I run to his side and push people out of the way. "No, no, no, no! Drake, please wake up! Please!" but he doesn't open his eyes; he doesn't even flinch. I look around and say, "Call everyone! Tell them to get the infirmary ready as soon as they can! We have to get him back, NOW!" I yell the last part which makes Paul flinch but I don't care. I turn my attention back to Drake and take out my stele. I examine the wound thoroughly and see the gory slash that bleeds on his stomach. The sight makes me want to throw up but I can't be bothered with that now.

I begin to gently trace healing runes around the wound but they all just turn bright red and disappear. I had never seen that happen before and I am still not getting a response from Drake. "Paul, you get his legs, girls hold him by his back and support his head. Clary, you need to make a portal back to the institute. Laken, take off your shirt and apply pressure to that. I will stay on the lookout for more demons if they come while Clare works on that portal. HURRY!" instructs Aaron and I can't help but appreciate the authoritative tone in his voice. I shudder and rip myself away from Drake as the others lift him up and Laken takes off his shirt. I numbly and quickly begin to draw a rune on the brick alley wall. I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding when the dark marks turn a brilliant light blue- almost white- and glow, then the wall begins to strip of its brick and a blue swirling portal appears. We waste no time walking through and the next thing I know, we are back at the institute.

"Clary? Oh my angel! What happened!?" exclaims Isabelle when she sees us covered in blood and Drake's lifeless body being carried into the infirmary.

"H-he got stabbed… by a demon… I-I don't know. Where's Magnus?" I stammer out.

"I'll get him Clary! You go in and help the others!" I nod and run into the infirmary where Drake lays shirtless on a sterile white bed that now holds large stains of copperish blood. I can feel the liquid heat poor down my face as I rush to his side and grip onto his cold hand that is limp in mine. I whisper sweet hopes and wishes to him as everyone rushes to get medical supplies. Everyone stops in their tracks when we hear the double doors of the infirmary slam open and the sparkly warlock waltzes in with a look of seriousness and determination embedded in his usually sarcastic and fun featured face.

"Everyone out," he instructs and to my surprise, no one says a word. Everyone leaves excepts me. "You too Clary. I don't want you to see any of this." I can feel my heart clench but I nod and release Drake's hand and walk out of the infirmary. I rush into the arms of the first person I see- Simon.

"Shh. He will be fine. He seems about as stubborn as you so, he'll make it," he says as he strokes my hair.

"How do you know? How do you know everything is going to be okay?" I ask in between sobs and gasps.

I can feel him sigh and I pull away from him and he says, "I don't know. But just because I don't know, doesn't mean you should lose hope. Everything will work out- I can feel it."

I nod and begin walking into the parlor where everyone had gathered. Everyone is standing up with painful expressions and Paul seems to be lost in thought. I can see El is silently sobbing in the embrace of Laken. I feel a warm and delicate hand cup my shoulder and I turn around to see the deep brown eyes of Izzy. As if on cue, we both hug each other tightly. Izzy doesn't cry but I don't expect her to. She barely even knows Drake- and he's kind of hard to get connected with. I'm just glad that she knows that I need comfort right now. I wait for more tears to come but my eyes stay dry and bare.

We all wait for hours until Magnus walks out of the infirmary with a regretful expression on his face that makes my heart sink. "He… he isn't doing good. The venom… it got to his heart too quickly. I can't do anything but give you time. And right now, he doesn't have much. There isn't anything I can do." I stand there looking off into space with a neutral expression on my face. He is going to die. "If you wish to say goodbye, you should do it now. He only has an hour or less."

I hear the multiple gasps around the room and I just nod. I can feel heat flood my face and ears and all I see is black. I wait a few moments until everyone is done saying their goodbyes to Drake and then it is my turn. I take slow steps to the doors and gently nudge the doors open. When I see him, all the pain and remorse I felt earlier comes back in a smashing wave. He lays on a different bed with a white bandage wrapped tightly around his abdomen. The bandages is stained with black and red blood and I can see the veins in his neck and shoulders and chest clearly because they have turned purple and blue and red. Everything about him screams for relief but his eyes tell me he is holding on. His skin holds no life at all- he is like a ghost. His lips are a pale blue and his breathing is shaking and pained.

I walk over to his side and he watches my every step. "Hello love," he says in a desperate voice and I can see that each breath is killing him. I manage a chockes laugh and I take his hand gently.

"Hey," I say.

"Just you wait, tomorrow I'll be out of this bed and we can finally go to that ice cream parlor you wanted to go to. I'll be back kicking demon ass in no time. Don't you worry about me."

Tears flow freely down my face as I hear him talk about tomorrow as if he will be here to see it. "Y-you know, ice cream is really overrated," I say, trying to lighten the mood. His mouth forms a strangled grin and he attempts a laugh but when he snaps his eyes closed and his teeth clentch, I can tell it is all too much for him. I look at him with blank eyes and he says,

"Don't look at me like that. I've been in worse condition… can't think of a time right now but…" his breathing is becoming lighter and even more shallow and I can see him struggle to remain conscious.

I take a couple deep breaths and then scoot closer and I brush some of his hair off of his forehead and say, "You know, it's really okay… if you're ready. You don't have to be here anymore if you don't want to. I- I know you're in pain… you've been in pain for a long time. Just let go… let it all go. You don't have to hold on anymore."

His playfulness disappears and he stares at me with a deep frown embedded in his face. "But if I let go… I let you go."

I kiss his forehead and say, "No you won't."

He takes a shaky breath and says, "I know I'm dying… so you have to promise me one thing. You can't shut people out… and you know who I'm talking about. I see how he looks at you… and I know you used to look at him the same way. You- you can't shut people out Clare… they need you. And you need them."

I kiss his hand and say, "I promise…"

I see the faint smile on his lips before he whispers, "I love you." And his eyes close. I watch for a moment as his chest lightly rises and falls and then stops. Sobs take over my entire body and I cry inot the white sheet for a few minutes. When I stop crying, I stand up and walk to the doors where everyone is waiting outside. When I walk out, all eyes are on me. Almost Meg and El are sobbing and the guys hold a pained expression on their face as they stare at me with hard eyes.

"H-He's gone."

A/N: I am so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so sorry that I haven't updated in forever! Cross country practice has been killing me- our practice on the weekdays is 3:30-8… so I don't really have time in the week and my only time to update is on the weekends. But- the season is over in November- so hopefully I will be updating more then (I know a looooong time- sorry :( )

Anyway- thank you SO much for reading this story! please review! I should have the next chapter up either today, or next weekend! REVIEW!