Really, harshly, he's not necessarily a guy I'd have near my kid. Well, *we* know he's good with kids, but he's an alcoholic, thinks little of violence, and is deeply broken. Making the decision to not have him around your kid wouldn't be a strange one.

And that's before you get to whether or not he's emotionally accessible to you.

Eh, I don't know. Even just seeing him with Ben way back in S3, I think I'd be okay with him around my kid. The drinking could be an issue, but *we* know, even if she doesn't yet, that he doesn't get sloppy drunk.

I'd be more worried about my kid getting attached to someone who might not be able to stick around, or not really be emotionally accessible to *him*.

On paper he looks like a liability, I think. We know he'd be fine to Ben, but I wouldn't fault any mother for drawing a line and not letting him across it.

The difference between S3 and now is one apparently suicidal (although mission-based) moment, and a deep trauma, and he's not there for a beer, it's hard liquor.

I've seen people complaining that he shouldn't be chugging whisky in front of the kid which I think is extreme--that's not a big deal to me, not in and of itself. But if you have a guy who needs to drink to fall asleep move into your house, how do you deal with that with your impressionable kid?

Having a drink in front of the kid is not so bad, although everyone has their weird lines -- for me, my dad having a tumbler of whiskey at *dinner* would have been a total WHOA moment.

I mean, you're right -- I think she's got a lot to learn about the person Dean really is, and what the differences are between what he looks like on paper and in real life, and the real life ones aren't all so great, really. I'm trying to look at it through her eyes, and it's so hard because of how much *I* know of Dean.

As someone who grew up with a dad who frequently had a tumbler of bourbon, it's not too weird to me. But my dad also not a sloppy drunk (as a rule).

I should let go of that, because I don't want to get pissed at Show when it doesn't go my way.

See I think maybe *this* is why I went there. I, too, love the codas that have Lisa and Dean not working out. I fear show may not be on the same page. I am pretty confident Sera is going to give us the epic bromance back as she's said that's what show is about. I'm trying to be open about how we get there and yet I fear many of the answers.

I worry that show will "reward" Dean by giving him a shortcut to love, which I don't think is real love or particularly respectful to Lisa's character at all. And, as you say, ehab, raises the risk of fridging.

Because if he does find love, why does he leave? Just because Sam is more important (which we all know he is)? Does he leave reluctantly? I don't want that. That will hurt.

I definitely think Lisa would have some hard lines about "taking Dean in". A night on the couch? Sure. But the drinking, the propensity to violence, and the miasma of darkness that surrounds him at the moment. I don't think she's madonna enough to let him bunk in the guest room, let alone move into her bed.

And let's not forget, Ben's two years older--probably pubescent, or nearly. It's one thing to fanboy the cool guy with the neat car who's badass and saved your life. It's another to sit in the room with him and watch tv or do your homework, or play video games and feel that--cold remoteness rolling off him. It's another thing entirely to see your mom trying to make the guy feel better--and just how long is he planning to stay, anyway? Yeah, Ben guesses they owe him. But they've been fine since he left the last time. They do fine on their own, who does he think he is?

I fervently hope the ready-made family isn't used conveniently by the writers. But you know, I don't have a lot of faith. I will lose a lot of tooth enamel and much good will if Ben and Lisa are fridged, though, for sure.

Bracket #1
1) be my brother again
2) short bus
3) don't objectify me
4) lost my shoe

Bracket #2
1) superhero
2) don't end with blood
3) okay good
4) drinking eggnog

Bracket #3
1) mind reader
2) don't deserve to go to hell
3) rest in peace
4) Batman

Bracket #4
1) raise a little hell
2) the salt, you idiots
3) pain and blood
4) bring him back

I can see how making Dean, Lisa, & Ben an ideal little family works as a short-cut for storylines on the show.

• It gives Dean a 'home' and a (not really) healthy outlet for love
• It gives him people that he cares about that he does not want to put in jeopardy
• It gives him a reason to resist hunting
• It gives show built-in angst when Sam comes back

I hope show doesn't do it, but I won't be surprised if they do.

I think they're going to have to carry it out somehow. They established him there, not just getting a hug but sitting down to dinner. So even if it's just an episode or maybe two, they're going to need to show why/how he disentangles himself from the ready-made family.