Forty Second One Shot:

Protector

Clary POV:

"Clary, wanna hang out this Saturday?" Izzy asked me in English class and I really wanted to say yes, but I knew Sebastian wasn't going to like me going out with Izzy.

"I wish I could Iz, but Sebastian and I have plans. We'll hang out sometime soon though okay?" I said and she got upset. I always turned her down, and I hated it, but Sebastian doesn't approve, and I didn't want to upset him.

"Yea, sure. I'll add it to the list of other times you promised to hang but couldn't make it." She said and she turned around. I was about to say something when the teacher walked in and started talking. I hated that I was letting her down, but I knew Izzy would forgive me, Sebastian on the other hand wasn't as understanding. The bell rang and I headed towards my car. Sebastian was standing there waiting for me, and I put on my smile and walked over to him. He pulled me in and gave me an aggressive kiss, and than we got in and headed back to my house. Him and my brother were friends, and normally when they were in the same room I was practically invisible, but for some reason I didn't mind.

Izzy POV:

"And she always makes up and excuse about not having the time to hang out. I mean, come on, nobody is that busy in life." I complained to my brothers. I didn't know what to do. She always bailed on me, and I understood that her and Sebastian had been going out for some time now, but that doesn't give her the right to ditch her friend.

"Maybe she really is doing everything she says, and they aren't excuses." Alec said and I rolled my eyes.

"Really?" I said sarcastically.

"You never know." Alec said and I laughed.

"She once used the excuse that she had to watch her dog one day, and couldn't go to the mall." I said and Jace and Alec both looked at me.

"What's wrong with that?" Jace asked.

"She doesn't have a dog." I said. "Half of the things she uses as excuses are bogus. Once she told me she was meeting her mom at Java Jones after school so we couldn't go check out the new store in the mall, and I went to that coffee shop and she was nowhere to be found." I said.

"You stalked her?" Jace said.

"I wanted to see if she was telling me the truth, and she wasn't. She's hiding something, and she's been hiding it for months guys. I don't know what to do." I admitted.

"Wait until she comes to you Iz." Alec said. "I know from personal experience that if someone is hiding something they will come out with it on their own time. Don't pressure her. It'll only make her lie more." Alec said and I nodded. I just wanted my friend back, and it was killing me that we couldn't do everything we used too.

Time Jump – One Month Later

Clary POV:

"Care to ditch 4th period Clare?" Sebastian whispered into my ear and I nodded because I knew that it would be going regardless of my answer. He grabbed my hand and led me to the men's bathroom, the one that nobody uses. He pushed me inside and than turned around and closed the door. I don't know whose bright idea it was to put locks on the door, but here we are with locks on the bathroom door, and sure enough Sebastian used it. He walked over to me and slammed his lips to mine and his hands started roaming my body. "You finally going to give me what I want baby?"

"Sebastian. Not here." I said when I wasn't being mauled by his mouth.

"Well, you aren't willing to anywhere else either, and if you aren't willing, and I'll just have to take." He said as he ripped open my shirt.

"Seb." I tried again but his touches just got more aggressive. "Stop."

"Don't even try baby, you're no use for me." He said as he undid the button on my jeans. All I could think about was this was how it was going to happen, I was going to have my virginity taken in the boys bathroom in school.

"HELP!" I screamed at his hand slammed down on my mouth.

"Scream again, and I'll make it hurt even more." He said in a deadly calm voice. My jeans were half way down my legs by now and I just closed my eyes trying to ignore the feelings of his hands on my body.

Jace POV:

I was wondering the halls during 4th period because I really didn't care about the Roman Empire. I couldn't get that conversation I had with Izzy out of my head. I didn't know much about Clary, but I knew how much Izzy cared about her and seeing Izzy upset killed me. I didn't really know where I was going but I was mindlessly wondering when I heard a noise. I looked around but nobody was in the hallway with me. I thought I was hearing things until I heard it again. It sounded closer and I realized that I was near a bathroom. I went over to it and tried to open it but it was locked. Don't ask me why, but I always carried a lock pick with me in case of any issues and I was glad I did because I picked the lock and when I opened the door I saw Sebastian getting ready to have sex with Clary, and she didn't look like she was a willing participant at all. I grabbed Sebastian by the back of his shirt and threw him against the wall. I would take care of Clary later, but right now this douchebag needed to be taught a lesson.

"This what you do in your free time Verlac? Take advantage of girls?" I hissed and he just smirked at me.

"Calm down Herondale, she was enjoying it. Right baby?" He looked over my shoulder at Clary and I punched him right in the jaw.

"This is between you and me Verlac. Leave Clary out of it." I said and he laughed.

"You can have her dude. She's a prude anyway. Maybe if she put out, I wouldn't have had to take it." He said and I couldn't control my anger anymore. I launched myself at him and started punching with everything I had in me. After a few minutes I noticed that his body went slack. I stopped punching and noticed that he was unconscious. I got off him and turned around to see Clary sitting there clutching her knees, half naked and crying. I crouched down next to her but didn't touch.

"Clary?" I said in a gentle voice. I didn't want to scare her anymore than she already was. "Clary, you should get dressed." I said and she looked down at herself.

"He ripped my shirt." She said in a shaky voice. "I don't have another shirt he ripped it." She said and I took off my hoodie, and gave it to her. She took it and slid it over her head. She seemed to calm down a little more when she finally had it on and wasn't revealing so much of herself.

"Clary, you need to put your jeans back on." I said and she looked at her naked legs. "As much as I appreciate the view, class is going to end soon, and someone will notice his head hanging out of the bathroom." I said and she gave me a little smile. I reached my hand out and she took it and I helped her up. She grabbed her pants and started putting them back on. She nearly fell over when I grabbed her by the hips to steady her when she flinched. "I'm sorry. I was just trying to steady you."

"It's okay. I just, I don't know why I freaked." She said and I smiled and I tucked a curl behind her ear.

"It's okay. I understand why you did it. You just went through something traumatizing." I said and she nodded. "Do you wanna get out of here? We can go to my house so you don't have to face anyone yet." She nodded and I reached my hand out again and she took it. We walked out of the bathroom, leaving Sebastian unconscious on the floor. We went to her locker and grabbed her bag and than grabbed mine and we were walking out of school when she stopped. "What's wrong?"

"I don't think I can drive, but I don't want to leave my car here." She said and I smiled.

"Can I have your keys?" I asked and she nodded and handed me her keys. "Do you know which car is mine?"

"I've known you for years Jace, and your car is your most prized possession, of course I know what your car looks like." She said and I laughed.

"Go out and get in it. I'll give Izzy your keys and ask her to drive it home." I could tell she looked nervous about how I was going to explain it. "I will tell her you weren't feeling well and I took you home. She won't even think twice about it." I said and she nodded. She walked out side and I grabbed my phone and texted Izzy to meet me by the water fountain near the 1st stairwell. About 3 minutes later she was walking towards me.

"What's up?" She asked and I handed her the keys.

"Clary isn't feeling well and I'm going to take her back to our house. These are her car keys. You'll need them to get home." I said and she nodded.

"Tell her I hope she feels better." Izzy said and I nodded and she walked away.

When I walked out to my car I could see the blankness in Clary's eyes. What Sebastian had tried to do completely sucked out whatever she had in her and I was going to try by very best to bring that fire back in her. We pulled up to my house and got out. We walked in and we walked straight to my room. I knew she probably wanted to get some rest. She looked exhausted. I opened my door and she hesitantly walked in. I never allow people in my room, so this was a first for me. She was looking around my room and after a while she spoke.

"It's a lot cleaner than I expected." She said and I laughed.

"I'm a bit of a neat freak." I said and she turned around.

"Izzy says you have OCD." She said and I nodded.

"I like everything to have a place, and I like when things are clean. I don't think that's a problem."

"I didn't either. My room looks like a tornado ripped through it about 8 times." She laughed a little and I was glad I was getting a glimpse of the old her. It was quiet for a moment when I stepped a little closer to her. I could see the tears welling up in her eyes. I pulled her into a hug and she was stiff for a moment before she melted into my hug and started sobbing. I bent down and scooped her up and lead her to my bed. I sat down and put her on my lap while she cried. I don't know how long we were sitting there but I eventually felt her breathing even out. I put her down and tucked her in. I gave her a quick peck on the forehead before leaving my room and going downstairs. I knew she was going to have to explain this to Izzy, and I know that's going to be tough.

Time Jump – A Couple Hours Later

Jace POV:

I was siting on the couch watching TV and doing some homework when Izzy and Alec walked in the door. Alec takes a seat next to me and so does Izzy.

"Where is Clary?" Izzy asks.

"She's asleep in my room." I said and they both looked at me.

"But you never let people in your room." Alec said and I just shrugged.

"How is she feeling?" Izzy asked.

"I didn't fully tell you the truth earlier." I said and Izzy looked confused. "It's not my story to tell. You'll have to ask Clary, but let her sleep. She's been through a lot." I said and she nodded. She got up and started making her way to the kitchen before she turned around.

"Listen Jace, I know you've had a thing for Clary for like a year now." She said and my jaw dropped a little. I thought I did a good job at hiding it. "I was annoyed in the beginning, thinking that you were just going to treat her the same as you always do." She said and I sighed. "But I see how much you care for her. Clearly you know what's going on. And I want to thank you for taking care of my best friend." She said and I smiled.

"Of course Izzy." I said and she smiled.

"Be careful with her Jace." She said and I nodded. "Sebastian is a dick, and if he knows you have feelings for her, he won't take that lightly."

"Sebastian isn't a problem anymore." I said and she looked confused. "Once you know what happened, it'll make sense." She nodded and than walked into the kitchen. I made my way upstairs to check on Clary. When I cracked the door and she was sleeping soundly in my bed. I walked over and kneeled down and took in the features of her face. She was absolutely beautiful and innocent. I couldn't even imagine what would have happened if I didn't find her at school today. Her eyes started to flutter open and when she realized I was there she smiled. I smiled back and she sat up.

"Hi." She said and she was cut so cute.

"Hi. How are you feeling?" I asked.

"Violated. Disgusted. Used. I could go on." She said and I took a seat on my bed.

"Can I hold your hands?" I asked and I knew she was still probably uneasy with touch but she lifted her hands and I took them in mine. "You are none of those things Clary. Sebastian is a coward, and an asshole, and didn't deserve you at all. You shouldn't be feeling used or anything else that you do. He should."

"I can still feel his hands on me." She said and I sighed.

"Where?" I asked and she took a deep breath, took her hands back and pointed to her stomach. I moved cautiously towards her and put my hands on her stomach. She flinched at first but soon her body relaxed and I could tell she was calming down a little. After a couple minutes I slowly backed away. "Are you okay now?" She nodded and I smiled.

"Can I borrow some clothes?" She asked.

"I can ask Izzy for you." I said and she shook her head.

"I don't really want to tell her yet. I was hoping I could just stay in here for a couple more hours, but I can't stay in these pants." She said and I smiled. I walked over to my dresser and got a pair of sweats out.

"These will be huge on you." I said and she laughed. She got out of bed and took her pants on and my eyes widened.

"I'm sorry. I figured you've already seen me without pants on, that this wouldn't be a problem." She said as she climbed back in my bed.

"It's not a problem. I'll just tell everyone not to disturb you. Although, my room is off limits to everyone so they wouldn't come in here anyway." I said and she nodded. "Text me if you need anything." I said as I headed for the door.

"Jace?" She asked and I turned around. "I don't have your number." She said and I laughed. I walked over and grabbed her phone and put my number in.

"Text me if you get hungry, or thirty, or when you're ready for Izzy." I said and she nodded. I walked out of my room and back downstairs and joined Izzy and Alec in the living room.

"Is she awake?" Izzy asked.

"She woke up for a couple minutes and asked for some clothes and than went back to sleep." I said and Izzy looked sad. "She'll talk to you when she's ready Iz." She nodded and we went back to watching TV.

When dinner rolled around Clary still wasn't awake and I decided that I'd bring her some food. When I walked in I saw that she was starting to sit up. I walked over and put the bowl down on the nightstand and smiled at her.

"How are you feeling?" I asked.

"Better." She smiled and I nodded.

"I brought you up some dinner." I said.

"Thanks. What time is it?"

"6:30. You've been asleep for a while." I said and she nodded. "Izzy keeps asking about." I said and she sighed.

"Can you tell her to come up here?" She asked and I nodded. I walked out of my room and back downstairs.

"Izzy." I said and she turned around. "Clary is asking for you." I said and she nodded and made her way upstairs.

Clary POV:

After Jace let I picked up the bowl that he brought up and started picking at the food. I wasn't that hungry but I knew that I needed to eat. After a few minutes the door opened and Izzy appeared in the doorway.

"It's a lot cleaner in here than I thought." She said as she looked around his room.

"He really never lets anyone in here?" I asked and she shakes her head.

"He was really closed off when he came here. It took him a year before he really even began speaking to us, but he went through a traumatic event, so I can't really blame him. He's an extremely private person. Alec and I were shocked that he let you sleep in here." She said and I nodded. She made he way over to the bed and sat down. "No fair."

"What?" I asked.

"His bed is way comfier than mine." She said and I laughed. "So, what really happened today Clary?"

"Sebastian asked if I wanted to skip 4th period." I started. "I knew that no matter what I said he was going to get his way so I just agreed. He took me to the boys bathroom and locked the door." I said and the tears started welling up in my eyes. "He told me that if I wasn't going to give him what he wanted that he was going to take it."

"Oh my god." She said.

"I asked him to stop, but he wouldn't. He kept touching me, and kissing me. He ripped my shirt and my pants were by my ankles and he said if I screamed than he would make it hurt more."

"He didn't….rape you did he?" She asked and I shook my head.

"Jace got there before he did anything like that." I said.

"Jace was there?" She asked and I nodded.

"He heard me struggling. He picked the lock, and pulled Sebastian off of me. The next thing I remember was that he was telling me to get dressed and we were leaving the school."

"Clary."

"He brought me up here, I think I cried myself to sleep because I woke up in his bed."

"What happened to Sebastian?" She asked.

"He was unconscious when we left." I said and she let out a little laugh.

"Figures Jace would beat him unconscious." She said and I was confused.

"What does that mean?" I asked and she smiled at me.

"Jace is going to kill me for this." She said. "Jace has had a thing for you for over a year now." She said and my eyes widened.

"Seriously?" I asked and she nodded. "Why didn't he tell me?"

"You were with Sebastian and he didn't think it was the right time to tell you." She said and I nodded. "I was annoyed in the beginning when I realized that he liked you. I thought that he was just trying to get you because you were not like the other girls. You didn't swoon over him, or talk about him all the time, and I didn't want you to get hurt but I realized that it was different when it came to you."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm going to ask you a few question about Jace, and I want you to be honest." She said and I nodded. "Okay, how many time in all the years you've know Jace has he ever opened the door for you?" She asked and I laughed.

"More times than I can count." I said and she nodded in agreement.

"How many times in the past six months has he always been there when you needed someone to comfort you?"

"Too many times to count."

"In the last couple months or so, how many girls has Jace hooked up with?" She asked and I was confused.

"How the hell would I know the answer to that Izzy?"

"Ball park it."

"I don't know, 13." I said and she laughed.

"None."

"None?" I questioned.

"None. I think it was because he realized he didn't want that anymore. I'm not sure, you'd have to ask him, but I know that he is serious because of how he's been acting."

"So Jace likes me?" I hesitantly said and she nodded.

"I would talk to him about it, because I don't have all the answers, but I thought you should know. Cause he wasn't going to tell you any time soon."

"Why not?" I asked.

"Because he probably didn't want to be rejected, and with everything that went down today, it probably seemed like poor timing to him." She said and I nodded. After a moment she spoke again. "I'm glad nothing serious happened Clary. I know it was totally unacceptable of Sebastian to do what he did, but I'm glad it didn't go any further."

"Thanks Izzy." I said and she smiled and got off the bed.

"Want me to send Jace up?" She asked and I smiled and nodded slightly. She laughed and left the room and I finally got some time to process everything she said to me.

A couple minutes later the door opened again and in walked Jace. I smiled and he smiled back and he made his way over and sat on his bed. I didn't know what to do with the information that Izzy had shared with me, but after today, I just didn't want to have to figure anything out on my own anymore, and the one person who could clear things up for me was sitting in front of me, so it was now or never.

"Izzy shared some interesting information with me just now." I said and he nodded. "And I'm not sure what to do with it."

"What did she tell you?" He asked and I started playing with my fingers.

"She told me that you had feelings for me." I said bluntly and I heard him suck in a breath.

"Oh." Was all he said and I figured this was going to let me down easy. "Izzy never was one to mind her own business." He laughed and I was a little more clam now.

"Is it true?" I ask.

"Yea. It's true." He said and I think my heart started racing a million miles a minute.

"Why didn't you tell me?" I asked and he smiled.

"For one, you're Izzy's best friend. And you were with Sebastian and I wasn't going to try and break you two up. If you were happy, I wasn't going to mess that up." He said and I laughed.

"Look where that got me. Almost raped in a school bathroom." I said and I could see him tense. He reached his hands out but immediately pulled them back. "You can touch me Jace."

"I didn't want to scare you." He admitted and I smiled.

"I'm not afraid of you Jace." I said and he reached his hands out again and took mine. He started rubbing circles on my knuckles to calm me down, or maybe himself down, it was working nonetheless.

"I'm not proud of my behavior in the past. I didn't always treat girls the right way, and I didn't always respect their boundaries." He said and I guess he felt me tense because the circles got faster. "I never did anything that they were uncomfortable doing. I just want to get that out there. I would never disrespect a girl the way Sebastian disrespected you." He clarified. "They were all willing, and all aware enough to be giving consent." He further clarified and I just laughed a little. It was cute how much he was trying to defend his actions while also calling himself out on them. "When I saw you getting closer to Sebastian something flipped in me. Suddenly I stopped hanging out with girls all the time, I found myself doing things for you that I normally wouldn't do for other people, and eventually I realized that I had feelings for you, but you were already with Sebastian. So I stayed on the sidelines being whatever you needed me to be." He admitted and I can't believe I never saw this before. "Seeing him forcing himself on you like that Clary made me so incredibly angry. I wanted to do more than just knock him unconscious but I needed to be there for you more than punching him."

"Jace." I said but he stopped me.

"I don't expect you to tell me you have feelings for me or anything, I just thought you deserved to know how I truly felt." He said and I smiled.

"I appreciate that, and this isn't me rejecting you, but I think I just need a little time to process what happened, and all of my emotions before anything happens." I said and I could tell her wasn't thrilled by this news. "I'm confused right now, and I'm very upset, and angry, and I feel used, and I just kinda feel like a shell of a human, and I think I need to sort that out first, before anything else."

"I understand Clary. Take your time." He said and than got up. Part of me didn't want him to leave but he just poured his heart out to me and I kind of shut him down, so I understand.

"You don't have to go." I said and he turned around and smiled.

"I'm not saying this to upset you even further Clary, but I just can't be around you in this moment of time. I need to process everything you just told me as well. But if you need me, just text me. I'll be right down stairs. I can send Izzy back up if you want some company."

"I'd like that." I said as he exited the room. I continued picking at the food that Jace brought me and a minute later Izzy was entering.

"What happened between you two? Jace looked a little upset when he went downstairs." Izzy said as she got on the bed.

"I told him what you told me, and I asked if it was true." I said.

"And is it?" I nod and she squeals. "So why did he look miserable?" She asked and I didn't look at her. "Oh god, you don't feel the same."

"I don't know what I feel." I said eventually and I looked at her. "I was just almost raped today by a guy who for the last 8 months practically controlled my life. He manipulated me into doing whatever he wanted and I just I'm confused." I leaned my head back against the headboard and sighed. "I don't know what to think Izzy. I feel like a used plastic fork people just throw on the floor when their done with it. I can feel his hands on my body. Gripping my boobs, and squeezing my ass. I can feel his tongue on my chest, and it grosses me out. I feel like I need to shower for a couple years just to feel normal again."

"So this has nothing to do with Jace himself? Its just you trying to figure out yourself?"

"I guess. Don't get me wrong, I like Jace. He's always been nice to me, and he saved me today in more ways than one. I just I need to get back to the old Clary before I even think about a relationship or anything like that." I said and she nodded.

"Alright." She said in a voice that sounded a little annoyed.

"What?" I asked, and she looked at me confused. "You don't sound too supportive of my decision."

"It's not that." She said and I waited for her to continue. "I totally support you taking time to focus on yourself, and processing everything that happened today. It totally makes sense and I understand that you need to do this before anything else happens, just be prepared."

"Be prepared for what?" I asked.

"Jace won't wait around forever. He's a patient guy, but he is also a teenage boy who currently has half the girls in the school pining after his attention. Don't be upset when you finally decide you're whole enough again and he has someone else." She said and I nodded. She looks at her phone and gets up. "I promised Maia that I would meet her at the mall to help her pick an anniversary present out for her parents. I'll see you later Clare."

"Bye Iz." I said and she left the room. I laid back down thinking about what Izzy said. I knew Jace was a hot commodity, and I knew how all the girls thought about him. I hear it almost every period in school, but if he truly had feelings for me like he said he did, he would wait for me, right?

Time Jump – One Month Later

Clary POV:

The past month has been rough. I was having nightmares about what happened and I was constantly looking over my shoulder in school to see if he was following me. Every noise I heard outside my window scared the hell out of me, and the fact that he knew where I lived was even worse. Thankfully he hasn't tried to do anything since that day, but that didn't make the paranoia go away.

I was sitting in my bio class sketching something in my notebook when I heard Aline say Jace's name and it caught my attention. I normally don't eavesdrop but I couldn't help it.

"Jace asked me to the homecoming dance and I need your help with dresses." Aline said and my heart sank. I guess Izzy was right, Jace was a hot commodity, and I let him go.

"What color do you have in mind?" Kaelie asked.

"I was thinking purple, I think it would go great with his golden looks." She said and Kaelie giggled and agreed and I tried my best to block out the rest of the conversation. When the bell rang I ran out of the class faster than I could and I wasn't paying attention to where I was going and ran into Izzy. I fell on my ass and she was looking at me confused.

"Why are you in such a hurry to get out of there?" She asked as she helped me up.

"I didn't want to listen to Aline gush about how she's going to the homecoming dance with Jace." I said and Izzy nodded. She handed me back my books and smiled at me.

"Told you he wouldn't wait forever." She said and walked away. I mean, we aren't together, he just told me he liked me. I don't have any ownership to him, and he can take whomever he wants to the dance, but that didn't mean it didn't hurt.

The rest of the day went by so slowly. When the final bell rang I was so glad to be leaving. I was standing by my locker when I felt a body behind me. I felt lips against my ear and I shivered.

"Wanna finish where we left off baby?" I heard the cold voice say and I knew that it was Sebastian. "You don't have your body guard with you now." He said as he grabbed my hips and turned me around and pressed my body into the lockers. "I'm not happy that he interrupted us last month. We were having such a good time." He said as he traced my jaw with his fingers. "How about we get out of here, and head back to my place? You can make as much noise as you want, and no one will hear you." He said as he pressed a kiss to my neck. I was about to say something when someone else cut me off.

"You would think you learned your lesson the first time Verlac." Both of our heads snapped in the direction of the voice, and sure enough there stood Jace. "Do I need to toughen up the lesson?"

"Back off Herondale, this doesn't concern you." Sebastian spat and Jace started walking towards me.

"I made myself perfectly clear last time Sebastian, leave her alone, or I'll make you." Jace said in a scary calm voice. "I didn't go to the principle last time because I was giving Clary the decision on whether or not she wanted to report you, but this time I won't hesitate."

"You can't prove anything Herondale." Sebastian smiled triumphantly. Jace let out a humorless laugh and it seemed to confuse Sebastian.

"You were smart the first time, taking her to the bathroom. But you just got careless. You're standing in front of a camera Sebastian. They got everything on tape of you forcing yourself on Clary. Walk away and never approach her again or it won't end too nicely for you." Jace said and Sebastian growled and slammed his fist into the locker next to me and caused me to flinch, and than walked away. Once he rounded the corner I finally let out a breath. Jace stood there waiting for me to collect myself, and when I finally completely calmed down I couldn't help but feel a little angry at him. I grabbed my stuff and started walking away. "Where are you going?" He asked as he followed me.

"Home? I'm tired, and I had a long day and that little stunt didn't exactly help me." I said as I continued to walk.

"Are you sure you're okay with being home alone?" He asked and I turned around.

"How do you know I'll be home alone?" I asked a little curious.

"Well, your brother is away at school, and it's a work day, your mom normally doesn't get home until dinner time." He said and I nodded.

"I'm fine Jace. You don't have to act like I'm a wounded little animal. I can handle this myself." I said rather defensively and I knew it caught him off guard.

"Have I done something to upset you Clary?" He asks and I just scoff and walk away. "Clary." I heard Jace call but I didn't stop walking. Before I make it to my car I feel a hand on my shoulder. When I turn around Jace is standing there looking confused. "What did I do Clary?"

"Look, I know I said that I needed time when you told me that you had feelings for me." I started. "I was the one who turned you down, and yea I meant it because I have needed some time to myself and to process everything, but I just thought I don't know that if you really meant what you said that there was a possibility that you'd wait until I was ready but I guess I was wrong." I said and he looked utterly confused and I opened my car and started to get inside.

"What are you talking about Clary?" He asked and I rolled my eyes.

"I overheard Aline talking about how you asked her to the homecoming dance Jace." I said and his eyes got even wider.

"I never asked her that. I don't even want to go." He said and now it was my turn for my eyes to get wide. "Aline has been asking me for a couple weeks if I would go with her but I turned her down. I have no idea why she would be talking like that about the dance but I never asked her."

"Oh." I said and I rested my head on the steering wheel. I was quiet for a minute before I felt Jace's presence beside me. He was kneeling down so that we were closer. "I'm sorry."

"Clary, I meant every word I said to you. I do like you, and I know you need time and I get that. I respect that. If I was going to the homecoming dance with someone else, I don't think that gives you the right to be angry at me though." He said and I sighed.

"I know. I don't know why I got so upset. Izzy just kept telling me you wouldn't wait forever, and I knew she was right but I just wanted to hold on to hope that maybe you would for me." I said and he rested his hand on my thigh.

"Next time you hear a girl claiming something like that, just ask me, and I'll give you the truth." He said and I nodded. "I have to get home, I'll see you around though?" He asked and I nodded. He got up and started walking to his car. I sat there for a moment thinking about how stupid I was. I drove home and walked into an empty house. I sighed and threw my keys on the table and walked into the kitchen and got a drink. When I walked up to my room my door was slightly opened. I thought that was odd because I could have sworn that I closed it this morning. I took my phone out and held it opened in case something was wrong, or out of place. I walked slowly towards the door and I saw a figure standing in my room. I immediately called the one number I knew would always answer. I guess the figure heard my footsteps because he turned around and I gasped.

"Clarissa, I'm glad you made it home safety, because you sure won't leave that way." Sebastian said and I started crying.

Jace POV:

When I got home I couldn't get the conversation with Clary out of my head. She was upset that I was 'going' to the dance with someone else. In a weird way it kind of made me feel good because that meant on some level she liked me, but also kinda made me upset because she's the one who is putting it off, and I know why she is, but she can't get mad at me for something like that when she's the one who doesn't want a relationship. My phone started ringing and I looked and saw that it was Clary. Maybe she had changed her mind about not wanting to be alone.

"Hello?" I answered.

"What are you doing here?" I heard Clary say but she clearly wasn't talking to me.

"Come on baby, you know you want me." I heard a man say and it could only be one guy.

"Oh shit." I whispered as I ran to grab my keys.

"Sebastian, I don't want this." I heard Clary say and than he laughed.

"Of course you want this baby, who wouldn't?" I heard Sebastian say and I put my car in drive and went as fast as I could to get to Clary. At some point, I don't know when I hung up the phone. I got to Clary's house and I ran inside and went straight upstairs. When I got to her room Clary was completely naked and tied to her bed. I pushed through the door and saw Sebastian getting undressed. He looked at me and sighed. "How the hell do you always show up?"

"I swear to god Sebastian you are dead for this." I hissed and I lunged at him. I didn't care what Clary saw, I just wanted this bastard dead. We wrestled around on the ground for a while throwing punch after punch at each other. He punched me hard in the face which caused me to be disoriented and he took this opportunity to get on top of me and pin me down.

"Look at the mighty Jace Herondale, always coming to rescue the princess but this time I won't let you ruin my fun." He said and he had his hands around my throat. He was cutting off my air supply and I could slowly feel myself losing consciousness. I looked around the floor of Clary's bedroom and for the first time ever I was thankful she was so messy. I found a tube of paint and I grabbed it and squirted it in his face which caused him to release my throat. I grabbed the textbook from the ground as well and slammed him over the head and he was out cold. I took a moment to catch my breath when I realized that Clary was still there. I turned around and she was still naked and she looked super uncomfortable. I grabbed the nearest blanket and threw it over her and untied her. As soon as she was free she wrapped her arms around me. I gladly took her in my arms and held her while she cried. After she calmed down we broke apart and I looked at how scared she was.

"We have to call the police Clary." I said and she nodded. I grabbed my phone and called 911.

"911, what's your emergency?" The operator asked.

"My girlfriends ex-boyfriend broke into her house and was waiting for her. He tied her to her bed and was getting ready to rape her. I got here and knocked him unconscious." I said.

"Alright, I'll dispatch officers immediately." She said and we hung up. I looked back at Clary.

"Why did you call me your girlfriend?" She asked.

"It'll just make it easier. Give the police a more believable reason as to why you called me when you realized who it was." I said and she nodded. We sat there for a minute before I realized that she was still naked. "You should get dressed. The police should be here any minute." I said and I stood up. "I'll wait for you downstairs." She nodded and I made my way downstairs, and a couple minutes later the police arrived. I opened the door and let them in.

"Are you the boyfriend?" The one asked and I nodded. "Can you take us to where it happened?" I nod and we start making our way upstairs. Clary was on her way down when she saw us.

"It's the room on the left. Do you mind if I take her downstairs?" I ask.

"No. We'll be down shortly to ask a few questions." The one said and we nodded and went downstairs. Clary said on the couch and I sat next to her. I knew she was totally freaked out. I put my arm around her and she immediately curled into my side and I kissed the top of her head. I don't care what she wants to be, friends, more than friends, whatever, I was never leaving her alone ever again, until Sebastian was behind bars, Clary was going to be safe, I promise you that.

Time Jump – Sebastian's Sentencing

Clary POV:

After everything that happened with Sebastian I was so ready for it to be over. Jace had been incredible through the whole thing. He was by my side during court, and when I was completely unable to handle things. He wanted Sebastian get the maximum amount of time he could so Jace went out and found a couple other girls who Sebastian did the same thing to, unfortunately I was the luckiest one out of the 5 girls who came forward. They didn't have someone like Jace to stop the attempts, and for that I would forever be grateful. I don't know how I would be able to handle if he actually went through with it.

We were currently sitting in the courtroom waiting for the verdict to be read. Jon and my mom had both taken the time off to be there for me. Jon was absolutely furious to learn that his friend had tried to defile his little sister, and my mom cried more than I did. I tried to explain to them that they had no reason to feel responsible for what happened but they still felt bad and I couldn't take that away.

I was sitting there playing with Jace's fingers trying to distract myself from the wait. It had taken the jurors a day to come to a verdict, which I didn't understand. It was clear how disgusting Sebastian was, and there was a lot of evidence but I was biased so. Finally, after what felt like forever the jurors made their way back into the courtroom. I tensed but Jace pressed a kiss to my temple and I leaned into his side and he put his arm around my shoulders. I felt incredibly safe with Jace by my side and I don't know what I would do without him. Finally the judge began to speak and I don't think I could breath.

"Jurors, have you reached a verdict?" She said and the first juror stood.

"We have your honor." He said.

"What say ye?" She said.

"We find the defendant, Sebastian Verlac….guilty of first degree rape, and attempted rape of a minor." He said and I let out the breath I was holding and I started crying. Jace pulled me into his lap and hugged me. I cried into his shoulder knowing that this was finally over and I didn't have to look over my shoulder anymore. We walked out of the courtroom and I was finally at peace with everything.

"Clary." I heard my mom say and I turned around. "We're going to head home, will we see you tonight?" She asked.

"Yea, I'll be home for dinner." I said and she gave me a kiss and her and Jon walked away. Jace and I walked slowly to his car, with our hands interlocked and swinging between us. He opened my door and I got in and a moment later he was sitting in the drivers seat. We sat there for a moment without even putting the key into the ignition. I took another deep breath and Jace reached his hand over and put it on my thigh. Physical contact took a me a little while to get used too again. Jace was very sweet about it though, and even suggested when I felt super uncomfortable for him to place his hands there so I would associate him with the ghost feeling instead of Sebastian and it had worked wonders. I smiled at the contact and turned to look at him, and he was already staring at me with a smile on his face.

"I love you." He said and my eyes widened but so did my smiled. I leaned over and gave him a kiss before pulling away.

"I love you too." I said and she gave me one more peck before he started the car. This traumatic event was never going to fully go away, but I knew as long as I had Jace by my side helping me through it and loving me through it was going to make it a more distant thought than a constant memory and for that I will forever be grateful for him.

Authors Note:

This was requested by a guest, and I hope that whoever you are, you like what I did with your idea! Let me know what you think and leave a review! :)