Strings Attached

Chapter 45

"Everyone needs hugs!" Gabriel protests. "I'm in high school and I like hugs! You should meet our friend Charlie. She lives for hugs. And Garth? The hug master."

"Seriously?" Hael scoffs. "How immature are you?"

"Very, but that's not the point. Everyone still hugs in high school. Castiel's friend Dean hugs him, and he's the most popular kid in the school."

"Yeah, right."

"What?" Gabriel asks, confused as to which part that's a response to.

"Castiel is friends with the most popular kid in school? No offense intended, but I'm not buying it."

"It's true," Gabriel says. "Dean Winchester. Super cool football guy. Castiel, do you have a picture of him to emphasize why he popular? Of course you do. You're, like, besties. Come on, show her."

"One, we aren't besties," Castiel tells him. "Two, no, I don't have a picture of him."

"Then get one."

"What do you want me to do?" Castiel challenges.

"Text him and — No, wait, let's FaceTime him!" Gabriel says enthusiastically.

"No, we aren't interrupting him in the middle of god knows what," Castiel replies.

"Then I will." He tackles Castiel, which isn't very hard because the younger boy in already siting on the floor. He manages to get Castiel's phone, despite Castiel's best efforts to keep it from him, and calls Dean on FaceTime. As they wait for a response, Gabriel says, "Guys, let's chat with Castiel's friend!"

Everyone gets in the shot by the time Dean finally answers. Dean gives them a puzzled look.

"Um... Hi?"

"I believe it!" Hael says immediately.

"You better," Anna laughs.

"What's happening right now?" Dean asks.

"We're proving to Hael that you're never too old for hugs," Gabriel replies.

"That's Hael, by the way," Balthazar adds, pointing at her.

Hael waves. "Hi!"

"Hey," Dean replies, a nod of his head as a greeting.

"So, hugs, yay or nay?" Gabriel asks.

"Hugs are awesome," Dean replies.

There's a faint laugh on the other side, one that Castiel recognizes as Sam's laugh.

"What are you doing?" Sam asks.

"FaceTiming Cas and co.," he replies.

"Ooh, I want in." After a moment, Sam appear as well. "Hi, I'm Sam, Dean's brother."

"Oh my god," Hael whispers.

"Now all we need is Adam," Gabriel says with a laugh.

"If you don't mind me blowing your speakers, want me to get Adam?" Dean offers.

"Who's that?" Samandriel asks.

"Their half brother," Castiel replies. "He's your age. Maybe you'll see him at school."

"In that case, you should go find Adam," Samandriel says.

"Adam!" Dean calls loudly.

"Yeah?" comes the faint reply.

"We're stealing you!" Dean turns back to the camera. "Any moment now... There he is."

"Yeah?" Adam's uncertain voice comes through the speakers.

"We're face timing Cas and his family," Dean tells him. "You should join us."

"Alright then..." Adam appears in the frame as well. "Hi?"

"Hey, Adam," Castiel greets him.

"Hey," Gabriel adds.

"Hi," Adam replies.

"This is Samandriel," Castiel introduces him, trying not to hit anyone as he gestures to the boy.

"Hi, Adam!" Samandriel greets him.

"Hi."

"Are you going to Sioux Falls Middle School?" Adam asks hopefully.

"Bobby said so," Adam replies.

"What team?" Samandriel asks, referring to the three "teams" of kids that have the same teachers that the kids alternate through. There's one class of each level in each team.

"Um... The Wend... Wend-something."

"Wendigos," Samandriel offers with a grin. "That's my team, too!"

"What's a wendigo?" Adam asks.

"I don't know," Samandriel admits. "Some sort of weird monster thing."

"Cool."

"This FaceTime thing is annoying," Dean says. "There are, what, ten of us? Eleven? And there can only be one conversation at once. Just pointing out how inefficient this is."

"True," Gabriel agrees. "Sam should FaceTime me and Adam should FaceTime Samandriel and then it's like you're here even though you're not."

"We don't want to interrupt your family time," Sam protests.

"No, please do," Balthazar tells them. "These people are really annoying."

"Great, thanks, Balthazar," Gabriel says sarcastically, but he clearly knows it's a joke. "Anyway, FaceTime anyone?"

Adam and Samandriel exchange numbers so they can FaceTime as well.
"You know," Chuck calls from the kitchen, "if you're going to be chatting with them anyway, you could always just invite them over."

Gabriel turns to his own phone, which he's FaceTiming Sam on. "Yeah! You should come over!"

"Are you sure?" Sam asks hesitantly.

"Obviously," Gabriel replies. "Come on, come over! The three of ya! And Bobby, too, if you feel like having him come."

"Alright," Sam agrees. "I doubt Bobby will come, but we'll see. Bye! See ya!"

Gabriel grins as Sam and Dean hang up the FaceTime call. Castiel feels the same way. What better way to spend a Christmas Eve than with your friends?