[Dean - this Dean - will never forget the fact that it was dumb, stupid, plain, random luck that he got the Admiral instead of a red-eyed demon at that crossroads; that he was given a chance not only to save his brother, but to save his world. That he was given a chance to know the people he knew, to meet Felix, to get to have him now; that he never became the man Stiles has to figure out how to help, now.
Dean knows himself. He knows it won't be easy, wonders for just a moment if it will even be possible. The hunter opens his mouth to tell him that and abruptly, just that quickly, he knows what his answer has to be. He looks back at the screen, gaze steady and serious. He's not proud of this, not by a long shot, but he's sure of it.]
You'll never convince him to help himself. Ever. It's gotta be someone else. [It's gotta be Sam, he doesn't say, because in a way he already has; because he's not so sure it can only be Sam. Dean only knows that it can't be himself. Even the version of himself talking, now, to Stiles was never motivated to save himself if failing to do so would save someone else. If doing so meant he would have to live alone.
That, and this: he nods, then, and breaks the dour mood with a slow, crooked smile.]
Private
Dean knows himself. He knows it won't be easy, wonders for just a moment if it will even be possible. The hunter opens his mouth to tell him that and abruptly, just that quickly, he knows what his answer has to be. He looks back at the screen, gaze steady and serious. He's not proud of this, not by a long shot, but he's sure of it.]
You'll never convince him to help himself. Ever. It's gotta be someone else. [It's gotta be Sam, he doesn't say, because in a way he already has; because he's not so sure it can only be Sam. Dean only knows that it can't be himself. Even the version of himself talking, now, to Stiles was never motivated to save himself if failing to do so would save someone else. If doing so meant he would have to live alone.
That, and this: he nods, then, and breaks the dour mood with a slow, crooked smile.]
You'll figure it out.