Between Arrows and Hearts - Daryl Dixon

There's always hope.

Cass woke up feeling slightly disoriented.

After a quick look around, she remembered everything. They were at the CDC.

Sitting up, she tried to gather her thoughts and summon the strength to get out of bed. Her head was pounding, definitely a hangover, though not the worst she'd ever had. But her memories from last night? Those were a bit harder to shake —sharing her embarrassing love life, getting Glenn drunk, and, worst of all, getting a little too friendly with Daryl—. This was a moral hangover.

Running her hands over her face, she decided the only remedy was another hot shower.

After cleaning up, brushing her teeth to get rid of the alcohol taste, and putting on decent clothes, she headed to the cafeteria, where she could already hear the others' voices.

As she entered, everyone turned to look at her. "Good morning everyone."

"Are you hungover too? Mom said you would be." Carl's voice brought a smile to her face.

"Shut up, kiddo." She laughed, dropping into a seat next to Glenn, who looked like he was regretting his entire existence.

"Rumor has it you're to blame for Glenn looking like this." Rick teased, a smirk on his face.

Cass glanced at her friend, putting a hand on his shoulder. "I'm really sorry. But if it makes you feel any better, I'm not in my best shape either." she shrugged.

Glenn managed a groan. "Don't ever, ever, ever let me drink again."

"Same goes to you." Cass caught the painkillers Lori tossed her way, taking one and handing another to Glenn. She rested her head on his shoulder, only lifting it when T-Dog set down a plate of eggs and bacon in front of her.

"Protein helps the hangover," he said with a knowing smile.

Cass beamed up at him. "Have I told you you're my favorite person?"

When Shane entered the cafeteria, Cass overheard someone asking him what happened. He muttered something about "doing it while he was asleep," and she shrugged it off, too focused on the amazing breakfast in front of her to care much about the details.

Then Dr. Jenner walked in, and as Dale began asking him questions, Cass's curiosity was piqued enough to start paying attention.

"We didn't come here just for the eggs," Andrea said pointedly.

Cass didn't quite get why everyone seemed so anxious to know what was going on. For her, a safe place to sleep and a decent breakfast were enough.

After they finished eating, Dr. Jenner led them back to the control room he'd shown them yesterday. Cass exchanged a quick glance with Daryl. Feeling a bit more comfortable around him after last night, she offered him a small smile and was met with a subtle nod in return. Not much, but it was something.

"Give me playback of TS-19."

Cass held her mug tightly, as if the tea could somehow replenish the energy she felt she'd run out of. Taking a loud sip, she looked up at the screen just as Jenner began projecting something.

"Few people ever got a chance to see this. Very few." He explained.  

"Is that a brain?" Carl asked excitedly, leaning forward.

"An extraordinary one." Jenner confirmed, his tone flat. "Not that it matters in the end. Take us in for the EIV."

Everyone was watching the video attentively. Cass was trying to understand what was supposed to be happening.

"What are those lights?" Shane asked.

"It's a person's life. Experiences, memories; it's everything. Somewhere in all that organic wiring, all those ripples of light, is you." He said pointing at Shane. "The thing that makes you unique. And human."