A/N: HAPPY VALENTI-I MEAN-TUESDAY EVERYONE! HERE'S THE NEXT CHAPTER FOR YOU ALL...

Chapter 18

Freddie walked back through the hospital carrying several bags of fast-food. He hoped that Sam would except his apology if he had food that was better than the "Hospital crud" that She couldn't stand. He was surprised to see several police officers standing around the waiting room talking to several nurses. He wondered what was going on, but walked on anyway knowing that Sam was far more important than his silly curiosity. As he passed the officers, he couldn't help but overhear a part of their conversation.

"So, none of you saw anything?" A taller police officer with a buzz cut asked, eying the nurses suspiciously.

"No, I wasn't even here then." One nurse said, fidgeting with her uniform. The other nurse, who appeared to be a head shorter than the other one and looked much grumpier pointed a finger at her partner.

"You were supposed to be watching her. I saw you go in that room last night." She said angrily, knowing how bad this was for their reputation. "You fell asleep. How could you fall asleep?" The women screeched, jabbing her finger at the other nurse. Freddie was out of ear shot by now, still wondering what that was about.

"Some strange stuff going on here." He mumbled to himself as he approached Sam's room.

Freddie walked in to find Sam fast asleep. He smiled slightly and moved towards her, placing the bags of food on a near by table. He reached down and pecked her cheek, careful not to disturb her. "I love you Sam." He whispered, settling on the chair that sat next to her bed. She stirred and rolled over, but didn't wake. Freddie grinned and leaned back, closing his eyes for a quick nap.

Emma was released from the hospital bright and early the next morning. As Carly buckled the sleeping child in to her seat, she whispered in a calming voice, "We'll be home before you know it baby." She stood up and closed the door. Walking around to the driver's side, she casually looked behind her before sliding into the driver's seat. It was going to be a long drive back to where they had been living for the past five years, and Carly figured they would probably have to stop for the night some where. Backing out of the parking lot, she thought of the one person she hadn't seen since coming back. She hadn't seen her brother in over five years, and she didn't know if it was the best choice to go see him now. She thought back to the last time she had seen Spencer.

She had just recently moved in with her boyfriend Robert, and Spencer was not happy about it. Every time she came to visit him, he tried to convince her to move back home. "You barley know this guy. What if he turns out to be a weirdo?" Spencer said, sticking another piece to his sculpture with super glue. "

Spencer, we've been going out for over three years. I think I would know him by know." twenty-three year old Carly said, watching her brother carefully. "And any way, I don't think you're in any position to call any one a weirdo." Carly giggled as Spencer wiped his hand across his forehead.

"What makes you say that?" He attempted to pull his hand away, but soon realized it was plastered to his head. "DANG IT!" He jerked his hand, and cried out in pain. "Its cool." He said casually, "I like having my hand there." Carly put her hand to her mouth, trying to contain her laughter. She stood up from her seat on the couch.

"Here, let me help you." She said, grabbing his arm. She pulled him in to the kitchen, smothering more giggles. She dug through the drawer until she came across what she was looking for. "Here, try this." She stated, handing him a tube of unglued solvent.

Thankfully, the solvent worked, and Spencer's hand was released with out any trouble. "There you go. How are you living by yourself?" She laughed, walking past him and back into the living room. Spencer followed her,

"I don't think I can. Your right, I need you here to make sure I don't get stuck to things!" Spencer cried, crossing his arms. Carly knew this trick, and it wasn't going to work.

"Spencer, I'm why can't you just accept that I'm not a baby any more? I'm not moving back in with you." Carly said, glaring at her older brother. With out warning, Spencer snapped.

"IF YOUR SO SURE THAT THIS GUY IS THE ONE, THEN WHY DO YOU HAVE TO JUST MOVE IN WITH HIM? WHY HAVEN'T YOU GOTTEN MARRIED YET? OR EVEN ENGAGED?" Spencer yelled, his face turning red. "YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW. YOU THINK THAT BY MOVING IN WITH HIM AND DOING WHAT EVER IT IS YOUR DOING, THAT HE'LL STICK AROUND. YOU THINK THAT YOU LIVING WITH HIM IS GOING TO STOP HIM FROM CHEATING, OR LEAVING OR WHAT EVER. NEWSFLASH SISTER, ITS NOT." By now, Spencer was standing next to the open door. He had stopped shouting. now he said quietly, "Just go. If your so grown up and you don't need me anymore, then just go." His eyes were red and tears we're threatening to flow. "Go be with your 'perfect dream man'. Just don't come crying to me when he breaks your heart." His voice cracked. She looked at him with a shocked look. He had never raised his voice at her. Ever.

"Fine. I'll go." She said, her voice filled with sadness as she walked out the door. She turned around to apologize, but he had already slammed the door behind her.

A tear slipped down her face as she drove. She didn't know if she would be welcome, but she didn't want to leave things like this forever. She missed having her goofy brother to lean on. She pulled into an empty parking lot and turned the car around, heading for the apartment building she had once called home.

She pulled into the parking lot and shut her car off. "Mommy where are we?" Emma asked, surprising Carly. She hadn't realized that Emma had woken up. Honestly, she had almost forgotten that the girl was even back there.

"We're hear to visit-" How could she explain the situation to her five year old? "An old friend." She said simply, pushing open her car door. She pulled Emma out of her seat, and held the little girl's hand as they walked into the old building.

"HEY! HEY YOU! DON'T DRAG MUD IN HERE!" The familiar voice that could only belong to one person, boomed at her as she walked past.

"Lewbert?" She questioned, surprised that the man was still alive, let alone still worked here. The man sat back, surprised.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't little Carly Shay." Lewbert laughed cruelly. "Back to cause more trouble?" Carly ignored the comment and pulled Emma closer to her.

"Does my brother still live here?" She asked. She hadn't even thought about what she would do if he wasn't here. Lewbert groaned,

"Unfortunately, yes. He still lives here, causing havoc everywhere!" He cried, then made some kind of odd screeching sound. Carly gave him a strange look before walking away with Emma trailing behind.

"That guy scares me." Emma said simply, as soon as they got into the elevator.

"I know, he scares everyone." She answered, pulling her closer. The two walked hand and hand down the hall.

"OK, here we go." Carly said, kneeling down to Emma's level. She smoothed her blond hair down, and ran her hand over the girl's wrinkled shirt. She stood up, and knocked on the door. She turned to Emma. "I want you to be on your best behavior." She said, just as the door opened. She gasped at the sight before her.

"Can I help you?" The man asked, "No way. It can't be. What are you doing here?" Spencer asked, his jaw dropping.

The car stopped in the parking lot of an old apartment building. "Where are we?" The little girl asked, confused. This was not where her mommy lived. The man turned around and glared at her.

"Shut-up, I was told to bring you here." He said, throwing open his car door. "Get out of my car." He told her before climbing out of the car and slamming his door shut. "Hurry up I don't have all day." He growing impatient as she got out of the car.

"Why are we here?" She asked quietly, scared as to what was going to happen. The man leaned down,

"Are you scared?" He mocked, "Don't be a baby." He shoved her slightly, before walking away. She hurried to catch up with him.

"Is mommy here?" She asked quietly, then flinched. She knew he was going to be angry at her for asking so many questions. Luckily, he didn't do anything because they had walked into the building. An

old man was asleep behind a desk, his snores filling the room. He pulled her hastily into the elevator.

"Is mommy here?" She asked again, knowing that she was pressing her luck. He glared at her furiously, making her look down quickly. She didn't dare make a sound after that.

A/N: How was that? only about...I think...nine more chapters left in the story, so some of the details are going to start coming together. I'm currently finishing up chapter 24, where there's going to be a lot of "big reveals" that are going to wrap up the ending! (Hopefully...)

Also, I only got 1 review for the last chapter and I'm pretty sure the one before that only got 1... Now, I'm not going to be one of those authors that refuses to update because there is no reviews, but it would be nice to know that I've got more readers... ;)

I am extremly gratful to my awsome readers that have reviewed almost every chapter :) you just make my day so much better!