One Hundred and Fifteenth Story:

Doctor

Jace POV:

"You're an idiot Jace." Alec said to me for the hundredth time.

"That car came out of nowhere, I swear." I said again trying to make him believe me. I really didn't see the car coming, and that's not my fault.

"You should always be aware of your surroundings. I've said it from day one, motorcycles are dangerous, and this just proves my point even more." Alec said as we rode to the hospital in the back of the ambulance.

"Well, my bike is wrecked, so you don't have to worry about me riding it anytime soon." I said back.

"I think your broken leg was already a clear sign that you won't be riding for awhile." Alec retorted.

"I'm not dead, why can't we just be happy about that?" I said and he glared at me.

"Because you got lucky. You could have died Jace, and you don't even care." He said back rather angrily.

"You know I've always been an adrenaline junkie. This shouldn't' surprise you. I mean, my job in and of itself is one of the most dangerous jobs there is, not to mention the two pervious jobs." I said and he scoffed.

"Being an adrenaline junkie and what your jobs are, compared to getting in a motorcycle crash are two totally different things. Adrenaline junkies jump out of airplanes, or go bungee jumping. You just drove into a car. That's not being an adrenaline junkie, that's being an idiot." Alec said and I rolled my eyes. I was so tired of fighting him on this.

We pulled up to the hospital and they wheeled me into a room. Alec was still pissed, and there was nothing I could say to change that. He would be mad no matter what, and I've accepted that, but it didn't make getting the silent treatment any better. There was a knock on the door before a small woman walked in. she had vibrant red curly hair and the most mesmerizing green eyes I've ever seen.

"Hi, I'm Dr. Fray." She said as she made her way over to me. "You're a very lucky man Mr. Herondale. I had a motorcycle victim last week who wasn't as fortunate to survive."

"See! I told you it was dangerous." Alec said from the corner.

"Who are you?" Dr. Fray asked.

"I'm Alec Lightwood, this idiots brother." Alec said and Dr. Fray nodded.

"Well, we're going to get you some x-rays and assess the damage before we go any further. I have an x-ray technician coming up to get you and I'll see you when they're done." She said before walking out of the room.

I was wheeled down to the x-ray room where they took the necessary pictures before being wheeled back to my room. It was about an hour later that Dr. Fray walked back into my room with the x-rays in hand.

"Well, you have a clean break in your femur bone, but the good news is, it's only one break." She said.

"What does that exactly mean?" Alec asked.

"It means that we don't have to break it even more in order for it to heal, and it's only one break, which means the healing time is faster." She explained.

"How long will I be off my feet for?" I asked.

"4 to 6 months." She said and my jaw dropped a little.

"For a little break?" I asked and she laughed, and she had a beautiful laugh.

"Mr. Herondale…."

"Jace." I interrupted her. "I prefer to be called Jace." I said and she nodded.

"Well Jace, you broke your femur completely in half. That takes some time to heal." She said. "You got lucky. You aren't dead, in a coma, or missing a limb – which is what happens to a lot of people involved in motorcycle related accidents – so a 4 to 6 month recovery time is a miracle in your case." She added. "But this does require surgery."

"Surgery?" I asked and she nodded.

"Yea. You broke it in half asshole. Did you think that was going to just heal on it's own?" Alec hissed from the corner.

"Can we not do this right now? I told you I didn't see that car coming, and the sooner you accept that, the sooner we'll all feel better." I said and he huffed and continued to look at his phone. "When would I need the surgery?" I asked Dr. Fray.

"You scheduled for an hour. Luckily a surgery spot just opened up for me." She said and I nodded.

"What exactly are you going to be doing?" I asked.

"I'm going to be inserting a rod into your leg to support the bone while it heals." She said and I cringed.

"I don't know how you do this." I said and she laughed. "It sounds disgusting."

"We all have our things Jace." She said and just the way she said my name sounded good. "You ride a motorcycle for the thrill it gives you, and I break bones back into place and install rods into people." She added.

"I give you a lot of credit Dr. Fray." I said and she blushed again.

"Clary." She said. "We might has well get on a first name basis." She said and I smiled. Even her name was beautiful. "I'll see you soon."

She walked out of the room and I laid back on my bed. I couldn't believe I needed surgery, but meeting Dr. Fray was one positive that came out of this, and hopefully it continued after my leg fully heals.

Time Jump – Post Surgery

Jace POV:

I woke up due to the sound of arguing. I didn't feel well rested at all, and than it occurred to me that I just had surgery so I wasn't going to be well rested at all. When I opened my eyes, I saw my whole family in my room. Alec and Izzy were arguing, Robert and Maryse were deep in conversation, and Max was asleep in the chair in the corner of the room.

"It isn't my fault Isabelle." Alec hissed.

"But you were following him." Izzy said back angrily. "You're supposed to switch lanes first, and make sure he has enough room."

"That only works when he tells me he's trying to switch lanes." Alec hissed back again. "He didn't put on his turn signal or anything. The moment I saw him moving, I saw the car coming, and I freaked. I witnessed the whole thing and couldn't do a damn thing to stop it Iz. I feel horrible."

"Well you shouldn't." I said and everyone focused their attention on me.

"Oh my god Jace." Izzy said. "You scared the hell out of us." She said.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean too. I honest to god didn't see that car coming." I admitted as I sat up a little.

"But why didn't you put on your blinkers?" Maryse asked.

"I thought I was all good." I said honestly.

"Well, don't you dare do that again. I don't ever want to get a call that says my kid has been in an accident and taken to the hospital. You aged me about 10 years tonight." She joked and everyone laughed.

"I'm sorry Maryse. I'll be more careful next time." I said.

"Your job is dangerous enough, don't make me worry about you in the off season as well." She said and I nodded. "Okay, well Alec agreed to stay with you tonight. We just wanted you to be here when you woke up."

"I appreciate that." I said.

"We'll see you when you get home." Maryse said. Robert picked up Max, Izzy and Maryse gave me a hug and they were gone. Once the door shut, I turned to Alec.

"Where is Clary?" I asked.

"Her shift ended after your surgery. Dan is your nurse for tonight, so if you need anything, he's your guy." Alec said and I nodded. "Get some good rest Jace. You need it."

"I am sorry man." I said and he nodded. "I didn't see the car."

"I know. The couple came in to see how you were doing. Apparently they didn't have their headlights on. You had no way of knowing they were there." Alec explained and I nodded. "I'm sorry I yelled at you for it without knowing the full story. I could see their break lights, but that doesn't mean you could see their headlights. I should have waited to have all the facts."

"We were both wrong, but it's over now." I said and he nodded. "Night Alec." I said.

"Night Jace." Alec said ad I closed my eyes and let the exhausted hit me like a freight train. It did make me feel better that it wasn't completely my fault.

Time Jump – One Month Later

Jace POV:

Physical therapy was going well, but I had to admit, I hated being on the sidelines. I still went into help the division out, but seeing all the guys getting in to that plane and heading off to fight some crazy fires was something I longed for again.

I had a check up with Clary today, and I was a little excited to see her again. I was waiting in the room for her, and the minute she opened up the door, I couldn't get the smile off my face. She was one of a kind, and I always looked forward to the next time I would see her again.

"Hey Jace, how are you doing today?" She asked.

"Better now that I've seen you." I said and she laughed.

"Always the charmer." She said. "How is PT going?" She asked.

"It's going really well. I can't wait to be back on my feet again though." I said honestly.

"I totally understand." She said. "Well, those follow up x-rays you took look really good. So keep up the good work with PT, and I'll see you again in 2 months." She said and I nodded.

I got home after that visit and felt better than ever. Knowing that my progress was coming along the right way, I felt even better about when I would be back at work, and it was one of the only things keeping me going, and keeping me working so hard during PT. There were days when I just wanted to give up, but I knew that I couldn't – especially if I ever wanted to work again.

Time Jump – Four Months Later

Clary POV:

Being a doctor I always prided myself on keeping a professional relationship with my patients. I wanted them to be able to trust me, and respect me, and being professional was the way to do that. But Jace was a whole different species of patient. He was charming, and funny, and drop dead gorgeous. He had a way of making me laugh like there was no tomorrow, and I always looked forward to him coming in for his evaluations.

About a month ago we exchanged numbers, and we don't text all the time, but there will be times when I get out of a long surgery with a text from him that just makes me laugh, or just something that's so incredibly sweet that I can't help but smile throughout the rest of my shift. I knew that once he no longer needed medical attention, I might not see him as often, but having his number was something that I was grateful for because I knew that he would always be the one who brightened up my day, and being a doctor, that was something I needed more than people probably knew.

Time Jump – One Month Later

Jace POV:

My physical therapist gave me the all clear, and now I just had to get it from Clary, and I'm not going to lie, I had some mixed emotions about this day. On one hand, I was pumped to be going back to work soon, but on the other hand, this meant my visits with Clary would be coming to an end, and even though we texted, that still wasn't the same as talking to her face to face like we normally did.

I'm sitting in the room like I normally was waiting for her to take a look at my x-rays. My leg felt great, and I couldn't wait to get back into my daily routine of working out and working. Being sidelined for 6 months was tough, especially for someone who was constantly moving or doing something previously.

"Well Jace, your leg looks great." Clary said once she entered the room. "You are all set to go back to work, and do whatever else you normally do."

"Thank you Clary." I said truthfully. "Thank you so much for fixing my broken leg and becoming truly an amazing friend." I said and she smiled.

"Thank you for being an amazing friend as well." She said. "But don't be a stranger now that our mandatory hang outs are no longer needed." She said and I laughed.

"Don't worry, you can't get rid of me now." I said half joking, but also half serious.

"I wouldn't want too." She said with a smile. "Take it easy for about a week. Don't push it too far other wise you could damage it more, but other than that, I am going to release you."

"About time." I said and she laughed.

"I would love to stay and chat, but I have surgery in 15 minutes." She said and I nodded. "See you around Jace."

"Bye Clary." I said and she walked out of the room. I made my way to my car with the biggest smile on my face. I was definitely not going to be a stranger when it came to Clary. I simply couldn't be.

Time Jump – Two Weeks Later

Clary POV:

Since I've been so busy at the hospital, I rarely got to see my mom, but once a month we got together for dinner, and tonight was that night. It had been a long week, so the dinner wasn't exactly riveting, but I was glad to see her and Luke, and just pretend I was still that little girl without all the stress and responsibility. Normally I would stay until nearly midnight with them, but I was exhausted, so at 9:30 I decided to leave.

I was driving home, it was about 10:15 at this time, when everything just slowed down. The car in front of me started swerving, I don't know what caused it, but it looked scary, but I didn't know how scary it would be until it rammed into another car. The crash was loud, and looked bad. I immediately pulled my car over to assess the damage. The car that was swerving, both airbags deployed, and the occupants were okay – they were going to be sore – but they were going to be okay.

I went over to the other car, and this car wasn't so lucky. There was a little boy in the passenger seat, he couldn't be more than 12, and his airbag didn't deploy. His head hit the dash, and the seatbelt seemed to cut him rather deep due to the force that was put on it. The mother I assume looked pretty beat up as well, but she was better than the boy. So I didn't what I knew I had to. I got the boy out, and started to stop the bleeding, because if I didn't, he would die.

Someone must have called 911, because I soon hear the sirens, but I can't stop what I'm doing. This little boy wasn't going to die on my watch. When the EMT's came, I refused to leave. They put me right on the stretcher with him, and loaded us into the ambulance. We started making our way to the hospital, but all I could focus on was this little boy in front of me. I couldn't let him die like this.

When we pulled up to the hospital, they unloaded us and wheeled us right in. we were surrounded by nurses, and other doctors – doctors who were trained in trauma surgery unlike me – so I finally stepped away. My clothes were soaked in his blood, but I was too shell shocked to really care at this point.

"Clary?" I heard and when I looked up, there stood Sebastian Verlac, head of trauma. "Can you tell me what happened?" He asked.

"Car accident." I simply said. "I saw it, so I went to make sure everyone was alright, but his airbag didn't deploy, and he was losing blood fast. I just did what I had too." I explained.

"You saved that boys life." He said and I looked up at him. "He's going to need a blood transfusion, but without you, he would have died in that car tonight." He said reassuringly and I just nodded. "You should go clean up in the locker rooms, and get some rest. You had a chaotic night." He said and I nodded. I blindly made my way to one of our on call rooms. When I went in, I just sat on the bed and didn't move. The tears instantly started flowing and I knew I couldn't stop them any time soon.

Jace POV:

After we got the call about the accident we rushed to the hospital. Maryse was looked at on scene, and she was find despite the bruises she was going to get, but she didn't care about that. All she cared about what Max. he was taken from the scene and we've been sitting in this waiting room for almost an hour with no news.

"Maxwell Lightwood?" We heard, and we all shot out of our chairs.

"Is he alive?" Maryse asked first.

"Your son is alive, and resting. He needed a blood transfusion but if Dr. Fray wasn't there tonight, this would be a totally different conversation." He said and that stunned me.

"Wait, Clary was there?" I asked and the doctor looked at me.

"Yes. Dr. Fray witnessed the accident and got out to see if anyone needed assistance." He explained.

"Is she still here?" I asked.

"I believe so." He said.

"Where?" I asked.

"I don't know. I told her to get changed before she left, but I haven't seen her since." He said. I nodded and started walking but he stopped me. "Only hospital staff is allowed back there." He said.

"I don't care." I said. "I'm going to see Clary." I said as I pushed past him. I wasn't letting him stop me from seeing Clary.

But it turns out he wasn't stopping me, but my total lack of knowledge of this hospital was. I had no idea where she was. I got a few nurses to direct me towards the locker rooms, but I was having no luck. I was walking down a hallway, when I heard the sniffle. It came from a dark room. The door was slightly cracked, so I opened it a little, and the light from the hallway caught her red hair. I walked in and flipped on a little lamp that gave enough light so that I could see. She looked like a mess. Her blood stained clothes, and bloodshot eyes told me she was taking this hard.

She looked like she didn't want to talk, and I understood that. I took a seat next to her on the bed and we just sat in silence. After about a half hour, I felt her lean her head on my shoulder. It was progress, and if it helped her, I was all for it.

We still weren't talking. It had been nearly 2 hours, but Clary's head was still resting on my shoulder, and her sniffles were still going, they were more spread out, but still pretty constant. I decided that something was going to change here, because I knew she needed it.

"We don't have to talk Clary, but I really think you should change out of those clothes." I said and she sat up a little. She nodded slightly and I stood up. "Is there anywhere I can get you something else?" I asked.

"Two doors down to the left there is a closet that has extra scrubs in there." She said and I nodded.

I went to the closet and grabbed her a pair of blue scrubs. When I got back to the room, she was now standing. I handed her the scrubs and she went into the bathroom. A couple minutes later she walked out and she already looked better. I was sitting on the bed and she rejoined me. She leaned her head back on my shoulder and I thought we were going back to how it was before, but she started talking.

"I never wanted to be a trauma surgeon." She said. "I can't handle it."

"You must have to deal with unexpected situations all the time." I said. "Like when surgery goes wrong."

"Yea, but I've studied those situations, and I'm prepared. Trauma is always different, and sometimes there isn't a way to do something and you have to make it up." She said. "I was never good at that." She explained. She paused for a moment before continuing. "When we had to pick our specialties, trauma was one of the first areas I tried out, and I only lasted about 3 weeks before I had to switch. I basically came home crying every night, or had nightmares, and my work was really suffering, so I moved to ortho, and fell in love with it."

"I'm sorry it was so traumatic." I said.

"I guess it was bound to be since it was trauma surgery." She said and I couldn't help but laugh.

"Thank you." I finally said. "For saving my little brother." I said and her head snapped towards mine.

"He's your brother?" She asked stunned.

"Yea. When we got the call we were all devastated." I explained. "So thank you for keeping him alive."

"I was doing my job." She said and I nodded.

"But I'd like to make it up to you." I said.

"How?" She asked.

"Dinner. This weekend." I said and she gave me a smile.

"Dinner sounds great." She said. "I don't work Saturday."

"Saturday it is." I said and she nodded. "But I think you should go home and sleep. Tonight has been long enough for you." She nodded in agreement. She stood up but stopped in her tracks.

"Damn it." She cursed.

"What?" I asked.

"My car is at the scene of the accident. I rode here in the ambulance."

"I can take you to your car." I offered.

"You'd do that?" She asked.

"Of course. You did save my brothers life tonight." I said and she blushed.

"But I thought that's what dinner was for." She said and I smiled.

"Think of this as in lieu of the flowers I would normally bring you on that date." I said and she laughed.

"Sounds like a plan…..since I really hate flowers." She added and I nodded.

"Good to know. Let's go get you home." I said and we walked out to the waiting room. Surprisingly my family was all still there. I introduced them to them all, and my mom gave Clary the biggest hug and so did Robert, Izzy and even Alec. We were all grateful for her that it didn't matter if we weren't a really big affection family. Tonight deserved it.

We got in my car and we drove back towards the accident. I pulled my car up behind hers and cut the engine. She unbuckled her seatbelt and turned to face me.

"Thank you for the ride." She said and I smiled.

"Of course." I said. "I'll text you on Saturday what time and everything." I told her and she nodded.

"Goodnight Jace." She said and I smiled.

"Night Clary." She got out of my car and went back to hers. The lights came on and we both went our separate ways. I made my way back to the hospital to rejoin my family. Tonight had been a long night, but everything worked out, and we were happy about that.

Time Jump – Saturday Night

Clary POV:

I was staring at myself in the mirror wondering if my outfit was alright for tonight. I knew we were going out to dinner, and Jace texted me earlier saying that it was not super formal, but to dress nice. So I found a dress that I haven't worn in years, and hoped that it was good enough. When the knock came to my door, my heart started racing. This was really happening.

I made my way to the door, and when I opened it, there stood Jace, look better than ever. He was wearing dark pants and a maroon button up shirt with the sleeves rolled up. He looked gorgeous, but he always did, so I shouldn't be surprised.

"You look beautiful." He said and I smiled. He held up a small purple looking flower.

"I thought the ride to my car was in lieu of flowers." I said and he smiled.

"I couldn't resist." He said. "This is Clary Sage." He said and my whole body imply filled with so much happiness. It was the sweetest thing anyone has every done for me.

"Well in that case, it's beautiful." I said as I took the flower from his hand.

"I promise though, that's the last flower you will ever get from me." He smirked and I laughed.

"Bummer." I said as I locked my front door. "I could get used to that whole flower thing now." I said and we walked to his car. He opened my door and I got in. the drive to the restaurant was filled with light conversation. Talking to Jace felt natural and I don't even know the last time I've laughed so much.

When we got to the restaurant, he held onto my hand as we were directed towards out table. We ordered our drinks, and ordered our food quickly after. I was swirling my straw around in my drink as I looked up at Jace and smiled.

"So, you know what my profession is. But I don't think I know yours." I said and he smiled.

"I'm a smokejumper." He said and I had to admit, I had no idea what that was.

"And what is a smokejumper?" I asked.

"A smokejumper is a wildland firefighter." He said and my eyes widened. "I parachute into remote areas to put out wildfires."

"Shit." I said and he laughed. "You weren't kidding when you said you were an adrenaline junkie."

"Not even in the slightest." He said.

"So, how does one get into smokejumping?" I asked.

"Right out of high school I actually joined the military." He explained and I nodded. "I didn't know what I wanted to do for a long time, but I knew I wanted to help. I joined JROTC in high school and fell in love with it." He said. "So after high school it seemed like the perfect opportunity. I spent 5 years active duty. Two tours in Iraq, and was honorably discharged after my convoy was hit by an IED."

"Oh my god." I said and he nodded somberly.

"I was the only one who survived the explosion." He said and my heart broke for him. "Since we were going to another location, it took them a couple hours to come and rescue me."

"So you just chilled there and waited?" I asked and he laughed a little.

"No. I had to pretend to be dead so that they wouldn't kill me." He said. "Eventually they got me, and I didn't have any major wounds. Some bleeding and a little bit of shrapnel impaled into my arms, but I was fine. That's when I decided that I really didn't want to be in the military anymore. So I retired and found another profession that I enjoyed."

"Smokejumping." I said and he shook his head.

"No, but close. I became a firefighter." He said. "I still wanted to help people, and I always looked up to firefighters, so I thought it was my next career path. Plus it helped with the PTSD."

"How so? Wouldn't trauma just enable trauma?" I asked.

"You would think, but not for me." He said. "I love helping people. It's one of the best feelings in the world to know you did something that will impact others for the rest of their lives."

"I know the feeling." I said and he laughed and nodded.

"So for four years I was a firefighter, and loved every minute of it." He said. "And than I caught up with a buddy from my platoon who retired and was a smokejumper." He explained. "He explained what it was to me, and I thought it sounded amazing. It was risky enough to always give me that adrenaline high, but I was also helping people as well."

"So being a regular firefighter wasn't thrill inducing enough?" I asked and he laughed.

"Honestly no. For adrenaline junkies, thrill needs to be the most dangerous thing in the world in order to get you that high." He said and I nodded. "So I've been a smokejumper for about 3 years now."

"That's insane. I've never heard of that profession before." I said.

"It's pretty uncommon to just be mentioned." He said. "But I love what I do."

"So is it a seasonal job, or are there just wild fires all the time?" I asked.

"Mostly in the summer months is when it gets crazy, but we can get called at any time of the year." He said.

"So, it's dangerous, and you have the chance of dying." I said and he nodded.

"I've always had that chance in any job I've had. But it's worth it." He said and I nodded. I guess he sensed that it was a lot to process. "Look, I know this is our first date, but if me having a high risk job is something you don't want to deal with, just tell me now." He said and I thought about it. I mean, if he was still in the military or a police officer or still a regular firefighter, it would be the same risk, and in my mind, those have always been normal. Just because I never heard of smokejumping before, that shouldn't be a reason I stop whatever was going on here.

"I'm not going to lie, hearing what you do is incredibly scary, but it's nothing that I don't think I can handle." I said and he smiled. "I won't get to know where you go though, will I?" I asked and he laughed.

"No. That's confidential." He said and I nodded.

"I figured." I said and he smiled.

The rest of the night went by incredibly. Something about Jace made me feel like I've known him forever, and not just for the short 6 months that it's really been. This night made me excited for the future that we could potentially have, and that made me feel really optimistic, something I didn't feel very often.

When dinner was over, I expected Jace to take me back to my place but when he started driving in the opposite direction I got a little confused, but at the end of the day, I trusted Jace. He wasn't going to take me out in the woods and murder me – at least I hoped that he wasn't – so I didn't feel the need to ask where we were going. We pulled up to a park, it seemed pretty old, and it didn't look like it got a lot of attention anymore, but just by looking at Jace's face, I could tell it meant a lot to him.

We got out of the car and he took my hand in his and we made our way over to the swing set. We each sat on one, and began slowly rocking back and forth. I had to admit, it was quite beautiful. I started looking around, and I noticed that there was a house in the distance. Pretty far back, but it was massive, so I knew whoever lived there was probably very rich. And that's when I noticed that this park was on that property, and that worried me a little.

"You seem to be having a little moment." I said after a moment and Jace looked at me. "And the last thing I want to do is ruin that, but I have to ask. Are we on someone's property?" I asked and he laughed.

"We are. This is a private park that is owned by the owner of that mansion." He said.

"I think we should leave Jace. I don't really want to be arrested for trespassing." I said and he smiled.

"You won't. Trust me." He said.

"And how do you know that?" I asked.

"Because I own that house, and all of this property." He said and my jaw hit the ground. "I am assuming you put two and two together when Alec said he was my brother but we have different names." He said.

"I had a couple different theories on that." I admitted and he nodded.

"Well, if you guessed adopted, you'd be correct." He said. "My parents were both killed when I was 10 years old." He said and my heart broke for him. "Car accident. The Lightwoods were very close family friends, and offered to take me in since I had no other living relatives. When I turned 18, I got everything. The mansion, the money, the company, and everything else the Herondale's used to own."

"So why don't you live here? Or work for the company you own?" I asked.

"Well, after high school I went straight to the military, so I moved around. But once I got home, I just wanted a fresh start." He said and I nodded. "But I like to come here sometimes and remember, or imagine what it would have been like to grow up here with my parents." He explained. "And the company is not what I want to do in life. I think what my father built is amazing, just not what I want to be doing for the rest of my life." He said and I nodded.

"That must have been hard. Losing them so young." I said.

"You know, being 10, I didn't really understand what was happening. I knew my parents were gone, and that they weren't coming back and that I wouldn't be living in my house anymore." He said. "Which sucked because I loved the staff that worked there at the time. I had this butler, his name was Hodge, he was always sneaking me snacks, and stuff without my parents knowledge." He laughed and I knew he was remembering a fond time.

"You had a staff?" I asked and he smiled.

"I can take you on a tour of the house." He said. "It was way too big for three people to live in, but my parents likes space, but they weren't going to clean it themselves. Plus my parents were lousy cooks." He explained and I laughed. He got off the swing and extended his hand, which I gladly took.

We started making our way up to the house when I noticed that the landscaping was completely taken care of. It didn't look abandoned like the little park we just came from.

"Do people still work here?" I asked after a moment.

"I have grounds keepers, and pool cleaners, and other workers who maintain the appliances within the house. But I don't have a staff anymore. Once I move back in I'll get some maids and some butlers and a chef." He explained so casually that I nearly wanted to faint.

"When do you plan on moving back in?" I asked curiously.

"When I settle down." He said. "I don't want to live here alone, and I can't bring myself to sell it. I love this place, and I want my kids to grow up where I did."

"I think that's really sentimental of you." I said and he smiled.

We got into the house and it was even bigger on the inside. I felt like I just walked into a fairytale or something. This place looked regal, and I felt incredibly overwhelmed by it all. He took me through the house with the biggest smile on his face. It made me wonder how many people he's shown this place to, and what his intentions were by the end of the night. We paused in front of a door and his smile disappeared. He turned to face me and gave me a sad smile.

"This was my room." He said. "I haven't been in here since I moved." He said and all I could do was nod. He opened the door and we walked inside. I was expected something like dinosaur themed, or race car themed, but it was very plain, and very well organized. It made me wonder how proper this family was as well.

"It's very…" I struggled to find the right word that wouldn't sound rude when I heard Jace laugh.

"Clean?" He filled in the blank and I laughed.

"Very clean." I admitted. "And there is no theme. I mean, my childhood bedroom was decked out with The Little Mermaid." I said and he smiled.

"I was given full liberty to do whatever I wanted to this room as a child." He said. "And do you know what I chose?" He asked and I shook my head. "That blue door." He pointed and I turned around to see a blue door.

"That's it?" I asked and he laughed.

"That was all I wanted." He said. "I didn't know what it was called back than, but when I got to middle school I was diagnosed with OCD."

"I would have never guessed that. Why do you like to put your life in danger if you have OCD?" I asked.

"It was a way to handle situations when I was little." He said. "I had this really bad tic. I would have to do everything in fours. I didn't know why. I always sharpened my pencil four times. Always washed my hands four times. Cut my food into fours. Brushed my teeth four times. Hell, the first girlfriend I had, I had to kiss her four times before we parted ways." He admitted and I laughed. "Maryse and Robert eventually got me some help, and I mellowed out a lot. The therapist noticed that when I was in a situation that got my adrenaline high, that I wasn't focused on my tic. I was simply enjoying the moment. And I stuck with that ever since." He said.

"So you don't have the tic anymore?" I asked.

"I still find myself doing some things in fours. Normally little things. When I tap my fingers on a surface, it's normally in fours. When I chew, I chew four times on each side before swallowing. Little things like that. It's not nearly as bad as it was before I got help, but it'll always be there." He explained and I nodded.

"Why did you show me this place?" I finally asked.

"Honestly?" He asked and I nodded. "You're the first person I've ever wanted to share my personal stories with. The Lightwoods have only seen this place once or twice, but nobody else knows it's mine." He said.

"Why am I so special?" I asked.

"I don't know Clary. I just know that you are, and that I want this to continue – whatever it is." He said and I couldn't help but smile.

"Does that mean you want to take me out on another date?" I asked as I made my way over to him and slipped my arms around his waist, and he smiled.

"That means I want to take you out on as many dates as possible." He said and I laughed.

"I think I'd like that very much." I said and he leaned forward. I could tell he wanted to kiss me, but he was always making sure I was okay with it. I pressed my self up on my tippy toes so that our lips met, and I knew that after tonight, there was no way I was every going to get rid of this man. That was for sure.

Time Jump – Two Months Later

Jace POV:

I wasn't doing anything today, so I was just straightening up my place when my phone started vibrating. When I went to check it, it was my chief. There were some fires that needed to be taken care of, and I was going to be in the unit that was being dispatched.

This was actually the first fire that I got called for since my accident, and since dating Clary. I didn't know how she was going to handle the first fire, but I hoped that it wouldn't ruin the amazing relationship that we have going on right now. Everything between us just works so well, I'd hate for my career to be a negative variable within it.

"Yo Herondale, suit up! We're lifting off in 10!" One of my fellow smokejumpers said. I nodded before grabbing my phone and sending a quick text to Clary. Before I knew it, I said sent the text but realizing that I accidentally said 'I love you' in it. But before I even had the chance to fix it, or freak out about it, we were boarding the plane. When I get back we'll have to have a conversation, but the majority of me wasn't upset that I said it. I did love Clary, and I think I've loved her for a while now.

Clary POV:

I was at the hospital and I was doing my normal rounds when my cell beeped. I continued on working with my patient, but once I was back at the nurses station I pulled it out of my coat pocket, and I saw that it was from Jace.

From Jace:

Hey babe, I was just called for a fire and I don't know how long I'll be gone. The minute I'm back I'll send you a quick text to let you know. I promise I'll make that date up to you once I'm home. Kick ass in surgery today. I love you.

My jaw was pretty much on the ground at the end of the text. He just said that he loved me. That was crazy! I mean we have been together for 2 months, and we've known each other for almost a year, but he loves me. Like he's in love with me. I couldn't even fathom it if I was being quite honest, but I still had the biggest smile on my face, and my body was just filled with happiness. I couldn't believe he loves me, because I love him too. More than I thought possible.

To Jace:

Don't even worry about the date. Just make sure you come home to me safely. Kick some major ass fighting those fires babe. I love you too.

I sent back and for the rest of my shift I couldn't get the goofy smile off my face. I knew when I met that man that he was going to be special. I didn't know how, but I knew. And being with him today, was something that I didn't know could happen, but I was so incredibly grateful for him in every possible way, and I couldn't wait to see him when he got back.

Time Jump – Three Days Later

Jace POV:

The fact that this fire was one of the more tame ones was a real relief for me. I know I've always had my family to come back to, but I've never had a significant other, or one that stayed long enough to have to endure this. Leaving Clary behind – even if it was just for three days – was harder than I anticipated it would be.

We had to leave all our personal belongings back at the station, so as I sit on this plane, I think about what Clary said back to the message that I sent her. Was she freaking out because I said it, or was she scared off? Was she going to speak to me when I got back, or just ignore it an pretend it didn't happen? To be honest, I had no idea how she was going to react, and I was anxious to see.

"Normally the plane ride home is the calm part." My buddy Aaron said. "You look more stressed now than you did before jumping into the fire." He said and I laughed a little.

"This time is a little different for me." I admitted. "I have a girlfriend. One that I plan on keeping around for a very long time. I didn't get a chance to say goodbye before we had to leave." I said. "She was getting ready for surgery, so I just texted her, but at the end of the text, I said 'I love you' and I didn't get a chance to explain myself."

"What did she get surgery for?" Aaron asked.

"She wasn't getting it, she was performing it." I said and he nodded.

"Well, did you mean it?" He asked.

"I really did." I said honestly.

"Than everything will be fine. Do you think she loves you back?" He asked.

"I sure hope she does." I said and he laughed.

"Once we get back I'm sure everything will work out." He said and I nodded.

I really hope that he was right. I didn't want to ruin everything Clary and I had because I said 'I love you' prematurely. I knew that I meant it, but that didn't mean she felt it as well. I was just hoping that once this plane lands, I can talk to Clary and we can clear the air – because I don't know about her but I'm slightly freaking out.

Clary POV:

It was late, and I couldn't sleep. I've been pulling extra hours at the hospital to take my mind off the fact that Jace was out risking his life. I admired what he did so much, but that didn't make me worry any less about him.

It was currently almost 2 in the morning, and I was making some hot tea to see if it could help me sleep. I didn't have work tomorrow, so it's not like I needed to be asleep so I could function, but I worried less when I was asleep so I figured it was my best bet. I was pouring the hot water when I heard a knock at my door. I was pretty used to the unexpected, but when it comes to strangers knocking on my door at 2 am, that was just strange for me.

I went over to the door and decided to look through the peep hole first. No need to open the door for someone who I didn't recognize, or a drunk person who got the wrong door number. But when I looked through the hole, I couldn't seem to open the door fast enough. Once I swung it open, there he stood, alive, unharmed, and smiling.

"Jace." I said as I flung myself into his arms.

"It's so good to see you." He said as he carried me back into my place and he shut the door behind him.

"Oh my god. You're okay." I said and I felt him laugh a little.

"I'm completely okay." He reassured me because even though he was holding me right now, I was still worried.

"Is it going to be like that every single time you get called?" I asked.

"Like what?" He asked.

"Like I feel like I can't breath until I know you're safe again?" I asked and he smiled. My feet were now back on the ground but we were still holding onto each other.

"Probably. And this was one of our shorter deployments." He said and I nodded. "I wish I could be a normal guy for you Clary, someone with a 9 to 5 job that insures my safety, but that's just not me." He said and I couldn't help but smile.

"You wouldn't be you if you didn't do what you do." I said and he smiled a little. "Look, I don't care if you're a smokejumper, a lawyer, a business man, or a dolphin trainer. I love you because of who you are. You have a dangerous profession, and I admire that more than you know. I just worry about you, that's all." I said and I could tell how happy hearing that made him.

"So I didn't freak you out with that text?" He asked and I laughed. By this time I got my tea, and we both made our way to the couch.

"I was surprised. My jaw hit the floor when I read that text, but I also couldn't get the smile off my face for the rest of my shift." I said honestly and he smiled.

"I wrote that at the end of the text out of force of habit. Normally I'm sending those texts to my family, and I always end it with an 'I love you' since I don't know if I'm making it back." He explained. "The moment I sent it, I realized that I meant it wholeheartedly, and I just hoped for the past three days that you felt the same."

"Well, I hope that my text eased those nervous feelings." I said and he laughed.

"We aren't allowed to bring anything personal with us on those deployments, so I didn't know what you said until I got back tonight. But once I read it, everything in me just felt so much lighter." He said and I smiled.

"I'm glad." I said.

"I love you Clary." He said and I couldn't help but smile. I put my hand on his cheek and leaned forward and pressed my lips to his.

"I love you too Jace." I said and he gave me one last kiss. "So, it's late, and you are probably exhausted, and I was having trouble sleeping before but I feel like all I need is a good cuddle buddy for a good nights sleep." I said and he laughed.

"I think a good cuddle session is something we both need right now." He said. "That and a good nights sleep." I nodded and before I could stand up, he scooped me into his arms. He carried me to my bedroom, and we both got comfortable under the covers. Having Jace back with me was absolutely perfect, and I couldn't wait to see where this goes next.

Time Jump – Two Years Later

Jace POV:

"Clary, we can't take everything." I told her for the 10th time while we were packing our places up.

"Why not? That house is big enough." She complained again. About 2 months ago Clary and I decided to take the next step in our relationship and move in together. But not just in any house, in my family home. I was nervous to be living there again, but I couldn't wait to start planting roots there again, and grow there with Clary.

"Clary….."

"No Jace." She cut me off. "That house is freaking huge. I think you can spare one of those room to be made into a temporary storage room until we figure out where to put everything." She said.

"Ugh. You're so lucky I love you." I said and she made her way over to me and gave me a sweet kiss.

"That I am. But come on, I want to get everything in the truck before dinner time." She said as she sealed another box.

We packed everything up and loaded the truck. Once everything was done, I got into the truck and Clary got into her car and we made our way to the Herondale Manor. My stuff was moved in earlier, and after this load we could finally start making that place our home.

I pulled into the long driveway and got out of the truck. Clary got out of the car and made her way over to me. A week ago I actually hired a staff to help clean everything up and move things into the house and start working for me again. They were currently unloading the truck while I looked at the house. I put my arm around Clary's shoulders and she wrapped hers around my waist.

"Welcome home Clary Fray." I said as I pressed my lips to her head and she laughed.

"Welcome home to you as well Jace Herondale." She said and I pulled her even close to me. I couldn't wait to see where the future took us, but I knew that right now it looked bright, and I couldn't picture it looking any better.

Time Jump – Five Years Later

Clary POV:

"How long will you be gone?" I asked as Jace gathered his belongings for another deployment.

"I'm not sure. It sounded pretty urgent, and with my past experience, it will probably take anywhere from 5 to 8 days." He said and I nodded. Almost 8 years together and I still got scared every time he got called away.

"Well, be careful, and be safe." I said and he nodded. "I love you."

"I love you too Clary." He said and he gave me a kiss before making our way out into the living room where our boys were.

Spencer and Russell were our twin boys. About 3 years ago I found out I was pregnant, and my whole entire world stopped for a split second before all I could think about was nursery themes and renovating that abandoned looking park Jace once brought me too. They were both mini Jace's, and man were they the sweetest little boys you would ever met.

"Hey boys, I have to go now. Take care of mommy and your little sister, and I'll be back soon." Jace said and they both went running into his arms and gave him the biggest hug ever.

"We're going to miss you daddy." Spencer said.

"I'm going to miss you all so much, but I'll be back before you know it." Jace reassured them. "I love you boys."

"We love you too daddy." Russell said. Jace stood up after kissing them one last time and made his way over to me.

"Give Scarlett all my love. I already kissed her, but once she wakes up give her another kiss for me." Jace said and I nodded. Scarlett was our almost 2 year old little girl.

"Come back to us Jace." I said and he leaned forward and gave me a kiss.

"There is no way in hell I'm ever leaving you and our 4 amazing children." He said has his hand rested on my protruding belly. "Especially when I haven't even been able to meet this little guy yet." He said and I smiled.

"Just be careful, but kick some ass." I said and he laughed.

"Always. I love you." He said.

"I love you too." We kissed one last time before he was out the door. I took a deep breath before going into the living room to watch Spencer and Russell. These were going to be a long 8 days, I just knew it.

Jace POV:

This fire was absolutely no joke. We already lost one member of the team, and it was absolutely devastating. There was nothing in the world that could prepare you for something like that. But we had a job to do, and we had to keep pushing through no matter what.

Clary was going to get a call about the death. It was something that the chief liked to do when one of our own has fallen. He gathers all the men and their family to gather back at the station so that we can all be there for the family of the fallen jumper. I thought it was incredibly touching. I've been through a couple in my time as a smokejumper, but it didn't make it any easier, and I knew Clary was going to be freaking out when that phone rang.

Time Jump – Seven Days Later

Jace POV:

We were finally making our way home, and the plane ride was deadly silent. Ramsey was in a wooden casket that was brought back when we were being picked up. It was hard seeing him like that. He was always so full of energy and life. Knowing that I'd never get to see him smile or crack a joke again was really hard to process. But our jobs are dangerous, we knew what we signed up for. This was the ultimate price.

Clary POV:

Spencer, Russell and Scarlett were all in the living room playing while I was making dinner. I was incredibly exhausted, but what else do you expect from someone who is nearly 8 months pregnant. We had a staff, but when Jace was away, I liked to keep busy, so I did everything just to keep my mind off the fact that he was risking his life. I had a feeling that might change soon since I was so tired all the time, but for right now, I was capable of doing these things.

I couldn't wait to bring this little guy into the world. Scarlett loved her other brothers, and Spencer and Russell were super protective of her, so I knew this little guy would be just another protective brother, and Scarlett would love him endlessly. The phone starting ringing, and I put the knife I was cutting the vegetables with down and answered it.

"Hello?" I answered.

"Hello, may I please speak with Mrs. Herondale." The person on the other end said.

"Speaking. How can I help you?" I asked.

"My name is Chief Wayland." He said and my heart skipped a beat. "I'm calling to inform you that there has been a death concerning the recent fire that our unit deployed to. We request your presence at the station immediately." He said and I didn't even say anything back. I hung up the phone. Turned the stove off, and ran into the living room.

"Babies, I need you to go get your shoes on. We have to go somewhere." I said and they all looked at me.

"Where mommy?" Spencer asked.

"We have to go to daddy's work." I said.

"Is he home?" Russell asked.

"I'm not sure baby. His boss asked us to come down." I said as I put Scarlett's shoes on.

We got in the car and we were taken to the station. I couldn't fit in the drivers seat, so we had a driver take us. The whole way there I couldn't help but tap my foot. This was only the second time in the 8 years Jace and I have been together that I've gotten a phone call like this, and I was freaking out.

We pulled up and I got the kids out, and we made our way into the station. Other families were already there, anxiously waiting for their family member to come off that plane and through those doors. We stood there for about 30 minutes, and I knew the kids were getting anxious. I put down a few toys and they were finally distracted when I heard the doors open. When I looked up and I didn't see Jace at first, and my heart nearly broke.

"Daddy!" I heard Russell say and that's when I found him. He was kneeling on the ground scooping Russell into his arms, and that's when the tears started flowing. Spencer and Scarlett soon followed Russell and I just stayed where I was, taking in Jace greeting our children. He finally made his way over to me and he pulled me into his and I cried into his chest.

"I'm so sorry baby. I didn't mean to worry you." Jace whispered into my ear and I nodded.

"You're home, that's all that matters." I said and he kissed the top of my head.

"Let's go home." He said and I nodded. We got the kids, and made our way to the car. I would never get used to this. Nothing can prepare you for almost losing the person you love most in this world, but it was who Jace was, and I loved him.

Time Jump – Two Months Later

Clary POV:

It was my first week back at the hospital having little Gavin. He was absolutely perfect, just like the other three, and Jace and I were completely in love with him. It was weird being back at work, considering I haven't been a full time doctor in almost 4 years with all the pregnancies I've been through, but I was ready to get back into the OR and save lives. It was who I was, and nothing would be able to change that about me.

Jace was watching the kids today, and when I left them, he was in the middle of being tickled to death, and the thought made my smile the whole day. Seeing his bond with the kids was something I'd never get tired of. Scarlett was a daddy's girl, and Spencer and Russell wanted to be just like him. They had him wrapped around their fingers, and he was loving every minute of it.

When my shift was over, I was on my way home. Thankfully I was done before 6 pm tonight, so I got a chance to eat dinner with them. Something that I missed every night this week due to surgery, or my shift. When I pulled into the driveway, I saw Jace and the kids at the park at the front of the property. I stopped my car and got out and made my way over to them.

"Mommy! You're home!" Scarlett cheered.

"Yes I am baby." I said as I kissed her forehead. "Did you have a good day with daddy?" I asked.

"I had the bestest day ever!" She said and I laughed. She ran back to play with her brothers while I made my way over to Jace. Gavin was sleeping peacefully in his arms. I placed a sweet kiss on his lips and he smiled at me.

"Welcome home Dr. Herondale." He smirked and I couldn't help but laugh.

"Good to be home Mr. Herondale."

Authors Note:

I don't know how many people requested one about Clary being a doctor and JAce being her patient, but I finally got around to finishing it! I added more to the plot because I feel like there is only so much you can do when it turns into a doctor patient story, since I wasn't giving Jace cancer or anything, I needed a little more to go on, and I hope that you enjoy it!

Now, I found the profession smokejumper and thought it was pretty fucking awesome so I used it but I don't know much about it, so apart from what a smokejumper does, everything else is kinda made up. I have no idea if Jace would be allowed to continue after breaking his leg, or anything, but in this story he could, and that's what I wanted!

So let me know what you think and leave a review! I'm sorry it's taken me so long to review! My birthday was yesterday and it's been pretty crazy, but I finally got another one done! And I hope you all like it! :)

Also, I don't know much about PTSD, or tics. I just know they are important parts of certain things I mentioned so don't rip me a new one if some information is wrong!