Wow. This ended up really long, it just kept going on and on and on…sorry! Okay, I did my best with Magnus *gulp*. I hope he's okay! To me, he always seemed kind of aloof and…nonchalant, so that's what I tried to portray. I don't know if that's how you perceived him in the books but that's how I did so…

Chapter Songs:

So What by Pink (Scene 1--Magnus) – I don't know why, but this attitude seemed to fit Magnus for me, LOL!

Secret's in the Telling by Dashboard Confessional (Scene 2--Clary)

When I'm Gone by 3 Doors Down (Scene 3--Jace)


Magnus stared down at the array of nail polish scattered on top of the small oak table he'd just "borrowed" from the antique furniture store a few blocks over, trying to decide which color to use. He thought he had it narrowed down between Nearly Navy Sparkle and Gold Dust. With a shrug, he flicked his fingers and all the other bottles vanished leaving only the blue and gold. Who said he couldn't use both colors?

Picking up the bottle of gold, he shook it quickly, twisted the cap and applied a thick layer to his thumb nail. He held the nail up in front of him to inspect the evenness of the color.

"Excellent." He smiled.

When he was almost done with the first hand, he heard a knock on the door. He glanced up in surprise, not expecting anyone at this late hour. Placing the cap back on the Nearly Navy Sparkle, he stood and made his way to the door, blowing on his fingers in the process. He grasped the doorknob with his unpainted hand, opening it a crack. Familiar black hair and piercing blue eyes peered in through the slit. Magnus's lips stretched into a large grin.

"My, my. Decided to stay over after all?" He quirked one eyebrow and opened the door wider, glimpsing another figure leaning against the wall behind Alec. His pleasure immediately plummeted. "Oh, I see." He pushed the door open all the way, twirled his hand in the air in a gesture to enter and turned around making his way back to the table. Settling back down in his chair, he grabbed the blue nail polish again and continued painting. "What do I owe the displeasure of your visit, Jace Lightwood?"

Alec and Jace sauntered into the room, Alec moving to sit in the chair closest to Magnus and Jace choosing one on the opposite side of the table.

"Oh come on Magnus, there's no need to veil your excitement at seeing me with forced cynicism. Really, I thought you were better than that. A true brother in sarcastic wit." Jace plopped down on the chair, placing one of his booted feet against the edge of the table top and crossing his arms over his chest, a self satisfied grin on his face.

Magnus couldn't fight back the small smirk that pulled at the corners of his lips. He really did enjoy Jace's appreciation for all things blatantly obvious and ridiculous. In that way, they were alike. But, of course he couldn't let him know that. "Yes, well, as much as I do take pleasure in our ironic banter, I am a bit busy tonight." He held his completed polish job in the air.

"Magnus," Alec's blue eyes implored him. "You know we wouldn't bother you if it wasn't important."

Magnus finished with his polish and waved his hand over the table, the bottles disappearing. "Yes, well, of course you wouldn't. Why you would want to visit me just because is an enigma isn't it?" He focused his eyes on Alec's as he raised his fingers to his lips, blowing the wet paint dry.

"Come on, you know that's not what I meant—" Alec reached out for Magnus's hand.

Magnus snatched his hand away and lifted it to twist a dark spike of hair.

Jace raised his brows as his gaze shifted between Alec and Magnus. "Do you two need a minute?"

Alec bowed his head and sighed as Magnus said. "No. What is it you two need from me now? Because, as you know, there is nothing I like more in this world than to do favors for the likes of you."

Alec glanced up, his eyes strained. Magnus knew Alec hated when he shut down like this, but he was tired of Alec playing it cool in front of everyone. It wasn't like they didn't know all about their relationship. But ever since their return from Idris, he seemed afraid to act any different in front of his family. Always just a little withdrawn, always just a little scared. Magnus had asked him multiple times to stay over, he always declined, and he never showed up unannounced or invited him to the Institute unless someone was in need of his services. It was always Magnus who had to make the first move and he was tiring of it quickly.

All he'd asked was that Alec be honest about them, to himself and everyone else. He realized this was new for Alec and that he'd never acted on his feelings before, but everyone else seemed to accept it. Why couldn't he? Even Jace, the most cynical of them all, supported them. But even still, Alec shied away from public displays, from committing himself in a more substantial way.

Jace lowered his foot from the table and leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. "I was wondering how much you learned while being held by Stephen. You know, about any . . . side effects that may have occurred in previous experiments."

Magnus quirked one brown and absently twisted the ring around his middle finger. "Having issues?"

Jace shrugged. "Oh, I don't know. I guess if you'd call spontaneously erupting nosebleeds and hacking up blood issues, then yeah, I suppose I am."

He raised his hand and rubbed his chin. "Hmm, interesting. Anything else?"

"Well, you could say wearing a giant S on my chest would be appropriate at this point—but without the skin tight costume."

"Do you have a problem with spandex? It's actually quite comfortable." Magnus cocked his head to the side and studied Jace. "I think you could pull it off."

Alec cleared his throat, breaking through Magnus's ponderings.

"So, you're saying you're displaying vampiric tendencies? Any of the others?"

Jace shrugged. "I don't know. I don't seem to be sprouting whiskers or finding myself unable to lie. Thank God."

Magnus nodded his head and moved to stand between Jace and Alec. Holding his hands out to Jace he asked, "Do you mind?"

"Why would I mind? I came to you, remember?"

"And interrupted my beauty routine, yes, I remember." He placed his hands on either side of Jace's head, not touching him directly. "Don't move." Concentrating on Jace's energies, a dull green light engulfed his hands. He closed his eyes and furrowed he brows as the sensations flowed into him. Rage of immeasurable quantity followed by extreme strength, speed and pain registered the highest. Just below that, the ability to charm and enchant welled to the surface. And at the very bottom, knowledge of the magical realm swirled about.

He opened his eyes and stepped back, pursing his lips in thought.

"What?" Alec leaned toward him. "What is it?"

Magnus ignored Alec and continued to study Jace. "You are a very angry little boy aren't you?"

Jace's mouth fell open in surprise. Magnus assumed this wasn't the information Jace thought he would get from him.

Magnus made his way back to his chair and lowered himself into it, resting his elbows on the table and raising one hand to tap a finger on his red lips. "It's fascinating, really. I had always sensed that part of you—the one filled with anger—and who could blame you taking all things into consideration, but with the addition of these new . . . abilities, the rage is astounding. Though not surprising."

"Why not surprising?" Jace asked.

"Well, it's a well known fact that we Downworlders are not really known for our patience." Magnus grinned. "We tend to . . . snap quite easily. Combine that with your already low ability to control yourself, well, you're pretty much a bomb waiting to go off."

"So," Alec said, "you're saying he could just—go off on someone at anytime?"

Magnus shrugged. "I couldn't tell you. All I know is that his anger was the strongest thing I felt. It could mean that or it couldn't. What is most interesting to me is that the vampiric tendencies are the strongest after that."

"Why do you think that is?" Alec asked.

"My assumption is because the blood given to him came from the Daylighter—who, as we all know, received his day walking abilities from drinking from Jace. I assume the abilities are amplified in him because a piece of himself already lived in the blood—of course that's just a guess."

"You're not telling me I'm going to turn into a bloodsucker are you?" Jace slouched back into the chair. "Great, just great. Sucking blood for all of eternity, just what I always wanted."

Magnus twisted his ring once more. "Not necessarily. Another strange thing is that the viruses are not bonding to your blood. They're free floating, fighting against your immunities and trying to latch themselves on. This could explain your body's attempts to expel the tainted blood."

"So why did drinking blood help?"

Alec whipped his head to Jace, his eyes wide with shock. Magnus assumed Jace hadn't mentioned that little fact to him before coming over.

"Temporary fix. Appeasing your vampiric side I suppose—but don't be fooled into thinking it will help forever."

Alec turned back to Magnus. "So, you're saying there's no stopping this? That he could—well, that he could keep hemorrhaging like that?"

Magnus shrugged. "It seems likely. For a short time he could stave it off by replenishing the lost blood, but it won't stop it forever."

Alec lowered his face to his hands. "So what do we do now?" His voice came out muffled.

"Might I suggest," Magnus met Jace's eyes, "asking the one person who may have the answers you seek. The one behind it all."

Alec's head snapped up and Jace's eyes narrowed. "Stephen," he said, his voice flat.

Magnus nodded. "He's your best shot." He sighed and stood. "Time to visit Daddy."

***

Clary sprang up in bed, her breathing ragged and her skin soaked with sweat. She glanced around the dark room and then closed her eyes, taking in slow breaths trying to calm her racing heart.

The images assaulted her mind, an unrelenting flow of blood and horror. The dream had started as just a replay of the scene at Pandemonium. The spark of deadly rage that passed through Jace's eyes as he dominated greasy haired guy in the back hallway, the blood that trickled from his nose after no one even touched him, and then the way he'd turned his back on her and stormed off into the alley. Then her vision shifted to him in the alley, doubled up in agony as he coughed up blood, spitting it onto the ground. She wanted to go to him, but her feet were stuck in place, held there by a force outside her control.

When Jace finally stood, he turned to her, his eyes flat and dead as they had been the morning he'd broke down in front of her. Suddenly, drops of blood oozed from his eyes, nose and ears. The trickles turned to a steady flow, his body emptying itself of all life. It poured out in rivers, coating his skin in red fluid. She screamed and reached forward, wanting to staunch the flow, but when she touched him, his body cracked like glass. The fracture spread in small fissures, moving over his entire body. He glanced down and then back up to her, his eyes wide and pained, almost as if he was asking her why. She tried to touch him again, only to feel him crumble under her fingers, his body reduced to ash tumbling to the ground. Dropping to the dust covered floor, she flung her body over the pile of dust, tears soaking her face as she tried to keep him from blowing away in the wind that swept through the alley way. But no matter how firmly she planted herself on top of what remained of him, he still filtered through her fingers, disappearing into the night.

Although she knew it was just a dream and she was awake now, she could not stop the flow of tears and sobs as they raked through her body. All she wanted was to keep him safe. She'd do anything to protect him. But she couldn't do a thing if he wouldn't open up to her. She knew he was hiding something, she felt it in every fiber of her being. Why couldn't he trust her? What was it that kept him from being completely honest? Hadn't she made it clear that nothing he could say would change how she felt about him? She'd tried so hard to convey that, to let him know that she would be there no matter what.

Flinging the sheets off from her and swinging her legs off the bed, she grabbed the yoga pants lying on the floor and slipped them on. She needed to see him, needed to make sure he was okay and find out once and for all what he was keeping from her.

She exited her room and bounded down the hall until she stood in front of his door. For a moment, she contemplated knocking, but decided against it and flung the door open. His bed lay empty, and very obviously not slept in. Her mouth dropped open and she spun around, determined to check every room until she found him.

After combing the Institute and coming up empty, she found herself in front of Isabelle's door. Maybe she'd know where he was. She raised her fist and knocked loudly. It took several poundings before Isabelle opened the door, her eyes drooped and hair tousled with sleep.

"What the hell, Clary? Do you know what time it is?"

"Do you know where Jace is?"

"What?" Isabelle yawned. "Why would I know where he is? He's your boyfriend, remember?"

Clary bounced on the balls of her feet, her anxiety growing in the wake of her dream. "I checked everywhere I could think of but he's nowhere."

"Did you check with Alec? I saw them leave together earlier."

Clary stilled. "What? He—he left with Alec? When?"

Isabelle shrugged and yawned again. "I don't know. Just after you went to bed I guess."

Clary took in a deep breath, the anger in her chest building. He waited for her to fall asleep, before going out. As much as she didn't want to believe it, he'd done it on purpose. He'd confided whatever it was in Alec and not her. He trusted him, not her. She knew it. Somehow, deep inside, she knew it.

Tears stung her eyes, but she held them back. "If you see him, could you tell him I'm in the greenhouse." She took a deep breath and spoke through clenched teeth. "Please."

Isabelle's eyes widened and her lips formed the shape of an O. "Sure."

"Thanks." Clary spun on her heel and headed in the direction of the roof stairs. She needed to decompress, to calm herself before Jace returned, and then she'd ask him why he continued to shut her out. Why he didn't feel her worthy enough to share whatever was going on. Sooner or later, he'd crack and he'd tell her everything. And she was determined for tonight to be that night.

***

The backdrop of the Institute finally came into view, looming large and dark against the bright city lights. Jace needed to think, to figure out how he could possibly face Stephen again. He knew he needed the information he held, but didn't know if he was strong enough to face him again. At least not yet.

They entered the gates and made their way to the elevator. Alec had been quiet all the way home. Jace saw the tension between him and Magnus and while he wondered what was up, he didn't ask. He figured if Alec wanted him to know he'd tell him. He knew as well as anyone that relationship stuff was private and it just wasn't cool to stick your nose where it didn't belong.

The elevator dinged and the doors slid open to a very disheveled Isabelle. Jace quirked an eyebrow and readied a sarcastic remark about her unkempt appearance.

"Save it, Jace." Isabelle crossed her arms over her chest and tapped her foot. "What did you do to Clary?"

"What are you talking about?" He stepped out of the elevator. "How could I do anything when I wasn't here, not to mention it's the middle of the night."

"Well, she was pretty upset when I saw her earlier. She was looking for you."

Jace swallowed against the foreboding feeling gathering in his throat. "When?"

Isabelle narrowed her eyes. "About an hour ago. She said to tell you she was in the greenhouse."

Jace cursed under his breath and glanced down the hall toward the roof stairs near the end of the hall.

"What the hell's going on Jace?" Isabelle asked.

"Nothing," he mumbled. "I'll see you later." He turned and walked toward the stairs. Although he didn't know exactly what was up, he could guess. She wanted to know what he was hiding from her. How could he tell her? How could he explain when he really didn't know? More than anything, he didn't want to worry her needlessly. He knew how she was and she'd obsess over every little thing. As long as he kept the symptoms at bay, at least until he could figure out how to stop it for good, there was no reason to burden her with the whole ugly truth. He just couldn't stand seeing her upset and he knew no matter what he did, she would be. He just figured that her thinking he was keeping something from her would be a better upset for her than thinking he might spontaneously combust at any moment.

He made his way up the stairs and stepped into the greenhouse. A dim light shone from near the back and he moved toward it. Within moments, she came into view, sitting in front of the midnight blooming bush, the remnants of blossoms scattered around her legs. She rolled one between her fingers, her face illuminated by the soft glow of a candle beside her. The sadness on her face caused his breath to hitch, knowing he was the cause.

She glanced up as he moved closer to her a look of joy, followed immediately by something else, flashed over her face. Lowering her gaze back to the petal in her hand, she refused to meet his eye.

When he reached her, he crouched down next to her. "Hey."

"Hey," she answered, still not looking at him.

He let out a slow breath and reached for her hands which were meticulously shredding the petal between her fingers. "Clary—"

"Why don't you trust me, Jace ?" she asked, her eyes still cast down.

"What?" He nearly fell back on his unsteady feet. "I do."

Finally, she lifted her gaze and met his. Her eyes gleamed with unshed tears, causing his heart to plummet into his stomach. "Then why do you keep leaving me in the dark? Why do you keep hiding things from me?" The tears broke free and tumbled down her cheeks.

He reached up and cupped her face, swiping the tears away with his thumbs. "What do you think I'm hiding?"

She sniffed. "I know there's more going on than you're telling me and I know other people know. Alec at least. How come you can tell him and not me?"

"You don't tell Isabelle things you don't tell me?"

She furrowed her brows. "That's different."

"How so?"

"I don't tell her things that I should be telling you. Things that would concern you or make you upset. Things that scare me or might scare you. Those things I tell you, because you're the one person in this world I can trust with anything and everything. Why aren't I that person for you, Jace?"

"You are."

"Then tell me what's going on."

He closed his eyes and lowered his face. "Clary—"

She grabbed his face and forced him to meet her eyes. "Why won't you tell me? What's wrong with you?"

He pushed her hands away and stood, walking to the window nearby. "I'm fine. How many times do I have to tell you that?"

He heard her stand behind him. "No you're not. I dreamt about tonight. About what happened at the club—"

He spun toward her. "Damnit Clary, it was just a damn bloody nose. Why do you have to make such a big deal out of nothing?"

She narrowed her eyes and took a step closer to him. "And what about after, in the alley?"

His mouth dropped open and he staggered back. How did she know about that? She couldn't. The only ones who knew were Simon and now Alec, and he was pretty sure neither of them told her. When he regained his composure, he closed his mouth and tightened his jaw. "I don't know what you're talking about."

She closed her eyes and spoke through clenched teeth. "Stop lying to me."

"Look at me, Clary." When she refused to open her eyes, he took a few more steps toward her and wrapped his hands around her arms, shaking her gently. "Look at me. I'm fine."

She opened her eyes and glared at him. "You're not going to tell me are you?"

He stared at her, unwilling to admit anything yet. "There's nothing to tell. I'm. Fine." He stressed the last two words.

"Fine!" she yelled and thrust her arms down hard, breaking herself free of his grasp and twirled around.

"Clary—" He reached forward and caught one of her arms in his firm grip, not wanting to leave things this way.

Without warning, she whipped back around and slapped him across the face. The sting shot across his cheek as a surprised gasp escaped from his lips. He raised a hand to his face, laying his fingers against the hot, throbbing skin. Pent up rage spread through his chest, forcing its way up and begging for release. He closed his eyes trying to push it back down but only succeeding in angering it further.

Clary stood before him, her eyes wide and her hand to her mouth, almost as if she couldn't believe what she'd done. "Jace," her voice wavered, "I'm—"

He wanted to tell her it was all right, that he forgave her, that he deserved it even. But he couldn't speak, not a single sound. It took everything he had to hold the rage inside. He needed to leave, to get as far away from her as possible before he lost control of it.

Pushing past her, he made his way out of the greenhouse and to the stairs. He gripped the rail, the metal crumbling under his fingers. His body shook with unrelenting waves of power fueled by his anger.

Clary rushed out of the greenhouse. "Jace. I—I didn't mean—I'm sor—"

He raised a trembling hand out to stop her. "Stay away! I'm—I can't control it." Fumbling away from the staircase, he leaned into the brick wall, the pressure building to an unstoppable level. He knew he was about to burst and just wanted her to go so she didn't have to see. "Please, Clary. Go." he moaned, pressing his forehead against the rough brick and squeezing his eyes shut.

"No." Came her reply from just behind him.

"Go!" he yelled, his voice cracking as he lifted his fist and smashed it into the wall. Bricks crumbled under his hand, leaving a large hole and cracks in the building's façade. "Please. I don't want you to see."

"I'm not leaving you, Jace."

He moaned against the wall, the rage just about to erupt, his body shaking with restraint. He curled his fingers, scraping against the wall, crushing the bricks into dust under his hand. He wanted to scream at her to leave, to cry for her to stay, needing her to hold him in her arms and chase these demons away. But he couldn't ask for that, he couldn't risk hurting her. "Please," he whispered, no longer able to speak aloud.

"No," her whispered voice traveled over him, increasing the longing he felt.

His breathing accelerated as he fought to hold back the insanity raging inside him. Just when he thought he couldn't hold back anymore, that it was going to break through his failing restraint, he felt a soft touch on his shoulder. His eyes flew open as he readied himself to pull away, when a strange thing happened. From that point out, a warmth spread through him, overshadowing the aching need to explode. Calm overtook him, weakening his legs and dropping him to the ground. He let out a shuttering breath as her presence swallowed up every bit of uncontrolled anger inside of him.

Before he knew it, her arms were around him, her lips on his face, kissing away the tears he didn't even know he'd shed.

"I'm sorry," she whispered in between kisses. "I'm so sorry."

Finally, he was able to move again and he raised his hands to her face. "No, I'm sorry. I don't know what I'm doing Clary."

She pressed her forehead against his. "I just want to help you."

"You are."

"You know what I mean. Let me in. Please."

He let out a slow breath. "I will. I promise I will. Just—please just trust me."

"Jace." Her shoulders slumped. "Why? Why not now?"

"Because—because I need your strength. Right now you're stronger than me and I need you to stay that way."

She raised her tear-filled eyes to his. "And you think if you tell me everything then I might not be strong enough?"

"I don't know. I just—I want to know what's going on before I scare you for no reason. Please, just let me figure stuff out first."

Her breath hitched. "Is it really that bad?"

He closed his eyes and touched his forehead to hers once more. "Clary," he begged in a whisper.

"Okay." She ran her fingers through his hair. "Okay. I'll try."

"Thank you."

She moved her hands to his cheeks and lifted his face then lowered her lips to his. "I love you," she whispered against his mouth. "No matter what, I love you."

He closed his eyes and pulled her closer, longing for her touch and the calm her presence seemed to grant in him. Somehow, he would figure all this out, he would make things okay again. He would conquer these demons. Even if it meant opening himself up further than he ever had before. Even if it meant facing his father once again.


Phew, all right. Poor Jace. I think I need to go cry for a while now. *Sniff*. Reviews make me and Jace happy so please, soothe us both with your words…*smooches*