The only thing that wouldn't really have fit is Sam asking "for what", and "Why would she do something that like" if he had gone back in time too, so maybe it's best that JP wasn't available.

And that way it's totally retconnable that Castiel *needed* Dean to go alone. ::nods::

So we've concluded that John never learned of the things that go bump in the night from Mary; he learned about all that stuff from Missouri. And we can assume he became a Hunter more or less on his own. So I'm guessing that he never knew then that at one point Mary had been a hunter.

I've restocked on my tea. No brownies, but I have chocolate Tastykakes.

Very true. One thing I would love to read more of is John fic. Early years, when the boys were still very young, and he was newly alone and learning the life of the hunter.

So it's very possible that all of these people that knew John, may have known Mary in her younger days. Or at least known of her since Grampa Campbell liked to work alone. Do you think Kripke planned this working so well, or was it dumb luck? Because I wouldn't have put us here three years ago, but this episode certainly supports where we are.

cereal:

Hee, so we still don't know how much John knew and when he knew it.

I'm guessing Mary never told him he was a zombie.

Starting ...

Damn, JP is broader and more clench-jawed now.

Me too!

Stan!

Brow and jaw of rock.

And chisel-chest.

So farewell, Sam's lovely long throat and enormously broad chest. See you next episode.