We can.

And I just realized that I have purchased adult things for people I wasn't going to be adult with. Maybe it's the Winchester version of The Sex Talk. Um, the graphic novel version?

I get that too, Plei, but then I step back and look at it, and they've made other choices.

They need to know they can choose some of the good things, too. That a life of service doesn't have to mean a life of total self-denial. I don't think they know that. In a weird sort of way, they're monastic, separate from the world they've chosen to protect. I think there's been a type like that in almost every culture. And most of them chose it for themselves.

That Sam and Dean were trained into it rather than approaching it as adults, yeah, that's sad. But at this point, either or both of them could quit. Or slow down, make time for a life. They've chosen not to.

All right, deadline, ticking clock, demon heir apparent. Not so much with the choice right now. But there have been, and there will be points where they could choose something else. Or at least a compromise with something else. I'd like to see that.

And now I'm imagining Dean giving Sam The Talk. I think I may never have been more horrified in my life. And I read that Sesame Street Yuletide fic.

Dean has been on a quest to get Sam laid since S1. When it finally happened, it ended poorly, so I think it makes sense that he'd dial it back, and figure Sam could have some solo fun where nobody winds up taking a bullet.

(As a random thought, seeing as sexual excess is one of the few ways Dean has to distract himself or lift his own mood, I see his preoccupation with Sam's sex life as Dean mapping his own coping mechanisms to Sam. Which, of course, doesn't really work, because Sam != Dean.)

You're very welcome, all! This was a blast!

So the Winchester version of "I'm cold, go put on a sweater"? Good point.

It's so Dean, though. I don't think he realizes at all that not every guy sees random hot women and/or casual sex as the ultimate free time hobby /stress relief he does.

I'd like to see it, too, Bev, the boys finding a home base, choosing something else, at least part-time.

And I think Dean is actually ready for it, based on the "I'm tired" speeches. Right now, no, not with the demon war, blah blah, but if Sam were to get him out of his deal and not succumb to being the Antichrist, I bet Dean would jump on settling down somewhere, with the occasional salt and burn on the side, or possibly training other hunters.

All right, deadline, ticking clock, demon heir apparent. Not so much with the choice right now. But there have been, and there will be points where they could choose something else. Or at least a compromise with something else. I'd like to see that.

Well, we saw Sam choose it and then lose it in the pilot. As close as we've seen with Dean is Cassie. I honestly think by the time Dean even thought about choosing anything else, or having it both ways, he'd already screwed his future six ways from Sunday with various felonies in various states and didn't have a lot of options as himself, under his own name.

And then, when John died, Sam wound up in the same basic place. My read on WIAWSNB remains that Dean blames himself for that, as the reasons for his estrangement from Sam that are made explicit in the alternate version of reality involve the ATM card and the prom date (taking from Sam financial and romantic potential).

Yes, thank you Anne. That was fun (the ones that I got to watch) and it was almost as much fun going through and reading your W&P with all the thinky thoughts. I love you all.

I also love the shot at the end of the Christmas Special when they pull back from the motel window and you see the Impala guarding watching the boys and she is wearing her (reflected) holiday lights.

I was turning past TV Guide channel and they were listing character deaths of 2007. My attention was immediately captured when they said, "Sam Winchester" and showed him in Dean's arms. Then they listed him as the first one under the category of character resurrections of 2007. YAY for show main stream publicity!