You can totally still make that work. They weren't afraid because they had an out. Once they were on the outside, Dean (who before was chafing at the bit after Nightshifter) is the one who says they need to keep an absolutely low profile....so clearly there is a LOT of worry about getting caught and locked up for real. And you can always add a throwaway line:

"Dean...this isn't like Green Valley. We get caught this time..."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I got it, Sam. Don't need a college education for this one." etc.

*pets* You can totally work with this.