*laugh* The demon's kind of a bitch. It knows where to hit, where will hurt John the most, or Dean the most. It's been watching them, knows their weaknesses. And it could be a long couple of days until they can get rid of it.

(also, the next chapter should answer one of your questions from an earlier fb, btw)

Sam kinda got shafted in some of this fic. It actually started out as a Dean-centric fic. Then, John shoved his way in, and it revolved around them both. Dean becoming what he always could have been/John's redemption. Sam's arc is a gentler one, less flashy. It's him growing up, finally. Completing the cycle that started the day he walked out for Stanford. This time, he gets to fulfil Dean's normal role, of being the solid one, the one who'll hold the line, do what needs to be done, no matter the cost.

John on the other hand is going to get a nasty, nasty little shock in a couple of chapters. Not so much about the stump, but in general. *grin*