Okay, how do I even begin this chapter? I would like to apologize for my absence. I finally finished summer school, a whole month of no new chapters, and I'm so sorry for that. Well, since I'm going to be home basically 24/7, I will most definitely be updating much more frequently. Secondly, I hadn't expected 990 reads from you guys, which is spectacular. I never anticipated this amount of popularity. So, thank you so much for reading my story. Thirdly, as the month passed, I grew accustomed to re-reading my previous chapters, and I couldn't help but notice I was writing absolutely horrid. The first couple of chapters were completely unrealistic and I genuinely dread those who read my story and see that. 

So, should I delete this story and re-publish the edited chapters? It's entirely up to you guys. I might change the plot and a majority of those chapters, but only if my readers want me to. Although I want to re-write everything, I honestly don't want to lose all my reads on here. 

Please comment your opinions and suggestions. Thank you and please excuse my terrible writing, I started this chapter before my hiatus.

            Odessa scrutinized the manufactured hole in the ground attentively as she crouched to the floor, verifying her cream-shaded jeans weren't tainted with soil. She aimed the flashlight into the darkness and swiftly examined the crevices and roots that protruded from the soil. The sight of the cramped tunnel with the intense dimness was quite eerie, and Odessa was certain she wasn't climbing down there. "It looks like there's only room for one," Dean declares as he crouches under the 'Caution' tape and gathers some form of rope. "Wanna flip a coin?" Odessa furrows her eyebrows as she clicks her flashlight off, standing properly on her feet. 

            Odessa settled her hand on her waist as she shakes her head at Dean's immaturity. "You're going to go down there," She questions, quirking a brow as Dean merely nods his head. "Dean, some man just died going in there, and you're more than willing to go down?" Odessa folded her arms across her chest as Dean crouched under the tape and ignored her question, merely taking notice of the Guardian's apprehension. He taunted Sam into flipping the coin, to which Sam rapidly snatched it mid-air with pursed lips and declared his 'mission'. 

<<>>

           Huffing from her cheeks, Odessa scrunched her nose in distaste as Sam fiddled with the deceased beetle around his palm. Though she knew the insect was no longer alive, the sensation of the bugs minuscule limbs scratching at her skin was a disturbing thought. Tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, Odessa lurched forward as she gazed at the beetle's body. "Sam, finding beetles in a hole in the ground isn't entirely shocking." She stated with grimace as Sam halted and sighed heavily.

            "There were no tunnels, no tracks, no evidence of any other kind of creature down there," Sam informed as he motioned his hands as he spoke. "You know, some beetles do eat meat. Now, it's usually dead meat, but-" Odessa grimaced as she reclined her back against the cushion, rubbing her temples reassuringly. That's definitely consoling, Odessa thought inwardly, I could've lived my whole life not knowing that.

            "How many did you find down there?" Dean interrupted.

            "10." Sam replied simply. 

            Dean and Sam continued to bicker relentlessly as Odessa remained reticent as she fixated her attention on the floating balloons in the distance. The strings were knotted around a sign that informed the neighborhood's residents of the barbecue. "If you want information of this place, we could go to the barbecue," Odessa suggested with a sly grin as she motioned towards the passing sign. Sam craned his neck and sent her a blank look, to which she shrugged. "We can talk to the locals, and there's free food." Dean hummed in agreement as he parked in front of the house.

            Odessa, with a glittering grin, inhaled sharply as the intoxicating aroma swirled around the ominous skies. The gravel was damp with rainfall and the breeze emanated fresh moisture from the bank of clouds. She examined her surroundings with concealed admiration. The newly mowed lawns and the suburban homes was something she'd never experienced, considering the Organization of The Elite's exterior resembled a chapel, and stained-glass contained images mundanes wouldn't understand. Inching near the doorway, Odessa rapidly knocked and was greeted by an older man with a bright smile. "Is this the barbecue?" She questioned, peeking over his shoulder.

            The man peered over Odessa and heavenwards with distaste. "Yeah, not the best weather, but," He said, returning his attention back to the woman and men. "I'm Larry Pike, the developer here, and you are?" Odessa introduced themselves, the scent of the variety of foods seeped through the doorway. From their distance, she could decipher the incoherent murmurs of the gathering homeowners in Larry's backyard. His eyes flickered from Sam and Dean as he spoke with his hands. "Let me just say that we accept homeowners of any race, religion, color, or sexual orientation." 

            Odessa nodded as a negligible grin formed as she attempted to refrain her chuckles from erupting as Sam's eyebrows rose and Dean's mouth was agape with disturbance. "We're brothers." Dean responded. Sam's broad shoulders shook as he laughed at Larry's suggestion. 

            "Our father is getting on in years, and we're just looking for a place for him." Sam corrected with an amused tone. Larry's mouth widened as he nodded in understanding, clapping his palms together. 

            "Great, great. Well, seniors are welcome, too. Come on in," Larry stated as motioned for the three to enter his home. He guided them through his typical suburban home and Odessa examined the ordinary people's behavior. They sipped from their red-solo cups and spoke of their thriving business, something she'd never witnessed in the Organization. Larry swiftly explained his residency and introduced his wife, along with an attractive brunette who announced herself as another homeowner. Odessa inwardly grimaced as the woman recited the acceptance of all homeowners. 

            Dean scowled to no one in particular as he spoke. "I'm gonna go talk to Larry," He informed. "Okay, honey?" He asked Sam as he departed from the conversation and teasingly slapped Sam's rear.

            Odessa snickered as peered over her shoulder and observed Dean as he withdrew from her line of sight. She inhaled deeply as the aroma of the food filled her nose. The woman's rambling of her home had the Guardian cringe, patting Sam's shoulder as she merely stepped from the conversation, knowing Sam was far too kind to leave. Odessa rapidly grabbed a plastic plate and began to pile an array of cuisine with a bright smile rising.

<<>>

            Odessa ambled apprehensively through the neighborhood's forest as her mocha eyes repeatedly flickered throughout her surroundings with dread. Dean and Sam agreed to accompany Matt, the teenage boy with an intense favoritism towards insects and he was Larry's son, in his departure through the arrays of trees, much to Odessa's dismay. She hadn't spoken with Matt, but his liking for insects was somewhat remarkable. Clinging firmly onto Sam's forearm, Odessa sighed heavily as she witnessed Matt placing an unidentifiable insect atop his sleeve with ease. Sam's soothing tone captured the teenager's attention, whose expression revealed his alarm. "Hey, Matt," Sam said as he stuffed his hands into his jacket's front pockets. "Remember me?"

            Matt's sky-blue eyes moved between Sam and Odessa with bewilderment blazing. His emphasis when speaking expressed his hesitancy. "What are you doing out here?" Odessa's grin gleamed with a sincerity and authentic comfort. Dean inched forward as he spoke with his arms gesturing outward.  "We want to talk to you." He said, his snide smirk was becoming increasingly larger.

            Matt questioned their motives. "You're not here to buy a house, are you," Odessa pursed her lips into a thin line as she glanced down at the dewy grass. "Wait, you're not serial killers?" He asked apprehensively as he stepped backwards. Odessa chuckled as she returned her gaze on the blonde teenager, shaking her head softly. Sam was swift to reassure Matt's concern, while Dean chuckled alongside Odessa. 

            Releasing her grasp on Sam, Odessa stepped forwards as she glimpsed at the crawling insect with an uneasy fascination. "You seem to know quite a bit about insects," Matt shrugged nonchalantly as he casually responded. "Did you hear about Linda, the realtor?" Odessa asked.

            "I heard she died this morning."

            Dean hummed, "That's right. Spider bites." He stated with an accusing tone. Odessa roughly elbowed his rib cage and offered a glare as Dean furrowed his eyebrows while clutching his stomach. Sam, sighing at their childish antics, informally implied his suspicions, managing to appear collected. Odessa admired Sam's ability to remain composed despite the situation. "Matt, you tried to scare her with a spider." Matt's eyes widened as his body tensed.

            "Wait, you think I had something to do with that?" 

             Dean frowned. "You tell us."

            "That tarantula was a joke. Anyway, that wouldn't explain the bee attack or the gas-company guy." Odessa scrunched her eyebrows together as she inclined her head, frowning as she did so. The simplest of actions done by Odessa could be considered cute by Dean, even things such as a pucker of her mouth or the scrunching of her nose when giggling at something comical he'd done. 

            "You know about those?" 

            Matt exhaled through his nose. "There is something going on here. I don't know what, but something's happening with the insects. Let me show you something." 

            Odessa was truly beginning to regret following Matt through the trail, considering Dean discovered a human skull, and their repetitive arguments were creating a migraine.

<<>>

             Peering over her shoulder as Sam attempted to conceal the multiple human skulls he and Dean discovered from the field Matt guided them prior, Odessa folded her forearms across her chest as she sighed heavily. The damp asphalt of the middle of the street suffused her nose with each intake of breath. She looked over at Sam. "There's a bunch of skeletons in an unmarked grave," She suggested tediously. "This could be a haunting dealing with spirits and unfinished business." Sam seemed unsure as he hesitantly agreed with Odessa. "The question is, why bugs and why now?"

            Dean hadn't pondered as he swiftly said a mocking response. "That's two questions." He said, Sam pursing his lips as he ignored the sarcastic comment. "So, with that kid back there, how could you tell him to just ditch his family like that?" Odessa attempted to fasten her pace as she knew their inevitable arguing was going to commence. She didn't particularly take delight in remaining silent as they conversed their dispute with the same repetitive conversations. Though she wasn't fond of their altercations, she became acquainted with it. 

            Sam smacked his tongue against his teeth. "I know what the kid's going through." Sam responded. 

            Dean clenched his jaw. He tried to harbor his incoming frustration, Odessa hadn't failed to notice the obvious signs of his concealed anger. "How about telling him to respect his old man? How's that for advice?" 

            Sam halted with a bemused glance, his dimples deepened as he spoke. Odessa and Dean stopped in their tracks as well, turning to face the youngest Winchester. "Dean, come on," He said, "This isn't about his old man. You think I didn't respect dad. That's what this is about." Dean blinked as he licked his lips. 

            Odessa refrained from speaking her opinions aloud, surely they weren't in the mood to take notice in her insignificant viewpoint. "Just forget it. Sorry I brought it up." Dean replied as pivoted to continue walking, but was interrupted by Sam once more. 

            "I respected him," Sam informed, having Odessa stuff her palms into her pockets as she patiently waited for them to end the conversation. "But no matter what I did, it was never good enough." Odessa demeanor shifted as the words escaped Sam's mouth with an intensity she'd hadn't failed to detect. 

            Dean appeared unaffected. "What are you saying, that dad was disappointed in you?" 

            Sam scoffed. "Was? Is. Always has been."

            Odessa inched forwards with a sympathetic expression plastered. Her eyebrows were scrunched together as her tone reminded both brothers of the finest silk. "How could you possibly think that, Sam?" There was something striking about Odessa in her state of empathy. Her capability to connect with both Winchesters with merely her tone. 

            "Because I didn't want to bow hunt or hustle pool, because I wanted to go to school and live my life, which in our whacked-out family made me a freak," Dean chuckled as he joked. Sam, who was evidently displeased by Dean's childish antics, rolled his eyes. "Dean, you know what most dads are when their kids score a full-ride? Proud. Most dads don't toss their kids out of the house."

            Dean nodded as he raised his chin up high. "I remember that fight. In fact, I seem to recall a few choice phrases coming out of your mouth." He retaliated harshly.

            Odessa opened her mouth to intervene the situation, but Sam had beaten her to it. "You know, truth is, when we finally do find dad, I don't know if he's even gonna want to see me."

            "Sam, dad was never disappointed in you. Never. He was scared," Sam looked perplexed as he questioned Dean. "He was afraid of what could have happened to you if he wasn't around. But even when you to weren't talking, he used to swing by Stanford whenever he could, keep an eye out for you, make sure you were safe."

            "What?" Sam breathed as his eyes widened.

            "Yeah." 

            Odessa furrowed her eyebrows. "Why didn't your dad tell Sam that?" The entirety of the scenario hadn't made sense to the Guardian. It was obvious their father and Sam cared for each other deeply, why had they not expressed their yearning of acceptance?  

            Dean glanced downwards at Odessa as he licked his lips once more. "It's a two-way street, Essie. He could've picked up the phone. Come on, we're gonna be late for our appointment." Dean said as he gently tugged Odessa from where they stood. She obliged, and restrained from commenting that didn't need to be guided into the department of anthropology.

<<>>

            The professor spoke with ease as he effortlessly explained the Native American origins of the bones they'd discovered. The memories resurfaced as Odessa entered the diner with bold intentions to search for the Native elder. Inhaling, the aroma of freshly baked breakfast and coffee resulted with her stomach rumbling in desire. Dean halted as he gently nudged Odessa, motioning to follow his gaze towards an older man silently playing cards alone in a booth. Sam stepped forwards, "Joe Whitetree," The man diverted his gaze from his deck of cards to their direction as he slowly nodded. "We'd like to ask you a few questions, if that's all right."

            Dean feigned a grin. "We're students from the university."

            The man's voice was gruff and sharp as he responded blandly, "No, you're not. You're lying." Dean glanced at Sam, before attempting speak again, but Joe stopped him. "You know who starts every sentence with 'truth is'? Liars." Odessa inhaled sharply with annoyance as she licked her lips. 

            "Have you heard of Oasis Plains? They're developing houses near the Atoka Valley," She questioned with a strained, amiable tone. Joe glimpsed upwards at Dean's towering figure. "I like her. She's not a liar," He said, having Odessa smiled brightly as Dean massaged the creases of his mouth. "I know the area."

            "What can you tell us about the history there?" Sam asked.

             Joe's eyes squinted as he tilted his neck. "Why do you want to know?"

            "Something bad is happening in Oasis Plains. We think it might have something to do with some old bones we found down there. Native American bones." Sam replied, weary of his words.

            Joe Whitetree then explained the story of his ancestors, which was quite compelling, and the three exited the diner without another word as they conversed ideas and suggestions, rushing to save the Pike family.

<<>>

            Odessa genuinely despised all forms of insects. Trapped inside a house as they silently stood in the living room as the bugs blanketed the home. The clashing of the windows had Odessa jump multiple times and she swiftly grasped Dean's arm, but he rushed into the kitchen and returned with bug spray. Odessa scoffed and shook her head. Creaking in the fireplace caught their attention and moments later, the living room was suffused with bees and shrieks from everyone.

            Odessa winced as multiple stings pricked her skin as Dean pushed her up the stairs, firing the flame and bug spray in all directions. Sam guided her up the latter that lead through the attic. Joanie questioned what the dust of the wood was, and Odessa's eyes widened. "Something  is eating through the wood." She muttered as she wiped dust from her hair. 

            "Termites." Matt responded.

            Multiple holes opened on the roof and Dean's weapon had emptied. The six huddled in the corner as they attempted to surpass the curse and conceal each other skin. More pricks in her skin erupted and Odessa released a few more shrieks until Matt pointed out the sunrise as the bees retracted and exited the home.

            Odessa sighed intensely as she raked her fingers through her hair, inspecting if there were hiding bugs tangled. 

<<>>

            As Sam said his goodbyes to Matt, Odessa and Dean reclined their tailbones against the hood of the Impala. "You know, you shouldn't be difficult with Sam," She said softly. "You shouldn't be mad at him for wanting a normal life." Dean didn't the chance to reply because Sam returned and perched himself beside Odessa. 

            "I want to find dad." Sam stated.

            "Yeah, me too."

            "Yeah, but I just—I want to apologize to him."

            Dean craned his neck. "For what?"

            Sam replied, "For all the things I said to him. He was just doing the best he could."

            Odessa smiled, "Don't worry, guys. We're going to find him. Then, you'll get to apologize to him. And the it'll be happy ever after. Come on, let's hit the rode."

            Either brother didn't have the courage to explain to Odessa that wasn't how their relationship with their father was, mainly because she was exhausted and attempting to bring their spirits up. They simply smiled and agreed.

(A/N: I finally am finished with summer school so here's the chapter! I am so sorry for my terrible writing in this. Thank you for reading!)