How very Dean - "I think you’re confusing desperation with belief."  And the despair in thinking he is carrying Hell around inside him - very sad.  Meg has a lot to answer for, doesn't she?


Author's Response:

Hey there

Thanks. It felt right when I wrote it. Meg's quote was what came to mind when Famine was talking to Dean, and I believe Dean does feel sometimes that he is carrying hell inside him, but he'll get better. I have hope.

Mary xx

Nice idea but fuzzy logic I'm afraid, because unless your alternative Dean and Sam starting over from that diner have some foolproof  means of hiding themselves from the YED,  Sam will still be snatched and still die before Dean can reach him, then all that remains to stop Dean selling his soul again will be a memory of something that never happened...phew, that's what happens when you mess with time travel!

Author's Response:

thanks for reading.

Well, time travel in its essence has got fuzzy logic.

I think that most probably Dean was left with memories of before (a huge burden of course) and would do his utmost of protecting Sam.

You're right in that YE wouldn't stop looking for Sam but with Dean's knowledge, the chance is less than before I guess..

I hope that I made sense...

This is really beating down on both Sam and Dean's resolve - I like the way you are building up Sam's anger as Dean's will gets worn down further and further. You can see how Sam is driven more and more to see his big brother as a shadow of his former self and I can believe the resentment as well as the pity - that is how people feel when a hero suddenly becomes human and shows weakness.

I think you were right not to read the other fics about this episode, it allows you the freedom to do something of your own - add your unique flavour.  I've listened to that song while reading (hadn't come across it before) and it suits your story perfectly!

I'm sure Sam will have misread Dean, just as Dean certainly misread himself - Dean will have recognised Sam's strength in saying no to Famine even while being terrified of the power in him that allowed him to tear the Horseman apart.  And of course, be terrified of the pain he knew was coming as Sam had to go through the detox all over again...

I liked these a lot - the different characters clear from their different POVs.  Dean with all that angry vulnerability laced with fear that he's not the man he used to be; shaped by all that pressure his Dad put on him as much as by his Hellish experiences.  And Sam, grown strong, seeing Dean's weakness for the first time and trying to step into the breach for all the right reasons...

Author's Response: Thank you so much!  I'm glad you could see the characters coming through, and I really appreciate your reviews!

Very satisfactory in its conclusion, yr'honour.  The verdict - a success!


Author's Response: Ngaw, thanks! Glad you made it to the end. :)

Oh my - Rick Astley!??  Not what I was expecting there dude!

I am amazed how many of us were inspired to write tags to this one - and now having watched the following episode this morning, I am amazed the real writers didn't realise how powerful MBV was and have totally missed the chance to put their own stamp on what came next... Very strange.

Your interpretation has actually left me with a stronger image than I had before - and with a different song to accompany that last scene in the scrapyard.  Now I can hear the Gethsemane scene from Jesus Christ Superstar.... which is interesting and maybe sparked by a fic I read last week, which made Dean the white horseman...but the song didn't appear in my head until I read your version.

So thanks for that, Jules!

I'd been expecting a much less sympathetic rendering of John from reading your preamble - but this was a perfectly understandable version of John - driven, presenting a hard exterior because he wants his kids to be as tough as they can be but still aware that they are suffering.

I agree about Sam but again, I think his reaction is also understandable - both John and Dean protected him as much as possible, and in effect spoiled him - and kids are very slow to start understanding the consequences of their actions, particularly consequences for other people.  In fact I think Sam is only just starting that growth of spirit in some respects...

"Dean opened an eye, unable to remember where he had fallen asleep. Realising quite rightly that this was less of a surprise and more of a lifestyle choice.." Heh!!

Loved the description of the shaky ground, the cracks under his feet after his confrontation with Sam, and the whole Man-in-Charge/free will thing, very amusing!

Heee! Indeed.  Poor Sam, channeling his inner Dean, still there are worse things to channel.  And those girls have got their work cut out with his depressed brother.  Still I have a feeling the werewolf is gong to give everything a helping hand very soon...

Author's Response: I could channel something of Dean's alright. Oh whoops, did I say that out loud? ROFL. Thanks for the stars - looks like I've bitten one in half, LOL. I wouldn't put it past me. :)

But will it be enough? It's going to take a lot to get through Dean's depression...

Are you going to do Dean's POV to sit alongside this?  It would be interesting as a complement/contrast.

To take your challenge - here's a wee drabble response (just for a laugh!) and now I feel your pain - especially with names like Padaleki and Kripke!

It was a milestone moment, though he thought it was an episode he wouldn’t turn into a celebration.  Sam had said it was too much of a gamble, and he’d been right.

The supernatural black dog’s hackles had been up, when it growled Dean could have sworn it bared at least one hundred dagger-like teeth.  Its breath stank like rotten meat.

“Dude, manners!” he’d protested, fanning the stench away.

The first guy, whatsisname, Padaleki, had run away, screaming; while his colleague, Kripke, cowered in the corner, no help whatsoever.

Still, Carver Edlund’s first draft Black Dog story wasn’t half bad.