He was feeling weary. All of the power that Magnus had been pouring into Alec just to keep him alive and breathing was taking its toll on him. But he had to keep going. Alec depended on him.

"Come on, Alexander," Magnus breathed, "stay with me."

Alec twitched in his slumber, mumbling something that sounded like "Be careful" but Magnus couldn't be sure. As much as he hated to admit, he should've been paying much more attention to what Alec was saying. Maybe there was a clue within the senseless rambling that could bring Alec out of this catatonic-like state.

Exhausted, Magnus fell back against his chair and breathed heavily. He felt drained; more drained than he'd ever felt before in his long life. Magic took power, which was a concept that most Shadowhunters failed to understand. He wasn't the Duracell bunny and he did get drained if he exerted himself too hard. His powers weren't unlimited, contrary to popular belief.

"Alec...we're trying. We really are-" He looked over his shoulder to make sure that nobody was in the room with them. "Isabelle is out looking for Jace right now. We think we know of a way to bring you back. If this works, then I will sell my fire breathing snake. More on that story when you wake up."

He forced a chuckle and watched Alec breathe, the young Shadowhunter's chest moving slowly up and down. He had been sweating profusely for the last hour and Magnus tried everything to break the fever. Magic, herbs, foreign concoctions that were more than likely illegal in the United States. Everything. But Alec's fever couldn't be broken.

"I really wish you weren't so stubborn sometimes. This was the most stupid idea you've ever had," Magnus said. He leaned forward on his chair while reaching up with a hand and brushing Alec's hair from his sweaty forehead. "If I had been here to stop Jocelyn from-" His voice faltered, so he cleared it and spoke again. "This wouldn't have happened. You wouldn't be in this position, that's all I'll say about that subject."

Alec grunted as his eyes moved rapidly behind his closed eyelids.

"I've been thinking about where we could go on our first date," Magnus put a cold cloth on Alec's forehead. "I know this quaint little restaurant in Japan. Been there for 3 generations and it's absolutely adorable. You'd love it." He frowned as Alec mumbled incoherently. "Or we could just go for coffee. Your choice. I'm fine with anywhere as long as I get to spend time with you."

Voices filled the hallway outside the door. Magnus paused for a moment to listen, hoping it wasn't anyone that planned on barging into the room. Luckily, the voices passed, growing more faint as they distanced themselves from the room.

Magnus turned to face Alec again. "What was I talking about? Oh yeah. Our first date. I really am okay with whatever you want to do. It doesn't have to be fancy or even planned for that matter. I love a good unplanned event."

More voices appeared outside the door. When the doorknob began to turn, Magnus whipped around and spread out an arm, palm facing outwards, which caused the door to magically lock itself. The person outside the door swore and banged on the door but Magnus didn't make a move to open it.

"Magnus Bane! Open this door! You are under Shadowhunter authority-"

"I am under no one's authority," Magnus voiced, his fingers crackling with power. "I'm here to keep my boyfriend alive and nothing else. Now leave me. I have work to do."

The voice said something else but Magnus ignored them as he let his power ebb and flow into Alec once more. The eldest Lightwood sighed heavily and seemed to relax somewhat onto the bed.

"There you go. Just breathe...." Magnus himself breathed. He was beginning to feel dizzy but he knew he had to keep going if he wanted to keep Alec alive. "Don't you leave me just yet, Alexander. I just found you. I'm not letting you go this soon."

Alec's hands twitched and he mumbled something for the millionth time that night. "....ritual. Jace is my parabatai..."

When his breathing finally slowed into a deep sleep, Magnus slowly sunk down onto his chair, his own breathing sounding more like gasping rather than normal, regular breathing. The edges of his vision were starting to go dark and he knew unconsciousness was threatening to take over if he used up any more of his power.

"There's...." Magnus took a breath to steady himself. "There's something I need to tell you. Now is a good time as ever to say it so here it is...." He gripped Alec's hand and held it tight. "I asked someone once if they'd risk their life for a Shadowhunter. Didn't even give it a second thought that I'd be doing the very idea in which I believed was ludicrous."

Alec whimpered softly but calmed down as Magnus gently rubbed the back of his hand.

"That was before I met you though. Now that you're in my life, I wouldn't hesitate to risk my life if it meant saving yours. Though I imagine what you'd say if you knew I was willing to sacrifice my life to save you," Magnus chuckled. "But in retrospect, I never thought I'd meet you. Come to love you and care for you as passionately as much as I do now. None of this....I never expected to happen. So thank you for lighting up my life like you do-" Magnus laughed. "Look at me. Talking to you like you're dying. You're not dying. I won't allow it. Not on my watch."

Before he could lean in to kiss Alec on the lips, a soft knock came at the door.

"Magnus?" A female voice said. "It's Isabelle. I have news about Jace."

Magnus heaved a sigh. "Of course. Come in."