Disclaimer: Sorry for the disappointment, but I'm still not Cassandra, so these characters still don't belong to me.
A/N: Okay, so a couple of you guys have said that Jace should've been angrier and less idiotic with Aline, so the first version of what I wrote for the J/A part I'll probably upload with the next chapter, because it's on a different computer.
When Alec walked into the Institute, the first thing he noticed was the silence. He sighed: Isabelle must've locked herself in her room again. As if to confirm this, he heard the sound of Isabelle's lock being turned, so the door was open. She was obviously wanting brotherly advice, but he wasn't sure whether he was up to it quite yet. His head was a swirl of colours: Magnus, in all his various outfits.
The walk up the stone-cold ivory steps was long, and more tiring than Alec had ever known it, even when he was three-quarters dead. He stopped outside Isabelle's door and took a long, refreshing breath before pushing it open. Unsurprisingly Isabelle's elfin face was tear-stained, her make-up smudged all over her face. She was sat in the middle of her bed, not unlike a lily-pad on a pond.
"Izzy..." Alec tried to empathise as he sank down next to her, slinging an arm round her thin shoulders in an attempt of comfort. She had changed into tracksuit bottoms, ones she normally reserved for training, and a short-sleeved white t-shirt.
"I've wrecked everything," Isabelle let out a sob before burying her head into his shoulder, no doubt leaving black stains that Magnus would later despair over.
"Of course you haven't," soothed Alec, rubbing his hands over her back, "It's going to be fine. Jace was just annoyed with Aline. Who wasn't?"
Isabelle drew back and looked at him with large, begging eyes.
"Why is he not here then?"
Alec couldn't stop his jaw dropping just a little. Isabelle's eyes welled over again, and she fell into his arms, expecting his comfort like only a sister ever could.
"Maybe... maybe he's with Clary," Alec reasoned. It wouldn't have been a bad suggestion, but his voice was doubtful and Isabelle just sobbed harder.
"It's like... Jace'll never speak to me again!"
"Izzy, Jace wouldn't do that," Alec felt her shake her head against his chest. "Don't be silly, Iz. You know he loves you, and besides, there's no reason for him not to be with Clary, is there? Okay, so maybe you made the wrong decision in the way you spoke to Clary, but that doesn't mean it's not all going to work out."
Isabelle just sighed. Alec was such a smoother-over. It was one of the reasons they hardly ever fought. She was dramatic, and he was ridiculously calm; together they almost made a normal person. No matter how he was feeling, she could always rely on him for some brotherly support. Alec's mobile buzzed, and he gently pushed Isabelle away so he could answer it.
"...Heartbeat? Scouting for Girls?" Isabelle teased, smirking. Alec reached over and shoved her over on the bed with one hand.
"Hi, Magnus," He grinned as he evaded Isabelle's half-hearted kick at his legs, "Is everything okay?"
"Is that Isabelle I hear shrieking?" Magnus's voice was amused. "What are you doing, Alec?" Alec laughed as he tickled Isabelle's bare feet mercilessly.
"Get off!" screamed Isabelle: he knew tickling was her weak spot.
"Never!" Alec vowed, sounding more playful than he had for a while. "Sorry, Magnus, what's up?"
"Well, darling," Magnus's voice was suddenly serious, "It's something I'd prefer to tell you in person, to be completely honest."
Alec released Isabelle's feet, moving away from her slightly.
"Are you okay? Is there something wrong?"
"It's just something I think you should know about," Magnus reassured him, "But I will ask in advance for you to make sure Isabelle leaves her whip. And that you don't bring Clary."
Isabelle raised an eyebrow at his confused expression.
"Why? What's wrong?"
"Nothing for you to worry your pretty head about right now," Magnus evaded the question gracefully, making Alec smile, "Will you be able to come round?"
"I think so." Alec was reminded again of his conversation with Maryse, but she couldn't stop him and Izzy going out, could she?
"Good, I'll see you soon then," Magnus decided for him, "I love you. Goodbye."
"Love you too..." Alec hung up, his cheeks so red they rivalled tomatoes. Isabelle took one look at his face, then cracked up laughing.
"I'm sorry... I couldn't help myself!" She explained, as Alec rolled his eyes.
"Come on," He retrieved a dagger, and slotted it into his belt. He always had to be prepared. "We're going to Magnus's."
"Someone's a little bit keen, aren't they..." murmured Isabelle as she rushed to reapply her make-up. Alec just smiled: she'd cheered up remarkably quickly, especially for Isabelle.
It wasn't long before they were sat inside Magnus's grand sitting room; Maryse had been out, much to Alec's relief, and it wasn't much of a walk.
"Would you like some tea?" called Magnus from the – unneeded, Alec might add - kitchen. He was playing the helpful host, which immediately made Alec suspicious: he was just putting off telling them whatever was so important. It had to have been important, otherwise he wouldn't have bothered calling them over here.
"No," Alec replied for both of them. Magnus reappeared from the doorway, sinking down between them.
"So," He leant his head into his hands.
"So," Alec repeated.
"God you two!" Isabelle laughed, unwilling to be forgotten. "What's up?"
Magnus raised an eyebrow, but Alec just shook his head.
"Well, I thought you'd be interested to know that I had a visit around twenty minutes ago."
"From?"
"One Jace Wayland."
"Lightwood," Alec corrected automatically before realising the full weight of what Magnus had just said. "Wait, what?"
"Is he okay?" Isabelle demanded.
"Where is he?"
"What happened?"
"Sh," Magnus gave them both a look, "I can hardly tell you anything if you keep firing questions at me, can I now? How about I just show you what happened?"
"You can do that?" Alec was incredulous.
"You underestimate me." Magnus winked at him before swishing his hands around flashily. Ripples seemed to appear on the sparkly wall opposite, and soon a film was being projected before their eyes.
"How...?" Alec was quietened by Isabelle's flapping hand. She was gazing at the wall, apparently enraptured by the image.
Magnus walked into the room, followed by Jace. His face was dark, and his eyes unreadable.
"Why do you seek my help, Jace?" Magnus's voice was curious rather than hostile. Jace barely looked up from the floor before answering.
"I am in need of a Portal," His voice was quiet, and he sounded more sincere than anyone would've imagined Jace could be. "Immediately."
Magnus, who was sipping a Starbucks Coffee he had just conjured, watched him silently.
"Well?" Jace was forced to speak again after an almost unbearable quiet.
"I was just wondering," Magnus took another gulp of coffee, "Why you're asking this of me and not Clary? Some of us have more things to do than send Shadowhunters off to all places. Especially ones who aren't paying."
Jace didn't even roll his eyes.
"I..." He sighed, and put his head in his hands. Magnus set his coffee down at last, his full attention finally caught. Jace, speechless?
"What is wrong?"
For the first time, Jace met his eyes. His golden eyes were dark, and full of something even Magnus couldn't interpret.
"Aline," He finally replied. "I just want to go, Magnus. Can you not prepare me a Portal?"
"Not until you tell me the full reasons for such a sudden need for departure. Besides, Alec would most likely murder me, and I don't want him to be mad."
Jace groaned, leaning back into the soft sofa.
"Do you have to be so difficult?" His voice was suddenly irritable.
"Your fight is not with me, Jace."
"You're right," Jace admitted, his voice low again. "My apologies. I just don't think I can be around anyone, right now."
"Why?"
"Because," Jace's voice was grudging, "I would prefer not to be."
Magnus raised a glittery eyebrow, but obviously decided not to press the issue further.
"And where, young Shadowhunter, do you plan to escape to?"
"Idris," Jace didn't miss a beat. "I want to offer my full service to the Clave. To prove myself."
"Prove yourself?"
"To prove that I'm not a disgusting creature."
"By the Angel Jace, what's wrong with you?" Magnus's calm demeanour vanished.
"Nothing," Jace's golden eyes turned to the floor again. "I want to do this. For me."
"No, it's not for you," Magnus's voice was thoughtful. "This is somehow linked to Clary, isn't it?"
Jace's eyes were unreadable, but his silence was more than enough.
"Jace," Magnus's voice was soft now, comforting. "She loves you the way you are."
"You don't understand." Jace's voice was fierce. "She..." He trailed off.
"She loves you," Magnus sounded exasperated, "What more do you want, Jace?"
Jace looked up again, his eyes blazing.
"There is nothing more for me to tell you, warlock," He stood, all vulnerability gone. "Will you send me to Idris, or not?"
The projection began to shudder slightly before fading away completely. The wall looked strangely plain, even with the glued-on glitter twinkling. Alec turned to Magnus, pure desperation written all over his face.
"And?" His voice was strangely harsh, especially for Alec. But then, Jace was like his brother, and a very close one at that.
"I sent him." Magnus didn't sound regretful. Isabelle stood up, her eyes stone-cold.
"Why?" Her voice was like sharp ice.
"I felt he deserved a break."
"And what of Clary, Magnus?" Alec joined his sister, but his expression was one of defeat rather than determination.
"Maybe she needs a break too. I mean, darling, if one person can cause all this..."
"You don't understand!" Isabelle exploded, "You haven't known Jace as long as we have! Anything anyone says can make him doubt him and Clary! It's so new to him, and he loves her... can you not see that just from how he looks at her? He needed us..."
Alec placed a comforting hand on her back as her face crumpled again, so soon after she'd recovered.
"Sweetheart, I don't think anyone can doubt the... passion Jace has for Clary, but why should something so insignificant make such a difference?"
"Magnus..." Alec's voice was low, tired. "It's complicated."
"I understand that, Alec, I'm not a halfwit, thank you very much," He rolled his eyes. "Do you know what Aline may have said to cause such a flamboyant gesture on Jace's part?"
"No," Isabelle perked up again, "But you can bet your life she was a bitch. She was trying to get him away from Clary all night..."
"And she succeeded..." Alec spoke regretfully.
"I think we may need to have a little word with this girl." Magnus smiled conspiratorially at them both. Alec raised an eyebrow, smiling again. Magnus nodded gravely, resisting the urge to laugh at Isabelle's face: she looked as if she'd just been told the world was hers.
A/N: Interesting... Well, it will be for me to write the next chapter ^^ Sorry it took me such a while to update . Internet problems . Anyway. I have a question for you guys: okay, so a couple of reviews just sparked my interest a little, do you think I'm focusing too much on the plot? Should I include more 'fluff' or general moments that bring the characters close/show their bonds? ^^ Thanks, your answers are much appreciated! And thank you so much for all of your reviews, they really do make my day, and I hope that I've implemented some of your ideas well ^^ Please R&R!