Everything moved in slow motion. People were yelling around me, but I couldn't hear a word they were saying. The only thing I cared about was getting to Jace. I saw his body sag against Jonathan and that's when my worst fears were realized. I let out a soundless scream as Simon met me on the way to Jace. He rolled Jace away from Simon and into my waiting arms before going after Jonathan who was knocked unconscious after the first hit to the temple, but that didn't stop Simon. He was raining down punches and trying to hold back his tears when Sophie pulled him away from Jonathan. Jace was lying on the floor with his head cradled in my lap. His eyes were fluttering open and closed as I sobbed and ran my hands through his hair. I was pressing my hand to the wound on his right side trying to stop the bleeding, but my hands just were covered in blood. Simon took off his shirt and pressed it on my hand. I took my hand and helped him keep pressure on the wound. I finally looked into Jace's eyes and noticed him trying to talk.
"Shhh," I cooed running my hand over his face and through his hair trying to memorize everything about him. "Don't speak, baby. I love you, just don't speak. You're going to be okay. You have to be okay."
I knew I was rambling, but I couldn't help it. When the paramedics and police finally showed up, Jace was fading fast. The paramedics started to pull him away from me and I knew I had to let him go, even if it was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. I held his hand as they placed him on the stretcher and brought it to my lips before letting go so they could put him in the ambulance. I stared at him and before they closed the doors, he mouthed, "I love you."
The police had Jonathan cuffed and were leading him out to their car. One of them tried to ask me for my statement, but I couldn't even comprehend what was happening at that moment. I felt Simon's arm wrap around me.
"She isn't answering any questions right now," he stated firmly. "I'm taking her to the hospital, right now and you can wait to ask her any questions until she's ready."
With that, Simon led me to his car and helped me into the passenger seat. He was already on the phone with someone as Sophie got in the back seat. I was numb. I couldn't even cry anymore. As I watched the road and listened to one side of Simon's conversation, I sat there staring straight ahead trying not to think about what had just happened.
I couldn't think about Jace being shot. I couldn't think about what was happening in the hospital right then. I couldn't think about the possibility that he might not make it back to me and the one thing I had waited so long for would be over before it really started.
Simon skidded to a stop in front of the hospital and ran around the car to help me out. He practically carried me through the doors and shouted at the nurse's station that we were here for Jace. She told him to wait in the waiting room and we would be notified when they knew anything. With a huff and scowl toward the nurse, Simon led me to a chair in the waiting area, while Sophie curled up on the couch. We sat down and did exactly that, waited.
At some point, Isabelle burst through the doors and took the seat on the opposite side of me. She and Simon both held my hands as I leaned my head on Isabelle's shoulder. I finally started crying after an hour of waiting. Isabelle held me to her and ran her hand over my hair trying to comfort me, but nothing would comfort me until I had Jace in my arms.
It seemed like we had been in that waiting room for days when a doctor came out and said Jace's name. We all jumped up and rushed toward him when he asked if we were family.
I started to explain when Simon interrupted me, "She's his wife." Hearing Simon referring to me as Jace's wife sent chills through my body, good ones, but then I remembered where we were and turned back toward the doctor.
"Your husband is very lucky," he said. "We just took him out of surgery where we removed the bullet and made sure there wasn't anything severely damaged. Somehow, the bullet missed everything it needed to miss and Mr. Herondale should make a full recovery. He's getting situated in his room right now and we're going to wait for him to wake up on his own and let the drugs wear off. I'll have someone come let you know when he's settled and you can go see him."
I nodded along with his words and when he said that Jace would be alright, my heart soared. He nodded after he finished and turned to leave when I nodded back. The flood gates opened at that moment and I turned to Simon sobbing into his chest. He wrapped his arms around me and I could feel his shoulders shaking as well. Isabelle wrapped her arms around both of us and held us while we cried.
When we all finally pulled apart, I looked at Simon and smiled. He was going to be okay. Jace was going to be okay. We sat back down and waited for someone to come get us. Sophie announced that she was going to head home and Isabelle offered to take her when she realized her car was still at the studio. Isabelle promised to return quickly, understanding that Simon and I would need this time with Jace.
A nurse finally announced that we could go back and see Jace. Simon held my hand as we followed her through a maze of halls before she stopped at a door and led us inside. I wasn't ready for what I saw in that hospital room. I wasn't ready to see my strong and confident boyfriend looking so weak and helpless in the sterile room with tubes and machines making sure he was still alive.
I collapsed into the chair next to his bed, taking his hand in mine and lowering my head to our joined hands. I cried silently, taking deep breathes to try and calm myself. I felt Simon rubbing circles on my back before I finally looked up at Jace again. I ran my hand over his face to make sure that he was really there.
The next twelve hours flew by as I sat in the chair next to Jace's hospital bed watching to make sure I didn't miss when he woke up. The doctors told me that the medication was strong and that it would take a while for him to wake up, but that didn't calm my nerves. Isabelle and Simon took shifts sitting with me and trying to make me eat, but I couldn't focus on anything that had to do with me leaving the room or taking my eyes off of Jace.
I finally let myself fall asleep as I rested my head on the bed against Jace's hip. I started awake when I had a dream about a little boy with golden hair and green eyes. I looked at the clock and saw that it was almost noon. Jace was still asleep. A nurse came in to check on him and assured me that he would wake up soon. Simon came up behind me with Isabelle and sat down at the foot of Jace's bed.
"Hey, bud," he said looking at Jace's face. "I know that you're probably in a lot of pain right now and you need to let your body heal, but if you could just open your eyes for a minute to convince your crazy girlfriend over here that you're okay, that would be great."
I laughed for the first time in twenty-four hours and stuck my tongue out at Simon before Isabelle stepped up to the other side of the bed.
"As much as you annoy the crap out of me," she said with her hand on Jace's shoulder. "You love my best friend and I really need her to be happy, so please, just wake up."
It was then that I felt Jace's fingers twitch in my hand and grasp my fingers. I looked up at his face and saw his eyes fluttering. I jumped up from the chair, never letting go of his hand and peered down as his golden eyes opened and he smiled weakly up at me. My other hand came up to my mouth as I tried to stifle a sob. I closed my eyes and let the tears fall before collapsing onto the bed and wrapping my arms around Jace's neck.
"Oh my God," I said between sobs. "You're awake! Oh, baby, I was so worried." I pulled back to look in his eyes that were shining with unshed tears. "I love you, so much."
"I love you, Clary," those were his first words after he woke up and I lost it even more than I already had. When his arms came up to wrap around me like a cocoon, I never wanted him to let go.
The doctor and a nurse came in a few minutes later to check and make sure everything was the way they wanted it. When they left, the doctor assured us that Jace would be able to leave in a few days. Simon finally came to the other side of the bed and shook Jace's hand.
"Can you, please, never do anything like that again," he asked with a small smile and Isabelle holding onto his arm.
"I don't think I'll need to," Jace said before glancing toward Isabelle. "Iz, can you please get him out of here and put some food in him. I can tell he hasn't eaten and he has a fight he should be preparing for."
Isabelle raised her hand to her forehead to salute him and said, "Yes, boss," before dragging Simon out of the room.
Jace and I lay in silence for a while, while he ran his hands along my arms and I buried my face into the crook of his neck.
"I guess I won't be fighting for a while," he whispered into the empty room and I turned my head to look into his eyes. There was a sadness hidden beneath the hope I could see on the surface.
"Is that okay with you," I asked treading lightly.
"For now, but there is no way I won't fight again someday. If I let that happen, then I'm just letting Jonathan get what he wants."
"You're an incredibly brave person, Jace Herondale." I placed my hand over the spot where a bandage covered his wound. "Does it hurt?"
"Not anymore, now that I know that you're okay and I have you in my arms." I looked at him with a questioning stare. "Okay, it hurts a little, but less with you here." He took a deep breath before asking his next question. "What happened to Jonathan?"
"Simon knocked him out and he was arrested. I don't think any amount of money or power is going to get him out of this one. Valentine called earlier and apologized, wishing you a speedy recovery. He said he can't wait for you to get back in the octagon."
"Let's just think about that later. I'm getting tired, actually. I'm just going to take a nap."
I nodded and watched as he fell asleep and peace swept over his face. I rested my head on his shoulder and watched him sleep knowing that if we could make it through this, we could make it through anything. Jace was awake and would be okay. My fairytale wasn't over just yet.
A/N: I just couldn't leave you guys hanging after I wrote this, so I am posting twice in one day! I hope this puts your minds at ease. Thank you so much for reading! :)