Salutations! This chapter was supposed to be written and posted last week, but other obligations got in the way. Apologies for that. The intensity...it's building. I'm not 100% positive yet, but I think there are only two chapters left of this story. Count 'em. Two. My emotions! Anyway, I'm hoping to stick to my schedule and post these on time. Thank you, everyone, for bearing with me and keeping this story alive. As requested, I am giving a warning about more physical intimacy between Alec and Magnus. DON'T LIKE IT? DON'T READ IT. I hope this chapter rises to meet valued expectation. Cheers and happy reading!

I wrapped my arms around my knees and hugged them to my chest against the morning chill. Alec was still asleep in my bed, and my thoughts were so loud in my head that I'd worried they'd wake him. Now I was outside alone, sitting on the back step, gazing through the wispy morning mist at my bare backyard. Aside from the surrounding white fence and green blanket of grass there was not much to look at. A neon orange Frisbee had somehow found its way onto my property. I wondered how long it had been there, if anyone missed it.

The door opened behind me with a creak and Alec seated himself next to me on the step. His bare toes peeked out beneath the hems of his sweatpants and his hands were tucked away inside the sleeves of his hoodie. I let the corner of my mouth tug into a smile but otherwise did not look at him. The two of us sat in silence, pretending to be fascinated by the otherwise uninteresting backyard.

Finally, Alec asked quietly, "Are you mad at me?"

"Why would I be mad at you?"

"Because of what I did last night."

The memory triggered a warmth inside me that spread from my chest all the way to my extremities. "I'm not mad at you," I managed, a little too coolly.

Alec turned his gaze to me. "But you didn't want me to do it."

I looked over at him and gave a half-hearted smile. "It's complicated."

"He hurt you," Alec stated. "Ragnor."

"Yes."

"I don't like seeing you hurt, Magnus."

"I'm not hurting," I said, sounding convincing to my own ears.

Alec saw right through my lie. "Yes you are. You smile a lot, but it doesn't always reflect in your eyes. And you tried to help me. You've done everything for me: comforting me, giving me a home when I had nowhere else to go, making me healthy. You make the pain go away, Magnus. You know who are good at making pain go away? Those who have experienced pain before."

I bumped his shoulder with mine. "When did you get to be so insightful?"

"I see and I think. Camille said quiet people have loud minds."

"I hate to admit it, but Camille is right."

"Am I right, too?"

My breath formed a cloud as I exhaled. "Yeah."

Alec smiled. "It's nice knowing you're not alone."

A muffled meow interrupted me before I could reply. Alec and I turned to see the cat pawing at the door, peering at us through the screen with pathetic eyes. Alec reached back and pulled the door open and the feline rushed outside. He took exaggerated steps as his paws touched the cold cement before climbing onto the warmth of Alec's lap.

"Spoiled cat," I mumbled.

Alec scratched the cat behind the ears and a purr rumbled from his throat. "You aren't spoiled are you, Church?"

"Church?" I repeated.

Alec's eyes met mine. "That's what I call him."

I blanched. "Oh really?"

"Camille talks about church. She goes every Sunday."

I rolled my eyes. "I find that very hard to believe."

"I asked her what church was and she said it's a place where people go to pray and worship. She said it helps people, comforts them and offers sanctuary." Alec stroked his finger under the cat's chin. "He's always comforted me and I've always felt safe around him, so I thought the name would be fitting."

"I guess it is long overdue. Calling him 'the cat' for the rest of his life would be pretty dull, huh?"

"Not to mention rude," Alec added, eliciting a meow of agreement from the cat— Church.

"I guess it's settled. Church it is." I avoided attempting to pet the feline lest he try to bite me and instead gave Alec's shoulder another nudge. "Did you eat breakfast yet?"

Alec shook his head and gathered Church into his arms. He got up from the step and headed inside. I stayed where I was for a moment longer, reveling in how, just like the morning mist, the hurt inside me was slowly fading away.

The waiting room was quiet, empty except for me and one other man with a fidgeting problem. I glanced at the clock on the wall again. Alec had gone over his allotted time slot with Dr. Fray once again. This was no longer alarming or unusual, but I couldn't help but wonder what the two of them were discussing that took so much of Clary's precious time. I never asked and Alec never went into any details, but I never stopped wondering.

The office door finally opened and Alec and Clary stepped out. Another folded paper was in his hand. Dr. Fray touched Alec's shoulder and spoke to him quietly before watching him go. She inclined her head to me and then called the name of her next client. The fidgety man across from me all but flew out of his chair and rushed into her office.

I stood up. "Another drawing?"

Alec handed the paper to me. "Same old."

I unfolded it to uncover the familiar splotches of red and blue spreading from corner to corner.

"I can't stop seeing the lights," Alec said in a hushed voice.

I refolded the paper and handed it back to him. "I know. I see them, too." It seemed the red and blue flashes were tattooed on my mind. When I saw the lights reflecting off the floor, I instantly remembered the feel of Alec in my arms, his light, bony body curled against my torso.

We walked back to my car and began the commute back home. Once Alec finished the exercises Camille had assigned him for the day, I planned on taking him for a run through the park. Hodge had worked out a schedule back at the station that allowed me to come in for afternoon shifts a couple times a week. Alec was slowly becoming accustomed to being alone for a few hours while I went in to work. The first couple tries had been train wrecks, with Alec calling me on my cell every half hour. He'd gotten better, but I always noticed the anxiety in his expression and the tension in his shoulders whenever I got home. I was thankful to not have to dread seeing that today, and Alec seemed a lot happier knowing I had the day off.

We were about halfway home when my cell phone began to ring. My brows furrowed at the sound. I rarely received calls this early in the day. Worried, I connected the call and pressed the phone against my ear.

"Magnus?"

"Luke?" I answered, detecting unease in my partner's voice. "What's going on?"

"Hodge wants you here at the station," Luke said gravely. "There's something you need to see."

"I'm on my way." I disconnected the call and made a hasty U-turn.

"Where are we going?" Alec asked.

"I just need to go to work for a minute."

"Okay," he said, picking up on my apprehension.

I pulled into the station's parking lot a few minutes later and headed inside with Alec in tow. Officers bustled around us as we made our way to Hodge's office. Before we got too close, Luke stepped outside and closed the door behind him. The paleness of my partner's skin alarmed me.

"Hey, Alec," Luke said, forcing a smile.

Alec smiled back weakly. "Hey, Luke."

Luke looked across the room. "Blackthorn!" He waved his arm.

Another officer, the one who had taught Alec how to play tic-tac-toe, approached us. I did not know much about Andrew Blackthorn, only that he was a nice enough guy. My instinct told me that Luke wanted to leave Alec with him while he filled me in on what was going on. I did not have a problem with Blackthorn watching over Alec, but the concealed weight of the situation left me on edge.

"Alec!" Blackthorn clapped Alec on the back and smiled broadly. "Good to see you, bud."

"Hey, Andrew."

"Why don't you take Alec back to your desk, Blackthorn?" Luke suggested.

"You up for another round of tic-tac-toe?" Andrew asked Alec. "I'm going to win this time."

Alec looked at me. I nodded my head. "Go on."

With a look of excitement, Alec followed Blackthorn back to his desk. Once they were out of earshot, Luke rested his hand on my shoulder and leaned in toward me.

"Have you watched the news today?"

I shook my head. "What's going on?"

Luke opened Hodge's office door. "See for yourself."

I stepped inside the office, which was crowded with a few other officers. I nodded my head in acknowledgement to them before scouting Hodge. He sat behind his desk, his head in his hand. Luke closed the door behind me as I followed the gazes of the other officers. A female news anchor stared back from the TV screen, her face stoic as she read from a teleprompter. A red banner floated across the bottom of the screen, boasting breaking news.

"—the nightmare is repeating itself as we've just confirmed that another face has been added to the frantic search, belonging to sixteen-year-old Simon Lewis. His family reported him missing when he did not return home from his therapy session. Road blocks and Amber Alerts have been put in place in both boys' home states. Families of both victims are pleading with the public for any information regarding the whereabouts of these boys, both of whom were reunited with their families only months ago after being abducted and held captive for over five years."

The screen was filled with a recent photo of Simon. He looked nearly identical to the boy who'd been bound to a pillar in the basement of the house. His stature and weight hadn't changed as significantly as Alec's, but the smile in the photo was genuine, hinting that his mental recovery had surpassed his physical recovery.

I had to place a hand on Hodge's desk to steady myself. This wasn't happening. How could Simon be missing again?

The camera was now focused on a male reporter from out of state. Behind him was a crime scene, blocked off with yellow tape and abundant with police officers, dogs, and a forensics team. They swarmed the surrounding trees and hills on what appeared to be a hiking trail.

"Authorities are speculating that Jordan Kyle was ambushed and abducted on his routine morning jog. This trail is not frequented by many joggers, and so far no witnesses have stepped forward. Police have found evidence of a struggle as well as the hoodie Jordan was wearing when he left his house this morning. Nothing further has been disclosed on this investigation."

I found myself staring into the eyes of Jordan Kyle. Like Simon's, the photo had been recently taken. Jordan's hair had been cut shorter and styled into a faux hawk, and he'd gained a bit of muscle. Obviously he still hadn't been strong enough to fight off his attacker.

The female anchor was back onscreen again, finishing up the report. "Of course, the question on everyone's mind is: Have the original abductors made a horrifying return?"

I crumbled to my knees. Luke's voice echoed around me distantly, and my body was too numb to feel his hand on my shoulder.

"Everyone go back to your desks," Hodge instructed. "Our third victim is in the station so, for the love of God, keep your mouths shut."

The other officers filed out of the room until only Hodge, Luke, and myself remained. On shaky legs I managed to get myself standing again. The two of them remained silent, waiting for me to speak.

"Simon and Jordan are both missing?"

"They both disappeared within a couple of hours of each other," Luke confirmed.

"In completely different states," Hodge added.

"Do you think it's them? The same two men who started this?" I questioned.

Hodge rubbed a hand over his face. "We don't know for sure, but my gut is telling me that those two bastards are behind this."

Luke straightened. "We need to get Alec into Witness Protection. Relocate him."

"What?" I cried. "Absolutely not."

"Bane," Hodge growled, "use your head. He could be next."

"Alec's not with his family. Surely the abductors have no idea where to look for him. I'll protect Alec at all costs. It'll tear him apart if he finds out about all this, and putting him into WitPro will just scare and confuse him."

"You want to leave him in the dark?"

"He's finally getting better. Don't cut his legs out from under him."

Hodge mulled over my argument for a long while before sighing. "Fine. He stays with you for now. But if you get even an inkling of a bad feeling, you bring him here and we're putting him into WitPro. I'm trusting your instincts, Bane."

"Thank you, sir."

"Don't expect any more shifts until these guys are caught. You're eyes stay on that kid twenty-four-seven."

"Understood."

Luke followed me as I exited the office and made a beeline for Blackthorn's desk. Before I could get too far, my partner put his hand on my shoulder, pulling me to a halt.

"Are you sure about this?" he whispered.

"I get a bad feeling thinking about leaving someone else in charge of Alec's safety."

Luke nodded and squeezed my shoulder. "If you need anything, you give me a call."

I thanked him and continued on my way. Unaware of the situation at hand, as well as my emotional turmoil, Alec finished up his game with Blackthorn and then followed me out to the car. He cast sidelong glances at me from time to time but otherwise said nothing. I pulled out of the parking lot and headed for home.

The weather had decided to match my mood and had traded the brief hours of sunshine for dark clouds heavy with rain. By the time we got home, we were rushed inside by the downpour. After removing his shoes and coat, Alec plastered himself to the window, watching the rain. I deposited myself into the sofa, rubbing my fingers against my temples. Eventually, I pulled myself together and encouraged Alec to do his homework while I made a late lunch. He did his work on the living room floor, distracted by the weather outside. I wondered what the rain looked like in his eyes.

The weather persisted for the next couple of hours. Alec switched back and forth between reading and watching the rain. I'd finally shoved the events of that morning into the farthest corner of my mind. Now I watched in contentment as Alec lifted Church so he, too, could look out the window.

"Magnus?" Alec asked hesitantly, turning to face me. "Can I go outside?"

"In this weather?"

He nodded. "I don't remember the feel of rain. I've only read about it."

How could I argue with that? I smiled. "All right. Just for a little while."

Alec rushed for the back door as soon as I'd agreed. In his hasty excitement, he hadn't bothered to put on his shoes or coat. Chuckling to myself, I zipped on my hoodie and headed for the back door. Through the screen I watched him as he stood in the rain, staring up at the sky. He was already drenched, his shirt clinging to his body and his hair plastered to his face. I joined him outside but stood under the safety of the roof's overhang. The cement was chilly against my bare feet but I ignored it.

Alec lifted his arms and spread them wide. He inhaled the rain's fresh scent and smiled. With a laugh, he spun in a circle, his face upturned. I couldn't help but be mesmerized by him. My feet began to move forward, drawing me into the rain. I welcomed the splattering against my hair and the heaviness of my clothes as they absorbed the moisture, because I could feel my fear melting and my pain washing away.

Alec continued spinning as I approached. He stumbled, dizzy, when he stopped, but his eyes found mine and coaxed a smile out of me. I closed the distance between us and reached my hand up to slide my fingers down his wet cheek. Alec's smile did not waver, not even when I cupped his cheek in my palm and brushed my thumb across his skin over and over. I bent my head and touched my forehead to his, shivering as the rain slid down the back of my exposed neck. Alec's hands found my face and I moved mine down to his waist. I lifted him up and tugged his body against mine. His legs wrapped around my waist, anchoring him to me. As he tilted his head back into the rain, I rested my forehead against his chest and slowly began rotating in a circle. Alec's hands left my face as he spread his arms wide again, palms upturned.

Regrettably, my muscles began to ache from the cold. Alec set his hands on my shoulders for stability and I lowered him back to the ground. Though he was still smiling, I could see the tremors of his body. Taking his hand, I led him back into the warmth of the house. He followed me to my bedroom, laughing.

"That was amazing!" he gushed. "I love the rain!"

I laughed and slipped out of my sopping hoodie. "You should change into something dry before you catch a cold."

An odd expression crossed over Alec's face. He stepped forward and kissed me, holding my face to his with his hands. I closed my eyes, losing myself to the feel of his lips against mine.

When he pulled away, he whispered, "I'm sorry. I just had to do that."

"I don't mind," I whispered back, pushing his dripping hair from his eyes.

"Magnus, I want to know what it feels like to be with someone who cares about me."

"What do you mean?"

Alec's glowing eyes flitted to the bed. I retreated a step, pulling my hand from Alec's face. He reached out and clasped my fingers in his.

"Alec—"

"Please. I want to experience that sort of love for once in my life."

I squeezed his fingers. "Are you sure?"

He nodded, holding my gaze. I let out a breath and pulled my fingers free. Gripping the bottom of my shirt, I pulled it up and over my head. Alec's eyes roamed over my naked skin, warming me. Slowly, I undid my belt and unzipped my jeans. I slid them down my legs and stepped out of them. Alec swallowed hard as he looked at the lower half of my body. I remembered the feel of his mouth of me and felt my body twitch in response.

I gripped the hem of Alec's t-shirt loosely and asked one last time, "Are you sure you want to do this?"

He nodded again. "Yes."

I leaned down and kissed him once before peeling off his shirt. My eyes explored his torso. His ribs were no longer visible and the only blemishes in sight were the red bumps scarring his neck. I bent my head and placed feather-light kisses on a few of the scars, then I returned my mouth to Alec's. He closed his eyes and moved closer to me, searching for more friction, for more heat. My hand reached for Alec's belt—

Alec knocked my hand away roughly. He pulled his mouth from mine, his eyes wide. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do that. I used to— It's a habit. . ."

I cupped his cheek. "It's okay, Alec. It's okay."

He nodded and I kissed him again as softly as I could manage. When my hand moved to his belt again, he did not shove me away. Instead he deepened the kiss, searching my mouth with his tongue. I tasted him back, all the while unclasping his belt and unzipping his jeans. When he stepped free of the drenched material, I lifted Alec again, gripping his thighs and urging him to wrap his legs around me. Our mouths sealed together as I carried him to the bed and gently laid his down, draping myself over him.

He squirmed underneath me as I began to kiss a path down his neck to his chest. I swiped my tongue over his nipple and he gasped, clutching my shoulder tightly. I trailed my fingers down his side to his hip, making him shiver. My tongue trailed down his abdomen to his navel, dipping down into the crevice. Alec's hips bucked upwards and he groaned. The moment the sound passed his lips, he slapped his hand over his mouth, his cheeks burning with embarrassment. I slid back up his body and moved his hand so I could kiss him.

"You have a beautiful voice," I whispered.

He smiled and I kissed him again. Keeping my weight off him, I moved onto my side and rolled Alec so his back was against my chest. I saw the confusion in his eyes and when he turned to ask what I was doing, I craned my neck and kissed him deeply. I slid my left arm under Alec's body to reach around and circle his nipple with my fingers, teasing him. He moaned against my mouth in response. So as to not surprise him, I placed my right hand on his chest and slowly began to slide it down the front of his body. He arched his hips when I reached just below his navel, but otherwise did not protest. Still kissing him, I slipped my hand under his boxers and wrapped my fingers around him.

Alec gasped. I stilled both my hands, waiting for his head to clear so he could decide what to do next. Surprising me, he kissed me again and began rocking his hips against my hand. He pulled his mouth away from mine and scooted closer to me. I groaned as his backside rubbed against my erection, but I pushed away the haze in my mind and focused solely on him. He moaned my name and clutched at my left hand, lacing his fingers through mine. I squeezed his hand and rested my forehead against the nape of his neck, inhaling the scent of his rain-washed skin.

Alec's rhythm began to quicken. I felt his muscles begin to tense. He twitched in my hand, signalling his climax. To help him, I rocked my hips, ever so slightly, against him. He gasped as he felt me press against him but not enter him. I continued rocking as his breathing escalated. Suddenly, Alec squeezed my hand to the point of pain, cried my name, and released. I continued pumping him until he went slack in my arms, attempting to catch his breath. I pulled my hand out from under his boxers and pulled him tighter against me in a hug. His hand reached back to rest on my hip and began to creep between us, but I grabbed his wrist.

"I want this to be about you, Alec," I whispered into his ear. "Not me."

Alec turned in my arms so he was facing me. His cheeks were flushed from desire. "I don't deserve you."

I kissed the tip of his nose. "You deserve better."

He kissed me back. "There is no one better."

I'd been debating for twenty minutes whether or not I dared switching on the TV. I needed to remain caught up on recent events, but I dreaded seeing what could pop up on the screen. Best case scenario, Jordan and Simon had been found and the perpetrators had been taken into custody. Worst case scenario. . . Well, I didn't even want to think about that.

Against my better judgement, I turned the TV on and, not wanting to wake Alec, lowered the volume to the bare minimum. I searched the guide for the local news and hesitated only a second before switching to the channel. My jaw fell open the moment the first image appeared: two body-shaped bumps covered by sheets.

"The bodies of Simon Lewis and Jordan Kyle were found on a walking trail early this morning. A jogger's dog discovered the half-buried bodies and the woman immediately notified police. It appears as though both boys were sexually assaulted before being strangled to death. There has been no word on any leads regarding the suspects, but we will keep you updated as the investigation continues."

A sharp intake of breath drew my attention from the TV. Alec stood in the hallway, his face white and his eyes wide. I lurched to my feet as he collapsed against the wall beside him. Before I could get to him, Alec was on his feet and sprinting for the bathroom. I rounded the corner just in time to see him vomit into the toilet. I dropped to my knees beside him and rubbed his back as he alternated between sobbing, vomiting, and dry heaving. Suddenly, he got to his feet and made a break from the bathroom, pushing me aside with his arm.

"Alec!" I shouted after him.

He ran through the house and out the front door. The rain from the day before had not yet let up, but I dared not waste any time to grab shoes or a jacket. Like Alec, I charged into the rain in only a t-shirt and sweatpants. He'd gotten faster in the past couple months, but I managed to catch up to him before he got to the end of the block. I grabbed his wrist and yanked his body back hard enough for him to crash into me. He struggled to get free as I wrapped my arms around him.

"Where are you going, Alec?" I cried over the rain.

He shoved against my chest. "I have to get away from here!"

"Why? You can't just go running off. It's not safe!"

"It's not safe for me to be around you!" Alec shouted.

My arms loosened around him. Alec broke free but he did not run away. He wiped angrily at his eyes and shrugged in on himself. Even in the rain I could see he was still crying, sobs that wracked his body.

"What do you mean?"

"I have to leave or else they might hurt you, Magnus."

"I won't let them get near you, Alec."

"They killed Jordan and Simon. They want me next. They'll kill you if you try to stand in their way. It's safer for you if I leave."

My eyes burned. "Where do you think you're going to go?"

Alec looked around. "I can— I'll find a shelter. I can stay at the park."

"You can't stay at the park!" I exclaimed. "And I'll be damned if you think you're going to stay in a shelter. You're staying with me. At home. Where you belong."

Alec flinched from my reach. "I can't—"

"God dammit, Alec! I need you! You'll hurt me if you leave, and it'll kill me if I don't know you're safe."

Alec launched himself into my arms, knocking the breath out of me. I held him tightly as he cried against my chest.

"I don't want to die, Magnus."

I stroked his soaked hair. "I will never let them hurt you, Alec."

I scooped Alec into my arms and carried him back to the house. He sobbed uncontrollably as I set him on the bed and rushed back to the front door to lock up. When I returned to his room, all I found on the bed was a darkened spot on the duvet from his wet clothes. Blinking back tears, I lowered myself to the floor and checked under the bed. There Alec was, curled in a ball. He'd made so much progress in the past months and now he was right back where he'd started, reverted back to his old habits. And all it had taken was a night of happiness and two body bags.