Chapter 12

So… This chapter may bounce back and forth around pov's a little and it didn't completely go how I wanted, but here you go!

Clary's back was against the wall of her shower, her knees to her chest. She had her right arm wrapped carefully around her shins and her left elbow rested on her knees, her head in her uninjured hand. Her head was spinning with thoughts as the water from her shower head pelted her body. What had she been thinking? Actually, she hadn't been thinking at all, not really. Because if she had been thinking she wouldn't have screwed up as much as she had. She should have remembered to ask her father if Jace could come over, but she hadn't. Heck, Cary had even managed to talk herself into believing that Jace could still come over and everything would go peachy. How could she have been so stupid to not pay more attention to the time? Even more so, how could she have actually thought that luck would be on her side for once and her evening wouldn't be a complete catastrophe?

With a sigh Clary leaned her head back against the wall and suddenly realized that the water was cold, not the just-ran-out-of-warm-water-cold, but the, it's-been-cold-for -ten-minutes- cold. Shivering a little Clary shook her head and forced her stiff body to stand. Turning off the water, she got out and dried off. After looking over her injuries and figuring out the best way to hide them the next day she got dressed and made her way to her bed, where she collapsed and gingerly touched her the cut on her side. Closing her eyes, Clary allowed herself to think back to just a couple hours earlier.

She was leaning out over the window watching Jace climb down the tree, wanting to make sure he reached the ground safely. Jace's feet had just touched the ground when Clary heard her father's voice and heavy footsteps coming up the stairs. Snapping her head towards her door and then back to Jace when she realized the footsteps were now making their way toward her room. Looking back down out Jace she saw his eyes look at her with worry. Not wanting him to get caught when he was so close to getting away she mouthed at him to go, for a moment Clary didn't think he was going to leave but then he was sprinting across the lawn. Clary was quick to close her window and then draw the curtain, allowing herself one more glance to see that Jace was on the other side of the fence. Valentine came barging into her room the moment she turned around and Clary was surprised he had made it up the stairs with as blood shot as her father's eyes were.

"Are you deaf, girl?" Her father shouted at her, his face red with anger. "I've been calling you for the last five minutes."

Clary gulped. She hadn't heard her father; she'd been too busy worrying about getting Jace out of the house undetected. Before Clary could even think about replying Valentine had grabbed her right wrist in a painfully tight grasp and she couldn't help the sharp intake of air as pain shot up her arm.

"Answer me when I'm talking to you, girl."

"I- I'm sorry. I didn't hear you." Clary stuttered.

Valentine just sneered out her and started to yell at her some more, the majority of it consisting of profane words. As he did so, he roughly pulled her closer to him before shoving her into her dresser, her side catching the sharp corner hard enough to break her skin. Clary didn't have time to recover before her father grabbed a fistful of her shirt and pulled her back up just to glare at her and then toss her to the side where her back collided with her bookshelf hard enough to knock some of its contents down onto her. Trying to shield herself, Clary shot her arms up to keep the avalanche of books and random keepsakes from causing her anymore harm. Seeming appeased enough, Clary's father turned on his heel and stalked out of her room, slamming the door behind him before he made his way back downstairs.

Clary didn't know how long she had sat on the ground before she had forced herself to get up and clean up the mess and then go and take a shower. It seemed like that's all Clary did anymore, was sit wherever her father left her until she had stored up enough energy to move, just for her to clean up his mess and then tend to her own wounds. It was a tiring, repetitive way to live life.

Grimacing a little as she tried to lie on her side, Clary shook herself out of her thoughts. Giving up, Clary rolled back onto her back and looked up at the ceiling. Suddenly, Clary realized she should probably text Magnus. She didn't really want to, but she had promised to tell him if anything happened and she was pretty sure tonight classified as 'something'. With a sigh, and some effort, Clary reached for her phone that rested on her nightstand. Once the phone was in her hand she typed in Magnus's number from memory and sent him a message.

Jace knows.

It was a few minutes before Clary's phone vibrated, letting her know Magnus had sent her a message back.

What happened?

Clary suddenly felt completely exhausted at the idea of trying to explain to Magnus everything that had happened.

We'll talk tomorrow. I promise.

With that Clary turned her phone off and allowed herself to fall asleep.

…..

…

…..

Alec was lying on his bed, reading, when his door was slung open a little too roughly. He didn't even have to look to see that it was Jace, his brother never knocked.

"Don't you ever knock?" Alec asked a little disdainfully. He knew it was pointless to even ask Jace the question because the answer was no and Alec knew that Jace wasn't going to pick the habit up anytime soon. Not after nearly eight years of not bothering.

"Alec, do you have Magnus's number?"

"Why?" Alec didn't even bother to look up from his book.

"Do you have it or not?"

Alec didn't know what it was, but something in Jace's voice was . . . off. Marking his place in the book, he sat it down and looked up at his brother. Alec's brows furrowed a little when he saw the intense look on Jace's face, which startled Alec a little. As long as Alec had known Jace, the other boy had almost never shown very much concern for anything, not even when he was hurt. Jace caring about anything enough to get worked up was staggering.

"Yes," Alec answered slowly.

"Can I have it? Actually better yet, can I have his address?" Jace demanded.

Normally Alec would have asked Jace why he cared to have Magnus's address, or even number for that matter, but something told Alec not to question Jace. Half way through the directions Alec got an idea.

"Actually, you know where Clary lives?" Jace gave Alec a 'duh' look and Alec continued. "Magnus doesn't live too far from her." Alec then proceeded to tell Jace how to get to Magnus's from Clary's. The only reason he knew where Clary lived was because Magnus had driven by Clary's house once when Alec had been going to Magnus's and Magnus had needed to stop by Simon's, who only lived a couple blocks away from Clary.

When he was done Jace thanked him and left his room before Alec could even ask him anything. Sighing, Alec opened his book back up and continued to read, the entire time he couldn't help shake a feeling that something was up.

…..

…

…..

Staring at his phone in frustration, Magnus tossed it onto his bed and sunk down into his desk chair. He knew something bad was going to happen. Ever since Clary had told him what has happening at home he had been overly paranoid that something was going to happen. Finally something had. He hadn't wanted Clary to go ahead and ask Jace over, but it seems like that was exactly what had happened. Realizing he was too keyed up to sit down, Magnus got up and picked up his cell to reread his text conversation with Clary.

Clary: Jace knows

Magnus: What happened?

Clary: We'll talk tomorrow. I promise.

Magnus had called Clary after that but it had gone straight to voice mail. He had also sent her at least five texts demanding she talk to him right now, but she didn't respond. Knowing Clary she had probably turned off her cell phone right after she had sent her last text. It was infuriating. Even more so because they both knew that he couldn't just go to her house, because even if he did manage to sneak in there was the chance of him getting caught and then things would be even worse.

Magnus ran his hands through his hair roughly in frustration. He really hated that he couldn't help Clary right now and that he would have to settle for tomorrow. It was maddening. With a sigh, Magnus decided to try to put it out of his mind for now, because he knew if he didn't he would obsess about it the entire night, so hentossed his phone back onto his bed and started downstairs to get a drink of water.

The house was really quiet because his parents were gone on business for the past week and wouldn't be back for another nine or ten days. Plus, he was an only child, meaning it was just him in the house. Most kids would probably be ecstatic about having a house to themselves for almost two and a half weeks, but Magnus hated the lonely feeling that filled the house. In the past Magnus would have invited Clary and Simon to stay over whenever they wanted, but ever since what had happened three years ago Clary hadn't been able to stay the night anywhere, she could barely go over to someone's house. It had always confused Magnus why, but now he had a pretty good idea. As for Simon, there wasn't really any reason why he couldn't come over. It was just the fact that they felt bad hanging out when Clary couldn't hang out with them.

Magnus was about half way down the stairs when he heard the doorbell go off, followed by an insistent knocking. Frowning, Magnus made his way the rest of the way down the stairs and through the living room to where the front door was. The entire time the person at the door was knocking roughly at the door and occasionally ringing the bell.

Starting to get a little annoyed Magnus yelled, "Hold on, I'm coming," at the door when he was a few feet away.

When Magnus opened the door he was full well ready to yell at the person for being impatient enough to basically assault the door bell, but the words died on his tongue when he saw the blonde headed, golden eyed boy standing in front of him. It wasn't just the fact that Jace was on his doorstep at close to midnight, but the appearance of the boy. His hair was messier than normal and his eyes held an expression that Magnus could only call desperation, which made no since. Jace's mouth was in a grim line instead of his usual half smirk and his face was a little pale. Magnus's heart instantly crashed into the pit of his knotted up stomach.

Jace barged in without being asked as Magnus opened the door a little wider. Normally this would have irritated Magnus, but right now he didn't really care.

"What are you doing here, Jace?" Magnus finally asked. Normally the question would have seemed rude, but Magnus's voice was a mixture of curiosity and concern.

"It's about Clary."

Magnus ran his hand down his face and sighed. "Let's go to my room and talk."

Jace followed Magnus up to his room and the second Magnus shut the door, mostly from habit than the unnecessary fear of someone over hearing, Jace sunk down onto Magnus's bead with his head in his hands. It astonished Magnus that Jace was so shaken up, it also made Magnus feel a little sick. After several minutes, the boy looked up at Magnus.

"How long have you known?"

Magnus didn't need Jace to clarify what he meant, he just knew. "About a week."

Jace looked confused and surprised all at the same time, in any other situation Magnus would have found it funny.

"Look. . . just tell me what happened." Magnus sighed.

Jace nodded. "From the very beginning?" When Magnus nodded Jace continued.

"I left a note in Clary's locker because I hadn't been able to talk to her all day and I needed to know how to get to her house, so I had her meet up with me after school. When I arrived at our meeting spot she appeared to be really nervous and she seemed to have other things on her mind, almost if she was battling with herself for some reason. Eventually she said I could just follow her home but I would have to be gone before six and I had to park a little ways from her house because she had forgotten to tell her father and didn't want to get us in trouble.

"When we got to her house everything was fine. We did our assignment and we didn't get into one of our normal little arguments. It was really nice, being able to talk and not fight with her. But I guess we lost track of time because suddenly the clock downstairs was tolling six and Clary started to panic. I just thought it was because her father was going to yell at her and she would get grounded or something and I felt bad because she had just been ungrounded.

"I was just about to get my stuff together and leave when we heard a car pull into the drive way. Clary started to really panic then and told me to stay in her room until she came back. Then she left and went downstairs and a few minutes later I heard yelling and a little bit of ruckus and then nothing for a long time. When Clary finally came back up she had bruises on her face and she was hugging her right hand to her. I tried to stay so I could help but she ordered me to leave. I tried to talk her into letting me stay but she wouldn't let me. So, as to her instructions, I snuck out of her bedroom window and climbed down the tree. Once I was on the ground I looked back up and she looked worried and mouthed for me to go. Once again I didn't want to, but I did. When I got over the neighbor's fence I looked back and saw another shadow besides Clary's in her room."

Jace sighed and ran his hands through his hair. "Once I was calmed down enough to drive I drove around town for a little while to cool off some more and then went home. I had Alec give me directions to your house."

Magnus nodded and sank down into the desk chair he had previously been occupying. Clary had texted Magnus around ten thirty, and that had almost been an hour ago. Something told Magnus that something bad had happened after Jace had left, but he wouldn't know until he talked to Clary the next day.

"I knew something bad was going to happen. I could feel it." Magnus sighed.

"How could her father do this?" Jace's voice was quiet, but Magnus could hear the anger and disgust that was beneath the shock and concern.

"I don't know. Clary says that he's not always bad, that most days he's normal and that it's only when he drinks that he gets. . . aggressive." Magnus didn't know why but he just couldn't get himself to say the word abusive. He didn't know if it was because he had grown up knowing Valentine Morgenstern and knew he was a good man, or at least had been, or if it was because he didn't want to think of that fact that Clary was being hurt.

Jace snorted a little. "How long? How long do you think this has been going on? I mean, Clary seemed to know beforehand what was going to happen and when she came back upstairs she was calm. It was like it didn't even matter that she had just been used as a punching bag for her scum bag of a father."

Magnus tried to ignore the venom in Jace's voice, but it was hard. Magnus still hadn't come to terms yet that a man he used to look up to wasn't man enough to get help.

"I don't honestly know, but I am going to assume close to three years, at least two. I mean, Clary was a cheerleader her freshman year and I never noticed any odd injuries or anything. It wasn't until after she had to quit the squad because of a hurt ankle that I really remember her acting differently or even coming to school with some kind of wound."

"Like what?"

"Well, she's had a few scrapes and bruises, actually I take that back, she hasn't had a few, she's had a lot. Clary would always have an excuse for them, of course, and all of them were very believable so I never really thought anything about them. At the end of sophomore year she had a broken wrist, her excuse for that one was that she tripped and fell and when she went to catch herself her wrist twisted a little." Magnus stated and then stopped. He now knew the truth behind her broken wrist and he also knew of injuries he had never known of before, but he wasn't sure he wanted to list out everything to Jace.

Jace stayed quiet for a while, as if he was letting everything sink in. Finally he sighed and ran his hands through his hair again. "What do we do now?"

Eyes wide, Magnus just looked at Jace for a few seconds. "What do you mean?"

"I mean we have to tell someone, right? We can't just let this keep happening."

"People wouldn't believe us and even if they did, Clary would deny it." Magnus responded.

"Then we have to convince Clary to go to the authorities on this."

"Not going to happen." Magnus stated. Jace gave him a hard look and Magnus raised his hand. "I already tried to talk to her about it. She doesn't want her father in trouble. Her reasoning is that he just needs help, like AA or anger management with some emotional therapy, if not both. But Valentine being as prideful as he is won't go."

"That doesn't even make since!" Jace exclaimed.

"Yes it does. All Clary has is her father, she doesn't have anyone else, so if her father gets in trouble she won't have anyone. Plus she loves her father, when she was younger she was a complete daddy's girl. In her mind it doesn't matter that he has a drinking problem and because of the drinking problem he was anger issues. Clary still loves him and she believes that if she tells the cops about what's going on then she will be betraying him."

Jace gave Magnus a doubtful look.

"Don't look at me like that. It's true. Clary's told me all of this herself. Well . . . most of it."

"Fine, I keep it to myself for now." Jace sighed reluctantly. Magnus gave him a thankful look. "But, that doesn't mean I'm not talking to her about this. I want to fully understand what's going on and to do that I have to know what it is that Clary's hiding from me."

Magnus nodded. "I'm sure she will. I mean, she's told you about Jonathan, it only makes since that in time she will tell you everything else."

"Yeah." Jace said and then was quiet for several minutes. Magnus didn't know what to say, and the silence was starting to get a little awkward when Jace spoke again. "I just don't understand how she can deal with that at home and then come off as happy and carefree at school. I mean, I could tell something wasn't right, but no one else really seems to suspect anything."

"That's just Clary for you. Her world could be disintegrating and she would still plaster a smile on her face and go on with life. Mostly because she doesn't want others to worry about her and partly just because that's who she is. Life throws bricks at her and she just keeps going. Clary's a fighter, she may be tiny and look helpless, but she's strong and can take care of herself." Magnus wasn't exaggerating at all. Even when they had been younger Clary would stand up for herself. It was a known fact that her brother would come to her aide if needed, but Clary could just as easily take care of herself, and her friends. In fact, there had been many times in middles school when Clary had stood up for not only herself but a friend, usually poor Simon. It was one of the things that peoples respected about Clary; it was also one of the things that Magnus admired most about his best friend. Life had tried it's hardest to ruin Clary and she wouldn't let it, she just kept fighting back and pushing forward.

"That she is." Jace smirked a little, a response that was more Jace-like and that Magnus was comfortable with.

"We should talk at lunch." Magnus said, startling Jace a little as he snapped his head to look at him. "Clary, we should talk to her at lunch."

Jace nodded. "Yeah, I don't want to ask her anything in chemistry, but I don't think I could make it all day without talking to her, especially since I didn't get the chance before I had to leave."

"Thank you." Magnus said softly, killing the silence that had once again settled around them. Jace gave him a puzzled look. "Thank you for wanting to help Clary, and not pushing her."

Jace just nodded but Magnus was pleased enough with the response. He didn't know why or how, but Magnus has this feeling that Jace was going to play an important role in Clary's life. There was also the thought that maybe Jace would be the one to finally help Clary move on in life and to help her just live again. The only evidence of any of it being a ruse was the fact that Jace seemed generally concerned and worried about Clary. Magnus also knew that Jace had the reputation of being a complete player and he didn't want the golden haired boy hurting Clary, but if Jace could help Clary then Magnus was willing to look past all of his negatives and focus on the fact that Jace may just be Clary's saving grace.

Another chapter done! Thank goodness. Hoped you enjoyed it. So until next time!