The Humvee ride to the shooting range was a quiet one. Sandor was focusing on the road, trying his damnedest to not be distracted by the beautiful woman next to him. They had got their equipment, weapons, Kevlar helmets and LBE (Load bearing equipment… a vest of sorts that holds small equipment one might need.) He thought that all the gear she carried might possibly weigh more than she did. Well, if it turned out to be windy, he wouldn't have to worry about her blowing away after all. He chuckled to himself and then frowned. He wasn't one who normally chuckled to himself. He groaned inwardly as Sansa gave him a hurt look. She mistook the chuckle for him laughing at her.
He had made a rash decision earlier in the morning that they would do the outside rifle training today and then do the pistol shooting later in the week when it was supposed to be rainy and cold.
That morning, Sandor had Gentry and Arya give Sansa a quick lesson on the rifle, while he organized gear and the actual weapons. Sansa was deemed ready to go, so off the two of them went.
They pulled up to the range. There was no one else there, which was just fine with both of them. They climbed out of the humvee and got on their gear. Sandor motioned Sansa to follow him. "Usually, I find a deep foxhole, so I don't stick out, but since you're the one shooting, I guess we'll try to find the shallowest."
"Um, thanks" Sansa mumbled.
They found a suitable spot. "Ok, so you're going to have to fire from inside the foxhole and then prone supported and unsupported."
Sansa did not appear confused, so Arya and Gendry must have done a decent job explaining what she had to do today. Thank God for small favors Sandor thought to himself.
They stood by the foxhole and Sansa stared down into it. Sandor watched her, curiously wondering how she planned to get in. She just stood there. Soon it became awkward.
"Would you like some help?" Sandor asked
"Please" Sansa replied, clearly embarrassed. Sandor gently, but firmly picked her up by her LBE shoulder straps and lowered her into the foxhole. "Like putting a canary down a mine shaft." He thought. "There you go Little Bird" he said as she landed at the bottom. He hopped down in next to her. She could barely see out. "Ok," Sandor began, "Get comfortable and load your weapon."
Sansa was mortified and struggling. The weekend had not been what she expected. It was catty and unprofessional. What the world have I gotten myself into she thought. She had been caught completely off guard by Joffrey Baratheon. He was very rude and slimy. After his crude comment, he hadn't seen her, granted she made sure she stayed away from him. Baelish seemed distracted, he spent most of the weekend scheming with Varys, about what, Sansa was not certain. SSG Clegane was a mixture of disdain and sympathy. However, he also seemed kind and quiet, no one would mistake him for outwardly friendly; Sansa realized she preferred that to hostile and offensive.
Sansa felt strong arms around her, "Ok Little Bird, this is how you prop yourself up and hold your weapon." Sandor gently instructed. Sansa nodded. "Now aim, " He rasped, talking to her quietly, "Close one eye, finger on the trigger and breathe out and release." He instructed her how to zero her weapon. She had to zero the weapon, so she could then make any necessary sight adjustments. Sandor seemed happy to help her. They moved on to the actual qualifications.
She was successful firing from the foxhole. Sandor pulled her out and she attempted to get settled in the prone position. She was all wobbly and uncomfortable. When she fired, she was all erratic. Sandor could tell she was getting frustrated. "Lunch time, Little Bird?" he asked.
Sansa was relived "Yes, Please"
They sat on some benches and ate MRE's. They weren't especially tasty, but it was a pleasant distraction. Sansa was eating chili mac, which Sandor told her was one of the better meals. He was looking at her quizzically. "Ma'am" he said shaking his head, he used his napkin and wiped tomato sauce off of her chin. Sansa fought back tears. Sandor looked alarmed "What's wrong Little Bird?"
Sansa leaned into his side. She could feel his warmth and strong arms. She sniffled "You are really very nice to me, I just want you to know how much I appreciate it."
Sandor put his arm around her, pulling her into a gentle hug "Don't go telling people how nice I am, it would ruin my image. You really are doing fine. You're going to be ok, you know that don't you?"
She leaned into his hug and sobbed on his chest, not so much from sadness, but from a release of emotion and stress. Everything she had held in over the weekend and the past few months came pouring out. Sandor, uncomfortable as he was holding a sobbing girl he hardly knew, hugged her close and laid his scarred cheek on her soft, fragrant hair and closed his eyes.