Jace and Simon paced back and forth outside of the Institute infirmary, criss crossing each other in perfect syncope.
Jace was chewing on the nails of his right hand, the other wrapped firmly cross his chest. His eyes, which were fixed on the closed doors, were red and puffy. Simon was alternating between running his hands through his hair and fiddling with his glasses.
Jace blinked hard, trying to get rid of the images of Clary's bloody body out of his head. Worry and grief were literally all that was fueling him right now. It had been hours since they'd carried his unconscious wife into the Institute and called the healer. Hours more since life had resembled non-chaotic.
What had he been thinking? How could he let her go by herself? What kind of husband, guardian, father was he?
He blinked hard, remembering too late to omit the last title.
The door opened just a crack, revealing a sliver of Isabelle's pale face. She had rushed back from her mission as soon as Alec had been able to send word of the accident. Jace dared barely breathe.
"In." She said weakly. Jace shot a glance at Simon, who set his lips in a pale line and inhaled deeply. Jace spit out a thumbnail then followed Isabelle into the dim Infirmary, Simon on his heels.
They walked down the silent rows of empty beds. The healer plus Magnus were bent over the last bed in the left row, Alec hovering anxiously a good distance away.
Jace willed himself to be calm and collected, despite his obviously unstable appearance. He kept close behind Isabelle, one foot after the other. He was painfully aware of Simon's laboured breathing, which was putting him even more on edge.
As they drew near the bed, Alec moved to his side, gripping his upper arm firmly. It was obvious that he could feel Jace's inner distress through their bond.
"Prepare yourself." He whispered. Jace's heart fell into his stomach. He wasn't prepared to handle this. Not with Clary.
Jace made the last three strides to the bedside, and suddenly the urges to cry, vomit, scream and kill something all assailed him at once.
In spite of himself, his knees buckled and he fell back onto the flagstones. Somehow he managed to roll back over his shoulder onto his knees, but the wind was still knocked out of him and all he could do was brokenly sob on the floor. Over the noise he was making, he could hear a strangled choking sound that could only belong to Simon.
Clary's body had been mangled almost recognizably. With all the blood and clothes before, he hadn't noticed just how deep the wounds were. The healer had stripped her bare, but instead of the pale skin he saw and cherished every night before they went to sleep, there was only raw flesh and deep gashes.
Jace gasped, pulling enough air into his lungs to force himself back to his feet. Alec and Isabelle had matching expressions of concern and fear. He didn't lose control, ever.
Except when Clary was involved.
Jace gulped and forced himself to move to his wife's bedside, his eyes drifting to the silver band gleaming on her finger on the other side of the bed. It was tarnished and covered with blood and demon... gunk. His thumb worried the inside of his own wedding ring.
"We couldn't save them." One of the healers, Meliessa, said gently, stepping between Jace and the bed while the other healers closed in around Clary.
"Them?" Jace asked dazedly. The healer looked helplessly to Isabelle.
"Twins, Jace." She said quietly, eyes fixed on the floor.
Jace turned away, his face stony. He paced away from the bed then returned, staring brokenly down at his wife.
"I will murder whoever did this." He whispered, gripping the end of the bed.
"Jace, don't you think-" Isabelle began, but Jace cut her off.
"No, Isabelle. No words will keep me from my revenge. Not this time." He spat. Alec moved in, placing a hand on his shoulder. Jace shook it off and strode away, banging the infirmary door behind him.
