(Just wanted to throw it out there that I'm very thankful for the followers of this, as I've sometimes felt shy. Also wondering if anyone would even like the way I write(or type rather.) and I just hope there is visible improvement along the way that you all can see.

I may stop with the whole 'POV' thing, as it seems to lack purpose now that we are starting to see more substance.

Again, I'm happy to accept any feedback!

Take care xo)

The morning had finally come and hit like a hammer to the face. Athena groaned and slowly opened her eyes. Head throbbing, her groggy state disappeared quick as the hangover set in with full force. With an aching belly, she slowly got up and shuffled her way to the washroom. "Uuuuugh... my fucking heeeaad." She complained to herself.

Taking note of the shower to her left, she suddenly realized how grungy and dirty she felt after days in the woods and her drunken escapade. Turning on the tap and awaiting the heat, she hopped in at once. Ooooooh yes. I needed this. Her thoughts only simple at best. Waking up was never her strong suit in life.

Just as she was lathering up with the soap from the wall dispenser, she heard the toilet flush. "Jesus!" she jolted into the wall as she yelped. Looking through the foggy glass shower door, she saw his figure standing at the sink. "Damn.. you scared me... I'm clearly way too hungover for life right now." water ran down her front as she continued to lean against the shower wall. Covering her face with her hands, she felt awkward and embarrassed toward him after what had happened the night before.

"Yer tellin' me." Daryl's morning voice was husky and low. "Hell, I hardly remember yesterday." His words hit her hard in the chest. She even exhaled as though she'd been hit in the stomach. He doesn't remember!? I... but... what the FUCK.. Dammit, Asshole! Her thoughts went from stunned to angry in zero to ten seconds flat. Quickly rinsing off her body and hair, she turned off the water. Looking through the glass again, she saw that he wasn't there anymore.

Opening the glass dooor and quickly snatching a fresh towel near by, she dried herself with lightning speed. Anger and pain causing her to move faster than she ever would have normally. How could he just... How could I... I should have known better... I remember. Athena's thoughts rolled over and over in her mind. She felt a single tear escape. "Stop." She whispered to herself.

Once she was dressed again, she left the room, ignoring him the whole time she gathered herself. Unable to even look at him. Soon after leaving the room, she found herself amoungst the group in the hall where they all gathered the night before. Before she gave herself to someone who didn't even give a shit, apparently. Her feelings were hurt and it showed in her eyes. All the more reason to play up the hangover.

Thankfully when she took a seat, T-Dog made a crack about her being hungover. As planned, she nodded and put her head down on the table. Glen's voice then entered her mind. "Hey Athena, Orange juice or Coffee?" His voice was more or less friendly and rather soothing.

"Coffee, please." She replied with her head still resting on the table. "Sugar? Cream?" Glen's kind offer made her faintly smile. Finally raising her head again, she replied more lively this time. "Both please." He nodded with a smile and turned to dress the cup of hot black liquid.

"Best make that two glen." Daryl's voice rang out, he too sounded rough. She snapped her head to look at him as he took a seat on the left of her. She could see that his hair was wet, and his skin looked more clear than she had ever seen, and to be plain.. He looked great. Even so, she shot him a quick glare and looked away. He might be clean and hot but hes still the asshole who doesn't even remember last night.

"Uh. Sure!" Glen replied, pulling another cup of coffee for Daryl. Once she and he were given their coffees, she smiled thankfully at Glen. "Thanks Glen, I really need this right now.." Her tone representing dual meanings. Daryl's eyes narrowed at her after catching her glare. What the fuck is this girl's problem? ...spend a night together n' she treats me like this? his thoughts were bitter and confused.

"So what did you do before all this Athena?" T-Dog asked casually, sitting to her right. His tone of voice showed genuine interest, and both Glen and a silent Rick also looked across the table to her for her response. She looked into her cup of coffee and was in a thoughtful frame of mind now, barely having given her past domestic life much thought in a good long while.

"Well.. Before the outbreak I had two jobs. The main one was working as a assistant to the CEO of a computer program developer type company. Mega boring most of the time. And the other was my favorite, part-time with the local search and rescue team of Georgia.. They paid for me to learn how to fly a helicopter too. So that I could do transport and aerial searches.. That was fun and personally rewarding.. My main thing is helping people I guess.." She finished with a big gulp of her coffee, finally looking up to see that a couple more of the group had come in and listened.

"Wow, cooool! Mom! She can fly a helicopter!" A young boy's voice echoed through the room excitedly. Athena looked over to see that they had been joined by Lori, Carl, Shane and Jenner. Her cheeks turned a tint of pink and she nodded slightly awkwardly. "Yes sweetie, I heard that too. Very cool." Lori replied to her son. Rick laughed and looked on at his son with a warm fatherly smile.

Athena smiled toward Rick and his family, reminding her again of her own dad and how warm he was too. Looking back down to her coffee, she sighed wondering what happened to her dad and brother. Mostly just hoping that they weren't torn apart by the dead. "What computer company?" Glen's voice broke her thoughts and brought her back to now.

"Oh.. EA. Electronic Arts.. Yano, they make games n' stuff" She said shyly. "What! EA? Like 'EA sports, it's in the game.' EA? That's badass." Glen reacted strongly causing her to want to hide. All this attention was making her feel overwhelmed. "Yea, that EA." She nodded with a smile and a soft chuckle. Not that it matters now.

"Not that I don't enjoy hearing about helicopters and games, but I'm still wonderin' when our Doc here is gonna tell us what happened here.. and why hes the only one here." Shane broke in sternly. Earning a couple dark gazes and eye rolls. Athena sighed, for once feeling slightly thankful for Shane's rude headstrong attitude. Because she was now definitely tired of talking, her headache and annoyance still dwelling within her.

Daryl didn't look at Shane or Jenner like everyone else did, but instead looked to her with a questioning look playing his features. He wondered why she would have ever been interested in him when she was who he just found out she was. Athena finally looked to him and their eyes met. At first she looked angry then, her expression looked more hurt than anything. His confusion growing more intense as he wondered what the hell happened to make her act like this.

Jenner finally told everyone about the rash of suicides and how he stayed to look for a cure as long as possible. Then leading everyone out of the hall and toward the big room. Athena stayed sitting longer than everyone else, looking down at her coffee cup. Daryl was about to follow behind Rick out of the hall, but stopped when he looked back to see her sitting still.

"Ya comin'?" He asked cautiously. She rolled her eyes and stood up aggressively. Walking over and about to pass him. He grabbed her hand firmly to stop her. Confusion and annoyance written all over his face. "What's goin' on here" He said more hushed than usual, trying to keep this private. "Since ya woke up, been actin' like a cold bitch" His eyes narrowed with frustration.

"Gee I don't know Daryl. Maybe if you could remember last night, you'd know why I'm upset..." She said sharply, her voice thick with sarcasm and hurt emotion. "Or better yet, let me be blunt. You don't even remember something that ...in fact mattered to me. I guess I'm just some dumb bitch for thinking it ment anything to you too." She spat, her voice cracked and it was finally evident that she was very hurt and discouraged by the turn of the mornings events. "I felt something for you.. I'm not that kinda girl. So just.. Leave me alone. I'm not up for fake bullshit. No room for it.. "

His heart sank to hear her words. Since he really did remember what had happened between them. Only deciding to hide it to save himself the awkward interaction with her incase she had regrets about being with him like that. His expression fell and all his anger left when he heard her voice crack. But before he could speak, she tore her hand away and followed on into the big room with the group.

Daryl stood in silence for a moment and clinched his fists. He growled at himself and heaved a deep heavy sigh. Then he too followed the long hall to meet the rest of them in the big room.

Once there, they all watched the big screen that displayed the events of someone that had been bitten. TS-19, as Jenner called them. Athena gasped as the display showed a bullet passing through the dark brain. He shot his patient. It hit her hard and caused a lump to quickly form in her throat. It was what happened to her ma. By her own trigger.

Catching the scent of Daryl, she looked up to see him standing next to her, clearly not put off by her confession to him in the hall just moments before. Her eyes were shrink wrapped in tears and they slowly crept down her cheeks. He must have felt her gaze, because he looked next to him at her and his hardened steel blue eyes softened a bit.

He stepped a little closer and whispered to her "Jus' so ya know.. I remember everythin', n' it does matter" His words were spoken with honesty and a hint of caring. She finally smiled faintly at him. "That's not why I'm cryin'.. The day you found me... That morning I had to put down my mom.. she got bit.." Finally admitting to him what caused her the most pain of all.

Daryl's eyes looked into hers intently as he listened to her. Awkwardly not knowing what to say, and not knowing how to comfort her. Simply he took her hand in his discreetly. "I'm here for ya." Was all he could think of to say. For once in his life, he wanted to make someone else happy and be there with them. She gave his hand a soft squeeze.

Athena knew that he was being sincere and genuine in his actions and words to her. She sighed heavily and a sense of relief washed over her. Easily able to see in his eyes that he really was there for her, something she never thought she would feel again. Instantly feeling a little guilty for all the things she said to him, yet knowing that making her intentions clear was needed.

Her relief was short lived as Dale had asked about the red numbered digital clock on a fall wall. It was counting down. Jenner seemed hesitant to say, but admitted that it was counting down to when the basement generators ran out of fuel. Rick clarified with 'Vi' what that ment. And suddenly Rick, Shane, Glen and TDog ran off to investigate.

Daryl and Athena exchanged perplexed but nervous glances and both hung around in the room as the group fanned out. Her eyes questioned him what do we do now?, and he seemed to get the message clearly as he let go of her hand and went on to question Jenner.

Lights and basic electronics were shutting down and it almost looked like the CDC was dying. "whats it mean? Decontamination? Of what, US?!" He pressed with aggression. Jenner didn't answer him. And not long after, Rick and the others ran back in and he yelled "Jenner, whats happening!" The answer he got back was less than favorable. "the system is dropping non-essential power.. Designed to keep the computers running to the last possible moment."

There was a fearful silence and shock that came over everyone as he declared that half an hour was left. Just as Rick commanded "Everybody grab your things, we are getting out of here now." Alarms sounded and red lights flashed. Jenner touched a keypad and the door to the big room closed. Locking them all in.