Simon felt like he was underwater. He was watching the people scramble about in the police station, Luke was waving his hands around, talking heatedly with the captain, Magnus and Alec were talking to Clary, whose eyes seemed watery the whole time this commotion took place. His head hurt. He watched, as Becky sat on the chair, listening to Luke and the captain's discussion, and he heard only muffled voices. Weirdly, he thought about Jace. How they couldn't go on their date anymore. He almost laughed. Here they were, their mother was kidnapped, and he was thinking about a guy. It was comical, really.

"Simon?" someone's muffled voice said and he looked up, seeing Clary kneel in front of her. Becky was looking at him with teary eyes. He raised his gaze to his best friend, watching her talk but not really hearing her. Suddenly, Magnus was there and his voice came through. "Simon? The DEA are on their way here. They want to talk to you and Becky, but they said we should go home tonight, since we don't know when they'll be here..." Magnus was saying, his worried eyes searching his. Simon nodded, indicating that he understood just fine. But he didn't move. Luke approached them now, papers in his hand and a frown on his face. "You should all go home. Get some sleep. Simon and Becky, just get back here first thing in the morning." he was saying, tucking a pencil behind his ear while he studied the white board. It was now covered with unfamiliar faces, but there was a picture of a a Spanish man with black hair and cold eyes. Raphael Santiago was written next to it in a sloppy handwriting. 

"We'll come back with Clary tomorrow, if they let us." Magnus said now, Alec nodding next to him. Isabelle was staring at her brother, an arm around Clary. "You kids really can't do anything. Just go home and Simon and Becky will get back to you as soon as the DEA is done questioning them." Luke said sternly, but Alec shook his head. "No way. We're going to be here. Simon is our family, and so is Becky. We're not going to let them go through this alone." he said defiantly, but Simon put a hand on his shoulder. "Hey. It's fine. Just go home, all of you. I'll call you in the morning." he said and Clary frowned at him. "Simon, why are you saying that like you're not going?" she asked and Simon smiled at her sadly. Then he turned to Luke. "I'm not leaving. I'll chain myself to your desk if I have to. This is mum we're talking about. I'm staying the night." he said and his voice left no room for argument. Luke opened his mouth but then sighed, looking at the others. Isabelle shook her head, while Magnus stared angrily at Simon. "Simon, this is not..." he started, but Becky cut in. "He's right, you all should just go home. There's no point of you being here, it'll only tire you." she said then.

Simon looked at her and put a hand on her shoulder. "Becky, you didn't understand. You are going home, too. Clary will be fine taking you, right?" he asked and the redhead nodded almost before Simon had finished the sentence. Becky shook off Simon's hand and stared at him in anger and disbelief. "What? No way, she's my mum, too! And I know more than you!" she said but Simon's glare shut her up. She had never seen Simon like this. "Becky. You've done enough. Go. With. Clary." he said, emphasizing every word. He knew it hurt and by the look on his sisters eyes that stared down in defeat, it did, badly. But he had no choice. He had to get Becky out of there. Luke stared at them all and then nodded to Magnus, who nodded back. "Alright, I'll drop you all off. Come on." he said, hugging Simon, who looked at him thankfully. Alec stood, unsure, but then Simon shoved his shoulder playfully. "Go on, big guy. I'll be fine." he said, winking, lightening the mood. Alec smiled. He turned to his sister, who also hugged Simon goodbye and then they left. Clary took Becky's arm and nodded to Simon over her shoulder, who smiled. He mouthed a 'thank you' to her and she waved to him, smiling sadly. 

"Alright, coffee?" Luke offered up. It was now almost midnight. Simon sighed, rubbing his eyes. "Might as well." he said gratefully and Luke gave a pat on his back, before he disappeared downstairs. "We'll get him, Simon. Don't worry." a voice said and Simon raised his eyes, looking at the captain. She was a tall woman, with light brown hair tied up in a ponytail, her gray eyes soft and warm. "Thanks, captain Mitchell." he said and the woman smiled at her, waving her hand. "Please, call me Hailee. Luke's told me all about Clary and you. He loves you two like you're his kids." she stated and Simon smiled at that. The worry for his mom didn't go away, but it was nice to know that Luke and all his friends were so supportive. They were going to get her, alive and well. He replayed that sentence in his mind until it was 3 am and he fell asleep on the scattered papers behind Luke's desk.

***

"And that's all you know?" the man asked. His eyes were cold and he kept sucking on the end of his pen, like he was thinking, but it looked beyond stupid to Simon. He was skinny and tall, and he had longer hair than Simon. His partner, who was shorter but more built had a buzzcut. He was sipping his coffee, while his taller partner was eyeing Simon. "Yes. We've told you a million times." Becky said, taking this one for herself. She had come back first thing in the morning, about 7 am, but Simon knew she hadn't slept a wink. He tried to apologize to her with his eyes, but Becky was staring at the DEA agents, like they were someone she would love to shove off a building. They had been going at this for hours, and they weren't any closer to forming a plan that might not get their mother killed.

The taller man huffed and stared at his partner. "Harry, where's the Santiago file? Let me see that again." he said and Simon made an annoyed noise. The shorter man, evidently called Harry, stared at him, raising an eyebrow. "Problem?" he asked and Simon stood up. He paced around the room, wringing his hands. "You've been trying to get this guy for years, as I understand, with no results and you've been staring at his file for hours, like you haven't done that a million times. This isn't helping, we need to take action, not just sit around!" his voice rose a little, and Becky stood up, taking his hands into hers and making him look at her. "Si, calm down." she said.

Just then, Luke and captain Mitchell strode in, followed by three men dressed in black suits and one of them had sunglasses on. Simon felt like he was in a CSI movie. "Fine! Here they are, discuss this with them, then." the captain was saying. Simon could see the anger in her face but her voice was still calm and collected. Simon could see why she made it captain. She knew how to keep herself from exploding, like Simon so often did. The men stood before the two agents that had questioned Simon and Becky. "DEA? You can leave. This is our case now." the man with sunglasses said, waving a badge at them. Simon saw the glinting letters under the light. FBI. 

"Since when is the FBI interested in drug cartells? No way, douchebag, this is our case, has been for years and if you think-" the taller agent started but the FBI guy removed his glasses dramatically and Simon could see that his eyes were a bright green. He leaned into the other man and glared. "Listen up. This is not just a drug cartell, this is bigger than that. Human trafficking, illegal weapon distribution, money laundring, you name it. You guys haven't done chicken shit for the past years, so we've been assigned to take over. I suggest you deal with it or call the president." he said and the taller man paled. Simon stared at Luke who looked equally surprised. "The president? Our president? I didn't know this was such a large-scale operation? Is Santiago that important?" Becky butted in, making Simon groan. 

The DEA guys huffed, packing up their things, while the other FBI guys settled in, leaving the taller one turn to Becky. His eyes were scanning her and she shivered under his gaze. The man slowly held out his hand to Simon. "Clark. I've been assigned to take point on this case. To answer your question, young lady, yes. It is a large-scale operation." he said, his eyes averting from Simon to Becky again, who stared right back, her head held high. "An what are you planning to do?" Hailee, the captain, interrupted them, moving closer with Luke. The agent thought for a moment and then sat down on a chair, leaning back. "We have an inside man there. He gave us a lead, about a possible drug exchange. It's the big one, the one we've been waiting for. Santiago has never trusted him with information such as this before, until now. This also makes it easier for us to help you mother, since our mole can make sure she'll be located somewhere we can get to her. So she'll be safe." he stated, eyeing them all in a superior way. Becky scoffed. "Raphael is ruthless. The more we wait, the angrier he'll get. He wants his money. I have to contact him, so he'd know that I haven't bailed out." she replied, sitting on Luke'd desk and putting one knee over the other.

Simon looked at her and then at the agent. "Who's the informant?" he asked and the agent glared. "He's going to meet us, later today. But not here, he's got eyes on him. He's been told that we'll need him for the bust but he doesn't know about your mother yet. He's yet to be informed of that... We, meaning you two and me, will meet the guy at a designated place. I'll pick you up and we'll drive there. That's all I can say. Once that's done, we set up a plan and come straight here." he said and Simon nodded. "Fine." he replied, and sat down but the captain stepped forward. "They're just kids. I propose that someone else goes-" Hailee started but the agent interrupted. "With all do respect, captain, they are the ones that we need to make the exchange, if possible. If not, at least we'll get to keep an eye on them. It's the money Raphael wants, but from a certain person. He won't take it from just anybody." he stated and Becky agreed. "He's right. It has to be me." she said, nodding. Simon set a hand on her lower back. "We'll be fine." he said, nodding to Hailee, trying to soothe her. She looked suspicious, still, but Luke nodded to the two of them and went to talk to the captain, while Simon took Becky to the resting lounge.

Tossing her a bag of chips, he went to sit on the armrest of the couch. It was a leather couch, brown and old, some of the leather peeling off here and there. Simon kicked his shoes off before he sat down and opened a can of coke. Becky opened the chips, sitting on the couch and setting her legs on the table. "She's fine. She's going to be fine." Becky said after a while of silence. Her voice was determined but her eyes looked at Simon, hesitant. He gulped down the last of the coke and crumbled the can in his hand, tossing it to the bin, where it landed perfectly. "Of course she will. It'll all be okay." he replied to his sister, not really believing his words.

***

After about two hours, the agent told them that the informant was ready to meet. He picked them up at the station, and after an hour of driving, they pulled up in an abandoned parking lot in the middle of nowhere. They weren't in the city anymore, that was for sure. Simon noticed a very small motel at the distance and the sun was blazing on the highway, that seemed empty. Becky squinted her eyes before she set her sunglasses on her nose. "So, how long has your informant been an insider?" she asked, looking at the agent. "About a year. That's why Santiago's only trusting him now. He's a hard man to impress." Clark said, leaning on his car and lighting a cigarette. "Tell me about it." Becky mumbled, kicking a rock. Simon approached the man and nodded to the pack he had in his hand. "Can I have one?" he asked and the man offered it to him. Lighting the cigarette with his own lighter, Simon took a drag. Damn, just what he needed. A black audi pulled up next to them, so the noses of the cars were in opposite directions and a guy came out.

The agent stubbed his cigarette. "He's here." he stated and Becky came to stand next to them. As soon as the guy got out, Simon noticed the golden hair. They were tucked under the cap just a little, but the strands that fell out were unmistakably belonging to someone he knew. Even the walk was something Simon recognized. When he raised his eyes, looking at the group, the mismatched eyes of blue and brown were full of shock.

"Simon?" he almost whispered. Simon realized that the cigarette had fallen from his gaping mouth and he heard Becky gasp next to him. "You...know each other?" Clark asked, confused, pointing in between them. Jace eyed Simon, not really sure what to say. He seemed to be checking if he was really there. Simon squinted his eyes at him. "What the fuck?" he asked, not really knowing what else to say. Becky came forward. "You're the agent? The informant? What the hell? I thought you worked at that funding thing?" she said, her voice confused as she stared at Jace. The blonde looked at Simon apologetically. His clothes were all black and Simon was pretty sure he was boiling inside because of the sun. Good, he thought. He was pretty pissed off by then.

"Why are you here?" Jace asked, eyeing the agent. "Why are they here?" he asked again, stepping closer to Clark, who held up his hands. "I didn't know you knew each other. We have a situation." he replied, but Simon stepped closer to Jace, poking his chest with his finger. "What the hell, Jace? I thought you were working for you're grandmother for the Herondale Funding?" he asked, his voice accusing. "I am. I mean, it's complicated." he answered as he stepped back from Simon a little, who seemed not a force to be reckoned with right now. Becky set a hand on Simon's shoulder. The agent stepped up again. "Their mother, Ms. Lewis has been kidnapped by Santiago." he informed and Simon saw Jace pale. "He- They what?" he asked, looking between Becky and Simon, his voice faint. Becky started to explain, while Simon turned his back to them, massaging his temple. What the fuck was going on?

"Simon?" Jace suddenly asked and he felt a hand on his back. He whipped around quickly, eyeing Jace. "I- I'm sorry about your mum. But I'll get her back, I promise." he said, his eyes boring into Simon and he knew the blonde meant it. He was still pissed, though. "Why didn't you-" he started but Jace stopped him. "Tell you? I'm undercover, Simon. How could I tell you? We only just met." he said and Simon stared at the ground, feeling stupid all of a sudden. "Not that this, us didn't mean anything to me. I still want to...take you out on dates and make you blush. You're insanely cute when you blush." Jace stated, putting a finger under his chin. Simon tried really hard not to smile. "Okay, so you're this badass FBI agent? How does that work?" he asked and Jace smiled.

"I've been in the um...business for years now. But I needed something to cover me, so other agents and cops wouldn't get suspicious. We created another persona, a job for me. My grandma was thrilled to have me on board and asked no questions. But when Santiago calls, I go. I've been collecting this intel for a year now." he said. Simon stared at his face, noticing how Jace's eyes were tired, but his smile was real. "What I don't get," Becky said behind them " is how come i never saw you? I was working for Raphael and you were never there. Never even mentioned you." she stated and the agent now rolled his eyes. "He was someone for the dirtier deeds. Raphael never really let him close to the operations. But now that's changed, since you bailed on him." he said with a bored voice. Simon eyed Jace now, who looked uncomfortable. "Dirty deeds? have you-did you kill someone?" he asked the blonde, who looked at him with a pained expression. "I-It's complicated." he said again. "It's the job. We all knew what we were getting into, Jace more than anyone. He's lucky to be alive. It was him or the other guys. And they were mostly bad guys. He's never had to shoot one of his own, though." Clark now said and Simon could detect a hint of pride in his voice. 

Jace glanced at him in relief, but then looked back to Simon. He moved a little closer, so Simon could feel his breath on his face. Simon stared down at his blue jeans and white sneakers. He felt vulnerable all of a sudden. "Simon, I'm still me." Jace's voice floated to him and he looked up again. Jace's eyes were soft on him and his hand went to find his. Becky backed up a little, dragging the Clark guy with her, and Simon was thankful to his sister. "I know. It's just, a lot has been going on." he replied, trying to sound light. Jace chuckled a little. "Yeah, tell me about it. Never thought you'd find out like this." he said, his voice a little glum now. Simon shook his head, putting a hand on Jace's hip. "It's going to be fine, right? She's going to be fine?" he asked, hopeful. Jace looked at him and he slowly bit his lip. The gorgeous eyes Simon had even had dreams about, looked at him with such intensity, he felt like it was just the two of them, standing in the middle of nowhere. "Yes, I promise, Simon. She's going to be fine, I'll make sure of it." Jace said with certainty that Simon didn't have and he hugged Jace. It was so good to feel his arms around him, strong and comforting and Simon felt for the first time that he might want to cry. He swallowed with difficulty and pulled back, before he could start balling like a baby.

The agent coughed behind them and Simon saw Becky glare at the man. He smiled. "Alright, let's do this." Simon stated and Jace smiled encouragingly. "We need to form a plan. Considering Raphael will probably want Becky to be the one delivering the money. If we can make it so, that the money drop-off and the shipment are on the same day, we could catch two birds in one stone." the agent said. "That's two days from now." Jace counted in his head. Becky shook her head. "No way! Our mom could be hurt and -" she didn't finish, her voice breaking a little. Simon hugged her sideways. "Well, I can find out where she is. Take care of her. Raphael is not brutal with innocent people, that I know. He never hurts those who haven't wronged him. Your mum is safe and fine, I promise." Jace said reassuringly. "This is Raphael Santiago were talking about. How can you think that a murderer like that won't hurt our mum?" Becky asked hysterically but Simon sushed her. "Hey, you trust me right?" Simon asked and his sister nodded, after a minute. "And I trust Jace. So let's just try and work this out." he said and caught Jace's small smile. "Besides, it's me who'll do the drop-off. Not Becky." Simon stated and Jace and Becky both protested loudly. "Simon, it's my fault and I am going to be the one-" Becky said, shouting, and Jace said at the same time "No way, Simon, you are not going to put yourself in danger-", but Simon held up a finger. "Hey!" he said, shutting them up. "It's going to be me. No question. Not my little sister, not anyone else. She's my mum, too. It'll have to suit Santiago. We're gonna call him, tell him that we need two more days to get the money and then I'll make the exchange." he said, looking a them with a 'I dare you to talk back to me' face.

Jace looked fazed but Becky just glared at him, angry. "You won't have a wire on you, they'll expect it. But we can prepare you as much as we can, and Jace will be there." Clark said, his voice now a little kinder than before. Simon nodded sternly. "Well, Jace. You get back, like nothing happened. I want Raphael to not suspect a thing." Clark said, and Jace nodded to him. Becky stomped off to the car, not saying a word and Simon tried not to sigh. Clark coughed awkwardly and then started to walk away. "I'll give you guys some space." he stated monotonously and walked to the car as well.

Simon turned to Jace again. "So, does this mean we won't have that date?" he joked and Jace laughed. Simon loved that sound, it was what he needed right now. "You're something else, Lewis. I promise I'll take you on a proper date once this is all over." Jace said, leaning in to tuck a strand of brunette hair behind his ear. His hand lingered on Simon's cheek and he closed his eyes at the touch. "You better. I'm thinking something like Disney land for all the shit you've been lying to me about." he stated and Jace stared at him, amused. "I didn't lie. I concealed information. There's a difference." he said and Simon laughed. He stepped a little closer, inhaling Jace's scent. "So, you can shoot a gun?" Simon asked and Jace's eyebrows shot up. "Yep, obviously." he replied. Simon smiled. "That's hot." he said and the blonde smirked. He eyed Simon as he licked his lip ring and his hands went to Simon's lower back. "Well, fuck." he said under his breath and Simon chuckled, when Jace pressed their lips together. Their kiss was urgent, like they hadn't seen each other in forever, and Simon felt it sending electric waves under his skin. He grabbed Jace's arms, deepening the kiss, but Jace pulled back suddenly, but not before nipping at the lip ring with his teeth, making Simon groan. 

"We have an audience." he stated and Simon rolled his eyes, remembering his sister and Clark. "Be careful?" Simon asked, not knowing where Jace was going or what he was signed up to do. The blonde kissed his cheek. "Worried, babe?" he asked, smiling his beautiful smile. Simon's heart jumped with glee and he smirked at the blonde, winking. "Always, darling." he replied, making Jace steal another quick kiss from him, before backing away, his face still to Simon, until he reached his car and he winked at him, before getting in. Simon watched Jace drive off and his heart felt heavy now. His mother was kidnapped and Jace was probably doing some shady shit that could get him killed. He sighed and walked back to the car. This was going to be a brutal two days.

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A/N: I feel like this was rushed??? Idk, anyways. Talk about a big reveal, huh?? Let me know if this was acceptable xd Vote and comment but above all else, stay sassy! :)x