Yeah, I did think it would be in character for John to be a hard-ass, but indeed, leaving Dean where any demon or monster could get him was the part that niggled at me, too ... although I guess he abandoned them a lot as kids when he went on hunts where anything could get them, too--even when they were very young (like in the shtriga episode).

And (as I told another commenter), I agree with you that Dean probably had (his and) Sam's best interests at heart! I was writing this story from John's perspective, so I figured JOHN thought he was being cocky and selfish, but it's not what I think Dean was really doing (I think he was probably making a hard choice for their survival, as you say), which just makes it all the sadder, to be so misjudged by his father. :-( Poor Dean.

Thanks for your thoughts.