Hey guys! Here is the next chapter of Running… enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own iCarly, but I do own a rockin' pair of converse and this frozen raspberry melon Gatorade I'm drinking… mmmm..

Chapter 5

Can't Make a Sound

He ran down the street as far as he could, until a horrible sight took his breath away.

Sam ran. She ran as far and as fast as she could. Her mind was tangled up: muddled with thoughts of her broken family and what they would never become. Sam ran faster than she ever had dreamed of before. She just wanted to escape. To get away from this cruel place called earth. Down alleyways and side streets she flew, ignoring the fact that hobos and rapists lurked there at these ungodly hours of the night. Sam ran so fast she didn't notice the black car rushing to meet her as she crossed the formerly silent alleyway: darkened from the night and lit by the stars. All she could sense as the driver slammed on its brakes was black. Darkness and pain. This time, external, unlike the mental battles she had fought against her depression. This was pain like she had never experienced before. She had wanted to escape from this world: and now she was in a way she had never dreamed of. Slipping into unconsciousness, the last things Sam remembered before she was brought into a new world of despair and hopelessness were a black car with shaded windows, the sound of her head hitting the paving stones, and Freddie's face as he rushed towards her.

Freddie bounded around the corner towards Sam, screaming her name every few seconds. He had seen the collision just after it happened. He was so in shock it was almost an out of body experience. Freddie vaguely felt as if he were watching a movie or reading a book. But this: this was inevitable. This was REAL. All Freddie saw was Sam as she crumpled to the ground in pain; and the scene kept on replaying in his mind. His thoughts were focused on her, and her alone. The car had sped away long ago. Ignoring everything else, Freddie raced to her side. He could not stop nor help the horrible thoughts that mixed around in his mind. He was hopelessly lost in a world of despair.

The one thing snapped him back to reality was the sound of his phone ringing. Carly had texted him: her being in a different time zone. (The camping trip was far away) She probably didn't expect him to answer anyways, so he ignored her: having much more pressing matters to attend to at the moment. He would call her later: for all he knew at this time Sam could be dying. Quickly dialing 911, Freddie called the paramedics who said they'd be on their way. He was shaking. Only then had Freddie noticed her condition.

"Sam." he said softly.

Sam had a deep cut on her forehead from falling: blonde curls now stained with blood. Her left arm was at a funny angle: her wrist most likely broken from trying to soften her fall. She was obviously unconscious from falling on the pavement. This was the visible damage that Freddie could see: just barely lit by the pale moonlight. He didn't think he could take the image of her in full light.

Freddie took a handkerchief out of his pocket and quickly bandaged up her head before she could lose too much blood: hands still shaking. Barely after he had, Freddie couldn't take it any longer. He broke down.

Sam looked so peaceful, yet so broken. The look on her face revealed what even daylight could not to Freddie or Carly. She was shattered by the news of her father.

Freddie gently picked up Sam's head and laid it on his lap, stroking her beautiful sunshine-kissed curls. He wanted to say that everything would be okay, that she would be ok. But he couldn't. Freddie didn't know these things for sure himself. He could not lie to her, even if she was unconscious. He could not lie to himself.

He was in shock: paralyzed by what had happened to his best friend. The tears rolled down his face, mixing with her blood and sweat in the alleyway. His mind was cluttered: a chaos of thoughts both good and bad. He could not lose her: he would never live with himself. Freddie was thinking deeply, lost in his own thoughts: completely unaware of the tears silently streaming down his face.

Thanks to all who faved/alerted.. but most of all thanks to…

AngieSeddieShipper – tada! Hope you enjoyed!

Alwayssmiling11 – Aww thanks! You're reviews always make me so happy

Anonymous-person-who-apparently-doesn't-have-a-name – Your wish has been granted (:

For reviewing! I love reviews…

*On a sad note, I will be gone for most of August, so I will not be able to update. However, I will probably get another chapter or two in before I leave. *

Review? For the children? (I saw iWas A Pageant Girl yesterday haha)