Submitted by lanie-love09 via tumblr: Lady by D'Angelo

Lady on YouTube: watch?v=-d6_LmLFhjA

Word Count: 964

Bones crushed as his fist contacted the jaw of the older man. He was sure of it because a shooting pain radiated from his balled up fingers to the tip of his shoulder blade but he didn't give a damn. The only thing he cared about at the moment was defending Michonne's honor and making it crystal clear that she, and him for that matter, were not to be fucked with.

Pound after pound, Rick's fist continued to impale the face of the offender, his fingers now swollen, discolored and covered in another man's blood. He heard the cries for help and the pleas to stop but he had no intention of letting this guy get away with what he'd done.

Thick hands landed on Rick's shoulders and struggled to pull him away from the curled up body lying nearly lifeless, drenched in his own cruor and dirt. A younger man snatched Rick up by his collar in an attempt to scare him into submission. Instead it just pissed Rick off even more. He swung his bruised and broken arms up, breaking the young man's hold.

"Get off me," Rick hollered as he stepped back, his hands held high in the air.

"Grimes," the young man countered. "What the hell is going on?"

"That son of a bitch was groping one of the women in my group. She told his sorry ass to stop but the asshole wouldn't listen."

Rick spit and wiped the sweat and grime from dripping into his eyes. "I tried to reason with that jack ass but he decided he was gonna talk shit."

"Did he put his hands on you first," the young man continued to question.

"Hell no," Rick stared at the groaning man on the ground. "But he put his hands on her and that was enough for me to step in and do something."

"Come with us," another younger man attempted to grab a hold of Rick's arm but thought better of it when Rick stared at him, his eyes wild like a roaming beast.

"I know where to go," he declared as he turned around and walked towards the office of the main council member.

Michonne flew through the doors of the infirmary and down the hall to where Rick was detained. The nurse just finished wrapping up Rick's damaged hand as Michonne approached them, her legs moving slowly over the threshold of the door.

"It's definitely broken," the nurse stated propelling her eyes between Michonne and Rick. "We'll try to get it casted in an hour or two."

She smiled at Rick before speaking once more. "To be honest, Richard deserved it. He's a pervy old man who's been getting away with harassing women since he got here. Used to slide his hand down the back of my pants until my boyfriend threatened him."

Her eyes met Michonne's and her smile remained.

"You're lucky to have someone like Grimes. I'll leave you two," she grabbed her bag and closed the exam door behind her, securing the closure.

Rick pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head. He remained seated on the exam table as Michonne made her way in front of him and stood with her arms crossed her chest.

"I know," Rick began. "Before you start talking about being able to defend yourself let me just say that man deserved that beating and I don't give a damn if you like it or not. You can be mad all you want at me 'Chonne but I'm not gonna to let him or any other man, get away with touching you like that."

"Rick," Michonne interjected. "I did defend myself and I'm not mad. You almost killed that man though and for what? We need to stay in this place. I can't do living on the road again, Rick."

"I know that Mich. I know this is a good place for us. I'm not trying to fuck that up but his hands were all over your body," Rick growled. "What was I suppose to do, sit there and watch?"

"No."

"Well, then," he spoke much calmer this time but his jaw was clenched. He was contemplating what to say next. "We can't keep what's between us a secret anymore."

"But Rick," Michonne began to contend.

"No," he stated firmly shaking his head slightly from side to side. "They don't know about us so they think you're for the taking. No. I'm not having any of that shit."

"So what do you suppose we do," Michonne questioned, her arms wrapped tighter around her waist.

Rick's eyes roamed over Michonne's face and down her body. She was accustomed to this exchange between the two of them. His eyes never wandered where they didn't want to. He wore his heart on his sleeve and his emotions on his face. She'd grown to know when Rick was pissed, when he was tired or hungry, even when he was horny just by the expression he wore on his face. His current countenance caused a chilling sensation to disperse throughout her body. She wanted him more than ever, especially knowing he was willing to take someone's life for just touching her inappropriately.

He came to his feet and stood before her. His free hand snaked around her waist and drew her body into his. Their eyes connected for a moment before Rick rested his head on her shoulder, planting a smoldering kiss on her neck. Her hands instinctively glided up his arms and made their way to the nape of his neck, her fingers intermingled with his soft curls.

"You're my lady," Rick whispered as his lips parted from her mocha skin.

Michonne smiled, "And you're my man."

"Damn right," Rick smiled back. "And everyone needs to know."

A/N: Thank you lanie for the song suggestion. I haven't listened to D'Angelo in years. Brought back some memories. Anyway, I really enjoyed writing this one, especially rough and tumble Rick. I hope you enjoy the ficlet!