Unearthed ↦ Daryl Dixon

1.08

You sat at the dining table the next morning, surrounded by your people but completely detached. You could hear sounds of laughter peek through here and there, but you were too lost in thought to make any sense of what was going on.

Shane and Rick had yet to join breakfast, and that was the only good thing on your mind. You didn't know if you could face Rick after learning about Lori and Shane, and you weren't sure you could stop yourself from attacking Shane when you saw him.

As if your mind had willed it, Rick appeared in front of you. He placed a hand on your shoulder in passing before making his way to Lori and kissing her on the cheek.

"Good morning." He mumbled, sitting down beside Carl.

"Are you hungover?" Carl asked innocently. "Mom said you would be."

"Mom is right." Rick laughed.

"Mom has that annoying habit." Lori smiled.

T-Dog appeared with a pan in hand. "Eggs. Powdered, but I do 'em good."

Glenn let out a groan, earning laughs from the group.

"I bet you can't tell." T-Dog continued. "Protein helps the hangover."

Glenn groaned again, louder this time.

"Don't ever let me drink again."

Footsteps approached the table, causing you to look up. Shane walked slowly, his eyes fixed on Lori.

"Hey," he spoke.

"Hey," Rick smiled. "Feel as bad as I do?"

Shane poured himself a cup of coffee, sitting down at the table. "Worse."

"What the hell happened to your neck?" T-Dog asked.

You eyed the scratches Lori had left there last night.

"I must've done it in my sleep." Shane replied quietly.

"Never seen you do that before." Rick responded.

"Me neither." He looked at Lori. "Not like me at all."

Lori kept her eyes on her food, ignoring Shane's presence. You wished you could do the same. All you could feel was burning anger. Shane avoided meeting your gaze, probably expecting a confrontation if he dared look your way.

"Good morning." Dr. Jenner spoke, entering the dining area.

"Hey, Doc." Shane responded.

Dale stood for his seat, stepping over to the man. "Doctor, I don't mean to slam you with questions first thing-"

"But you will anyway." Dr. Jenner sighed.

"Look, we didn't come here for the eggs, as nice as they are." You spoke.

Dr. Jenner nodded. "I guess now is as good a time as any. Follow me."

Everyone stood from their seats, following Dr. Jenner out of the room and down the hallway. You arrived at a lab, the lights powering on at his command.

"VI, give me a playback of TS-19." He spoke.

"Playpack of TS-19."

Dr. Jenner looked back at you all. "Few people ever got a chance to see this. Very few people."

On the wall, a large display showed various 3-D views of a human skull.

"Is that a brain?" Carl asked excitedly.

"An extraordinary one." Dr. Jenner hummed. "Not that it matters in the end. VI, take us in for E.I.V."

"Enhanced internal view."