Against All Odds

Disclaimer: I don't own iCarly

A/N:

Chapter 20 (Too Much Pressure)

A week later, Spencer was beside himself with frustration. He must have put in dozens of resumes and he was still not having any luck finding a job. Even now, as he drove Socko's car through the streets and beat his thumbs on the steering wheel impatiently, his mind was clouded by uncertain thoughts. This was the last opportunity he had to use his friend's car. The house was finished, it looked very nice, and that now meant Socko wouldn't have to lend his car all the time. Unfortunately, it was the least of his worries.

Lenny stated that he had a rental boss over his head cracking down on him, so he was personally unable to keep them rent free. They had to pay their first month's rent, three hundred dollars. Spencer pulled his lips back in a scowl as his eyes tore down the buildings passing him by. Phone cards were forty bucks each for the three phones they had, the minutes had to last at least a month. This put them out one hundred and twenty bucks. Internet services were not cheap either, at least the internet came with the cable. They were using Broadstripe, limited basic cable services with High Speed Internet: Light. This came up to sixty dollars a month, it was very tempting for Spencer to remove the internet portion of that, bringing it down to the twenty two dollars for the basic cable.

Gas, water, and heating were included in the utilities being paid for, but electricity was not. They had to use Seattle City Light, and it ran them up to eighty dollars a month. Combined with the cable company, it was another one hundred and forty dollars out of his pocket that they had to pay. Fortunately they didn't have to worry about the telephone companies, Wal-mart worked just fine. Bus fare would come out to be forty five dollars a month for an access pass. Unfortunately, after having to purchase two weeks worth of food, which came out to be one hundred dollars, the two thousand and two hundred they started was down quite a bit in just a couple weeks of trouble. The grand total of all these costs had come out to be seven hundred and five dollars.

They only had fourteen hundred and ninety-five dollars left of the money they started out with. That would be enough to last them until they had to pay everything off next month. Sure, a total of seven hundred and five dollars per month wasn't a bad start, but without a job, he questioned how much they'd last.

As he turned the corner, he thought on the food prices. They needed enough to last them two weeks, perhaps it was best to narrow their budget down some, if possible. Either way, one hundred was the maximum he wanted to allow, and that was for every two weeks in the month, making it two hundred for just one month. Their monthly payments would come out to be about eight hundred and five dollars as per his calculations. What this meant was, if they didn't have cash flow coming in, they would have six hundred and ninety dollars next month, if they spent no money for anything else. By the third month, something would not get paid.

As he slowed to a stop for a red light, his eyebrows rose and a frown plastered his face. He'd forgotten to calculate diapers! But then, he didn't think he needed to worry about that. Did Medicaid cover diapers? Blake was on Medicaid. However the plan was going to change soon, considering it was no longer just Sasha and Blake. It was all four of them. Sure they couldn't all be covered, but the fact that there were more in a house, Medicaid might just use that to lessen payment. All these numbers, prices, they were spinning around his head like crazy. He was getting dizzy just thinking about it. This was harder than he thought, but he simply couldn't crack under pressure.

"I need a job, damn it!" Even Sasha was out looking for work, much to her disdain. She saw how difficult it was and was scared to do it, but Spencer assured her time and time again that it would be okay. If he could find work, then she wouldn't have to. It was harder for her than it was for him, and he was still getting turned down or receiving no phone calls. This was all turning into one big mess. If things did not get better soon, he didn't know what he was going to do. "How many places do I need to look at before I get a single call?"

It didn't help that when he followed up with places, the ones that said they were hiring, stated they weren't looking anymore. On the verge of homelessness, he was afraid of everything falling apart. He had to stay strong, had to stay above ground. Carly and Sasha weren't thrilled with his refusal of his Uncle's help, but he had perfectly good reasons. At least, that's what he thought. He was beginning to question his decision, though. Surely they'd be fine, right? He muttered to himself and pressed the gas pedal when the light flicked green. Could he truly be too prideful? Was he throwing his family under the bus like Socko told him a week ago? He hoped not, he didn't want them to think he was unappreciative. They were the only ones in the family that were still supporting him.

Just as he turned the corner, his phone started blaring. He turned his eyes to the cup holder where he'd set his phone and quickly grabbed it. He didn't like talking while driving, but it was a necessary evil at times. When he answered, he heard Carly's frantic voice and immediately he pulled over to the side of the road. "Spencer, come to Sam's house! You need to see this…" She'd been visiting Sam for the day, everything seemed okay.

"Is everything okay?"

"Just hurry up…" Like a bat out of hell, he slammed the gas pedal, fear ran through his body like a spreading fire. What could have happened at the Puckett's place? Nothing bad, he hoped. He sped down the streets, eventually arriving at the Puckett's, finding Carly in the yard with Sam and Mrs. Puckett. Pam had a black eye and was looking towards her home, the front of the house had been marked up with spray paint and her windows had been busted open. His heart stopped in his chest when he saw the damage from the outside, he was almost afraid to even get out of the car, but he had to make sure everyone was all right.

"What happened?" He asked as he left his car and walked up to the group. Sam looked over at Spencer and pointed towards her home.

"Carly and I were out at the smoothie shop and a couple of those loan shark thugs attacked mom and ransacked the house!" He froze, his heart filled with terror as his eyes fell upon the open door. He could see various items strewn about within the room, but the doorway only revealed so much. Whatever was inside, he was sure was worse. He was speechless, nothing he could say could make this any better. Why had the people attacked the Pucketts? What was their purpose?

"How…"

"Simple," Pam replied with a mild groan. She turned to Spencer and folded her arms over, her lips were pulled back in an angry frown. "I'm not pointing fingers, no do I want to be cruel, but the reason they came here was because of iCarly. They saw the house, saw Sam, followed her around school and found out where she lived, they came here trying to find out if we knew where Carly and her family were." His eyes widened as the woman lowered her arms and shook her head. "I have a tremendous headache…and before you ask, no I didn't tell them where you lived. Unfortunately, it seems I suffered worse for that reason."

"Ms. Puckett, I'm sorry, I never meant for this to happen…"

"I know Spencer. It isn't your fault, but…" She looked to the girls and frowned. "I have to think of my family's safety. I can't allow iCarly to be done here anymore." Carly and Sam gasped and started to protest, even Spencer was shocked, but he knew the mother's word would be final. "I won't hear it girls. Sam, you know your sister is coming back from boarding school, I don't want her coming home and having to worry about these thugs finding them…besides…" She turned back to the house and rubbed her forehead. "I have to fix this place up and I don't have the money, we'll need to stay with your grandparents until that's done, and until this whole thing with those thugs blows over."

"What?" Sam hurried up to her mom and stood in front, she had a very concerned look in her eyes. Spencer bowed his head glanced over to his sister, she was about ready to cry. "Grandma and Grandpa are all the way on the other side of Seattle, so far away! I won't even be able to go to Bushwell!"

"You'll still see Freddie and Carly, but right now…it's probably safer…I don't know, I still have to think about it." Spencer read the threats sprayed along the front of the house, it was clear they knew Carly would see them, as the threats were calling them out. What if the thugs were still around? His eyes quickly darted around the yard and his throat tightened up. Sweat started to form at his forehead and run along the side of his face. He was getting paranoid, surely he was, but there was nothing to say they weren't still around. They could easily follow them!

"Your mom's right, I think…" Sam's jaw fell and Carly's eyes widened tremendously. Had she hoped he'd try to convince Pam otherwise? Right now, a situation like this, he'd rather the Puckett family get as far away as possible. "They could be here right now, it isn't safe." Carly smacked her forehead and groaned, expressing her frustration.

"Oh well that's nice!"

"Carly. It isn't safe." He had to think of a plan, just in case the thugs were still hanging around. There were three cars. Pam's, Sam's car, and his. He knew Ms. Puckett would be going to work soon, and he was simply driving around randomly. He lowered his voice and closed his eyes. "If they're here, maybe we can all split up in our cars and drive off somewhere…they can't follow us all and we can throw them off our tail." It was a good idea, at least he thought so. He looked over to Pam, who seemed a bit unsure.

"It could work. I need to head in to the hospital, so…"

"You can go on your own, I go on my own, Sam and Carly…you two should drive around somewhere."

"We were thinking of the movies, Sam's treat, but…"

"Go ahead, enjoy the movie. I'll drive around for a bit before heading home." Someone had to tell Sasha the news, it may as well be him. She certainly wasn't going to be happy about it.

Two hours later, after making damn sure he wasn't being followed, he made his way home to Sasha and his son. She was on the couch, rocking Blake in her arms. The toddler was asleep, such an adorable sight. The mother was humming softly and smiling so sweetly, he didn't want to disturb such peace. Unfortunately he had to tell her, she needed to know the men were still out there. It wasn't safe to keep it from her. "Sasha."

"Hey Spencer, how was the job search today?" She lifted her eyes to him, such sweet and hopeful eyes. "Any luck?" His heart sank as he shook his head and sat down next to her.

"No. I'm afraid I have some bad news…" The words felt like thorns shooting up his throat, cutting like knives along his tongue. Her expression turned to sorrow, which only made things worse for him. "The Pucketts may be moving…for safety reasons."

"What do you mean?" He twiddled his thumbs together and stared down at his feet. Just say it, get it out and over with. He met her eyes and felt an enormous amount of tension building up in his chest.

"Mr. Clayton. His men went after them because of iCarly, they were trying to find out where we lived." Sasha's eyes widened and the color in her body began to fade. He anticipated the fear, but had no way to counter it, yet he could try his best. "Pam said she didn't give anything away, but she's still thinking of moving for her family's safety…They also can't do iCarly at Sam's place anymore."

"God, I knew…" She shook her head and Spencer's eyebrow arched. Was she still blaming herself? "I thought maybe they'd be finished with us, but I was wrong."

"The only way to get rid of a loan shark apparently, is to pay them off. They're not going to leave as alone…I know you're scared, and I wish I didn't have to be so blunt about that, but…" He looked to Blake and slowly smiled. "I'm not going to let them do anything to you guys, okay?"

"Is Carly safe? Sam and her mother too?"

"They're all okay. Ms. Puckett's probably been through worse, that woman's strong as hell. Everything's going to be okay, I promise you."

"You keep promising things, but things do not seem to be getting better…"

"They will. Okay? They will. Just have faith…Either way, today I put in an application down at the warehouse nearby, to name a place…also a janitor at some school. It's not so hopeless."

"Then why does it feel that way?"

"Because it's hard…and life, I guess, can't be easy. I wish it was."

"It could be." She smirked subtly and met his eyes. "If you'd take your Mom's help." He frowned and pushed his hands onto his legs.

"I know, but that would…"

"What's so bad about accepting help when it's offered?"

"Because I feel like I want to prove myself, not just to you, Blake, and Carly, but to myself as well. I can't rely on my family's money anymore. I just can't." She frowned and placed her head on his shoulder. He felt her grasp his hand with hers and looked down at her soft fingers, squeezing slightly in response.

"Spencer…you know I'll support any decision you make. I know now, you're the one I want to be with, no matter what…and I know you want to do what's best for Blake and Carly, but please…think about all your alternatives. Would you rather accept your Uncle Ken and mother's help, or let us keep running in fear from these guys, and with no certain future? We can't even find jobs right now, we're facing homelessness in the coming months. What are you going to do?"

"I'm not sure, but I'll think of something. Soon. I promise." She closed her eyes and squeezed his hand, exhaling softly. He reached over and kissed her forehead. He was more than happy to have her support and he acknowledged her points, but still, he had so much to think about. It was not an easy decision to make.

"I know you will…"

Spencer, Spencer, Spencer, please suck up your pride! They know you can do it, but hey, if ya need help, ya need help.