think it took losing John to make Dean realize that this is a dangerous life. Again, don't hit me. Yes, he knew he could go at any moment, and Faith proved that very well. But that was Dean. John was invincible - enough hero worship there to power small nations - and 'Sam' and 'dead' didn't even belong in the same sentence. I don't think that bone-deep knowledge ever really sank in until now.

Of all that he really needed in life, his dad who is gone, his car which is battered beyond belief and his little brother who is so broken at the moment...I'm surprised Dean's holding on as he is.

And there was fliching and jumping and OMG NO! at that last scene...JA nailed it with that tire iron (and JP stomped on my heart with his vulnerability and his tears and his 'guilty as hell')