Hawaiian Dreams and Old Enemies

Chapter 8

A/N: Ok, chapter 8!

Alec pov

I locked eyes with Jace's golden ones first. My heart was going a mile a minute, and sweat covered my forehead.

"Alec!" he said in astonishment.

"Jace?" I turned my head slowly. Clary was next to him, her wide green eyes full of relief. Isabelle was next to her. The worry and happiness was plain on her face. "Izzy?"

"You're awake!"

A rush of guilt swept through me as I looked at her. Neither of my siblings had crossed my mind when I was in that dark place. It was Magnus who had brought me back.

Magnus, I thought.

I turned my head, the panic sweeping through me once again. But there, sitting in a hard plastic chair, was my love.

"Magnus," I breathed. His features twisted into a wry smile, and a tear slipped down his cheek. Instinctually, I reached out and wiped my thumb under his eye, catching another. My hand shook, still weak.

"I'm so sorry," I whispered.

He shook his head. "You have nothing to be sorry about. It wasn't your fault. You didn't have any control."

But I did, I thought. Or was it all a dream?

I just nodded.

I took another look around the room. Everyone looked exhausted, both Izzy and Magnus had streaks down their faces where their makeup had run. All of their hair was rumpled and their clothes unkept.

"Did you -" I cleared my throat. "Did any of you guys sleep? Wait... how long was I even out?"

"You were in a coma for two, almost three days," jace said matter-of-factly. My eyes widened. A coma? For three days? "And I slept a little last night, and so did Clary. And I think Izzy too. But I don't know about Magnus."

I turned to the warlock. He shook his head slightly, giving me a half shrug.

Before I could reply, a doctor in a white coat rushed in. I gripped Magnus's hand. He squeezed back comfortingly.

"He's awake!" the doctor exclaimed. "Welcome back. How are you feeling?"

I thought about for a second. "Like shit." I was covered in partially healed cuts and wounds, and sore as hell. The doctor nodded knowingly and I looked at Magnus. "But I'm alright."

"Good." He turned to the people crowded around my bed. "Ok, if I can have everyone out for just five minutes, I need to check some things and run some quick tests."

They got up to leave, but I clutched Magnus's hand tighter. I didn't want him out of my sight just yet. Or ever. He looked at me in confusion.

"Don't go." My voice cracked.

He nodded and sat back down. The doctor looked slightly affronted but didn't say anything.

"Ok let's start. What's your full name?"

"Alexander Gideon Lightwood," I recited monotonously.

"Where do you live?"

"Brooklyn."

The questions went on likewise for a minute or so.

Finally he stopped, and I took to opportunity to speak.

"Can I use the restroom?" I blushed a little. Magnus grinned.

"Do you think you can walk?" the doctor asked.

"Um..." The vision of me collapsing after putting weight on my right foot in the dark place flashed before me. But that was a dream. Right? "Yes." I said, answering the doctor's question.

"Well then sure." I sat up and turned to face the edge of the bed. Magnus helped me stand, and I leaned on him. He stepped away. I gingerly put my right foot on the ground.

And nearly crumpled to the ground.

Magnus caught me before I hit the ground.

"Alec! Are you ok?" his voice sounded scared.

I gasped, leaning into him. My upper thigh felt like it was on fire. The exact same place that burned when I pulled my leg out of the light.

It wasn't a dream.

I snapped. Tears started rolling down my cheeks. Tears of grief for leaving Max, tears of guilt for forgetting everyone that I loved, and tears of fear because I had almost died willingly.

The doctor assumed they were tears of pain. But Magnus knew better. He hugged me and whispered "Shh, it'll be ok, we'll deal with it later" in my ear.

I stopped my unreasonable tears, sniffing.

"I really have to pee," I murmured.

"I'll take you," Magnus said kindly, taking my arm and wrapping it around his shoulders, his arm securing around my waist. Leaning heavily on him, I limped out the door. The doctor stood behind us, a bemused expression on his face.

Magnus pov

Alec was forced to stay in the hospital overnight. Just in case something happens, yada yada yada. To me it was another night where Jace couldn't just draw an iratze on him and get this over with.

Everyone stayed over with Alec. We all slept in the painfully uncomfortable plastic chairs around his room, even though he insisted we find a better place to sleep.

My chair was right next to Alec, my head resting on a pillow on his bed. The Shadowhunters fell asleep right away, and a few minutes later, I was drifting off too.

I woke up to quiet crying and whimpering. I jerked up, wide awake, and fear pumping through my body. My fingers sparked with weak light. I was surprised I woke up; usually after using this much magic and getting this little sleep, I won't wake up for days.

This thought flitted away as I looked at Alec. He was curled up in a ball, tears soaking the pillow, eyes tightly shut.

"Alec?" I gently shook his shoulder. He flinched. I shook him harder, causing him to cry louder. I stopped, not wanting to wake the others.

I picked up his hand and started playing with it, wondering what I should do. I didn't have nearly enough magic in me to do anything with that.

Once again, a feeling of uselessness passed over me. I hadn't felt this useless since I was a child. I hated the feeling, and it was even worse now, because it was Alec's life. I had to depend on mundanes to do what I should have been able to do.

Alec woke up eventually. He opened an eye, his expression confused and scared. I quickly turned my attention to him.

"Alec, baby, are you ok?" I whispered. He squeezed my hand and shook his head, slightly.

"Lay down with me?" he asked timidly. I nodded and climbed in, working my way around the equipment and tubes. Finally I slipped under the hospital bed's blankets. Alec immediately melted into me, clutching me tight, tears wetting my shirt. I wrapped my arms around him.

"Shh, it'll be alright, I'm right here, love. Don't worry," I crooned, and slowly he relaxed.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, almost unintelligibly.

"For what?" I asked, pressing a kiss on his sweaty head.

"I'm so sorry," he repeated, tears streaming down his face again. I held him closer, stroking his limp hair. "I forgot you, I'm sorry. I forgot. I didn't want to leave you, I couldn't help it. It wasn't my fault!" He was rambling, crying harder as his words became less comprehensible.

I had no idea what he was talking about, but I soothed him anyways. "Shh, I know it wasn't, it's ok, I forgive you. It's ok, it's ok." I held his shaking body and repeated the same words until he fell asleep.

I woke up the next morning, the hard edge of the bed digging into my back. My magic was still pretty weak; I needed more sleep.

Alec was still curled up next to me, face pressed into my side legs tangled with mine. I pressed a kiss to the top of his head, and closed my eyes.

Before I could drift off, someone cleared their throat behind me. There stood the doctor from yesterday, looking embarrassed. It was then I noticed that it was nearly noon, and everyone else was gone.

I turned to the doctor again. "He's still asleep," I whispered.

"I know. We needed to run a couple more tests to make sure he's good to go before we release him," he said not bothering to be quiet. Alec shifted a little. I glared at the doctor. He ignored me. "And you're not supposed to be in the bed."

I scowled, but proceeded to untangle myself from Alec. He whimpered in his sleep and clutched me tighter.

I looked back at the doctor, a slightly smug expression on my face. He frowned.

"Wake him up," he said monotonously.

"No. Let him sleep," I countered. I knew how much Alec hated being woken up for no good reason. As much as I wanted to get home, I didn't want four sleep-deprived Shadowhunters to deal with. One sleep deprived warlock was enough, even if that warlock was me.

The doctor pursed his lips, but nodded. "Fine. But you really need to get out of the bed. It's against hospital regulations for a visitor to sleep in a patient's bed; I could get in trouble.

I was starting to hate this doctor, but I didn't argue. I kissed Alec again and slipped out of the bed. My heart clenched when he reached out for me and grabbed air.

I sat in my chair for a few minutes before my boyfr - fiancé woke up with a start.

"Magnus!" he moaned, voice afraid.

"Alec, I'm right here, it's ok!" The fear in his eyes scared me.

He looked at me, focusing. "Don't leave me," he whispered quietly.

"I won't, I promise. Shh." I held him for a little, until the doctor came back.

"Good, you're up. Did you sleep well?" The concern in his voice made me want to slap him for some reason.

Alec hesitated. "Yeah, it was fine."

We both knew that was a lie.

The doctor did whatever mental-stability-check-or-something-tests he needed to do before making Alec stand up again.

I was prepared this time, so when he fell after putting weight on his right leg, I caught him right away. He smiled at me, but it looked forced. His eyes had a faraway look, and he looked scared.

"Are you ok?" I whispered in his ear.

Slowly, he shook his head.

A/N: Hey! I didn't really like this chapter, it was kind of a filler. Sorry about the shortness :/. I promise I'll pick things up again in the next chapter.

So I am seriously debating something for the next chapter few chapters... does anyone want to help me out? Not really a beta, it's just for this one idea I'm considering for this story. Just pm me, if you're interested, that would be great!

Anyways, review please! Bye!