The reason why Dean thinks that telling someone they’re needed and useful is the same as expressing how much you love them is because he seeks/sought love by trying his best to be needed and useful.
Discuss.
#it’s almost as if this is a learned behavior due to growing up in an abusive relationship #and not just him being clueless #wow who’d have thought the most emotionally intelligent person on the show might actually just be exhibiting love in the only way he knows how (@daenw )