I own nothing.

In Adrian's grip Daniel couldn't breathe.

It had only been six months since all of this happened in Karnak, and some nights Daniel still woke up with the feeling of a hand around his throat.

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Daniel had watched dazedly as Laurie shot once at Adrian. A quick jump of triumph and slight guilt as he watched the man hit the floor. He watched in stupor as the hand unfolded and bullet was revealed. Daniel's mouth opened in silent, useless warning as Adrian's leg came up and caught Laurie in the stomach. In the air she folded and when she hit the marble floor her spine sprang back and her head cracked. Daniel could still hear the sick crack, replayed it in his mind. Blood was pooling from a gash in the back of her head as she rolled on the floor. She was moaning at first, but as she began to cough it turned to a mad gurgling. Daniel was rushing to her.

"Adrian, if you've killed her-" Dan gasped as he crouched to hold her, not entirely believing what was happening, but saw the red evidence.

"Oh Daniel -" Adrian was saying useless things, blathering as he stood again from the floor. Daniel was too horrified at what he was holding to listen. Laurie was a garbling, crying, bloody mess and she clung to Daniel.

Daniel bent close as she said through thick mouth, " Jon? Oh please Jon..." Daniel recoiled as she said his name repeatedly, pleading. The rational part of his brain said she was in too much pain to know better, but his heart still stung as she continued calling to him.

Through the ceiling smashed a large blue arm, reached down to Adrian, but found Laurie and hesitated. Daniel was scared out of his mind, but Jon was calm as he was normal sized again, split in two, and heading to where Dan was crouched over Laurie.

Jon stood over Dan, and Daniel struggled to understand all that was happening. He loosened his grip as he realized Jon's intentions. Laurie still mumbled consistently the other man's name, the better man, the best man.

"Thank you Daniel," Jon said serenely as he bent and lifted Laurie into his arms. Her red began to flow onto his blue and Daniel's heart was breaking now and forever. All Daniel could do was gape and squeeze Laurie's hand one last time before the two flashed and were gone.

Dan stood slowly, and shakily looked around. The other Jon had begun to shadow Rorschach closely, and everyone listened as the TVs announced the attacks around the world.

"I did it!" Adrian shouted and looked triumphant and glorious, but at that moment Dan saw him differently.

This was a man that had planned the deaths of millions of people, but had taken special measure to plan the deaths of those close to him. Edward Blake thrown from a window, Laurie thrown across the room, Jon fried with a giant lynx, what else did he plan? He was insane, diagnosed in the few moments Daniel stood and watched.

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Would Dan keep Adrian's little secret? Of course, he had already done enough damage.

Rorschach was a different matter, as he walked away from the three other men. Never intending to compromise. Jon began to follow him, and Daniel was panicked. He moved to follow, but felt a hand press against his chest. He turned his head to look and argue with Adrian, but only noticed he was shaking his head.

"You're a good friend Daniel," Adrian said sadly as he moved his hand from his chest to his neck and lifted him clear off the ground. Dan's hands flew straight to where Adrian was gripping him, and his eyes bulged. He gasped shallowly, and Rorschach stopped dead.

"If you leave without promising your silence Rorschach," Adrian said slowly as he tightened his grip, "Daniel will be killed."

Daniel was incredulous, even as his body begged for air. Thinking back Dan would note that Adrian didn't say he would be killing Daniel. He made it sound like a horrible accident would happen. Everything was planned. Daniel couldn't see where this was going because he wasn't breathing at the time.

Even though Dan hadn't seen the promise or process, he felt the results. After only a few more agonizing moments Adrian placed him on the ground. He fell to his knees and coughed raggedly. Relief and oxygen filled him as Adrian moved away. Daniel continued his desperate sucking and coughing as he raised his head to look around. Rorschach towered over him, his mask removed as his face exposed his conflicted soul. He held out his hand to Daniel. For a moment all Dan could do was stare at it, but soon came to his senses and grabbed on.

Rising shakily, he took a moment to take in Rorschach, and everything around him. Adrian was discussing plainly with Jon, ignoring the two of them. Rorschach looked as though he was about to fall apart, but even then Daniel didn't understand fully what had happened, what he had given for Daniel's life.

Dan embraced him quickly, lunging at the unmasked vigilante and wrapping his trembling limbs around him. Rorschach went stiff and patted Daniel awkwardly on the back. Daniel was breathing in and out, and was eventually pushed away.

Daniel was alive.

He was slowly killing Rorschach.