Sam stumbled out to the scene, moving in just in time to see Spike jam that pointy stake right into Faith's chest. His mouth fell open and he tried to cry out, but the pitch of his voice didn't seem to want to cooperate with him. He couldn't speak. He couldn't move. All Sam was capable of doing was standing rooted in place, eyes wide and filled with absolute horror as Faith's body went from a whole, living being to a pile of dust at Spike's feet.
She was gone.
The vampire was gone.
Faith was gone.
"NO!" Sam fell. He was on his knees again, hands dropping uselessly to his sides. Spike turned, long jacket trailing in the wind, and looked down at him. Stake still gripping in a tightened fist, the vampire's gaze ticked back off toward what was left of Faith.
Spike didn't look terribly pleased himself. Unlike his companion, however, he was keeping it all in. A silent misery that he, and only he alone, would ever be aware of. "It had to be done, kid," Spike told him, dropping the stake onto the pavement with a clatter. It rolled to the side, coming to a halt as soon as it hit the brick wall to his right.
Sam's shoulders, slumped over in defeat, began to shake. He leaned forward to cover his face with a hand, only just managing to stifle a sob. "I was supposed to save her," he choked out, voice muffled between his fingers. He looked up at Spike with reddened eyes and dampened cheeks. "I WAS SUPPOSED TO SAVE HER!"
"You can't save everyone," Spike responded, voice eerily calm. The kid needed a minute. Maybe a few. He'd wait, make sure he got home all right. Faith would have wanted it. Spike stooped over to pick up his stake and shoved it into his jacket. Then he stepped around the corner, only leaving his voice behind. "Take your time. I'll be here."
Sam did. He fell forward and, for the first time in a very, very long time, began to cry, his heart and soul going out to the pile of dust sweeping past him and vanishing in the wind.