Strings Attached

Chapter 13

Castiel steps inside the house with a sigh. Well, this is it. Back to his life. Because that's always fun. Not. He's about to sneak off to his room, but his dad stops him.

"Castiel," Chuck says, getting the attention of him and his siblings.

"Yes?" Castiel says softly, turning around to face his father.

"I know we mostly ignored this at the hospital, but we do have to talk about it eventually."

Castiel frowns, knowing exactly where this is going.

"You almost killed yourself," Chuck continues. "And if Gabriel hadn't heard it, you might have."

Castiel glances at Gabriel, who gives him a small smile. Castiel is sure he expects a thank you, but Castiel can't give him one, because he's not really grateful.

"And it looks like this isn't the first time you tried it, either," Chuck adds.

"What?" Castiel asks, confused. He follows Chuck's gaze to his now bare arms. "No, that's wasn't — I never tried it before." Because he didn't want this to happen.

"Well, either way, you tried it once, and that's enough," Chuck says. "I don't want to risk it happening again. So, for now on, I don't want you going anywhere by yourself."

Well, that's not too bad...

"Especially your room," Chuck continues. "So you're going to be bunking with Gabriel starting today."

At least Gabriel doesn't snore, right? Oh, wait, does he? Ugh, glass half full is hard. Why can't the glass be half full of bleach instead, make this whole conversation a lot easier for him?

"And you can't walk home from school alone, either," Chuck says. "You're going to ride the bus home with Gabriel."

"What?" Castiel practically yells. "No, I am not taking the bus home!"

"Come on, Castiel, it's only, like, half an hour from when school ends to when we get home," Gabriel tells him.

"I don't care. I'm not taking the bus!"

"Castiel —" Chuck begins, but Castiel cuts him off.

"And you wonder why I wanted to kill myself!"

He storms out of the house, slamming the front door behind him. He doesn't know where he's going, but he doesn't want to have to deal with anyone. He runs for as long as he can, and even when he has to stop, panting too hard to keep going, he never stops walking. Unfortunately, he doesn't get the chance to start running again before he hears someone else approach from behind, panting as well.

"Castiel, wait up!" Gabriel calls out.

Castiel starts walking faster.

"Oh my god, Castiel," Gabriel groans, jogging to catch up with him. "Hey!" he greets his brother with his kind smile, but he wears that pitying look Castiel despises.

"Leave me alone."

"Sorry, Castiel," Gabriel replies. "Can't do that. Dad's orders."

"Then go home and tell Dad you lost me."

"But I want to talk to you!" Gabriel protests. "Just you and me, like old times."

"No."

"But —"

"No."

"Cas —"

"I know," Castiel interrupts. "And no."

"You sound like Kali," Gabriel laughs, thinking of his friend that Castiel never really liked. "Come on, Castiel! Talk to me!"

"No."

"Don't make me call Lucifer and make him recite the Bee Movie script again," Gabriel threatens.

"Oh, god no," Castiel says immediately. "Once is enough. Once is more than enough."

"Then talk to me!" Gabriel pleads.

Castiel sighs. "Fine, as long as we don't talk about anything that's happened this week."

"Can we talk about Dean?" Gabriel asks, smirking.

"Um... Sure?" Castiel replies, confused.

"You two dating yet or what?"

Castiel stops walking at that, too shocked to move. It takes Gabriel a moment to notice, and he walks back to Castiel.

"W-why would I be dating Dean?" he asks, stammering as the thought registers.

"I just assumed," Gabriel replies. "I mean, the whole world knows you're gay, so I figured either you were dating or you were going to be dating soon."

"What? No!" Castiel says immediately. "No, we're just friends. Not even friends, actually."

"I could believe the first part, but you're not friends?" Gabriel repeats skeptically. "I don't think Dean freaking Winchester would stay all night in a hospital for days with someone who isn't even his friend."

"No, that's — I don't know what that was, but we aren't friends," Castiel repeats. "Dean would never be my friend."

"Why not?" Gabriel asks.

"Because I'm... I'm me, and he's Dean Winchester."

Gabriel claps, the sarcasm punctuated with every slow smack of his hands. "Wow. That was the most descriptive description I've ever heard."

"It doesn't have to be descriptive," Castiel replies. "It's true. He's Dean Winchester, some important football player, and I'm just Castiel Novak."

"Okay, I think we need an intervention," Gabriel announces. "You. Are. Awesome. End of discussion."

Castiel rolls his eyes and starts walking again.

Gabriel follows him quickly. "Hey! You can't just leave in the middle of a conversation!" he complains.

"You said end of discussion," Castiel reminds him. "Discussion terminated."

"No, that was the end of the mini discussion that interrupted our actual discussion," Gabriel clarifies. "We've still got a discussion going on right now."

"And that is...?"

"I've got to hook you up with Dean."

Castiel starts walking away faster.

"Fine, fine!" Gabriel says, hurrying to stay next to him. "I have to convince you that you and Dean are friends."

"We aren't," Castiel replies.

"Why not?"

"Because I don't have friends."

"You have me!" Gabriel reminds him with a smile.

"I don't have friends," Castiel repeats. "Never have, never will. The only reason I'm talking to you right now is because I have to. But you and me, Gabriel? We aren't friends. The sooner you get that through your head, the better. Now, just leave me alone."

And this time, when Castiel leaves, Gabriel doesn't follow.