#Connor Walsh gif | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

erijonarexhepis-blog · 2 years ago

Text

STAY

SEASON SIX, EPISODE FIFTEEN

Masterlist

THEY WERE IN THE COURTROOM again, and this time it was Jorge who had taken the stand. "Mr. Castillo, during the times that you were speaking with your daughter, Laurel, how would you categorize your relationship with her?" Lennox asked.

"Troubled."

"Why?"

"Did you ever catch your daughter lying to you?"

"Of course," Jorge answered. "When she was 14, she lied about using cocaine—"

"Behavior while a minor is improper character evidence, judge," Annalise interrupted him.

"Sustained," the judge said.

"Let's, um, move on to governor Birkhead," Lennox continued. "Mr. Castillo, have you ever met or spoken with the governor?"

"No."

"Have you ever contacted the governor or anyone associated with her to enact ill will against Ms. Keating?"

"Absolutely not."

"And do you believe any of the allegations that say the governor was involved in your son Xavier's death?"

"No."

"Why?"

"I've made a lot of money in my life— enemies too— so I can think of a long list of people who would have wanted to see my son dead."

Lennox kept glancing over at Annalise. "Mr. Castillo, one of the theories Ms. Keating has put forth is that the FBI is part of this conspiracy against her. Have you been in contact with the FBI about this?"

"No. The FBI's who put me in jail." So, he was still mad about that. "Based on misinformation from an informant. That's her sitting right behind Ms. Keating." Jorge pointed.

Annalise stood. "Objection!"

Jorge turned to the jury. "Those two women are conspiring against me."

"Mr. Castillo, don't address the gallery," the judge told him sternly. "I'm censuring the witness. Jury, disregard the last part of this testimony. Mr. Lennox, meet me in my chambers. Adjourned."

FLASH FORWARD

Shots were fired outside the courthouse. People, who were standing on the steps outside the building, started running and screaming in fear and panic. Some fell and stayed, hoping they wouldn't be hit. They were terrified.

The officers inside the building took action. They grabbed their weapons and ran down the hall to catch whoever was shooting before they killed someone. They ran past Annalise's mother, who was in distress. She hadn't seen Annalise and was worried. Her other daughter was holding her back.

"Is my baby hurt?!" She cried out. "Please tell me! Is she hurt?!"

Someone had been shot. Tegan looked down at this person in terror. How could this happen?

꧁ ꧂

"THANK YOU FOR BEING here, governor," Lennox said.

The governor had taken the stand. "You say that like I have a choice."

"Well, let's not keep you too long, then. Did you order the death of Nathaniel Lahey Sr.?"

"No."

"Do you know if Xavier Castillo ordered the death?"

"Yes, because that guard named him during the civil suit."

"Did you know Xavier Castillo?"

"No, nor have I ever met or spoken to him."

"Do you know his father, Jorge?"

"No."

"Governor, did you ever coordinate with any member of the Castillo family or the FBI to exact revenge on Ms. Keating for defeating you in a Supreme Court case?"

"No." She couldn't even look at Annalise.

"You weren't protecting your re-election?"

"No, because I plan to win my election by convincing the public I'm the best person for the job. The way not to do that is to commit a series of violent murders. That's more Ms. Keating's fallback."

Annalise stood. "Objection. Censure the witness."

"Governor," the judge scolded her.

"My apologies."

"No further questions," Lennox stated.

"Governor, when I beat you at the Supreme Court with my class action, were you upset?"

"More disappointed," the governor answered.

"Because of the damage to your political career?"

"To the taxpayer. Your victory cost the state millions."

"Money well spent if it saved thousands of poor people from unjust convictions."

"Argumentative," Lennox stated. He seemed calm.

"This speaks to the defense's theory of motive," Annalise protested.

"Sustained."

"Do you know Xavier Castillo?"

"As I stated earlier, no."

"What about Hannah Keating?"

The governor paused for a brief second. "I don't know who that is."

"She's my deceased husband's sister, Hannah. You don't know her?"

"I do not."

Annalise went over to her table. "And yet, Hannah Keating recorded herself on a phone call to Xavier Castillo saying this."

She played the recording. "I just saw the governor on tv saying Nate Lahey Sr. died."

"He did die."

"Because the governor killed him?"

Lennox stood up, not wanting to listen to more of it. "Objection. We can't authenticate this recording."

"I wish Hannah Keating were here to speak to its authenticity, but she just died." Annalise looked at the governor. "Gunshot to the head."

"Your honor."

The judge made a decision. "Falls under the death exception. I'll allow it."

Annalise hit record again. "I just saw the governor on tv saying Nate Lahey Sr. died," they heard Hannah's voice once again.

"He did die."

"Because the governor killed him?"

"Calm down."

"I wanted Annalise to go down for my brother, not hurt all these other people."

"I'm hanging up." The recording stopped.

"If you didn't know Hannah Keating or Xavier Castillo, why are they speaking so intimately about you?" Annalise approached the governor again.

The governor shook her head. "I have no idea."

"What about Nate Lahey Sr.? Did you do what Hannah said and kill him?"

"Absolutely not."

"So, if Xavier and Hannah were alive to testify, they would say the same thing?"

"Objection," Lennox spoke up but was ignored.

"Did you have them killed to cover up your lies?"

"No! My god."

The judge cut in and stopped the questioning. "I'm ending this cross!"

"Good," Annalise stated. "I'm done with this witness."

꧁ ꧂

NATE TOOK THE STAND THE next day, and he would be the last to do so. "Mr. Lahey, were you involved in any way at all with the death of Sam Keating?"

"No."

"You were arrested and almost charged for his murder, though. Why?"

"I was the boyfriend. That's always the first suspect."

Lennox nodded. "Any other reason?"

Nate looked over at Annalise. "I was framed."

"Who do you believe framed you, Mr. Lahey?"

"At the time, I thought Annalise."

"Did you ever get confirmation of this?"

"No. 'Cause she wasn't the one who framed me."

Lennox glanced over at Annalise for a brief moment. He took a step closer to Nate. "You mean she had an associate do it for her?"

"I mean, she didn't do it. That was Hannah Keating. She wanted to connect Annalise to Sam's murder, and now it's very clear to me how Hannah did it— by using the Castillos and the governor."

"Let me stop you, Mr. Lahey. Did Ms. Keating coerce you to change your testimony today?"

"No. That was you and special agent Lanford when you offered me twenty million dollars to say what you want. I'm just guessing that's so I don't tell the jury that an FBI agent working for the Castillo's murdered Asher Millstone."

꧁ ꧂

THE LAST DAY OF THE TRIAL started the following morning. It was time for the closing arguments. Lennox went first. "Forget everyone else. The Castillos, the governor, the supposed conspiracy. That is all noise to distract you from the person who brought us here— Annalise Keating. She wants to play the victim, and she is good at it too. But you know the real victims."

Lennox showed the pictures of the people as mentioned them. "Asher Millstone. DA Ronald Miller. ADA Emily Sinclair. Rebecca Sutter. Sam Keating. It all started with this man. That is the original sin. You start there. Then there's no doubt that Annalise Keating is not a victim. She's a murderer."

"I'm no victim," Annalise started. "USA Lennox was right about that. But that's the only true thing that he said today. So, here's the truth about me. I've worn a mask every day of my life. In high school, it was a smile that I faked to get boys to like me. In law school, I changed my name to sound more New England. At the law firm, I wore heels, makeup, and a wig. And when I got married, I... threw myself into becoming a Keating, and it was all to create a version of myself that the world could accept. But I'm done."

"Instead, I stand before you, mask off, to tell you the god's honest. I have done many a bad thing. I've coerced witnesses, got clients to lie on the stand, bullied students to tears, manipulated jurors like you. But those are not the crimes I'm being tried for. It's murder. And I am no murderer."

"What I am is a survivor. I survived getting taunted by the n-word when I was in grade school. I survived the sexual abuse by my uncle when I was 11. I survived losing my first love, Eve, because I was scared to be gay. Then the death of my son in a car accident, the murder of my husband, then alcoholism, depression, grief, and every death leading up to this trial."

"But today, you decide. Am I a bad person? Well, the mask is off, so I'm going to say yes. But am I the mastermind criminal who pulled off a series of violent murders? Hell no."

"Who I am is a 53-year-old woman from Memphis, Tennessee, named Anna Mae Harkness. I'm ambitious, black, bisexual, angry, sad, strong, sensitive, scared, fierce, talented, exhausted."

Annalise let out a shaky breath. She glanced from one juror to the other. She said everything she needed to say and moved almost every person in the room.

"And I am at your mercy."

April was sitting between Laurel and Connor— with Michaela on his side. The jurors had made a decision, and they were anxiously waiting to hear what they had decided for Annalise.

"Ms. Foreperson, I've been told you've reached a verdict."

"Yes, your honor," the juror responded. Some papers got passed on to the judge. The tension in the room was thick. Laurel was gripping April's hand. They had no idea how this was going to end.

The judge looked through the stack of papers as the people in the room waited anxiously. "Please stand."

Annalise and Lennox both stood. "For the charge of conspiracy to murder Sam Keating in count one of the indictment, the jury finds the defendant Annalise Keating..." she paused for a while before revealing it. "Not guilty."

When those words left her mouth, April breathed relief, as did the people sitting behind Annalise. But it was not over yet. "For murder in the first degree of Rebecca Sutter, the jury finds the defendant not guilty. For the murder in the first degree of Asher Millstone, the jury finds the defendant not guilty."

Laurel leaned back in relief, tears threatening to escape. Connor and Oliver had a somewhat similar reaction. April couldn't help but smile, her eyes watering. It was over.

Michaela, on the other hand, was not as happy.

"For murder in the first degree of Emily Sinclair, the jury finds the defendant not guilty. For the murder in the first degree of Ronald Miller, the jury finds the defendant not guilty. For murder in the first degree of Caleb Hapstall, the jury finds the defendant not guilty."

April looked over at her professor, who was hugging her family members. They were happy. Annalise wasn't going down for something she didn't do. And that was when April knew she had done the right thing.

The judge read the rest of the charges; not guilty. Those were the words that kept repeating themselves. Annalise was free. It was over. And she was enjoying the moment with the people closest to her.

Her students stood in the hall sometime later. Connor and Oliver didn't know how to feel, but they didn't have to wonder much longer.

April turned to her friends— her family. She just looked at them and took in the moment. It was over. It was finally over.

They could go back to when they worried about silly things, not murder. Their lives could go back to normal— somewhat normal.

But not for April.

She was ready. She knew it was the right thing, but she hadn't told anyone.

Her friends watched the two police officers approach them, and they were confused. Especially when they cuffed April. There was a lot she hid from them.

They questioned the officers— asked them why they were taking their friend away. What did April do? She told them she got probation.

April looked at her friends as the officers put the cuffs on. "I lied," she shrugged. "I'm the one who takes care of you. So that's what I'm doing."

They looked back at her with tears in their eyes. They were also confused and panicked. "I'm going to be fine. Fifteen years is not that much. Take care of yourselves."

"No, you can't do this!" Connor yelled at the police officer when they dragged her away. He was the most affected by this.

"Connor," Oliver pulled him back. He was crying too. Michaela reached out in an attempt to comfort him, but Oliver pushed her hand away. "You don't get to do that after everything."

"Oliver—"

"You betrayed everyone," Oliver cut her off harshly. Michaela was taken aback. She didn't have anything to say. She knew what she had done. She decided to walk away, no matter how much it hurt.

"Let's leave," Laurel spoke. She turned her stroller. And the three made their way to the exit. For a moment, they had enjoyed that feeling of happiness and relief. They hadn't felt that in a long time.

April gave up information and her freedom for her friends. She considered them family. She had lost her father, and her mother was being rearrested; that was a part of the deal she made.

As she was taken away, she thought about her friends and where they would end up. Annalise was free, and her friends were leaving. They were all going to start fresh.

April was unaware of the shooting outside the courthouse as it happened. As fast as that happiness appeared, it was gone. They were gone. It was over.

It was finally over.

She would be alone in prison, but that was how it had always been. Alone. But she took comfort in knowing her family would be okay.

No more worrying about people going after them or who killed who. It was over. It was finally over.

#femoc #femlead #michaelapratt #murdermystery #familydrama #femalelead #murder #annalisekeating #frankdelfino #laurelcastillo #connor walsh #coliver #bonniewinterbottom

2 notes · View notes

abbatoirablaze · 1 year ago

Text

How To Get Away With Murder, Chapter 12

Word Count: 2.5

Warnings: angst, mentions of death

"Mom, I need to tell you this. Not because of any regret, but because I need you to know. It wasn't Wes, mom." I cried onto my mother's shoulder. Wes looked at me with not only hate, but sadness, "Bonnie suffocated her, but I hid her body beneath the steps and staged it to look like she escaped. It's our fault mom."

Wes stood up and glared at me, “You did it?"

“I'm so sorry Wes. She said she was going to tell the cops how you bashed in Sam's head."

His look of anger and disgust turned to one of sadness, "Cheyanne…"

"No," I said, pulling away and looking at him, "I know you cared about her...but I don't want you guys to go away. You're like my little brother. I couldn't let her hurt you. I couldn’t let her just run off and say that…you murdered Sam because you were trying to protect her."

"I have to talk to Bonnie."

"Mom," I pleaded, sensing the sadness that seemingly surrounded her. She gave me a look of pity, tears lining her eyes, “mom…don’t leave us…please.”

A knock on the entryway to the kitchen stopped what she was about to say next. Frank looked pretty buzzed as he bit his lip, “m-am I interrupting?”

"I'm going to walk Wes out," I said, walking Wes out of the kitchen. When I came back, Frank was going on and on about how it had to have been Laurel that killed Rebecca, “Frank, you need to stop.”

"Frank, you've got the wrong girl," Annalise said, trying to calm him down, "Drive him home, Cheyanne. I've got to go talk to Bonnie."

With that, she grabbed her purse and headed out, leaving Frank and me in the kitchen alone. I tried to keep looking away from him, not wanting to meet his gaze.

"Cheyanne, we need to talk!”

"We can talk in the car."

"No," he pleaded, grabbing my arm, "We need to talk about this."

"What about it?"

"Are you really pregnant?"

I nodded, "yes. And I'm keeping it."

His eyes scanned over my body. He swallowed nervously, "That would make you six and a half weeks along, then."

"Nice to know you keep track of how long it's been since we've last had sex." I laughed awkwardly, turning off the lights in the kitchen. I walked through the foyer and out the door, a drunken Frank following close behind.

“Can I come home already?”

"And what does that mean?" I laughed, trying to ignore the question as I drove to my house.

His hand reached along my jean covered thigh and hovered over my crotch, "Well, home, or you know, where you sleep."

I laughed once more and turned left so that I was pulling on to my street, "I don’t think that’s a good idea, Frank.”

“I want to be with you, Cheyanne.”

“Just for tonight,” I caved, “but you stay on the couch though. Got it?"

"I promise nothing," he smiled. That smile sent butterflies into my stomach as I parked my car at the place. Frank followed me into the house, closing the door behind him. At the door we were greeted by Eve. She was watching television in the living room. Tucked into her side was Julie.

"MOMMY," the little girl all but screamed. She charged at me and jumped up into my arms, "I missed you so much, mommy. But nana Eve said I could stay up late to see you."

"I see that," I laughed. Ishowered her in kisses as Frank stood awkwardly at the foot of the stairs. Julie then turned her attention towards Frank. Her eyes went wide. While she hadn't seen her father in almost five years, she remembered every hair on his head. She always dreamed about the day she'd get to see him again.

"Mommy?" she asked. I nodded at her as she spoke once, "Down?"

She hesitantly walked towards Frank, not sure on if this was real.

"Daddy?" she asked.

Frank nodded, "Hey baby girl."

"DADDY!" she squealed, grinning and reaching up. He picked his daughter up and held her close.

"I've missed you so much, baby girl."

"I miss you too daddy," she sighed, wrapping her little arms around him, “Mommy, I can’t believe you brought daddy home. Daddy it’s been so long!”

"I'm going to turn in, are you guys okay to put her to bed?"

I nodded and Eve hugged me goodnight and went up to guest bedroom. We stood there for a few minutes before I finally led them upstairs.

"Daddy?" she asked, "Why don't you come home sooner?"

"We’ll answer all of your questions in the morning baby!” I offered. Julie looked worriedly between Frank and myself until he laid her down in her bed, and tucked her in.

“Mommy’s right,” Frank agreed, “it’s late…we can talk in the morning, okay?”

“But I’m not tired!” she yawned, trying to fight off the sleep, “I want to see you, daddy!”

“Tomorrow!” he promised, , "but first you have to get some sleep though, okay?"

Julie nodded and closed her eyes as tight as she could.

"I love you Julie."

"I love you mommy. I love you daddy." We kissed her goodnight and walked back to the door.

“Goodnight baby.”

Frank was quick to follow me back to my room, losing his suit jacket, vest, and both shoes as he hit my bedroom door. I scoffed at him, unable to hold back my surprise, “can I help you, Mr. Delfino?”

He smirked, “Come on Chey…I’m getting comfortable.”

“You’re supposed to be getting comfortable on the couch, remember?”

"What if she has a nightmare? I want her to be able to find both of us in the same place. Chasing monsters out from beneath the bed and out of the closet are real things," he laughed, "Things a dad does."

“Frank, come on.”

"Do you still have some of my clothes over here?" he asked, ignoring my previous statement. I rolled my eyes, opening the drawer, half ashamed that I never cleaned it out. He grinned and stripped to his boxers before walking over to where I still stood, wrapping his arms around my waist, and kissing my neck.

“Don’t even think about it,” I muttered, brushing him off me and heading to the bathroom, “you’re not getting any bit of my honey pot. Pregnancy hormones be damned.”

"Do you want one of your teddies?"

"I'll save the lingerie for a night my daughter and mother aren't in the next bedrooms," I said, "you’re changed…you can go to the couch now, Frank."

He pulled out one of my gold lace teddies, and threw it onto the counter beside me. I raised my brow at him and he frowned, “come on, sweetheart…I know how you love the feeling of lace on your skin.”

I rolled my eyes and got changed. When I came out of the bathroom I noticed he was only wearing a pair of sweats, and lying on top of the covers.

“You’re not going downstairs, are you?”

He shook his head, “I’m not going anywhere, baby…not when you have one of my children inside of you and the other sleeping in her bed.”

“No funny business…”

“You know I never promise anything,” he smirked. I ignored his comment and slipped into the bed, under the covers. Almost immediately, he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me towards him, “has the little bambino started kicking, yet?”

“It’s a little early to tell as much,” I shrugged, “and anyways, what makes you think we aren’t going to have another little girl? Why so sure already that it’s a boy?”

"I don't know," he shrugged, kissing her shoulders, "What makes you think we won't?"

"I don't know."

"Do you ever miss this? Me being in the house?"

"All the time, Frank."

I woke up with his arms around me. I don't think I've ever felt so calm...so happy, waking up, knowing that he was in my bed with me.

"Please don't be awake," I heard him whisper into my ear. I didn't move or change my breathing. Suddenly I felt the bed shift, "fuck…I really got to piss, and I don't want this to end."

When the door closed, I turned over, looking at the spot where Frank was laying. My hand absentmindedly ran over the spot. I closed my eyes when I heard the toilet flush and the door click open.

I flipped back over as gently as I could, adding in a moan to make it seem like I was still asleep. Frank chuckled. The bed shifted and his arms wrapped around me.

"I love you Chey," he whispered. He hopped over to the other side, so he was in front of me, "But I know when you are awake and you are definitely awake."

My eyes fluttered open and I could see his smile, "How did you know?"

"He laughed, "You always seemed to wake up just as I would get out of bed. What you didn't know was that I'd been awake so early I knew you were awake because your breathing changed. I have a question."

"Yeah?" I asked

"So we had sex in January, right?"

"Yeah."

"So, we'll have a baby by Halloween?"

"Do I want to know where this is going?"

"If it's a boy can I make it a mob boss and take it trick or treating?"

"That's really your first question?"

He stared at me a second before we both fell into a fit of laughter.

"CHEYANNE?" a voice yelled from downstairs.

"Fuck," I whispered. Frank pulled me to his chest quickly, whispering a quick 'shh'.

"Quick," he laughed, in a gangster voice, "protect the little bambino."

I started laughing loud before pushing him off me and heading towards the door to my bedroom. It wasn't until after I'd opened it I realized I'd thrown on Frank's dress shirt from work yesterday.

Bonnie and Michaela had their brows raised.

"Is that Frank's shirt?" Michaela asked. Her question was answered as Frank appeared from behind me in nothing but his sweats.

"I'm going to make breakfast do you ladies want anything?"

Before they could answer he'd jogged down the stairs and into the kitchen. Bonnie looked at me disapprovingly.

"DADDY!" Julie squealed from the kitchen. I heard giggling and I put my hand over my face, "We're learning how to ride my bike today, right daddy?"

"It's not like I can get more pregnant," I laughed turning around and walking into my room. The alarm clock said nine a.m.

"More pregnant? Daddy?"

"Fuck," I said, turning around. "I forgot that you didn't know."

"And Frank is the baby daddy? To both?"

"If you tell anyone, I will end your pretty prom queen life."

"I wasn't going to tell anyone, but okay."

"Why are you guys over here anyways?" I asked. Bonnie turned her head as if to ask, 'oh really'.

"Your mother was worried that you didn't get in touch with her this morning. You turned off your cell phone. Frank turned his cell phone off too."

"So she sent you two?"

"Don't get all worked up," Frank said, coming up the stairs with a glass of orange juice. He kissed the top of my head, "stress and coffee is bad for the baby. Come downstairs. I'm making bacon and eggs."

I nodded and he was gone. Both girls had their brows raised again, questioning why the normally quiet, reserved Frank was in my house, making me breakfast in nothing but sweatpants and a smile.

"Give me five minutes to get dressed and I'll be down. Go enjoy breakfast."

"I don't trust his cooking."

"If I'm alive after a solid 10 years of on and off dating the man, and he cooked twice a week, I'm sure you would be fine."

The girls laughed and headed down the stairs. I quickly picked out a simple black dress that hugged my curves. Just as I was putting it on, Frank walked into the room.

"Wow," he smiled, "I'm so glad you are already pregnant."

"Oh?" I laughed, "and why is that?"

"Because later tonight, well if you weren't...you would be."

"Get your fine ass dressed so we can go to work."

"I told Julie I'd teach her how to ride her bike," he replied, "Tell Annalise I had an appointment? That way me and Eve can teach her?

I nodded, "Just this once...and only because you never get to spend time with Julie."

He smiled and pulled me to his chest, I want this to work Chey, I really do. I want us to work...we belong together, and you know it."

"Lets just focus on getting through until Halloween. Then you can dress our baby up as a gangster for trick or treat."

"You only have five hours to get that dead woman's testimony out." Annalise said heading out of the house. I knew she was headed to see Nate. Everything was quiet. We scoured through records. It wasn't until the second pot of coffee that I noticed Laurel and Frank had disappeared.

Bonnie noticed too. We both went into the kitchen, and from there I could hear Laurel moaning. I felt my eyes watering, "I knew it was too good to be true."

"Cheyanne?"

"No, it's okay. I should have expected nothing from him. Nothing but hurt and pain. As usual." I said to Bonnie. She tried to console me and rubbed my back.

When mom came back we went to the hearing to see whether the evidence would be allowed. They'd found dash cam footage proving that their aunt was a racist. Mom was angry because it didn't work. Instead the judge allowed the testimony for her to be put in the trial.

"Wes, come in to my office please?" Mom said. I watched as she pulled Wes into the office to talk about Nate. He didn't reveal anything though. Instead he lied and pretended nothing was going on.

That's when I followed the kids. Wes arrived first and hooked up with Levi. Conner, Michaela, and Laurel followed him. Frank and I sat in my car watching as the cops busted Levi with the drugs I planted in his trunk.

"Wes took the bait." I said after I sipped on my coffee.

"I know." he said pointing to him. He stood with the others, holding up the key.

"It's so cute how your little girlfriend thinks you wouldn't kill someone…" I laughed. My car followed Conner's as they made their way to the storage locker. I parked far enough away that they wouldn't notice.

"She's not my girlfriend."

"You fucking her this afternoon after you said you loved me would say otherwise," I laughed, "I'm not mad Frank. I just wish the lies would stop. Listen, I don't care what happens with us at this point. I'll always love you...but I'm just letting you come back into Julie's life...if you fuck that up, your girlfriend will be following conspiracy theories about where your body went next.”

Chapter 13

#how to get away with murder #keating 5 #sam keating #annalise keating #connor walsh #asher millstone #wes gibbins #michaela pratt #laurel castillo #frank delfino

10 notes · View notes