A/N: I haven't watched Saw II and the other sequels, so sorry if there are any mistakes in the end. I lost interest after someone told me Adam was really dead. Enjoy! And I can handle critique.

Warnings: Death, large metaphor and all the Saw-warnings. Oh, and Slash - Chainshipping.

So many times you can think about the empire you've built. But empires have to fall. Yours did. Adam's did. No way that it could be rebuilt.

So many times you can think about the life you have built up. About the empire you have built up like one of those old, Roman Emperors. All the people you have ruled, all the land you've conquered. So many times you can think about them, but the only time you do is when you fall from your throne. When your empire divides and falls. That is the time you realize your thinking back on how you've built up those walls around your empire, around yourself and around everyone you want to keep safely between the walls so you can keep them close.

You have built up your empire so long ago. You worked your way up to the throne, known as Dr. Gordon. But behind the mask of Dr. Gordon, there was a man named Lawrence and almost no one saw him. When you hide too long behind a mask, the mask blends with the person hiding behind it. But the empire fell, the mask dropped and you had to face it. Right there in front of a man you didn't even know. He knew you, he had the pictures taken, but at the same time, you were strangers.

The stones of your empire lay shattered around you and you hang onto your last pillar. A pillar that's slipping away so quickly you can barely hold. Your fingers gripping the last bits of stone. You have to go, you know you have to, otherwise he'll never survive. Otherwise you will never survive. He has to stay, his empire chained to a pipe. He's falling apart. Two empires that fall can't be saved and yet you want to try. You want to go and seek help without knowing you will ever see him again.

Can you? Can you leave him behind to fall apart while you go look after the stones that are missing? Can you give up your own empire to save his? You don't know. You've taken steps. You sawed your foot off. You shot him because he would be in less pain then, but he stayed alive. He saved your life with madness and anger in his eyes no one can handle. You know you probably can't. You've been certain of everything for so long, until now. Now everything has fallen apart and you don't know what to do. You're bleeding to death.

You're going to be alright. You're just wounded…. Wounded in the shoulder. I have to go and get help. The words have slipped out so easily. You promised to bring someone back. But would you bring someone back? Everything got confirmed when he kept saying your name. You shouldn't leave him, your heart knows it. You know it. But still you go. You turn your back on him, the bloody fingers slipping off your arm. You immediately miss his touch. You want to know he's there. He's there and he'll never leave. Never.

He doesn't yell anymore when you force yourself out of the door. His heavy breathing and soft sobs reach your ears but you don't look back. Not for a single second. You need him. You can't leave him behind. Yet, you have to. You have to save him because you can't be saved yourself. The pain in your leg has gone numb when you enter the dark corridor.

You hear him kick the wall, the chain smashing heavily against the pipe but it doesn't get loose. Your eyes turn at the ground for a second, just a second. All becomes dizzy. The blood streams slowly out your ankle. Darkness is so tempting to fall into. Your empire crumbles for good. And the last thing you hear is his voice.

"Key." Maybe. After all.