A/N: Thank you so much for your reviews. Here is the next chapter. Let me know what you think.

Disclaimer: The characters and universe belongs to Cassandra Clare.

Warnings: This story deals with very sensitive subject matters, including sexual abuse of a minor (not explicitly described), internalized homophobia, self-destructive behavior, language and adult sexual content.

Learning to Be

Chapter 24: Courage

Alec arrived back downstairs, dressed in fitted black clothes, black combat boots, a seraph blade at his waist and his bow and arrows slung across his back. Alec's mind was blank except for one thing. Find the boy, James, and get him home. Compartmentalizing his feelings right now was the only way he was going to be an effective shadowhunter.

"We need to call the Clave," Maryse said.

"Yes mother," Alec said. "Why don't you do what you should have done four years ago."

"I'm coming with you," Robert said.

"No," Alec snapped. "Why would you suddenly join us now when we've been doing this without you for so long?"

"We've got this, dad," Izzy said curtly.

"Are you going to be okay, Alec?" Magnus asked, watching the teenager carefully.

Alec felt his heart skip a beat at Magnus's voice. He had a sudden desire to touch Magnus...to feel his comfort but he pushed the feeling aside.

"I'll be fine."

"We've got his back," Jace said as the three siblings stepped into the elevator. Alec wanted to be annoyed at everyone treating him like glass but he didn't have the energy, so he just nodded at Magnus. Magnus approached him and placed a folded up paper in his hand just before the elevator doors closed shut. "Just in case you need to track him without me."

Alec tucked the paper into his pocket. "Thanks."

xxxxxx

"It's an abandoned warehouse by the Bruckner," Jace said as they stepped out of the subway. "While you were getting changed Magnus said that it was used by rogue Nephilim over a century ago as a rendezvous point."

Alec laughed hollowly. "Figures Manson would know about this place."

"Let's have a plan before we go in," Izzy said as they walked towards the building.

"We get in there, scope out the place. Find him and get the kid," Jace said, as if it was logical. It's not like they ever went in with a plan before, despite Alec's reservations.

Alec pulled out a folded up picture from his pocket.

Izzy stared at the back of the photo, the actually image hidden in the folds and only the white of the back showing. "Alec?"

Alec pulled out his stele. "I can track him with this."

"How?"

Alec handed the piece of paper Magnus gave him to Izzy. "It's a tracking rune." He took his stele and copied the rune that Magnus had sketched into the backside of the photo. "Let's go."

The warehouse was actually more intact then it appeared on the outside. The outward appearance probably deterred homeless mundanes from taking up residence within its walls. The main room was large, with high walls and sunlight pouring in through windows near the celling.

"This way," Alec said, pointing at a door near the east end of the room. "There's a flight of stairs leading down to a hallway. He's behind the third door from the stairs."

The teenagers swiftly made their way down the stairs, newly etched soundless runes on their arms. Once they reached the door, the silence was broken by the soft sobs coming from behind the wall. Alec's hands started shaking at the sound. His own sobs from years ago echoed in his mind.

"Alec?" Izzy whispered, her hand falling on his shoulder. He jerked away from her and drew out his bow and an arrow.

"I'm fine," he said.

Jace shot him a worried look but didn't say anything. Instead, he took out his stele and carved into the door. Within seconds, the color of the door faded away, leaving them with a clear view of what was going on inside.

Manson was seated at a chair, cutting an apple. On the floor, on a dirty old mattress, sat a boy, a sheet pulled up around his waist and a bag of McDonalds left unopened by his side. A long silver chain was hanging from his neck, leaving angry red marks against his bare chest. His wrists were also encased in silver cuffs.

"You need to eat boy," Manson said, looking at the child, annoyance on his face.

The child looked up at him with contempt and shook his head defiantly.

Before the teenagers could devise a plan, Manson pounced on the child, grabbing him by the neck, the chain swaying with the movement. He pressed the knife he was using to cut the apple against his neck. "You will do whatever the fuck I say," he snapped.

Alec's heart was pounding in his ears. Without thinking, he grabbed the knob and charged into the room, his bow and arrow drawn. "Get the fuck away from him," Alec yelled.

Jace and Izzy stood on either side of him, blade and whip drawn.

Manson held onto the boy and spun around. The were-child desperately grabbed at the sheet to keep himself covered.

Manson stood, holding James in front of him, his knife pressed against the boy's jugular.

"Well, isn't this a surprise?" he started, a smile gracing his face. "I thought you were happy to have me gone? And yet here you are, seeking me out. But like I said before, you're too old for me now, blue-eyes." He traced his eyes over Alec. "But you are still stunning."

"I will fucking tear you apart," Alec hissed, his arrow pointed squarely at his forehead.

"You let that arrow fly and I'll slice this pure silver knife through his throat as I go down."

Jace stepped forward, his grip on his blade tightening.

"You too, wonder boy."

Alec lowered his bow. He needed to take a different approach.

"Okay, Benedict. You're right. You're in control here."

"Haven't I always been in control when if comes to us, blue-eyes?" he asked sweetly.

Alec suppressed a gag. "What do you want?"

Manson faltered.

"Do you want to run off with this boy?" Alec took a step forward.

"Stay back," Manson hissed.

"He looks a lot like me when I was that age."

Manson narrowed his eyes. Alec could see Izzy shifting her feet nervously from the corner of his eyes.

"But is it the same, Benedict?" Alec kept his voice soft and almost seductive. He felt nauseous as he willing played the part.

"Don't think you can trick me boy."

"Alec, what are you doing?" Izzy whispered, urgently.

"I'm not trying to trick you. I'm being honest with you." He reached into his pocket and pulled out the photo. "I have your box. I have this photo right here. Let James go with Jace and Izzy and I'll stay here."

He heard instant angry protests from his siblings but he ignored it. "I know I'm too old but if you let him go, I'll stay here and we can talk. I'll give you this picture. I'll get you the rest of them and you can go."

"Bullshit!" Manson said, laughing.

"All I want is for James to get home safe, all right. I don't care about what you do afterwards. In the last four years, I haven't said anything, have I?"

Manson smiled. "So true. You were always so obedient," he said, reminiscently. "Not like this boy."

"That's right," Alec said, feeling almost hopeful. "He might look like me but he doesn't behave like me, does he?"

The boy was looking at Alec, desperately, tears flowing freely down his face.

Manson nodded mutely.

"I'll do what you say, Benedict. I'll even..." He paused, his heart roaring so loudly, it was almost deafening. "I'll go down on you." He suppressed a gag. "Just like you taught me. If you close your eyes, you can pretend I'm younger. Or just look into my eyes...they haven't changed."

Both Jace and Izzy yelled out and Jace grabbed Alec by his arm. "Alec!"

Manson was practically salivating.

"Both of them leaves, now. Then we can talk."

"Let James go with them."

"No, when they're gone, we'll talk."

"There is no way in fuck that we're leaving you here, Alec," Jace hissed.

"Please, Jace, Izzy. I know what I'm doing. I'll be fine," he whispered back so Manson couldn't hear.

"No, you're being a fucking martyr and I won't be part of it," Izzy snapped. "We can take him."

"And then the boy dies. Listen, I can take care of myself. I promise."

"No!"

"Please. I can't...I can't live with myself if that boy dies."

"And you think we can live with ourselves if something happens to you," Izzy implored.

"You are not...you're not going down on him," Jace whispered desperately.

Alec shivered. "I'm not, Jace. I promise."

"But..."

"In many ways, he thinks I'm still a child. He underestimates me. Even after yesterday, when I was throwing daggers at him, he thinks he can control me."

"You're the one who gave him that wound in his shoulder?" Jace asked.

"I'm not going to wait all day, children," Manson called out.

"Please, just go. You'll be right outside. You can barge in at a moment's notice. I'm not going to be a martyr, Izzy."

A loud whimper snapped the teenagers' attention back to James and Manson. Manson's unoccupied hand was under the sheet that James desperately held at his waist. "I'm getting impatient."

Alec's eyes widened and he felt the beginning of tears at the corner of his eyes as he looked into James's horrified eyes.

"Please," he begged his siblings. "He's ruining another child. Jace, that was me. I can't. Please."

"Fuck!" Jace screamed.

"Alec," Izzy whispered, defeated.

Both younger teenagers retreated, walking backwards so that their backs were not turned to the scene they were reluctantly leaving behind. Once the door closed behind them, Alec knew they were standing right outside, looking in with the aid of a rune.

"Okay, Benedict. We're alone."

"Yes, we are," he said, smiling. "This is how I like you, blue-eyes. Under my control. Not like yesterday."

Alec suppressed a snappy reply and nodded.

"Remove all your weapons, boy."

Alec mutely placed his bow and arrows on the floor, followed by his blade.

"All of them. Stele too."

Alec dropped his stele.

"Don't play games with me, boy."

Alec dug out a dagger and dropped it beside his other weapons.

"Okay, now let him go, Benedict."

"Come here first."

Alec slowly approached them until he was a foot away from his nightmare. James' sobs were louder at this close proximity. Alec wanted to assure him but he knew there was nothing he could say as the man fondled him underneath the sheet.

"Let him go," he repeated.

"Put the picture on the chair."

Alec placed the picture, face down on the chair.

"Turn it over."

Reluctantly, Alec turned it over.

Manson sighed happily, looking at the picture. Alec felt sick. Manson shifted the boy, so he was at his side instead of in front of him. At least both his hands were visible now.

"Get on your knees."

"Let him go first."

"I'm not stupid, boy. On your knees first and then I let him go."

Alec looked at James. James' terrified eyes were fixated on Alec, desperation and fear radiating from his shivering body.

The teenager nodded mutely and slowly lowered himself to his knees. His face heated and his body shook, almost mirroring the younger boy's tremors.

"Come on boy, do what I taught you." His voice was low and desperate.

The man stared down at him. Alec needed to get him to close his eyes, so he tried to emphasis his growth by widening his shoulders and pulling his torso up. The man frowned. Alec shielded his eyes with his lashes, hiding the piercing blue color the man loved so much, as he brought his trembling fingers to the man's fly.

Manson closed his eyes as soon as Alec's fingers undid his button and drew down the zipper. Alec didn't lose a moment. He sprung to his feet and grabbed the wrist of the hand that held the knife. He pulled it away from the boy just as Manson yelled in surprise.

James pulled away from the man instantly, stumbling into the dirty mattress, all his energy drained from the silver necklace around his neck and silver cuffs on his wrists.

Manson lunged forward, his grip on the knife tightening as Alec retaliated by slamming him back until he was up against a wall. Alec pressed the wrist against the wall above his head.

Manson tried to fight back but Alec pressed his body against him. "Want to find out how much control you have over me now?" Alec hissed as he drove his knee up and slammed it into the man's crouch.

Alec heard his siblings rush back into the room.

Manson was screaming as Alec continued to apply pressure.

"Drop the knife."

Manson's hands loosened and the knife clattered to the floor.

As Alec withdrew his knee, Manson used the moment to flip them around so that Alec was now shoved against the wall, the larger man pressing against him. "You think you're stronger, boy?"

Alec felt his body shutting down as the muscled body he was so familiar with pressed against him. No, he thought, determinedly. He used all his strength to shove the man off him as a whip lashed out, wrapping around his neck and tugging him back until he fell flat on his backside. Instantly, his fingers gripped the rope around his neck, trying to loosen its grip.

Izzy stood a few feet away, the other end of the whip held tightly in her hand.

Alec step away from the wall and Jace tossed him his bow and an arrow.

He aimed the arrow at the man's heart, the bow drawn back.

"I could kill you right now and no one would care, Manson," Alec hissed.

"Everyone in this room will say it was self-defense," Jace said.

Alec shifted his aim. "But I'm not going to do that. I don't need another reason for you to take up any space in my mind." He released the arrow and it pierced the man deep into his groin.

The screeching sound echoed through the room but Alec ignored it, dropping his bow to the ground and turning to the boy on the mattress. He grabbed the photo on the chair and shoved it into his pocket as he approached the boy.

He gathered his clothes that were scattered on the floor.

"Hi James," Alec said softly. "I'm Alec."

The boy looked at him suspiciously. "I'm not going to hurt you."

"You're Nephilim," he whispered hoarsely, untrusting. "Like him."

Alec shuttered at the comparison. "I know. But I'm not like him. I don't want to hurt you."

James continued to look at him suspiciously.

"Can I remove the silver?"

"Please don't touch me. Please."

Alec felt his heart breaking. "Once I get the silver off, you should start to heal and I'll get you home, all right. I won't touch you anymore than I have to."

James looked down at the silver that made it impossible for him to remove it himself.

He nodded mutely.

Alec felt the boy's body tense as he gently pulled the necklace from around his neck and threw it to the side.

"Can you hold your wrists up?"

James lifted his wrists and Alec was careful to touch the silver and not his skin as he released the clasps of the cuffs and tossed them away as well.

He placed the clothes beside James. "I'm going to turn around so you can get dressed."

When Alec turned around, he saw that Izzy still had her whip wrapped around Manson's neck. The man was curled on his side but Jace casually held the arrow down, twisting it occasionally, while he spoke to someone on the phone.

He snapped the phone shut and looked up at Alec. "Members of the Clave are on their way."

Alec nodded.

"He's going away, Alec," Izzy said. "I wanted to see if you wanted to press charges first but after this..."

Alec just nodded again, not wanting to think about what that meant for him.

He heard the boy shuffle forward until he was standing beside him.

"I want to go home," he whispered.

Alec thought about smiling at the boy but he couldn't muster up the falseness. Besides, the boy deserved more than placating gestures. "I can take you home or my sister, Izzy, can." He wanted to give him the option of going with a female.

He looked at all three them, his eyes purposefully avoiding the writhing man on the floor. They were all Nephilim.

He looked up at Alec. "Can you take me home?" he asked, his voice vulnerable and unsure.

It was like he knew that they shared the same horrific experience. Albeit, he guessed that his interaction with Manson gave some of that away.

"Of course. Jace, Izzy, I'm going to take him home. You'll wait here for the Clave?"

"I can come with you," Izzy said.

Alec suppressed his annoyance. "I'll be fine."

Izzy backed off quickly, as if she could tell that he was irritated with her overprotectiveness.

"Call us when you're leaving."

Alec nodded. "I will."

xxxxxx

The two boys sat on the subway silently. It was midday, so the train was relatively empty as they headed towards James's home in the East Village. They continued to walk in silence once they got off the train. As they got closer to the boy's apartment, he stopped and looked up at Alec.

"I...I don't know what to do," he said, his eyes shining with tears.

Alec nodded, looking pensively. "You need to tell your family what happened. You can't keep this in. It will destroy you."

He shivered. "Do you know what happened?" he asked. "You weren't there the whole time."

Alec sighed. Manson had him for two days. He remembered the night he bumped into him on the street. Had he been coming back from the warehouse that night? "I'm pretty sure I know what happened, James. And I'm so sorry."

"How is it your fault?" he asked, confused. Alec felt a pang of guilt that seemed all encompassing. He couldn't reply.

"Will...can you tell them?" he continued.

"If that's what you want."

"I...I don't want to talk about it right now."

"Okay," Alec said.

Alec followed James up five flights of stairs before stopping at apartment 6R.

"I don't have my key."

Alec nodded and knocked loudly on the door.

In under a minute, the door swung open and they were greeted by Luke, Clary's friend, standing in the doorway.

He looked down at the boy and let out a sigh of relief, stepping aside to let them in.

Within seconds, there was a wail and a woman flung herself at the boy. James yelped in surprise and Alec saw his body tense.

"James, baby," the woman sobbed, teary eyed. Behind her, stood a man, his hand on her shoulder, looking equally relieved.

"You're Alexander Lightwood, right?" Luke said, watching him carefully.

Alec nodded. He felt out of place as Luke examined him. "You found him?"

"Jace, Izzy and I. Magnus tracked him."

"Using what? No one came to get something that belongs to James."

Alec ignored the question and looked at the reunited family. Both parents were coddling James now. James stood there awkwardly.

"What happened?"

Alec kept his eyes on the family.

"He was kidnapped by a shadowhunter."

Luke growled.

"He's been detained."

"Who? Why?"

"Benedict Manson. He...he hurt him. At least, I'm pretty sure he did."

"What did he do?" James's father asked, looking up at him.

Everyone was looking at Alec now.

Silence fell over the room.

"He sexually abused him," he finally said.

The tension in the room was thick. The woman growled, her eyes seemed to glow yellow momentarily.

"Nephilim did this to my child!" the man roared. James flinched away.

"Alec and his siblings stopped him," James said softly.

Alec could see the man trying to calm down.

"He's being sent away. He will not go free. I promise."

"Oh, and you can make this promise? You are nothing but a boy," the woman spat out.

Alec wanted to talk to James. Suddenly, he wished he hadn't maintained the silence on the subway. "Can I talk to James? Alone? Just for a minute."

The man barked out a laugh. "You tell me Nephilim did this to my son and then you want us to leave him alone with Nephilim?"

Alec couldn't argue with the man. He looked around the room. He didn't want to say anything in front of these strangers but he couldn't leave without talking to James.

"James, I know that you're in a lot of pain right now."

"You don't know anything," snapped to the woman.

"Elise, let the boy talk," Luke said.

"I...he did they same things to me when I was your age."

Luke watched him carefully, his expression softening as he spoke. Seeing the sympathy on his face almost hurt but he continued.

"I kept quiet and I let it eat me up. I let him control me, even after he wasn't in my life anymore. I did things to myself that I'm not proud of and I pushed people away."

James looked at him, his bottom lip trembling.

"But James, it doesn't have to be that way. I'm not saying that it will be easy. It won't be easy but you can get through this. And I want you to know that I'm here for you, whenever you need it. If you need someone to talk to...if you need help...anything."

He turned to Luke. "Do you have a pen and paper?"

Luke grabbed a pen and notepad from the table behind him.

Alec wrote down his name and number and handed it to Luke.

He looked at James again. "That's my cellphone number. And if you lose that, my brother is dating Luke's friend, Clary, so you can find me that way."

James nodded mutely.

"The Clave will be in touch about Manson," he told James parents.

They nodded, equally silent.

"Okay. Um, well, James. You call me whenever you want," he said before leaving the apartment.

As soon as he stepped out, he leaned against the wall, his shoulders slumped inward and his head bowed. Exhaustion, both mental and physical, rushed over him. He ran a trembling hand through his hair.

His head snapped up as someone stepped into the hallway.

"Alexander," Luke said.

Alec quickly straightened his body. "It's Alec."

"Thank you."

Alec brushed aside the gratitude. "I did what I've been brought up to do."

"I'm not just talking about saving James."

Alec looked at him wearily.

"I know your parents well."

"Do you?" Alec said, anger creeping up at the thought of his parents.

"You are not as I imagine an offspring of Robert and Maryse to be like."

"Oh?"

"You did not dismiss James because he's a downworlder. And most importantly, what you did in there took courage, Alec. And that courage might bring James the support he needs to get through this."

Alec looked at him, surprised.

"So, thank you."

Alec nodded mutely. When he was alone in the hallway again, he fished out his phone, knowing that he also had the support he needed to get through this.

A/N: Longest chapter to date! Please let me know what you think! Any reviews are greatly appreciated! There is one more chapter for this story before I start writing the sequel. The sequel will include the development of Alec and Magnus's intimate relationship, the trial, his relationship with parents and of course, his siblings and possibly James. The final chapter of this story will have some much needed Alec-Jace.