"I have to go."
"Simon won't mind if you're a few minutes late."
"Jace! I have to go," Clary said smiling.
"Fine, but you better come back to see me tomorrow, I'm bored out of my mind in this place," Jace looked around the infirmary.
Clary squeezed his hand, "I promise I'll be here tomorrow." She kissed him on the lips and stood up. "I'll tell Isabelle and Alec it's safe to come in now," she winked at Jace. Smiling she headed towards the door.
She stopped outside and glanced down at her feet. A big fluff ball was lying stretched out. Clary bent down to scratch Church. "Hey, Church. Where are Isabelle and Alec?" Church purred and stood up, his fluffy tail high. Clary followed him through the corridors to the training room. She thanked Church with a quick pet and opened the doors. Sure enough there Isabelle was throwing knives at targets at the side of the room.
"Hi," Clary called. Isabelle looked up, her face shining with sweat. She started making her way over to Clary.
"What's up?" Isabelle said. Typical Isabelle, no 'Hi' just straight to the point.
"Look I'm going now," Clary told her. "I think Jace is bored, maybe you should go visit him."
"What? Oh I dunno, I'll tell Alec to go or something," Isabelle replied, seeming distracted.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, but Jace is a big boy now, he doesn't need us all to visit."
"Right, OK." Clary thought this was a little harsh, but didn't push the point. "So where is Alec?"
Isabelle pointed up and called for her brother. Clary looked up at the beams above to see a dark shadow flip off and start falling to the ground. Alec landed gracefully in a crouch between the two girls. "Clary!" he said, pulling Clary into a brief hug. A little surprised, Clary returned the gesture.
"What brings you to the Institute?" Alec asked. Clary opened her mouth to reply when Alec help up his hand to stop her, "Right, stupid question" Alec winked and bent down to tie his laces.
Clary laughed. "Actually I was just leaving, I said to Isabelle that I think one of you should go see Jace. He's kinda lonely and you're his family, you know?"
Alec looked up and Clary suddenly realised how tired he looked. He was pale, with bags under his eyes and his cheek bones were a little too prominent. Magnus's breaking up with him must've hurt him more than he was letting on; underneath the pretend happiness was a scared little boy. "Sure, I'll just go change and I'll visit him." Alec rushed off leaving Clary and Isabelle.
"He never really got over him," Izzy murmured.
"You mean-"
"Jace. I mean, I know he loves Magnus and nothing will change that, but a little part of him will always love Jace more than a brother, or even a parabatai, should. And since Magnus broke up with him…" Izzy trailed off.
"Is he okay? Has he slept at all?" Clary asked, worried.
Isabelle bit her lip and Clary saw how young and vulnerable she looked. "I don't know," she whispered, her eyes shining with tears, "he won't answer any questions and he's not eating." Tears were now flowing freely down Isabelle's cheeks.
Clary gasped, "Isabelle." She took a step closer and hugged the other girl. Isabelle put her head on Clary's shoulder and let the tears fall.
"I just want my brother back."
