Strings Attached

Chapter 45

"Hey, Castiel," Balthazar greets him.

"Hey, Balthazar."

"Where's Gabriel?" Samandriel asks.

Castiel shrugs. "No clue. He should be here already. Probably just didn't want to subject himself to this."

Balthazar chuckles. "You think this is bad? Try living with them when Raphael isn't around. That's rough."

"I'm sure it is," Castiel agrees.

Castiel's phone vibrates. He pulls it out of his pocket, seeing that he's got a call.

"Dean?" Samandriel teases.

"Gabriel," Castiel replies uncertainly. He answers the call. "Hey, what's up?"

"Just wanted to let you know that I am, in fact, alive."

"Where are you?"

"Relax. I'm hanging with Sam."

"Dad is going to kill you," Castiel hisses.

"Not if he doesn't find out. Look, I'll be home in a few, but just cover for me, okay? I don't want Raphael on my case this early."

"I told them you'd be home soon. Just hurry up."

"I will," Gabriel says. "See ya."

"Yep. Bye." Castiel hangs up the phone and puts it back in his pocket.

"What happened?" Balthazar asks.

"Gabriel's hanging out with his friend," Castiel replies. "He said he'll be back soon. Here's hoping."

"Hopefully before Raphael chews him out," Samandriel adds.

"We'll see," Castiel replies.

"Until then, what do you want to do?" Balthazar asks.

"Xbox?" Samandriel suggests.

"Xbox," Castiel and Balthazar confirm.

And there begins the annual fight for the games.

~~

Gabriel comes home half an hour later. It's a very interesting definition of soon, Castiel thinks. But no one gets mad at him. It's part of his Gabriel charm. You can't get mad at Gabriel.

He struts into the living room like he owns the place. Hannah and Ambriel are fighting over Barbie dolls, Anna and Hael are about five minutes away from an epic showdown just from chatting about school, and the eldest three of the group are yelling at each other about who was responsible for everyone dying.

"Can't we all just get along?"

This gets everyone's attention. Gabriel often does. There's something about him that's just eye catching. Immediately, Hannah, Ambriel, and Hael run over to him.

"Gabriel!" Hannah and Ambriel squeal at once.

"Hi, Gabriel!" Hael adds.

"Hey, guys!" Gabriel greets them with a grin. "Do I get my hug?"

Instantly, Hannah and Ambriel wrap their arms around him. Gabriel chuckles and hugs then back for a moment before looking down at Hael. "Still waiting for my hug, Hael."

"I don't do hugs," she replies.

Gabriel gives an exaggerated gasp. "You don't do hugs?"

"No," Hael replies. "I'm too old for that."

"You're not too old!" Gabriel protests. "Who told you that? You're never too old for a hug!"

"I'm in middle school now, Gabriel," she tells him. "I don't need hugs."