AN: thank yee for the reviews :) Please review though guys, just so I know this fic is getting read! No point in updating if no one reviews :) Next bit should be up tomorrow.

This chapter jumps around a bit pov wise and that'll be a regular occurrence but hopefully it'll settle down a bit. Title and lyrics from Walked-on Wood by The Black Atlantic.

Last night you were running errands with dad, in his car
Tied the ropes round the fence

Will was in such a hurry that he almost ran off before Cyril had readied the carriage, Jem had had to physically hold him back. When Cyril had brought the carriage round Will had barked the address at Cyril and then sat fidgeting impatiently.

To say Jem was surprised was an understatement. For one, Jem had been convinced of Will's loathing of Gabriel Lightwood and as a general rule Will didn't display much concern for those he didn't like. And for another, Will had always seemed relatively calm in a crisis, the only time he'd really seen Will lose control had been when they'd seen Cecily.

It wasn't that Jem had expected Will to celebrate Gabriel's injuries but he hadn't expected this level of concern. It was disconcerting. For the first time in his life Jem had no idea what was going through his parabatai's mind. Perhaps though Will had once loathed Gabriel it had begun to turn into a fondness? Will did enjoy baiting the elder boy. Or maybe it was pity. Jem certainly felt pity for Gabriel, in only a few days Gabriel's idol, his father, had gone from revered to hated. Jem had never believed that Gabriel had any idea of his father's connections to Mortmain; he'd just been manipulated.

Will was tapping his foot impatiently against the carriage floor. "We won't get there any faster if you wear a hole in the carriage floor." Jem said, quietly.

Will glanced at him, "Be quiet, James."

Jem arched an eyebrow; so this was serious.

When they reached the address Will had specified Will leapt out of the carriage before it had come to a complete stop and was pounding on the door before Jem had even got out. When he reached the door it had already been thrown open and a very unamused looking Woolsey Scott.

"Will, Jem." Woolsey said. "What are you doing here?"

"Magnus," replied Will breathlessly. "We need Magnus. Now Woolsey."

Luckily for him Woolsey didn't argue and vanished into the house to fetch the warlock. Jem couldn't bring himself to chastise Will for being rude because Will just looked so agitated. When Magnus appeared he didn't get the chance to speak before Will was tugging him by the shirt front and saying, "You need to come with us, now."

He'd already dragged Magnus halfway to the carriage despite his protests when Magnus pushed Will away. "William Herondale!" Magnus shouted. "I am not some little slave of yours."

Will opened his mouth, no doubt about to scream at Magnus so Jem stepped forward swiftly, "Please, Magnus. We need your help with healing someone."

Magnus turned his feline gaze onto Jem. "Help with healing whom?" he enquired.

"Gabriel Lightwood."

"A Lightwood," Magnus scoffed. "You expect me to help a Lightwood. Why would you want to? You know what Benedict has been up to and his sons aren't exactly worth my time."

Jem didn't know how to argue with that and while his mind scrabbled for something to say Will grabbed Magnus' arm once more, "Magnus please do this. For me."

Magnus stared at Will for the longest time. Then he sighed. "Lucky for you I can't say no to a pretty face," He muttered. "Lead the way."

Jem blinked in sudden realisation but said nothing as he followed Will and Magnus to the carriage.

Tessa blinked and looked up at Gideon in surprise, "Who is Christopher?"

Gideon wore an expression of pale shock, "Christopher Morgenstern-" he began but he was cut off as his father strode across the room towards his sons.

"Christopher Morgenstern is no one of importance," he growled. "He's a dead boy and nothing more."

Gideon glared up at his father but remained silent and Benedict regarded him with something bordering on contempt. He looked about to say something more when Charlotte reappeared at the door, followed by Magnus, Jem and Will.

"If I'm to heal the boy I need you all to leave, please." Magnus said as he swept into the room. "Now."

Jem and Will hovered by the door, near Charlotte and Tessa got up to join them. Benedict followed slowly but Gideon looked reluctant to leave.

"Come on, everybody," Charlotte urged.

Eventually Gideon stood up and made his way across the room to the door, Magnus put a hand on Gideon's shoulder as he walked passed. "Don't worry. I'll save your brother." He said, kindly.

Charlotte led them into a sitting room near the sick room to wait. Tessa sat down on a low couch between Jem and Will, her hand almost instinctively searching out Jem's. Benedict and Charlotte both sat in armchairs and Gideon remained standing by the door. The room was silent but for the crackle of the fire Sophie must have lit earlier.

The silence was oppressive, chocking. Tessa longed to break it but she had no idea how. Instead she focused on the murmur and crackle of the fire and the reassuring ticking of her clockwork angel.

It was Benedict who broke the silence. Gideon, whose legs had evidently tired, dropped into an armchair opposite his father and sighed heavily. Benedict looked up at him, "I hope you're happy, Gideon." He said, darkly.

Gideon looked as though he had just been smacked. He gaped at his father, "What?"

"If you had stood with us this would never have happened. Gabriel would never have been attacked." Benedict said, quietly.

The room fell silent again but this time the silence was filled with anticipation, crackling in the air. Will was watching Gideon intently, Jem's grip tightened on Tessa's hand and Charlotte looked about to say something when Gideon laughed.

"You are seriously trying to blame me for this, aren't you Father?" he said incredulously. "It wasn't me who allowed demons into our house. It wasn't me who betrayed our very race. It wasn't me who sided with Mortmain. It wasn't me who killed his mother. It wasn't me who killed..." he stopped and shook his head. "You know you've ruined his life already Father. You've already killed him."

Benedict stood up enraged, "How dare you make such accusations!"

"They aren't accusations! They're the truth!" Gideon cried.

Benedict took a step towards his son, hand raised.

"BENEDICT LIGHTWOOD!"

Everyone turned to see Charlotte, red faced with fury. "How dare you raise a hand to your child!"

Benedict looked amused, "When you're a parent, Charlotte, I'll allow you to critique my methods. But as such, I will discipline my children as I see fit."

"No," Charlotte said, firmly. "You will not while you are a guest in my Institute."

Benedict raised an eyebrow at her, "Surely you wouldn't kick us out?"

A small grin tugged at the edges of Charlotte's mouth and it looked completely out of place on her usually kindly face. "No, Benedict. Gideon and Gabriel can stay for as long as they want. You, however, have worn out your welcome."

"You can't be serious," Benedict said, looking worried. "My sons-"

"Would be better off without you," interjected Will, glaring at Benedict.

"Exactly. Now, will you leave willingly or do I have to force you?" Charlotte asked coldly.

For a few moments Tessa thought Benedict would stand and argue but he didn't. Instead he straightened his jacket and drew himself up to his full height. "I will leave. But you will contact me as soon as Gabriel is well enough to leave."

"He's not going anywhere with you," snapped Gideon. "You've done enough damage."

Benedict smiled chillingly at his son, "I think we'll leave that up to him, Gideon." He turned to Charlotte, "I can see myself out." and with that he turned and left.

Charlotte sat down shakily and Will applauded her, "Excellent! Truly excellent!"

She smiled sheepishly and Gideon said, "Thank you for doing that. You didn't have to."

"I did," she replied. "No one deserves to be treated like that." Then she looked around at Tessa, Jem and Will. "If you three don't mind I'd like the chance to talk to Gideon alone. It's getting very late anyway." Will looked about to protest so she added, "I'll notify you of any developments. I promise."

The trio reluctantly left, shutting the door behind them.

Gabriel felt like he was floating.

He was vaguely aware of voices above him; Gideon was there and then-

He couldn't. Couldn't think. Couldn'tcouldn'tcouldn't.

His chest hurt. His arms hurt. His head was spinning. His skin felt like it was crawling. His veins were surely pumping acid through his body and his chest was tight.

His brain was fogged. And darkness was creeping up on him.

Someone was holding his hand.

Christopher?

Gabriel could almost see those blue eyes, that blonde hair, that mischievous grin. That laugh.

"Hey, Gabe."

"Kit?"

Christopher faded and then he could hear his father's voice as well. Judging and chastising. Controlling and hypocritical.

He felt so small.

And he didn't want to anymore.

Should've gone with Gideon...But he hadn't. Just like he didn't go with Christopher. And now...

Well. There was nothing.

So he stopped fighting the darkness.

behind your shoulders he looms
what can you say when winter is lodged in your throat?