Good story, I liked it. :)

Aw, K, this is just beautiful. I loved this.

I liked that you included a couple of 'seasoned' hunters from their past to aide Sam in his mission to find Dean. And I liked that he couldn't wait for them to get there to help and then once Dean was found, he couldn't wait for them to leave.

I thought you played Dean's vulnerability, his lostness, so well. Very believable and his finding his strength with the knife to Sam's throat was unexpected and air-sucking.

Great break of Dean as well. I loved that it wasn't realization, but more of a surrender. I loved the sag against the wall and Sam just with a hand, letting Dean run the show of how much, when and how.

Loved it.

Interesting that the same thing that happened in Mystery Spot sort of happened to Dean - on a much meaner scale. Cool!

I love this undying faith both the boys have in each other. The trust so inexplicably there no matter what. The demon sure went to town on Dean with that trust, too.

Thanks for sharing the foray into season 1!

;D

An awesome fic. You had me on the edge of my seat reading this, waiting for Dean to come back to Sam. Well written, perfectly executed and a great read.

I've often wondered if what Dean experienced here was similar to what happened to him when he was in hell. You captured Dean's breakdown perfectly here, almost in stages, having him catatonic and then a fierce hunter before he slowly accepts that he is free form the Demon's hold.

Caretaker Sam is one of favourite reads and you so it so well, having Sam doubt his own capabilities of doing it as well as his own fear of having to - knowing that Dean must be in serious trouble to need it. I liked that he recognised that he needed help, something that I can see Sam doing willingly to help his brother and how he felt he couldn't show emotion/fear in front of the other hunters.

What really stood out for me here was how you mentioned Dean's previous throat injury and it explained their non-verbal communication, how they can both understand each other through facial gestures. I liked that explanation and as always you have a unique and very accurate way of describing the boys relationship which always makes for a fascinating read. Thanks for sharing, take care, Abbi

I liked this. It reminded me of your story Resouled( the one where Dean is possesed) but yet it was so different. So nice work.

Wonderful. I actually imagine that Dean went through something like this when he was in hell...

That was wonderfully tender and a little heartbreaking. And as usual you have the boys just right.

Thanks for sharing.
xx

It's incredible. You always, ALWAYS get the brother's relationship just right. I love your nearly desperate little brother (having to be the strong and protective one) Sam watching out for Dean and realizing that what Dean needs most are his brother and love. This was the perfect example of how Sam is Dean's weakness and Dean is Sam's. But they also give each other strength to make it through desperate times.
Every little detail and word are intense. I think that "a demon that liked to drive its victms crazy" is scarier than any monster or ghost. Like yourself said "Sam knew Dean would hate that his little brother had seen him like that." Like a crazy man, trapped inside his own mind.
I simply loved the moment that Dean started to capitulate, "wanting to believe but needing help". And that Sam was there, providing the help.
Wonderful beyond words. Thank you so much!

Very nice. Just what I've come to expect from a K Hannah Korossy story. A tight plot, well written and paced, and terrific characterizations. I love the fact that you are an equal opportunity Winchester basher. And whoever is the non-bashee, provides great psychological insights. This one was even harder for Sam, as how do you convince Dean he's in reality. The demon had twisted things just enough . . .

I enjoyed the additions of Tim and Rooney. The community is small, but tight in it's own way. Great story, as always.

That was a good story!
Really loved it, thank you.

this is a great story...lots to love in this story...And usually I can narrow down my favorite part/line to a few but not this time...I loved this part "nd their dad always paid more attention to other players than to his sons. But Sam didn’t care as long as he was there now for Dean." great bit about John...and then Sam talking about Dean's eyes "But there had always been so much there when he’d looked for it. The nothingness in the hazel now was almost ungraspable." Dean's eyes are amazing (well Jensen are) and are so expressive...and of course this sentence "God, he would have given up any hope of Stanford in a heartbeat to hear Dean answer him." great job...ah I do miss the old togetherness of the boys...here hoping season 5 brings it back..

"And geez, who had died and taken Sam's puppy with them?" :-P Great!

So great! I'm thinking back to Kripke talking at the last comic con, paraphrased: "Season four was about the boys being so torn apart from each other and season five is going to be about them finally, slowly, painfully coming back together again." Hopefully we'll see some reunification with the boys again!

Oh how I love these boys. Great work on this and an excellent characterisation.

Enjoyed your story. Nice to see Sam rescuing Dean and believing that his big brother would find his way back.
Though this story was sad too, as in some ways parts of this could have been reflections of the brothers during season four.
Thanks for sharing your story with us.

This simply kicked **! Filled with Sammy and Dean angst. Thank you so much for this. Love it to pieces.