Sam's surprise seems odd to me, too. Maybe it was not so much the existence of Dean's effective meds as that they were offered to him for what didn't feel that bad - Sam hadn't seen himself conk out and knew what pain he was feeling, while Dean had a shit ton of worry that a crack in the wall would destroy Sam and had all his resources ready for patching up.
Because it does seem to me that they would both be okay with purely practical applications of painkillers.
Alternatively, or perhaps in parallel, perhaps any pill-popping for psychological relief is so strongly associated with memories of Hell in Dean's mind that he kept it hidden before but now that Sam's also back from Hell, naturally he might need whatever it is, too.
Headaches seem more of a "shake it off or drink it off" thing for them, at least to me.
As a chronic sufferer, I'm imagining that Sam's pain is worse than mine, and drinking helps, but not enough. Then again, he was functioning better than when he had his vision headaches.
what didn't feel that bad
He said he felt like he'd been hit by a piano, right?
My initial position was that it was mental relief, but I'm trying to argue the other side, and I don't think the text is conclusive.
Dean self-medicates his pysche, and Sam expressed he was in a great deal of physical pain. It could go either way. Sam's surprise and my preferences for Dean's behaviour lean me on the psychological side, but I can see both.
He said he felt like he'd been hit by a piano, right?
See, this is why I have to rewatch.
I can see both sides, too. But I still like my side best.
My memory of previous painkillers were from Jo handing some to Dean in Born Under a Bad Sign.
Sam said he felt like he'd been hit by a planet. not that i want to deprive you of your re-watch, Amy.
He said he felt like he'd been hit by a piano, right?
I thought he said planet, but then he didn't take the bottle of relief, so I figure not that bad after all?
Maybe they didn't have access to pain meds as hunters and were used to just bearing whatever they had to bear, but Dean had occasion to get a legal prescription some time during his year with Ben and Lisa and that experience convinced him to keep some handy for emergencies. Sam was surprised because that hadn't been SOP before.
The text is murky, I'm not sure what we are supposed to think.
The text is murky, I'm not sure what we are supposed to think.
I love picking at it, though. And reading everyone's takes.
