A/N: Thanks for the reviews!

Mrs. Olenna, Loras and Margaery listened carefully as Sansa related the incident with Joffrey. "He screamed at me, calling me names, threatening my family. Then the MPs had to throw him out."

"Utterly disgraceful," the old woman tisked, shaking her head. "In this day and age, the law has yet to mete out the appropriate punishment for abusers. In my day, it was the same. It was up to the family of the victim to dispense the appropriate punishment."

Her voice turned cold in Sansa's ears, causing her to turn and cast a puzzled look at Mrs. Olenna. Ignoring Sansa, she waved her finger at the range top. "Loras, dear, would you be so kind as to tend to the tea?"

"My father and brothers would never stand for this and neither would my sister Arya." Sansa sighed shakily as she sat back in the window seat. "But I don't have them close anymore and besides, if Joffrey found them, he wouldn't hesitate to hurt them." She hugged herself tightly. I wish Sandor was here.

"I promised Sandor I would look out for you, Sansa, and I mean to keep my word." Loras handed her a cup of tea, distracting her from her thoughts. "I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe."

"Yeah, little brother, you don't want to get on Sandor's bad side," Margaery giggled. Sansa took note that her usually melodious laugh now sounded grave and forced. "Believe me, if he were here, Joffrey would think twice before harassing Sansa."

"He'll think twice with me here, or else learn better than to ignore me, one," Loras insisted. "We'll help you Sansa; no need to fret."

"Thank you," Sansa wiped her eyes. "I'm not certain what I should do, though. The law won't allow me to get a restraining order unless he hurts me again. I can't carry Sandor's rifle with me everywhere. What am I going to do?"

Mrs. Olenna and Margaery exchanged glances. "Never you mind, child. You go on about your business and leave the worrying to us."

"But he's bound to show up here; it's only a matter of time." Sansa wrung her hands, trembling at the thought. "He'll come here and raise a ruckus, mark my words."

"If he does, we'll take the proper steps to prevent him from returning." Mrs. Olenna answered, calmly sipping her tea. "The Tyrell women have always taken care of their own and you are one of us now."

While Sansa relaxed in the booth, Margaery regaled her with humorous stories of her exploits on the dating scene to cheer her up. Mrs. Olenna tended the customers while the two women spent the rest of the afternoon laughing, after which Loras offered to take her home.

"Jump on. I know you know how, I saw you get on Sandor's bike easy enough." Loras goaded her onto his motorcycle and despite her anxious mood, Sansa couldn't help but laugh. Once Sansa was secured, Loras pulled away from the curb just in time to see Joffrey storm into the coffee house.

"Oh, Loras! That was Joffrey!" She spoke into his ear at the light. "

"The blond guy with the attitude?" He turned in his seat to face her.

"Yes, him! He just walked into the coffee house! We'd better go back."

"Nope, I'm not taking you anywhere near that guy."

"What if he causes a problem for Margaery and your grandma?"

Loras sniffed and pulled over, then took out his cell phone and began texting. "I'll give Marg a heads up but I wouldn't worry too much-Gran and Margaery can handle themselves, trust me." When Sansa continued to express concern, he tapped her chin with his finger. "Sansa, we can handle Joffrey for you, don't you worry."

Dejectedly she offered Loras a small smile. "Okay. I'm sorry, it isn't that I don't trust you-I just know what he is capable of and I can't bear to see him hurt anyone else that I love."

"You're afraid," Loras tipped her face up to him. "And you've seen what the Lannisters are capable of first hand-in fact you still aren't over it. Am I right?"

With her eyes fixed on the ground, Sansa sheepishly nodded.

"No shame in it, Sansa-it's perfectly understandable." Loras shrugged and turned loose of her. "But we all love you and we're not about to let him hurt you again. It's time he learned he can't go around bullying women." He winked at her. "Now let's get you home."

After checking the locks on the windows and doors, Sansa removed Sandor's rifle and several rounds of ammunition from the gun rack. It wasn't that Sansa believed Joffrey would find her there, but experience taught her never to underestimate him. I'll rest easier if it is within reach, just in case.

For a moment she considered calling Bronn, but ultimately decided against it. I need to stand on my own two feet with that family. Pushing her thoughts in a more pleasant direction, she then removed the decoupage box from under the bed and spent the next hour rereading the letters she had written Sandor, blushing and laughing, and then spritzing each note with perfume when she finished. After rummaging in the garage for a while, Sansa found an old Amazon box in the garage and carefully packed everything inside and then sealed it with packing tape.

Yawning, she snuggled up with a blanket on the bed. The day had been both physically and emotionally exhausting and so the young woman decided she would lie down for a bit. As she was about to drift off, her eyes fell on the dresser where Sandor's unloaded rifle lay. Too far away, she ruefully realized, so she scooted it under the bed and then climbed under the covers once more.

Several hours later, the sound of her phone beeping awakened Sansa. Rubbing her eyes, she saw a text from Brienne.

Just came from visiting Jaime. Are you okay?

Yes, I'm fine. So glad you're home!

Thanks. He said you were supposed to come by.

Yes, I was, but I fell asleep. I'll come by tomorrow. How are you?

After a few moments, her phone beeped again. Tired but it's good to be home.

Want to come over? Sansa texted back.

Sure. Brienne replied. Be there in five.

Sansa ordered a pizza, garlic sourdough rolls and salad from a nearby family Italian place while she waited. Within a few moments, Brienne walked up smiling and waving as she peeked in the window. One side of her face was indeed much scarred, leading Sansa to conclude that she would most likely be disfigured from her wounds for the rest of her life.

Steadying herself, Sansa opened the door for her and was surprised when Brienne pulled her into a tight embrace. "Sansa, how are you?" Carefully she studied her appearance, the woman picking up on Sansa's distress. "Sandor has been very worried."

Sandor is worried about me? Puzzled, Sansa pulled back to look into Brienne's face, focusing on her cornflower blue eyes. "Really? Why?"

"Recently he's had nightmares about you. He wouldn't go into any kind of detail-you know how he is." She watched Sansa pale and then moved to balance her on her feet. "Easy there. Are you sure you are okay?"

"Y-yes," Sansa nodded, trying to laugh it off. "I've just had a somewhat eventful day."

"Jaime told me about Joffrey," Brienne shook her head. "What are you going to do?"

Uneasily Sansa's eyes went to the rifle before she quickly darted them away, shrugging. "Nothing, I guess."

Brienne followed her line of sight and swiftly she moved into the bedroom.

"You aren't planning on taking this anywhere, are you?" Brienne raised her brow as she lifted the rifle and then carefully checked the chamber.

"No, it's Sandor's," Sansa was careful to hold Brienne's gaze, knowing the woman was a detective and could spot the slightest attempt at deception. "I just keep it in there so I'll feel safe enough to sleep alone in the house."

Swallowing hard, Brienne let out a deep breath as she warily watched her. "I understand. You know how to use it?"

"Oh, yes," Sansa eagerly nodded. "In the far north, we learn how to properly use firearms at a young age. It can be dangerous, with the Alaskan brown bears and wolves and such roaming about."

Silently the woman regarded Sansa, pursing her lips as she did so. "Well, it doesn't hurt to do what you need to do to keep yourself safe. Jaime was worried about you, too. He told me how Joffrey lost it at the hospital and that the military police escorted him out."

"Yes, he was acting just as he did the last time he came here," Sansa's hand unconsciously went to her right temple. "Right before he struck me."

"He struck you?" Brienne's eyes widened. "Did you call the police?"

"Yes, and he was arrested. I had a restraining order against him but it seems it expired three months ago." Sansa absently wrung her hands as she spoke. "Now I have to wait for him to hurt me again before I can get another one issued."

"Let me see what I can do for you," Brienne spoke thoughtfully. "Who is the officer that took your report?"

"Officer Meera Reed."

"Well, as you know, I'm a detective-meaning I outrank her. Perhaps I can look into the matter for you and see if something more can't be done to expedite things."

"Won't that be a bit awkward with you and Jaime, considering he's family and all?"

Brienne shook her head. "We aren't blind to Joffrey's nature, Sansa. Have you seen him since the initial incident?"

"Well, Joffrey already went to the coffee house looking for me but I missed him," Sansa's eyes turned downward. "Loras brought me home."

A warm hand soothingly went around Sansa's arm as Brienne stared into her eyes. "Family or no, I'm not going to let him hurt you, Sansa."

Despondently Sansa nodded her thanks and then swiftly changed the subject. "How is Sandor? I mean, both physically and you know, the other."

"Much improved," Brienne cleared her throat in an attempt to hide a smile. "He'll be coming home very soon."

Just then there was a knock on the door, causing Sansa to jump before bursting into nervous laughter. "I ordered a pizza for us." She explained when she saw Brienne's confused expression.

The two women spent the rest of the evening trading stories and sharing a bottle of wine. Sansa told her all about her medical cases at the VA and Brienne in turn shared a few of her experiences in Afghanistan as well as many details about Sandor.

"You know, your husband is a very brave man, one of the bravest I have ever known," Brienne spoke quietly. "Jaime was so weak, he couldn't even walk. Sandor carried Jaime out of that cave," her voice caught in her throat. "He carried him out, all the while he was fighting for the rest of us. He should receive a medal."

Tearfully Sansa embraced her and the two women cried together, the one for having survived the experience that changed her family and the other for the pain her husband endured to save them. It was cathartic to both women, and afterward Sansa felt as though a great weight had been lifted from her. After Brienne left, Sansa said a prayer of thanks to her father, snuggled down in bed and peacefully slept the night through.

The next morning, Sansa dropped off the box along with the requested ribs with Jaime, and then went to the coffee house for the late morning shift. Outside, patrol cars, a fire truck and a paramedic vehicle idled while a large crowd milled about on the sidewalk. Oh gods, what has Joffrey done? Frantically, Sansa pushed her way inside and hurried over to Margaery, who was flanked by four police officers.

"Oh gods, was there a fire?" She asked, though she could not smell smoke. Anxiously Sansa clutched Margaery's shoulders. "Margaery, look at me." The young woman dazedly turned and stared at her. "Margaery, answer me: is it Mrs. Olenna? Is she ill?"

"No, ma'am, Mrs. Tyrell is fine." A handsome police officer spoke up. "She's just in the back, the paramedics are treating her for chest pains."

Loras! Oh gods, he said he would protect me. What if Joffrey has hurt him? Her heart racing, Sansa turned to see that out in back there were still more rescue personnel, though no one seemed to be in a hurry. "Margaery, talk to me! Is it Loras?"

"No, Loras is fine, Sansa-it's Joffrey," she finally managed, twisting her dish towel in her hands. "He was in here again this morning asking about you. He started in screaming and ranting again so Gran gave him a cup of coffee, you know, so he'd calm down. It worked yesterday, but today-" Her voice faded.

"What happened?"

"At first he seemed better but then after a while he said he didn't feel well." She wiped the single tear inching down her face, all the while staring into the eyes of the increasingly sympathetic officer. "All of a sudden, he-he started gasping for air and his legs just turned to jelly-and then his eyes…"

Gasping for air, loss of muscle control, pupils dilated…it could have been a drug overdose. That didn't really surprise Sansa, for Joffrey had been known to smoke marijuana and drop LSD with Meryn, and occasionally they even smoked heroine as well. He was never as mean as when he did that, Sansa recalled, shivering at the memory. She would hide for hours in her room, under the bed, waiting…

Gods only knows what he had planned for me. Reason shook her from her disturbing thoughts. But he hasn't even been in town very long; now that Meryn is dead, how did Joff even know where to find a drug dealer here? This isn't Los Angeles, after all…

"Oh Sansa, it was just awful." Margaery embraced her tightly. "I'm so glad you weren't here to see it."

Clearly enthralled, the officer stared at Margaery with all his might, only turning away when Margaery said Sansa's name.

"Are you Sansa Stark? Of the Winterfell Starks?"

"Yes, I am Sansa Clegane, Stark as was," Sansa confirmed calmly while smoothing down her skirts. "What can I do for you, officer?"

"I'm Officer Hugh Clifton." The man jotted something down and then handed her his card. "I'll need to talk to you after you're done with your friend."

"Certainly, officer." Sansa agreed, a knot forming in her stomach as she spoke.

"Sansa, Joffrey-he-" Margaery went on while dabbing her eyes. "He just fell over right out there, and-"

"Yes? And then what happened?" She shook her gently. "Please, Margaery, tell me."

"W-we ran outside after him. Loras offered to call his family but he wouldn't hear of it, and then Gran insisted we call 911. He staggered further down the street and took no more than a few steps and then he just collapsed on the sidewalk."

"Where is he now?" Sansa demanded carefully, gripping her friend's arm tightly. "Margaery, where is Joffrey now?"

Outside she faintly heard the fire truck and paramedics pull away. That's not emergency protocol for an active case…

"He was rushed to the hospital. Loras went in the ambulance with him. They contacted Tyrion but the officer here-" Margaery faintly offered a small smile at the young man, who was obviously, completely lost in her charms. "He just got the call. Joffrey didn't make it."

Tears continued to fall down Margaery's cheeks, though Sansa noticed that her eyes bore no sign of sorrow. Curiously Sansa's gaze darted toward the young officer, who slowly nodded, all the while the man was clearly oblivious to everything but her.

"Good gods, this is unbelievable." Sansa shook her head and sunk down into a nearby chair.

Just then, Brienne strode in, flashing her gold shield to clear a path. "I'm Detective Brienne Lannister. I heard the call on the radio on my way in to work," she announced to the patrolmen as she hurried toward them. "What happened?"

Turning away from Margaery, Officer Clifton squared his shoulders. "Ma'am, an out-of-towner, Joffrey Baratheon, died of an apparent overdose on the sidewalk outside."

"Brienne, I'm so sorry for you and Jaime." Sansa reached out to her. "You two have been through so much already-"

"We knew about his drug problem already, so this isn't the surprise one would think it would be," Brienne gently patted her arm. "Sansa, you're pale. Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm just-I'm just in shock right now." Sansa rubbed her forehead. And also relieved, she added silently to herself. Understandingly Brienne nodded with a heavy sigh.

"I've yet to interview her, ma'am." The officer added as he pulled out his pad.

"Then go ahead. I'll observe."

"So Ms. Clegane, you were once engaged to Joffrey?"

"Yes."

"For how long?"

"Three years." Three years of hell.

"And you had a restraining order against him for domestic violence, is that right?"

"Yes, the judge granted it a little over a year ago, after he was arrested for hitting me." Sansa answered rather sharply, casting a short glance at Brienne.

The officer nodded. "Was he known to have seizures? Allergies?"

"No seizures, at least not as of three years ago." Sansa shrugged. "I don't know about allergies."

"Did he take medication?"

Sansa shook her head. "Not that I am aware of."

Officer Clifton raised his brow at her.

"We never lived together as a couple and as I already said, we broke up three years ago." Sansa explained irritably. "I'm sure a lot has changed since then."

"I see," he muttered. "Did he take any illegal drugs while you were together?"

"Yes," Sansa confirmed, a queer numbness enveloping her as she recalled the goings on of the Red Mansion. "He smoked pot regularly and he also took LSD. And heroine on occasion. He smoked it."

"How often, would you say?"

"I don't know-once a week, maybe?" She searched her mind. "Whenever he was partying. He wasn't exactly forthcoming about it. The dealer would stop by every Friday. As I said, it's been a while since we were together."

The officer nodded. "Did he have any contacts in town besides family?"

"I don't know." Sansa shrugged. "I've already told you three times that we haven't been together in a long time."

"It's okay. We'll do a tox screen on him, Ms. Clegane."

Brienne cleared her throat. "It seems obvious this is an case of accidental overdose." She handed the officer her card. "I am married to the deceased's uncle. Call me when you're finished with the investigation."

"Yes, ma'am. One more thing: we found a loaded gun on the body as well. It seems he had something planned." He turned toward Sansa, who now shivered in fear. "Would you write down your name and address so I can contact you if I have any more questions?"

"Of course." Sansa hurriedly scribbled down her information for him before Brienne led her to a nearby booth.

"How do you feel?" Brienne whispered.

"I don't know how I feel or what to feel," the young woman confided. "I'm just in shock. I feel-I feel like I dodged a bullet. Does that make sense?"

"Yeah, it does." Brienne sadly replied. "You're going to be okay, Sansa."

After Brienne left, the remaining police officers quickly dispersed as well.

"I'm fine, you buggering fools," Mrs. Olenna came from the back, waving away the last paramedic.

"But ma'am, your heart palpitations-"

"My heart is palpitating because you're pissing me off and your men have made a mess of my shop. I don't need to go to the hospital, so shoo." After he left, the old lady swiftly locked the doors and then put the "Closed" sign in the window.

Margaery came and stood beside Sansa as they watched the last of the patrol cars pull away.

"Margaery are you okay?" Sansa looked over her friend. "I've never seen you so upset. Let me get you some tea. You've had quite a trauma-"

Margaery's demeanor transformed from grief stricken into a knowing smile as Sansa regarded her. She took Sansa by the hands and led her to the couch. Stunned, Sansa sat down beside her and watched as Margaery's full mouth curved into a wicked grin. "I've never been better, Sansa."

"Margaery, I know that look; what did you do?" Sansa whispered low.

Shrugging innocently, Margaery smiled at her grandmother, who plopped down between them.

"Aside from charming a young policemen," Mrs. Olenna smiled and began playing with Sansa's necklace. "Margaery didn't do anything. Remember what I told you yesterday?"

"Yes: the Tyrell women take care of their own."

"You're damned straight we do." Mrs. Olenna leaned forward. "An eye for an eye, Sansa. Your father was a good man. Trusting, too. Though the signs were all there, he never imagined that fool boy would turn into such a sadist and look what it cost him."

Confused, Sansa continued to stare at her. "Yes, Robb and Mother and Father…"

"Yes, ended up dead. And do you know why? When Joffrey showed what kind of man he was, your father chose to give him the benefit of the doubt for the sake of his childhood friend. Well, we didn't make that same mistake." Raising her brows, Olenna leaned in closer still. "You don't really think I would have let that beast hurt you again, do you?"

Taken aback, Sansa scrutinized Olenna's wizened expression and whispered: "But Joffrey overdosed-"

Mrs. Olenna shook her head and dismissively waved her hand at her. "Don't worry yourself about all that, child." She caressed Sansa's cheek with an arthritic hand. "You're safe now. You just do what needs to be done, understand?"

Good gods, she had prayed to her father to protect her from Joffrey and this was the outcome. He had a gun, who knows what Joffrey would have done if he had seen me this morning. She sat in stunned silence, mulling over Olenna's words. Gun or no, Sansa admitted to herself that if Joffrey had come into her home, Sansa would have shot him dead. She had already done what she could legally to protect herself, and yet the law had left her vulnerable; Joffrey had returned with a gun, and the Tyrells did what they had need to do in order to protect her.

She had many questions, but the young woman figured it would be best not to think on it too hard. Trembling, Sansa smiled at Olenna and Margaery. "Yes I do. And…thank you. You saved me. I'm greatly relieved and not about to look a gift horse in the mouth."

"That's a good girl." Mrs. Olenna patted her head as she rose. "Now let's speak no more of it, shall we? Margaery, come help me set the counters to right. Those fool officers made a mess and we needs clean everything, thoroughly. We should charge the both the police and fire department for the lost income."

"Yes, Gran." Tweaking Sansa's chin, Margaery raised an eyebrow and grinned devilishly at her. "Loras told you to trust us, Sansa."

"I know he did." Sansa drew a deep breath. "And I'll never doubt again. Let me help you two clean up."