Liked Dean's response, he has seen a lot of freakiness in his lifetime, so the fact that he plays along untill he gets the information he needs seems fitting. You have some great Deanisms along the way. Dean insisting that the "Prize" be a holiday in Tahiti for him and Sam and his response to being in the running for world power;“And last year we thought it was Sammy that would be bent on world domination.".

Very dry and very Dean.  

Liked the suspense that kept me guessing which brother it was till the end. You draw out the passage of time and Dean's eventual resurfacing into the real world well. The Aussie Dr's treatment of him, is touching, more concerned than clinical, but the broken man you describe would inspire this I think. When he turns to her and cries it brings a real lump to your throat. Looks like another winner of a story and I can't wait till chapter two!

Enjoyed this - kind of like Sam's initiation into the Supernatural world. What a way to learn about it! Happy that John didn't go for the bait of Sammy being the cause of Mary's death.  Your story paints a sympathetic picture of a young child who misses his mother and is trying to deal with the undercurrents of danger he feels in his world. After all Sam is not stupid. Thanks for the read.

Congratulations on a great first chapter, and your first fanfiction here. I now have wildebeest migrations and marhmellows stuck in my head for the day - but your story made me chuckle, so it's all good.

Loved the view from inside Dean's head, it is very close to what I imagine goes on behind those beautiful green eyes.

This was just so satisfying - am waiting on the next chapter, just to see what can top wildebeest's in clogs and mating lemeurs !!!! 

Honestly, I had been wondering were you had gone to... now it all becomes clear. What is also crystal is what an articulate, talented and creative author you are!

This was amazing, you provide us with an utterly convincing version of John's hell. What else would be fitting for the fallen hunter but to witness the consequences not only of his deal but the path in life he chose for his boys... and not be able to do a damn thing about it. Liked the image and references to watching the scenes like a movie - the twisted hellish version of his life flashing before him? The way his unending torment feeds the evil masses around him is a powerful and disturbing image and I love the way you vary the descriptions of each new torment.

Your description of the boys low moments through their fathers eyes is brilliant work - so emotive, so full of despair and a sense of guilt and shame at his contribution to the horrors in their lives. There were just to many well turned phrases for me to list them all. But this broke my heart: "The laughing of the demons blended with the sobbing of one son and the crooning of the other. John wasn’t sure if he could hear his own sobs or his baby’s, before the demons chanting overtook it all."

The demon re-hash of events was the perfect touch - how the YED reinterpreted the events of WIAWSNB, and twisted his deceptive argument round John's broken heart.  “Suicide, John! The coward’s way out. And this is the end he sees fit in his perfect world. Now he’s watching out for Sam, improving his life!”

I can not wait to see what "the best" is - though I fear I know. Your format, tone and timing was right on the money, fitting John's anguished experience perfectly - you leave us in no doubt that for John Winchester this was beyond hell with no glimmer of relief.

Congratulations on your very well deserved feature. It has been an absolute pleasure to write this review, not only because I really did enjoy your inventive first chapter but because as a reviewer you have been such a source of support to other authors (myself amongst them) and taken such care and thought in your praise of them, that ANY opportunity to return that is one to be ceased!!

Looking out for chapter two - goes without saying;-) !!!!

These drabbles really focus your attention on the point at hand. Yes, what they do, their job, saves lives and the dreadful irony is that apart from a few snatched moments, their jobs denies them a life of their own. Their childhood path was set in stone, no escaping, no choice. To an extent they are set on their paths now too - Sam is a marked man, even though Yellow eyes is gone, but your right, the thought of backing down or going slower in this year doesn't even come into it. Fits perfectly with your title!!! Loved the tone you write this with and especially;

"Drain every last second of life from the miserable solitary year."

Your writing captures feelings so strongly, and as with this piece heartbreakingly (am now making up words to describe your great work!). IMTOD was harsh in it's teasing portrayal of John's normally repressed Fatherly instincts - there could not have been a dry eye in the house when he told Dean he was proud of him. Your description of Dean's response to the praise was spot on, of course he wouldn't just accept it, but find 'confusion and concern' soon overpowered his 'warm feeling'. Very true to character.

Author's Response: Hee!  'Heartbreakingly' should so be a word!  :)  Thanks, I'm glad you liked it.

I don't necessarily see this as the Winchester's introduction to the world of hunting, but possibly any hunters introduction. It's beautifully written 'End of Innocence' and I can STILL recall thinking the edge of the bed thing!!!! LOL. Your last line is sadly true for all of us with the most difficult challenges we face in life. You have an amazing view of the world.. I think they call it a writer's eye?  Love that your pieces can be taken on more than one level.

Like the metaphor, washing away the blood not as easy as clearing the conscience. Sam's medical judgement at a glance that Dean needed watching over was a nice addition. Loved this descriptive;

"Exhaustion had seeped to his bones and movement seemed like wading through molasses"

Nice that you bring home the fact that the hunt doesn't end when the evil thing is disposed off - the aftermath includes the needed repairs... whether physical or psychological.

Love your brotherly moments - you have this knack of just nailing the sentiment and dialogue!!! Loved the image of Sam throwing up his organs!!!! (UGGGHHH!) Must have been one WILD night, thanks to Dean ... and because of big brother Sam gets to live to tell about it!!!!

Author's Response: Thanks!  Getting the brotherly moments right is probably one of the best compliments that a Supernatural writer can get.  And yeah, Dean would definitely show Sam a good night on his birthday!  :)

LOVED THIS - glad there is more lurking out there!!! LOL!

The urgency communicated by Sam (the wordsmiths) miserly use of words and your great description of;

"It’s like a bucket of ice, a shot of adrenaline and gallon of caffeine all at once".... makes this instantly attention grabbing.

The fact that Deacon has the very human response of ticking off all the reasons he shouldn't but still comes off the fence to help makes you warm to him even more. Intriguing stuff. These drabbles are diabolical devices - they keep adding to my reading list!!!! LOL!

So few words, uncertain meaning - but it leaves powerful impression. I don't think it matters which brother or when, their lives become so entwined - it's kind of the point for me ... they do "bleed into each other".

Great Work.

Exciting to see a multi-chapter from you. From the sounds of your workload - you have been busy, but don't worry your story legs are right where you left them, firmly under you!!

This was a good start - action packed right from the beginning. As often happens with your work I enjoyed the dimension you give to your secondary characters they make the reader want to find out more about them. Your keen eye for detail is still active in your beautiful descriptive, and you capture the brothers dynamic so well - even to anticipating what the fallout from BABS would be in a tangible, believable way.

It's so polished and the timing of action sequences and angsty guilt trips... good to have you back Gaelic!