Slaughterhouse

Not The Last

The next morning, everyone is rushing around the house trying to get everything they need together. Putting the final few items in their bags and setting them by the door. It's time for Buddy to go back to AEW and it's also Monday, so Rhea and Carmen are up just as early for their flight.

They've just gotten everything together when a knock sounds at the front door. Buddy looks to Rhea as if to ask if she knows who it might be. She shrugs and he glances through the peephole before opening the door. Carmen looks up when he says hi and she hears a familiar voice.

Anger sets in as Buddy stands aside and in walks Raquel Rodriguez. Her head is dipped slightly in shame when she glances over at Carmen before looking to Rhea. Carmen looks over at Rhea and observes the look of sadness that returns to her face.

"Rhea I...I came to apologize. I never should have done what I did in the ring at Payback." She speaks softly.

Carmen folds her arms and scoffs. Raquel's eyes flash to her for a second before looking back to Rhea and continuing.

"I don't know what came over me. I just..I got so angry when you two sent me over the ropes like that."

Rolling her eyes, Carmen sighs in annoyance. Raquel rolls hers as well, looking back to Carmen. Her face changing from soft and apologetic to angry.

"Do you have something to say, Carmen?" She asks.

"As a matter of fact I do! Apology NOT accepted. You think you can just waltz in here and give a half-hearted, weak attempt at an apology for trying to destroy her career? Someone who's supposedly your best friend? You could have really fucked up her knee and you're blaming us for it?" Carmen rants.

"'Weak attempt'? And I'm not blaming anybody! I'm trying to explain why I did what I did. Trying to apologize!" Raquel growls back.

"Well you're doing a God awful job at it." She bites.

Raquel shakes her head and looks at Rhea, pointing at Carmen.

"Why the fuck is this bitch always around? Always in your fucking business? Just because she joined the Judgment Day she thinks she can..." Raquel stops herself.

Rhea is sighing and looking at Carmen. Raquel quickly catches on and drops her hand, chuckling softly to herself as she shakes her head.

"Fuck. No wonder she won't let this shit go. You two are fucking her." Raquel laughs a little and looks at Carmen as well.

"What the fuck are you laughing at?" Carmen speaks through gritted teeth and balls her fists.

Raquel looks in her eyes and crosses her arms over her chest.

"You must think you're special, don't you?" She asks.

Carmen frowns a little, confusion staining her face. Buddy steps forward now and shakes his head.

"That's enough Raquel..stop." He says sternly.

"No. You think you're sooo special don't you Carmen? You aren't her first, and you certainly won't be her last." She says.

Carmen's face begins to fall. She knew she wasn't the first. But what does Raquel mean by she won't be the last?

Raquel continues, "What? Did you think she actually likes you? No, she'll toss you aside the second she's done with you."

This time Rhea steps forward, anger written all over her face as she points to the door.

"That's enough! Get the fuck out Raquel." Her voice booms.

Raquel glares at Carmen before looking at Rhea and shaking her head. She turns on her heel and leaves the house. Rhea turns towards Carmen and holds her hands out, walking towards her for a hug. Carmen steps back and shakes her head, making Rhea stop in her tracks.

"Carmen.." She says.

"Don't listen to her." Buddy speaks softly.

Carmen just shakes her head again. Her brain is overwhelmed with different thoughts she doesn't know how to process right now, and her heart is racing in her chest. She has to get out, she needs to get away.

She walks towards the door, grabs her duffle bag and suitcase and walks out of the house without looking back at either of them when they call her name. They follow her out and try to talk her out of leaving when she throws her bags into her SUV and goes to open her door.

Rhea puts a hand on it, keeping it shut. Carmen doesn't look up, she keeps her hand on the door handle and stares down at it. Tears are burning her eyes, threatening to break free.

"I don't want you driving like this. Stay." She whispers in an order.

Carmen shakes her head and pulls the door handle again. Rhea sighs and lets go, letting it open. She looks at Buddy in defeat and he waves her over as if to say to give her space. Carmen saw the gesture out of the corner of her eye and her heart breaks a little more.

She gets into the car, turns it on and backs out of the driveway. Glancing quickly in her rearview mirror as she leaves, she sees Rhea turning and going back inside while Buddy watches Carmen leave.

After driving for what seems like hours, Carmen finds herself knocking on Damian's door. She didn't know where else to go. She doesn't have to be at the airport for another hour, and she didn't want to be alone. He opens the door and smiles at her.

"Hey Carmen, what are you doing here?" He asks.

When Carmen starts crying on his doorstep, the smile on his face drops and he immediately pulls her inside, enveloping her in a tight hug.

"Come come. Sit." He says and leads her to the couch.

Carmen sits next to him on it and rests her elbows on her knees, dropping her head into her hands.

"What happened, Princesa?" He asks.

Carmen tells him everything. How Raquel came to apologize for her actions at Payback. How she insulted Carmen, told her she won't be the last. That Rhea doesn't really want her. Damian sighs softly and rubs her back gently.

"Look Carmen. I know I only just found out about how their relationship works, but I know Rhea cares about you. She has to. Never has she ever taken to anyone like she has to you. Why don't we just give it time, give it some space." He says.

"She doesn't want me, Damian. I'm just her toy." She whispers.

Damian taps Carmen's shoulder and leans down to get her attention. Her eyes focus on him, blinking back tears.

"Rhea never said that, Carmen. Raquel did." He reminds her.

Carmen sighs and looks back down at the floor. She's tired, unsure of what to think or do right now. Damian's right. Rhea never said it. But she also never opens up. She's different outside the bedroom than she is in it.

Her heart continues to ache. She's not feeling much better as they leave Damian's house and she follows behind him to the airport.