Eh, 100 billion private Heavens, I could see Ash just not having stumbled across the right one yet.

Dean traded his own soul while Sam was in heaven, according to later canon. Sam was yanked out of heaven, soul and all, without his consent.

We don't actually know that. Dean's experience with Tessa and the ghosts in "Houses of the Holy" and that Tricia Helfer episode indicate that there's a transitional process taking some variable amount of time before people go into the light. Sam may not have gotten there yet. My assumption is that Zachariah greased the wheels in "Dark Side of the Moon" to get them both into his clutches quicker.

I could see Ash just not having stumbled across the right one yet.

Yes and didn't he say something about them wanting to be found? Maybe John and Mary are happy alone together.

Laga, that is exactly how I picture them. John and Mary can finally be together without monsters. And both of them make sure they stay off the grid.

From earlier: Mary wasn't a poltergeist. She was extinguished from fighting the poltergeist/evil energy in "Home". I'm thinking that gets you miles towards an upgrade into Heaven.

I think it's even clearer after this episode that the boys are destined for each other. May they never get properly healthy. Sam's willing to submit to Dean, even though he can outpower and outreact him. He just can't outplan or outfeel him. And he knows this. And Dean is domming his wee head off. These are my boys. Fucked up, and a new kind of fucked up, but my boys.

Mary wasn't a poltergeist.

Was she just a ghost, then? What's the differentiating line?

Was she just a ghost, then? What's the differentiating line?

I sort of got the feeling it was just her spirit, breaking through to earth again to save her kids. As in, she hadn't been hanging around in that house since the fire (because I think Missouri would have sensed her).

I don't know what that makes her. A very determined, protective parent, maybe, same as John on AHBL II?

And Dean is domming his wee head off.

I have nothing to add except yes, he really really was wasn't he? I loved it when he started giving Samuel and the Campbells orders.

Mmmm....

Missouri did sense her. She said there were two spirits in the house, before Sam or Dean were in any danger. I'm just wondering if a "normal" ghost can fight a poltergeist.

SAM: You said there was more than one spirit.

MISSOURI: There is. I just can’t quite make out the second one.

Missouri did sense her.

Oops. Then maybe she was just a regular ghost. In terms of fighting a poltergeist, though, I would imagine it's like any mother protecting her children -- in the face of danger, you've got more strength.

serial:

It occurs to me that Dean was all pissed Cas was inhuman again. But he's got so much more emotion than Sam does right now. I wager he'd even give a better hug. He understands the power of drinking to Dean, even if he wasn't imbibing along with him. Sam didn't even notice their potential shared drinking moment.

eta:

in the face of danger, you've got more strength

My question is, that since she didn't normally pass on, but hung out for 20+ years, and then fought another spirit and then went up in flames--does she get the same treatment as a normal death?

He understands the power of drinking to Dean, even if he wasn't imbibing along with him. Sam didn't even notice their potential shared drinking moment.

Ooh, nice. That gesture struck me as odd, that Cas would be enabling his crutch. And then it hit me that Cas, as usual, wasn't judging Dean. Dean needed a drink, it's the least (and only thing) Cas can do.