"Novel way to look after someone with hypothermia Shadowhunter" Magnus said not unkindly as he swooped forward toward Alec, right arm still out-stretched as blue waves of his magic suspended Alec's upright limp body, his chin resting on his chest unsupported. He withdrew his magic at the very last moment as he approached, collecting Alec under his arms, pulling him close against him. The sight of Alec's bare upper torso exposed to the elements sent a harsh chill through his own limbs and he instinctively wrapped his arms around himself as he watched Magnus tenderly pull the open sides of his long fur coat around Alec enveloping him in his warmth, seemingly protected from the freezing landscape around them. Magnus strained his head back tipping Alec's chin up to look into his unconscious face worriedly. Magnus' love for Alec was palpable and he was still on his knees in the snow watching the engaging scene, almost entranced.
"Oh Alexander" he whispered. It seemed so personal he felt like he was intruding but he couldn't look away until Magnus' commanding tone interrupted.
"Jace hurry, get your things. We need to go." He urged suddenly.
He quickly engaged his brain and stumbled to his feet as Magnus began to open a portal. Alec's weight appeared no effort to him even held to him solely by his left arm now . His own muscles felt stiff and awkward as his rose and blood from a cut on his right eyebrow threatened to drip into his eye. He brushed it away roughly, ignoring the sting and rushed to grab their soaked clothes and his blade. Alec's bow was likely long gone at the bottom of the Hudson. It would have to stay there as Magnus had already gone through and he hurried to follow him. Magnus could likely retrieve it with some spell.
The rush of warm air as he emerged into Magnus' dimly lit living room was not the instant pleasure he thought it would be and initially caused him to shiver wildly as goose bumps prickled painfully on his wet skin. Magnus was easing a completely unresponsive Alec down onto his green sofa, discarding many of the eclectic collection of cushions on the floor as he did so to make room.
"Jace, I need the comforter off our bed if you will". It was not a request.
When he returned Magnus was busy throwing sweeping waves of energy all around Alec's body, moving his arms around in slow tai chi like motions as he did. The water soaking Alec's combats drifted off like steam as the material dried and Jace could feel the warmth radiating from around Alec's body as he dumped the comforter on the end of the sofa by his feet. He moved back standing in the middle of the room watching Magnus work, not knowing how else to help, except Magnus needed to know what had happened he decided. He looked almost frantic as he healed Alec and it was probably a bad time to interrupt but he felt he had to. It might make a difference to what needed to be done.
"Magnus" he said, little more than a whisper.
Magnus didn't seemed to hear him so he cleared his throat before speaking again. "Magnus" he repeated.
His voice was perfectly audible this time and he knew Magnus was simply choosing to ignore him. He couldn't blame him. Alec looked like he was on death's door and Jace was the least of his priorities. He felt so useless just stood there. The warmth of the apartment was pleasant on his skin but had yet to penetrate deep into his frozen bones and he couldn't stop the slight trembling coursing through him.
"Jace why don't you sit down before you fall?" Magnus eventually replied sounding much calmer than he looked. But he remained standing determined now and his last attempt at gaining Magnus' attention came out like a straight up plea, his voice breaking.
"Magnus. I need to tell you something".
Magnus abruptly stopped, reacting to the change in his voice and turned to face him worriedly waiting for him to carry on. The words seemed to stick in his throat now that he had an audience and he cleared his throat again before continuing. "Magnus, when he... when he fell in the water. The current pulled him straight under the ice." He paused for a moment wishing he'd said nothing, finding it harder than he thought he would to get out. "I couldn't get to him in time. Magnus, he wasn't breathing when I pulled him out." The memory of Alecs lifeless body was so fresh in his mind and he knew his eyes looked red from more than just the cold. "I thought he was going to..." He trailed off looking at Alec. He didn't need to say it. Magnus looked liked he wanted to throw up as he processed what Jace had said looking back down at the pallid face of the most important person in his world clearly horrified at what he'd been through.
"Magnus, I broke his ribs, I...". Magnus suddenly raised his hand palm out to stop him, not taking his eyes from Alec and for a moment his heart sunk. He felt horrible. Did Magnus blame him for not having his parabatai's back? Why shouldn't he, he thought to himself. He'd been off his game since Clary had brought him back. There was something wrong with him and he was so tired from the continuous nights of broken sleep. He should have done better. Alec deserved better. But then Magnus made eye contact briefly before turning his attention back to Alec and there was no malice in his eyes, only warmth and gratitude.
"You did good Shadowhunter " Magnus said, his voice full of emotion, acknowledging his appreciation. "He'll be OK now Jace. I'll do everything in my power to make sure of it." He sat on the edge of the sofa and placed his hand on the centre of Alec's bare chest releasing healing magic from his palm, while softly stroking his damp hair with his other.
As Magnus turned away Jace blinked letting a single tear roll lazily down his cheek and he brushed it away feeling exhausted and still so cold. He sighed heavily finally pulling off his wet t-shirt and vest and dropped them without a care to the floor, snatching up the decorative tartan woollen blanket off the back of the armchair. He threw it around his shoulders sinking into the chair feeling its warmth comfort him and sat silently watching Magnus work, while trying unsuccessfully to prevent the unpleasant memories of the evening from plaguing his thoughts. He already had enough of them rolling around in his head each night.
"This will warm the blood in his heart which should circulate and raise his body temperature." Magnus said quietly. He didn't sound like he was talking to Jace but he looked up a second later giving him a reassuring glance.
He unconsciously rubbed their parabatai rune as he watched the comforting rise and fall of Alec's chest, afraid it would stop at any moment if he took his eyes away. A vintage Swiss clock on the small glass table next to him ticked the minutes away and he hadn't realised he'd closed his eyes until he felt Magnus touch his shoulder, startling him. He was stood in front of him holding a highly patterned China teacup and saucer.
"Jace, drink this. It'll help warm you up".
He took it gratefully, wincing at the sweet taste of the tea inside as he took a sip and looked past Magnus to check on Alec. Magnus had tucked the gold comforter all the way up to his chin. He looked peaceful and had a little more colour to his complexion.
"Too tired to use a healing rune?" Magnus questioned drawing his attention and indicating the gash over his eyebrow. Jace automatically raised his fingers to touch the tacky blood in response.
"Wasn't really my priority" he said yawning before resting his head back and closing his eyes again. He suddenly felt a warm tingling sensation spreading over the side of his face and jerked his eyes open to see Magnus' hand hovering close, leaving gentle wisps of blue in its path. When he withdrew it Jace checked the area again gliding his fingers over the completely unblemished skin.
"Thank you" he said feeling a bit self-conscious, but resting his head back again expecting Magnus to leave. However he seemed in no hurry to.
"How long?" Magnus asked him breaking the short silence.
"What?" He didn't understand and frowned back confused.
"How long was he gone for?"
He tensed realising what Magnus was asking. He really didn't feel like reliving the events again so soon, but he'd started it he supposed. Magnus probably needed details to stop his mind filling in the gaps with something even worse, if that were actually possible.
"I'm not really sure. Maybe fifteen minutes". He tried to keep the emotion out of his voice but failed miserably. "He was in the water at least five minutes. It was a miracle I found him. He got swept under the ice and drifted further down the river from where I was searching. I was actually about to jump in after him when I saw him surface. I honestly thought I lost him Magnus".
Magnus was looking a him with a pained expression that was heart breaking and he felt tears threatening again. "He'll be OK won't he?", he asked scrubbing his face with both hands to hide it. Obviously realising Magnus reteated and made himself look busy, feeling Alec's forehead with the back of his hand, clearly trying to control his own emotions too.
"He should be fine. He's getting warmer and he just needs to rest."
Jace may have lived in Magnus' apartment for a while, but they weren't close enough to comfort each other like they both needed. He wanted to go home to Clary and be held, but he wouldn't risk her safety. She was everything to him. He wouldn't leave Alec anyway and instead curled himself up into the chair, watching Alec again.
...
Jace didn't recognise the room at first. It was dark and the walls were filthy, the building clearly long ago abandoned. The torn drapes swayed lightly in the soft breeze that forced its way in through the large holes in the broken glass of the enormous picture window in front of him. There was something so familiar about it. He was certain he'd been here before. He turned to see a heavy oak table sat in the centre of the floor surrounded by ornate oak chairs and he locked his gaze on the back of the one nearest to him studying the family crest that adorned it. He'd recognise it anywhere.
Wayland.
He was home, back at the Wayland manor. He didn't understand. Why had he come here? He raised his hand intent on running his fingers over the shape of the carved wood, but stopped dead, dread wrenching his gut when he noticed the colour of the skin on his hand. He brought it up to his face to examine it in the sparse light but he knew already that it was stained dark red with blood. Somehow he knew it was human blood. And then he saw the floor and the bloody foot prints trailing around the side of the table. His mind told him not to look but his feet stepped forward out of his control, following the track they made on the old wooden floorboards.
He saw the red hair first. Tumbling fiery locks strewn across the dusty floor, hiding her face. He stiffened as he mind tried to deny what it was seeing, tried to create some other explanation. As in stared in horror, his heart pounding in his chest, the clatter of metal on wood made him jump and he followed the noise down to a shining dagger as it stilled on the floor where it had slipped from his hand. Blood dulled the tip of the sharp blade accusingly.
"No, this wasn't real, it wasn't happening" but he couldn't stop his hand from drawing back her hair revealing lifeless eyes. Beautiful green eyes that had once gazed at him with so much love but now saw nothing. Because of him. And then he was screaming, and screaming, and screaming