I know, I know it's been done before but I was struck by something while re-watching The Lord of the Rings and how similar, in a way, that the bond between Boromir and Faramir was similar to Sam and Dean's bond as brothers. I also picture Sam's relationship with John to be similar in a way to Faramir and Denethor's (I've never read the comics, so I don't know what that origin story says…I only take what I've seen on the show as being the real story). Other than their argument about Stanford, "being raised as warriors", and the few comments about Dean always being 'the good soldier' while Sam argued with their Dad I feel like there's a lot left out of what Sam's relationship with his father was really like. So, I decided to write a story about times that Sam's been tested against his father's morals (or what I feel like John Winchester's morals may have been, so there's some creative license here, thus is the crux of FanFic writing)…and how Sam really felt about the results when measured by his own standards.

I have a brief idea of certain critical points but any suggestions are happily taken. So far I think I have: leaving for Stanford, the apartment fire, the asylum, Devil's trap, the events at the end beginning of Season 2, Cold Oak, the events at the end of Season 3, the events at the end of Season 4, the events at the end of Season 5. Others are floating around as well (like Madison)...but some seem like they may be short chapters.