What's also interesting about this fic is that, from each individual brother's perspective, you could have written this fic with John choosing either son and it would feel plausible. Because Dean felt and truly believed that Sam was John's favourite (while Sam always thought that the good little soldier was the favourite). And John? Honestly -- who knows if he actually had a favourite, or could have chosen one son over another.

What he did and said in "In My Time of Dying" suggests that he was at least capable of imagining Sam dying (in light of the whole dark destiny thing) -- whereas we know he sold his soul for Dean because he couldn't live without him. So at the heart of it, I feel this story has tapped into that dark little nugget of truth. And yet, I can't help but think that John probably projected more protective feelings towards Sam (because Sam was the baby? because Mary died trying to protect him? because he was trying to prevent Sam ever going darkside?), thus leading young Dean to believe that John loved Sam more.

This story broke my heart, though. The double-sided coin was a great plot device -- so subtle and yet so monumentally CRUSHING. And Dean didn't have a clue!