"What happened?" Alec asked again confused, after Jace disappeared.
He had been dreaming of him and their parabatai ceremony, when everything had gone dark, and then Jace was there, muttering their oath while holding him tightly and crying. Alec didn't understand a thing but answered him nonetheless, hugging back and crying too, feeling finally whole again, relieved that Jace was really okay, and there with him.
And then suddenly, members of the Clave arrived and he was taken away.
But where was 'there'?
~o~
Alec looked around and realised he was in Magnus' loft, lying in the Warlock's couch. Raising his eyes he saw Clary, Magnus and Izzy looking relieved about something he couldn't grasp.
'What is there to be relieved about?' He thought getting up shakily.
Magnus was beside him in a second, reaching out to steady him, and Alec noticed for the first time, seeing his face clearly in the dim lightning that the Warlock had been crying. Forgetting Jace for a second, he reached out to gently touch Magnus' face, wiping the tears away.
"Magnus? What's wrong?" He asked softly, worried.
"Nothing. Everything's okay now…" Magnus whispered giving him a shaky smile, and collapsed.
"Magnus!" Alec called his name alarmed, catching him before he could fall, and then raised his unconscious body in his arms carrying him to his room, Clary and Izzy on his heels.
He put him on the huge, four poster bed, and gently ran his fingers through his raven hair before turning back to the girls.
"Izzy, wha-"
His words were cut short when Izzy jumped on him, wrapping her arms around him in a bone-crushing hug. "Iz?" He asked again confused, looking at Clary, (who seemed to be on the verge of tears too), for an explanation.
"You died!" His little sister said, punching him weakly. "You were dead, for a moment! We thought…"
"Shh…" He crooned hugging her tighter to stop her assault. "I'm okay, I'm so sorry Iz…"
"You better be sorry! I almost lost you…"
"I am…" He muttered kissing her hair.
She let him go reluctantly and nodded wiping her eyes. "Once this is all over, I'm going to kick your ass, as promised."
"Deal." He chuckled softly not doubting she would. "Now… can you please tell me what happened? Jace was here and now is gone, and Magnus…" He turned to look at the Warlock again, lying on the bed, deathly pale and extremely still. "What happened to him?" He whispered, sitting on the bed beside him, touching his face again, wiping off his remaining tears.
"You died." Izzy said again matter-of-factly and Alec turned to look at her for a second before turning back to Magnus.
'Am I really so important to you?' He thought baffled. 'Why would a centuries old Warlock shed tears for me?'
"You used the stone to track Jace, and a part of your soul was gone. Jace returned and brought you back, but if it wasn't for Magnus you would have been long gone hours ago." Izzy went on.
"Hours?"
"He's been trying to bring you back for over half a day. Using up all of his magic to wake you up, trying everything to keep you from slipping away. It's a miracle he lasted this long."
"Magnus… I'm so sorry…" He whispered, petting his hair softly, but then thoughts of why everything happened pulled him out of his trance and he looked away from the Warlock's face. "Wait. Jace!" He exclaimed getting up. "We have to save him!"
Izzy put her hands on his shoulders pushing him to sit back on the bed. "Jace is safe. The Clave won't do anything to hurt him, not before the trial. And you know they won't let us see him even if we go there."
"Since when has that stopped us from trying?"
"Since now!" Izzy glared at him. "Magnus needs you! He almost died to save you, and you're going to leave and let him wake up all alone?" She practically hissed and he dropped his head embarrassed for not thinking about that. "I'll go to Jace with Clary, and we'll do all we can, but you have to stay here."
"You're right. I wasn't thinking…"
"Men usually don't. Good thing I'm here." She joked to ease his guilt, and he smiled petting her head.
"Thank you."
She hugged him again briefly, whispering, "I'm so glad you're okay…" and then surprised him by leaning down and pressing a kiss on Magnus' forehead. "We'll take care of Jace. You take care of Magnus and make sure to thank him for me too when he wakes up. We'll be in touch. Oh. And get some rest too while watching over him. You need it."
"Izzy, I've been sleeping for hours."
"You've been dying!" She corrected, still cross at him for putting himself in danger.
"Okay, okay… I'll just…" He trailed off looking around, wondering where he'd sleep if he did.
"It's a big bed." She winked, practically reading his thoughts, making him blush.
"Izzy!" He exclaimed, but she just laughed and left.
Clary smiled at him and then they were both gone, leaving him alone with Magnus.
~o~
Alec sighed and got up, praying Magnus wouldn't wake while he's gone, and headed to the bathroom to get a towel. He dipped it in cool water and went back to him, gently putting it on his forehead.
He sighed softly, looking at Magnus' pale face. "I'm sorry… I ended up hurting you again…" Even unconscious and pale, the Warlock still looked extremely beautiful. So peaceful, and ethereal.
"I don't understand…" Alec muttered. "Why would you go so far for me?" 'I haven't done anything to deserve it…' He thought, before deciding he definitely should. As soon as this mess was over, he'd make it up to Magnus and thank him properly for everything.
Just then, Magnus stirred, mumbling something in his sleep and Alec immediately leaned closer, touching his face softly.
"Magnus… Shh… It's okay."
"Alec…" He stirred again, sounding pained.
"I'm here, it's okay, I'm here…"
"Don't die… Please…"
"Sh, sh, sh…" The Nephilim crooned petting his hair. "Hush…"
He fell silent and Alec sighed again. He knew him so little, but hated to see him suffer like that, even more so, since he was the one to blame. He thought of waking him up, but he really needed the rest, so he just stayed there by his side, running his fingers through his soft hair gently, monitoring his condition, thinking about everything that happened.
~o~