Lovely fic!

Amazing. I felt this in my core. It was a great look into emotions we dont get to see often enough in this show.

This is my favorite story yet. The absolute devastating effect of the Mark are truly felt here. I wish this had been an episode, with the music included! I love Shambala, now I must go look up Ghost! Thanks for your writing, is very special!

Woah that was so freking emotional! Great story! Also the bit about Dean never really escaping hell was heartbreaking.

I remember reading this fanfic earlier, but I don't know that I'm more prepared to review now than then. Really good with Dean cracked and broken, and not completely there, but trying... and the blood red sun completely undoing him.
Sam trying to come to the realization that the Mark has permanently changed Dean, and knowing just how broken he is. Allowing Dean to put himself back together, to get his defenses back up. Interesting about the 10 years ago, and how different it was. Talking about singing, and Dean is jumpy. Just asking for food, and Dean's wary.

But then getting to the river to wash the stain away... to cut it off.
Glad Sam told him that he makes the hard choices that no one else is capable of. Some of that forgiveness Sam gave Dean on *Love Hurts*. Also VERY glad they addressed Dean being a demon and attacking Sam. Thank you for that.

Very Raw.

Nova did a good job with the video.

Supernatural Fan Fiction Monthly Awards- Short Story/Drama -Jan 2016

Very well written interpretation of the recent season. Really like the way you included music - while I quite like the 'The Ghost of You' myself and thought the lyrics fitted the story well, I'm not convinced Dean would be a fan of the song himself! But you're absolutely right that music's always played a big part of the show.

Supernatural Fan Fiction Monthly Awards

The writer slammed me smack dab in the middle of Dean's torment caused by The Mark and rarely let me go. Her skill with words and the ability to constantly move the story forward captured the anguish we all know Dean must have felt once he came back to himself. Weaving that anguish around the "Shambala" and "Ghost" lyrics, CornishGirl evoked the heart and soul of Eric Kripke's vision for Supernatural, or at least what I envision his goals were: to wrap this incredible story about two brothers fighting against unimaginable evil-in whatever form it takes-within the familiar melody and lyrics of classic rock to create a ridiculous to sublime scenario. It all comes down to good storytelling, and this piece shines.

There might have been a dropped word and/or a misspelling but I have to admit that I was so engrossed in the story that I can't remember where they appear.

Supernatural Fan Fiction Monthly Award

Really good tag to 10.09 – well written and backed with music that perfectly fits the emotions flowing through the brothers. The story is building slowly and personally I'm not so much into the guilt thing anymore, though of course that's the main theme of the episode, but I enjoyed the climax you created at the river - and Sam's reply to that bible verse. Thanks for sharing.

Loved the build in this story. How you took a need to clean yourself of sins into the river and then add a twist of Dean trying to get rid of the mark. Really loved the vivid struggles and how Sam could barely keep up with his brother's mind. Great one shot.

Great story.

Another slow burn, then a race to the end, with really, really fine dialogue. Very true to these boys.

A couple of specifics I loved:

This description: The kind that aged a man two years for every one he survived.

And this gem of a line: "I'll always duck, and you'll always miss."

P.S. Love that song!

This was tragic and gorgeous. You're so right about music being a foundation of the show, less so now than in the beginning, but it's still there. Using the song lyrics throughout to drive home the emotion that was so raw coming from Dean and Sam was a perfect storytelling tool. Very well - and heartbreakingly - done.

That is the worst story I have ever read. (No, I'm just kidding. Needed to spice it up.) Holy crap. I haven't read a take on that episode yet but dear lord. That was AMAZING. How you expounded on that one scene was terrific. You have quite the writers knack..I can't tell exactly what age range you fall into for spn fans or based on that you recognize Miami Vice but dang. The story is certainly well developed.

These poor boys are so damaged. Great writing. Will be checking out your other stories for sure.

Wow, how hauntingly sad. I'm dying for Sam to prove him wrong, to give him some hope again. Good connection between this slaughter and what Dean did in Hell. And "exquisitely stubborn" is perfectly said. :)