Her eyes were locked on the digital clock in the dashboard radio display. It was almost 8 o'clock now. Why couldn't Spencer drive any faster? She kept looking at him and then the road as if she was able to will the traffic out of the way and make the car speed up.

Spencer was hammering the horn as he zigged and zagged through Seattle summer traffic, hurrying the small car through the streets to the waterfront docks as fast as he could go. Freddie was gripping everything he could hold onto in the back seat as the rocking car knocked him from side to side, despite his lap belt holding him to the seat.

Damn it all to hell! Carly screamed at herself. Why did that email have to arrive so late? I'm not gonna have enough time!! She can't leave. I need to see her one last time…"

The radio was playing some old song. Why was it that every station lately was playing sad songs that squeezed the life out of her heart? She stared at the radio as she heard the familiar words, her mind flashing back to that last time together…

How can I just let you walk away? Just let you leave without a trace. When I stand here taking every breath with you. You're the only one who really knew me at all…

Sam was standing in the open doorway holding her jacket, staring at her as if she was waiting for Carly to say something to make her want to stay. Why didn't she say something? Anything? Why didn't she make Sam stay? Why did she just let her walk away? Out of her life? Sam could see right through her, the insecurities, the fear, the obsessions. Why couldn't she see her love, her want, her need?

How can you just walk away from me? When all I can do is watch you leave. 'Cause we've shared the laughter and the pain, and even shared the tears. You're the only one who really knew me at all…

She had collapsed to the floor, wracked by tears. She had stayed there until Spencer had found her. She had cried herself out and fell asleep. Then, there were the days of emptiness, when she moved about the loft, when she had even decided to get out of bed, like a hollow shell. Lost. Spencer covered her with the school, but she could tell that he was worried about her and stressed that he couldn't fix whatever it was. All he thought was that Sam and Carly had had a big fight.

Even Freddie had tried to pull her out of it. It took frequent visits and the grad planning sessions to eventually pull her together enough to cope with life again. She just wished that Sam would have talked to her. She had no idea that she was someplace where there was no contact at all. Something she would have to get used to in the years to come.

"Drive faster!" Carly shouted at Spencer.

"Ahhh!" Spencer shrieked in surprise. "I am! I am! The pedal only goes down so far!"

"We'll make it in time, Carly," Freddie tried to say from the back seat.

So take a look at me now. 'Cause there's just an empty space. There's nothing left here to remind me. Just the memory of your face.

Carly saw the port in sight. The clock was a minute away from the eighth hour. They pulled to the gate. Spencer stopped and shouted something to the guard. He was finding out where was Terminal 18. The guard was pointing down the long pier, past big container ships. And they were off again, zipping away from the gatehouse and down the line of ships.

So take a look at me now. 'Cause there's just an empty space. And you coming back to me, is against the odds and that's what I've got to face.

They pulled to a stop by a big building with wide open loading doors looking out the pier. A giant 18 was printed on the area high above the doors. Carly flung open the door to the car and ran out to the pier. There was a ship moving away from the dock. It was already several feet away being pulled by two tugs. In the growing darkness of dusk, she could barely make out the blonde at the railing, jumping up and down and waving frantically at Carly. If only she could hear what she was saying.

I wish I could just make you turn around. Turn around and see me cry. There's so much I need to say to you, so many reasons why. You're the only one who really knew me at all.

"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Carly shouted as loud as she could, loud enough to make her go hoarse and she knew that her voice would be gone tomorrow. As gone as the only person she would ever love. Ripped away from her by two tugs and the ship Sam was on.

Carly fell to her knees, crying again, heavy sobs. "I LOVE YOU, SAMMY!!!"

She felt Spencer beside her, hands on her shoulders. "I'm sorry, Sis… I'm so, so, sorry…"

So take a look at me now. 'Cause there's just an empty space. There's nothing left here to remind me
Just the memory of your face.

Carly covered her face in her hands and shook her head. She tried to find her voice. "No, Spencer. I'm sorry. Sorry I was ever too scared to tell the truth. Sorry to let everyone else run my life. Sorry to have lost the only person I ever loved." She looked up at Spencer through her tears that streamed down her face. "I love Sam, Spencer."

Spencer rubbed her shoulders. "I know you do, little sis. We all do…"

"NO!" Carly shrieked. "Listen to me! I LOVE Sam. L-O-V-E her. As in want-to-spend-the-rest-of-my-life-with-her love her. I want to kiss her and hug her and go to bed every night with her and want her to be the first person I see every morning. I want everybody to see how much I love her and I don't care what anybody thinks. Not even you, Spencer! Or Freddie, or Gramps or anyone!"

So take a look at me now. Cause there's just an empty space. But to wait for you is all I can do and that's what I've got to face.

Spencer's eyes came back down from his shocked look. "I would never have thought any less of you, Carly. You're my little sister and I love you. As long as you're happy, that's all that matters."

"Yeah, Carly," Freddie said quietly from behind her. "We all love you AND Sam. No matter what. That's what love is all about. Acceptance."

Carly began crying again: "I know," she burbled. "I know that now. But, now it's too late and I'll never see her again…"

Take a good look at me now. 'Cause l'll still be standing here and you coming back to me is against all odds. That's the chance I've got to take.

"See who again?"

Carly whipped her head around so fast that she lost her balance and fell into Spencer's arms, looking up in shock at the blonde curls hanging out from under the hoodie and the most beautiful face she had ever seen. Her mouth popped open and she was speechless.

"What?" Sam asked. "Geeze louise, Cupcake. I love ya too. But, I'm right here."

Carly flew up as fast as her legs could lift her, throwing her arms around the smaller blonde's body, holding her so tight that she could never, ever leave her.

"Carls!" Sam gasped. "Crushing. Need to breathe." She managed to pull the brunette's arms back a bit.

Carly allowed herself to me moved back just enough to be able to look Sam in her face, inches apart, sharing each other's breath. "You stayed…," she beamed.

"No, duh!" Sam said. "I wanted to make sure Mel got off okay. Then this crazy car came screeching to a stop and this wild woman went chasing after the ship. No way I was missing that show…"

Carly just stared into Sam's grey-green eyes. They were so bright and so beautiful and all she wanted to do was spend the rest of her life looking at them. Being watched by them.

Sam curled her brows. "What? I got something in my teeth?"

"No," Carly slowly shook her head. "You stayed. You didn't go with Mel."

The brows shot up: "To Africa?? Hell no! Mama needs her food and luxuries. That's more a Melanie thing…"

"But, your email said you were both going…" Carly's voice trailed off, tilting her head as she tried to understand how she confused this whole situation.

"Really?" Was Sam trying to act innocent? "It did? My, my, my…I'm sure you simply misread it…"

Carly squinted hard at the shorter blond demon. "I….bet…"

Sam shrugged and smiled. "Whatev'…"

Carly smiled back. They stood there just looking at each other. For what seemed like forever.

Sam raised an eyebrow: "Yeah?"

Carly sighed and nodded: "Yeah."