Author's Note: I request that you critique as honestly as possible. While hearing "your story is so great! I love it!" is really great and I really appreciate it; I would really like to hear about ways that I can improve.

Also, flames and death-threats are happily accepted, as those put a smile on my face. ;)

Disclaimer: iCarly and all its characters copyrighted to Schneider's Bakery, Viacom, and Nickelodeon.

Samantha "Sam" Puckett.

A typical teenage girl. She had friends. She had enemies. Sometimes more enemies than friends. She was always able to take care of herself. She never once relied on anyone but herself in times of trouble. Her father was never around. Her mother ignored her. Her only sister lived miles away from her.

But that Friday morning, everything was about to change.

"SAMANTHA PUCKETT! GET TO THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE THIS INSTANT!"

Ms. Briggs' loud voice echoed throughout the entire school, through the PA system. Many students had already gathered near the principal's office to see what was the reason behind all the commotion.

"What the chizz did Sam do now?" Freddie Benson exclaimed, looking over at his best friend, Carly Shay. "Ms. Briggs sounds really angry!"

Freddie and Carly were both standing in the halls of Ridgeway High School, waiting to meet up with Sam after 4th period, when the announcement was made over the PA system. It wasn't strange for Sam to be called into the principal's office on a regular basis, but it was strange for the announcement to be yelled by Ms. Briggs.

At that moment, Mr. Howard arrived on the scene, followed by two police officers. Freddie and Carly exchanged glances, as they followed quickly behind them. Mr. Howard and the police officers entered the office, as Carly and Freddie tried to listen through the door.

"WHERE IS SHE?" Ms. Briggs' voice hollered from the office, the door swinging wide open. Freddie and Carly jumped back in surprise as they cast their sights upon a crazy-eyed Briggs.

"Shay! Benson! Where's your little delinquent friend?" Briggs growled, narrowing her eyes towards the two scared teens. Carly pushed Freddie in front of her, afraid to confront the angry teacher. Freddie swallowed a lump in his throat as he searched for an answer.

"U-Uhmm... We don't know where Sam is. We haven't seen her all morning." Freddie replied, lying through his teeth. Ms. Briggs just eyed Freddie suspiciously, pushing him aside, stomping down the hallway. Freddie just looked over at Carly with a concerned look on his face as his phone suddenly beeped.

A text message? Freddie quickly checked his phone and scanned the text message. "Carly, come look at this- It's a text from Sam."

Freddork, I ditched school. Didn't want to get busted. If you guys don't hear from me, means the cops got to me. -Sam

"Reply back to her! Ask her what's going on and where is she?" Carly exclaimed, getting flustered. A few seconds later, a reply chimed through on Freddie's phone.

Broke some windows at school, smashed some lockers. No witnesses so they can't pin it on me. In case they ask, tell them I'm at home, sick. I'm hiding out at Bushwell Plaza now, on the roof. -Sam

Freddie quickly typed a reply and turned his attention back to Carly. "Guess it was just typical Sam..."

Sam opened her flip phone as she received another reply from Freddie.

Alright. See you after-school, then. -Freddie

Sam sighed as she leaned against the wall, looking up at the passing clouds, a few drizzling raindrops falling on her face. "Good... They don't suspect a thing." She mumbled to herself, rubbing her shoulder. She winced and recoiled back, as if in pain, a single tear escaping from her eyes. She slowly pulled the collar of her shirt down, to reveal a fresh bruise on her shoulder. She sighed again as she wiped away her tear and gently massaged the injury. She slowly and quietly stood up and made her way to the cargo elevator, taking out a magnetic card key that would allow her to arrive in the Shay's three-floor loft. As the elevator door opened up into the Shay's living room, Sam was relieved to see no one was home yet. The troubled teen sat on the Shay's couch and positioned herself comfortably, drifting off to sleep.

"..."

"...am.."

The dirty blonde shifted in her sleep uncomfortably, as noises disturbed her from her peaceful slumber.

"Sam!" A loud voice called out, causing Sam to shoot up, eyes wide open. Sam rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and looked around. She saw her two best friends standing around the couch, a worried expression on each of their faces.

"Hey- What goes on, peoples?" She said in a cheery tone, though that didn't wipe the worried looks off of her friends' faces. "What's wrong?"

"Sam, your leg is like, bleeding." Carly said, motioning towards that direction. Sam looked down and saw dried blood all over the bottom half of her right leg, along with her blood-stained shoes and socks. Luckily for the Shays, the blood seemingly dried up on Sam's leg before getting on the couch. Freddie left and walked towards the kitchen.

"Oh chizz- This? Aw, this is from the window I broke at school. Yea- One of the shards of glass must've cut my leg without me even realizing it," Sam said, almost laughing it off. Freddie returned with a damp paper towel, handing it to Sam. He gazed at her for a little while, almost as if he were weighing the genuineness of her words. He watched as she gently wiped the dried blood from her leg.

"You got that from breaking the school's windows?" he questioned, skeptical. Sam merely shot Freddie a look, before standing up from the couch. She went on to tell her story about how she was at school when some punk kid bet her $50 that she couldn't break a window with a "flying ninja kick" and how she managed to win the bet by breaking one of the school's windows. She then went on to add that she spent the $50 on beef jerky and ham, which she had already consumed- Explaining why she didn't have any money on her.

A foolproof explanation.

"A 'flying ninja kick'?" Carly asked, ready to pummel Sam with a series of questions. But, she was interrupted by a knock at the door.

A rough voice calling out from the other side of the door exclaimed, "Samantha?"

Sam's face suddenly fell as she darted towards the stairs, escaping to the iCarly studio. Carly and Freddie glanced at each other, confused. Carly slowly and cautiously opened the front door.

"I'm here for my lil' girl. Y'all know where she is?" A man with a tall and strong build was at the door. His height towered over the tiny Carly. He wore a simple white crewcut T-shirt and jeans. His short and dirty blond hair and blue eyes seemed very familiar to both Carly and Freddie.

"Y-You are?" Carly squeaked, a little afraid and intimidated by the tall unknown man.

"I'm Samantha's father. You can call me Mr. Puckett." The man simply stated, enunciating his name. "Is my lil' girl here?" Mr. Puckett questioned, raising his voice louder, almost yelling. Carly was unsure whether or not to answer the man honestly, glancing back at Freddie, who was just as dumbfounded.

"Danggit- I'll just git her myself." Mr. Puckett grumbled, pushing through Carly and shouting into the apartment. "Samantha! Get down here right now! We're leavin'! Yer mother's worried sick 'bout you!" Mr. Puckett searched the rooms on the ground floor, with Sam nowhere to be found. Carly and Freddie only stood in shock, not knowing what to do. Mr. Puckett made his way up the stairs, continuing to yell for his daughter.

Suddenly, Freddie's phone chimed. Carly shot a look at Freddie. He nodded as he walked over to her, taking out his phone and showing her the text message.

Don't tell my dad I was here. I took the elevator back downstairs- I'll come back once my dad goes away. -Sam

Freddie quickly put away his phone as he heard footsteps descending down the stairs. Mr. Puckett looked disappointed. He stopped to gaze upon both Carly and Freddie, putting a each of his hands on one of their shoulders. His hands felt large and strong, the physical contact only making Carly and Freddie more nervous.

"She ain't here. Sorry for bargin' in. If she shows up, you make sure to tell her to c'mon home- We're all worried sick 'bout her." Mr. Puckett tightened his grip on the two teens. "She left in such-a hurry this mornin' for school- her teachers an' principals been callin' me, sayin' she's in some kinda trouble..." Mr. Puckett just sighed again, shaking his head as he loosened his grip. He slowly made his way towards the door, defeated. Carly closed the front door slowly, still confused as before.

A few hours passed with both Carly and Freddie waiting in the living room for Sam, as the TV played a rerun episode of "Girly Cow". Spencer, Carly's older brother, was stationed in the kitchen, working on a fishhook sculpture when there was a soft knock at the door. Carly ran to answer the knocking and both Freddie's and Spencer's attention turned towards the opening door.

"... Hey, guys." Sam stood in the doorway, her hair and clothes drenched. It was apparent that Sam had been caught in the rain. Everyone looked at Sam in silence as she took her place in the middle of the couch. Carly and Freddie both sat down next to their best friend, Carly speaking first.

"Sam." Carly stammered, worried for her friend. "Your dad was here." Sam just took a deep breath, letting out a long sigh.

"I know. He ended up finding me." Sam simply stated, her face expressionless.

"Tell us what happened." Freddie said slowly, his voice soft and gentle. Sam glanced over to Carly, then Freddie, then back to Carly. Spencer walked over to the three teens, obviously concerned with the situation. "...C'mon." Freddie nudged again.

Sam just slowly nodded as she stood up, proceeding to take off her outer long-sleeve shirt, revealing her yellow tank-top underneath. She shivered as the cold air from the quiet Seattle night hit her skin.

"My dad... He came back home." Sam said shakily, her eyes welling up with hot tears.

Freddie, Carly, and Spencer all looked upon Sam with shock written over their faces.

Sam's voice was now a low whisper. "And he did this to me."

Water slowly trickled off Sam's cold skin, dripping to the floor with a tint of red.

Author's Note: So how was it? I think the beginning was a little slow, but the ending was pretty good, amirite?