A/N: Part III

Rated R- violence

Rick could not shake the uneasy feeling festering in his gut. Michonne was nowhere to be found. He'd checked almost everywhere and was now approaching the last house on the left. His uncomfortable emotion was confirmed with the sound of a gut-wrenching scream. The sound coming from the last house caused his heart to accelerate. He instinctively drew his gun and swiftly made his way towards the sound.

Inside the large home, the sounds of a scuffle downstairs could be heard and Rick rushed down to the lower level to investigate. The sight stopped him in his tracks and he let out an audible gasp. For a moment it felt as if time stopped, he tried to catch his breath but it was like trying to breathe underwater.

A bloodied wounded Michonne was fighting for her life against an equally bloodied Jessie who was attacking her. He'd never seen Michonne look so vulnerable, so afraid. At the same time, he couldn't believe the savage, crazed look on Jessica's face and the visceral insults she spat at Michonne as she viciously attacked her.

"Michonne...Jessie...!" Rick shouted out, pointing his Colt in that direction. He wanted to fire a warning shot near Jessie's head but thought it wise not to. He was a perfect shot, but, the sound would cause too much of a commotion from the Alexandrians and the town had already been shaken to its core.

I can handle this... He told himself.

It was the sound of Rick's voice that gave Michonne the needed strength to push her attacker off and quickly scramble to her feet. She ran as fast as she could towards Rick, badly limping the entire distance. She slumped onto the stairs, too weak from the fight and loss of blood to go any further. Taking the last bit of strength she had, she ripped the rest of her pants leg off, tying the cloth around her aching wound. Although the bleeding had slowed, the wound burned and ached.

Jessie deliberately rose to her feet, glaring at Rick like a wolf does its prey. "Rick, that animal attacked me!" She barked.

"Shut up!" Rick shouted, furious at her audacity, he cocked his gun, aiming it between her eyes to express his point.

Jessie was infuriated, the pain in her jaw did not register. "How could you choose her over me?" She attempted to appear like the vulnerable housewife she portrayed.

"How could you do this Michonne?" Rick, snapped, he saw right past her deception. He'd abruptly realize that Michonne had paid a hefty price for his stupidity.

"Answer me dammit!" Jessie screamed at Rick.

"Turn around," Rick ordered, sneering at her through gritted teeth.

Jessie gave him a disdainful glare before she reluctantly complied with his demand.

"How could you do this to me?" She cried, knowing her pleads were falling upon deaf ears.

Rick said nothing to her as he yanked her by both arms and led her over to the pillar, pulling her arms around her back handcuffing them together. He made sure they were as tight as he could get them.

Rick turned to face Michonne, her appearance was heartbreaking. With one swift motion, he lifted her off her feet and carried her up the stairs and out of the house. Her body shuddered as he carried her into the house. She was still upset and cold due to the attack and blood loss, her lip quivered profusely as she refused to cry. He gently placed her down on the fleece-covered sofa. He dashed to the kitchen and was back in the front room just as fast as he left. He handed her two extra-strength Tylenol and bottled water. Michonne silently took the medicine and sipped the water to wash it down. Rick carefully examined her wound. Luckily the bleeding had stopped, but the gash would need to be cleaned to see how many stitches she needed.

"I need a shot of that whiskey you have stashed on top of the cabinet." She asked softly.

Rick nodded and returned to the kitchen to retrieve her order but upon his return, Michonne had made her way halfway up the stairs.

"What are you doing?" Rick asked, handing her the half-full glass of whiskey.

"If you don't mind, I'd like to go to bed." She sighed, looking into her glass before bringing it to her lips and gulping down every drop of liquor.

She had been avoiding eye contact but forced herself to peer at him. Her dark eyes sought a place of comfort in his sea of blue. She bit her lip and her eyes welled, "Oh hell..." she said and the hold over her emotions broke while her hand covered her face as she wept.

Rick whispered, "Michonne, please don't cry." He took the glass from her hand and set it on the stairs.

Her head rested against his chest as her body shook. He embraced her and held her like that until her sobbing quieted.

"Let me take care of you." He whispered, knowing it would be quite the allowance to have his strong, independent, and cunning Michonne let him take care of her. But he hoped that she would receive that he had offered in the manner that it had been given...out of love. Lifting her off her feet, he carried her for the remainder of the flight.

He gently sat Michonne on the lid of the toilet and quickly retrieved the Epsom salt, turning on the water he poured a little into the tub and placed all the other needed items on the counter by the sink.

When he was satisfied that the salt had dissolved, he slowly began to peel off her tattered clothes. He picked her up and placed her in the large bathtub. "Is the temperature okay?" He asked wanting to make sure she was comfortable.

She nodded, "Mmmmm," Her eyes closed and she appeared relaxed. Rick took that as a good sign and he removed his clothes.

He grabbed a sponge and sat behind her in the tub, there was more than enough room for them to fit comfortably. Her body was limp and the only thing keeping her above water was the firm grip Rick had on her.

Rick took the time to massage her shoulders. His large hands easily covered her small shoulders. She hummed her approval again, "Mmmm, that feels good." She said barely above a whisper. Rick was more than happy to make her feel that way. He continued to massage her, moving from her neck to her shoulders. He knew he was doing an effective job by the soft whimpers coming from Michonne. The handsome man's intent was not to be sexual, he purely wanted to provide comfort to her. Cleaning her body literally and metaphorically of all the awful happenings of the night.

Still, it was difficult for Rick to control himself with a naked, beautiful, relaxed, and wet Michonne sitting in between his lap.

After about thirty minutes he asked. "Chonne, are you ready to get out?" The water had begun to cool. She did not respond with words she only nodded her head. Rick lifted himself out of the tub and grabbed two towels, quickly wrapping one around his waist.

When she stood up, he quickly retrieved her, gently patting her entire body dry, not wanting her to exert any energy whatsoever. All the while admiring her lovely, petite curves and staving off his lustful desires for her.

"You don't have to treat me like I'm going to break." She sighed. He had already begun nursing her wound and was relieved that she would only need no more than three stitches. "I know beautiful, you're the strongest person I've ever known and I'm lucky to know you." He placed the surgical bandage on the two-inch scar and wrapped the Ace bandage around her thigh. "But goddamnit Michonne, I love you...I want to take care of you if you'd only let me."

He felt her stiffen a little at his words and it caused him to pause.

"It took all of this to happen for you to realize that you love me?" She asked looking him directly in the eyes. Her profound eyes searched his soul for answers.

Rick's heart swelled at her words, his blue eyes gazed into her doe eyes, he took in a deep breath and said, "I've been in love with you for a while now Michonne. And it scared me...I didn't want to... I was so..." He couldn't find the words to express his troubled feelings. But he was certain of when he had truly fallen for her. It was the day she returned from her long trip back to prison. He was falling apart and she was the glue that pieced him back together. Without her, his whole world would fall apart, piece by piece.

"I have no excuse for neglecting your needs, for denying my feelings for you... I'm so sorry, and I hope that we can... that we can be together." He found it hard to swallow when tears began to swell in her eyes. "If you let me...I'll do my best to make you happy." He said, gently wiping her tears away and kissing her lips lightly.

"I love you too." She said softly, breathlessly.

He handed her a clean t-shirt and she slid it on. He took her hand in his and led her to his bedroom. She laid down on his bed and he crawled in next to her covering them up with a blanket. Rick snaked his hands around to her chest and pulled her so there was not even an inch of space between them. And although he was grateful she was allowing him to spoon her so closely, it felt like he was still not close enough. She intertwined her hands with his, enjoying the firmness, the warmness of his embrace. It felt so natural as if a force had led them to each other and nothing in the world could tear them apart.

"I can't lose you Chonne." He admitted, Rick, could hear the desperation in his voice. "You, Carl, and Judith...you're my entire world..."

"If you ever do lose me, I promise it won't be to a psychotic, barber." Michonne let out a tiny chuckle causing Rick's heart to melt. He gave her hand a firm squeeze. The thought of almost losing her was taking him to the darkest parts of his mind. He wanted her, needed her, so much he almost couldn't breathe, Rick vowed at that moment to protect Michonne at all cost. He swore he would kill anyone who dared try and harm her. He pulled her into him even more, kissing the crook of her neck.

"Speaking of psycho, what do you want to do with her?" He whispered supportively.

"What do you mean?" She said, her voice coming out breathy. Rick's care, his firm embrace, and his rock-hard body easily washed away all physical and mental scars that the deranged woman had created.

I let my guard down behind the walls; it won't happen again. She promised to herself.

"Jessica Anderson has to pay for what she did to you and sitting there all night handcuffed to a pillar is not punishment enough." He grumbled, his voice deep and raspy.

"Let me sleep on it, Rick." She let out an exhausted yawn. "I honestly don't want to think about her right now. I never want to see that crazy bitch again."

"Then you never will," Rick swore darkly, he did not need to elaborate, Michonne knew exactly what that meant.

A/N: Thank you for all the support and reviews. I highly recommend the story Jessie's Fate by Zeejack. It is the conclusion of all conclusions to this story. Thank you so much Zeejack for being such tremendous support.