I still see S5 Dean as seeing little worth to living without Sam. I don't think he'd eat his gun just because little bro was gone, but dying beside him as part of the whole shenanigans? Without hesitation.

I think we saw that in Dark Side Of The Moon.

I don't think Dean was thinking about himself at all when he said he wouldn't let Sam die alone.

I still see S5 Dean as seeing little worth to living without Sam.

Oh, me too. I don't think I made that clear. I just think when he went to that confrontation he wasn't "deliberately suicidal," and I don't think he will be now, either, because he promised Sam.

I'm not sure Dean has any idea what's worth living for without Sam at this point.

Dean was so unable to handle the loss of Sam for even those few hours (however long Sam was dead) before Dean went to make the crossroads deal. Sam has had to live with the loss of Dean in Mystery Spot, and then again with the hellhounds for long extended periods of time.

I think back to Dean right after Sam died(only on this show do you have to specify which time) when he was killed by Jake, and I can't imagine Dean on a daily basis with Lisa and Ben. Dean won't deliberately kill himself, but Dean can't handle this. He just can't.

S5, R1, B #1/4:

• Team Free Will.One ex-blood junkie, one drop out with 6 bucks to his name, and Mr. Comatose over there. Awesome.
• Remember when we used to just hunt wendigos and how simple things were?

• Where's your moose?
• Pudding!!!

• Three days later another car rolled off that same line. No one gave two craps about her, but they should’ve. Because this 1967 Chevrolet Impala would turn out to be the most important car... no, the most important object in pretty much the whole universe.

• Word to the wise--don’t piss off the nerd angels.
• Sammy? Sammy? It's okay, I'm here. I'm not going to leave you.

• This isn't funny Dean, the voice says I'm almost out of minutes!

• If you're into that kinda thing.

• I found a liquor store.
• Now get the hell off my property before I blast you so full of rock-salt that you start crapping margaritas!
• Cas, not for nothing, but the last person who looked at me like that...I got laid.

• No, he's not on any flatbread.

• Hey assbutt!

• You just punched a Cupid!
• Then I ain't going to let him die alone.

I think the intensity of the Cold Oaks death was that it was so unexpected, though. This one he knows (well, believes) is permanent, but he did have a few weeks, a month maybe to get used to the idea.

It's just that he probably thought he'd be gone, too.

I don't know - I can see Dean getting up in the morning for weeks or months just 'cause that's what Sam wanted but eventually I think he'll get up because it's what he wants. I agree Dean is worn out and weary but a life with purpose is the only kind he knows and I think, given time, he'll create that again. He'll find a way to make the world better because that is a part of who he is - and I don't think that got buried with Sam even Dean does. He's just a big damn hero.

I could see a "fake it 'til he makes it" scenario playing out, if given enough time (like, years). I could also see him just faking it forever but not really ever making it beyond just surviving.

but not really ever making it beyond just surviving.

ayup. Codependent. There is no Dean without Sam. Just a shell.

I had a thought, and ita should feel free to shoot me down, but, if we're doing a "one quote to rule them all" does it make a difference if there's 6 instead of 5, since it's not a neat bracket anyway? Could we add in a wildcard? I've seen a couple quotes floated as "I can't believe that that wasn't on there!"

Again, I respect The Plan, and if that doesn't fit, then no worries. I just thought I would throw it out there.