A Character Study of Dean Winchester

Don't love me! and Please love me! warred in Dean Winchester's heart.

For everyone else, they lived with a single guarantee - Dean's love. When he cared for someone, he didnot know how to do it by halves. When Dean loved, he loved whole-heartedly, utterly and completely.

Children recognized that about him. They had always been more at ease around him, more interested in and trusting of him than Sam. Because, with Sam, there had always been an edge of selfishness, a possibility of violence.

With Dean, that possibility of violence was also that of protection. From Lucas to Jesse to Ben, they all knew this unusual man would easily sacrifice himself to protect them.

He loved with everything he was. It was the core of his being.

He deserved, more than anyone, to have such a love in return.

He never did.

His mother died when he was still too young.

His father was consumed by revenge and loved Sam more.

His brother took after their father, too focused on his own pain to be aware of Dean's.

His surrogate father tried to do right by him, but broke Dean's trust when he thought he knew better than the boy.

His first love didn't believe him when he tried to tell her the truth, and forced him to leave.

His last love didn't want an explanation for a mistake Dean made and cut him out of the life of her and her son.

And his angel condescendingly tried to protect Dean, and ended up betraying him.

He deserved to be loved whole-heartedly, utterly and completely. He deserved to be forgiven for his mistakes, bolstered through his trials, and cared for in times of weakness and pain.

He never was.