"Hey, Jace. I'm glad you're awake." Clary said as she made her way over to the bed. Magnus, however, stayed behind at the door. Jace sat up and scooted over, then patted a place on the bed next to him.
"I'm glad I'm awake too." He said. Clary had no idea whether he was mad at her or not. She sat on the bed and kissed Jace on the cheek. He put an arm casually around her. They sat in an awkward silence for a few moments, before Clary spoke up.
"I brought Magnus. He's going to see if he can help you." She and glanced towards Magnus at the same time. He nodded his head.
"It amazes me how you are not dead yet." Magnus mumbled. "So you have the heavenly fire inside of you?" Magnus said, louder. Jace nodded in reply. Magnus walked over to the bed. "I've only heard about one other case like this… The boy burned down half of the town before someone finally killed him. I'm afraid there's not much I can do to help you, but I will try. Clary, I need you to leave the room." Magnus concluded.
"Will you be okay, Jace?" Clary asked, but she knew it was a stupid question.
"I'll be fine, Clary, obviously. Magnus won't kill me, right Magnus?"
"As tempting as it is, no." Magnus replied shortly.
"Okay…" Clary stood up. "I'll be back once he's done. Then we can talk, just you and me." She said as she walked out of the room. She gave Jace one last look before she left the room. She hoped that Magnus's magic would work. She wanted her Jace back. And while they could always talk, and Clary enjoyed that, it just seemed that every single time they were about to make their love official, something got in the way. If this fire inside of Jace continued, she would never be able to start a family, or be a real couple. She had gotten everything she could possibly want from Jace, except for Jace. And now that was gone. Clary sighed and closed the door.
She sat in the hallway for a while, occasionally hearing a shout or a groan come from the infirmary. It was all she could do to prevent herself from running in there and throwing her arms around Jace. Finally, after what seemed to be hours even thought it was only about thirty minutes, Magnus stepped out. He looked exhausted.
"Clary, I did what I could." He announced.
Clary stood up from the ground. "And what could you do?" She asked.
"The fire inside of him… It can be tamed, but only after practice." He said.
"Yes, I know that. But did you find anything out? Could you stop it?" Clary was anxious for an answer.
"You can start Jace's practice as soon as you want. The fire does not affect his actual health; he is just as strong as he was before. He just has to learn to control the fire. He can learn to hold it in, and just as easily attack with it. It could prove very useful."
"That's great, Magnus, but you're avoiding the point." Clary said.
Magnus sighed. "I'm sorry, Clary, but there is no way that I know of to get rid of that fire." This was when Clary felt hot tears run down her cheeks.
Clary groaned. "But… Can you… I don't know… Sedate it?"
"Not with out sedating him."
"So he's just going to burn up and die?" She was speaking and a tiny squeak now.
"No! No, he won't do that. The fire can't hurt him." Magnus replied.
"So, pretty much, he can control it so that it is bent to his every will? I guess that's not so bad…" Clary decided. She might be able to have Jace after all. She sniffled and wiped her eyes.
"Yes, but Clary, that is when he is concentrating. If you… um…" Magnus was uncomfortable with the topic, but Clary refused to step in. She was not going to draw conclusions. This could not be happening. The tears started back up again. "If you distract him, then he can't control it." Magnus finally spit out.
Clary fell against the wall. "So, what you're saying is… I can't give him more than a quick peck on the lips? Ever?"
"I'm sorry, Clary. It will take lots of time and practice to control the fire in the first place. Not to mention, it will exhaust him. None of that is possible." With that, Magnus turned and began to walk away. Clary knew she was supposed to escort him out, but she didn't care. He couldn't wander too far, and she was miserable. She watched him walk away, and once he was out of sight she turned around. Clary took a deep breath and wiped her eyes. Then, she opened the door to see Jace.
Authors note: Please read and review! Ya'll's input is very valuable to me, so let me know what you think! Thanks! Mary