This was a great story. I loved the way you equated the light from Mary and Jess and the light from Lucifer... Dean had to rescue Sam from all three... Loved this, thanks!

I absolutely love your coda. Both brothers are at fault, Sam for lying and sneaking around and Dean for pushing his brothers away. But they both had good intentions. I understand where they come from and why they did that they did. I’m just happy that they’re together at the end and they can work to forgive themselves and each other and become brothers again.

Season 4 was my least favorite, not because Sam and Dean were at odds, but because I felt that SPN was losing its core and spirit. It wasn't about the brothers any more, but was about some convoluted impersonal apocalypse crap and Sam & Dean got lost in the shuffle. You said it the best "Somewhere between the deal and Hell and angels and demons, he thinks maybe he [and I add Kripke & Co.] forgot what it was all for, what it’s still all about: family."

The contrived story line, inconsistencies, plot holes, clunky/cheesy dialogues and terrible guest actresses didn't help it either.

When the producers, writers, actors/actresses had to give outside interviews, when articles were written to explain the storylines, to reassure the fans that "yes, SPN is still about the brothers," "yes, Sam is still an important character," "no we haven't forget about Sam - he has his own development-just offscreen," "Sam's story line just writes itself," "no Dean is not a dick," "oh no Dean does not have a self-esteem issue," "SPN is not One Tree Hill with Ghost," "SPN is not a teen soap opera," "no, Ruby/Anna is not Sam/Dean's girlfriend," "parts of Sam love Ruby," "Ruby loves Sam/Ruby is protective of Sam," "Ruby is scared, lonely demon, who has no one but Sam", “Ruby is a manipulative demon bitch,” "Anna doesn't care about anything but chocolate and sex," "Anna is righteous and she cares," "the change in Sam/Dean/Ruby/Anna... is because of so and so-something that is happening offscreen," "trust in Kripke, he knows what he's doing," then obviously something was very wrong.

The saving grace of the season was Jensen and Jared’s incredible acting skills and the fact that the brothers seem to be together at the end.

I wish that Kripke and Co. can read your story, work out all the kinks and bring SPN back to its original premise – a show about two brothers - not the apocalypse, not angels and demons, not heaven and hell, not Dean and Castiel, not Dean, not Sam – it’s Sam & Dean, together.

Wasn't intending to review, mostly because everything you write is brilliant and it seems repititious to keep saying that. However, I read the other reviews. Having recently been drummed out of another fandom by gutless anonymous reviewers who not only left disparaging public reviews on my stories, but them pummeled me with PMs for days, it just made my blood boil to see your story similarly attacked. Anon, if you have something to say, please have the courage to stand behind your own opinion. You cannot expect to be taken seriously when you hide.

I am a prolific writer; a not-bad writer; perhaps even good enough that my fandom suffers now that the anonymous horde has done its worst. But when I consider the possibility of fanfic in general potentially losing one of our best writers (in any fandom) due to childish and cowardly behavior, I really get pissed.

Ms. Dartmouth, I hope you have a thicker skin than I do.

P.S. I can't seem to get back in to the member list The site is driving me crazy, won't let me log in! I'll keep trying.

Faye, what can I say? You have put my thoughts into words exactly! I've been yelling at Dean for weeks now for treating his brother so badly. Of course Sam is doing this because he knows he has to, to save the world! What choice was he given? Ruby never lied about Sam being the only one strong enough to kill Lilith, and he had many proofs of that through this year and last. The angels couldn't even kill Alistair, and Lilith is clearly afraid of Sam. (I think Lilith's attempts to kill Sam were real, as was her deal offer in The Monster at the end of the Book". She would have betrayed Lucifer in a second if it meant staying alive, and knowing he couldn't touch her from his prison.) I've hurt so much for Sam, losing everything, even giving up his soul, needing Dean's love and support so much, and getting nothing but scorn and threats. I've never seen an emotional strength and sense of duty so powerful, or a soul so brave. Dean is such a hypocrite! Sam gave him all the support he could when he sacrificed himself. And he has no right to say Sam was wrong, not when he believed that killing Lilith was the key to stopping the apocalypse himself. He just wasn't willing to let his "baby bro" make the sacrifice! He was too selfish to see Sam as a man, an equal. Sam was betrayed, not wrong. And not just by Ruby, who was the only one who truly saw him, and loved him. Thank you for opening Dean's eyes. And thank god for Bobby!

That is freaking beautiful! Love it, love it, love it!

This is the best S4 finale coda evah! "We go together." YES, this EXACTLY! My most fervent hope is that we get this when the show comes back, this was perfect.

Oh Faye, this is one of the BEST tags to the finale I've read. Your definitely a Sam girl (which is an awesome thing to be)but you don't make excuses for Sam in your fic:

Not that Sam’s been right. Not that Sam’s been good. Not that Sam doesn’t deserve to be smacked upside the head. But because it’s still Sam.

And that's why Dean will find it in his heart to forgive Sam.

He’s ignored and he’s mocked. He’s resented and he’s begrudged. He’s locked Sam up and thrown away the key. He’s thought at least he’ll die human and if he ever was my brother and he’s berated and he’s belittled and it wasn’t that Sam was right but it was that Sam’s always been his brother

And I love this passage too:

Dean can’t save Sam from failing.

But he can help Sam now. Help Sam find the right thing, give Sam the courage to try, and Sam would save himself.

(oddly I read 'failing' as 'falling' which actually works just as well. Dean can't save Sam from making mistakes but he can help Sam find the right path; help him find the tools to save himself.)

I really hope kripke at the very least opens with the spirit of your tag. Because what you instill in every story and you've never forgotten is that the heart and soul of Supernatural is Family.

Amy

OMG Faye! You had me after the first sentence! This was so touching --> "Somewhere inside that massive six four frame, somewhere behind the powers and the demon blood, somewhere in the midst of the man who would defy God Himself to do what he thought needed to be done, was a little boy who just wanted his brother to tell him that things were going to be alright, that he was going to be alright." And the “Then you’re going to have to take me, little brother,” about made me cry. Have I ever told you how much I love reading your stuff?

This is a great fic, I liked it so much
;)

"It occurs to Dean that he helped do this, not just the apocalypse, but Sam. That somewhere along the line he stopped seeing his little brother as a person and more of a duty, that somehow he let the idea of monster overshadow the inherent need Sam had. He’s believed Sam would go darkside, he’s believed that Sam was a moron, a junkie, a betrayer, an insensitive bastard, a stone’s throw from monster, and in the glow of Lucifer’s piercing light, Dean can see his mistakes for what they are."

I think Dean did really figure it out, but whether anything comes of it, we'll have to hold our breath and see. My faith in Kripke has dwindled, but hopefully they'll at least be together again - fighting heaven and hell.

Squee! Loved, loved, LOVED!

Gah! That was... I mean really... Just TOTALLY... *composes self* Oh, OW! But in such a good, good way! I always enjoy your writing, and this of course was no exception. I just love the whole thing - the flow, the imagery, the characterization. I love the way you present Dean's realization of his mistakes, and the way you portray Sam as good and SAM, even if he's not infallible.

“You have to go,” Sam says. “Please.”

“Then you’re going to have to take me, little brother,” Dean tells him.

That just kills me - so much said in so few words, which is the essence of brotherhood that I love to see between Dean and Sam.

This is by far the best tag I've read to the finale so far (and I suspect it will remain so!).

*hero worships you a little*
:)

That was perfect, a great transition from the last two episodes into what I hope will be coming in season five.

... paved with good intentions. Ruby and the angels played both the Winchester men, and I suspect that the angelic interference started long before Dean landed in the Pit. Thank you for making me feel better about Sam's decisions.