*laugh* Dean's got a lot of issues. And a lot of what the demon ripped out was kind of important to him. The memory of emotions that he was using to keep his balance. Without them, he looks at his family and knows he loves them, and would do anything for them, but not why. And the memories he's got don't always support those feelings. Sam, pulling the trigger and blasting a load of rock salt into his chest, his father bitching at him/the demon in his father's face.

And while on one side, Dean was one step from Hallmark, on the other, he was always straddling the line of psychotic. "It scares me, the things I'm willing to do for my family." *grin* And with the Hallmark side torn out somewhat...Yeah. Dean's a powder keg.

I'm glad the claustrophobia came through. Cause yes. That's what we wanted. This horrible little "the outside world doesn't exist" feeling. Where the only real thing for all of them is Dean and a hourglass in the basement.

And they like their get well present! Also, because I forgot to say: Eeee! Christmas Kthulu!