10

Alec pressed his lips to Magnus's forehead. He winced. "God, baby, you're burning up."

"He-helping Jace m-made me very weak. An-any virus could get i-in me easily," he broke into a coughing fit, coincidentally proving his point. "I-I wanna go h-home."

"We're going, we're going right now."

Clary burst into Jace's cage, slicing the collar from his neck and carefully peeling it away. He winced, even whimpered a little, shaking. She threw the awful device away, taking him in her arms.

Silent tears seeped from Jace's eyes. She kissed them off his face, combing through his curls. She carefully drew an Iratze on his shoulder, kissing his temple and his cheeks.

"Let's go home." She waited for his wounds to heal and the bruises to fade before she helped him stand. He may have been healed, but he didn't have all of his strength yet.

Alec picked Magnus up, taking the blanket Isabelle tossed to him and wrapping it around his shaking body. "I've got you, I've got you, shh…" He soothed, kissing his forehead.

"We h-have to hurry," Magnus stammered. "He-he'll be back soon."

"He won't touch you," Alec said firmly. "He'll never, ever touch you again. I promise."

Magnus buried his face in his chest, still shaking. He climbed out of the cage with him, standing by Clary, Jace and Isabelle.

Clary was already drawing on the ground, holding Jace's hand as if she were still making sure that he was there.

"Clary, can you draw one that goes to Magnus's house?" Alec asked. She nodded.

"N-no!" Magnus cried, looking up at him. "Y-you should g-g-g-go home." Alec shook his head.

"If you want to go home, then that's where we're going."

A door slammed open a few hundred yards away. Magnus whimpered, shaking harder.

"Clary…" Isabelle said warningly.

"I know, I know!" She finished one and shoved Alec through it.

"Clary!"

"I'm going!" She grabbed Jace and Isabelle, falling through the portal, going home. Esekial's clawed hand missed the back of Jace's head by millimeters.

"Oh, thank god!" Maryse exclaimed, hugging Jace and Isabelle tight. "I didn't know what to think! You've been gone for so long, I… Where's Alec?"

"He went with Magnus," Jace said. She nodded.

"Are they alright?" The three exchanged glances.

"They'll be alright," Isabelle assured.

"How did you get here?" Maryse asked. Jace nodded to Clary.

"She got her stele back and drew a portal."

Clary gasped when the older woman hugged her as tightly as she could, lifting her off the ground. "Thank you, thank you so much."

"You're welcome," Clary choked. Maryse set her down; she gasped for air.

"I'm gonna get this off of me," Jace said, holding the blanket around his waist and gesturing to the blood that coated him. He took Clary's hand, more gently than she ever thought possible. "Come with me," he whispered. She nodded, seeing the raw need in his eyes as he spoke. She followed him to the elevator, and kissed him when the doors closed.

"It's alright now," she assured, nodding. He swallowed hard.

"I know," he breathed. "You're here." He stopped her surprised words with his lips.

Alec hastily laid Magnus on the couch when they appeared in his living room. "What can I do? What can I get you to make this better?" He asked desperately.

"My room…r-red bottle under my p-p-pillow," he shuddered. Alec bolted out of the room.

Something small and white landed in his lap, nuzzling its' head under his chin. Magnus jumped, looking down at the tiny cat.

"Oh, god, I h-haven't been here to feed y-you," he moaned, petting his head. Chairman Meow looked into the kitchen, at a small pile of half-eaten dead birds. "Right," Magnus grimaced. The cat snuggled his cheek again, and Magnus responded back. "Thank you," he whispered. "I'm glad you're not mad at me." The cat rested on his chest, frowning a little. "Wait, d-d-did you actually miss me?" He snuggled deeper into his chest. Magnus smiled a little, hugging the petite animal. "I missed you t-too."

Alec ran back into the room, uncorking the small bottle. Magnus took it, downing the contents rapidly. The bottle rolled to the floor. Alec watched, waited, for something to happen to him. Magnus shut his eyes, face screwed up in discomfort heaving controlled breaths.

Slowly, everything went away. His bloodshot eyes, his fever, the coughing, the bruises, the whip marks, and not a scar left.

He sat up, still bloody, as Alec was, gently setting the cat on the couch, patting his head. He waved his hand, making the collar around his neck snap and clatter to the floor. He stood, kicking it away and rubbing his throat as if it were still suffocating him. He wrapped his arms around Alec, kissing him softly. Alec kissed him back, cradling his cheek.

"Come with me," he breathed, gently taking his hands and leading him into the bathroom. He turned on the shower, then resumed kissing the warlock and pushing his hair out of his face. He dropped the blanket from his own waist, slowly pushing Magnus's off as well.

Magnus shook, very lightly, not cold, but scared. "Shh, it's alright. Shh…" He stepped back into the shower, taking him with him and holding him tight.

Warm water doused over them, taking away blood and other secretions not their own. Magnus kissed Alec's neck and collarbone, thin fingers trailing up and down his back. He pushed his hair out of his face, touching his pale cheek.

"You're so beautiful," he breathed. Alec pushed his hair back, holding his face and kissing behind his ear and his neck.

"So are you." Magnus was shaking, still scared. He rested his head against Alec's chest, shutting his eyes. Alec held him close, rocking him gently.

"Shh, it's okay, I've got you, baby," he soothed, kissing his forehead.

"And I've got you."

They kissed languidly, tongues caressing each other.

Magnus reached behind him and turned the faucet off when the blood had cleared. Alec grabbed a towel, patting Magnus's face dry before drying his own. Magnus took it from him.

He shook his head. "No need to be so primitive, darling," he whispered very softly. He waved his hand next to them a burst of warm air coming from his hand. They were as dry as they would've been if they'd toweled off. The warlock combed his fingers through Alec's thick hair.

"Come here, baby," Alec whispered. he took Magnus's hand, leading him out of the bathroom and into the bedroom. Magnus started shaking harder when they lied down. Alec kissed him slowly, rolling so the warlock was on top of him.

"Alec," he shivered, tears in his eyes. "I can't do this, I can't. I…I'm sorry."

"Hey, hey," Alec sat up, cradling his cheek. "None of that. Don't do that, baby, don't cry." He huffed him close. "I'm not gonna make you do anything you don't want to do. I'm not him, baby. Shh, it's alright."

"You know I love you, r-right?" Magnus asked, glassy eyes looking into his deep blue ones. Alec winced, wanting to rip that bastard apart all over again.

"Of course I know," he said despairingly, kissing him gently. "And I love you. I love you more than anything; we don't have to make love, I'm not gonna make you."

"Okay, okay," he gulped. "I, I'm being so selfish; are you alright?" Alec rested his cheek on top of his head, kissing his forehead as he went.

"Don't worry about me. I'll be alright." He hugged him again. "I love you, baby." Magnus lied down next to him, snapping his fingers. Clothes appeared on the both of them, making them both sigh in relief. The warlock snuggled into the boy's chest, clinging to his sleeve for dear life.

"I'm not going to leave you baby. I'm right here, it's alright."

"I-I'm scared I'm going to wake up and, and be in that place again and then he'll-"

"Magnus!" Alec held his face, gaining his attention. "It's not a dream," he said gently. "You're right here with me now. He can't get you." He shut his eyes again, tears seeping into Alec's shirt. "I know, I know, I'm here, baby."

"I love you, Alexander," he said softly. "I don't think you know how much I do." Alec kissed his quivering lips, holding him close.

"I feel the same way." They fell asleep holding each other, lips just a breath away.

Chairman Meow hopped onto the bed, padding his way to the small gap right between them. He nuzzled inside, something of a smile on his face as he leaned his head against Magnus's stomach. All was right with the world again.