Fame Crazy (Sequel to Strings Attached)

Chapter 98

Dean and Castiel are in the middle of a very heated debate over Spuffy versus Bangel when someone rings the doorbell a bunch of times. Samandriel gets the door so they don't have to get up, and instantly, Charlie bursts into view.

"Where's Castiel? Oh, thank god," she breathes. "I keep hearing people say you're dead and I was starting to freak out."

Castiel just laughs. "People are taking this social media thing way too far. I'm not dead, just hacked."

"You have no idea how much of a relief this is," she tells him. "Plus, I finally get to see Dean again, so life's pretty good right now."

"Oh, so you can see me," Dean says in a jokingly accusing way. "You were just ignoring me. Great. I see how it is."

"Well, next time there are rumors going around that Castiel is dead, I'll make sure to say hi to you first," Charlie says sarcastically. "Oh, and congrats on the Super Bowl."

"Thanks," he replies. "I mean, you're three months late, but thanks anyway."

"Would it make you feel better if I congratulated you on everything I've missed?" Charlie asks jokingly.

"Yeah, I think it would."

Charlie shakes her head at him in amusement. "Well, from most recent backwards, congrats on winning Castiel back, and congrats on your second Super Bowl, and congrats on winning Castiel back the first time, and congrats on winning your first Super Bowl, and congrats on your first Patriots win and congrats on being on the team in general, and congrats on graduating college and congrats on your first college football win. Was that good? Did I miss anything?"

"Well, there was my first Patriots game," Dean tells her.

"I said that one!" she protests.

"No, you said my first win. I didn't win my first game."

"Whatever. Technicalities."

"How long has it been since you two saw each other?" Castiel asks, because that went back a long time.

They share a look, trying to determine how long it was.

"Five years ago?" Charlie guesses.

"Maybe six?" Dean estimates.

"Unless you count the reunion last year, but we didn't really talk," she adds.

Looking back at Castiel, Dean adds, "You think we were apart long? I lost touch with everyone from high school months earlier."

"Even Sam and Gabriel?" Charlie asks.

"Well, not Sam because he's my brother, but I don't even think I still have Gabriel's number."

"Wow, Dean. That's low," Castiel replies with a joking smile.

"Something tells me Gabriel doesn't care," Dean replies. "But back to the more important matter at hand. You're apparently dead now?"

Castiel chuckles. "Yeah, people think I killed myself and that's why my social media accounts disappeared."

"Shouldn't you, like, make sure people know you're not dead?"

Castiel shrugs. "Nah. I'm good."

As if Chuck is trying to convince him otherwise, he gets a text from Gabriel at that moment.

Gabriel: Hey, Castiel. You free?

Castiel chuckles. "Gabriel found out."

Dean looks over his shoulder at the message. "Wouldn't he be asking if you're alive, not just free?"