layne67

'Dead Man's Blood'. The first of the three SPN episodes that deal with vampires. The episode that John came back and they joined forces hunting, just like old times.

This is when Dean has left for the funeral home to get the dead man's blood. Sam is alone with John in their motel room. He's pacing around, looking worried, because Dean's taking a long time. "I should go help." And on top of that, he's alone with his father, and I don't think he's comfortable with that, without Dean to act as a buffer. John's watching him, and he seems to decide something.

"Sammy. I don't know I've ever told you this, but the day you were born, you know what I did? I put a hundred bucks in a savings account for you. I did the same thing for your brother. It was a college fund, and every month I put in another hundred dollars until -- "

Sam's listening raptly to John saying that he has never intended that his sons to live the way they did. And that after their mother passed, all he could see was evil everywhere. He wanted to keep his sons alive, and somewhere along the way, "I stopped being a father."

John says they're too different, but Sam disagrees, saying that they have a lot more in common than just about anyone.

That's when Dean comes back with the dead man's blood and Sam looks visibly relieved that Dean's back.

I love this scene first and foremost because Sam was so obviously concerned that Dean was late. He was not used to being away from his brother and he probably had wanted to go with Dean. But I guess John ordered Dean to go alone, and of course Dean obeyed.

The second reason why I love this scene is the talk that Sam and John had while waiting for Dean. I love John here. I think this is the first time that I really understand what John was all about. He knew Sam was worried, so he tried to calm him down by telling him about the college fund, putting some humour in it at the end when he said that he ended up using the money to buy ammo. He tried to explain why he had to do what he did, and I think Sam understood. This is the only time that we see Sam and John having a father and son talk, and I think they bonded when they realized that they actually have a lot in common. Something that Dean knew already, and it was probably the main reason why they didn't get along, they were so alike - both stubborn and determined, leaders, both of them. And John called Sam "Sammy" without getting his ears bitten off!

Superb acting by JDM, and Jared, too. One brother worrying about the other brother, and a quiet moment between a head-strong son and his equally head-strong father. Amazing scene in its quiet intensity.

Seven

Caps from here and here.