Simon watched from the back of the group as the last of the delegates left through a portal that was taking them back to Singapore. He was relieved that it was all over, that the French delegation was finally gone. After the encounter with the leader, Annette, Simon had gone to great lengths to always be with someone from his own clan when he wasn't in his own room. Simon wasn't the only one who seemed to be glad that the whole thing was over, Raphael had finally allowed a slump to his shoulders and Lily had taken off her heels. Deciding that he had been cooped up in the hotel for far too long, Simon shot a text to Lily saying that he was going to visit Luke before slipping out the door. There must have been snow in the forecast because the few people he saw were all carrying umbrellas and it was too cold for rain. It didn't bother him whether or not he got snowed on, it wasn't going to melt on him due to the fact that his skin was freezing cold. He was glad that he was wearing one of his thicker coats so that he didn't stand out too much. Raphael had bought him several heavy coats when he had been sick due to the fact that he had actually felt the cold then and now wearing one of his wool coats had become habit. The trek to the subway station was longer than expected due to the fact that his usual one was closed for work on the track. The train though was blissfully empty and Simon was able to doze on the ride until he had to get off. Checking his phone as he exited the station he saw that he had missed a text from a fellow clan member named Radcliff reading 'Lily told Raphael where you had gone and he got this look on his face' with a picture of Raphael scowling on his face. Simon chuckled and tucked his phone back into his pocket as he made his way through the empty streets to the Jade Wolf. Luke was waiting for him at the door with a grin and Simon realized he had forgotten to text Luke to make sure that it was okay to visit.

"Sorry, I've been stuck at the hotel for close to a week and needed a break from politics." Simon said when Luke pulled him into a hug.

"It's fine. I got a text from Miss Chen and a call from Santiago. Miss Chen told me you were coming and Santiago said that if anything happened he would skin me in my wolf form and hang me in the hotel." Luke said cheerfully and Simon winced

"They've been super protective of me since I rejoined. Sometimes it's nice but other times I feel overwhelmed." Simon said sliding into a booth. The shop was empty save a few wolves from the pack who all ignored Simon. Simon figured that it was early enough that most the younger portion of the pack were probably still at clubs or Hunter's Moon while late enough that the older portion were probably already at their homes getting ready for work tomorrow. Luke slid in across from him and shot him a smile.

"I'm glad you're back at the hotel. I had wolves searching for you but I guess you'd gotten better at hiding." Luke admitted and Simon felt guilt wash through him

"I didn't want to impose and some of your wolves came close to my hiding spots in the beginning so I had to get creative. I think I learned more about how to evade people in the six months that I was living on the street than they teach professional spies." Simon joked trying to lighten the mood. Luke chuckled

"Well if you ever need a place to stay you should know that you always can ask me. I haven't seen Clary since the incident and don't plan on seeing her any time soon either." Luke said firmly. Simon nodded and smiled weakly.

"Did Mrs. Fray ever wake up?" He asked. He knew that it should have been one of the first things he asked. After all, everything had happened because his once best friend had wanted her mother back. Luke's grimace told it all

"The book didn't work. They kept her at the Institute for about two weeks after it failed in case it was a delayed reaction and then I had her transferred to New York Methodist Hospital. They can give her better care and it's easier to visit for me. Would you like to visit? I'm sure we can come up with some reason why you need to visit at night instead of during regular hours." Luke offered and Simon was nodding before he could think.

"Alright. It's early enough tonight that we should be able to visit for a few hours. Come on." Luke said sliding out of the booth and heading toward the door. Simon followed quickly

"Did you know that there have been recorded cases where a person in a coma has been able to hear everything around them?" Simon asked and Luke laughed a deep, hearty laugh

"Yeah, I had heard that. Maybe you can tell her about the clan. I've told her that we found you but I'm sure she would like to hear your voice. If those cases about coma patients are real." Luke said as they climbed into his car. Simon smiled. It would be nice to see Mrs. Fray again. Even if she wasn't awake just knowing that she was alive would soothe some of Simon's worry and guilt.


Raphael glanced at the clock, it was nearly sunrise and Simon hadn't returned. Usually the fledgling had checked in by now saying he was on his way or already back. Raphael knew Simon had been having trouble sleeping since the delegations had come but they had left now and Raphael was more than willing to share his bed again. Raphael also knew that Simon was still having trouble telling when he was dreaming and therefore was avoiding sleeping when he could. The day guards had reported that they had had to walk Simon to his room and tuck him into bed several times over the past few days because the fledgling had been wandering the hotel during the day and they had been worried he would hurt himself accidentally. Apparently the first time they had caught him they had just told him to go back to bed and he had instead wandered to a different part of the hotel. His phone buzzed and he picked it up

"Santiago." He said sharply

"Hey, Raphael, it's Luke Garraway. Simon and I are at New York Methodist Hospital visiting Jocelyn and I can't convince Simon to leave. Think you could get down here and get him home before the sun rises." A gruff voice on the other side of the line said and Raphael rolled his eyes to the ceiling

"Why was the fledgling visiting the Fairchild woman?" He asked exasperated as he pulled his shoes back on

"Jocelyn was more of a mother to Simon than Simon's biological mother ever was. Simon's mom was...you know, he'll explain it to you if you ask and it would be better if you heard it from him." Garraway said and he sounded exhausted

"Díos. I'm on my way." Raphael said before hanging up and blurring out of the hotel. When he reached the hospital, he had to ask one of the old ladies at the front desk where to go. Garraway was standing outside the room and nodded towards the door when Raphael arrived.

"He's in there with her. Completely ignored me when I tried to get him to leave earlier." Garraway said and Raphael grimaced. He slowly pushed into the room. It was dark inside, only lit by the television which showed some late-night infomercial. Simon was sitting beside the bed where Jocelyn Fairchild lay motionless, he was holding one of her hands and talking softly

"…how I actually ended up with a broken arm. We told you we climbed the tree because we knew we'd get in less trouble that way. Clary used to use that old saying, 'better to ask forgiveness than permission' way too much but I always went along with it. I was so blind to how she really was and looking back I wonder if she was my only friend because I was too weird or if she somehow sabotaged any other relationship I had. I mean, I had the band somewhat but that was still awkward. And she was always there during practice. I thought she was just trying to support me but maybe she was trying to control me even back then. Maybe if I had done things differently things would have been better." Simon paused to kiss the comatose woman's hand

"If you did things different we wouldn't have met." Raphael said cutting in and making the fledgling look at him. Simon gave him a weak smile

"Come on Fledgling, we need to go before the sun comes up." Raphael said softly and Simon shook his head

"I don't want to leave her, she'll be alone. What if Valentine comes for her, she wouldn't have anyone to protect her. If the sun's up I can't…" Simon trailed off sounding wreaked. It tugged at Raphael's heart, he knew what it was like to worry about not being able to reach those one loves because of what they were

"I know how you feel. My sister, Rosa, was the most precious thing to me. I worried about her the same way that you worry about Mrs. Fairchild." Raphael said gently as he approached the bed and Simon, "You don't have to worry though, I'll ask Magnus to put up wards that will protect her when you can't." He said and Simon seemed to think the option over. Garraway, who was standing in the doorway, took a step into the room

"I'll send a couple of the pups to watch her. I've got two who would immediately volunteer because it would mean they could skip school." He offered and Simon nodded slowly

"Okay." He mumbled before yawning. He allowed Raphael to guide him to his feet and away from the bed. As they reached the doorway, Simon turned back and waved goodbye before allowing Raphael to lead him out of the hospital

"Do you want me to drive you two back to the hotel?" Garraway asked as they reached the outside. Raphael considered his options. On one hand, the fledgling was dead on his feet and would probably do damage if he tried to blur back to the hotel and on the other hand Raphael would probably have to burn his clothes because they would smell like wet dog. He liked this jacket.

"No thank you. I will carry Simon." Raphael said scooping Simon up bridal style and making sure he was holding on before blurring them both back to the hotel. He carried Simon into the hotel and up to the penthouse where he laid him out on the couch and blurred down to the kitchen for a glass and a bag of blood. Once he was back in the penthouse he sat down beside Simon who was falling asleep on the couch

"Come on Bebè. You need to eat before you go to sleep." Raphael said pouring the bag into the cup with expert precision. Simon slowly sat up and Raphael helped him drink, knowing that if he let go of the glass that Simon would drop it. Simon leaned heavily on Raphael as he drank slowly and Raphael wrapped an arm around Simon's waist. Taking the glass away and setting it down on the coffee table Raphael let Simon fall asleep on his shoulder as he rubbed small, soothing circles on his hip.

"I lo'e y'u Rapha." Simon murmured in his sleep and Raphael paused in his ministrations. Resuming the circles Raphael pulled the sleeping fledgling closer and wiped a small drop of blood from his lips

"Y tù, Bebè. Y tù." He replied even though Simon wouldn't hear him. He carried Simon into the bedroom and pulled off his shoes before undressing the fledgling down to his boxers and tucking him into the bed. After Simon was settled Raphael stripped to his own boxers and climbed in beside Simon.

"Buenos noches mi amor." Raphael murmured as he slipped into dreamless sleep.