The site of the CDC was littered with bodies and Fiona saw the doubt in Shane's eyes as he picked up his gun and gestured her to stay close to him. They caught up to Rick and the others and started up to the entrances to the CDC which were all closed. One of the group called out a warning about Walkers approaching, and Shane pulled Fiona behind him. The men began shooting at the Walkers and after disposing of the ones momentarily, they all started banging on the doors. Shane had to grab Daryl to keep him from attacking Rick for dragging them there, and Rick started yelling at the camera begging whoever was inside to let them in. Suddenly the door to the entrance opened and a bright light shone, almost blinding them all. Fiona grabbed onto Rick's arm, since he was closest to her, and they all waited for the solitary man who approached them.
The man introduced himself as Dr. Edwin Jenner and in answer to Rick's question about where everyone else was, he stated that he was the only one left. Rick looked at Fiona and she could see the uncertainty in his expression. He smiled at her as she squeezed his arm in reassurance. Jenner told them that they could stay if they all submitted to blood tests to make sure that none of them were infected. After realizing that everyone in the group was weak from hunger, after doing the blood tests, Jenner led them to the cafeteria where they were provided with food and alcohol. Fiona was laughing with Lori and preparing to sit by her, when she felt Shane's hand on the small of her back. She could feel his breath on her neck as he whispered in her ear. "Fi, sit by me. I'd like you by me." She nodded and let him lead her to a seat next to his. The conversation was lively as the food and drink was consumed. The women, with the exception of Andrea went lighter with the alcohol than the men. Suddenly, Shane interrupted the flow of talk with a direct challenge to Jenner. "So when are you going to tell us what the hell happened here?" Others protested that the timing was off, but Jenner went ahead and answered his question. He explained that while some had fled, others had "opted out" rather than face what was outside the doors of the CDC. He had stayed because he thought that he could still do some good. Shane received several hard looks, as his question and the answer to it had put everyone in a more somber mood. Even though Fiona felt his question was in bad taste as to the timing, she too had wondered the answer and Shane was always one to come directly to the point. She put her hand over his and he smiled briefly at her action. Jenner then stood up and directed everyone to their rooms and the showers, telling to conserve on energy. Shane took Fiona aside as the rest of the group started for their destinations.
"Fiona, I'd like you to stay with me. I'd feel better knowing you were close enough for me to protect in case anything goes down. "
She touched his cheek and smiled. "Shane, that's fine. I defer to your judgement in the protection department. I am more versed in the psychological and sociological area."
He kissed her forehead and they followed after the rest of the group as they were led to their accommodations. The room they were given had a couch and a bed. Shane volunteered for the couch. Gathering her shower supplies together, Fiona told Shane that she was going to the shower and then to the recreation room to explore a bit. "If you go exploring, take Lori or Carol with you. I don't want you by yourself." She laughed and reassured him she would.
After enjoying a nice hot shower, Fiona ran into Lori and they shared a bottle of wine as they went into the recreation room where they found Carol with Sophia and Carl. Carol took the two children to bed and Lori and Fiona sat talking and laughing for a while. They told each other about their backgrounds and lives leading up to this point. Fiona then excused herself and told Lori she was going to go back to her room. On the way out, she heard a sound from a room nearby. She opened the door to find Rick sitting on the floor with a bottle of liquor in his hand. His eyes were red rimmed and it was obvious he was upset. "Rick, what's going on?"
She knelt down next to him and framed his face in her hands. He pulled away from her, shaking his head. "It's hopeless, Fiona. I can't do this anymore. I've just been fooling myself. I can't lead this group and make them think that there is going to be a happy ending when I know better. Look at what I've done bringing all of you here. There's only one doctor left and no cure in sight. Maybe I should have listened to Shane."
Seeing the devastation on his face, Fiona took him into her arms and held him. At first he held on loosely, and then his grip tightened on her. "Rick, you are the only one capable of leading this group. Thanks to you we are all alive. You have a nobility of mind and soul that makes you the obvious choice. You have a moral code that you hold to regardless of the consequences. We need that in this new world of horror and insanity. I completely trust your judgement."
Rick pulled her closer to him and breathed in the clean scent of her freshly washed hair. "Lori and Shane doubt my decisions although they do end up supporting them in the end. Fi, I'm glad you are with us. It means a lot knowing that at least you have faith in me. "
"The others have faith in you, Rick. We are all just scared and uncertain of what the future is."
They sat quietly in each other's arms for a moment, and then Rick caressed her cheek. "Did you ever tell Shane about what happened between us before you left town."
"No, Rick. I don't want him to know. It would just hurt him. It's in the past."
"Do you ever wonder what would have happened if you had never left?" He pressed his lips to hers and for a moment she found herself responding before she pushed him away."
"Rick, you are drunk and need to go to bed." Pulling him into a standing position, Fiona helped him to his room. After closing the door behind him, she turned to find Shane standing against the wall, staring at her. He was in little better condition than his best friend and she could tell he wasn't in a good mood.
"So this is what you were doing away so long. I was worried so I came looking for you and I find you with Rick."
She started to walk away from him and headed toward their room. She didn't feel inclined to deal with his anger and just wanted to rest. Shane followed her and slammed the door behind him as they entered the room. "Shane, I want to go to sleep. Like Rick, you are drunk and I frankly don't want to talk to you right now."
"Well, you are going to listen to what I have to say. You owe me that after the way you left me without any word or explanation. You told Rick, but you couldn't even tell me. We were lovers and I wanted to marry you."
"Shane, I already told you that I left because I needed a fresh start. I had to get away from my father."
"You didn't even talk to me when you came back for his funeral. Rick told me that you left right after the services. I didn't even know you were there since you stood a distance away. It's always Rick you went to. I was the one who loved you and I had thought you felt the same."
She stood up and started to head for the door when Shane stopped her, shoving her up against the wall. "You aren't going anywhere, Fi. I want to know why you really left. You never told me but Rick knew. You broke my heart when you left and it killed me that you trusted Rick but not me. I want you to tell me the truth."
Fiona struggled against his hold, but he wouldn't release her. "Tell me. Did your father do something to you?"
The memories from her childhood all came flashing back and Fiona lashed out and scratched his throat, causing Shane to gasp and fall away from her in shock. She curled up in a ball on the floor and began sobbing. "Fi, it's alright. You are safe. I'm not going let anyone hurt you. Despite the fact she had just scratched him, Shane gathered her into his arms and held her until she quieted.
"I'm sorry for hurting you, Shane." He kissed her hair. She sighed and rested her head on his chest. "It started when Mother died and he started coming into my room. I managed to evade him but I knew it was only a matter of time. I didn't tell you because I knew you would want to kill him. I didn't want to ruin your life for a man like that. Rick didn't actually know details but he knew something was wrong. He helped me get out of town."
Shane was filled with anger at what Fiona had suffered at the hands of her father. She was right that he would have probably killed him. "I'm sorry, darlin. If I had known, I would have found some way to protect you."
She shook her head. "There was nothing you could have done against the good Judge Cahill. He would have ruined your life as well as mine."
"So that's why you went into social work."
"Yes, and it did help me heal somewhat. Each time I helped someone escape from their abuser I felt like I struck a blow against my father." She touched the scratches on his neck. "I'm glad you know. I want you to know that I never wanted to hurt you. I had to get away."
"I'm sorry I couldn't help you, Fi."
"You are helping me now. " She pressed her lips to his, and he picked her up in his arms and carried her to the bed. "Are you sure?" She nodded and began pulling at his belt, tracing kisses across his chest. They helped relieve each other of their clothes and spent the next few hours making up for lost time.