Heroin and Vodka

Author's note: Hey guys. Thankfully, you guys didn't have to wait too long for this chapter. My schedule was comparatively lighter this week in comparison to the previous week, so I was actually able to devote a few hours to the fic. Anyways, this will be the longer half of the mid-season finale of Season 4. I have a few changes planned in the second half of Season 4, one of which will be evident in this chapter itself. I hope I do it justice.

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 38

"So…" Isaac hurried after Annalise, as she rushed through the corridor, "…this Simon person was shot? At C&G? Where your students intern?"

"Yes." Annalise mumbled without turning back as she increased her pace, reaching the elevator at last. She hurriedly pressed the button. Isaac glanced at the display.

The elevator was on the ground floor. They were on the 9th.

"It will be faster if we take the stairs." Isaac replied quickly.

Annalise nodded to him as both turned right and rushed off down the stairs. They had hardly reached the landing of the eighth floor when Annalise's phone began to buzz. She yanked it out of her pocket and answered.

"What is it, Frank?" she asked, in a hurry.

She listened to him as he spoke, her eyes widening.

"I'll be there in five minutes." she replied quietly, as she quickly shoved the phone back into her pocket before turning to Isaac, who was standing by the stairs, clearly on edge.

"You need to go to Laurel." she replied immediately, "Frank's with her. She is being held at the psych ward. I need you to do a second psych eval on her as soon as she wakes up."

Isaac was about to refute, claiming that he didn't have any credentials at this particular hospital, when he noticed her breathing begin to get heavier. His eyes widened.

She was going into shock.

Isaac quickly grabbed her hand and dragged her over to the nearest unoccupied seat. He gently, but firmly deposited her on the seat. Her breathing had started to become more frenetic in the meantime. Isaac kneeled down in front of her.

"Annalise?" he tried calmly, his years of practice taking over "Look at me."

Her breathing seemed to become heavier and more rapid, as she began to sweat profusely.

Isaac cursed under his breath.

"Damnit, Annalise. Look at me!" he replied sharply.

The sharp voice seemed to jolt her out of her reverie as her eyes focused on him. Isaac reached out and grasped her hands in his firmly.

"Breathe." he instructed.

Annalise nodded slightly. She took in a deep breath and exhaled.

"Nice and slowly." Isaac cautioned. "Breathe into your belly rather than your chest."

Annalise followed his advice, taking in another deep breath and exhaling slower than last time. She repeated the process for another two minutes or so, before her breathing seemed to even out and return to normal. She glanced up at Isaac. The man was kneeling and holding her hands. It was a firm, yet gentle hold and it didn't hurt her.

"Better?" Isaac asked softly.

Annalise nodded.

"Yeah." she replied after a pause.

"Good." Isaac replied, satisfied. He got up and gently pulled her up as well. He placed his arms firmly around her shoulder and walked her to the elevator. She was in no condition to walk down the stairs. Isaac pressed the button as the two silently awaited the elevator's arrival.

"The baby's gone." Annalise mumbled.

"What?" Isaac asked.

"She's gone." she replied, as she began to sob into his chest. "He took her. And now…he'll probably kill her and be done with it."

Isaac's brows furrowed. He had no doubt as to who she was referring to. Laurel had mentioned him during their session together and their past was pretty shaky and fragile as it was.

But the man had had enough. Both of them had been through a terrible ordeal that night. Especially Annalise. The woman had been reduced to tears. It was something that Isaac couldn't bear to see. She was this strong, passionate and zealous woman. And clearly over the course of a year or so that he had gotten to know her, she had recovered from her alcoholism and then subsequently been through hell and back.

And now she was right back in the depths of hell.

The elevator slid open. Isaac walked her through. As the doors slid shut, Isaac replied.

"You are getting cleaned up." he replied firmly. "And then, you're heading home."

Annalise shook her head frantically.

"No. You don't understand. Laurel's father has her. The baby. If I don't—"

But she was cut off as she noticed the look on Isaac's face. It was a look that she had never seen on the man's face before. He was glaring at her heatedly. Yet, she could tell that there wasn't any anger being directed. At her at least. The closest that she had ever seen him like this was the one time when he had been high and had yelled at her. But this was different. He was clearly in deep thought.

Meanwhile, multiple things were running through the man's mind a she tried to keep up with them.

Laurel had given birth to the baby. In the elevator. As she had almost bled to death.

The baby was premature as a result and Isaac prayed that she would make it out alive. For his sake.

Not to mention the entire fiasco that had occurred at Caplan and Gold. The kids had attempted to frame Laurel's father by trying to obtain inflammatory information regarding his company, Antares.

Things had just spiraled from there.

Simon had ended up shooting himself with a loaded gun which Laurel had sneaked into the building, and he was most likely dead.

The baby was being transferred to an as of yet unknown location by her father.

Annalise had just had a panic attack. Clearly, the stress of the night had finally gotten to her.

And to top it all off, these were merely a prelude to the much larger worry which was eating away at him.

The fact that Laurel was schizophrenic. And it had been during one of her episodes, that she had lost control and ended up killing Wes.

Isaac sighed. The problems were just piling on and the mountain loomed bigger every second.

"Isaac?" Annalise asked, snapping him out of his thoughts. Isaac met her gaze.

"You need to go home, Annalise." Isaac replied, reiterating his previous statement.

"No. What about—" but Isaac cut her off.

"Enough, Annalise. You just had a panic attack. This is too much. Even for you." he replied, attempting to make her see reason. "You're putting everyone else's needs before yourself. And that stops right now."

Annalise shook her head violently and attempted to exit the elevator, but Isaac had a firm grasp on her.

"Annalise, listen to me." he replied sharply.

Annalise sighed, knowing that it was futile to try to escape. She turned to face him.

"You're…tired, Annalise. You've been through hell today. I…would be a terrible doctor if I allowed you to pursue this any further."

"I'm fine." Annalise huffed, annoyed. She couldn't understand why Isaac was not comprehending the magnitude of the situation that they were in.

Isaac shook his head.

"You are my patient. You are my priority here. And…" he paused, regretting what he was about to say next, "…if you do not cooperate with me, I will have no other option but to report your behavior to the Bar."

Annalise's eyes widened. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. She had never thought that he of all people would turn on her.

As if he could read her mind, Isaac shook his head.

"Annalise…this is for your own good. I only want what's best for you."

Annalise was silent for a few seconds before she forcefully wrenched herself free from the man.

"I was wrong to trust you." she mumbled, "I thought…you were different. But you're the same. The same as him." she spat.

Isaac eyed her, puzzled.

"Who are you—" he asked, but Annalise cut him off.

"Don't." she replied angrily, "Just…don't."

The elevator slid open finally and Annalise shot off immediately, leaving a puzzled Isaac behind. Isaac was about to call out to her, but stopped himself.

He was conflicted.

Part of him wanted to stop her and make sure that she didn't do something irrational or stupid. Or worse.

But the other part of him knew that time was slipping away. And so was Laurel's baby.

Having never met George Castillo, Isaac was unsure as to what to make out of the man. While he wasn't someone who generally believed hearsay, both Laurel and Annalise were convinced that the man was crooked in his ways.

Sighing, Isaac pulled out his cellphone. Browsing through his contact list, he finally found the one he was searching for.

He hesitated for a fraction of a second, before he pressed 'Call'. He awaited a response, praying that the person would answer and it wouldn't be redirected to voicemail.

By the third ring, Isaac had almost given up, when the line clicked and the call connected. A female voice answered.

"Dr. Roa?" she asked, "To what do I owe this pleasure past 12 at night?" she asked, her voice heavy with sarcasm.

Isaac took a deep breath before replying.

"I need your help."

Author's note: There you go! Bet none of you saw that coming. Who is this mysterious person whom Isaac is asking for assistance? I'll give you a hint. She's a renowned TV lawyer as well. Ok. I've said too much. That's all you're getting from me.

Anyways, what did you guys think of 6x02 and 6x03? I found 6x03's ending completely at odds with 6x02. I frankly do not like Vivian, but boy is her acting really good. Also, the flashforward gave me chills. Poor Connor.

Anyways, do let me know your thoughts in the reviews. I'll try to have the next chapter up by the end of October. If not, then latest by the first week of November. Until then, have fun.