The Greatest Secret

Disclaimer: Nope, don't own iCarly

A/N:

Chapter 179 (A Surprising Night)

After the performance, which lasted nearly three hours, the group was hanging around a table, sipping on free smoothies. Gibby was on the phone, talking to his Uncle while the others were talking about how the performance went, among other things. Jonah was on the phone with Valerie, who'd managed to catch the live feed online. "Freddie, you should call Sam up!" Carly stated with certainty. He looked up at the clock and shrugged, it was late and she could be asleep by now.

"Yeah, if Valerie's still awake, then there's no reason Sam wouldn't be." He looked over to Griffin, who was smiling and had his arm around Carly's shoulders. They made a great couple, it seemed. Tasha was next to Gibby, holding on to his arm as he talked to his Uncle. All of this made him miss Sam more than he wanted to. "Yeah, I'll give her a call." He reached into his pocket as Griffin and Carly gave each other a peck on the lips. He smiled gently and pulled out his phone, then pressed down the number for Sam. "I do wonder how they're doing, Mom said she was dropping the charges on Lucy and taking her over to them today."

"That's why she missed the performance, huh?"

"Yeah." He pressed the phone up to his ear and listened to the ringtone play out. After a minute, Melanie was the one who answered the phone with a cheery, upbeat greeting. "Mel? Is Sam around?" He moved his eyes over to the door and listened to Melanie say Sam was asleep. His eyebrows rose and he laughed briskly. "That's what I thought. Did she manage to catch the performance?"

"Yeah, she loved it. I can wake her for you if you'd like. It's been a big day for all of us."

He was a bit disheartened, but didn't want to worry about waking Sam. She wasn't usually too happy with being awakened, even if it was him. "No, don't worry about it. I understand. Let her know I called, I'm glad you guys are having a good Christmas so far." Melanie agreed and started going on about all that had been going on. He was happy to hear these things, everyone deserved happiness through the holidays. When she told him about Mitch, he laughed, remembering that angel well. "Is he just as annoying?"

"Yeah, but he just wanted someone to talk to. I wasn't too fond of the things that happened. He sent me into a world where only you and Carly were left alive, you two were against each other and there were these two serial killers after you guys."

"Two?"

"Yeah, Lionel Shay and someone named Bana Shay." Freddie raised an eyebrow and brought his smoothie to his lips. Who the hell was Bana? "Anyway, I'd love to sit and chat some more, but I need to be heading to bed. I think we're getting up early tomorrow morning to help the church set up. There's a performance they're doing for Christmas Eve tomorrow night. Then Sunday is Christmas! We're all looking forward to it."

"Sounds fun, hope you guys have a good sleep. Let Sam know I called, I miss her and love her, can't wait for her to get home!"

"I will, and thanks. Night Freddie, you guys were awesome!"

"Thanks." They hung up just as Jonah and Gibby finished their phone calls. Knowing he'd have good news for them, everyone turned their attentions to Gibby. He had a large grin on his face and a devious glint in his eyes. He took one last sip of his smoothie and slowly set it down, saying nothing and letting the others grow in expectations. "Okay Gibby, suspense is killing us, what did your Uncle say?"

"Okay guys…now take a big breath." Gibby leaned forward as the others exchanged bemused gazes. "Uncle George has booked us a gig in the middle of January, it's going to be on national television, it's going to be a Battle of the Bands…" Freddie's lips curled upwards as Carly cheered a bit, already this was sounding like the perfect opportunity for them. Live, on National television, they could really start making a name for themselves. "Uncle George is getting us some vocal coaches and instrumental coaches who will continue to help us improve as time goes on. Now you want to know the best part?"

"What do you have for us?"

"We'll be there for a week, from the seventh to the fourteenth of January. There's going to be a bunch of bands, local and national, and it's in L.A.!" Carly froze and Freddie's blood ran cold, he knew exactly what was down there. The bile began to rise up in him as he and Griffin met each other's eyes and looked towards Carly, who had begun trembling. Jonah closed his eyes and Gibby glanced around with growing concern. "What's wrong guys, will that not work out?"

What would be the chances of running into Steven down in L.A.? Probably slim, for all they knew. Carly could be mature enough to deal with her ex, couldn't she? The question in Freddie's mind was more, what would he and Griffin do if they ran into the guy. Likely, that was the question on her mind too. They'd tear him apart limb by limb, but would Carly even attempt to tell him he left her pregnant?

She'd already confided in Sam and Freddie that every time she sees Jonah's and Valerie's little baby, she had to hold back the tears. It was still, and probably always would be, a tender spot in her heart. She took her smoothie and sipped it with nonchalance. When she removed her lips from the straw, she lifted her hand up to talk. "I'm fine with going to L.A. I think it'll be a great opportunity. Question is something else…Vocal coaches, instrumental teachers, national television…do we want to become a bigger thing than we already are? I mean, we could become a professional band if we wanted…"

Freddie wasn't too sure about that one, they were probably all going onto other things after college. "Maybe…Only time will tell there." The others agreed to the statement. It was a big step, not something they could really think about right then. "Carly, you're sure you'd be okay with going to L.A.? Nothing there that would make you want to turn back?" Gibby looked over at Carly and raised his eyebrow. She was hard-faced and quiet, her body tense and eyes cold, as though she were trying to keep them from becoming misty.

"There's nothing there that is important besides the Battle of the Band. I want to go, I think we can win." He smiled and nodded his head.

"That's the spirit, Sis." Griffin smiled and put his hand on Carly's, bringing it up and kissing it softly. She sighed and leaned her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes and breathing out. Jonah nodded his head and Freddie looked over to Gibby. "I think it's settled, we'll enter, and we will win." What was the worst that could happen? If they ran into Steven or the guy's girlfriend, then they'd just have to deal with it.

"All right then, I'll call my Uncle up and tell him all's well." The band nodded and decided to depart from the table, they wanted to move around and stretch their legs. As Gibby dialed his uncle's number up and the band moved away from the table, they didn't catch Tyrone watching them from another table with Nora.

"My god…" Tyrone turned his head forward and pressed his mouth against his closed hands while Nora raised her eyebrow. He'd heard Freddie's phone call with Melanie. "His bride is Samantha Puckett." Nora rolled her eyes and glanced off to the side.

"Yes, but we have more important matters to discuss. I have to get them alone and tell them of my father." Tyrone dismissed the thought as he started thinking back on the years he'd gone after Freddie's beloved. All this time, right under his nose. He just couldn't believe it.

"They won't listen…especially if I'm not with them. I need to talk to Carly alone…"

"Oh give it a rest, what are you going to do? Try to convince her not to participate in her family's culture?"

"I know I could…I just don't want…am I really that ignorant?" He watched her face go dull as she turned her head towards him and spoke with a flat tone.

"Do you really want me to answer that?" He heaved forth a heavy sigh and brought his steadily shaking hands onto the table. His lips were pressed tightly together and his eyes quivered. "Tell me, Tyrone. Do you still associate with that small gang of people against arranged marriage? What will you tell them now that you know who Freddie's bride is? I can guarantee you, you know their history, so you know what'll happen…"

"Yes…" He gazed at the screen where Jake's picture still remained. A shockwave of guilt struck his heart. He moved his hand to his chest and sighed in desperation as he recalled the murder of that poor boy. "I-I don't know what to do about them." Nora shrugged her shoulders and rose up from her seat.

"I don't know, you'll figure something out. Maybe work with Marissa to disband them. She is your second cousin, you know." He winced and turned his head to his side. "Ironic, isn't it, Mr. Shay? A man as about family as you are, losing your own family and tearing your own family away, destroying their happiness." She turned her head to the doors and watched the band walking out. "Anyway, you're old and set in your ways. You won't change unless you see a reason to, I suppose. I have important stuff to take care of. Meet me here when I call you next, got it?"

"Yeah, yeah, sure…"

"Oh, and Tyrone?" He looked up as she glanced at him over the corner of her shoulders. "Try not to make them all hate you too much. You might run the same risk of becoming just like Bana and Lionel. You don't have to be a murderer to be just like them. You just have to have the same level of dissonance, arrogance, and disgust, and then you're just another typical Shay. Which is odd, because you're also half Davidson…So, what does that say? You have a choice? Whose side are you going to be on?"

Without a single more word, she took off, walking towards the band. As she moved outside, she hesitated and slowly looked from side to side. A distinct smell came to her nostrils and she instantly ducked behind the Groovy Smoothie sign. "He's here…"

As she moved her eyes to Gibby's large van, where they carried all the instruments in the back of, she saw the band unconscious in the back with their instruments. "Shit! How did he do that?" Then she saw someone she didn't recognize, a Mexican man who was well built. As she raised her eyebrow, she thought back to her father. He wouldn't waste time capturing his victims. "Okay…so it isn't Bana…" Now she felt stupid. Narrowing her eyes, she watched another man walk around the truck, he looked similar to the other guy. "Who are these people?"

A familiar voice came from the truck and her eyebrows rose, it sounded like the guy who got carted away before the band started playing. As the Mexican men started talking, she slowly crept closer to the truck, leaping into the back and hiding behind Gibby's drums.

She watched through them and narrowed her gaze as Nevel walked into view with the two Mexicans. "Raul, Alfonso, I'm impressed by how well you two got them. The minute they stepped out that door, they didn't see it coming. Thanks! They'll think twice before taking my spot." Nora rolled her eyes and looked towards Freddie. If Bana was around, he would definitely use this to his advantage. However, that distinct smell, it smelt of extremely strong, overpowering, and unusual bleach like soap. She turned her attention to a door that led into the part of the van for passengers and the driver.

"Okay, I need that…" She quickly made her way through that door as Nevel and his two thugs shut and locked the van's back doors. That was good, those doors could hold Bana at bay if he showed up. She turned her attention to the keys in the ignition, much to her pleasure, the engine was still running. "Sorry boys…I'll be taking your car from you."

Her heart started racing as she leapt into the driver's seat and clicked the stick into drive. Just as she did that, one of the men let out an ear-piercing scream. Her gaze fell on the side mirror and her body flinched as she saw a splash of blood shoot out. That was her cue, Bana was definitely here!

"Fuck! Drive!" She knew he didn't use a car, he wasn't stupid enough to have a vehicle that someone could track him to. She slammed her foot on the gas pedal and shot out through the parking lot. A pang of guilt hit her as she checked the side mirror and saw Alfonso lying bloodied on the ground and a heavily muscular man with fuzzy brown hair, a white muscle shirt and short jeans, fighting with Raul. Nevel had was sitting in shock in a puddle of blood as he watched his two bodyguards being torn apart with Bana's knife. "I'm sorry…I'm not here to help you."

She drove around for miles, trying to make sure there wasn't anywhere Bana might think of her to go. Hell, she was certain he didn't see her, so he probably had no idea who just drove off. After almost an hour, she drove into an old warehouse and parked the car.

After a minute, she made sure to lock the warehouse garage down and flip on the lights, then set herself in front of the van's back doors. When she opened the doors, all the band members were sitting upright, staring at her. "Who the hell are you?" Freddie asked with a quiet and annoyed tone of voice.

"My name is Nora, and I just saved your life. So you can attack me, do whatever you want, I don't care, but I need to talk to you." She watched them exchange nervous glances and continue to stare at her. Freddie held his hand up and stepped cautiously out of the van.

"Okay, so do you care to tell me what just happened? I'm Freddie, by the way."

"I know. Freddie Benson, son of Marissa Davidson, grandson of Arian Davidson. And no, I am not an obsessed fan." Freddie raised his eyebrow as the others stepped outside with him. "I'm sorry it looks like I've taken you captive, but I've been trying desperately to reach you for some time, I knew you wouldn't listen to me if I came to you just off the street."

"So, you didn't do this?" He pointed at the van and Nora slowly shook her head.

"That was Nevel…" She bowed her head and clenched up her fists as she recalled the image of her father slashing apart Nevel's bodyguards. She could only hope that Nevel got away as well.

"Wait, so Nevel captured us? Then why are we with you?"

"I took the van, but…Nevel may or may not be alive." She watched the others freeze and took a slow, steady breath. "Just before I took off, a man named Bana caught up with them. He was going to kill you all…but he got to Nevel and his bodyguards first. Freddie coughed and looked back at his friends, then back to Nora.

"Bana? I've heard his name before. Melanie said she, uh…she saw him in a dream."

"Yes. Bana Shay is my father. Ever since the late 1800s, early 1900s, there's been a vendetta against the Davidson family."

"I don't understand, who? I mean…I know of Tyrone, Lionel, but Bana? He isn't related to them…"

"Bana is their cousin. Descendant of William Shay, who was the child of Deborah Shay and Dirdan Davidson's brother. It was this that spawned the hatred of her brother, Brandon, who taught William to hate the Davidsons…both the Davidson family and the Shays have forgotten about William's line, that's why Bana is such a threat. Nobody knows about him. They don't expect him. I should be dead right now, but my mother bought me enough time to escape…and so I've been trying to warn you."

"And this…Bana…he had something to do with Aunt Zamira's family dying?"

"He had everything to do with that. He had everything to do with almost every attack on your family. Tyrone? He's been innocent of all crimes except what his own gang members have done. Tyrone's gang member shot Jake Krandal, that was it." Freddie started to pale and fall back onto the van. His eyes widened and Jonah put a heavy hand upon his shoulder. "A bitter pill to swallow. Tyrone just learned of Bana. I've been unable to go to the police because I have a feeling that he's been watching me, that he knows where I'm at, and he could kill anyone I contact."

Jonah looked to Nora and asked a question, as Freddie was now unable to speak, remembering the attack he suffered in the hospital the other day. "You've contacted Tyrone though?"

"I have. He had a similar reaction. These are the journals belonging not only to Bana, but to his father, grandfather, and so on…" She reached into her backpack, which was positioned next to her chair. Jonah, Freddie, and the others took the journals and rested them on their laps. "I've also added an additional journal…One that belonged to Shane Johnson's grandmother."

"Shane?" Carly's head snapped up and her eyebrow arched. "What does he have to do with this?"

"His grandmother worked for Lionel Shay. She also had a child with him. Ironically enough, a man that hates his own bloodline would have a child…I don't know if he knows this, but Shane's life could also be in grave danger."

"He would murder his own grandson?"

"With the same emotion as someone swatting a fly." A cold silence filled the air as the band imagined Lionel possibly killing off his daughter and son. What man would be so cold, so cruel and calculating? Then there was Bana, who was just as vile, if not more. "Freddie, I wanted to get those journals to you so that you could give them to your mother directly. It's the safest way." He nodded and slowly opened the journal, then he saw a sight that chilled his bones.

"He was at…the reunion?" She moved her eyes to the side and nodded her head. Freddie started to quake and closed the journal with a quick haste. "I'll get these to mom, but..." Carly interrupted him as she gazed with worry to Nora.

"This journal…Lionel kills based off evil?"

"He deems the entire Shay lineage to be evil, so yes."

"What Shane did…he kissed Sam in front of Freddie…would that make him seem 'evil' to Lionel?"

"Probably, if Lionel knew about it. It doesn't matter though, the man wants to eradicate the Shays. Bana wants to eradicate the Davidsons. Putting them on a scale, Bana's the dangerous one out of the two. I think since my father just killed someone outside the Groovy Smoothie, he'll be laying low for a while. That's how he is, he stays out of sight for a while before striking again."

"Why would he hurt Nevel? If he only cares about our family…"

"Nevel was a catalyst, an obstacle in the way of his targets. Also a witness. Do you suppose a madman would let him live?"

"Madman? He'd have to be if he attacked outside a public place…"

"Pretty sure he doesn't care."

"Go figure…"

"Yeah." Nora pat her legs and slowly stood up. She wasn't sure what else she could tell them, they would have to deal with the shock on their own. "You'll be fine, just don't worry about it and let the police handle it. She made her way to the garage door and opened it up. "Good performance tonight. Have a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Years…"

"Wait? That's it? That's all we get?"

"What more do you expect? I only wanted to warn you. Get those journals to your mother and you'll be fine. I'll give you a description of Bana, but that's about all I can do. I don't know where he's staying, I don't know what he's doing, and in all honesty, I don't want to go near him. As for Lionel…I'm pretty sure he only strikes on Friday the 13th. Tell your mom to beef up the security around the Groovy Smoothie for the next few days. My father's deathly afraid of police officers, he won't go near a place that has more than seven police officers around it."

"Okay…so we've covered Bana, Lionel, I'm guessing Tyrone is…"

"Misguided, angry, and arrogant. He's also discovered why his dad died. He knows Sam is your bride now, Freddie." Freddie paled and Carly threw her hand to her mouth. "Shane never got to him, but he overheard you talking to Melanie tonight. He knows…"

"Shit!"

"Don't worry about it…both of you have strong families and a strong bond. If he hasn't torn you apart in the last few years, he's not going to do it now. Even if he attempts to talk Sam's family out of it or attempts to get Carly siding with him, it's just not going to happen."

"You're serious?"

"Hey, I don't know. You tell me."

Wow, a lot happened here, quite a bit of shock. Tyrone knows about Sam and Freddie now, but he seems to be having some self doubts (and just wait till you see what Morris tells him XD). The group knows more about Bana and Lionel, both the killers that make Tyrone look like a bloody saint XD. The closest to death they came, wow. Stick around ^_^