Disclaimer: I own nothing, just putting some crazy ideas to paper.

Note: I've had to get around some weird stuff in the website, seems the uploading of new stories isn't working at the moment. So I have ingeniously modified an existing document with the new chapter. I hope this gets cleared up in the future.

This chapter has really been another study in dialogue for me. That is something many of my stories have been lacking over the years and I hope that this story becomes instrumental in making it better. Comments, reviews and points for improvement from YOU are always welcome. It's been difficult lately but I'm trying to update every ongoing story I have...which is like four. The positive for this little snippet is that I already know the progression and the ending :-) Up next, some more sexual tension building!

Chapter 4: Sunday Night Fights

It had been more difficult to get to sleep the night before than Sansa had expected. She hadn't been able to shake the picture of Sandor's nearly naked body from her mind, but if she had to be honest with herself she didn't want to. His long hair had been tied up in a loose bun, with a few renegade whisps hanging down to his shoulders. His body was big and defined, with almost every muscle in his back curving, dipping or bulging depending on its use. Sandor had been less hairy than she had expected, despite his rather odd nickname of the Hound. His chest was covered with a well kept uniform brown hair that made its way down his abs and into his…well. Sansa flushed when she thought of where her eyes had rested for an abnormally long amount of time. The bulge between his legs had demanded her attention, it was large even on a man of his size and she couldn't deny that it made her flush and hot under the collar. Even now, while she prepared a few things for breakfast, she squeezed her thighs together to deaden the growing desire there. She'd never given much thought to what she wanted physically in a man, Joff had been the only guy she had ever messed around with. He certainly hadn't been built like Sandor, and he certainly didn't have the kind of 'equipment' that Sandor had. She bit her lip and quickly got back to what she was doing, having heard her houseguest stirr in the hallway.

"Good morning." Sansa said, not turning around when the door to the kitchen opened. She heard a slight grumble of something and knew immediately that the Hound was not a morning person.

A cup of coffee in hand she turned to greet him. He was sitting at the kitchen bar, his hair pulled back, in a black T-Shirt and with a gaze that would have indicated he'd found heaven. Raising an eyebrow in question Sansa set the coffee down in front of him.

"Girl, if you wear those kinds of things around me, I don't know if I'm going to be able to contain myself." Came the rough raspy voice of somebody who had just woken up.

A laugh escaped Sansa's lips as she realized what she had on, a pair of ¾ cheeky satin underwear in emerald green and a satin camisole in a rust color. She'd worn them on purpose of course, she just hadn't reckoned he'd comment on it so quickly.

"It's my house, I'm happy to take the risk." She eyed him as she said it, trying to discern how serious he was. "You keep wearing your little speedos to bed, and I'm not sure I'll be able to contain myself."

He was considering something, but what she couldn't sure. Her guest had not anticipated that comment from her, so they were even for now. Before she could turn back to the stove, and before anything witty could escape the Hound's lips the back door to the kitchen swung open to reveal the brusk, nonsense form of her little sister, Arya.

"I can't stay long, just a cup of coffee and I'm off." Arya announced, clearly not realizing she and her sister were not alone. The short, brown haired young woman wore a sheriff's uniform, badge, radios, guns - serious business.

"Oh that's too bad, I made enough batter for three people." Sansa said, realizing only now that Arya had seen the big dark stranger seated at her kitchen bar.

The young woman had stopped mid stride, her teeth still sunk into an apple she'd grabbed from the fruit bowl on the counter. Her big eyes took the strange man in, not sure whether to shoot him, greet him or say nothing. She decided to greet him, in a manner of speaking, "Who the fuck is this? Did I interrupt something?" She said not taking her eyes off of Sandor but clearly talking to her sister.

"Good fucking morning to you too." Sandor said, not changing his expression. Sipping his coffee in wait for her response.

"He's staying with me till I get his bike fixed. You could learn to be a bit more respectful when you meet somebody for the first time." Sansa chided her sister. "His name is Sandor."

Arya looked at the big man and took a step closer to him, clearly protective of her sister, "So where are you from?"

From the way she asked and the look she gave, Sandor knew she was in police mode. He hated the police, not only because he had always operated just outside of the law, but also because he found them stupid and useless. Impotent to get anything done quickly and efficiently, that was why there were men like him in the world.

Putting both his hands on his mug he answered, "If you're gonna arrest me for eating pancakes in your sister's house, then get on with it already. Otherwise, drop the fucking bad cop act, before I get angry."

The little firecracker of a sheriff glared at him a moment, her eyes searching him for lies and deceit.

"Arya." Sansa said, putting her hand on her sister's shoulder, "Sandor helped get Joff to get off my porch yesterday. He can be trusted."

It was clear the law woman still didn't like Sandor's presence, but there wasn't anything she could do about it now. She turned to her sister and continued as if he weren't there, "We're still trying to get that restraining order for that cunt Joff. But he's got friends….I'm working on it."

Sansa smiled, handed her sister a cup of coffee and turned back the stove pouring some batter into the pan. "Did Bran sleep at yours last night? I checked his room and he didn't come back here."

"Yeah, he's passed out on the couch. I'd give him today to rest and he'll be back at the service station come Monday morning."

Sansa merely nodded, flipped some pancakes and continued, "What's stealing you away from me this Sunday morning?"

"Aside from ugly over there?"Arya said, thrown a glare at the big man at the kitchen bar. The Hound matched her look, doing what he could to quell his anger.

"Arya!" Sansa yelled throwing her sister an exasperated look.

"There's been some trouble a couple of towns over. Seems like some out of towners shot up a bar, big fucking mess." The little sheriff downed her coffee in one final gulp and gave her big sister a hug. "I'm outta here. Will I see you tonight?"

"Oh at the cattle auction?" Sansa turned and eyed Sandor a moment, "Yeah we'll be there."

"We?" Arya looked betrayed as she glared at Sandor. He merely gave her a self satisfied smile and shifted his eyes to the door.

Narrowing her eyes at him then turning, Arya blew her sister a quick kiss. She then looked over her shoulder, sent Sandor the evil eye and vanished out the front door of the house in flash.

Dropping a heaping plate of pancakes in front of her guest Sansa said, "She's rough around the edges, but you'll get used to her."

At that Sandor only snorted, "She talks like that, and she's lival to bite off more than she can chew."

"She might be small," Sansa said, her back to Sandor, "But there's more to her than meets the eye."

"Umm Hum." Sandor nodded, more interested in his food than striking up a conversation about the pint sized sheriff.

Some moments passed between them in silence before Sansa started up the conversation again, "So I uh...hope I wasn't being too forward by suggestion you come with me to the cattle auction tonight."

Sandor could tell by her voice alone that she was a bit nervous, but about what he couldn't be sure. She could get any man she wanted just by flashing a smile and shaking that full ass of hers. 'Why is she so insecure?' he wondered as he chewed up the last bit of the food on his plate.

"Well I guess I ain't got anything better to do." He sighed, "And because you spoke for me anyway, seems like I don't have much of a choice."

His grin signaled he was teasing her a bit and Sansa jumped at his acceptance of the invitation. She was almost as giddy as a schoolgirl, "Great! So we'll get to look at the cows and go to the dance…"

"Wait there's a dance?" He interrupted her, now a little less sure he wanted to go meet half the town.

"Oh come on." She pleaded, giving him those big blue bedroom eyes. "Besides you'll be with me anyway."

An unsure look passed from the Hound to Sansa, and it was met with a smirk that could only indicate she knew something he didn't. Sandor rolled his eyes to himself, not sure what he had agreed to, but knowing he was damned happy to be the center of her attention.

She wore a light blue cowboy shirt tied into a crop top, the color blue that not only matched her eyes but accentuated her soft light colored skin. Her jeans were so tight you could have forgiven her for almost any transgression. Sandor liked the way they rode up her ass, dividing her cute cheeks into two ample handfuls of well rounded woman. Sansa was the kind of woman who could give a jealous man heart failure, and a possessive man reason to come to her house and demand she come back to him. Sandor couldn't believe that little prick of a boy had had his fill of the stunning lady in front of him, but he did know a woman like that could drive any man to madness, or killing...or worse.

Sandor pondered this a moment as Sansa threw him a smile to where he sat comfortably on her overstuffed sofa. He instantly regretted wearing his tight jeans tonight, seeing as just watching her cross the room to grab her truck keys had an effect on him. She seemed to like his choice of pants though, leaving her eye linger on them as he stood up to follow her over to the truck.

The town of Winterfell itself was small. Sure it had a few mini-marts, a gas station or two and so on, but it was dead. Like the life of the town had been squeezed from it and this was what was left. Something dark and lifeless, a once thriving place on the brink of collapse. Sandor wondered how much of this had to do with Sansa's family. He'd seen lots of photos and awards throughout the house, her father must have been pretty damned important around here, certainly he was well loved. This whole business with Joffrey and land must have turned the place upside down. Sandor felt a pang of sadness for his date, as they pulled up to the fairgrounds just outside the town.

It was hoping to say the least, all sorts of truck and motorcycles parked out there with music playing. 'At least there still seems to be a hope for life.' Sandor thought as the bouncing redhead took him by the hand.

"Come on, let's see the prize cattle first." She grabbed him by the hand and took him into the stall area.

She did have a way to brighten a man's day despite his inner workings or fears, Sandor was happy for that. He needed a distraction from himself and Gregor.

From the moment they stepped foot inside the building it was clear that Sansa was well known in this town. Almost every man, woman and child knew her, greeted her or made an effort to say something to her. People looked at him too, some in that typical way he was ready for. With apprehension, disgust and anxiety. Other's though shook his hand, introduced themselves and never batted an eye. '

"Now look at that bull, he's won best in show." Sansa pointed to a huge bull with red and white speckling, standing in the pen with a mean look to it. She hoisted herself up on one of the railings to look over the fence unobstructed, she was about a head taller than Sandor now.

"Isn't he something?" She said turning to him and brushing his abs with her butt.

Sandor moved a bit closer behind her, eager to push their little game of chicken further. "I don't know much about bulls." He could feel her hips and ass on his body now, feel her soft fingertips on his neck as she put her hand on him to focus his attention.

"Well you see, they do it based on a lot of different things. For example, look at how muscular and fit he is. Bulls have to be strong if they are going to be the leader of the herd." She pointed the muscles out by rubbing her left hand across Sandor's shoulders and pointing with her right hand.

"Uh huh." Sandor replied as he closed the gap with her a little more, putting his hand on her hip and bringing her into him even more.

"And also there." She said, "I mean look at those balls. What kind of cow could say no to a full package like that."

She reddened a little bit when she said it. Sandor grinned to himself.

"I didn't know cows and women were so similar." He threw her a dry smile, making her reden even deeper. Taking this opportunity he picked her up from the fence where she had been perched, both hands on her hips and slowly brought her back down to earth, making sure their bodies touched as he lowered her down. Feeling her body drag across his had to be the best sensation he'd felt in a long while, and by the sheepish grin on her face for Sansa too.

"Come on," she said resting her hands on his chest, "there's so much you need to see."

There was a lot Sandor needed to see and none of it had to do with cows.

"Let me grab a beer and then we'll see." Sandor said, watching Sansa's face droop slightly in disappointment. They'd arrived at the dreaded dance part of the evening, where all of the locals socialized, drank and danced. Dancing wasn't something Sandor did, nor had any intention of doing it here. His eyes ran over Sansa's backside for good measure, then he went to grab a Miller.

Something didn't sit right with Sandor, his sixth sense had kicked in but he couldn't put a finger on what was out of place. People were friendly enough, but there was something behind it all. If he didn't know better, he'd think there was some kind of civil war going on here. With those who supported Sansa on one side, those supporting her prick of an Ex on the other. There had been a hint of crazy in the boy's eye. When normal life-loving men were threatened by Sandor they typically had the good sense to tremble, even shit themselves, and run. Joff on the other hand, had considered something and didn't show anything on the standard spectrum of fear. That didn't sit well with Sandor.

"Hey there brother." Came a voice from behind Sandor, a beer dropped in front of him. "I saw you from across the way and thought we should get to know each other better."

Sandor turned his head to see a redheaded man with a beard sit down next to him. He lifted an eyebrow in apprehension. "What was it? My ravishing good looks?"

"No man, it was your cock." At that the red haired man let out a hearty laugh and clinked his beer on Sandor's. "Tormund is my name."

Sandor took a sip of his beer and said nothing. 'The last thing I need is curious fucking locals.'

"I saw you walk in with Sansa." Tormund continued.

At this the Hound turned his head, ready to run his fist through his ginger face depending on where the conversation went.

"She's my sister you know."

"Seven fucking hells." Sandor shook his head with in an exasperated voice. "How many fucking siblings does the girl have?"

"Well my sister in gingerness, we're all related somehow." Tormund smirked, clearly enjoying leading Sandor's mind on a chase.

"Get to the fucking point will you?" Sandor continued, his arms crossed against his large chest.

"Well...just so you know, brother to brother." The redheaded man leaned in closer. "If you are just having fun with her then have fun, but don't hurt her. There could be consequences." At that the man's ice blue eyes settled on Sandor, the boysteresness gone.

"Now I'm getting threats from her brother by another fucking mother? What a joke." Sandor spat as he took another swig of his beer.

"I'm also the deputy sheriff around here." The man leaned in, "Off duty of course." A satisfied grin on his face, he patted Sandor on the back.

The Hound rolled his eyes and turned his head to look at Sansa on the dance floor. Her hips moving to the beat, her hair bouncing off her shoulders, accentuating her smile.

"Did half-pint Sheriff put you up to this?" Sandor said finally, his voice gruffer.

Tormund feigned surprise, "Well of course not. Just a concerned citizen here."

"It's that cunt of an ex-boyfriend you should be trying to threaten, not me."

"Amen to that brother." Tormund clinked Sandor's beer bottle again. "Now get your big ass out there and dance this slow song with her for fuck's sake."

Sandor hesitated a moment, "I'll hold your beer sweetheart." Tormund teased and pointed to the lonely redhead on the dance floor.

'The things I do for a pretty face.' Sandor thought as he went to meet Sansa. Her smile was almost worth his humiliation, as she put her arms around his neck and rested her head on his chest. His hands were low on her waist, pushing her flush against him as they swayed.

She smelled like that fucking cucumber shit she had in her bathroom, that somehow made her bath gel more palatable. She adjusted her head on his chest looking up at him and raising up on her toes. Sandor leaned in so that her lips had a better chance of capturing his.

"Well lookie what we have here. A dancing gorilla with my girl." Came an all too familiar voice from behind Sandor, making him turn before his lips touched Sansa's. It was that cunt of a boy Joff, and he had brought two of his big beefy friends with him.

Sandor glared at Joffrey as he set his eyes upon his two opponents, pushing Sansa behind him. "Which one of you ladies wants the first piece?" he taunted, holding his hands out in front of him palms turned out.

The ugly mullet wearing one to his left attacked first with a haymaker. 'Idiot.' Sandor thought as he blocked it with his left hand, stepping toward his opponent and punching him square in the face. A satisfying crunch escaping the man's nose. Keeping his hands up in a boxing stance, the Hound turned toward the second man to his right, they squared off. They sized each other up a second before Sandor moved in, his face jab blocked but his cross to the ribs landing.

Hearing something behind him, the Hound ducked just in time for a pool cue to miss his head and strike his second opponent square in the temple. The big ugly motherfucker held the cue in shock for a second, until Sandor planted a punch square in his stomach. Doubling over from the force of Sandor's punch and loosening his grip on the cue, the Hound snatched it out of his hands, breaking it over his knee and throwing it to the side. He had no intention of putting anybody in the hospital tonight, not in front of Sansa anyway.

He turned his attention to Sansa, who had her back to him and was arguing with that prick of an Ex. Joff had her by the wrist and they were yelling at each other of the the music and the sounds of his goons.

"Get your hands off her." Sandor snarled, coming up fast on the pair.

The blonde idiot had his eyes opened wide in mock fear at the sight of Sandor's approach. Sansa turned toward her protector with a smile that then quickly contorted into a scream.

"Sandor, behind you!" Were the last words to escape her lips.

The Hound was able to turn his head enough to see a flash of metal, then hear a huge 'stonk' jolt through his head. He went to the ground before he felt another hit, this time in his ribs. Sandor fought the darkness coming over him, heard the screaming of Sansa's voice, heard the commotion of people moving around and yelling before it all turned black.

The blue and red of the ambulance lights took turns casting a shadow on Sansa's face while she sat on its bumper, wrapped in a blanket and waiting for the EMTs to take a closer look at Sandor.

"Now tell me how it happened again, from the top." Tormund asked, notepad in hand.

Without looking at him she spoke, "You were there, you saw the whole thing. That's how it happened, exactly as you saw it." She wanted to leave, she wanted Sandor back at her place where she could look after him. Not answering ridiculous questions that weren't going to bring her anything.

Tormund shook his, "Yeah I saw it alright. Looked like they already knew each other though."

'Damn your prying.' Sansa thought. "Yeah, they had words previously. Joff came to my house and threatened me. Sandor made sure he left. Nothing else other than words were exchanged." She looked over at the ginger man and added, "When is that restraining order coming in? This is getting ridiculous."

"We're working on it." He said, noting some things.

"Where is my sister? Where's Arya? She was supposed to be here tonight."

"We had some issues down south again. Some folks got shot up." The deputy eyed Sansa a moment before continuing, "How much do you know about this guy? How well do you know Sandor?"

Sansa shot him an afronted look, "Why?"

He searched a moment for the right words, "Look I'm not supposed to say anything about… you know, on going investigations. But, all this trouble we've been having lately have been coming from some big ugly guys. One of them...well let's just say they could be brothers."

Sansa's eyes were locked with Tormund's, she didn't know what to say.

He continued, "I mean, shit, they are almost the same kind of ugly. What are the chances of that?" He meant it to be a joke but some rage flushed across Sansa's face.

"Look." Tormund continued, losing his funny guy act. "These guys are from Texas and they are looking for someone. Someone they are ready to kill to find."

Sansa's mind flashed back to Sandor's bike and the license plate, 'Texas.' That didn't mean anything in and of itself, but it could.

Before she could say anything the door of the ambulance swung open, "Are you his girlfriend?" Came the question from the EMT.

"Yeah." Sansa said, with the hopes of getting him home. "How is he?"

The EMT looked at her in disbelief for a brief moment before continuing, " Well that man of yours is built like a tank. Usually you would expect to see a skull fracture or something after a hit like that. As it stands, he's got a concussion and a bruised rib. There's no swelling on the brain so he can go home, but if he deteriorates, bring him to the hospital immediately."

Sansa smiled and nodded, ready to take him home and put the whole thing behind her. "Here let me help." Tormund said as several EMTs supported Sandor out of the ambulance and to Tormund's car.

You almost needed three people to steady the giant of man, who was staring out with a concussed blank stare.

It was just a short drive to Sansa's house, where the two gingers helped Sandor inside. "Bring him to my bedroom." Sansa said to Tormund, who have her a surprised and almost jealous look.

"That's it, just ease him on the bed here." They put the brut of a man down on her bed. He seemed to be coming to a bit, turning his head and studying the room with an almost over accentuated acueity.

"Are you sure I don't need to stay?" Tormund said, stealing a glance back to the Hound.

"No no, I can handle him." Sansa said, exhausted and ready for the day to end.

"Alright then. But if you need anything just call. I'm only…"

"...a few minutes up the road, I know." Sansa finished. "You've only been telling me that since elementary school." She smiled, giving the redheaded man a hug before sending him off.

Once alone in the house with Sandor, Sansa let out a sigh of relief. This thing with Joff was getting worse, he was keeping the town in a stranglehold and hurting all those close to her. At some point she was going to snap, or go crazy...or both. She kicked off her boots and went back into her bedroom, to see Sandor there eyes open and waiting for her.

"So I get a room upgrade." He said to her, his voice and the emptiness of his eyes still those of a man with a concussion.

"Yes sir you do." She smiled, looking down at the person who had now twice stuck up for her.

"I am no sir." He said still looking around the room.

"You may very well not be." Sansa began, "But you deserve more respect than you think." She began grabbing his boots and pulling them off.

"Oh ho! Most people have to pay for that." Sandor said, his eyes rolling around in his head as if he were slightly dizzy. He put his head back on her pillows, "But as long as you ride the shit out of me girl, you can do it for free."

Sansa stifled a laugh, showing only a cheeky grin to the man in her bed. 'One day I will ride the shit out of you. Only when you can remember it.'

"Come on big guy, let's get you ready for bed." Sansa smiled crawling over him, straddling his waist and unbuttoning his shirt. His eyes held hers for a moment and a flash of the man she had met came back for a moment, then he fell asleep.

Unbuttoning his shirt all the way, Sansa was able to wriggle it off of his body without having to lift his body or arms. She couldn't help but admire his body and take an unabashed look at his scars. They covered his chest and arms in a way that made Sansa ask herself where they had come from. She leaned over to look closer at his face. She could tell by how he turned his head and held himself that the facial scars bothered him. They isolated him from what might have been a normal life, turned him into a monster in the eyes of others. She ran her fingers over them, 'What on earth happened to you?' she asked herself, before a snort and a bit of a snore escaped Sandor's mouth making her jump.

Laughing to herself, Sansa undid Sandor's belt and unbuttoned his jeans. She was able to pull them down over his butt before she had to stop and take in the sight before her. He was wearing the same cut of underwear as he had the night before, they were just in red now. Had that been the only thing that crossed her view, she could have perhaps handled it. As it was, she found herself looking at a rather large partial erection.

'Come on Sansa,' she said to herself, 'Don't be a creep.' But she couldn't stop looking. It was leaning on his left side slightly, straining through the fabric, pushing up toward his belly button and just beginning to break the plain of elastic that kept his underwear on his waist. She wasn't sure she'd even be able to put her thumb and forefinger around it, the girth was titillating, the length made her feel a pulsating in the pit of her loins. Sansa leaned over a bit and could see some skin color lifting the elastic band. Still in the straddle position over him, she sat back on his thighs and tried to shake this feeling off. She wanted to touch it, feel it, put it in her mouth and then ride it until she collapsed. She wanted to spoil this man, to please him. Sansa had never been able to please Joff, he had always made her feel inadequate. Sandor was different, he had awakened a new interest in men and sex in her that she had tried to push to the side for so long.

Shaking her head at the thought, Sansa quickly pulled his pants off and threw her quilt over the offending body part. She had always held back, always tried to do what others wanted of her. 'Would it be so bad to just, for once, go after what you want?' She wanted to show Sandor how she felt about him, even though they had only known one another for a short while.

There was no use in thinking about that anymore tonight. It was late, she had work in the morning and she was tired. Sansa stripped off her clothing quickly, leaving her thong on and pulling a white T-Shirt over her head. She wiggled into bed next to Sandor, covering herself with the same quilt. It wasn't long before a big arm wrapped itself around her, pulling her close. Smiling as she drifted toward sleep she draped a leg over his, feeling a strong sense of contentment that had been lacking as of late.