[It's almost a blessing that Phil is quiet, because Dean talks enough for two people. It isn't born out of a need to fill the silence - because a lot of the time, he's perfectly content with silence - but a need to tell someone who isn't Cas, who doesn't already know his life story.

When Dean dies, no one is going to remember him.]

You know, ah... [He laughs quietly, the sound slightly-pained.] ...I had...a dream, once. I had a girlfriend, a regular job, a house. My mom was alive. My brother was married. I was... [Dean struggles for the word, surprised when he finds himself settling on-] ...happy.

And then I woke up. And I was...back in this...piss-poor excuse for a world, doin' credit card scams and impersonating federal agents. [Dean fingers the amulet around his neck.] It wasn't even worth it, while it lasted. It was all wrong.

[He huffs, watching the bubbles from his exhalation rise to the ceiling of the library. Monsters and people are different. Demons and people are different. Evil is subjective.]

I've done a lotta bad stuff. Done a lotta good stuff, too, though it's not like they cancel out. But the way I see it, no one's ever done somethin' bad enough they can't be forgiven.