Heroin and Vodka
Author's note: Hey guys. Finally, on time for an update. These past few weeks have been a bit hectic for me. My classes have become much more frequent leaving me very little time to write. But as I said last time, I did promise to be on schedule. So, here I am with a new chapter and it's the season 4 mid-finale. Enjoy.
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 36
Oliver rushed to keep up with his would-be fiancé as he climbed up the stairs.
"Please don't blame Laurel." he replied with worry.
"Of course, I blame her." Connor replied without turning back.
"It was my decision to keep this from you." Oliver tried in a desperate attempt to calm him down.
"Yeah, because she bullied you." Connor shot back.
"No. That's not true." Oliver denied vehemently. "Please, just…think twice before you say anything you'll regret."
Connor sighed as he turned to face Oliver. There was only one thing that he did regret. Back when Oliver had proposed to him when he had been released from Denver's custody, he had waved it off by saying that the time wasn't right—that they were not in the same place. A half hour ago, he finally realized that he had always been in the same place. It was Oliver who had helped him make up his mind. That, and also the talk he had had with Isaac a month or so ago. He had finally popped the question only for Oliver to drop a bomb—that he along with Micheala and Laurel had been planning to go on the offensive against Laurel's father.
Clearly they were still not on the same page.
"Give me the ring back." Connor demanded.
"What?" Oliver asked.
"I offered it to you when I thought we were in a good place. No longer applies." he replied without meeting his eyes.
Oliver sighed and put his hands into his pocket. Drawing out the makeshift twisty tie ring that Connor had made, he handed it back to him. Connor pocketed it without a word.
"Laurel! Open up." Connor shouted, thumping on the door to apartment 4B.
The door swung open and Connor spotted Micheala and Asher inside the room, waiting. Micheala rose from Laurel's bed.
"Connor, let us explain." she replied.
"You told them we were coming?" Connor asked Oliver quietly.
As he stepped into the room with Oliver following behind him meekly, he spotted Frank on the other side of the door. He had a grim expression on his face.
"What?" Connor asked, turning to face Laurel. "You going to tie me up like we did Rebecca?"
Laurel sighed, swinging the door shut and turned to face Connor.
"Let's hope it doesn't come to that." she replied.
It was 5 o' clock. Evening. At a distance, Isaac could hear the cars honking around the corner. But the only sound that he cared for was one that was coming from right next to him.
It was Annalise.
Isaac turned to face her. Her eyes were shut and she was sleeping peacefully.
You awoke into my night,
You could see the madness in my eyes.
He reached out and gently brushed a stray strand of hair away from her face.
Calm me down with your caress
He smiled softly. He couldn't believe the turn of events that had transpired in the last hour.
Oh my god, you're beautiful
Why do you stay with this neurotic fool?
He sighed as he fell back on his pillow. Reaching out, he pulled the woman into his arms and hugged her tightly.
I've lost control please save me from myself
I've lost control please save me from myself
I've lost control please save me from myself
The phone buzzed startling Isaac and breaking the blissful moment.
Annalise's eyes cracked open. She frowned. She could have sworn that he had kept her phone on silent. Turning to the tableside, Isaac noticed grabbed Annalise's phone and handed it to her. She noticed the caller and sighed in frustration. Really, she couldn't catch a break.
"I told you not to call me." Annalise replied, huffed.
Isaac watched the woman's annoyance in amusement. But the smile faded as soon as it had come as Isaac noticed Annalise's expression darken. After a minute of silence in which Annalise hadn't spoken a word, she hung up. She turned to face Isaac. Isaac had an ominous feeling that something horrible had just happened. Or was about to happen.
"Annalise, what's wrong?" he asked.
Annalise bit her lips as she was unable to make up her mind. Should she let Isaac in on what had happened or was likely to happen? Trust wasn't the issue here. She trusted the man with her heart. But Annalise was afraid. Afraid of what he might think if he ever came to know her darker secrets.
She got up from the couch and began to dress frantically. Isaac watched in concern as he too got up.
"Annalise, what happened? Who was that call from?" he demanded.
"I need to leave." Annalise replied immediately as she grabbed her bag and made a dash for the door.
Only to stop as Isaac blocked her way. His face was grave and serious.
"Isaac, move. I don't have the time to—" but he cut him off.
"Well then, make time." Isaac demanded. "Because the only way you're walking through that door is if you give me an explanation. I won't let you throw away what we have."
Annalise was silent as her gaze drifted away from him. Isaac gazed down at him. His eyes softened.
"Annalise?" he tried, "Talk to me." he replied softly. "Come on. Talk to me."
Annalise finally looked up at him. His eyes held the same gentle warmth that she had always seen. Only now it was also filled with concern.
She sighed as she stepped back from the door. Isaac relaxed his stance.
"Get dressed. I'll fill you in on the way." she replied curtly.
As Annalise took the seat next to him, Isaac's mind was racing.
What Annalise had just told him was still playing through his mind.
The Keating 4—and that included Oliver as well, were currently at Caplan and Gold, the law firm which if he recalled correctly from his sessions with Laurel, that Michaela had secured an internship in. They had figured out that it was Laurel's father who was responsible for Wes's death. And now, they were planning on bankrupting his company, Antares, which was incidentally going public tonight. The Keating 4 were planning on stealing information from secure hard drives at the firm and leak said files to the SEC, thus bringing their plans to fruition.
Or not.
Isaac could already picture a thousand ways this plan would fall to pieces with the kids being caught at the end.
And to make matters worse, this entire plan was spearheaded by none other than Laurel. She was the mastermind behind all this and was the one who had egged Micheala and Oliver into helping her. Isaac hadn't gotten around to actually inform Annalise about his findings regarding Laurel. Well, now was better than ever.
Isaac turned the corner, skipping a red light as the car whizzed down the road. He turned to face Annalise who was busy attempting to contact Laurel. On the third try, she sighed and began to speak.
"I need you to leave that party right now and come to my hotel. Easton, room 1106. I'll help you however you want." She paused before resuming. "I need you to trust me again Laurel."
Isaac sighed and decided against it. If he told her about Laurel right now, who knew how she would react? He would only be adding to her troubles. And she had enough on her plate as it was.
Annalise put her phone away as she stared up the road. Her face was resolute and calm. But Isaac knew that behind that façade, her mind was probably in the same state as his. He reached out and placed his left hand on her right hand and squeezed it gently. Annalise turned to face him.
"Its going to be alright. They haven't done anything yet. And if you've taught them anything, it's to be cunning and resourceful. After all, they are your students." He chuckled nervously. "They just might get away with this."
Isaac watched as the corners of her mouth pulled up. He chuckled.
As they both rushed into the Easton, Annalise dialled Frank. Fortunately, he picked up on the first try. Annalise had a choice few words for him as she dashed towards the elevator. As luck would have it, it wasn't responding.
With no other way, they headed straight for the stairs. After climbing what seemed like a never-ending flight of stairs, they finally arrived on the eleventh floor.
"Why? Why in god's name do you live on the eleventh floor?" Isaac asked, panting, as he rushed to keep up with Annalise, who didn't reply. She rushed down the hall and pulled out her key. Jamming it into the doorknob, she wrenched open the door. Isaac was about to follow when he heard something. He paused, waiting to hear it again.
Then he heard it. It was faint, but it was still there. A woman's screaming.
"Annalise?" Isaac called out urgently. "Could you come here for a second?"
Annalise came over to him, an impatient expression etched on her face.
"What are you—" but Isaac cut him off. He urged her to be silent and listen.
This time the scream was louder and sounded much closer than before.
Her eyes widened.
"Laurel!" they both realized, arriving at the same conclusion simultaneously.
Annalise dashed off towards the source of the screaming which appeared to be coming from the elevator. She attempted to pull the elevator open, but it refused to budge. Isaac, realizing that no amount of force would suffice, dashed into Annalise's apartment and headed over to the kitchen. His eyes scanned the crockery until they fell on what they were searching for.
A knife.
Grabbing it off the countertop, he dashed back into the hallway and ran up to the elevator. Annalise was desperately calling out Laurel's name, but in vain as the screaming had now ceased completely.
He jammed the knife into the door and pried it open. He gasped at the sight that met him.
Laurel was curled up on the floor in a foetal position. Blood was streaming down her legs and onto the floor. Bloody handprints adorned one of the walls. She had obviously attempted to support herself, but had failed.
Annalise began to hyperventilate at the sight of Laurel.
"Laurel. Oh my god. Laurel!" She tried to reach through the grills and grab her but failed to do so. "Laurel! Wake up. Laurel."
Isaac grabbed the grill and tried to pry in open. But it remained as it was.
"Laurel. Wake up!" Annalise repeated, as she began to jerk her leg. As she did so, Isaac spotted something.
"Annalise, she's crowning!" Isaac replied in shock. "We have to do something."
He bent down and reached out and manged to pull Laurel's unconscious body over to him. As soon as he did, Annalise spotted the baby's crowing head.
"What do we do?" Annalise asked Isaac, frantically.
Isaac pulled the baby closer. It was bloody and small. Clearly premature. As Isaac watched it, a wave of panic passed through him. If Laurel didn't survive this, then things would go south from here. Isaac took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down, his training as a therapist for 20 years kicking in.
"We need to start compressions immediately." he replied, turning to face Annalise. "We need to… clamp the umbilical cord. Find something to tie it off. Do you have anything like a rope…or a shoe string maybe?" he asked.
Annalise dashed into her room and began to fumble through her bag. She grabbed her phone charger and dashed to the elevator.
"Will this do?" Annalise asked, handing the charger over to Isaac.
"Perfect." Isaac replied calmly. He pulled out the port and wrapped the charging cable around the umbilical cord. Grabbing the knife, he carefully and gently cut the cord. As Annalise pulled the baby to herself, tears were running down her face.
"Its not breathing." she sobbed.
"Annalise! Look at me!" Isaac shouted. Her eyes shot up to meet his. "You need to calm down. Getting agitated isn't helping Laurel or the baby."
Annalise stopped crying.
Isaac steeled himself for the next action.
"Now, Annalise. I'm going to walk you through CPR. Are you ready?"
Annalise's eyes widened.
"Why can't you?" she asked.
"I can't, Annalise." Isaac sighed. "My hands aren't clean and they've touched the floor. I could risk infecting the baby."
Annalise nodded mutely as she placed the baby gently on the floor.
"Place your hand gently on the baby's chest. Push straight down about half an inch with each compression." Isaac replied.
Annalise hesitated.
"I'm afraid I'll hurt him." she sobbed.
"You won't." Isaac replied, softly. "Start gently. You'll be able to tell how much."
Annalise nodded and pressed down gently. She did it again. And then again.
"Ok. Its not working." Annalise replied in frustration as sweat ran down her brow.
"It will." he replied, calmly. "The goal is around 120 to 140 compressions per minute. I'm right here. I'll count you through it. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7…."
As Isaac counted, Annalise resumed her compressions. He watched as Annalise continued to press down on the baby's chest gently.
"Stella!" Isaac called out in horror, as she spotted her still form laid out on the bathroom floor, motionless.
"Stella. S-Stella." He sobbed, as he began to apply compressions against her chest, but in vain. No matter how much force he applied, the body did not respond.
Isaac eyed the baby critically.
"Live." Annalise muttered. "Live. Live." Isaac couldn't help but pray the same.
"…122. 123. 124—" His counting was abruptly cut off as the baby finally bawled. It stirred and began to cry.
Both Annalise and Isaac sighed in relief. Annalise plopped back down on the floor, panting as though she had been running a marathon. Isaac reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. He quickly dialled 911.
"Hello? This is Isaac Roa. I'm currently speaking from the 11th floor of the Easton. A woman has just given birth in the elevator…"
Annalise watched as Isaac informed them of the situation. His voice still held that calm tempo that he had adopted ever since the past few moments. He finally put the phone away. He looked up at Annalise. The grim expression on his face morphed into a relieved one.
"The paramedics are on their way." he informed her. "They should be here in 10 minutes."
Annalise nodded.
Isaac got up and walked into Annalise's apartment. Annalise watched him as he exited, handing her a glass of water.
"Drink up." he replied softly.
Annalise nodded gratefully and took the glass. She gulped down the water in one gulp. As she handed the glass back to Isaac, she caught his hand and squeezed it softly.
"Thank you." she replied.
Isaac's frowned, puzzled.
"For what?" Isaac asked. "I didn't do anything. This was all you."
Annalise shook her head.
"I…couldn't have done it without you. So, shut up and take the thanks." she huffed.
Isaac chuckled in amusement.
"Ok. If you say so."
Author's note: Whew! Man, was this a difficult chapter to type. I had to rewatch 4x08 entirely, especially the elevator scene, which till date, remains one of the best scenes I have ever seen on TV. Viola Davis's acting was spot on and brilliant. She took it to the next level.
Well, there you go. The mid-finale. Or at least, part of the mid-finale. The next part is coming up next chapter. So, stay tuned as the ride is far from over.