Fame Crazy (Sequel to Strings Attached)

Chapter 10

"I'm not suicidal," Castiel protests.

"Your conversation with Jim implies otherwise."

"No, see, suicidal means I want to die. All I'm saying is that if I were, say, shot down in a blaze of glory, I wouldn't complain."

"Really, Cas? Now is not the time for Bon Jovi references."

"It's always time for Bon Jovi," Castiel replies.

"You can't just deflect serious conversations with song references."

"Why not?"

"Because it's a serious conversation!"

"And if I wanted to have a serious conversation about my feelings, I'd hire a therapist."

"What happened to me being your therapist?" Dean asks.

"Sorry, I fired you, like, four years ago."

"Then hire me again," Dean pleads. "Or hire a real therapist, but you've got to talk to someone, Cas."

"I think you're being a bit dramatic," Castiel observes.

"I think you're not taking this seriously enough," Dean replies.

"And what's that supposed to mean?"
"You have a problem. Like, you have an actual problem. You've got to talk about it to someone."

"No, I really don't."

"Yes, you do," Dean insists. "You can't just keep all your feelings locked up inside you, cuz eventually, you're gonna blow up, and you live in the public eye. You'll never live it down."

"Right, this is about my reputation. Of course." Castiel rolls his eyes.

"No, it's not —" Dean sighs. "The more I talk to you, the more I agree with Jim."

"Meaning?"

"You're not the same person I knew five years ago. I don't know if the fame got to your head or what, but you're being a real asshole."

"Well, this is just me, so if you think I'm an asshole, then go. I'm not stopping you. Hell, I'm encouraging it."

Dean thinks about Castiel's proposal for a moment, then replies cautiously, "Okay, I'm just gonna go, then. Call me when you're in a better mood, I guess..."

Castiel watches him leave before falling onto his bed. It's been a long day, and he's only been awake for half an hour. Only two more days until he gets to go back to New York. It may be freezing cold there, but at least it's home. The question is, how is he supposed to kill time until then?

It's about fifteen minutes later when he gets a text from someone. He rolls out of bed and gets his phone to see a text from Gabriel, whom Castiel has barely spoken to since he left for college. They just saw each other last week, though, after Jody's show. Why is he texting now?

Gabriel: Congrats on your ppls choice award

As much as he loves his brother, he can't help but wonder what this is about. Gabriel never congratulates him on awards, and even if he was going to change, why would he text him days after he won? The rest of his siblings texted him that night, as did Balthazar, because the two cousins had gotten pretty close over the last few years.