The Tea is Decaf
[ao3]
3.7k words Dean/Cas, Sam/Eileen Based on this text post
Castiel just barely slips out the door into the hallway and turns the knob as he closes it so the latch doesn’t make a sound. The light is always on in the hallway, and Dean always wakes up if too much of it pours into his room, so Castiel has mastered the art of slipping through the smallest space possible.
He breathes a sigh of relief once he’s in the hallway.
A small voice to his right lets out an amused laugh. He turns to see a particularly tiny woman wearing a very large plaid shirt and nothing else. Well, he supposes she could be wearing shorts under the shirt. It really is very big on her.
“You must be Castiel,” she says rather loudly, mispronouncing his name just slightly.
He walks over to her with a finger to his lips.
She puts her hand over her mouth in embarrassment before signing, I’m deaf.
Castiel mouths an “oh” before dropping his head and laughing. He then pops his head back up fast and mouths, “Are you Eileen?”
She nods eagerly and signs, You’ve heard about me?
Sam has mentioned you a few times, he signs back. He says you’re a very good hunter.
Her face lights up. You’re damn right I am. Still, that’s very sweet of him.
So, are you two…? Castiel looks back toward Sam’s room and then down at Eileen’s shirt.
Eileen’s eyes widen in embarrassment. He’s asleep. I was just going to the bathroom.
I was heading to the kitchen for a cup of tea. Would you like some?
Is there caffeine in it?
Not at 4 in the morning.
Eileen smiles and gives him a thumbs up before moving past him toward the bathroom. Castiel watches her go for a second before it hits him.
He looks down at his plain black t-shirt and too-small boxer briefs and wonders if Eileen could tell that these clothes aren’t his. And that he came out of Dean’s room instead of one of the countless other extra bedrooms in the bunker.
By the time Eileen pads into the kitchen, Castiel has two mugs ready with decaf teabags in them and he’s standing at the stove staring at the pot so he can pull it off the burner before it whistles.
It’s only a minute longer before Cas pours the water into the mugs and takes a seat across from Eileen at the kitchen table.
You’re an angel, aren’t you? Eileen asks as her tea steeps.
Castiel nods as he takes a drink.
Does that mean you don’t sleep?
Sometimes I do. I didn’t feel like it tonight.
Is Dean good in bed?