This can't be happening.

Looking at the unbelievably good looking boy standing in front of her all Clary wants to do is run. What are the chances that the same mystery boy that swooped in out of no where and saved her would appear here in this run down gym on this particular night.

"Cat got your tongue?" Jace asks with an annoying amount of confidence. His smirk somehow manages to grow even bigger.

"I-um do you work here?" She immediately hates how flustered she sounds, as if he was having some kind of affect on her, which he was, but he didn't need to know that.

"I do occasionally, when they need my certain expertise."

"Expertise?" He gives her another aggravating smile.

"Lets just sat that I have a skill set that makes me the worst nightmare for some people, including that scum I saw with you on our first meeting. Really Red we must talk about the company you keep."

And with that he walked away towards the middle of the room where the rest of the people seemed to be going. Too stunned to do anything else she blindly follows him, not hearing anything the instructor was saying, instead staring blindly ahead amazed at the turn of events. She notices that all the people are breaking away with one of the men with the shirts showing they are trainers. Soon she and Jace are the only people left in the middle of the room, with a sigh she turns to look at him.

"Fine. I'm going to give this a try, but if at any time I decide I don't want to do this anymore, I'm gone. No questions, and you have to leave me alone." She delivers this in the most assured voice she can, glad that she finally sounds like she is in control.

Jace stares at her for what seems like minutes, the smirk softening into more of a smile. Then he finally jerks his head to the only mat that is unoccupied, signaling that he wants her to go over there. Letting out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, Clary warily walks over.

Around the room most of the people seem to be working on simple maneuvers and techniques, she tries to block out all the other people and sounds and pay attention to what Jace is saying.

"So we are going to start out with some different scenarios and you are going to show me how you would react if they were really happening." Clary nods showing that she understands.

He slowly makes his way closer to her and before she can do anything he has moved in a blur, both of his hands are locked on hers, pushing her arms behind her back so that she can't move.

Panic. Pure panic. It's the man he is back, she cant move. Helpless. She is going to die.

Somewhere in the distance she hears some kind of screeching, after a few moments she realizes that the terrible noise is coming from her, it's her screaming. As she finally stops the room is silent, all the other people looking at her with undisguised interest. During her panic she had somehow gotten out of Jace's grip and was now huddled on the floor, unable to contain her shaking. Jace was kneeling in front of her, concern clearly written all over his face.

"Hey, it's alright I didn't mean to startle you like that, I should have explained it before I touched you."

People were starting to lose interest and go back to what they had been doing, Clary ran a shaky hand through her hair, embarrassed once again at how little control she seemed to have over her own actions.

"No no, it's me. I-I don't know whats happening. It's like this all the time, the panic, the fear. I can't-"

"Shhh, stop." Slowly he brings up both of his hands and puts them on either side of her face, making her look at him.

"I am not him. Do you understand me? I won't hurt you. You don't need to be afraid anymore." His golden eyes bored into hers, and she could see how much he meant what he was saying. She let out a shaky breath and nodded her head, not trusting her voice.

He slowly helped her to her feet, making sure she could stand on her own before releasing her hand.

"Lets try again. I'm going to put you in the same position as before OK? Just try and get out of it. If you need a break just let me know."

Once again all she could do was nod. Clary took a deep breath to steady herself as she carefully watched what he was doing. He moved much slower this time, slowly walking around so he was standing at her back before he gently reached down and held both her arms behind her back in a firm but gentle grip. She tried to wiggle her arms free but quickly realized he was much stronger than her, after a few more minutes of no progress she let out a frustrated huf.

"OK don't get worked up." His warm breath tickled the back of her neck and she worked very hard on ignoring that fact, "You can get out of this.

He gave her a series of instructions and before she knew it she had worked her way out of the hold and was turned looking at him. She did it. All by herself. She wasn't helpless, she could learn and never have to feel that way again. Pure joy ran through her, and for the first time in weeks she felt free.

"Did you see that!? The way I got out! All by myself, that was just- So cool, I can totally be kickass."

Clary wasn't even aware of what she was saying, just so giddy over the fact that she had accomplished this small hurdle.

Jace stared at her with clear amusement, along with something else she couldn't quite read, after she had calmed down she saw that he was still just staring at her.

"What?" She asked, trying to sound mature to balance out her freak out session, she could feel the heat in her cheeks and knew she would be blushing a bright red.

"Nothing Red, I just can't wait to see how you react when I teach you how to hit someone, we will have to get a singing telegram"

Without thinking about it she reached out and punched him in the shoulder, like she did with her older brother and they were joking around. As soon as she realized what she had done she froze, and for once Jace didn't seem to know how to react either, he stared at her with wide eyes.

"Did- did you just hit me?" He asked clearly bewildered.

"Well I mean I don't know if I would call it a hit, more of a friendly slap." She had to bite her lip from smiling at his shocked look, clearly he wasn't used to that type of interaction.

"Friendly slap" he muttered to himself, shaking his head and still sending odd looks her way as if he expected her to jump up and attack him at anytime. She couldn't stop the laughter that flowed out of her, it was just so ridiculous that this man that could clearly fend for himself, would be so confused by a friendly hit. The laughter bubbled up and she let it out, small giggles shaking her body, it felt good. After the week she had, laughing was a welcome distraction.

Jace froze, and turned to look at her, his eyes burning with an emotion she couldn't quite place. He walked closer to her and Clary abruptly cut her laughter off. He continued moving towards her until he was standing directly in front of her, so close she could see the sheen of sweat that he had worked up during their training. Slowly he raised his hand up and twirled a lock of her hair that had fallen free from her ponytail sometime during the day. Clary held her breath, not wanting to interrupt whatever this was. He finally seemed to realize what he was doing and he quickly dropped his hand down and took a step back from her.

"You should laugh more often Red, it looks good on you." He turned away, and Clary realized that almost everyone else was leaving, apparent;y this session was over. Before she could stop herself she called out to him.

"Clary" He stopped again and looked back at her.

"What?"

"My name is Clary, not Red." She felt another blush rise up on her face, feeling like an idiot. As if he cared what her name was. Another of those irritating smirks appeared on his face and he turned to walk away again. She let out a sigh and began to leave when she heard the distant sound of his voice.

"Pretty name, but I think I'm gonna stick with Red."