"Dammit, Castiel!" Jim practically yells, pushing past him and into the room.

"Well, come on in," Castiel mutters sarcastically, closing the door behind him.

"What the hell was that?" Jim demands.

"What was what?" Castiel asks, feigning innocence.

"You know what."

"The ropes course?" Castiel guesses.

"Yes, the ropes course! Are you insane?"

Castiel shrugs. "Yeah, little bit."

"Stop being a smart ass."

"But I like being a smart ass."

Jim groans in frustration. "What happened to you, Castiel? You used to be such a good kid."

"At least I don't do drugs," Castiel reminds him with an innocent smile.

"I'd almost rather you do drugs than this."

Castiel tilts his head in confusion, squinting his eyes. "Why?"

"Because at least then you're being an idiot in the way people would expect you to be an idiot."

"You know, I don't appreciate you calling me an idiot. That was rude and uncalled for."

"Yes, it was called for!" Jim protests. "You could have died!"

"So?"

Jim groans out of frustration again. "I thought you were past that. Okay, when you get back to New York, I'm getting you a therapist."

"Good luck making me go," Castiel replies. "I don't need a therapist."

"Then what do you need?" Jim asks. "Because you can pretty much have anything."

"Apparently not," Castiel replies. "Apparently, I can't have fun."

"Risking your life is not fun."

"Well, it was for me, so your opinion doesn't really matter."

Jim sighs, exasperated. His eyes land on something behind Castiel, and the younger boy glances back to see Dean standing there silently.

"Are you two dating again?" Jim asks.

"Yes," Castiel replies. "Is that a problem? Are you gonna tell me I can't date now, since it seems you're trying to make sure I don't have any fun?"

Exasperated, Jim doesn't bother responding to him. Instead, he looks at Dean and says, "Can you talk some sense into your boyfriend? Because he won't listen to me." Without waiting for a response, Jim leaves, slamming the door behind him.

Castiel just rolls his eyes at how dramatic he's being. "Well, that was a waste of my time."

"Definitely wasn't a waste of mine, though," Dean replies, earning a confused look from the boy. "Even after all these years of fame, fortune, and making a bazillion friends, you're still suicidal, huh?"

"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.

Castiel: Thanks

He expects that to be the end of it, but Gabriel texts him again.

Gabriel: How are you?

Small talk? Since when do they do the whole "small talk" thing? It's not that Castiel doesn't want to talk to him; he loves chatting with Gabriel, even if it doesn't happen much. The two only ever talk about important things, though, like how things are going with Sabriel. Yes, that is an important thing. But this small talk is new to him.

Castiel: Fine. You?

Gabriel: Same.

Gabriel: I heard you saw Dean today.

Today? But Lucifer didn't know he saw Dean today. Then again, it probably seemed likely, especially to such a hardcore shipper like him, and he chats with Gabriel all the time, so that makes sense.

Castiel: Yes I did.

Gabriel: How did that go?

Castiel: It went fine. It's not like we had any hard feelings about breaking up, so it wasn't really awkward or anything.

Gabriel: That's good.

Gabriel: So you two are good now?

Castiel: Yep.

Gabriel: No fights or anything?

Castiel: ?

Gabriel: ?

Castiel: Why would you think we had a fight?

Gabriel: Just wondering.

Castiel: ... Okay?

Castiel: Who told you I saw Dean?

Gabriel: Lucifer.

Castiel: I figured.

But even though it would make sense that it was Lucifer, Castiel asks him over text anyway.

Castiel: Did you tell anyone that I met up with Dean?

Lucifer: No y

Castiel: So not Gabriel?

There's a pause in the conversation, during the beginning of which Gabriel texts back.

Gabriel: So you two didn't fight about anything?

Castiel: Why are you asking?

Lucifer finally texts back.

Lucifer: Oh, yeah I told Gabriel

Castiel: What took you so long to respond?

Lucifer: Who says respond anymore

Castiel: I do. What took so long?

Pause.

Lucifer: Just changing the song I'm listening to :)

Castiel: Oh.

But he doesn't believe it. He's not sure exactly why, but he doesn't trust the story. Maybe it was the pauses from his typically over eager brother, but what he does know is that Lucifer didn't tell Gabriel. It seems like a pretty pointless lie, and now Castiel wants to know how Gabriel really does know.

Gabriel: Just curious.

Castiel: So, what, you just happen to think we had a fight? Cut the crap, Gabriel.

Gabriel: Never mind. Bye!

Castiel: What's going on?

Castiel: Gabriel?

Castiel: GABRIEL?!?!

No response. Castiel sighs. Ordinarily, he'd just let it slide, but he has nothing better to do, so he decides to text Sam, whom he hasn't ever texted just the two of them. It's always been in a group chat.

Castiel: What's up with Gabriel?

Sam: What do you mean?

Castiel: He's being weird.

Sam: He doesn't seem weird to me. Just eating a bag of Hershey kisses, per usual.

Castiel: Yes, that does sound like him. Maybe I'm just seeing things that aren't there. Sorry to bug you.

Sam: It's fine. Btw you should go apologize to Dean so you two can leave each other on the right foot again.

Castiel: What?

Sam: Dean texted me to complain about you.

Sam: In the nicest way possible of course

Castiel: Did you tell Gabriel?

Sam: Yeah, why?

Castiel: That makes sense. Okay, thanks.

Sam: So go apologize to Dean and we're all set, okay?

Castiel: I like how you just assume I need to apologize to Dean.

Sam: Well, yeah, you do, or the ship will fall apart and Lucifer will start complaining about it to Gabriel again, and Gabriel will start complaining about him to me.

Castiel: I mean you don't know if I'm the bad one here. All you heard was Dean's side of the story.

Sam: Idc what really happened, not that you'd tell me anyway (yes, I've picked up on that so don't deny it) but Dean thinks it's partially your fault so you go apologize to him he'll apologize to you and you two can go back to being an almost-Sabriel-quality couple.

Castiel: Fine.

Castiel goes to text Dean, opening the chat and everything, but after staring at his phone for at least ten minutes, he hits the lock button and puts the phone away. He'll figure out what to say later. He leaves the chat up to remind him and everything. Instead, he's going to go do something productive. He grabs a notebook and pencil and his guitar. Maybe if he writes a new song, Jim will forget he's mad. Here's hoping.