Slaughterhouse

Do That Again

A/N: A little bit of a shorter chapter but I'll make up for it. 😉

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The next morning comes around and Rhea and Carmen are helping Buddy pack his bags. He's going back to Australia for a while to visit family he hasn't seen in a couple of years. It's the first opportunity he's gotten to really take a decent amount of time off.

Carmen can't help but feel a little sad as she folds some of his shirts and places them in his suitcase. She grabs one that he put on her at a hotel once to sleep in and turns to him with puppy eyes.

"Keep it princess." He smiles and kisses her cheek.

She smiles and pulls it over her head over top of the tank top and shorts she's wearing before going back to folding clothes. Buddy smiles at Rhea as she comes from the closet with some of his shorts and pants. She smiles back at him and he tilts his head towards Carmen.

Rhea looks at her and sees the look of sadness she has on her face as she helps pack. She smiles and winks at Buddy as if to say don't worry, she'll take care of her.

"Come here Carmen." Buddy smiles and sits on the chair.

Carmen sets a pair of folded shorts into his suitcase before walking over to him. He gently pulls her onto his lap and smiles.

"I'm going to miss you." She says.

"I'll miss you more, love. But I'll be back soon." He smiles.

"It's sucks work won't let us come with you."

"Well you're in the middle of a storyline so unless they write you off as injured it won't work. You can call me every day."

Carmen smiles a little and looks down at her hands.

"Hey." Buddy says and grabs her chin to lift her face.

"Yeah?"

"I love you." Buddy smiles.

A bigger smile crosses Carmen's face and her cheeks turn pink.

"I love you too."

Rhea walks over and kisses both of their cheeks before pulling Carmen off his lap.

"You've got to get going babe or you're gonna miss your flight."

Buddy nods and stands. He walks to his suitcases and grabs them before turning and kissing Rhea and Carmen in turn.

"I love you both. See you in a month." He smiles.

Carmen and Rhea say their goodbyes and follow him downstairs and outside. Watching him load up his truck. They wave as he drives away and Carmen sighs before turning and going back inside. Rhea tries not to take offense and follows her.

"Don't worry. Between work and how busy I'm going to keep you..he'll be back before you know it." Rhea smiles as she pulls Carmen back against her, wrapping her arms around her waist.

She smiles and turns her head. Rhea kisses her lips softly and smiles back at her.

"What do you say we take the dogs on a walk? We can pick up dinner on the way back and watch a movie?" She asks.

"Yeah that sounds good." Carmen smiles.

They leash up Barry and Luna and leave the house, walking around the neighborhood before venturing out to find something to eat. Most of the walk is quiet. Just them enjoying each other's company. Carmen laughing now and then at Barry getting excited to see other people and dogs. Rhea smiling at her when she laughs like it's the best thing she's seen all year.

They eventually settle on Vietnamese food and Carmen goes inside to pick up their order. When she comes back out, Rhea is kneeling down petting the dogs and giving them water. Carmen smiles at her.

"Ready?" She asks.

Rhea looks up, smiles and nods. She lets the dogs finish drinking before they make the walk back home. It's mostly silent again on the way back and Rhea lets the dogs free of their leashes once they're back inside.

Carmen takes the food into the living room and spreads out the options on the coffee table. Rhea walks in and giggles as she sits on the couch.

"Did you order the whole menu?" She asks.

"I didn't know what I wanted so I got a smorgasbord." Carmen laughs a little.

"Nothing wrong with that." Rhea smiles as Carmen sits next to her.

They pick a movie, Rhea rolling her eyes when Carmen chooses a movie without blood and guts in it. She sticks her tongue out at her. Rhea raises an eyebrow.

"Wanna do that again?" She asks.

Carmen taps her chin and sticks her tongue out again, giggling when Rhea lunges at her, tackling her back onto the couch and pinning her arms down.

"Babe! I'm hungry." Carmen giggles, putting on her best fake pout.

"Maybe I'll just take you to bed right now and f-"

They're cut off by the doorbell ringing. Carmen smirks up at Rhea as if to say 'ha ha', and Rhea glares back down at her before letting her go and standing. Carmen sits up and watches as Rhea goes to the door.

She looks through the peephole before sighing and looking over her shoulder.

"Carmen go upstairs." She orders.

"What? Why who is it?" Carmen asks, standing.

"Just go."

"I'm not a child, Rhea. You can't just send me to my room." Carmen says, folding her arms in protest.

The glare returns to Rhea's face as she turns back to the door and opens it. On the other side is the last person Carmen expected to see.

Raquel Rodriguez.