The next morning after the show Unique and Mercedes had met up for breakfast. As much as Mercedes loved both Santana and Quinn she missed Unique, she had been there for everything, and she knew Mercedes better than Mercedes had ever known herself. Talking to Unique was like talking to a therapist who didn't even have to pay for her.

"I mean even his fans are clocking on the major difference between having you as front dancer and having Santana as front dancer. None of them are saying anything mean to her but they aren't oblivious to the chemistry change." Unique spoke as she scrolled through social media and read through some of the comments.

Mercedes sighed, "Well it is his show and he can do with whatever he pleases, however, he knows changing it up on both of us like that last minute was a complete asshole move."

Unique took a bite of eggs, "Why don't you just tell him everything, before someone else does? Tell him about Teddy, the drugs, and the fight, Mercedes. It could save both of you."

"Even if I did tell him, that doesn't stop Teddy from going on social media, next thing you know I am back in Lima making way as an elementary school teacher, unhappy. You know if Teddy wanted to tell everyone about the drugs and the fight he would, and you know he probably has proof to back himself up and make me look unstable as fuck." Mercedes explained as she ate her pancakes.

"I think you should at least get ahead of it in some shape or fashion before anyone else does though Mercedes." Unique tried.

"Let's just talk about something else please, how is everything back home?"

"Good, nice new business, but I can't wait till you come back."

Mercedes smiled at that, "Just a few more minutes, and then it will be you and me and our apartment."

Rachel had just made it to New Orleans, and after getting in contact with Mercedes's ex-boyfriend Teddy, she was more than sure that she was going to have enough ammo to kick Mercedes off the tour and get Sam all to herself. She had pulled up to Motel 6 which was just a few miles from the hotel where she was staying. She walked up the room number and knocked on the door and Teddy opened it and let her come in.

"Do you have my money?" Teddy questioned.

"What exactly did you think was in this duffel bag," Rachel began as she threw it on the bed as Teddy went to open and count, "All fifteen grand is in there now do you have what I want?" Teddy walked over to his backpack and pulled out a manilla folder that had receipts for everything. There were pictures of Mercedes x-rayed back, the receipts of her refilling the pill bottles, and to add fuel to the fire there were even photos of Teddy's bruised body after their fight.

"It has been a pleasure doing business with you Teddy, and once this is all said and done, I think you can get Mercedes back."

"That's the goal, and I hope you can keep Sam."

"That's the goal."

Sam was watching the dancers onstage as Mercedes went over the choreography for the night. He knew he did something amazing when he made her the choreographer and made her the dance captain. She was like the mom of the dancers, she always made sure they were ok and always had whatever they needed. As she guided them through their final dance walk he smiled and knew that he let his pride get the best of him. Santana was right she was just collateral in the long run because he wanted to hurt Mercedes the same way that she had hurt him when she rejected the idea of them dating.

"Alright guys head backstage, ice whatever you need to ice, and then let's have a great show tonight," Mercedes announced. Before she could exit the stage Sam jumped on the stage and grabbed her hand.

"Can I speak with you for a minute?" Sam asked.

"I mean if this is about who your front dancer is going to be then you need to be speaking to Santana, not me," Mercedes replied.

Sam sighed, "I deserved that, Mercedes what I did was to just get a rise out of you and that wasn't right, and as much as I can say it is my show. It means nothing without you as my front dancer. I'm sorry now can you please be my front dancer again."

"I accept your apology, and I accept front dancer, now let's go have a great show," Mercedes spoke as she gave Sam a hug before they both headed backstage to get ready.

It all happened so fast for Mercedes. She remembered getting off the stage once the show ended and she remembered how on top of the world she felt. She remembered how UNique came looking for her and pulled her from the euphoric feeling when she showed her the phone notifications. She remembered reading the headlines about her opioid abuse, and her abuse to Shane. Then she remembered seeing the interview that Rachel did declaring that she was the one who told everything. She briefly remembered her anger for Rachel and then it turned to Sam as he pulled her to the dressing room.

"Mercedes, I didn't know she was going to do this to you." Sam breathed out, Sam reared back when he felt he excruciating slap on his face. His heart nearly broke at the sight of Mercedes her makeup was ruined and the tears fell.

"I told you about Teddy, and I told you how dark and alone I felt, so you go and tell Rachel and she pulls this shit." Mercedes cried.

"Mercedes, it's me, I would have never told her about the dark times during that period of your life," Sam spoke.

"But you told her about my ex-boyfriend, the one who is so fucking hellbent on destroying my life."

"I might have let it slip but Mercedes, I never did this with the intention of hurting you."

"STAY THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME SAM!" Mercedes screamed as she left the room slamming the door behind her.

Mercedes felt like everything was going right for once, but she knew what was going to happen. Her career was potentially going to be ruined, she was going to be known as the abusive junkie. No longer would her dancing skills speak for her, it would be the tabloids and the lies first. She probably wouldn't be able to boo jobs anymore, and she would have to do the one thing she never ever wanted to do in her life. Go back to Lima.

As she made her way to her dressing room, she pulled off her dance clothes and threw on a hoodie and pair of sweats and her meaning after taking a quick shower. Once she gathered everything she grabbed her things and hopped on the tour bus ignoring the clamoring crowd that was screaming at her, but she was sure that the screams were for Sam more than they were made for her. Immediately as she got on the bus she saw the sad faces, and everyone going quiet, but she headed to her bed in the back and shut the door behind her. She grabbed her phone and opened social media, while some fans had her back, other had now switched sides. They started calling her a gross junkie, who needed to learn to keep her hands to herself, and that Rachel did the thing that Sam couldn't do. She wanted to throw up, but she knew she couldn't fix anything like this so she just decided to get some sleep.

The next morning Sam was on the hunt for Mercedes. He hadn't seen her since she had slapped him, and he wanted to check on her but he didn't have her room number. As he walked up and down the halls waiting for anyone to text him back with Mercedes room number one Rachel Berry exited the elevator and immediately jumped in his arms.

"Oh Sam, I am so sorry that you had to find out like this," Rachel spoke.

Sam shoved her off of him, "How could you do that to her, Rachel, do you know what you have caused?"

"Sam, don't speak to me like that. I only did what you couldn't. I am basically getting her off the tour without you ending up in a lawsuit or a breach of contract situation."

"No! What you are doing is destroying an innocent woman's life over petty bullshit. We are fucking done Rachel, get the fuck out of here."

"You can't mean that Sam."

"He does," Santana chimed in as she and Quinn stood in the hallway hearing the entire conversation, "Our best friend has been bawling nonstop because of your petty jealous ass. And for what because you are jealous of Mercedes stealing Sam. Trust me if she wanted to ride guppy lips by now then she would have but she hasn't."

"Get your ass out of here before we throw you out," Quinn added. Rachel huffed and got back on the elevator as Sam walked over to Quinn and Santana.

"Oh and before you even ask to speak with her, she doesn't want to, in fact, she doesn't want anything to do with you after this tour is over," Santana explained.

"But this wasn't my fault." Sam pleaded.

"Even if it was directly your fault, you still allowed your girlfriend to embarrass your best friend and now Mercedes is receiving hate comments left and right. You better hope and pray that she doesn't leave this tour early either Sam." Quinn finished before she and Santana went back into their room.

"FUCK!" Sam shouted.