It would appear that this trap is air tight then? Dean can not leave (adored the tearing flesh description of Dean's pain) nor can he stay in the room that seem (literally) too blood thirsty for his own good!!!! I do believe you ARE an evil genius, and as such I can't wait to see which "bad guy" you decided upon!!!!! Your authors note made me laugh as you have appeared to know exactly where your tale was going!!!!! Skillful stuff!!!!

Ridley, you must get tired of hearing this from me but.... yep... you have done it again! Hugely insightful piece with witty clever dialogue that never wavers in painting a picture of your three dimensional characters. The look behind John's eyes is amazing, his regret is touching, the fact that he feels there is no other choice in how to behave is maddeningly tragic. How you paint this all too human flawed hero - brilliant.

Loved that just about everyone called John on his methods of training; Bobby's blunt advice on how to truly get the point across to Caleb and Dean, Dean actually leveling an accusation at his Father and Caleb finally letting go of his Hero worship of John; though I believe he will always respect his mentors skills and commitment, if not always his methods. Hell, even Sam was giving him grief by ignoring him! The genius in your story is that you laid bare all the reasons that people find it hard to maintain sympathy with John, but then like your characters, you give us those small grains of humanity that show us that this man is worthy of our sympathy. Loved that he threw up after the guilt trip he lay on Dean, and the fact that he felt grief over the loss of Caleb's rose coloured glasses. This summed it up for me;

"He knows it is as much a product of his success as a mentor as it is a tribute to his failure as a parent"

Great story- also enjoying To the Victor enormously. Thanks for the read.

Devastating. You have captured Sam's shock beautifully here, your description of the surroundings and all it communicates about life going on, only serves to deepen our empathy with Sam. 

Dean permeates this whole story - the note... perfectly in character, short, sweet and predictably threatening when it comes to 'his baby', his method of exit clean, so Sam is spared no doubt, and of course calling Bobby to make sure his brother is ok. I am with you in the hoping that the deal IS broken, but here you have provided the reader with a haunting alternative, in keeping with the characters.

Wonderfully sad.... please change the music on your Ipod, before I run out of tissues!!!!

Great ending, this whole side-trip into the Vampire world was VERY funny! Love your style of writing that combines off the wall humorous descriptive, with winning dialogue and some touching moments that don't go too far into the Chick Flick zone.

Dean got the best lines here (though Drunken Sammy's comic actions were a riot - especially the whole double take thing when Dean asked for the machete!!!!), and very in character. My favorites;

"I should have known you couldn’t handle all those Leprechaun shots you were knocking back. I only wanted you to taste one not pickle yourself in the stuff.” And enjoyed Sam's use of "incy, wincy" with the cross eyed twist!!!!

Your comic timing is perfect and love the surreal slants you go off on, like the sock and sandal wearing guy and Boris admiring Sam's prowess as a green Leprechaun drinker (more than a hunter?!!!LOL). Really superb job. Thanks for the read!!!!

Lovely Job. Just loved how you set it up, almost like the beginning of a new hunt, except of course how quickly Dean was willing to put aside the questions and just stay there. Who could blame him? Your perfect Winchester world was so wholesome and fit really well with the threads in the series. LOL at the classic "jerk/bitch" coming from the kids - of course Dean's daughter swears like a sailor ... bet she develops a wicked left too?!!!

Liked the use of music and (maybe?) the suggestion that it had influenced the direction of Dean's escapist dream. The way you stripped away all these happy components from him was wrenching as was Sam's very final - all too real sounding "We've got a job to do". As if the price of doing their job is their happiness and that  perfect world ... excellent work!

Anna, Finally made it over to review ... and SO glad I did because whatever alterations you made have SOLD this!!!!

This piece is stunning in its Dean like logic - the idea of there always being a choice is fundamental to his character - he is a 'all or nothing kind of guy' as you put it. Dean's 'all' is the courage with which he makes the decision to choose and with your clever inner monologue you lay this bear for us. Dean is not a soldier following Daddy's orders - he made the most profound choice of his life at the age of four, and all other actions and decisions seem to flow from that. Loved how you explained that. You had some amazing lines to go with all that convincing logic. Loved this;

"He understood choices. More than most he knew that no matter how easy or hard the initial plunge, the follow-through was a bitch. Was what kept you up at night."

But my favorite of the piece is the realisation that with the change coming over Sammy, his life long strategy must change too. Now his 'choices' don't merely exert his only form of control, but it's almost like ha has swapped roles with Sam - Dean chooses to believe in something higher... he is giving up some of his 'control' in exchange for hope.

"And most difficult of all, Dean had to choose to live for his brother instead of to die for him.

And pray it was enough."

Fantastic first fic - very deep stuff. 

Ridley, I have to confess I have read this in *the other place* - your awesome writing skills however ensure that I will be re-reading it and still be thoroughly entertained second time round.

Love the gruff face Caleb tries to throw on - he fights his feelings for those adorable Winchester brats every step of the way - I guess that's why it's such an unshakable relationship in later life. My favorite is the way Dean gives as good as he gets after Caleb point's out Sam is not HIS brother ;

"That's obvious," Dean snorted. "No horns. No tail. And he's not allowed to play with pitchforks."

LOL!!! This is just such a heartwarming scene - Jim trying hard to keep order in a house full of warriors, no easy job!!!!

Wonderful Chapter showing John in his role as Knight and mentor to Caleb. I love the way you have Mac's very human response to the influence another man exerts over his son. Liked the idea that John's "training" of Caleb in the early years was actually Winchester nannying Reeves!!! John and Caleb's relationship though macho on the surface is one of fierce loyalty. Love the banter between them here.

Louey... hang on a sec...*wipes tears from eyes*...ok...

Where did that Beauty come from - hope you sell road maps!!!! That was amazing, clever, funny (scratch that - pee my pants hilarious!!), true to character and very deep. Yep I was pretty amazed with all the layers!!!

Firstly your descriptives and vivid imagination had me right there in the worst dump they had every been in. You really master the art of painting with words here. I went back and reread it - had to fight as hard as Dean not to judge John for leaving them there.

Secondly the way you characterise hormone driven Sam and "Put on a Happy face' Dean is brilliant. Love this part where you show that Sam is as in tune with his brother as Dean is with him;

"Sam knew when to listen to Dean, when to fight with him…even when it was okay to mess with his head and he KNEW when he was required to execute the perfect retreat. And now was that time."

Dean's attempt at keeping the fun going was brave and heroic. His fears that his Dad might forget them was palpable. You portrayal of John was right on the money I thought, a man so driven by his past that he is blinded by all else. He doesn't 'see' what he is asking of his boys, when he drops them off in order to drive on to his contact, but because of the small part of Mary that lives on in Dean he realises his mistakes. Found this line very true, sadly John's cure for the dangerous road they travel comes at a high price;

"He knew walking in there would put a halt to the fun, would turn both his boys back into men and he didn’t have the heart to do it straight away"

Finally - the tears.....LOVED the inventive brotherly sparing!!! I know you didn't take all the credit for this but it was just so funny there is enough Kudos to go round!!!! Sam finally stepping up to the 'suck it up' plate and hitting a home run!!!!

Fantastic one-shot that was so well delivered.

Wow, Anna, truly thought provoking and so deserving of it's feature. This comprehensive catalogue, pieces together, shred by touching shred the makings of these heroic characters. I enjoyed how you blended the material and emotional things both brothers carry. The way you plotted your descriptions was very clever - what they carry separately that defines them as individuals is laid alongside what they carry and uphold together as a hunting unit, as devoted brothers. Loved this;"the repetition of saying their brother's name like a prayer or a battle cry." It's a lot like the things they carry - simple but powerful. Each brother is for the other - the Cause and the Cavalry.

Your ending is so uplifting - I was really touched by this;"They carry each other's laughter in their heart on good days and they carry each other broken and bloody and weary on bad days."

You give such a clear picture of that road they have traveled and all the twists and turns they have taken together. Awesome job - Congratulations!!!!!!

Little Sammy takes a leaf out of big Brothers book eh... well it kind of looks like Dean borrowed the book from "Uncle" Caleb anyway!Wonderful insight into the early years - love that Caleb is pulled in as the responsible adult when Dean is almost his carbon copy and he has to fight to channel his inner Pastor Jim!

Great start - can't wait to see if the real Pastor Jim will have to step in ... or if Principal Reynolds will have to break that paddle out of retirement after all?!!!!

What did I think?!!! Well pure brilliance as usual!!!! The way you conjure the Brotherhood world - both the big moments and the little ones like this is nothing short of masterful. I really do loose myself in everything you write - loved the "treat" story of the bear trap! Well done on braving the video footage - the descriptive were well worth it!!!! Awesome job Ridley!