SIX MONTHS

Disclaimer: I do not own iCarly or it's characters. I do, however, own Dr. Jay, so bear with me.

Chapter 1: Diagnosis

"In 5…4…3…2…" Freddie Benson pointed at iCarly's 2 co-hosts, Carly Shay and Sam Puckett.

"Hello, all you men, women, children, dogs….." Carly began.

"…..lizards, dolphins, monkeys, and platypuses!" Sam finished. "You're watching a little show we call iCarly!" Both girls yelled the last part into the camera. Freddie laughed from behind it as he watched and recorded their usual crazy antics. About 5 minutes into the show, Carly smiled at the camera.

"Alright guys, time for a new segment of 'Messing With Lewbert'! Show the Lobby Cam, Freddie!" She turned towards the screen when she heard a faint thud! Odd…..probably Spencer…she thought, obviously not too concerned.

"Setting up lobby camera," Freddie reported. Carly smiled when Lewbert appeared on-screen, reading a magazine. It faded fast, though, at the next thing she heard: Freddie's scream.

"SAM!!"

Carly spun automatically towards Freddie. His face was ghost-white, eyes wide with horror. Carly followed his horrified gaze to Sam lying in a crumpled heap on the floor, remote held loosely in her hand. "Oh, my God, SAM!!" she screamed, "SPENCER!!" Freddie turned the camera on him as she ran to get her brother and stuttered, "Obviously iCarly is experiencing a severe emergency…uh, see you next week…" and shut off the camera.

--In the ER--

Spencer sat in a chair in the waiting room, a comforting hand on Mrs. Puckett's shoulder, watching Carly pacing nervously. Freddie sat on his other side, head held in his hands, still ghost-white. After 10 long minutes, the door opened and Dr. Shanelle Jay walked out of the operating area, a grave look on her face. Everyone snapped to attention, and Carly sprinted over to her. "How's Sam? Is she alright?"

"What's wrong with my baby?!" wailed Mrs. Puckett.

Dr. Jay gazed at each of them before saying, "Sam is fine right now. She just collapsed; her body had a momentary breakdown. But now she's recovering." Carly, Spencer and Mrs. Puckett breathed a sigh of relief. Freddie, however, kept his breath. The doctor seemed too sad to be telling them only good news. "But……?" he pressed. Carly spun around. "Freddie! No 'buts', okay?"

Taking a deep breath, Dr. Jay said, "Actually…."

"Oh, there's a 'But', isn't there?" Carly groaned. Dr. Jay nodded sadly. "Yes, I'm afraid so. I'm afraid, and very sorry to have to inform you, but….Sam has leukemia. Cancer of blood."

Mrs. Puckett burst into quiet sobs, Spencer patting her back. Carly let a few tears roll down her own cheeks, and Freddie just gazed at her with wide eyes. "Is….is there any chance of her…?" he 

stuttered out. Dr. Jay shook her head. No. I'm also sorry to say that the diagnosis shows she has only six months before she….moves on," she said quietly. Mrs. Puckett let loose a mournful wail, Freddie just gazed at nothing with empty eyes, now so white he blended perfectly with the walls. Carly started sobbing broken, wet sobs, and Spencer let a few tears loose, too.

"She'll be turned out in a day or two, and she can live like a normal 14-year-old….for awhile. By her last couple months, she'll grow weaker. I'm truly sorry," and she sounded like she meant it, not like other doctors who only said it as part of their job. Carly's sobs quieted, and she sniffled, "Alright, we should go home. It's been a long day." Freddie just nodded and walked trance-like to the Shay's car. Mrs. Puckett said 'thank you' and went to her own car. Spencer put an arm around his baby sister's shoulders and gently pulled her behind Freddie.

Once they were driving away, Freddie twisted in his seat and stared at the hospital shrinking behind them, where they left Sam alone. He had a feeling it would be a long night, too….