Thank you for posting this story. It's sad though. Some people say it took Dean too long to figure out something was wrong with Sam, but I don't agree. This is a great companion to that episode.

Great one-shot! The unresolved issues between the boys is really heart-breaking, but I'm glad the writers didn't just dismiss these problems.

Love this: "He chose not to add, "There's just so much distance between us these days, Sam. And you've changed. And I've changed. Most days, I don't feel I know you anymore." This is so true - both of them don't know how to "be" with each other any more.

Thanks for sharing this with us - I really enjoyed your insight into this episode. Until next time...

Oh, now that just -hurts-. I hadn't thought of it like that.

Well done!

Your explanation was exactly why I thought Dean didn't really look hard at Sam's strange behavior. I know many fans that that was a major inconsistency.. but I thought the same thing you did.. Dean thought something was off.. but was so worried about being critical.. so he let it go.

Love it.

I like it..and well written bit "How did I know it wasn’t really you, Sammy? Same way I knew it wasn’t really Dad back at that cabin in Missouri. Because he seemed to like hanging around me, talking to me. Because he said something nice about where does that leave us, Sammy?" it is so true..and so sad...the only people who seem to ever compliment Dean are the bad guys, Zachariah, Alastair, etc...great job!

Thanks for explaining why Dean didn't realize right away that it wasn't his brother. We could all see that Dean was puzzled by Sam's actions, when was the last time we saw the brothers drinking together in a bar and smiling, "Hellhouse?" So no wonder Dean was enjoying some time with his brother. Dean brought up many good points to Sam on why it took awhile to figure it out.

The brothers have been through a lot these past couple of seasons, maybe I'm just being hopeful, but I see them making progress in their relationship.

The ending line, 'How did I know it wasn’t really you, Sammy? Same way I knew it wasn’t really Dad back at that cabin in Missouri. Because he seemed to like hanging around me, talking to me. Because he said something nice about me.' So sad, but true. Though I thought the saddest moment in the show was Dean's expression when Sam told him to turn the music down at the end. Sam was right in "Sam, Interrupted", he is angry a lot.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, your story with us. I enjoyed reading it.

Until next time, take care.

I really wish you worked for Kripke. I think you understand Dean better than his writer do.

Thanks Marcia!

Family Therapy! LOL

Great job and yeah, sad that Sam will really never know just what finally nailed all of Dean's suspicions that it wasn't Sam he was with. Another nice piece. I hear Kripke is looking for writers, or he should be with the mess we've gotten this season. Maybe you can volunteer. :D

Great scene, but so sad. Thanks for sharing with us. Enjoy your chocolate and warm puppies. lol ( maybe not at the same time. ) ;0)

Excellent follow up. I heard a lot of gripes about how Dean should've known it wasn't Sam sooner, but hey, how was he supposed to suddenly conclude Sam's body had been hijacked? It's not like it's an everyday thing right? He figured it out in less than a day, but still, if it would've taken longer, you gave a great explanation as to why. Sam bristles at not being treated like an equal and then, when the crap hits the fan, has no problem looking to Dean to lead. What exactly is Dean supposed to do? Jump in for the save and get knocked down for it, or let it go and get knocked for that, too. Can't have it both ways, dude. Don't get me wrong, I love Sam and I really like that they've written him so human - character flaws and all - my problem is the fans who complain that he's not who they want him to be. He is who he is, and I think you had Dean illustrate that perfectly. Nice job!

Sue

I really was starting to think a lot of the "fans" had missed one of the key points of this episode - namely that Dean took a while to realise it wasn't Sam simply because he's had a year of Sam acting oddly, and a year of the two of them not really knowing each other any more.

So thank you for this fic as I was starting to feel in the minority there!

I love the depth you've pulled out of this episode. That part in the bar when Dean points out they're actually having a drink together? How many times did we see them doing that in the first couple of seasons? How many times have we seen it since?

But I think the boys will come good in the end. If they can just dodge Lucifer and Michael I think they can start to be brothers again.

Oh yeah. All there and not there at the same time. There were so many things and Dean looked confused at each one, but grateful and wanting it to be real early on.

I felt so bad for him when Sam complained about the music after they dropped the kids off. Yeah, his brother was back. *sigh* It's what it is when you love someone.

Nicely done. :)

Good one, and you said almost everything I was thinking about this one. And so much more eloquently than I could have!

Really liked it.

Kat