Magnus's POV

Alec didn't wake up for another three days, and during those days, Magnus didn't leave the Institute once.

He better wake up. He'd never leave me behind. Magnus thought, still holding Alec's hand.

"Magnus, you should rest." Clary said, walking inside the infirmary.

He shook his head. "Not until he wakes up. I…I want to be here if I have to say goodbye."

"Don't talk like that!"

"I'm sorry, but I just can't…I've tried healing him, but nothing works."

"What's the difference between Alec and everyone else that you've been with?"

"Alec is different from any of them." Magnus growled.

"Magnus?" Alec whispered.

"Alec!" Clary and Magnus exclaimed.

"What happened? I remember getting thrown and then…nothing."

"You've been asleep for three days." Clary said, handing him a glass of water.

"What did Mom and Dad think?" He asked, taking a drink.

"They're worried about you. They thought you'd end up like…like Max."

Alec's jaw clinched and he sat up, wincing at pain and rubbing his back. "Help me up, I need to talk to them."

Magnus nodded and helped him to stand up. Together, they walked into the study.

"Alec! Oh, honey. You're awake!" Marsye exclaimed, running to her son.

She held him close, stroking his hair and crying. "Oh, Alec. We were so afraid. We thought we were going to lose you." She sobbed.

"No, Mom. I'm fine. I promise you." Alec soothed.

Magnus stood awkwardly off to the side and then Marsye pulled back, wiping her eyes. "Magnus didn't leave your side at all." She said, glancing at the warlock.

Alec looked shocked. "Y…you didn't?"

Magnus nodded. "Well, yeah. Why would I?"

"I'm going to go get something to eat." Alec said.

"Good." Marsye said.

Alec nodded to Magnus and the boys walked out of the room.

Jace's POV

I should have helped him. Jace thought, angrily punching a punching bag.

He had been in the training room for hours, throwing punches and kicks at the bag.

I could have run for the demon at the same time. Why did I hesitate? Jace let out a frustrated yell and roundhouse kicked the punching bag, sending it flying across the room, almost hitting Clary as she walked in.

"What's wrong?" She asked.

She was dressed in a yellow tank top and black sweats.

"Nothing." He replied, a little too harshly.

"Well, something's got you mad."

"I said it was nothing!"

"Come on, Jace. Tell me. We've been together for almost a year. I know something is wrong."

Jace sighed and sat down on the ground. Clary plopped down in front of him and waited.

"I just…I just feel like I could have done something for Alec. I could have…I could have helped him after he ran towards the demon instead of standing there like a wingless angel. Clary, I have never frozen up in a battle. Why did I now?"

"For one," She said, scooting closer to him and taking his hand, "Alec reacted before any of us could have done anything. Two, he was fighting like an angry hornet, which is new for us. And three, we didn't expect him to do that."

Jace looked into her eyes helplessly and suddenly, he felt his eyes fill with tears. He looked away from her and angrily wiped them away.

"J…Jace?" She asked, startled.

"Yeah?" He asked, his voice cracking.

"Are you…alright?"

"I could have done something." He whispered, a tear falling down his face.

"Oh, Jace." Clary murmured, wrapping her arms around him.

The tears began running down his face and instead of wiping them away, he let them come and he buried his face into Clary's hair, holding her tightly.

Will's POV

"She's absolutely wonderful, Will." Jem said, walking down the Brooklyn streets with his cane.

"I'm sure she is." Will replied.

Both of the Shadowhunters were dressed in jeans, t-shirts, jackets, and combat boots. All this clothing was new to them and Will was constantly pulling down his leather jacket.

"When she changes into a werewolf, she's gorgeous. You have to see her."

"Jem, are you and the werewolf seeing each other?"

"Her name is Midnight and no. You know how that would be looked down upon. Too bad she isn't a Shadowhunter." Jem sighed, almost falling off a curb.

Will caught him and helped him straighten up. "Careful."

"It seems like I'm becoming sicker and sicker everyday. I have to use my cane more than I used to." Jem said sadly.

"Have you taken your medicine today?"

Jem nodded. "Midnight made sure I did."

"How do you feel?" He asked, sitting down on a park bench.

"I'm feeling good right now…but I know that I'm going to start feeling sick again. We need to get back to our time or…" His voice trailed off and both the boys knew what he was going to say.

"You're not going to die. I refuse to let you die here." Will said sternly.

"Will, no one can control when or where they're going to die. If I end up going while we're here…well, there's nothing I can do about it."

"Jem, stop. Please quick talking about it." Will whispered.

"I'm sorry." Jem said quickly.

"It's alright. Just the thought…of losing my best friend…" Will couldn't finish the sentence.

Jem squeezed his shoulder. "Listen to us. Sounding like two old men." He joked.

Will couldn't help but laugh. "We should get back to the Institute."

"Yeah. Probably."

They stood and walked back to the building.

"Jem!" Midnight called, running up to him outside.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"I found the name of the vampires who attacked me. Their leader is named Kristoff."

"Hmm…do the others know?"

Midnight nodded. "They're planning on finding him and attacking."

"Great. Let's go join the chaos." Will said.

The three laughed and walked inside.