Chapter 74: The end is nigh. Next chapter is the last one. This was supposed to be the last one, but it got too long, so I broke it up. I'll also be writing an Epilogue or two, as well– for storyline closures. Jonathan haters rejoice… damn, I really put Clary through the ringer. Sorry, girl. I think she deserves a nice CLACEtastic ending. Hmm?

TRIGGER WARNINGS: Rated M. Graphic violence. Gun violence. Trauma.

I do not own any of the characters, only the illustrious Cassandra Clare owns them. I do, however, own this particular story, so please don't be lame and copy/paste it elsewhere.

Thank you for the follows, likes, and reviews! It really means a lot!

Previously: "Her mind assaulted her with every terrible trauma she had suffered at the hands of Valentine and Jonathan Morgenstern… at Sebastian's, over the past year. Rinse. Repeat. The whole loop played again and again. She was finished. Broken. He always wins. He always wins… Rinse. Repeat. Clary sighed in resignation and fell limp against him."

Jace cocked the gun, shoving it harder against Jonathan's cheek. "It's over, Morgenstern. You're fucking dead." Please fight me. Make it easy for me, fucker. After exiting the tunnel, Jace had barely caught up to the helicopter before it left the ground. Jonathan had been too preoccupied with settling Clary into the seats to hear him running behind him. He had aimed his gun to shoot him, but feared hitting Clary. When Jonathan turned around to fasten his own seatbelt, Jace leapt at the helicopter, just as it left the ground, with Alec leaping right beside him. His best friend had easily caught up to him when he had paused to aim at Jonathan.

Panting, Jonathan narrowed his eyes angrily at him, raising his hands in surrender. "I'm not armed, Detective. You won't do it…" Fuck. Jace bared his teeth to Jonathan and quickly placed his wrists in handcuffs. "Try me, Morgenstern. Alec? Are you good?" Jonathan frowned, looking past Jace into the cockpit. Alec sat in the copilot seat with his gun trained on Emil Pangborn. "All good, brother. As you can see, I am occupied in the front, so hopefully you can handle Morgenstern until we land. Mr. Pangborn has graciously agreed to fly us to the airport, where we will rendezvous with our team and get the fuck out of this fucking archaic, bullshit country." There was no way to get into the cockpit if Alec needed him and vice-versa, so Jace hoped Pangborn behaved.

Jace unfastened Clary's seatbelt and moved her unconscious body next to his, across from Jonathan, securing their seatbelts. Keeping his gun leveled on Jonathan, he wrapped his arm around Clary, kissing her temple. Wake up, baby. Jace took a moment to look down at Clary. Her eyes were closed and her brow furrowed, as if she were having a bad dream. They must have drugged her. He looked back at Morgenstern. Jonathan stared back at him, his eyes flicking to Clary, glittering dangerously. He looked rough. There was dried blood from a gash on his temple, as if someone had hit him with something. He also seemed to be favoring his right side. Jace reached over and tugged Jonathan's shirt up. Someone shot him. It was nothing more than a graze, but it gave Jace some satisfaction.

Snorting, Jace leaned back into his seat. "Is that from Clary, you piece of shit? She fucking shot you and Pontmercy. I love it… That's my girl." Jonathan smirked back at him. "I guess her heart wasn't really in it, Herondale… and that's my wife you're speaking of… not 'your girl'." He flicked his eyes over at Clary and frowned, then back to Jace. "I think Clarissa is sick. She's burning up and isn't… She may have an infection. She needs a doctor." Jace wrapped his arm tighter around Clary, pulling her robe tightly closed, and glared at Jonathan. "I'll take care of her, Morgenstern. You, however, will never see her again after today. I'm turning your demented ass over to MI6 when we land. You may not have heard, but your diplomatic immunity has been revoked. It seems Idris' government has had a bit of a coup… not in your, or The Circle's favor." Jonathan's mouth tightened defiantly and he looked out the window, as the helicopter flew over Lake Lyn. Jace pursed his lips, remembering how Jonathan's men tried to kill him by pushing his SUV into the lake. It seemed like a lifetime ago, even though it was less than a year. Almost over. I'll just hand him off and he'll spend the rest of his disgusting existence in prison. Then Clary can raise her daughter in peace, with me. He and Jonathan both looked over at Clary as she groaned and began to stir beside Jace.

Clary gasped and stiffened, shoving the strong arm encircling her body away from her. She felt a wave of dizziness and nausea and stilled. Am I sick? She could hear someone calling her name. Shaking her head and opening her eyes she saw Jonathan across from her, smirking. "Hello, my love…" Crying out, Clary covered her face with her hands, shaking her head. He's won. Sebastian. Amatis… gunshots. Simon. Simon… oh my– Clary screamed and began to struggle, when she felt calloused hands encircle her face, pulling hers away. "Clary! Baby– Baby, I'm here. It's me– Look at me." Jace. Clary froze and opened her eyes to find the kindest, most beautiful golden eyes staring back at her. It's him. The love of my life. Clary whimpered and threw her arms around his neck, pulling him against her. He's really here. "Jace– It's really you. I never– I never thought I'd see you again. Baby…" Jace quickly tucked his gun into his holster and hugged her back, tangling his hands in her thick curls. "It's me, baby, it is. Oh, you're burning up– I've got you. It's almost over. We're going to turn him in to Will and MI6." Jace pressed his mouth to hers and kissed her deeply and handed her a large metal water bottle. Jace nodded for her to drink and stroked her face. She stared back at him, drinking deeply. Clary jumped when she heard Jonathan's growl across from her. "Get your fucking hands off of my wife, Herondale."

Jace pulled her tightly against him and reached for his gun. "Don't speak to her you sick fuck. I should just fucking kill you… it's the least you deserve." Trembling and leaning against Jace, Clary looked over at him, then back to Jonathan. She felt feverish and her abdomen throbbed. "You are not my husband, Jonathan. I annulled that false marriage. You know it… this is over. Y-you can't hurt me again. S-so…" Clary unfastened her seatbelt and attacked Jonathan, slapping and punching him wildly. "So fuck you, you sick bastard. You killed my Simon… my aunt. I hate you so much. You'll never see me or my daughter again–" Jonathan laughed and licked his bleeding lips, as she hit him. Is he getting excited? Clary heard her name being called, screaming and grunting in pain when she felt Jace's arms wrap around her. He leaned over her, his back to Jonathan, kissing her cheeks. She hugged him, running her hands over him. "Shh, Clary. You need to stay seated… your stitches, babe. Listen, about Simon–" Clary sniffled and nodded, closing her eyes and humming, refusing to look at Jonathan, she shoved her hands into the pockets of her robe. He needs to die. Clary took a few steadying breaths as she felt Jace pull away suddenly. Her eyes flew open when she heard Jace grunt and a thud. Jonathan stood before her, panting, staring down at her angrily.

Unlocking his handcuffs, Jonathan grasped Clary's wrists and placed them on her, locking them tightly in her lap. Whimpering, she looked up at him. Even in her feverish, weakened state, she was the most beautiful, mesmerizing creature he'd ever seen. Mine. "What did you do, J–" Clary gasped when Jonathan grabbed her throat and forced a harsh kiss, then stood straight. When Herondale had been preoccupied with groping his wife, Jonathan had unfastened his lap belt, grabbed the large water bottle and bashed him across the back of the head. The golden boy had immediately gone down, knocked out cold. Shrieking, she looked down to the floor where Jace lay unconscious in horror, the large metal water bottle, now dented, rolling beside him on the floor of the cabin. "What a weak, little bitch. I can't believe you thought to leave me for him, Clarissa… again."

Jonathan smirked at her and bent down. He couldn't help but feel strangely disappointed. Jace Herondale had proven to be a formidable opponent over the past year. It was a shame they would never get the chance to battle, man to man. Oh well. I need to get my wife and daughter secured, then kill every single person Clarissa ever knew. I warned her… Grabbing the back of Jace's vest, he started to drag him towards the helicopter door, which he threw open. The wind whipped through the cabin and Clary jumped up, stuffing her bound hands into the pocket of her robe. Sobbing and screaming at him. "Jon– please don't. Please… I love him! Jace!" Growling furiously, Jonathan pushed Clary back down onto her seat, turning away from her, he quickly dragged Jace's still form closer to the door. "I will be the only one left for you to love. Let's see if Lake Lyn follows through for me this time… she stubbornly gave him back last time. Not this time, Clarissa. Say goodbye to your detective." Jonathan suddenly stiffened when he heard her melodic voice behind him. "Turn around slowly, Jonathan. I mean it." Standing up straight in the doorway of the helicopter, his hands up, he slowly turned towards his wife. She stood trembling, sick with fever, obviously in pain. Ravishing. Jonathan pursed his lips in amusement, his eyes roaming over her. "Are you going to shoot me again, love? That's so fucking hot–" I just want to kiss her and fuck her until she passes out. Soon.

Clary glared back at him and cocked the gun, holding it steady in her cuffed hands, despite swaying on her feet. She had swiped Jace's gun from his shoulder holster when he put her back in her seat, after she attacked Jonathan. She knew Jace was going to turn Jonathan into MI6. He just didn't get that Jonathan was pure evil and would not be contained. He would find a way to get out of it. Clary and Celine would never be free from him. I can't ever let him touch my body again. My daughter. Clary shuddered, memories of his many assaults disgusting her. Jace and Will always underestimated him. Everybody does. They think he's normal. Beatable. He's not. It's one of the reasons he always wins… Her ears began to ring as she heard Alec calling Jace's name, unintelligible words, and a groan. What is he saying? Her eyes darted down to see Jace begin to stir. Thank god. He's waking up. Jonathan clenched his jaw and lunged towards her, grappling for the gun. "Stop this nonsense now, Clarissa. Give me the g–"

Screaming Clary pulled the trigger and everything stopped as Jonathan stiffened, his eyes wide with shock, his hands frozen in front of him, halting their menacing path. Clary felt a cold wave of nausea flush over her body as she and Jonathan stared down in shock at the scarlet bloom spreading across his chest. I shot him. I shot him… oh my god. Clary dropped the gun and recoiled, watching in horror as Jonathan dropped to his knees in front of her, grasping the front of her robe. Jonathan looked up at her, pain and betrayal etched into his deceptively beautiful face. Clary shook her head, pushed him away from her, and began to sob. Jonathan struggled to stay on his knees in front of the door. Dropping to her knees in front of Jonathan, she reached forward and gripped his bloody shirt in her cuffed hands. Pulling it open, she saw the bullet wound over his heart, blood flowing freely. In the back of her mind, Clary heard someone calling her name. Jace? but all she could focus on was Jonathan fucking Morgenstern.

Coughing and gasping for air, Jonathan smiled weakly at her, his teeth coated in blood. "Love you. My f-family. Mine–" Clary growled, gripped his shirt harder and pulled his face close, their noses touching. "Shut. Up. You have no family, Jonathan. Celine will never know you as her father. I have only ever loved Jace Herondale, you pathetic fucking psycho. I'm his and he is mine. Rot in hell, Sebastian." He shook his head back at her angrily and reached for her, opening his mouth to speak. No more talk. Clary released Jonathan's shirt and violently shoved him backwards, through the open door of the helicopter. Screaming, she felt herself toppling forward, being pulled towards the open door on her stomach. Her head looking down over Lake Lyn, she locked eyes with Jonathan as he clung to the belt of her robe. Clary grasped the doorway with both hands, the metal from the cuffs digging into her wrists. Jonathan pulled and attempted to climb the belt. "Clarissa…" Clary screamed again, as she felt herself slip further out the door when a heavy weight dropped on her back and strong arms encircled her. Jace. "I've got you!" His hands fumbled around the waist of her robe, as Clary watched in horror as the belt slipped out the helicopter door and Jonathan Morgenstern plunged down into the deep, unforgiving waves of Lake Lyn. She suddenly remembered Jonathan's words, so many months before, "There is an old adage we have here in Idris, Clarissa… Lake Lyn does not give up her dead." Trembling Clary watched the dark waves below, as the helicopter continued its journey towards Alicante. From your mouth to God's ears, Jonathan.

Jace pulled Clary up from the floor of the cabin and quickly closed the door. He unlocked her cuffs, gently rubbing her wrists. Clary sobbed and cuddled against him as he fastened their seatbelts. Clutching Clary against him, he locked eyes with Alec through the glass separating the cockpit from the passenger cabin. "Jace? You good, man? I-I felt totally fucking helpless. I almost just shot this piece of shit, just to be able to do– anything." Jace saw Pangborn stiffen and laughed humorlessly. "I'm good now, brother. You'll be back in Magnus' glittery arms before you know it. Love you, man." He leaned down and took a deep breath, kissing the top of Clary's head as she gasped and hiccuped against his chest. "Everything's going to be okay now, baby. Celine is safe and with Tessa at the airport, waiting for her mommy. Jonathan's gone. He can never hurt you again."

Clary pulled back and looked up into his face, her emerald eyes flooded with tears and her lips trembled. "I killed him. I killed him and I'm not sorry, Jace. He killed Amatis… he killed my Simon– my best friend and so many others! It will never be okay again… Simon–" Clary began to sob again and shake her head. Jace cupped her face in his hands, shaking his head, kissing her. "Shh, baby. We found Amatis' body. I'm so sorry we couldn't save her in time. But, baby– Simon is not dead. I was trying to tell you before Jonathan knocked me out. Alec and I saved his goofy ass. He's waiting for us at the airport too. They all are. We've got a secured private jet waiting to take us all back home. It's finally over, Clary." Clary gasped and crashed her lips to Jace, kissing him deeply. Jace wrapped his arms around her, returning her kisses, running his hands up and down her back. Holding each other tightly they murmured declarations and promises of love as they approached Alicante airport.