The stake was actually pressing against her and Faith suddenly understood what it meant to have one's life flash before their eyes. Strange, it hadn't happened when Angelus had turned her, perhaps because the fates knew that wouldn't be the end for her. But now, now she saw it all, in a fast blur of motion as she closed her eyes tightly.
Before it all stopped. And the stake wasn't pressed against her skin any more. A second passed, and another, before she cracked open one eye and saw Sam kneeling there.
"Thank you," she murmured, still blinking back the tears. "Thank you, thank you. I swear, you won't regret it, I promise."