^^both really valid points... come to think of it, i'm finding that i think the same way ;)

I don't think Sam likes Ruby for Ruby's sake or anything like that. I do think it's all about him using her as a possible way to save Dean. She's a means-to-an-end. But as such, he's going to want to keep her around and okay as long as she can be useful.

His loyalty is to Dean, end of story.

His loyalty to Dean will always, always come first, no questions. True, I think Sam does see Ruby as that, as a means to and end since he thought she will be the one could help Dean, give them the answers that they need.

Sam's willingness to let Ruby, a demon, keep walking around free to do whatever as long as he could possibly use her to save Dean was just another indication of how far he'd be willing to go to save his brother.

After all, Sam knows firsthand what it's like to be possessed by a demon..............

I know, Sam is so willing to save Dean that he's practically willing to do anything, to let Ruby free, because he was told that she could help him save Dean

Yeah, the moment Ruby said that in the "Kids are All Right" episode, that she could save his brother, you know that she had Sam hooked. He would do pretty much anything to save Dean.

I think that Dean developed some respect for Ruby in this episode, even if not like or even all that much trust. But I still like that after the fight, it was Sam he rushed to help up, not Ruby. For Dean to suddenly be that concerned about Ruby, a demon (even a demon who's apparently helping them), would seem incredibly out-of-character.

I think (any level of) respect is too strong of a word... I think if anything he was merely willing to acknowledge they could use her and that she could help out on occasion.
And even so, I don't think him helping her out first (or even at all) would or should be up for debate, especially if the choise was between her and Sam, and sure as hell not two seconds after he met her.

Oh, of course. Dean would choose Sam over Ruby, no matter what. I realize that, and am glad that the show did, too. Because I was a bit worried that they were going to use this episode to make it all about how wonderful Ruby is, how the boys are going to be bestest friends ever with her now, and if that had happened, I wouldn't have believed it. I think they handled it pretty well. :nod:

I don't think Sam and Dean would ever really be friends with any kind of demon, but they would consider working with them if it meant saving the other

But no question about it, Dean would always, always put Sam first.

:nod: As we've seen with Sam's interactions with Ruby.

yeah, I wonder how John would feel or if he was also willing to work with a demon?

Well, John made a deal with a demon to save Dean's life..........

^ :nod: And he seemed very profecional and diplomatic while doing so.
I think more like Sam and his dealings with Ruby than with Dean and his own inteactions with demons when he's doing business (like say the crossroads demon).

I think that both John and Sam are more capable of turning off their emotions and being colder when doing things they consider necessary (even things they don't want to do). While with Dean, he might do something, but he can't shut down his emotional response. So even while trying to strike a deal with a demon (like in the Crossroads Blues ep), he's still going to be making insults and showing how he feels.