You Can't Help WHo you Fall in Love With

Disclaimer: Belongs to Cassandra Clare

A/N: This one's not very long. Oh well... I'll ease myself back in. I've missed writing... Stupid Exams that require time to do revision *Grumbles*.

Review, my lovelies!

Sweat dripped down his back, sticking his clothes to his body. He grunted and swirled the seraph blade round his head before stabbing it viciously into the punching bag. With a grim smile of satisfaction he stepped back and stared at his victim. The punching bag was ripped to shreds, stuffing spilled out from its wounds and it hung limply from the ceiling, reminding Jace of someone who had just been hanged.

"What are you doing, Jace?" Alec asked wearily, as he stood in the doorway.

Jace huffed and grabbed a towel, moping up his forehead. "Training." He answered shortly.

Alec smiled sadly. "That's not what your doing, Jace…you're trying to forget her aren't you?"

Jace stiffened. "I don't know what you mean." He meant to say with an air of lofty indignation; it came out as more of a whisper.

"Jace…" Alec sighed. Jace whirled hearing the pity in Alec's voice.

"Get Out." He hissed. Alec looked at him steadily.

"No I won't. But I'll fight you; if you want. You could use a better opponent." He nodded toward the punching bag.

"Alec you hate fighting."

"I don't. Besides I need a distraction right now. So fight me."

Jace stared at Alec's defiant expression. "Fine."

Minutes later they were stood opposite each other; both holding a seraph blade.

"Bring it on." Alec said simply a strange smile on his face, it didn't suit him.

Jace lunged, swinging the blade around towards Alec's leg. Swiftly, Alec blocked him, his arms the only thing moving.

"Best you got?" He taunted.

Jace grunted and attacked again. And again and again and again…only to be blocked by Alec each time.

Every time they had fought together in the past it had been like this, Jace offensive, Alec defensive. That's what made them such a good team, but they couldn't fight against each other.

"Fine!" he growled throwing the seraph blade onto the floor. "I can't do this right now. I'm tired, okay? I'll beat you some other time."

Alec looked calmly at him, his blue eyes held some unidentifiable sadness.

"I know you're tired Jace. You're making yourself tired, so you'll be so exhausted you won't have a chance to think about her." Alec tilted his head to one side and closed his eyes as if in pain. "And then you'll wake up in the middle of the night, still on agony over the last dream you had because she was there. She won't leave you alone. And then you won't be able to sleep, because you know you'll see her again. So you move, go, run... anything to stop the pain." He opened his eyes and looked at Jace who was staring at him shocked. "Am I right? Or am I right?"

Jace shook his head. "I can't … I don't want to talk about it."

"Whatever Jace. Go see Isabelle, she has some of that stuff Hodge used to make. A dreamless sleep. Get some rest."

"Alec…"

"Go."
Alec watched Jace leave. "I can't stand to see you with her…but I can't stand to see you this unhappy either." Alec whispered to the empty room. "You can't help who you fall in love with Jace."