Paternal Bonds
Disclaimer: I don't own iCarly. I keep it simple.
A/N: Thoughts in "Italics" and regular speech in "Regular font."
A/N: By the way, everybody is 26 in this story, except Spencer who would be older. I doubt he'll be mentioned much. Please read this regardless of their age. It will all make sense, I promise. They have to be this old in the story.
Chapter 2 (The Mute Child)
Tina walked through the aisles of the grocery store and put some food items in the shopping cart, she knew she had to get a good supply of food because the store was far from the home. Freddie lived in a large house about fifty miles from the city. It was a good thirty minute drive at least, so naturally they couldn't go shopping so often. Tina pushed the cart in the checkout aisle and started piling the items on the counter, the cashier greeted her with a friendly smile.
"It's good to see you Miss Tina," The cashier stated. "How is your boss doing?"
"Well, I still wish I could help him, he needs something that will help him. The butler, chauffer and I were considering the thought of getting him a pet." The Cashier hummed as he scanned the items.
"You think a pet would help him out?"
"Well, as down as he is…he needs something to care about. I think if he had a dog or a cat, he would have something to take care of and love, he'd perk up and be happy!" The cashier nodded as he placed the items in the bag, Tina placed the bags in the cart and smiled. "Thank you, now how much will that be?"
"That's going to be about sixty dollars and fifty six cents."
"Oh wow, prices sure are going up these days." Tina chuckled as she handed the man the money he needed.
"Have a good day!"
"You too." Tina pushed the cart out to the car and put the bags in the trunk. She then got in the drivers side and began to drive off. She drove with the calm and soothing music on, she tried to stay the speed limit. After about thirty miles, she was in nothing but grasslands, the last city building had passed by her about ten to fifteen miles ago. Suddenly a car was coming at her full speed; she swerved to the side and avoided being rammed by the car. "What on earth!" Tina continued to drive, but with a concerned mind, she drove about five to ten more miles before stopping to check and make sure the milk she purchased hadn't spilled. "Mr. Benson wouldn't be happy if I spilled the drink all over the place." Tina stepped out of the car and inspected the inside for any defects, there were none. She opened the trunk and checked for any issues, of course, there were none. "Okay good…" Tina got back into the car and started to drive off again, she saw a little girl in the distance. The girl was about six years old and was sitting in the middle of the road. "Oh my god!" The girl was curled in a ball with her arms around her legs and head buried in her legs; she had curly blonde hair flowing down her back. The girl looked up and Tina immediately screeched to a halt.
"E!" The girl exclaimed as she buried her head back into her legs, the front bumper of the car stopped within one or two feet of the girl. Since she was so small, Tina wasn't sure if she hit the girl.
"Oh my god, please be okay! Master Benson will be furious if he finds out I ran over a little girl!" Tina did have a habit of over exaggerating, she knew that Freddie would generally try to be calm, patient and understanding in any situation. Tina jumped out of the car and ran around to the front; she placed her hand on her chest and sighed as she realized the girl was unharmed. Tina knelt beside the girl and smiled softly. "Hey, what are you doing out here?"
"…"
"Can you talk?" The girl didn't respond with words, she merely nodded her head. "Will you talk?" The girl slowly shook her head; Tina saw tears streaking the young girl's face. "What happened to you? Why are you out here all alone?"
"…"
"She won't answer me." Tina thought of the car that sped by her previously, her eyes widened with shock, had the driver of that car abandoned this child. "Do you have any family?" The girl shook her head slowly. "Why, you must have a mom or a dad, do you know where they are?" The girl shook her head again. "So you're all alone? You have no parents?" Once more, the girl shook her head and further confused Tina. "Are you afraid?"
"…" The girl nodded and Tina let out a sigh.
"Does anybody know about you at all?" The girl shook her head, when Tina looked at this little girl, it seemed like she was sensitive to the light. "Are you sensitive to the sun?" The girl nodded and let Tina continue. "Why are you so sensitive to the sun, do you have a skin condition?" The girl looked at Tina with confusion and Tina mentally slapped herself, a six year old wouldn't understand that. "Is your body safe from the sun? Do you feel like you're on fire?" The girl then shook her head. "Were you abandoned just now?"
"…"
"Abandoned, that means left behind, probably like left to…well…starve or something." The girl nodded. "Oh my…Did your mom and Dad do this to you?" The girl shook her head quickly and lifted her hand. She held one finger up. "One of them did?" The girl nodded. "Was it your father?" The girl then nodded her head. Tina's eyes were wide as she slowly stood up. "You can't stay out here by yourself and Mr. Benson will be angry if I don't get back soon. Would you like to come with me? My boss has a great home and he'll be glad to take you in, and maybe we can find your parents." The girl's eyes widened and she rapidly shook her head, making it very clear she didn't want to find her parents. "…Okay, then my boss will still be happy to take care of you until we can find out what we're supposed to do. Is that alright?" The girl nodded and Tina helped her to stand up. The two got in the car and drove off.
-NEW SCENE-
Freddie walked through the halls of his home, he had to admit that he enjoyed living in the mansion in the country. It was calm, quiet and he could actually sit outside without dealing with the constant noises of the city. Freddie exited the house and sat down on the front porch, he was a bit worried, his maid usually made it to the store and back pretty quickly. It wasn't his request, but it was just how she did her work. Freddie saw Tina's car driving into the driveway and smiled, it appeared she was okay. He raised his eyebrow when a little girl exited from the car and clutched Tina's pants. "Tina, who is that?" Freddie asked.
"She doesn't have a home, Mr. Benson," Tina stated. Freddie smirked and crossed his arms.
"I might have expected you to say that with a puppy…"
"Seriously! I think her parents have abused her!" Freddie raised his eyebrow and looked at the girl, upon looking at her, she immediately tightened her grip on Tina's pants. "I was driving along the country roads and this car sped by me, after a little more, I found this girl sitting on the road. She doesn't seem to like talking. I don't know what to do, sir!"
"I know what we should do." Freddie smiled and stood up, as he stood up and when he walked over to Tina, the girl started to tighten her grip and sob. Freddie was going to pat Tina on the shoulder but when he lifted his hand the girl immediately cried out and started to try and pull Tina away from Freddie. "Hmm." Freddie lowered his hand to his side.
"Mr. Benson…I think she thinks you are a threat."
"I can see that, Tina. Anyway, as I was saying, let's take her in for now. If we don't find her parents, we'll send her to the adoption center." Tina sighed with a look of disappointment on her face; Freddie rubbed his chin and looked at the girl. She looked up and glared at Freddie, in that instant he gasped and took a step back. "Sam…she looks like…Sam! Its okay, Freddie, it's just a coincidence." Freddie knelt down to the girl's level and smiled softly. "Do you talk?" The girl hid behind Tina and Freddie let out a small sigh. "I guess not." Freddie stood up and Tina smiled. "Tina, take this girl to the guest bedroom, if she talks, she'll talk to someone. It would be good if we figured out who her parents are, when I find the person that did this to this poor girl, he's in for it."
"I understand, sir."
"Go on inside, I'll take care of your groceries." Tina nodded and led the girl inside the house while Freddie opened the hood of the car and started to get the bags out. The little girl was eyeing him through the window as Freddie closed the trunk. Freddie turned in time to see the girl flee from the window, he raised his eyebrow and shrugged.
There's the chapter. I felt the need to post the first and second together as one.
