Dangerous Journey

Disclaimer: Don't own iCarly

A/N:

Chapter 20 (Checkmate)

"I know what's going on." Cat's panicked words were the first thing out of her mouth the minute Sam stepped into the girl's apartment. Her eyes froze onto the redhead rocking back and forth on the couch and wringing her hands together. "Robbie told me he killed the camera system in the Vega home. They're plotting something."

"What?" She walked towards the girl and sat beside her. Her hand came to rest on the girl's shoulder and she grew concerned when she saw the tears pouring from her face. She was muttering something and her eyes were darting back and forth. "Cat, what's going on?"

"Tori told Jade something about Trina. Jade forced it out of her, pushing and pushing. Jade's known for a while though that something was wrong, Tori only confirmed it."

"What are you talking about? Start making sense."

Cat gasped softly and held onto her breath. She turned her head and looked at Sam with trembling eyes. "They're going to kidnap Trina." Sam couldn't react at first, frozen still as she tried to register the words in her brain. "Jade says she and Beck are going to sneak into the Vega home and lure Trina away."

"Hold on…they-why would they do that?" She felt a pit growing in her stomach and felt a surge of panic. There was no feasible way that this could end well. "How are they going to do this? By force?" Cat shook her head.

"No, at least they don't want to. They just want to get Trina out of there, I think." David would kill them, he'd kill every single one of them. "Jade says she thinks Mr. Vega's an evil asshole and that Trina's in danger."

"They're in more danger than she is at this point." Sam withdrew her hand and stood from the couch. "When are they planning this?"

"Tonight. They told me not to say anything, but I couldn't keep this hidden. Sam, I'm scared for them."

Cat's instincts were great, she had every right to fear. "We're at a groundbreaking moment here, the last thing that needs to happen is for a group of idiots to swipe Trina out from under David's nose like that." Cat threw her head up, raising her eyebrows high.

"Sam!"

"Sorry, but they are idiots for this." She grabbed her jacket and threw it on before running out the door. Bolting for her car, the one thing that was on her mind was stopping them from making such a costly mistake. "Jesus, and I thought the Shays were the only impulsive ones I had to worry about!"

She turned the ignition and slammed down the gas pedal. Tearing down the road, she considered the scenario that was about to happen. If Trina vanished, it would successfully get her out of that house, but David would be incensed. He would not stop until he found her.

Whether or not this would help things was tough to say, especially when she considered how close John was to closing the case.

Her phone blasted its tone in her ear and she grabbed it, growling while answering the call. "What is it?"

"Sam, it's me." Freddie's voice drew a pause from her. She furrowed her brow and looked out the window. She wanted to talk to him, but there was no time.

"Now's not the best time, Freddie."

"Something up?"

"Yeah, I'm on my way to Trina's. Cat just told me her stupid friends are planning to take Trina out on their own." Freddie whistled and muttered something about the move. "What's on your mind?"

"Wanted to let you know that old smoothie shop closed down. T-Bo's been arrested." Sam jerked back and stammered. "He's been found making payments from David. Jason's come to as well, according to Dad." Her heart skipped a beat and she started to grin, but the news about T-Bo made her want to cry. "He was shown a photo of potential suspects that ran him off the road, he picked T-Bo out of the lineup…"

"Oh my god." She slowed the car down and pulled over to the side. Her trembling hand covered her lips and tears burned her eyes. "He couldn't have-"

"Dad said he confessed. David hired him to do it…T-Bo's jeep has significant damage too, apparently. T-Bo also confessed to what happened to Trina's last boyfriend that tried to find her family."

Her heart was breaking. It was bittersweet-she never would have thought T-Bo could do such a thing. "H-How? He was always so pleasant, so friendly, so nice…how could he do something like that? I don't understand." It was the nature of the job, she knew. She'd already learned that things were never black and white. A hardcore criminal could be as much a well-respected family man just as a friendly and gentle person could do criminal acts.

"T-Bo has been working for David for a while. Spying for him. Sam, I almost wonder if he knows." She leaned her head back and shut her eyes, groaning softly. She started to lightly tap her head against the window of her car, cursing mentally. "He may not know about the investigation, but could he know who you are?"

"There's no way. He wouldn't let me near his family, much less Trina, if he knew who I was or saw me as a threat." She knew what had to be done, they could no longer wait. Tori's friends were either going to get themselves killed, or something much worse was going to take place. "Call your dad. It's time to move. We have to move."

"What? Are you sure?"

"T-Bo's confessed, right? We have Trina's DNA, David's shirt as evidence, and if I'm right…I'm willing to bet David himself has the gun that killed Camille Shay." She set her phone down and revved her engine, ignoring Freddie calling her name. "Call your father, Freddie. Tell him what's going down."

It didn't take long to get to the Vega residence, not surprisingly Jade and the others had beaten her to the house. The lights were on inside and the door was ajar. Sam grit her teeth and bolted from the car.

When she entered the house, she saw David standing with a gun aimed at Tori's friends. This was a different weapon than his standard police weapon, one she'd not seen before.

"What's going on here?" Sam watched the friends turn to look at her, fear etched across their faces. David sneered at them, pulling back the hammer of his gun.

"They want to abduct my daughter. Cat called my home number." Sam started to pale and extended her hand. She had to stop this, one way or another.

"You don't have to do this, Mr. Vega." David's nostrils flared out and Sam took a step forward. She thought back to her father and the woman he murdered, grief ate at her and a storm of nausea struck her. "I've seen one murder in my life already, I don't want to see another."

"This isn't murder, it's self-defense. You shouldn't be here, Samantha."

"Put it down." Sam looked at the gun and furrowed her brow. "That gun. It's not your usual one." She glanced at his study, the door was ajar and the desk lamp was on.

"He was supposed to be asleep," Robbie whimpered. David grunted and aimed the gun back to Robbie, causing him to yelp. Sam walked forward, moving in front of the group.

"Mr. Vega, talk to me." She knew the danger she was putting herself in, but at the same time, she knew he respected her. David looked into her eyes and grunted.

"I've had this gun for years, stashed away in my desk. I haven't used it since…" He froze, his muscles slowly tensing. Sam steadied her breathing, her eyes moving towards the weapon. He stared down at the gun, then looked up at Sam. "Move Samantha, I have to protect my house."

"You don't want to do this. You don't have to. They'll go away, they won't be back."

"They'll always be back. They've always had it out for my family, abusing them."

"Us?" Jade spat at him and Sam shut her eyes. "You're the monster. We know about you, we know who you are." David's chest heaved and his eyes grew large. "Trina's not even your kid, is she! Tori told us, she told us how she and Mrs. Vega didn't trust you."

David's eyes narrowed and he started growling, his hands trembling and body quaking so much that Sam could practically feel it. "You don't know shit."

"You're a murderer!"

"Shut up."

Sam exhaled and took a step forward, steadying herself and the fear running rampant in her heart. "Mr. Vega please." David looked her in the eyes, his forehead wrinkling and quivering. "Talk to me." She extended her hand out sideways. "Ignore them. They're not here."

"They're not wrong, Samantha. I am a monster."

"No. No you're not."

"I am." He lowered the gun and looked up at the stairwell. Sam turned her head and frowned when she saw Trina standing on the top step. The girl's hand was gripping the railing firmly and her face was white as a ghost. "I am."

"Why do you say that?"

"I never meant for her to die." David looked back at her, sighing heavily. "Camille. I loved her. I was angry, I-I wanted my son back. He wasn't mine, I know from what she said, but I had a hand in raising him. I didn't think it was fair…that military man took my family from me, so I was going to take one of his. I-I shot Camille when we struggled over the gun. I couldn't-I couldn't bear with it…"

Sam closed her eyes and lowered her hand slowly. David let out a scoff, shaking his head. "But I did love Trina like my own daughter. I raised her, but I was terrified of losing her. Terrified someone would take her from me."

Nodding her head, Sam looked back up to Trina, whose cheeks were wet with tears. "Everyone seems to think she's in danger," Sam said while motioning to Tori's friends. David looked at them and they flinched. "They're trying to help her, then. What I guess they don't realize is she's not in any danger from you, but…you remember our last conversation over the chess match?"

David squinted, his nose crinkling and head nodding. Sam smiled politely and placed a hand over his, slowly pushing down the gun. She was terrified it might go off, and fighting against the memories she had of her father; if anything, she knew best to remain calm and talk to him on his level.

She inhaled deeply and held his gaze. "You're overprotective, but she's not happy because she feels caged in. Am I right?" He turned his head away and shut his eyes. "She wants to live her life, but you have to let her. Beyond that, you also remember that case you told me you were working on?"

"The child abduction…"

"Yeah, that hit you hard."

"The situation was so similar. I-I just…I can't lose her."

"A family lost her. A father lost a daughter. That case, the young girl. Did she have any brothers or sisters?" David raised a hand over his eyes and forehead, his trembling growing more violent. "They'll never see their baby girl again. Trina's alive, you'd never hurt her."

"I never would. I-I made that promise to Camille, that I would never hurt her."

"But she is hurting." David's hand slid down his face and he dropped it down to his side. "You have to let her go. You have to. Think about something else too…what if you caused another family to lose their child? Another father would never see his child."

"What do you mean?"

"Trina's boyfriend." Trina held her breath, gasping softly and David furrowed his brow. "What if he's out there somewhere? Mr. Vega, Trina's with child."

"What?" His eyes popped out and he looked up at Trina, his knees shaking and jaw quivering. "I-Is it true?" Trina shut her eyes and nodded slowly. "Pregnant…"

Sam heard car engines coming from outside, tires squealing down the road and stopping abruptly. David moved to the couch and sank down onto it. He raised his hand up, extending the gun towards her. "Mr. Vega?" The nozzle was faced down and his head was bowed.

"It's the gun that killed the woman I loved." Sam held her breath and David rubbed his eyes with his fingers. "I have always looked to Trina as my daughter, but am I right to assume her family knows she's alive?" Seeing now that he was coming to the realization that she knew more than she was letting on, she released her breath and nodded.

"Yes." Sam grabbed a few Kleenexes from the end table and took the gun from him. With it out of his hands, everyone in the room started to breathe a sigh of relief.

"Sam!" Freddie's voice echoed through the calm and Sam turned her head to see him pushing his way through the group of Tori's friends. "Get the hell out of my way." She smiled gently as he stopped in front of them and eyed her. He was breathing heavily, his shirt and hair drenched in sweat. "Sam…thank god…"

"Relax Freddie." She chuckled and looked to the group. "Unlike some people, I know how to use tact. His entire body sank and he threw his arms around her, squeezing her tight. She had to hug him with one arm so that she wouldn't contaminate the weapon.

John entered the house with several officers. David didn't bat an eye as the man approached. Trina descended the steps slowly and John looked up at her with a smile. Sam looked at David and he glanced sideways at her, giving a look of respect. "Mr. Vega?"

"Samantha?"

"If I said I was sorry for deceiving you-"

"It's like a game of chess, Samantha." David stood slowly, letting out a heavy sigh. "You had a role, pieces you had to move. I understand, you did well." David walked towards John. John pressed his lips together and removed a pair of handcuffs from his belt as Sam handed the gun to one of his officers. "Go ahead Samantha, tell him as I have."

Sam nodded slowly and looked at John as he studied her. "He gave a full confession, Mr. Benson. That's the gun that was used." Sam motioned Trina over. "I've fulfilled my task too, getting Trina back to her family." John smiled and a glint of pride shone in his eyes.

"She's not with them yet, Sam. Don't get ahead of yourself."

"She will be. Freddie and I will take her to them."

Trina wiped the tears from her eyes and turned to David. "I don't want you to think I hate you." David met her eyes and began to shake. "I don't know how I feel about you. You've raised me, took care of me…people might accuse me of Stockholm syndrome, but you were very much like a father to me. At the same time, you took me from my real family, and I want to know them. I want to be a part of their lives, I-I want my baby to know them...I want you to let me go, release me."

David shut his eyes and bowed his head as John carefully moved the man's hands behind his back and placed the cuffs on his wrists. "You don't need my permission, Trina." Trina's eyes filled with fresh tears and her lips curled upwards. "I only want you to be happy. Go to them."

"Thank you." Trina turned to Sam, hugging her tight. "And thank you." Tori's friends started to ask if they got any thanks, but Trina simply glared at them. "Your impulsiveness almost got you killed. If Sam didn't show up when she did, I don't know what would have happened!"

"Well, you can thank Cat," Sam replied, "She's the one that told me what was going on." Trina nodded and Sam moved past her. She met David's eyes and crossed her arms. "Well Mr. Vega, I will miss our chess matches. You taught me a lot, and I value all the advice you've given me too."

David chuckled softly and nodded. "You were a worthy opponent, Samantha. I will remember our conversations fondly."

"I guess that's checkmate?"

"Checkmate." John pushed David gently, clearing his throat. David chuckled softly and pulled his eyes away for a moment. "You've finally beat me. So as I promised, I'll give you a 'well-played', Samantha. Well played." Sam smiled bright, her heart filling with pride.

David looked back and flashed a grin. "John, you forgot to tell me my charges."

John rolled his eyes and sighed. "You're under arrest for the murder of Camilla Shay, kidnapping, murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder…"

"Thanks." David stopped walking and looked back at Sam and Trina. "Samantha." Sam raised an eyebrow. "I know what you said about your father's crime, his being in prison for life; but don't let that mean he must lose a daughter for something he did in anger." Sam breathed in, her eyes starting to sting as she thought back to her father. "You have your entire life to go back or move forward, ultimately it's your choice to stay away from him, but decide for yourself if that is what you want. If he becomes a changed man one day, decide then. If he never does, then you have your answer."

"Thank you, Mr. Vega."

As John led him away, Sam turned to Trina. The girl looked ready to collapse, so she helped her to the couch. Trina buried her face into her hands and her entire body shook with grief.

Sam rubbed her back, but said nothing. Even Tori's friends were silent. It seemed all knew there was nothing that could be said right now, only support was to be given. "Give her some time," Sam said to the others.

They nodded and started to disperse. Officers were going to need to take their statements, and hers; but she knew where she was needed right now. "Hey Trina, I know it's a lot to take in right now. I know you're hurting. I have some good news for you, but it may not be appropriate timing…still, if you want to hear it…"

Trina sniffled and grabbed the tissues from the end table. "Just say it." Sam nodded and waited as the girl blew her nose.

"Jason's waking up from his coma." Trina gasped softly. "You know, that big ass truck of his saved his life."

"Thank god."

"Also, your family's waiting for you."

"I'd like to take a moment…" Trina looked around her house with lingering gazes. "I grew up here."

"Take as much time as you need." Trina leaned sideways, setting her head on her shoulder and weeping silently.

So it finally happened, thanks to Tori's friends in a way. Were they bold or ingenious? It would have ended horribly if not for Sam and Cat-at the same time, Cat's the one that panicked and told David. Looks like those chess conversations paid off, and the respect that was built between David and Sam proved crucial. David went willingly, and he let Trina have her freedom. Now we just have the trials, the reunions and we'll see what happens next