Protection (Rick Grimes)

Chapter Nineteen

Danielle's POV

"No." I growl as Austin attempts to talk to me.

"Why are you suddenly a bitch to me?" He asks.

"Because it was a mistake. What happened between us shouldn't have. Because I'm not over Rick and I've came to realize that leaving the group, was the biggest mistake I've made. Other than having sex with you." I tell him quietly. He stares at me in disbelief.

"So you basically used me?"

"Yes. I'm sorry. Now get over it." I grumble and try to walk off but he grabs my arm tightly. I wince in pain but Austin doesn't loosen his grip.

"Let go." I demand.

"No. Have you realized that Rick killed your son on purpose? What if he wants to kill you too? I'm just trying to be there for you and protect you." He growls at me.

"I don't need your help. Now let me go." I demand.

"I have a question for you." Austin says and tightens his grip. I roll my eyes and sigh, knowing I won't be able to get away anytime soon.

"What?" I ask.

"Who will you turn to when you need help? Someone to killed you son, or someone who hasn't hurt you at all?"

"Someone who killed my son. Y'all have both hurt me. If I remember correctly, you shot me and now you're cutting off my circulation." I inform him.

"You're a whore, I hope you know that."

"Let me go, Austin." He doesn't move. "I said. Let. Go."

"Let her go." I hear. I turn and see Glenn standing not far behind me with a gun pointed at Austin. I hear Austin sigh before he pushes me down and storms off. Glenn rushes to my side and helps me up.

"Are you okay?" Glenn asks me.

"Yeah. I'm fine." I assure him.

"He's turning into another Shane Walsh." Glenn sighs. I just give him a look

"Shane Walsh?"

"He was Rick's best friend. He was an asshole. Rick had to kill him in self defense." Glenn explains.

I nod and rub my arm where Austin was holding me. Glenn notices and pushes my sleeve up to look. His eyes widens and they fill with anger.

"I'll kill him." He grumbles.

"Don't worry about it, Glenn. I'm fine." I assure and smile at him. He nods with a sigh before walking away. I walk off to Maggie and sit down beside her.

"I'm glad your back." She tells me as soon as I sit down. I look over and smile.

"Me too." I say. Half of me was telling the truth and the other half was lying. I still don't know what to think.

I know for a fact I'm safe with this group. I know for a fact that Daryl and Chelsea care about me. Daryl. I'm suppose to talk to him for Chelsea.

"Have you seen Daryl?" I ask Maggie.

"Yeah. He went hunting like a few minutes ago. I doubt he's too far. Maybe you can find him." Maggie tells me. I nod and smile at her.

Standing up to go find Daryl, I see Austin staring at me as I walk into the woods. I ignore it and continue to go find my brother.

After a few minutes of walking, someone puts their hand over my mouth and pulls me towards them. My screams are muffled as I try to get away.

"You seriously think I'm going to let what happened slide?" A deep voice says into my ear and I instantly know that it's Austin.

"Let me go." I mumble but I know that Austin heard me.

"There's no one that can help you out here. I can do whatever I want. Danielle do you realize that I want to protect you? I want to be with you, Danielle. Rick doesn't. He obviously doesn't."

"Leave me alone, Austin." I try again. He grabs a hold of my arm and holds it tightly. If I don't get away from him, he could kill me.

I take a risky chance and elbow him in his side making him release me. I take this as my chance to get away. I begin running, trying to find Daryl. I know he's out here.

I'm suddenly tackled to the ground, my head scraping against a limb. I know I'm bleeding, but I've got other things to worry about instead of my head bleeding. Austin holds my hands behind my back and leans down towards me.

"I've done a lot for you." He says and stands up. He kicks me in my side making me groan in pain. Tears form in my eyes but I force them back.

"I actually care about you, Danielle." He says with another kick.

"I actually want to be with you."

Another kick. And another groan of pain.

"They. Don't. Give. A. Shit. About. You." He says and kicks me harder than before between each word he says.

"Can't you fucking see that?" This time he kicks me in my chest. He suddenly gets on top of me and forces me to look at him.

"You're such a dumb bitch." He growls. He slaps me then gets up and walks away.

That's when I let the tears fall. I pull my legs up to my chest, but there is a sharp pain making me cringe and put my legs down. I put my head in my hands and sob. This is what I get for trusting Austin when I knew absolutely nothing about him.

"Danielle?" I hear a deep voice. I turn and see Daryl with his crossbow slung over his shoulders and a few squirrels on his belt. He rushes to me and drops down beside me.

"What the hell happened?" He asks as I fall into his arms and cry into his shoulder.

"I thought he was going to kill me." I cry.

"Who?" Daryl asks and hold me tight.

"A-Austin."

I hear Daryl sigh and I instantly know that he's furious. I don't blame him. I would be too, but I'm the one who has bruises all over and now crying my eyes out because I thought I was going to be killed.

"You're okay now." He assures me. I nod and pull back to look at him. His eyes are full of anger and I can tell that he wants to beat the shit out of Austin. He reaches up and wipes my forehead.

"Come on, let's go back to the others." Daryl says and helps me up. I lean into his side ignoring the pain in my chest and sides while we walk back to the group.