My Damaged Protector

Chapter Fifty-Three ~ East

The day following Denise's death, I spent away from any of the runs we had scheduled. I had taken the time to speak with Rick about having someone cover my shift on guard later in the day before deciding to spend my time teaching Jasper how to use a gun.

I had opted to check out a small handgun from the armory, taking a box of bullets with me as I led Jasper to a clearing in the center of the community. The gun was equipped with a silencer and was small enough that Jasper would be able to handle the kick of the gun when he fired.

"Go set these out on the fence." Jasper dragged a box of old glass bottles with him as he set them on the fence to use as targets. Merle had joined us not too long after Jasper began setting up the bottles, standing beside me silently for a few moments.

"I don't need a babysitter." I commented to the older Dixon, loading the gun, and making sure the safety was on.

"I know." He stated, fidgeting with one of the straps on his metal hand.

"Daryl send you?" I asked, knowing he was worried when I left this morning but didn't fight me on it.

Merle shook his head. "Nah."

Jasper marched back to my side, sending Merle a bright grin. "All right bud. Two hands here." I handed him the small gun and took mine out to demonstrate the directions I would be giving. "Hold it like this and keep it up in front of you." I held my gun up and watched as Jasper mimicked my movement. "Good. Now, you're going to aim with both eyes open. When you're ready to fire, you squeeze the trigger, not pull. Pulling it will change where you aim." I holstered my gun and gently clicked the safety off and showed him how to load the gun. "All right. Whenever you're ready you can fire."

He glanced at me nervously for a moment before squaring his shoulders and taking his aim. After squeezing the trigger three times, he was finally able to shatter his first bottle, and I swear I've never seen a smile as big as the one he had. "I did it!" He cheered, looking to me and Merle.

"Way to go little man! I'm so proud of you!" I smiled with him, watching as he continued to shatter bottles, each time getting better and better. When his gun clicked and no bullet left, he glanced at me. "You remember what to do when you're out? Put the safety back on and go reload it." Jasper sat down beside the box of ammo that I had brought, taking his time to carefully reload the clip.

"Ya know," Merle started, "he's gonna be fine now. He knows what to do. He'll be safe." He bumped his arm with mine. "You know that, right little sis?"

I let a deep breath out through my nose, rolling my eyes. "Shut up." A laugh bubbled from my chest as I shoved him back.

"What?" Merle chuckled. "Technically, you are now. That brother of yours, he's mine now too."

A smile crossed my lips again as I watched Jasper stand and go back to his place to keep practicing. It meant a lot to me that Merle was so accepting of Jasper and I, that he and my little brother absolutely adored each other. The rumbling of a motorcycle towards the front of the community drew my attention from Jasper. "I'll be back. Keep an eye on him for me?" Merle nodded, telling me to go, which sent me into a sprint for the front gates. "Daryl!" I called once I rounded the corner, and I could see the front gates. He was armed with two knives on his hip and a gun slung over his shoulder. "What are you doing? Where are you going?"

Daryl simply got off the rumbling bike to go open the gate. "Where you goin'?" Rosita came from the house on the corner, obviously concerned for the hunter.

"Out." He stated while pushing the gate with the fabric back.

"No shit." Abraham said from the watch post above us. "You got specifics?"