Chapter Name: In The Midnight Hour

Notes: Thanks to the reviewers, StriderHiryu, NewMoon02, iLiveiBreatheiCarly, Purpleheart10, Carl Rahl, KeyLimePie14, Creddie Dude, Soldier702 and PerennialKillJoy. I'd also like to thank all the readers from across the globe, from the USA, Australia, Philippines, Canada, the UK, Colombia, Singapore, Ireland (I love your accent), South Africa, Mexico, Belgium, Switzerland, Malta, Malaysia and the Netherlands.

StriderHiryu – I am learning from the master.

Soldier702 – I don't think Valentine's Day will actually come around in the timeline that I'm working on for this story.

I was woken by the sound of a door slamming shut. My eyes cracked open, it was dark out, and I glanced at the clock beside my bed. 9:30. I stumbled out of bed, and was suddenly hit by a wave of hunger. I hadn't eaten much today.

I walked out into the living room, where my mother was putting down her bag and keys.

"Good evening young man."

"How was work?"

"It was okay Son, we had a patient named Jimmy Page." At this, she broke into a tuttering laugh. I stared blankly back at her.

"Never mind. He'd had a headache for the past few days that wouldn't go away. His wife finally got sick of him complaining and made him come to the hospital. During the triage, I noticed he was slurring his words, like he was drunk. I asked if he'd felt dizzy at all, and he had. I sent him to the doctor straight away, as I thought he might have a brain problem. Doctor Sanchez sent him for an MRI scan."

I nodded my head, it wasn't wise to interrupt her 'patient stories', plus they were usually somewhat interesting.

"He had to go to surgery straight away. He was lucky, he had a subdural hematoma. The surgeon had to open his skull, suck out the clot. Another day waiting, and he'd have died for sure."

"Wow."

"Yes, and you wonder why I want to keep you safe. I don't want to lose my little Fredward." She walked over and crushed me in a hug.

"Love you." Sure, sometimes.. most... almost all the time she was way over the top protective of me, I can't help but prefer that to a mother who didn't care. Or a mother that wasn't around at all.

"I love you too son. I ran a tick bath," I groaned, "Now now Fredward."

"I don't have any ticks. I never have. Ever."

"And you never will if I have anything to do with it."

"Fine." I walked away, off to the bathroom. I was able to smell the dank mixture from outside the door, and it only got worse inside. After discarding my clothes, I slowly lowered myself into the tub. I gave it 5 minutes, then drained it. Ugh, it discolors my skin, to a light brown, and I can feel it burning. The only reason I haven't stopped is because my mother would know I didn't wash myself with it, and I researched it to make sure it wouldn't hurt me.

Physically at least.

Mentally.. this was probably going to be the cause of a lot of shrink visits in my early 30's.

After grabbing as much soap and even some bubble bath, which was part of a gift from an iCarly fan, to which Sam decided that I was the 'most girly' out of the three of us, and needed my skin to be as soft and silky as possible. In the end, I gave almost everything to Carly after Sam left.

"You're at least equally as girly as I am Freddie, thank you." Carly joked, as I made my way back home, holding the container that Carly told me to give my mother.

I started at the bottle, before flinging it across the room. I stuffed the plug back in the sink, and turned the cold water tap all the way. The freezing water hit the bottom of my feet, sending a shock straight to my brain. I don't know why, or when it started, but cold always makes me feel alive. The cold that isn't so cold you can't move, or need layer after layer. But cold that chills you to your soul when you are in normal clothes, but stops just there and holds, not getting into your bones. Wind whipping across my face, it seems to heighten my awareness, make me see more of the world.

And this is just a little touch of that. As the water rose, I shut down the tap just as it hit three quarters full. I watched it swirl around, I soaped away all the grit, the dirt, the chemicals just the right side of non-toxic, and watched them float around.

As soon as I adjusted to the temperature, I drained the bath again and lifted myself out of the tub. I put on my night clothes, and as I opened the door, the smell of food cooking hit me.

"I noticed you hadn't cooked anything for dinner, so I made us scrambled eggs and sausages."

"Thanks mom, I'm starving." I grabbed the pepper, and coated my eggs with a nice layer of the dark spice. As usual, after every bite, I needed some Preppy Cola to soothe the mild burn of the pepper.

"Son, I didn't get a chance to tell you early, but I've got some good news." She smiled, beaming with pride at whatever she was about to tell me.

I stopped chewing, and waited for her news, "Freddie, I got promoted to night Ward Manager."

"That's amazing," I said, as I stood up, walked over and gave her a hug, "You've been trying for that for months."

"It's a big opportunity, and responsibility. I'll be doing a lot more night shifts, as well as occasionally covering day shifts." This really was a big step, with experience in that position, she'd be eligible for training as a full ward supervisor, and eventually, it was a pathway to administration and a regular Monday to Friday work schedule."

"When do you start?" I questioned, as I sat back down to finish dinner.

"In the next few weeks. I just have to update some of my registrations and certificates, but those will only take a few days training."

"That's great Mom, it really is. Do you get paid more?"

"Well, no, the rate is the same, but because night shift get some extra bonuses and loadings, I'll make about 15 percent more per month."

"Awesome." At that, she glared at me.

"You know I don't like you using that kind of language."

I had to stifle a laugh, "What language?"

"All that rock music talk, it corrupts young minds."

"Okay Mom, I'll not say it anymore."

"Good boy." I noticed we were both finished, so I grabbed the plates and cups, cleaned the table, and washed the dishes.

"I'm going to bed now, good night Mom." I went to leave, only for my mother to cough. I rolled my eyes before I turned around, and gave her our usual good night kiss, "I'm too old for this you know. Most kids my age don't kiss their mommy goodnight."

"Well, you aren't like most kids your age." I wasn't sure if that was a good thing, or a bad thing.

I hopped into bed, and decided to do some work on the website first. I checked some emails, one from Gibby, he was in Mexico, he had a few pictures, sand, surf, and a few of the ladies on the beach, not bad photography if do say so. Though I might have to delete them just in case. Apparently topless is all the rage south of the border.

Oh joy. An email from Sam. 'Don't think I haven't forgotten about our deal Benson, you better pay up or else.'

'Yeah Sam, I won't forget.'

I caught up on a few requests, some emails from the fans, and then started going through the emails with videos. I don't think they really suspected just how weird some of the videos we get are. The first dozen or so were typical iCarly fanvids. Kids doing stupid stuff, then a pervert.

'Hey guys, me and my friend have this awesome trick where we put spaghetti through our mouth, then out again through our nose. Bye Carly, bye Sam, I hope you love this video we made!'

I opened the video, and yeah, that's not spaghetti.

'Hey freak, I got your name, IP and ISP from the email header, so you try this again, and I'll report you to them, get your Internet terminated, then to the cops, who'll be happy to put you on the sex offenders list. So I strongly suggest you never email us again.'

I've sent more than a few such warnings to various freaks, weirdo's and outright crazies. I always made sure they got filtered out before I ever sent anything to Carly and Sam. I then sent a message to Carly.

"Carly, I just went through a few videos from the site, here are the links. BTW, I had a lot of fun today, you know, sometimes I forget just how much fun it is just hanging out, without having to rush around doing the show." The time ticked over to midnight, and I sent the email off, and was surprised that barely a minute later I had a window pop up to chat with Carly.

"Hey Freddie, hang on a sec."

Carly Shay has requested a video link: Accept, Decline.

Accept.

And the little box opened up. I could see why she had decided on the video chat, as she was currently engaged in brushing her hair, which was sticking out all over the place, still gleaming with wetness from a shower. But still, nothing could stop her inherent beauty from bleeding through the screen.

"Hey Freddie." Carly was wearing a red, silken night gown, still clinging to her in certain places, showing off just enough curve to make me smile, but not enough to make me feel like one of those weirdo's who keep trying to send videos of their dick to Carly.

"Sam not staying over?"

"She went home earlier, something about her mom wanting her to meet her new boyfriend." Hmn.

"What does he do this time?" I rolled my eyes.

"Pest controller."

"Hmm.. somehow I don't think he'll be able to control Sam." At that, Carly giggled, before getting that cute guilty look, knowing that it was probably just a bit mean to laugh.

"You're a bad influence Freddie, making me laugh about Sam like that." Carly waggled her fingers, making a 'tut tut' sound as well.

"Well, you girls laugh enough about me I deserve to get a little payback occasionally."

"Sure.. hey, what do you think of my night gown. I bought it a few days ago." I took a minute to really study it, looking Carly up and down a few times, just to be sure.

"It's really elegant. Is that silk? I bet it feels really good."

"It's is. It's so silky, it feels like I'm wearing nothing at all." Nothing at all... nothing at all... Carly wearing nothing at all.....

"Freddie... Freddie?" I wonder if Carly will ever realize how certain words sound to the people around her.

"Oh sorry, yeah, just got distracted by a popup, it looks really beautiful on you." Then again, Carly could wear a burlap sack and it'd look good on her.

"Thanks, it was just a little expensive, I wanted to get another opinion on it. I got those email links, I'll check them out tomorrow, is that okay?"

"Yeah, that's fine." I nodded, and she smiled in response, "Oh before I let you get off to bed, I have some news," Carly perked up at this, "My Mom got promoted, she's getting the night manager position!"

"That's wonderful, I'll have to go congratulate her tomorrow. So... I guess this means you'll have a lot of time alone in that big house of yours. I bet the girls will be lining up at the front door."

Now it was my turn to laugh, "Yeah, good one Carly. I've got a waiting list, but I'm sure I could sneak you in, if you wanted to. Sam as well."

Carly tried to laugh, only for it to turn into a yawn. I immediately yawned as well, contagious as ever.

"I don't want to keep you up, just wanted to say thanks for inviting me, and for our talk about Jennifer."

"Come on Freddie, it's nothing. That's what friends are for. Goodnight Freddie." By this time, Carly had finished up with her hair, and with one final flick of the brush, her dark hair cascaded down like a wave.

"Goodnight Carly, sweet dreams."

Carly yawned again, "Sweet dreams to you too."

Video Link terminated.

I tapped a few buttons, shutting down the laptop, pushed it aside off my bed, and drifted off to sleep.

AN: Wow, 20,000 words. And my first double digit chapter #. We have quite a way to go as well. And only 300 or so more hits, and I'll have finally overtaken my embarrassing Creddie lemon story for total number of hits.

As always, I welcome ideas, questions, criticism and advice :) Please R&R