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(8.2) ─ Beetles

𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫:
‧⁺˚*‧☾𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫, 𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞☽‧*˚⁺‧

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"So, you found some beetles," Dean stated looking back at Carmen in the rearview mirror. The three were back in the Impala. Dean was driving while Sam was examining one of the dead beetles that had been stuck in Carmen's hair. "In a hole, in the ground. That's shocking, I mean that's really something."

She shook her head, "There weren't any tunnels, no tracks. Not one piece of evidence of any other kind of creature down there. You know, some beetles do eat meat. It's usually dead meat, but..."

"How many did you find down there?" Sam asked, making her shrug before answering, "Nine, ten, maybe."

"It'd take a whole lot more than that to eat out some dude's brain." Dean added.

"Well, maybe there were more." Sam suggested.

"I don't know, it sounds like a stretch to me." Dead stated.

"Well, we need more information on the area, the neighborhood. Whether something like this has ever happened before." Sam retired back stating the obvious. Carmen's eyes widened as the car passed a sign for an open house that had red balloons to catch the eye. "I know a good place to start." She said, pushing herself in between her two brothers and pointing towards the upcoming sign.

'Models Open. New Buyers' BBQ Today!'

"I'm kinda hungry for a little barbeque, how 'bout you two?" Sam and her gave each other a nervous look before looking back at Dean. "What, we can't talk to the locals?" He asked. "And does the free food have anything to do with it?" She added. "Of course not. I'm a professional." He replied back. "Right," Sam rolled his eyes sarcastically. "Professional eater," She remarked leaning back. Making Dean reach back and slap her knee, "Glad to know that your reflexes still work." She muttered. "I heard that!"

Dean pulled over to the side of the street, after finding the Open House. "Growin' up in a place like this would freak me out." He stated as the three got out of the car. "Why?" Sam asked. "Well manicured lawns, 'How was your day, honey?' I'd blow my brains out." He answered. "It's too far from the city, too quiet for my liking." She added. "There's nothing wrong with 'normal'." Sam stated. "I'd take our family over normal any day." Dean said before the three were walking up to the door ending the conversation.

Dean knocked and the door was quickly opened, "Welcome!"

"This the barbeque?"

"Yeah, not the best weather, but... I'm Larry Pike, the developer here. And you are?"

"Dean," He introduced. "This is Sam. And this is Carmen." He introduced pointing to each of them on either side of them. They each shook his hand, "Sam, Dean, Carmen good to meet you. So, you three are interested in Oasis Plains?" Larry asked.

"Yes, sir."

"Let me just say, we accept homeowners of any race, religion, color, or... sexual orientation."

Carmen bit the inside of her cheek, trying not to laugh. Dean quickly looked towards her and Sam before looking back at Larry, "No-uh-we're brothers." The man in the door frame face dropped looking embarrassed, "And you must be their sister then." She nodded her head in response as he gave them an understanding nod. "Our father is getting on in years, and we're just lookin' for a place for him." Sam explained.

"Great, great. Well, seniors are welcome too. Come on in!" Larry replied cheerfully as they each followed him inside. Leading them throughout the house and into the backyard were everyone else was. They were walking around the yard, chatting, or eating. Carmen idmitly feeling out of place, surrounded by adults a few years older than her brothers, and the youngest barely knew how to tie their own shoes.

"You said you were the developer?"

"18 months ago, I was walking this valley with my survey team. There wasn't a valley here, but bushes, srubshes, and squirrels. And you know what, we built such a nice place to live that I actually bought into it myself. This is our house. We're the first family in Oasis Plains." Larry explained really trying to sell the place. Walking up to a blonde woman, who smiled at them. "This is my wife, Joanie."

"Hi there!"

"Sam, Dean, and Carmen," Larry introduced, making each of them shake hands and saying 'hello' really selling the 'normal people wanting to buy a place' act. "Tell them how much you love the place, honey. And lie if you have to because I need to sell some houses." Larry joked, making his wife laugh, "Will you excuse me?" He said before walking away. "Don't let his salesman routine scare you. This really is a great place to live." She said without any hint of the salesman act her husband had.

A very energetic woman approached them, her hair was black and pulled back into a tight bun. "Hi, I'm Lynda Bloome, head of sales."

"And Lynda was the second to move in. She;s a very noisy neighbor, though." Joanie joked before walking away herself. "She's kidding, of course. I take it you three are interested in becoming homeowners?" Lynda asked, looking between the two brothers.

"Well..." Dean trailed off. "Y-yeah, well.." Sam stuttered out. "Yup." Carmen said, setting the answer straight.

"Well, let me just say that we accept homeowners of any race, religion, color, or...sexual orientation." She said the pitch again looking between the two brothers once more.

Carmen pressed her lips together as they slowly turned into a grin. "That's so nice to hear, cause' my parents are absolutely in love with this place. Lynda glanced behind herself for a few seconds allowing both brother's to lightly punch Carmen's shoulders. "Well, um...I'm gonna go talk to Larry." Dean said, giving a small chuckle. "Okay honey?" He walked away, but not before smacking Sam on the ass. Lynda started the whole pitch show on trying his hardest to sell these houses to Sam and Carmen. "Who can say 'no' to a steam shower? I use mine everyday." Sam and his sister looked at one another, both of their eyebrows raised. "Sounds great." He replied, trying to add to the already awkward conversation. The women continued talking, but Carmen's eyes were more focused on the new tarantula crawling towards the saleswomen hand. That was resting on the red and white checkerboard print panic table beside her.

She glanced a few feet behind her to see a boy, about two years older than her, kinda cute. He was watching excitedly, as the tarantula came closer and closer to Lynda. "Excuse me," The youngest Wincherster excused with a small smile. Pushing past the dark haired woman gently, picking up the spider carefully. Carefully handling the spider while walking towards the teen boy, holding the spider out towards him. "I think he might be yours." The two locked eyes, him looking a bit shocked before taking the spider from her. "You gonna tell my Dad?"

"I don't know, who's your Dad?"

The boy scoffed, "Yeah, Larry usually skips me in the family introductions."

"Ouch. First name basis, sounds pretty gnarly."

"Well, I'm not exactly brochure material," He said, not taking his eyes off her. "And you think I am?" She replied with a small smirk.

"Well, hang in there. It gets better, all right? I promise," Sam interrupted walking up next to her. It took the boy a few seconds to finally look up at her brother, "When?" He finally asked. "Matthew!" The two turned to see Larry and Dean walking towards the three. "Busted," She whispered looking over at Matthew and the two smirked. Larry quickly stood by his son's side, "I am so sorry about my son and his..pet." Sam shrugged, "It wasn't any bother." She dismissed. "Excuse us," He said, grabbing a hold of his son's arm before the two left.

Dean now stood where Matt had been, "Remind you of somebody?" Sam asked as Dean looked over at Larry, who was yelling towards Matt. Looking back towards Sam clearly confused. "Dad?" Sam answered as if he was stating the obvious.

"Dad never treated us like that." He protested with a frown.

Sam left out a huff, "Well, Dad never treated you and C like that. You two were perfect, he was all over my case."

Carmen's brows quickly frowned, now turning her whole body towards Sam. "Huh? Dad would get pissed if I wasn't acting or thinking like either one of you. And when I did he would turn around and get pissed that I wasn't acting like my whole self." John Winchester wasn't a perfect father, most wouldn't even say he was a good father. Not even being with them half the time, especially after Carmen started talking again. The two would always disagree on things. Always comparing the girl to her brothers, saying that she needed to toughen up. She needed to be strong like them and not weak, because weak will get you killed. She didn't care what he had to say. Knowing he either meant well, but not taking anything he said seriously as he wasn't her actual father. And that was how their fights would usually end. With either brother trying to break up the fight but all knew that those worlds were the ones that could end it. After Sam left though John WIncherster actually lightened up on the two. Afraid he would lose them next he didn't fight them like he used to.

"Well, maybe he had to raise his voice, but sometimes, you were out of line."

Sam scoffed, "Right, right. Like when I said I'd rather play soccer, then learn bowhunting." Carmen looked down knowing she would have to end this fight. "Bowhunting's an important skill." Dean quickly retorted. "Whatever," He muttered, rolling his eyes.

"How was the house tour?" She asked looking up at Dean, changing the topic. "Oh, it was excellent. I'm ready to buy." He joked making the two let out a small laugh, lighting the mood. "So, you might be onto somethin'," He said to her. "Looks like Dustin Burwash wasn't the first strange death around here."

"What happened?"

"About a year ago, before they broke ground, one of Larry's surveyors dropped dead while on the job. Get this severe allergic reaction to bee stings." Dean explained making the two frown their brows. "More bugs?" They said at the same time. He nodded, "More bugs," He agreed. And the three of them left the open house.