Before She Came

Disclaimer: I don't own iCarly

A/N: Thoughts in Italics, speech in regular font

Chapter 10 (Change)

A couple weeks later, things were still hard for everyone. After the deaths of Michelle and the two fathers, it seemed like things were starting to change around quite a bit. Mrs. Puckett was now doing poorly at work and all she could do was sit around the house and cry. She knew she had a daughter to take care of, so she still tried her best to do just that, but sometimes it was just too hard.

The loss of John seemed to hit Emily pretty hard as well, she seemed to almost go crazy. She wasn't calm anymore, she was almost always looking over her shoulder. She still loved Sam as though she was her own flesh and blood, there was nothing that could change that. She was concerned for Sarah, but again, she could do nothing for her. Her fear was not being able to do anything for even Freddie, so she became protective of him, too protective it seemed. She started inventing names for certain lotions and if anyone said anything to her, they needed to be careful or they might just set her off.

Freddie didn't change so much, but he did know he had to start caring more and helping to take care of everyone. With his father gone and Joshua in college far away, it was up to Freddie to make sure his mom was okay and didn't actually go insane. As for Sam, it was possible the news hit her heaviest. She started to emulate her sister, hoping that it would fill in the missing spot that was now in her life. Ciara was away, her mom was clearly sick, so she had to take care of herself.

At school was when Freddie first noticed her change. He couldn't say he was thrilled, but she was still his friend, and he still cared deeply for her. They were at the cafeteria and Sam was munching on, to no surprise of Freddie, ham. Ham, the favorite of Michelle, now it seemed that it was Sam's favorite food. Freddie could only smile as he watched Sam push the food into her mouth and swallow. He wasn't sure why, but watching her eat was so calming to him. "Are you enjoying the ham?" Freddie asked with a slight chuckle. Sam stopped eating and glanced at Freddie.

"Yes, yes I am," she replied. She then began eating once more.

"Fantastic…" He hoped that was the only thing that would change with her. He normally wouldn't care, but he didn't want her to change too much. He liked her, so really what would happen if she was completely different? Years of teasing from Joshua finally got to him, and he began developing what his brother had termed a 'crush' on her. He took his milk carton and began sipping from the straw as he watched his friend eat. "So, you made your lunch and you packed only ham?"

"No, I've got other things in my lunchbox!" Sam placed a few slices of ham in her box when she left, they were only added to her sandwich that she made and a brownie. In truth, it was a lot less than she normally had, but her mom wasn't making lunch boxes for her lately. She opened her lunchbox and took her sandwich out, it was a simple peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Freddie's eyebrows rose and he felt his heart sink, it was horrible that Sam's mom seemed to be lacking in the once strong motherly department that she had.

"If you want some of my food, then I'll let you have it…" Freddie's mom was now starting to give him too much food. She didn't want him to starve. She had been asking Joshua several times if he'd move closer to home, but he couldn't. Her fear was losing her two children after she had lost her husband. "I always have extra." Sam looked at Freddie and smiled, thankful for the gesture, but she didn't really want to take his food from him.

"That's okay Freddie, thanks anyway."

"Okay…you know, you never have to ask if you want something, okay?" Sam nodded and gave Freddie a hug, she loved having him around. He was her first friend, her best friend, and she actually was beginning to like him. Ciara always said she might get a funny feeling about someone, and that feeling was typically a crush. Of course, Sam still thought her older sister was the greatest and the smartest person alive. She knew if she'd ever lost Ciara, then things would probably be worse than they'd ever been for her. It would be like losing Michelle, but the effect would be increased tenfold.

"Hey Freddie, will we always be friends?"

"Of course, nothing will change that." He wouldn't let anything change his view on her, because to him, she was his very first friend. He shifted his eyes over and spotted Gibby walking in their direction, he frowned and looked to Sam. "Hey Sam…Gibby alert…"

"What?" Sam looked over and frowned when she saw the school bully heading her way. Of course, she knew he probably realized Michelle was gone and therefore he had nothing to worry about, but that was all going to change soon. She was sick and tired of his bullying ways. "Hello Gibby."

"Hey Puckett, I heard your sister died," Gibby said with a smirk. "It's about time."The color started to drain from Sam's face and Freddie's eyebrows rose with annoyance. Sam hated for anyone to talk about her sister like that, it was just not right.

"Sam, ignore him," Freddie said as he stood up and placed his hand onto Sam's shoulder. "We should go to class anyway, we'll be late." Sam brushed his hand off and stood up, glaring angrily into Gibby's eyes.

"You'll regret talking about my sister like that," Sam said with a very dangerous tone in her voice. Freddie was stunned, he never knew Sam to use that tone. Rather, the tone belonged to Michelle whenever the girl spoke to Gibby in defense of Sam. Gibby laughed and crossed his arms.

"What are you going to do?"

"You'll see…"

"Ooh, I'm so scared." Sam growled and took a step forward. Freddie knew he needed to get her away from Gibby, but he didn't know how that was going to happen. What he did know was something was going to happen if he didn't intervene, but he wouldn't get any time to.

"Oh you better be scared!" Sam smacked Gibby and pushed him to the ground. He shouted out and Freddie's eyes widened. Sam then placed her foot on Gibby's back and grabbed his underwear. "You like wedgies so much? Then here, have one!" Sam pulled Gibby's underwear out, causing him to cry out in pain. Freddie called out to Sam and quickly pulled her off of Gibby. "What? He had it coming!" Sam looked into Freddie's eyes and frowned, he did look upset with her. He was disappointed, she'd acted so differently than she usually did. Gibby quickly stood up and stared at Sam with wide eyes.

"You're mean!" Sam looked at Gibby and narrowed her eyes, he began to cry and run off. "I'm telling on you!" Freddie slowly shook his head as Sam turned to him.

"What?"

"Nothing Sam, let's just go to class…"

"Okay." Freddie and Sam then walked to class, both were silent. Freddie couldn't understand what just happened. Sam never had been violent before. She was changing, and perhaps too much, but he wasn't going to let it change the way he thought about her. Although, he could say one thing, he was going to miss the old Sam.

When they made it to class, they saw Mrs. Vandeveer shaking her head. Gibby was standing next to her. That could only mean one thing, he'd told her what Sam did to him. She was surprised that Sam would do such a cruel thing to anyone, even if Gibby may have been mean. No one, not even Gibby, deserved to be bullied. When that happened, things rarely ever became better. Sam stared back at the teacher, knowing full well she was going to get in trouble for the first time, and knowing full well that it would not be the last time.

"I'm stunned," Mrs. Vandeveer said in a quiet voice. "Sam, is it true what Gibby has told me?" Sam crossed her arms and turned her head to the side.

"Maybe…" That was enough for the teacher to know. As much as she hated to have to do it to Sam, she needed to send the girl to the office. Everyone in the class was shocked so much that they lost the ability to talk and process thoughts. It was far too reversed for them, it should be Sam standing next to the teacher with tears in her eyes, Freddie comforting her, and Gibby standing in the doorway staring down the teacher.

"Sam…" The teacher took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "You have to go to the principal's office now." Mrs. Vandeveer took a slip of paper from her desk drawer and began to write Sam's offense on it. She didn't know the full story, but she knew Sam would be honest in telling the principal what had happened. They would probably have to contact her mother, and the woman was sure to come. The teacher then handed Sam the slip of paper and watched sadly as she left the room. Freddie watched Sam walk away and turned to Mrs. Vandeveer.

"May I go with her?" Freddie asked. He wanted to be there for his friend, she needed him. The teacher thought for a moment and smiled, she didn't see any reason that Freddie couldn't go after her. She nodded her head and Freddie quickly exited the room and hurried after Sam. He stepped next to Sam when he found her and walked with her. She looked at him with surprise, she didn't know why he was even there. After what she did, she thought he wouldn't want to be her friend anymore.

"Freddie, why are you here?"

"You're my friend, so I wanted to be here for you." Sam blinked and looked forward, she was stunned. Freddie knew why she'd probably be so shocked, but she had no reason to be. "I don't care what you do, Sam…I'll always be your friend." Sam smiled softly and chuckled. She had to admire that about Freddie, he was just so set in taking care of her that he was just too good to dislike her if she did something stupid. Of course, she wouldn't tell him that she felt great when she picked on Gibby. She didn't really like doing it, but it was what Michelle would have done, and if she continued keeping Gibby on his toes, then he wouldn't ever pick on them again.

"You're such a dork, Freddie…"

"I will take that as a compliment." Sam giggled and hugged Freddie. Then they walked to the principal's office in silence. She couldn't be happier that Freddie was there, because she would have been afraid to go to the office by herself. "What will you do when they call your mom?"

"I don't know…maybe they'll call Ciara instead." Freddie raised his eyebrow and frowned, it might be bad for Sam if they did that. Although, Ciara would love Sam no matter what, she would also be extremely disappointed in her. Sam's mom might not even bother with it, considering how much of a slump that Mrs. Puckett was in. "I don't know what they'll do, so I guess we'll just have to see…" Freddie gave a brief nod as they neared the doors to the office. It was only a first offense for Sam, so they probably would just let her off with a warning.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter. I believe it is the next that picks up where the story left off. I couldn't figure out where I was going with it origionally, so I took it to a new direction which I believe you will enjoy.