Trifecta

Disclaimer: I don't own iCarly

A/N:

Chapter 17 (Twisted Minds)

"Release them." He flared his nostrils and growled at Nora. "Release them both right now!" He wasn't settling for just one, not when it came to Sam and his mother. "How do you think I could make a decision like that?"

"Well, we couldn't very well reach Carly, now could we? And you were able to resist Gibby's girlfriend when in the apartment." Freddie's eyes widened as Nora walked to the side. "We planted her because we knew you'd try and snoop around his place. We wanted to see if she could tempt you, but she wasn't able…a surprise, really."

Sam called out in response, bashing her fist on the tube. "You bitch!" Nora turned to her and spread her arms out.

"You should be happy! All three of us were sure he'd go in and fuck the airhead and deviate from the task." Nora lowered her left hand and ran her right through her hair, exhaling sharply as Sam sunk into seated position. "At least that way Gibby would be able to catch him and bring him in then, and we wouldn't have to resort to this bullshit."

"You have to appreciate the man's will and devotion." Nevel crossed his arms and shook his head. "But for someone so smart, he couldn't see that we were purposely leading him into this trap." Sam's head shot up and Marissa cried out. Freddie pressed his lips together and took one step forward, resisting the urge to jump Nevel. "Of course, he figured out Sam was missing before we could use her as a lure, so I'll give him that. Right Nora?"

"That much, sure." Nora hunched over the machine, grasping the edges firmly and turning her head sideways to glare over her shoulder. "It's because of your dumbass father that the mob disintegrated. Now I have to rebuild, and my first job is going to be putting you in an early grave. You should accept my offer to release one of these two, Freddie. Really you're sacrificing your life for them."

"You'll release them both, Nora!"

"I cannot do that, and you are taking far too long." He watched anxiously as Nora slammed her fist down on another button. His eyes darted to the tubes and his body froze when water spewed like a shower over both Sam and Marissa.

Sam jumped to her feet and screamed aloud. Freddie ran forward, but Gibby grabbed the back of his shirt and yanked him back. "Don't waste time," Gibby remarked, "You don't want to be too late to decide who you want to live, do you?"

"You'll die regardless," Nevel stated. The boy tugged on his shirt cuffs and motioned to the monitor and keyboard on the machine. "You can save them, but you can only save one before the tubes fill with water. Both are protected with a secure code that you'll have to hack and break in order to stop."

"No!" He dropped to his knees and looked to the women. His heart pounded heavily as the women watched the water surrounding the bottom of their feet. This was no easy choice, he didn't want his mother to die because of this and he didn't want to lose Sam.

"Freddie." Marissa sputtered and swept her hand over her face in a rash attempt to keep the water from her eyes. He lifted his head and Nora slowly looked over to the woman. "Freddie, you know I love you so much. I know where I'm going, you have to save Sam." He frowned as Sam looked over, her eyes widened and she protested in an instant.

"No! Ms. Benson don't ask him to do that. I don't want him to let you die because of me." Nora's head fell and Nevel leaned over, whispering that they should have waited until he could nab Carly. "Nora's right, Freddie only has one momma."

"Samantha." Marissa smiled warmly at the girl and turned towards her. "You and I, and Freddie, know that I don't have long to live." Freddie watched Nora's hand slide to a drawer and open it. Nevel's jaw dropped open and Gibby's brow furrowed. "I'm dying of liver failure. Sam, he loves you-with all of his heart he loves you. You make him happy, and that makes me happy. Even if I die now, I'll be happy knowing that my son will live on with someone he cares about."

"But…" Sam bowed her head and she closed her eyes. "This isn't fair."

"I would gladly give my life for you, Sam. For you and Freddie, to survive, the both of you." Freddie swallowed his pain and clenched his eyes shut, trying to conceal the burning tears forming at his eyelids. "I don't want to survive this only to die in a few months, knowing that my survival caused your death."

"Nobody asked for your opinion," Nora growled, "You do not get to make his decision." Freddie's body grew hot as Nora grabbed something in the drawer. "Why did no one tell me this woman was already dying!"

"We didn't know," Nevel replied. There was a sad tone in his voice, and a flicker of fear in the eyes. Freddie didn't know what it was the man saw, but the venom in Nora's tone filled him with fear.

"Then she's useless."

"Nora, come on, you said you wouldn't."

"What's going on over there?" Gibby stepped past Freddie, but stopped as Nora shot him a violent glare. "Nora, what's in that drawer?"

"Plan B." Nora removed her hand and revealed the pistol she was holding. The sight of the weapon paralyzed Freddie. Time moved slowly as he watched Nora's gun point and fire at the tubes. Smoke billowed from the weapon and the sound of shattering glass tore Freddie apart.

"No!" Sam let out a panicked scream as Marissa's tube was splattered with blood. The woman jerked back against the cylinder and her hand moved to her abdomen. She sank down in seated position and started to cough, spewing blood from her lips.

"Mother!" Freddie rushed over to the tube. Gibby and Nevel remained in place, staring at Marissa with looks of terror. "Mom, it's going to be okay."

"Yes," Marissa coughed, "It will be now." Freddie set his forehead against the glass, trembling with a vicious sob as his mother exhaled slowly.

Nora returned the weapon to the drawer and huffed. "If she's already dying, why not kill her now." Freddie slammed his fist on the tube. Beside him, Sam dropped to her knees, her mouth hung open and her wide eyes remained still as shocked tears fled from them and moved down her cheeks.

"Don't cry over me." He opened his eyes and lifted his eyes to his mother. "You're strong, like your father, and I know you'll make it out of this." Marissa's lips curved into a smile that incited great pain in him. "Look at it this way baby, Nora's given me a release…I don't have to suffer from the pain of organ failure, and I can die knowing you'll make the right choice. Get Samantha out, and live your life, Freddie…That is all I can ask that you do."

"It shouldn't be like this, it shouldn't have to be this way."

"My son has become so strong…" He bowed his head, still trembling from the sorrow and anger that threatened to destroy him. "I'm so proud of you. You've become the man I hoped you'd become, but even more."

"Mom, please."

"Look at me." He wiped his eyes and moved them slowly to his mother's. She was drenched with water and sweat and was breathing heavily, but there was a strong smile on her face and a peaceful look in her eyes. "Both of you." Sam glanced over from her prison and a wrinkle formed on her forehead. "Freddie, I know you'll make it. All I wanted was to die knowing that you would live, that you could be happy, and I know…I know you will do just that."

"Mom."

"Don't you waste your tears on me, Freddie. You don't have much longer. I only have one thing-" She coughed once more and strained herself to speak. "My last wish to make me happy."

"What? Mom, what is it?"

"Save-" She took a deep breath and lifted her hand, pointing to Sam's container. He followed her gesture and paled when he saw the water level just above Sam's waist. "Hurry…"

Marissa's gasp echoed throughout the warehouse and her hand fell back into the water with a deafening splash. Freddie's gaze shot back to his mother and he let out a loud wail.

The reddened water rose above Marissa's peaceful expression and the hand that covered her wound drifted away as her body sunk further.

Sam cried out to him, her voice tore through the silence and called him to her. She had both her hands planted firmly on the sides of the tube and was looking down at the water that was rapidly rising on her.

"Shit." He wiped his eyes with his sleeve and rushed over to the machine, pushing Nora aside. He took one last glance at his mom before turning to the monitor. He wasn't going to lose both of them. "Alright Sam, hang in there."

He glanced back to Sam and watched as the flap closed on Sam's tube. His heart broke when he saw the water rising just at the bottom of her breasts. "How do I hack Nevel's own system?"

Typing on the screen brought Sam's container up. There was a code that needed to be entered in order to enter the program that would stop the water's flow, but that program itself would need a code as well.

Behind him, Gibby and Nevel were beginning to return to life, stammering at Nora. "Y-You said you weren't going to kill her," Gibby remarked. "You were just going to get Freddie focused on rescuing them-you were only going to lock them up. I don't understand."

"Only Freddie was going to die here," Nevel stuttered. "Even if Sam was targeted, you weren't going to kill Ms. Benson."

Freddie paid little attention to the comments and kept entering in a variety of codes. He was in a frenzied state and would continually look to check on Sam. The water level's rise only furthered his anxiety and rush to figure out the codes. "Come on, come on, come on!" He typed in every possible outcome for a five digit code, cursing under his breath each time it came up with a 'failed' notice.

"You both are true idiots," Nora remarked in cold reply. She swept her hair over her shoulder and turned to them. "You think I wouldn't kill anyone that knows my plan?"

"You were only going to hold them hostage," Gibby moved towards her, pointing with fury at her. "Ransom. You said ransom! Ms. Benson was going to be held so that her boss would be forced to work with the mafia. Sam was going to be held so her father would fund the mafia and release her parents."

"What?" Nevel shook his head and turned to Gibby. "I've never heard anything about the man. Who the hell is he?" Nora moved her hands to her waist and rolled her eyes. Gibby lowered his hand and glanced to him.

"Sam rarely spoke of him but one time years ago. She talked about him with Carly, I was just in the room-he ran off with some woman and became a powerful politician in Congress. He's a very wealthy man, he could have Nora's parents released and send a great deal of money-" He turned to Nora and cleared his throat. "I thought that was your plan. Then Carly? Carly's brother would provide legal assistance to the mafia for exchange of her safety…wasn't that it?"

Freddie turned his head over his shoulder, shocked at the description of Sam's father. Now wasn't the time for all of this. After finally discovering the first code for Nevel's program he checked on Sam.

She was now dog paddling at the surface of the water and kicking her feet, struggling to stay above. He clenched his teeth and returned to the monitor, typing furiously as Nora spoke her poisonous treason.

Nora's definitely out for herself, but now you see the true depths of her plan, forcing hostage situations in which powerful figures would have to aid in helping her to rebuild the Seattle Mafia.