[Dean has lost his ability to respond to optimism; lost his trust for what used to be something he depended on like oxygen. Scott hasn't made any headway with him, either, and in point of fact is worse off. This Dean's blind faith was never repaid, and it left him more vulnerable to the worst parts of himself than ever.]

"It could be a lot worse" is enough to get by on now that I'm here, but it's not enough to justify being here at all.

This place isn't home. People stay here for a long time but not when they have a choice, not for good. Stop trying to pretend like it is.