A/N - Hi everyone! Two chapters for you today, mainly because this one is a bit of a filler and I didn't want to just give you this. Plus, some questions finally get answered. I hope you enjoy them both, and as always feel free to let me know what you think.

Disclaimer - characters belong to Cassandra Clare.

For the first time in his career Jace found himself genuinely stuck. It had been five days since Alec left him in charge of the investigation, with very firm instructions on digging up everything he could find on Valentine Morgenstern. That task took Jace precisely two hours, and the only thing he could find was an arrest from over three decades ago for driving under the influence of alcohol. There was absolutely nothing else; as far as all of his systems were concerned he had kept a clean record since.

On a whim, Jace even decided to run Malachi and Camille through the system, but still he was given nothing. Jace allowed himself to be mildly impressed on the first day; whoever was the mastermind behind all of this clearly had to know what they were doing if they were ensuring that all of the people associated with them became virtually traceless. By day five, Jace was less impressed, more seriously annoyed.

It was 10AM, and he had already been awake for 5 hours. He knew Alec would be mad if he found out he wasn't sleeping properly but he couldn't help it, the longer he went without finding anything, the harder it was to keep his mind off of the case. Alec would be crushed if they had to admit defeat, and Jace really didn't want to be the one to tell him that he would have to give up. So he decided to do the only thing he had left; it was time for him to go and see Magnus.

As it turned out, it was surprisingly difficult for Jace to arrange a meeting with the man. Evidently his brother had already been enough times for the prison guards to be more than familiar with Magnus Bane's barrister, and it took more time than Jace would have liked to explain that he was helping his brother out and no, they couldn't speak to him because he was currently in court. But an hour after he started the phone call, Jace found himself in the car heading towards the imposing structure. He may have had to visit prisons several times in his career, but he never really felt fully comfortable in them. There was just something about the helplessness that hung in the air that drew you in, even though you knew perfectly well that you would be walking back out in a matter of hours. He couldn't imagine what it must feel like spending years there when you knew you were innocent.

Once he had made his way through security, Jace was left to follow a surly looking prison guard as he led the way down endless white-walled corridors until they eventually arrived at a corridor of meeting rooms. Unsurprisingly, they only offered basic tin chairs and a table, but it would just have to suffice he decided as he collapsed ungracefully onto a chair and nodded at the departing guard. If he was honest, he was quite looking forward to meeting the notorious Magnus Bane.

Magnus was surprised when a surly prison guard opened his cell door. The man was new, having only joined the prison yesterday, but Magnus was quite sure he hadn't seen him smile at anyone. He also didn't say more than he had to, and although one might suppose that spending all of his time in solitary confinement would make Magnus want the communication, if he was being honest he would rather have the silence than horrible comments. He had kept off of social media and even stopped reading his daily newspaper over the last 5 days to stay away from all the spiteful things that were being sent his way, but that didn't mean that he forgot what he read. Only last night he dreamt that he was in the middle of a dark street, running as countless faceless people chased him. It had left him feeling unsettled all day, and although Alec was trying to reassure him, he was still left wondering whether he would ever really be able to get back into society. In fact, he wasn't even sure he knew how to be around large groups of people anymore

"Visitor to see you in the meeting room", the guard grunted out, disturbing Magnus' thoughts.

Magnus just looked at the guard in confusion. Alec had said that he had a court case today, so Magnus was quite sure he wouldn't be here. Yet other than Alec, he really couldn't think who would be coming to see him.

"Do you know who it is? My barrister is supposed to be in court today."

"How am I supposed to know? All I know is he said he's working on your case. So let's get moving".

Silence fell around the two men as they made their way to the meeting room. Magnus knew it was illogical, and that if Alec was here it probably meant that the case had been thrown out quickly, but Magnus couldn't help but hope that he would soon be seeing the blue eyed man again. That hope was dashed when he opened the door to find a blond man sat in Alec's usual seat with his feet on the table and staring straight at him. He did not like the smirk he was sent.

"Expecting someone else?"

Magnus noted with no small displeasure that even his tone was arrogant. He knew right away that he would not get on with this man as well as he did with Alec.

"Oh I don't know, maybe my barrister?" Magnus could tell he sounded defensive, but he had never liked overly arrogant people. His dislike rose when the man raised an eyebrow at him, the smirk never leaving his face.

"Despite the fact that you knew he was supposed to be in a courtroom today?"

"Well I don't know how long these things take", Magnus shot back.

It was silent for a couple of minutes whilst the other man studied him, and Magnus was just starting to feel uncomfortable when he suddenly took his feet off of the table and sat up properly, a massive grin replacing the smirk.

"Holy shit you like my brother".

Magnus narrowed his eyes. "I do not", he hissed.

Wait ... brother?

"Ah", Magnus intoned, understanding creeping into his voice. "You're Jace".

"Yep", Jace replied before the smirk returned. "You know Alec is too professional to let anything happen right?"

"I never said I liked Alec."

"Your face did".

"Are you this blunt with everyone you meet?" Magnus thought that if Alec's trial went on for too long and he had to keep meeting this man he may just lose all patience he had been able to build up.

"No", Magnus watched in surprise as the man looked serious for the first time since he had entered the room. "I just don't want you to get your hopes up too much. Alec cares far too much about his job, and about you I am willing to bet, to let anything jeopardise this case. That means no romantic involvement whilst he is working for you. After however, he's free to do what he wants."

"What's with the wink?" He was beginning to get whiplash from how quickly Jace's attitude changed.

"Nothing", Jace shrugged. "Can you do me a favour? Just write down everything you can remember from the night Etta died please".

Magnus looked at the pen and pad of paper that Jace pushed towards him. "I already told your brother everything I can remember, what's the point of going over it again?"

"I want it in your words not his notes".

The way Jace continued to watch him was unnerving, but Magnus just picked up the pen and started writing. It took 15 minutes but when he finally had everything down that he wanted to say, he was frustrated to watch the man just put the notepad back in his bag without even looking at it.

"Are you not going to read that?"

"I have what I need", Jace replied. "I'm glad you didn't lie to Alec, I'd have been upset if you had."

Magnus was confused; how was Jace supposed to know if he was telling the truth if he hadn't read what he wrote down? This confusion must have shown on his face as Jace answered the question he was silently asking.

"You're left handed. Izzy worked out the killer was right handed."

Magnus allowed himself a minute or two to enjoy the fact that Alec had found out more information to demonstrate his innocence before Jace's words really sunk in."Are you telling me that you've been thinking that I had actually done it the entire time you were helping me?"

"Not really, Alec's confident you didn't and I trust his judgement. But that didn't stop me worrying that you lied to him. It's happened before, and you have to understand that when Alec decides to trust someone he does so completely. I don't like people betraying that trust, so I just wanted to make sure you were being truthful. I hope you aren't offended."

Oddly enough, he wasn't. Magnus was used to being doubted by now, but it was sweet to see someone who cared about their family that much. "No, Blondie I'm not, you'll have to try harder than that if you want to get under my skin. But I'm pretty sure that wasn't the only reason you came to see me."

Magnus looked on warily as Jace averted his gaze and a frown settled on his face. With Alec, he had come to recognise that that meant only bad news.

"No", Jace spoke slowly. "However, my instructions did not include coming to see you so I don't know how much Alec wants you to know. Do you know who Valentine Morgenstern is?"

"Um...no", Magnus replied hesitantly. "Am I supposed to?"

"It would make my job a hell of a lot easier if you did".

Jace looked so frustrated that Magnus felt himself getting dejected; it looked like the case wasn't going nearly as well as Alec liked him to believe.

"I'm sorry". Magnus wasn't sure why he was apologising, but in that moment he felt like he had to. He had dragged two, maybe more, people away from their work, and for what? So far, it seemed, absolutely nothing.

"What for?" Magnus was confused by the wide smile Jace gave him. "It's just a bit of a challenge, and goodness knows the easy cases are boring. At least this way I can have a bit of fun. Besides, I wasn't really expecting you to know, I just thought that if you did, you'd be a lot more willing to talk than the other person who has what I need."

"Really, who's that?"

"Classified I'm afraid".

"Oh. Anything else you need?"

Jace just shrugged his shoulders. "Not really. Although, would you be okay if Alec took Thursday off? He isn't going to ask but it's our sister's birthday and we're all supposed to have lunch together but knowing Alec he'd just try to work anyway."

Magnus was surprised; Alec hadn't mentioned his sister's birthday at all. He'd have to have words with the blue eyed man about trying to sneak too much work in.

"Of course I will be, I've told him I'm not going anywhere; maybe the break from work will help you both figure out what's missing. Please tell me he at least remembered to get her a present."

Magnus watched Jace as he laughed. He was a lot less reserved than Alec was; his laugh echoing loudly as he threw is head back slightly.

"Oh he did. He forgot to get her a present one year because her birthday fell in the middle of a case he was working on, and to get him back she bought him a bag of mangos for his birthday and Christmas every year for 5 years."

"I take it he doesn't like mangos?"

"Hates them", Jace replied still chuckling. "I had to eat all the bloody things, it was ridiculous. It's safe to say he has indeed bought her a birthday present. It's from both of us, we got it when we were at Camille's; a silver necklace with a ruby in the middle. The red box was nice as well if I'm honest".

The whole thing was beginning to sound too familiar to Magnus. "Does it happen to have a Latin inscription on the back?"

"Um", Jace scratched his chin. "I think so. Amor something or other; why?"

Magnus offered Jace an un-amused smile. "Because I bought that for Camille years ago. I can't believe I'm actually surprised she'd have the nerve to sell it after everything she's done to me."

"Oh shit", Jace looked a little alarmed. "If you want we can give it back, I totally have enough time to get her something else from the both of us".

"No need", Magnus replied with a dismissive wave. "I have no need for it, and if someone was going to have it I'm glad it's someone willing to help me rather than throw me in a prison."

"Why, doesn't it match your eyes?"

"Brat", Magnus replied.

Jace chuckled as he stood. "Well, I guess I best take my leave. I'll tell Alec you asked after him".

"I did no such thing", Magnus exclaimed indignantly as he stood up.

"No but you thought it", Jace teased. "Besides, it'll make Alec happy if he thought that you did. Can't have you pining for no reason; consider me your wing man".

Magnus narrowed his eyes at him. "I am not pining".

"Lusting?"

"No".

"Can't take your mind off of his gorgeous eyes and kind heart?"

"Cut it out Blondie".

"You can't hide the truth from me, Bane."

Magnus rolled his eyes at the man. "Have I told you how annoying you are yet?"

"Nope", Jace replied as he made his way to the door. "And that's funny; most people seem to think I'm a delight."

"Yes well, the sooner Alec's case finishes the better."

"Why? So you can swoon as you stare into the deep blue pools of his eyes?"

"No. So I don't have to see you. Now are you actually leaving?" Magnus knew he was being rude, and that the man was obviously putting a lot of effort into helping him, but Magnus found that there was something about Jace that just provoked a negative reaction.

"Yes, as much as I'd like to continue this, I've been awake since five and could do with a nap. Take care of yourself Bane".

Jace had just opened the door before he paused and abruptly let it go again, digging into his bag before he grabbed the notepad and pen, scribbling on it quickly. He carelessly ripped the page out before giving it to Magnus.

"My number, in case you ever need to reach Alec but can't get through", he explained.

"Thank you", Magnus replied, strangely touched.

"You're welcome", Jace replied seriously before he left the room.

It was only once he had been led back to his cell by the surly guard that Magnus realised that he had enjoyed spending time with Jace today. It had been a long time since he'd been able to trade harmless insults with someone. It had been even longer since anyone had playfully teased him. It was once he realised this that Jace's behaviour made some sense; he was trying to make him feel normal, bringing some form of interaction he thought Magnus probably hadn't encountered in a long time.

It was strange, Magnus thought as he settled on his bed. At 40 years old, he would've thought that he would know not to judge a book by its cover, yet here he was doing just that. All throughout their meeting he had thought Jace to be arrogant and annoying. Yet all the time he was just a kind man trying to cheer him up. Albeit still an annoying man. Magnus wasn't sure what he did to deserve the kindness of so many people, but he sure as hell wasn't going to throw it away. He was going to see this case through to the very end.