A/N: Just a short missing moment in Ep 1.22 Devil's Trap. Dialogue from episode in bold. I own nothing, just playing in the Supernatural sandbox. :)
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Dean stares, feeling like he's having an out-of-body experience. If he could pinch himself, wake up from this nightmare he's currently entrenched in, he would. Instead, he is standing still holding a gun - the Colt…the weapon that can supposedly kill anything but most certainly can kill a human - on his own Father. His idol. His hero. He's hot and cold at the same time, sweat running down his face mixing with a tear he would never admit to falling. Yet his hand is steady as he faces down the man he's spent all his life trying to emulate and contemplates pulling the trigger.
Sam enters the room at this point, drawing both men's attention, and stutters to a halt. "Dean, what are you doing?" he questions. Dean knows what it looks like…it looks like he's lost his mind.
"Sam, your brother's lost his mind." Dad helpfully supplies.
"He's not Dad." Dean states, surprised that his voice comes out steady since his pulse is racing so fast he feels like he's been in a full-out sprint.
"What?" Sam's obviously confused.
Wow Dean, that's really persuasive and clear! Dean mocks himself, even as he tries to explain, "I think he's possessed. I think he's been possessed since we rescued him."
"Don't listen to him, Sammy." orders Dad not-Dad.
Dean's unsurprised by Sam's hesitation but also so thankful that he isn't just rejecting his actions out of hand. "Dean, how do you know?" Sammy, always the analyzer, needing all the data before coming to a conclusion...
"He's ... he's different." Nice, Dean. But how does he explain in words something that is just a feeling? A sense, a conviction, deep in his gut, that something is horribly, horribly wrong.
"You know, we don't have time for this. Sam, you wanna kill this demon, you've gotta trust me."
Dean glances over at Sam. He doesn't envy his brother...having to choose between believing the man who had raised him to obey his every command, or his brother who had tried so hard but so often failed to protect him. He knows he doesn't deserve it, but mentally he's begging Sam to believe him. He wishes he could put into words why he's convinced their Dad is possessed…marshal a brilliant argument that clearly conveys his thought process and wins his brother over, but he simply has to trust that this past year has given back that innate sense of understanding the two of them always had growing up. As kids Sam had always seemed to intuitively know what Dean was thinking and feeling, often before he had even processed his own emotions or thoughts. He is desperately banking on that same sense now.
For his part, Sam is frozen, hesitating and torn between the two most important people in his life - his family. "Dean, how do you know?" he had asked. His brother is showing more emotion than he had ever seen. Sam knows this has to be excruciating for him…holding a gun on the man he has looked up to and tried to emulate his entire life. "He's ... he's different." was all he got back…not the most eloquent or persuasive of arguments. And yet.
"You know, we don't have time for this. Sam, you wanna kill this demon, you've gotta trust me." Sure sounded like Dad…demanding, need-to-know attitude…Sam looks back and forth between his father and brother. Dean glances at him, but doesn't say anything further to convince him.
John just looks angry and impatient. "Sam?"
Sam's been raised to obey his father. Even with all the times he'd rebelled or argued, it was thoroughly ingrained in him to follow the man's orders. He looks over again at his brother. This past year had been a rocky road, but they had also regained much of the close bond they once had growing up. He knows Dean would never act in such a manner if he wasn't absolutely certain he was right. He also knows that Dean is always, always putting him first…putting family first. He trusts his brother implicitly. Looking back over at Dad, he realizes that there never was a question of whose side to take.
Dean can almost hear Sam thinking, deliberating. He hasn't given him much to go on, and even though they have regained a certain rhythm in their relationship, he isn't sure it's enough to carry the day. But then he sees Sam come to a decision.
"No." Sam says, even as he's moving behind Dean. "No." Dean lets out the breath he didn't realize he was holding. He's deeply gratified in the trust and belief his brother is placing in him. And he's certain it's not misplaced. Something is completely off with their Dad, he just knows it. Something inside him loosens, feeling the unity of brotherhood, even as they stare down their only other family member from behind the sights of a gun.
"Fine. You're both so sure, go ahead. Kill me." Dean stares at the man in front of him - his FATHER, feeling Sam solidly at his back, and tries to act. At the last moment, though, he hesitates, doubt creeping in. What if he IS wrong? Wrong or not, can he actually kill his own Dad just to rid them of this demon? Can he live with it, even if it's the right action?
John looks down and waits, patient. He knows Dean can't pull the trigger. Not on his idol, his hero. Looking back up, eyes yellow, cards showing he drawls "I thought so." And all hell breaks loose.