Disclaimer: I do not own iCarly or any other Registered, Trademarked, or Copyrighted material found within this story.

iJust Don't Know

Fine

By: Tech-Man

Freddie turned from the pleasant sight of Carly and headed towards the exit. He could feel her eyes boring into the back of his head as he continued to walk away. He needed to stick to this decision; this was an important step if any relationship with Sam was to be possible. He came out here to the hotel to see Sam, and she ran away from him again. Now, it was her turn to come and find him. Freddie let out a deep breath he didn't realize he had been holding. "Now I just need to convince myself that this is the correct decision," he said out loud as he reached the parking garage.

Freddie understood that if he and Sam were to ever to be together for any extended period of time he would have to allow her to be the one to make the decision this time. She needed to realize that running away didn't solve all of life's problems. No, this time Sam needed to be the one to try and solve the problem.

Pulling out his key he pressed the unlock button; secretly satisfied at hearing the door unlock. After opening the car door and getting in Freddie leaned back as far as he could in the chair. Reaching up he massaged his temples thinking about his rapidly beating heart. It wasn't fair the effect Sam could have on him. He was only in her presence for a little more than five minutes and yet he could feel that whole in his chest opening up again.

Carly had told him that Sam had admitted to loving him, but how could he believe that she loved him if at every turn she ran off screaming. Well, maybe not screaming, but it sure did feel that way sometimes. Freddie desperately wanted to believe that Sam loved him and as much as he loved her. Sitting back up and fixing the seat Freddie started the car and pulled out of the parking lot.

The drive home left him little to do but think, and thinking was the absolute last thing he wanted to do at the moment. It had felt both right and wrong to drive away from the hotel, away from Sam. Freddie went through every possible reason why it was right and wrong trying desperately to convince himself that he was right in his decision to leave.

Pulling into his driveway Freddie felt a familiar feeling radiating from his front pocket. Reaching down he pulled out his cell phone. Freddie's mind went momentarily blank when he read the message on the small LCD screen. It didn't make sense and he couldn't seem to make it make sense. Shifting the car into park he continued to stare at the small screen, a blank look on his face.

Suddenly, like a bolt of lightening the meaning of the message slammed into Freddie. He just couldn't believe that it was true. He had resigned himself to waiting for a long time and maybe waiting forever, but this was an almost instant response. Ideally, he wondered what the conversation between Sam and Carly had entailed to spur this kind of response.

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Carly watched as Freddie steadily walked out of the restaurant. Not once did he bother to look back at her or even act like walking away had been hard. However, she knew Freddie better than anyone else and that included Sam. Sam had always been unpredictable and even after years of friendship Carly had to admit to having to really try and predict Sam's actions. Freddie on the other hand, had always been predictable. Freddie operated off plans and agendas, and he never varied much from that. Granted, he would change the eventual goal if he no longer felt it was possible to reach, but he was still operating within the plan. Carly had to really wonder what kind of plan was forming in that mind of his.

"Now, back to Sam," Carly thought. Looking down at her food she felt herself shutter lightly. Feeling nothing of her original hunger returning Carly stood and quickly made her way towards the elevator fully intending to give a particular blonde a piece of her mind. Now the size of that piece was still up for debate and depended a great deal upon the attitude and actions of said blonde.

When the elevator reached the appropriate floor Carly felt herself nearly running towards her and Sam's rooms. She knew that Sam would never open the door voluntary, but she was counting on the blonde's absentmindedness and forgetfulness. Pulling out her room key Carly nearly slammed the key into the electronic lock. Shoving open the door to her room Carly ran full tilt towards the adjoining door of Sam's. Grabbing the handle intending to plow through it if it was locked, she through open the door.

"What was that all abs…," Carly yelled startling the hunched over figure sitting on the bed. Sam flinched at the sound; a behavior that Carly had never before seen from her overly outgoing best friend. Sam turned to look at her before turning back towards the object she was cradling in her hands.

Carly slowly shut the door and walked over to where Sam was sitting. Peering over the blonde's shoulder she could finally see what she was holding. It was a picture, one that Carly had never seen before.

It was of Freddie sitting as his desk in his apartment. His shirt was off and he was looking towards the photographer with a goofy smile plastered on his face. Carly felt a momentary pang of jealously knowing that look was ever only for one person. That one person was currently looking at the photograph a silent stream of tears cascading down her face.

"Sam," Carly tried to speak reaching up with her hand in a vain effort to comfort her hurting friend. It hurt knowing that her two best friends were hurting each other.

"Just go away," Sam responded never taking her eyes off the photo.

"You know I am not going to leave," Carly responded sitting down on the bed next to Sam. "You have to fix this Sam," Carly spoke almost inaudibly.

"How," the blonde asked even quieter. It was almost like they were too afraid to speak any louder than a whisper.

"Sam, I know that you care about Freddie and by your own admission you love him. So just go and tell him that. He loves you and just wants to make you happy," Carly said turning Sam from her huddled up position over the photograph to a more conventional one.

"Did you see his face when I left," Sam asked. "He was hurt, he didn't come up here with you so he is probably looking to leave again and this time we may never know where he goes off to," Sam exclaimed her voice steadily rising in volume and pitch.

"Sam. SAM! You have to calm down," Carly explained lightly shaking the young woman in front of her. "I talked to Freddie before he left. He still loves you. He is still in love with you. All he wants is for you to decide you really want him. Do you want him Sam," Carly asked holding Sam at arm's length.

"Oh course I do, but I have always had bad luck when it comes to men," Sam answered looking at Carly daring her to say that it wasn't true.

"Sam, how long have you been with Freddie," Carly asked.

"Six years," Sam answered a confused look playing on her face.

Carly just shook her head from side to side. It was so entertaining to watch Sam struggle with all of this. Not that the situation at hand wasn't sad, but that Sam did not realize that her and Freddie had been together for almost double that number. "Sam, you and Freddie have been together for almost twelve years. You may have only been dating for six, but you two have been friends whether or not you want to admit it or not for a great deal longer. Freddie loves you, he said so less than an hour ago. You have to put this uncertainty behind you and give love a chance," Carly finished her little speech rather proud of how she had sounded.

Sam seemed to sit there and think about what Carly had said for what seemed like the longest time. She actually sat there without moving or speaking for so long that Carly had begun to wonder if Sam had fallen asleep.

Then without warning Sam stood up and purposely strode towards the door. "Sam, where are you going," Carly asked joining her friend by the door.

"I'm going to go talk to Fretwork," Sam answered like it was the most obvious thing in the entire world.

"Sam, Freddie already went home," Carly answered laying a comforting hand on her best friends shoulder.

"Oh," was the only response that came from the blonde. Sam seemed to sag right where she was standing.

Carly reached into her pocket and pulled out a small piece of paper. "Here is Freddie's address. Go see him," Carly encouraged handing the small piece of paper over to Sam.

Sam seemed to stare at the paper for several long seconds before giving the first indication that she was even aware of what she held in her hand. Slowly, a smile formed on the blonde girls face before quickly turning into smirk. "Sam," Carly asked taking a few steps back. "What are you thinking?"

"I am thinking that the Queen of the Dorks is going to take mama to dinner since my earlier meal was interrupted," Sam said turning the small scrap of paper over in her hand. "Hey, where is his phone number," Sam asked looking expectantly at Carly.

"Oh," the small brunette piped up reaching into her back pocket and pulling out her Pear-Phone. Sam quickly took down the number before pulling out her own cell phone and sending a quick text. "What did you tell him," Carly asked sitting back down on Sam's bed.

"I told him to expect Mama for dinner and that it better be something good if he expects to live for much longer," Sam said the pride in her voice evident. Carly simply smiled enveloping her friend in a tight hug. Sam smiled and took a quick steadying breath before hugging Carly back.

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Desperately, almost frantically, Freddie tried to pull the dinner together before Sam showed up. She had never returned his response text asking when she would be over so he had thrown together a meal of fried chicken and ribs hoping that he would have time to get everything together before she showed up.

As he pulled the ribs out of the oven he heard the door bell ring. Standing up and placing the ribs on the table he started towards the door. Every single step forward was harder than the last. Taking a deep breath Freddie opening the door and the sight before him almost stopped his heart.

Sam stood in the door, her hair cascading down her shoulders framing her face perfectly. She was wearing a pair of caprice shorts and a tank top that hugged her frame. The smile that placed on her lips almost caused Freddie's heart to explode in his chest. Freddie's mind went completely blank when he opened the door and did not show any sign of starting up again. Out of reflex Freddie moved to the side allowing Sam to enter the house.

A/N: I hope that you all enjoyed this chapter. I believe we are starting to see the beginning of the end. Look for maybe two or three more chapters before this story is finished. I have done my part now it is your turn to let me know what you thought.