting all along? Annalise brushed her lips against his experimentally. She was half-afraid he would stop her, but nothing happens. She felt a gush of warmth deep in her heart. He had been thinking about this too, had been thinking about her. And that's all that Annalise needed— someone who cared, someone who wanted her for who she was. And before a swimming giddiness overtook her, she knew that she was kissing him back.

Author's note: There you go! The moment you've all been waiting for. Annalise and Isaac's first (true) kiss. I tried to write it as well as possible. I hope I've been able to make it juicy. Thanks to all my readers who have read and supported me so far. The story's far from over. That being said, the next chapter won't be out till the end of November, as I've already pushed out 3 chapters already.

On another note, this is also my longest chapter till date—3450 words so far.

Hope you guys read and review. Also, leave your thoughts on the winter finale of Season 5 in your review. I would love to hear your inputs.