I'm not basing this on anything I'm aware of from any Table Top Role Playing Games, though I would be surprised if it wasn't possible to try and defend another player through various means.

I'm PRETTY sure there are games in which you'd have the option to say "I ready myself to defend those near me" or something, and then that character would attempt to do that if a nearby ally were attacked.

In any case, I wanted Rich to defend George, so there's a mechanic that let Rich defend George.

I did struggle wording it in a way that vaguely makes sense and is possible for anyone to follow, however. Hopefully pulled that off.