Oh, interesting. You did a good job of capturing Dean's feelings about the class hero. But when Dean did speak up, I was surprised about what he said, that he and his family saved people from assorted monsters all the time. I would've thought the comparison would've been "Big deal. You saved a baby from a burning house. Well, I  did, too, but he was my brother...and I was only four at the time."

I can't decide if I'm mad or not at Sam for ducking the freak tag by doing what Dean told him to do, and lying.

Sue

Author's Response:

I was actually going to do that. In version 1 I had Dean flashback to that night. But when I proofread it, I thought I'd show how John would never acknowledge Ted's story as heroic- just risky and stupid. That night was different, though, in the way that they werent running into a burning building, they were running out of a burning building.

Also, I kind of decided in my head that Dean wouldn't talk about that night to anyone, no matter how unfair it felt. That particular situation was too personal, unlike "Me an' my dad an' brother hunt monsters all the time," which isnt really. 

"Matter of fact-" Dean started, then stopped. No talking about the job, Dad's number one rule. No talking about how he'd gotten Sam out of the house when he, Dean, was five. When Sam was just a baby, the length of his arm, heavy in his arms and he ran and ran but the fire-monster followed...

"Matter of fact, I save people all the time."

Dean had been five. Ted was thirteen. What kind of hero was that?

Anyway, thanks so much for reading and reviewing!

Rose {Come2Me}

How sad!  I love how Dean keeps telling himself he's happy when he's actually miserable and deep down wants sammy to support him, love him unconditionally.

Author's Response: Thanks!