"Jace" Magnus called from the door way, there was something in his voice, something I couldn't recognize, but it gave me chills.

I turned form Alec in the main hallway and met the chilling eyes of Magnus. He looked back at me as if I was supposed to know what he was thinking, and I did know. "Where is she?" I asked trying to hide any form of worry that may have come to me.

"She's just outside her house, she needs you, I suggest you hurry" His voice was even as he warned me with his stare.

I pushed passed him unsure what to expect. Maybe Izzy had confronted clary, maybe it was all a joke, or maybe- It wasn't a maybe anymore, it was real. That witch is here, again.

My heart ached at the site that I looked upon, Clary's mother had her hand grasped tightly under Clary's jaw, I could just see the slight scrape marks from her nails from where I was standing, they were obnoxiously red against her pale skin. Clary looked up at her, watching as the woman's lips moved to form what I could only predict to be vile speech. Clary's expression was that of what it used to be, numb, but fearful. I stepped forward-trying to move from my frozen stance, and just caught what clary replied "fine".

The response fueled me as much as it baffled me; I strolled over to them without hesitation and grasped my hand around that pathetic woman's arm, yanking it away from Clary. "Clary, why don't you go finish what you were doing, I'll catch up with you." I suggested with my eyes burning into her mother.

"Sure Jace." She replies after a moment's hesitation. I don't look at her, I probably should, at least to check and see if she was ok, but my focus belonged to her mother. I listened as she left, paying close attention to the soft sound of a door closing.

"If you don't leave, I'm going to report you for harassment." I warned letting go of her arm, and glaring down into her pathetic eyes.

"You don't seem like the type to like cops!" She bitterly chuckled. I hated how right she was. Ever since I was little, all I can remember a police officer doing was being too late! "You remind me of him, far too possessive of her. With that dark shady look in your eyes" She laughed, "You could be related!".

Then I was gone. My heart fell a thousand feet, through ice and pain as her words violated the air around me, and within me. It was a cruel comparison, but in some ways I feared a possible resemblance. I've always been an angry person; I've always used and abused people. But to that extent? Could I be similar to him? No, I have more control than that, I have morals and I have Clary. No man could ever be a monster to Clary! "I think you're getting possessive mixed up with protective!" I shot back at her as I found my resolve again.

"You're pathetic!"

"And what does that make you? You're the monster who's done this to her! You have used, abused and practically forced her into misery! What gives you the right to pretend you're worth her?" I yelled back at her.

"She's simply ungrateful! I took her in-"

"You think that makes it better? She would have been better off having not known you! She's a better person than you could ever be! And she deserved better, a mother who loved her and a father who took care of her!" I rambled on in anger, slowing my voice as I spoke my next words. "But you deprived her of that!"

"What do you know? I'm sure you use her plenty! Look at you, fighting your slut's battles!"

Stop calling her that!" I said fisting my hands," She's not my slut, nor is she anyone's slut! You're the fucking whore here!"

"I will call my daughter by any name I please!"

"And stop calling her that! She's not your daughter, you're not a mother. All you are is a throbbing nuisance! Just leave!"

"I can't wait, till you're gone!" The words came as though her voice was laced with venom. I was struck numb as she turned and walked away.

I didn't watch her; I simply bowed my head, attempting to calm down! I couldn't explain what was happening to me today. I could be making excuses but, I think it had something to do with how I found Clary this morning. I know, I know, everything is always about her, I must be the most predictable guy in the world. But, there was something, strange, about that look in her eye. She looked terrified, at first I thought it was because you know, I startled her, but then I saw something else. She wasn't just relieved that it was just me, she seemed like she had been expecting someone else. I tried to seem calm, while I panicked inside. But I can't explain it, I just don't know, I'm just over thinking things I guess.

I took a long breath and walked into Clary's place. I walked in, not bothering to call out or warn her, she knew it was me. I found her sitting on the kitchen counter sideways with a leg hanging lazily over the edge and her head leaning on a cabinet at the perfect angle to look out the window over her sink. She had a half empty bottle of beer between her legs, and she ran her fingers over the rim, as if to distract them. "Is she gone?" She didn't turn to look at me, she simply spoke. I watched as she lifted the bottle to her mouth.

"Yeah, she's gone" the bottle tilted and poured the liquid to disappear behind her lips. God, her lips. I went and sat on the countertop across from her. "You know? Sitting like that, you kinda remind me of a teenager."

She cracked a light smile, but still refused to look at me. "Is that so?

"Yeah" I sighed in a playful manner. "Though, most teenagers aren't quite as beautiful as you are." Her expression becomes unreadable, as she stares out the window. I look at her and think back to any time I may have called a woman beautiful, but there aren't many women like Clary. Clary is the true definition of beauty, with her soulful green eyes that contrasted with her blazing, curvy hair. She was something to be admired, placed in a museum to be praised for not only her fine skin, but for her exquisite heart. No, there aren't many women like Clary.

"Jace I don't- Isabelle and Simon are here" Her voice leaking with patience as she spoke. She turned to me and I could see it. A tear not shed, but taunting her as it sat against the lid of her right eye. I wanted to reach out and brush it away, but I was afraid to touch her, because if I did, I might find that there's nothing there, nothing but the nightmare to my fantasy.

"We should probably go see them" I said calmly as I climbed down off the counter and turned to help her. But she refused the hand I offered, and jumped down on her own. Keeping her gaze to the floor, she picked up a six pack of beer off the counter; leaving behind the one she had already half drank.

I watched her leave, gripping the counter in slight irritation and worry. She so suddenly became distant, and it seemed on propose. Could it be my fault?

I reached down and picked up the half empty bottle of beer Clary had left behind, pressing it to my lips and chugging down the liquid with what I imaged to be a grim expression.

There was this pain that had begun to build in my chest, it grew with every beat of my heart and it occurred to me that my heart was possibly the problem. I'd been trying to avoid thinking about it, because if I did, it would be like admitting that I had done something I was told not to do. "To love, is to destroy" his voice crashed in my ears- his words a scar on the surface of my heart- as if he were a ghost in memory come to remind me of the pain that love brought. If- oh who am I kidding? It's not an "If" anymore, it's a "do", I do love Clary.

I love Clary.

…..

Simon and Isabelle drug us to this club, called pandemonium. It's not the first time I've been here. In fact I was rather popular here; you couldn't turn a corner without seeing a girl I'd gotten to "know". This place, it was nothing more than liquor stinking whores dancing to shitty music, while guys played a game called "Am I getting laid tonight?"

I watched as Izzy danced with Simon. He was awkward and obviously uncomfortable, but Izzy seemed to enjoy his un-sureness, laughing and directing him to the beat. The Isabelle I knew, would have taunted him, laughed at him and made him fall beneath himself in embarrassment. But this Isabelle didn't care that he couldn't dance; all she cared about was that he was trying, for her.

I looked down at Clary. We were leaning against a wall in the back of the club. She stood silently, pensive. Her hair was tied up into what looked like a restricting bun that I personally wasn't fond of. But her dress, it complimented her body perfectly and all it was, was a simple black dress. I felt myself becoming drawn to her legs, wanting to feel her smooth skin. I needed a distraction.

"Do you want a drink?" I offered breaking her from her trance. She looked up at me and I met her eyes with what I hoped was a realistic smile, "My treat."

"Sure" Her voice came out slightly playful. "Just don't slip anything into my drink" she teased referring to our first meeting, when I'd sat with her at the bar.

I laughed because it felt right to. She remembered. "What do you want?"

"I'm feeling whiskey shots. That ok?"

"Whatever you want." I smiled and turned towards the bar calling out "I'll be right back" as I walked away.

I pushed through the crowds of people carelessly. Finding my way to the bar and smiling at the bartender, manipulating her. "Can I get eight whiskey shots?" She looked kinda slutty with dark hair and a seemingly stunning body; normally she would probably be my type. But, I wasn't all that interested.

She poured my drinks and brought them over to me, meeting my eyes with her own. "You know, if you stick around and chat with me, you can drink free?" She attempted to persuade me.

"No, I'm here with someone", I told her. I looked back, searching for Clary. What I saw when I found her changed my mind. This guy had made his way over to her; he stood in front of her with his body to the side. I couldn't see the expression on her face, but she didn't seem to egger to get away from him. "You know what, never mind" I said turning back to the flirty bartender. "I'll stick around" I can't tell you why I did it. I shouldn't have done it, but I did. And I will probably regret it.

….

"My names Kyle" He was tall, tan-skinned with dark hair that tumbled over his forehead and down his neck in curls. I noticed he had long eyelashes, which reminded me of a girls. He was becoming irritating, standing to close, jabbering on about nothing particularly important for the last ten minutes. He'd only just introduced himself.

"Clary." I said nodding my head at him casually. I looked towards the bar, trying to catch a glimpse of Jace through the thick crowd. But Kyle moved in front of me, blocking my view further. God, where is Jace?

"That's a really pretty name." He said with a sly tone. He seemed intimidating, arrogant, but also, unsettling. Kyle looked down at me with his hazel-green eyes that felt threatening, and dangerous. He took a step forward, further invading my personal space.

"Thanks" I muttered, trying not to look small, but I feared it was too late. I knew the look a man with terrible intentions wore, and to Kyle, it looked natural.

"What's the matter Clary? You look pale." He reached his hand up and laid it on my cheek.

"Just, get off me" I said angrily. Having had enough I turned my head away from his hand and attempted to step away. But he grabbed my wrists in each of his hands and used his body to crush me into the wall. I tried to squirm away, I even tried to knee him, but he had me practically paralyzed.

"Don't be like that" he spat before roughly attacking my lips with his own. I was trapped, I couldn't get away from him and no one was paying attention to what was going on over here.

Where's Jace?

I need Jace!

….

She wouldn't stop talking. All she did was fucking talk. I don't even know what she was going on about, it's not like I stayed to pay attention to her. I stayed to get drunk!

Down went shot #12.

Why am I doing this? Why am I sitting here wallowing in alcohol? Clary was talking to that guy, but it's not like it matters, she probably knew him from somewhere. Did I really abandon her because I was jealous? Is that it? No, this isn't my fault! She came here with me and then she wasn't with me. Oh god I'm kidding myself! I know Clary, and she didn't do anything wrong. I'm just, being pitiful!

I picked up the remaining shot from my last order and walked back towards Clary without a word to the chatty bartender. It was one of the longest walks of my life, mostly because I didn't know what I was going to tell her, but otherwise because of how cloudy my mind felt. What if this guy was still there, what if she didn't want me there? I don't know.

Suddenly I dropped the shot; the glass shattering was silent beneath the music. I could barely see Clary behind the form of that man. He had her backed against a wall, with his head bent down capturing her lips. In a second, I felt my chest tighten, but in another I noticed something that made me grip my hand into a fist. She was struggling; I could just see her trying to move away from him, but she had nowhere to go.

I reached out and grasped his shoulder to rip him away, bringing my fist to his face as he looked towards me. He fell back, cradling his face in his hands and cursing to himself. I looked at Clary, only to wish I hadn't. Her lips were swollen and her face was flushed with fear, but also pain. She had harsh white marks on her wrists, and her dress was slightly ruffed under her slightly shaking body. She wouldn't look at me, I don't blame her.

"What the hell" The bastard groaned, grabbing my attention. There was blood flowing down from his now crooked nose, and I caught myself smirking at the realization that I had broken this pathetic jerks nose. But I wasn't satisfied.

I took hold of the front of his shirt and violently cast him towards the back exit. I followed him as he fell through the door and onto his knees. My foot made contact with his gut, earning me a load grunt of pain. I stared down at him as he stumbled to his feet, "Not so tuff anymore huh? I guess your only tuff around defenseless girls!" I laughed at him cruelly, provoking him to attack me, so I could say he asked for me to continue.

He struck me across the face, answering my taunts. He pressed forward attempting to hit me again, but I dodged it and returned his actions with one of my own punches. He stepped back to catch himself before he fell but I took hold of him and brought his chest down onto my knee. I let him fall to the ground, watching him for a moment as he fought to climb back onto his feet. I flipped him onto his back and braced a knee over his mid-section. "I want you to think about this next time you think about forcing yourself on a woman". I started beating him in the face senselessly, I'm not sure how many times I planned to hit him, or even if planned on stopping, but I know I hit him many times and that I did stop.

Hands took hold of my shoulders and pulled me away from him. "Jace, stop dammit." I heard Alec say from behind me. I tried to move forward, but he moved in front of me and cast my actions aside with his eyes. "He's had enough!" he reasoned, with a slightly warning tone, and I was vaguely becoming aware of something warm and thick running down my fingers as Alec stared me down.

Something in his eyes told me he wasn't angry, that he was just looking out for me. But I didn't understand why he appeared to be scared. It took me a long moment to realize he was scared, because he feared for me. He had taken the burden of the situation I had put myself in; he was doing what I couldn't, he was thinking rationally. But when I thought about it, I wondered if there was more to it, if he knew something I didn't.

…

I stood frozen as I watched Alec hold Jace back in a way that baffled me. They just stared at one another, silently communicating in a way that I had never seen before. I couldn't move, I hadn't moved since the moment I saw Jace toying with Kyle. I'd found Alec, and brought him to Jace, but the moment I stepped out the door to find Jace beating this man mercilessly into the ground, I was lost.

"Clary" I heard Simon say from beside me, I didn't look at him, just stared at Jace and Alec. "We need to talk" He told me simply.

"What is it?" I said numbly.

"Not now, can I pick you up tomorrow morning around eleven?" He asked. I wanted to push him for information, but I couldn't bring myself to do anything other than nod.

Jace suddenly took a few steps back from Alec, into a wall. He slid down and sat on the ground hiding his already bruising face in his hands. Alec just watched him, keeping his distance.

I felt Simon move beside me and looked to find him making his way to Kyle, who sat sitting up where Jace had pinned him moments ago. Simon took hold of the front of Kyle's shirt and yanked him to his feet violently. "You get out of here before we change are minds and not only let him finish you off, but help him!" Simon warned him and shoved him back like he was an infectious disease. "And if I ever see you again, you're going to wish I hadn't!"

He ran without a word. Returning back into the club and disappearing as the door slammed closed behind him.

…..

I brought Jace home after we got his hands fixed up . He wasn't all there, he was different, distant. He hadn't spoken a word and flinched anytime I touched him. There was fear in his eyes, eyes he refused to look at me with. He hid inside himself, and I felt lonely for him. I could only imagine what he was thinking in that head of his.

I took him into the living room and got him to sit down on the couch. "Jace?" I asked hoping to get a response from him, but it was as if he hadn't of heard me. "Alright Jace, you need to get some sleep." I told him as softly as I could manage. He didn't move, so I took matters into my own hands. I took off his shoes, watching him as I did so. He just let me do as I pleased to him, bending to my will as I pulled his jacket off. He even lifted his arms as I pulled off his shirt. I pushed him to lie on the couch and covered him with a blanket. Then I sat down on the edge of the couch and searched for the words I want to say. "Jace, I just want to say thank you. I don't know what happened to you tonight. I don't know what's wrong, but all I care about, is that you're safe. Don't punish yourself." I whispered. After a moment of him not responding I let out a sigh and kissed him on the forehead, "Goodnight". I stood to leave but felt a trembling hand lightly grasp my own.

"Please don't leave me" he was finally looking at me with his terrified eyes. "Please" he pleaded again. I looked at him, and sunk. His bruised face and bandaged hands reminding me that he had protected me and his eyes told me that he needed me to protect him.

I lifted the covers I had placed over him and tucked my body into his. I could feel his warm breath on the back of my neck as he reached an arm around me and held me close, surrounding me with his body heat. I thought I wouldn't enjoy this, I thought it would be hard to be this close to someone. But I can't imagine ever falling asleep so at peace with the world.

If only it could last.

So, was that interesting or what? I expect to hear about it in your reviews.

I know some of you were scared about me making Jace do something "bad" but this had been planned since day one and it's a little important (or at least I think so). I hope none of you are too bothered by what happened, but if you are please feel free to tell me off. :)

Day 5 promises!

- Simons Secret!

- Jace's Nightmare!

- What happened to Jace's parents!

- How Clary got her Scars!

- A visit home!

But before we get there I want to know what you guys thought!

REVIEW!

Please!