A/N: Most of the Characters are made up, but the Chief of Police in Seattle Washington really is named Diaz. I looked it up on-line.
Her eyelids were heavy, her thoughts sluggish; finally, Carly found her voice. "Where…" She tried to sit up, but had no strength.
Sam was in the chair next to her bed. "Carly, you're awake. How you feeling?"
"What happened? We were getting bagels and…" Carly remembered the horrid pain. She likened it to having a hot fork shoved into her gut then twisted.
"The doctor will explain everything." Sam hurried out of the room.
Doctor? Carly slowly got her bearings; she was in a hospital room, hooked to an IV. The pain in her abdomen had lessened to a dull ache.
"I'm Dr. Kendal, How are you feeling, Miss Shay?"
"Sore. What happened?" She was getting worked up, "Is my baby okay?"
The doctor pulled up the chair; "You had a miscarriage."
Carly shook her head, "NO! My baby just can't be gone!" She was having trouble breathing.
Dr. Kendal pulled a syringe from his pocket and injected it into her IV line. "Just a little something to calm you down." Carly soon felt the effects; she fought to stay awake.
"Why?"
"I don't know. Could have been any number of reasons." He could almost read her mind. "There was nothing that you did wrong or could have done different. This was going to happen no matter what."
"Was it a boy or girl?"
"It was too undeveloped to tell." He checked her vitals and made some notes on her chart. "If you need anything, let the staff know."
"I want my baby." Carly was beyond grief. "I want…" Sleep overtook her.
"How is she?" Spencer was in the waiting area with Freddie.
"She handled the news about as well as one could expect." He looked at Freddie. "You can see your wife tomorrow, I had to give her something to calm down."
"I'm not the father." He glanced at Sam, who was raiding the vending machines. "Carly's husband's working."
"I would think this is more important." Dr. Kendal remarked, "She should be here for another day or two, then bed rest at home for a few more days."
"Thanks." Spencer was trying to figure out how and what to tell their dad.
"From past experiences with young women who miscarry, She's going to need your help."
"Whatever she needs, we'll get her." Spencer answered.
"Anyone seen Kyle?" Sam was loaded with snacks and pops.
"I called his cell, the house, texted him, called his supervisor, the dispatcher." Freddie looked at Sam. "He's just not answering."
Sam looked at the doors separating the waiting area from the patient rooms, then at Freddie. "What if that was me in there?" She reached for him as she started to tear up.
"I'd be in there with you." He took her hand. "Just like we're gonna be there for her." His cell phone rang. "Hello, hell yeah, I've been trying to get a hold of you. No, I don't wanna grab a beer! I'm at the hospital, Carly's here. She lost the baby… Your baby, you dumb ass! Visiting hours end in about 45 minutes, but I think they would let you stay in the room…Definitely not! I just thought you would want to know what was going on with your wife!" Freddie slammed his phone shut. He was turning red and clenching his fist tight. "I swear, if I have to talk to him again…"
"Why? What did he say?"
"First he asked 'whose baby?' Then when I said that the staff might let him stay in the room with her he asked, 'you think she'll be in the mood?'"
"You're making that up." Sam was hoping he was.
"Hollywood couldn't make this shit up."
Carly was discharged a few days later; mentally, she was still at the bagel shop.
Spencer drove her home; "I took the rest of the week off. Fortunately, I don't have any cases at the moment."
Carly just stared out the window. She was holding it together, until they passed a group of women. One was pregnant, two had strollers. "Why?"
"Why what?" Spencer was concentrating on the road. He had used his bonus to buy the mid-sized SUV and was still learning how it handled.
"Why my baby?" Carly hadn't dealt with her lose yet. "Does this mean I was gonna be such a bad mother that I shouldn't have kids?"
Spencer pulled into the parking lot and shut the car off. "No, just that for whatever reason, that baby wasn't meant to be. The doctor said that you can still have kids." He gently pulled her over and kissed the top of her head. "You know I'm here if you need anything."
"Thanks Spencer." She looked at the apartment building she and Kyle shared. "Can you carry my bag up?"
"Sure, I ordered us some Chinese for lunch?"
"I'm not really hungry." He knew she hadn't eaten anything yet, but didn't push the issue.
"Well, you can have it later." He had called the local shop before they left the hospital and had them deliver it. "Should be here in about 10 minutes." They rode the elevator up; Carly was still a little pale.
"Thanks." She took off her shoes and pulled a blanket over herself as she lay on the couch. "I just wanna be alone for awhile. Please."
"Okay, I'm just gonna wait for the Chinese. I'm also gonna take a few things with me." She heard Spencer rattling around in the kitchen.
"What are you taking?" She didn't look at him.
"These knives, this bottle of vodka," He needed to get her to attention. "This double headed vibrator."
"Sam gave me that as a wedding…" Carly started to say as she sat up. She caught what Spencer was doing to her. "You don't have to go. I don't know what to do? " Her tears came back, "I failed as a mom."
Spencer sat on the couch and hugged her, "You didn't fail. Something just wasn't right with the baby. You need to heal. Mentally, as much as physically." Spencer answered the knock at the door.
She waited until the deliveryman left, "I know. It's just that Kyle wasn't there when I needed him. I think he's two-timing me." Carly needed to vent. "He didn't even show up to the hospital until the next day. And he smelled like a bar."
"Did he try anything?"
"Why you asking?" Spencer told her about the phone call that first night. "No, but I smelled perfume on him, and it wasn't mine."
"Do you love him?"
Carly looked at the floor; "I married him because of the baby. I thought I loved him. I don't know anymore."
"Well, I can file for an annulment. You two don't really have any joint assets and you paid for all the baby stuff, right."
"I don't know. Just let me be for a little while. Please, Spencer?" Carly was turning a corner. "I just lost my baby; let me think about it."
"I didn't mean today, but I need to file before 30 days is up."
Carly thought for a minute, "I have 9 days to decide. What would you do if you were me?"
"First, I'd eat my lunch." He held up the delivery bag. "Then I'd sit down and have a long hard think about Kyle, your future and what you want." He pulled two plates from the cabinet. "Did I tell you that I've asked Nicole to marry me?"
"When?"
"Over the weekend."
Carly cracked her first smile, "Way to go Spencer. When's the wedding?"
"She wants a late summer wedding, probably end of July." That gave them about 6 months to plan everything. Carly threw her wedding together in 10 minutes. She looked at her brother; he had matured a lot in the last few years. He could still get crazy, but law school and his new career had settled him down. "Does Nicole make you happy?"
"Yeah, she does." He thought for a moment. "The other night, we sat on the roof and looked at the stars for hours." Smiling, he set the plates on the coffee table.
She looked at the plate of shrimp and broccoli, "File the annulment."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure." She wiped a single tear from her face. "He doesn't love me like I need him to."
"Sure, After Lunch." They ate in comfortable silence.
The proceedings went remarkable smooth; Kyle agreed to them keeping the things they had before the marriage. Carly kept the baby items. The two still talked on occasion, but drifted apart as graduation drew closer. Sam had started going to the gym with Freddie; she needed to get into better shape for the academy.
"Who would have thought that Sam Puckett, teenage criminal mastermind, would go into law enforcement?" Carly joked as the trio of graduates gathered at Spencer and Nicole's apartment. Carly still lived with them, but was looking for her own place.
"When do you start the academy?" Spencer asked.
"Well, me and Freddie get married next weekend and then have a whole three weeks before I have to report to the barracks for 2 months."
"Two months alone, what will Freddie do with himself?" Carly joked.
Sam couldn't resist the bait, "Probably jerk off to the book of naked pictures I had taken." That got Carly to squirt Peppie cola out her nose. Through her coughing and nasal burn, "You did what?"
"I went to a local photographer and did a bunch of sexy poses and stuff, sorta my wedding present to Freddie."
"I guess pictures will have to do." Freddie joked, "Sam told me some of the things she's going do with those handcuffs when she gets back."
Nicole cut him off. "TMI, what you do with handcuffs is you business." She kissed Spencer, "Besides, I love his tie collection."
"Whoa, that's my brother!" Carly looked at her soon to be sister-in-law.
"What? You never got adventurous?"
"I guess being a member of the 'Mile High Club' isn't that big of a deal." Carly tried to one-up Nicole.
"That's nothing," Sam cut in. "Try the handicap stall at Giro's" Freddie turned five shades of red.
The Shay's, William and Melanie Puckett, and Freddie were sitting at the Graduation Ceremony for the Seattle Police Academy. Chief Diaz was handing out the Certificates as each new officer was called.
"Samantha Benson." They all clapped and snapped pictures as Sam shook hands and collected her framed certificate. Afterwards, they gathered near the stage for a photo with the Chief. He eyed Sam's dad; "Do I know you?"
"You busted me on a B&E about 20 years back. Will Puckett. Did my 15 years, been out and straight since. This ain't gonna affect Sam is it?"
"No, she told us about your past on her application."
"Dad, leave my boss alone. I can get into trouble on my own." Sam joked.
Her dad hugged her, "Guess you're now the black sheep of the family."
"How am I gonna explain this at the family reunions?"
Freddie had commented on how she looked in her dark blue dress uniform. He didn't care for the lighter blue uniforms the department used for everyday patrol. The group headed for a local restaurant to celebrate. There were many other new officer's families' there; introductions took place. Sam didn't touch one drop of alcohol; even as the bar served the new officers reduced priced drinks. Freddie had a couple; Sam knew she would drive home. She leaned over to Carly, who was sipping her third cosmopolitan. "O'Connell hasn't taken his eyes off you all night."
Carly glanced over at the young man. He looks too good to be a cop. She thought. His close cropped brown hair accented his hazel eyes. He stood up and walked over to their table.
"May I?" He motioned to an empty chair next to Carly.
"Sure." Sam answered. "Carly, this is Jim O'Connell. Jim, my best friend Carly Shay."
"Nice to meet you." He shook her hand. "Where have I seen you?"
"I read the news on . I also used to do a web show with Sam, in my younger days."
"iCarly. I used to watch that all the time." He looked at Sam, "That's why you're not drinking."
"Yeah, can you not tell anyone. I know I told the whole world, but I've been trying to put that behind me."
"You're secret's safe." He turned back to Carly. "So, tell me about yourself."
"I got divorced in February right after I was discharged from the hospital with a miscarriage; my then husband was out at the bar with any woman he could get." Carly was trying to scare him off. "I have a degree in broadcast journalism and am working my way onto the evening news."
"Sounds like you had a rough patch and came out on top." He touched her hand. "I have to live down having my ass handed to me by Sam. Where'd she learn to fight like that?"
"Here and there." Carly was guarding her answers. "I'm sorry, but I'm not ready for anything right now. I got burned really bad by my ex."
"Well, if you ever wanna get a burger or something, call me." He wrote his number on the back of a napkin.
"Are you mental?" Sam looked at her. "He was so nice and did you notice that he's smokin' hot?"
"Sam, I was with Kyle for 3 years and almost had his baby." She wiped her eye. "My due date was two weeks ago."
"I'm sorry, I kinda forgot. How'd you handle it?"
"I sat on the floor holding this thing called a 'Silky'. It's this double-sided blanket. I sat there for like an hour. I wanted that baby."
Sam hugged her friend, "Someday, you'll meet a good man, who really loves you and you'll have a whole house full of kids."
"Thanks Sam."
"You'd do the same for me." She looked at Freddie; he gave a sideways nod towards the door. She nodded an affirmative back. "I gotta go. Start my new job tomorrow."
"Sam?"
"Yeah."
"Be careful." Carly was worried for her.
"I will."
Freddie sat in the passenger seat, he'd had a few beers and Sam was not taking any chances.
"Have I told you how hot you look in your uniform, officer?" His hand was moving up her thigh. She pulled into the parking lot and shut the car off. "Or how proud I am of you?"
"You're drunk." She joked. He leaned over and kissed her. Freddie's hands moved to the buttons of her jacket, as their kiss grew more passionate.
"I'm gonna have to ask you to come with me, sir. I'm gonna have to search you for weapons." Sam said in a breathless voice. She massaged his member through his pants, "Do you have a permit for this?" Leading him to the elevator, the pair was glad it was the direct one. It was empty at this hour; the two took advantage of this on the ride up. The doors opened into their living room. As they kicked the loose clothes from the elevator, Sam hit the 'Do not disturb' button on the wall. This overrode the control panel and prevented someone from walking in. Freddie had her shirt off and was fumbling with her bra clasp. As the plain white garment fell away, his hands and mouth set to work on her sensitive nipples.
"God, that get me so hot." Sam found his belt and was trying to get his pants off. She sank to her knees and pulled his pants off; his erection nearly hitting her in the face.
Sam took him into her mouth, while she got her own belt undone. As she stood, her pants puddled around her feet. She hooked her thumbs in the waistband of her panties and shed those as well. She pulled Freddie to her, she whispered in his ear.
"I want you to fuck me hard," She stroked him with each command, "And long, and slow."
"I'll get a condom?" Freddie turned towards their bedroom.
Sam grabbed his arm and pressed herself against his body, "It's been two months, I want you in me, now." As if to emphasize her point she turned and draped herself over the back of the couch. Freddie eased into her, his hands finding her hard nipples. Sam loved when he pulled them as they made love. Sam moved back to meet Freddie's thrusts. The beers had dulled his nerves a little and he lasted a little longer. His pace quickened, then he froze; Sam could feel his seed hitting her insides. He whispered breathlessly, "I love you Sam Benson."
"I love you too." Sam felt him withdraw. "Get us a couple of Peppie cola's and meet me in the bedroom." Freddie walked towards the kitchen.
"You want something to eat?"
"Grab something and we'll share." Sam headed to the king-sized bed.
The two didn't get out of bed until that afternoon.
Sam looked around the briefing room, she tried not to look nervous her first day on the job. Don't screw this up, Puckett. She still called herself Puckett.
The Shift Sergeant had called roll. "I would like to welcome the new officers to the force. You'll be partnered with a veteran for your first year. Benson."
Sam snapped to attention, "Sir!" She was a little jumpy.
Smiling, the sergeant continued. "Relax, rookie, gonna give yourself whiplash. You're riding with Rogers." He pointed to another blonde woman. Sam looked over at her new partner. She was much taller, Sam guessed about 5'9", and broad shouldered. She had her hair pulled back in a single ponytail. The Sergeant paired the rest of the rookies up and handed out assignments.
"Looks like we're riding together. Name's Linda."
"Sam." She extended her hand.
"You look familiar, I ever bust you?"
"No, I used to co-host 'iCarly.'"
"That's it. You still sober?"
"Why is that the only thing people remember?" Sam gave an exaggerated sigh.
"Cause when you admitted you had a problem, it made a few more of us see we had one too."
Sam looked at the older woman with confusion.
"I got dry after I saw that episode." Rogers turned back to the business of law enforcement. "You got your gear?"
"Right here." Sam lifted the square duffel bag.
"Got your gun? Cuffs? Vest? Wallet?"
"Why do I need my wallet?"
"Rookies buy all the coffee the first week. Some of the guys are dicks and make their rookie buy meals too. I'm not like that."
The Benson's settled into a routine; Sam on the midnight shift, Freddie working at Microsoft as a security specialist. The two were able to have 'dinner' together.
"Sam?" Freddie stroked her bare side as they lay on the couch.
She rolled slightly, "Yeah hon."
"You ever get scared out on patrol"
"A little, why."
"Nothing, I just had a bad dream the other night that you were in a car wreck."
"Well, Linda does most of the driving." She kissed him. "Were you watching 'Police's wildest videos' again?"
He gave her a sheepish grin, "Yeah. I was."
"That stuff happens like once or twice a year."
"Well, you've made it through your first two months, think you can handle another 30 years?" Linda joked as they pulled out of the Speedway, coffees in hand.
"By that time, It'll be Chief Benson." Sam really had no desire to be chief.
The radio broke in "211 in progress, National City Bank Corner of High and 5th. Surveillance shows two suspects armed with AR-15's." One program that Microsoft had developed opened a video feed to the police when a bank's silent alarm was triggered.
"We're three blocks away." Rogers hit the lights and siren.
"Unit 5-5 en route." Sam pulled her Glock-17 from its holster and checked the chamber.
"Watch your background rookie."
Sam didn't respond; she was going over what she had learned in the academy. Squeeze, don't pull. Aim down the barrel. Watch for non-hostiles. Did I tell Freddie I loved him last night? Sam pushed that last thought away as they rolled up to the scene. There were a couple of other units on scene, taking fire from the two gunmen. Sam dove out of her door as 5.56-millimeter rounds peppered their cruiser. She and Rogers took cover behind the engine block. They both knew that the thin skin of the car's body would not stop the high-powered rifle rounds.
"Look!" Sam pointed to an injured officer, lying on the ground. He was trying to roll out of the line of fire. "When they reload, I'll cover you."
They heard the rifle lock open, and the empty clip hit the ground.
Sam rose up enough to aim over the hood of the car. The first gunman was only 10 feet away. Sam's training and time at the range kicked in; she lined up her sights with the target. She squeezed the trigger several times. The gunman dropped to the ground, her rounds finding the mark. Sam quickly swiveled to engage the second gunman, who had a little more time to reload. He had his rifle up and got off a few shots of his own. Sam ignored his shots as she returned fire. The second man took two rounds to the head. Slowly, Sam approached the two shooters, pistol at the ready. She kicked their rifles out of reach. Other officers announced their presence and began securing the scene. Sam was so amped on adrenaline that she didn't hear the Sergeant come up to her. She was talking to herself. "Didn't have a choice. Gonna shoot you…." He had seen this before.
"Sam," She didn't look at him. She still had her gun pointed at the downed men. He slowly put his hand on her gun and pushed it towards the ground. He could feel that the weapon was still warm. "Sam, I need your gun." She slowly turned her head around. She was sweating, and sort of pale. He knew she was in shock.
"I-I know, procedure. Didn't have…" The adrenaline was wearing off rapidly. She took a ragged breath, "I need...sit down."
"Over here," He put his hand on her shoulder and quickly removed it. She had something sticky on her uniform. As he looked at his hand, Sam fell to the ground.
"MEDIC!" His hand was covered in blood.