A/N - Another chapter! Not sure how much I like this chapter but there should be a least one more, if not two more chapters. R&R
Disclaimer: I do not own iCarly.


I couldn't fathom why Sam just punched me and left without a word. I kept calling and texting her, trying to discern what happened. After I came to, though, I started tearing down the fort I built in my room and returning the house to its original state. I looked at the holes in the walls…my mind reeling.

She even left her wig on the table. I picked it up and shoved it into my pocket best I could. I would need to return it unless she wanted the world to know her secret.

I wasn't sure what to do then. Finally I stood, rewrapping my fingers in gauze as the new wrapping was already ruined. Then I crossed the hall and knocked on the Shay's door. Spencer answered, smiling but as soon as he saw me, his face fell. "Uh…Freddie." No little nickname? Something was off. "I don't think you should be here."

"I just wanted to apologize to Carly." I replied, smiling weakly. My grin was guilty and I felt guilty. "I was a little nasty to her earlier."

Spencer grabbed my shoulder and stepped out into the wall with me. His face was conflicted. "I've got two angry girls upstairs who will rip you apart if they get a hold of you. Plus I am not exactly happy with you either but you have always been nice so I won't tear you apart."

"Wait…why are you mad at me?"

"You hit Carly!" I gaped at him! I did not…would not ever hit Carly! "I know there was probably a reason why you are acting this way but you are just lucky that things are strained right now with Sam's condition and all."

"I didn't hit, Carly!" Why would she say that? I gaped at him. "She came up and I was trying to leave. She grabbed my arm and I pulled away from her. Maybe she got hurt then."

"Well, whatever happened, she is upstairs crying right now." He paused, gauging my face. "Here's what I'll do…I'll let you go upstairs and talk to them but I am not responsible for any bodily harm Sam might inflict."

"Aren't you afraid I may hurt Carly some more?" I muttered, bitterly.

Spencer smirked at me, taking it as a joke. "No, because Sam would kill you first."

I went up the stairs, holding my breath and the rail tightly. When I realized the top of the stairs I heard Carly and Sam talking. They didn't know I was coming and I was almost scared that Sam might jump me when the door opened but neither girl looked up from where they were sitting on the bean bag chairs.

"Um…hey." I said and Sam let go of Carly. Carly's face was streaked with tears and when she looked at me, I noticed that her left eye was swollen and turning a reddish-purple color. Did I really cause that?

Sam was up in an instant and grabbed the front of my shirt. "Give me one reason why I shouldn't beat you to a pulp right now!" She snapped, shaking me violently. "When Carly called me and told me-."

"I didn't hit her!" I snapped and Sam let me go, glancing at Carly. The brunette was watching Sam and I with a indiscernible look on her face. I wasn't sure if it was shock or anger or maybe guilt. I moved to face Carly. "I didn't hit you, Carly. If I did hurt you, it was completely by accident when you grabbed my arm." Her face changed as if she realized that I hadn't hit her purposely or maybe it was something else.

Sam looked between Carly and I. Sam suddenly grabbed my arm and dragged me out of the room. "Freddie, what is happening with you?"

"What is happening with you?" I shouted.

"What are you talking about, Freddie?" She asked, her face drained of color.

"You have been changing too. It's like you're suddenly bipolar. I mean, one second you are nice and friendly and all over me. And in the next you are the same old Sam. I know this is a hard time for you but this is getting ridiculous. You just aren't Sam anymore."

"And you aren't Freddie!" She said, almost exasperated. "You are angry and…physical all of a sudden. And I have a reason to be different! I am dying!"

"My father is out of prison…and the girl I love is dying." I muttered slowly, stuffing the wig into her hand. "I am going in there to talk to Carly because I want all this to be over with already."

With that I pushed into the room, leaving Sam looking stricken in the hall. I felt like I was ruining everything. First things were messed up when my dad showed up. Then Sam revealed her secret. Carly and I had a falling out, and then Sam and I had a falling out. At this point, I wanted to sit down and cry into my hands.

"Carly?" I asked softly, sitting down next to her and placing an arm around her.

"I'm sorry." She blubbered. "I never said you hit me. I tried to explain it was an accident but Sam and Spencer blew it out of proportion. Then Sam came over and told us about her condition and I never got the chance to correct them"

"Then why didn't you stop her when she was about to kick my ass over there?" I said, gesturing to the door. "And, can we stop calling it a condition? It is not something that will change. Sam has leukemia."

"It's hard."

"I know."

"Are things ever going to go back to normal?" She asked, looking down at her hands.

"I am not sure." I replied, pressing a kiss into her hair. I glanced to the doorway to see Sam watching me, a faint smile on her lips.