Sansa sat on the chaise hugging her knees, uncaring of looking like a lady. Not even in front of present company.

Tywin was listening to his son recount the events of that afternoon with almost a bored expression in his eyes. Sansa could hardly blame him-King's Landing had fallen into utter chaos as soon as Joffrey had been poisoned and the Lord Hand was dealing with it all. While he had obviously taken Sansa's attempted kidnapping seriously, she knew Lord Tywin was only concerned with the security threat-not the welts on her wrists or the bruises blooming on her face. In fact, he had hardly even looked at her when he had entered the room. No, Tywin was way more concerned with the motives behind this attack on House Lannister. What had happened to Sansa was just a part of the puzzle.

Just as the king was poisoned, someone had tried to spirit away the key to the north. It was no coincidence.

Tyrion was describing how Chella had disposed of Sir Dontos as Shae had been drowned when Tywin interrupted. "So they are both dead?" His disappointment was palpable.

"Yes." Tyrion growled, and Sansa could sense his indignation. "Would you have allowed the people who tried to kidnap Lady Lannister to continue breathing? People who brutalized her?" It took Sansa aback to be referred to as such, but the anger and protectiveness in his voice calmed her slightly. She had been so afraid...even the memory of the terror she had felt as they had dragged her away brought fresh tears to her eyes, though she refused to let them fall in front of Lord Tywin.

But Tyrion had come. He had saved her. Sansa could not remember feeling half as relieved in her life as when Tyrion had appeared at the dock. He had tackled Shae into the water, leaving only a surprised Dontos to escape from. She had easily been able to twist from his grasp, and Chella had come down the steps shortly after to distract and eliminate him, but the scene before her had scared her as well.

Rage had darkened Tyrion's usually mirthful eyes as he had held the whore's face under the splashing water. He looked dangerous and ferocious as Shae's arms had stopped flailing and she had grown still, yet his fingers remained locked around her throat. Sansa had been afraid of him then, she couldn't deny it. While he had always been gentle and tender with her...to see him in such a way frightened her. She had seen him racked with betrayal and fury and before she could stop herself, she had reached out to him. Her touch had been like a healing drop of cool water as he had turned to her, rage dissipating and his fingers had released the whore.

Tywin's snort broke her out of her memory. "Of course not. They would have been dealt with. But in due time-after they had given us all the information they knew. Unless you truly believe a disgraced knight and a whore could have mastermined this whole thing?" Somehow, even facing the possible death of his grandson and king, Tywin found the time to belittle his hated son. But Sansa was grateful when Tyrion did not rise to the bait and only bit whatever sharp response he had back.

"Shae...Shae said something about receiving payment..." Sansa murmured softly, racking her brain.

Tywin's gold-green gaze swiveled to her. "Payment...Did they say nothing that could allude who they were working for?"

Sansa closed her eyes for half a moment, trying to remember the words she had overheard as she had been fighting for her life. Finally she shook her head. "No, my lord. No specifics. " she whispered and he nodded, rising to his feet.

"I see. I will leave you now to rest. I must look in on the king. I will send someone in the morning to see if you have remembered anything else." Sansa nodded, taking Tyrion's hand in hers-happy that the interview was at an end.

"How is his Grace?" she asked, suddenly remembering that Joffrey was fighting for his life.

"He is yet to wake, My Lady." Tywin clipped. "He is being cared for by Pycelle and his mother. Time will tell."

"I will pray for his swift recovery." She bowed her head dutifully, but not before seeing a hint of what looked like amusement in her husband's eyes.

Tywin only turned to his son. "Tyrion, I expect you to come to the Tower of the Hand this evening to discuss what this means for House Lannister."

"Yes, father. Let me tend to my wife and then I will join you." Tywin nodded curtly and left them be.

The moment they were alone, Sansa allowed her back and neck to relax and she leaned to rest her cheek on Tyrion's shoulder. His arms came up to wrap around her and he leaned his own face into her hair, placing a soft kiss at her hairline.

"Will Joffrey live?" she whispered and felt more than saw Tyrion shrug slightly.

"I don't know, Sansa. But even if he does, he will never hurt you again. We will still leave here, I swear it." He pulled away slightly to look her in the eye and all she was was earnestness with a hint of an apology. "We might have to wait...just a bit. Just until they investigate what happened."

She nodded, tamping down her disappointment. It was to be expected. "Who do you think did this?" she pondered and Tyrion's brow furrowed.

"I don't know," he answered honestly. "Someone who had the wherewithal to think five steps ahead. It was too perfect-spiriting you away the moment King's Landing fell into chaos. If I had not come back when I did..." he trailed off and Sansa shuddered at what was left unsaid. She felt warm though as his arm tightened around her protectively.

"I'm sorry I left you alone.." he whispered in her ear, regret evident in his tone.

She looked up at him again and gazed into his mismatched eyes, raising her hand to cup his cheek.

"You came for me. You saved me. You always do." His relieved smile warmed her heart.

Gently, he moved to kiss her forehead again, but she just smiled and held him still with the hand still on his cheek. Ignoring his confused look, she pressed her lips to his.

A/N: Sorry for the delay!