A/N: Here we go, Chapter 7! I hope this isn't too confusing. :) You'll see what I mean once you start reading. Please R&R!

Disclaimer: I really wish I owned iCarly, but I don't.

Chapter 7: iTry to Save Freddie, Part 2

So what, now there were three of me? How the heck was I supposed to ditch the other two and get myself where I needed to be?

I had to think fast because the iCarly show was ending, and my other self beside me had found the rope in the box of props.

My hand shot out and caught my other self's wrist. She looked up in shock at me.

"I don't think so," I said. "That's mine."

I grabbed the rope, put a hand over her mouth, and pinned her up against the wall in the same smooth motion. I was suddenly smiling, glad I knew how to handle people, or in this particular case . . . handle myself.

But even though I was often more aggressive than not, that didn't prevent my other self from putting up a fight. She struggled a lot and tried to scream. I shoved her face against the wall, hoping Carly, Freddie, and my third self would walk through the iCarly studio door soon; I was sure I wouldn't be able to keep my second self in the same uncomfortable position for long.

Then I heard the door open beside us. I was so relieved that I almost forgot to use the rope. Knowing it would be tricky, I kept my arm around my second self while I reached out and pulled on the blonde hair of my third self. She opened her mouth in a silent scream, though she never had time to let it escape her throat. I quickly tied them up, pushed them into the studio, grabbed the key, and locked it just as I had before. I smiled and waved at them both before pocketing the key. This time, they both wore the same angered expression on their faces.

I snapped back into focus, knowing Carly and Freddie would come looking for "me" if I didn't get down the stairs quick enough and make my presence known. Grabbing a pair of handcuffs from the box, I dashed down the stairs.

"What were you doing?" Carly asked me when I showed up.

I shrugged. "I thought I saw a piece of bacon by the door."

Carly laughed once and then said, "I tried asking Spencer if we could go to the Groovy Smoothie, but, well. . . ." She pointed helplessly to the TV screen. To no surprise, Carly's brother was watching Girly Cow, laughing his head off.

I grabbed Carly's arm and began pulling her towards the door. "Come on, you can text him on the way there."

Once again, we were heading to the Groovy Smoothie. I was so familiar with this route now that I was sure I could tell anyone who asked where all the cracks in the sidewalk were.

But I still had to save Freddie. I pulled the handcuffs out of my pocket, snapped one silver ring on my own wrist and then one on Freddie's, who was walking right beside me.

He glanced down at once, aghast. "Aw, Sam! What did I do now?"

I smiled evilly up at him. "Remember when you stole my bag of Canadian bacon last week? Well, it's payback time, and this is Momma's revenge."

Carly looked incredulously at me. "Really, Sam? Handcuffs?"

"Oh, he'll get over it," I insisted. It was hard not to feel like I could fly. How could Freddie get hit now, when he was tied to me?

"Where did you get those, anyway?" Carly asked, pointing to the handcuffs.

I didn't realize at that moment her comment could cause a problem. I smiled wider and replied with, "Oh, you know, they were just lying around." I waved a hand absently in the air, indifferent. I'd done what I needed to.

"Wait," Freddie said slowly, "I've seen these before. We used them for an iCarly skit! Which means . . . they're not real!"

When things like this happened, it made me understand why you really shouldn't say things like, "What could go wrong?" when everything in the world could. I knew I shouldn't have even thought it would be fine.

I decided it was best to lie. "What do you mean? I stole these from a cop. A real cop. You know, one with a gun and a badge and everything."

But neither of them were listening to me anymore. Freddie was already free of the handcuffs, starting to sprint ahead, but I was ready. I took off after him, this time easily matching his pace. I managed to stay beside him all the way to the corner.

At some point, he pulled slightly ahead of me. I panicked and sped up. We both stepped out into the street at exactly the same time, and the screeching told me the hot rod was already starting to close in on the two of us. Knowing there wasn't enough time to do anything else, I stepped out in front of Freddie and pushed him back towards the sidewalk with all the strength and feeling I possessed. The hot rod was going to hit me now, that was the inevitable part. I closed my eyes and waited for death to claim me.

But it never did.

Confused by the absence of the pain I should have been feeling, I slowly opened my eyes. The cars around me were continuing onward like nothing had happened, though what had happened, I was still unsure.

I looked to the sidewalk to see Freddie and Carly staring at me with a mixture of horror and amazement. I glanced behind me and saw the hot rod zooming off down the street. I heard it screech around the next corner.

Triumph flooded through me. I had done it, I had finally been able to save Freddie. It didn't matter that a car had just sped through me as if I were invisible. I had done exactly what I had meant to do, and now Freddie was safe.

"Sam -"

Carly was trying to say something but her voice broke off. She lifted a shaking finger and pointed to the ground at my feet.

I looked down and gasped: My entire being seemed to be dissolving. My feet were beginning to disappear slowly, and I could no longer feel any connection to them or control over them. My legs were already vanishing in quick flashes of white light.

I saw that Carly and Freddie's expressions hadn't changed in the slightest.

"I'm sorry, I wish I could explain," I said hurriedly. "Freddie, try not to get killed again, okay?"

Though my tone was almost kidding, there was a serious undercurrent to it that I hoped he'd pick up before I completely disappeared. The last thing I saw before I was (hopefully) being transported back to the future, was the sad and confused faces of the best two friends anyone could ever have.