Series Summary: The great detective, Jaime Lannister? He doesn't exist. I invented him. It was working like a charm—until the day he walked in, with his green eyes and mysterious past.

Episode 2: Catelyn Stark asks Jaime and Brienne to watch over her youngest daughter, Arya—home for spring break—while the rest of the family goes on holiday to the Summer Isles. But the assignment isn't quite as easy as it seems.

Warning: Non-graphic domestic violence situations.

A/N: I'd intended to post each episode in its entirety but this one is being a bear. :( I need incentive to focus and finish this episode especially with National Novel Writing Month on the horizon. Updates will be quick (i.e., it should be only be hours or days between chapter updates rather than a week).

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Teaser

Brienne scowls as she walks in to the Jaime Lannister Investigations office and finds the man now answering to that name casually lounging in one of the reception area's armchairs, reading a newspaper.

He lowers it and glances at her, raising an eyebrow as he makes a show of checking his watch.

"Piss off," she growls.

"Is that any way to speak to your boss?" Jaime says. "And what did I tell you about working undercover?"

"You're not my boss, we're not undercover, and I will speak to you any way I please!" She glances round. "Where's Bronna?"

"She'll be late," Jaime says absently, going back to his paper. "She had an eventful night."

"She called in?"

"She didn't have to," he says as he folds the paper and holds it out to her. Brienne takes it with a puzzled frown that turns to dismay.

There, on the front page of the entertainment section, is a picture of Bronna caught in mid-yell while a slender blonde man grips her arm. Brienne's eyes narrow when she sees how deeply the man's fingers are biting into Bronna's flesh.

The headline—Trouble in the Kingdom?—just makes her eyes narrow even more. And what's beneath it—Joffrey Baratheon, The Crown Prince of Rock, in vicious brawl with fiancée outside The DragonPit nightclub—makes her grind her teeth.

Brienne quickly scans the story and she growls as she shoves the paper back into Jaime's hands.

"Police were called," Jaime says cheerfully as he follows her into her office.

"At least Bronna apparently had Joffrey in a headlock and crying for mercy by the time they arrived," Brienne mutters. "I'm sure her father will be pleased." She shakes her head.

"Why are they getting married again?" Jaime asks curiously, settling gracefully in the chair in front of her desk. Her hormones skip a beat at the sight of his long, lanky limbs as he leans back and smirks.

"Her stepmother is a huge fan of Joffrey's dad," she says, trying to ignore her body's reaction. "Falyse is the official founding member of the 'One-and-Only Absolutely Official Big Bobby B King of Rock and Roll Fan Club', which she started back when she was young—during the Age of Magic, most likely." She shakes her head. "As for Bronna and Joffrey—I'm not certain if either one actually asked the other to marry them. There was just an announcement one day and nobody bothered to deny it."

"Judging from the look in the kid's eyes in that picture, he probably couldn't remember if he asked or not. Bronna in the same condition?"

"At the time, yes." Brienne's expression turns thoughtful. "She still likes to party but you know, she's kept herself in check ever since she woke up engaged to that idiot. She says she no longer enjoys surprises in the morning." She grimaces. "'The Crown Prince of Rock'," she mutters in disgust.

A discreet chime sounds, telling them someone has walked into the outer office. Jaime and Brienne exchange a glance then return to the reception desk. There they find an attractive, middle-aged woman. She stands straight and proud, her gray-streaked auburn hair tucked neatly into a bun. Her face is kind and her smile genuine when she sees Brienne.

"Catelyn," Brienne says, surprised, and takes the hand the woman extends to her.

"Brienne," Catelyn says, "it's been too long!" She reaches up and pecks Brienne's cheek. "Of course, you've seen my husband much more recently," she adds and chuckles.

Brienne winces. Even after six weeks, the unsolved theft of the sword hilt and dragon bone from the National History Museum along with the subsequent disappearance of the Museum Director still rankles.

"How is Chief Stark?" Jaime asks smoothly and Brienne watches as Catelyn and Jaime thoughtfully consider each other.

"Ned is fine," Catelyn says after a moment. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Mr. Lannister. Your help—and discretion—with that previous matter is one of the reasons I've sought you out again."

"Oh?" Jaime says, taking a step forward and is stopped by a discreet elbow to his ribs.

"We here at Jaime Lannister Investigations are always happy to help," Brienne says. "Why don't we go into my office? We don't need to bother Mr. Lannister—"

"Oh, no! I want Mr. Lannister himself this time!" Catelyn says and smiles at Jaime. "From what I've seen of the interview you did with my sister, you have just the personality for the job."

Brienne grits her teeth as Jaime gives her a quick, mocking smirk and turns up the charm for Catelyn.

"How can we be of assistance?" he purrs and waves her towards his until-recently-never-used office.

"I want you to watch my daughter, Arya, while we're away in the Summer Isles. She's visiting King's Landing during her spring break from university."

Jaime's smile falters. "Just let me confer with my associate," he says and practically drags Brienne aside while Catelyn continues on into the office.

"We're babysitters?" he growls.

Brienne rolls her eyes. "We owe her," she hisses in reply.

She walks into the office and smiles at Catelyn. "We'd love to," she says.

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