Chapter Twenty Six - Exit Wounds.

The cleanup at the London Institute took ages and it was late in the evening when Jace, Isabelle, Alec and Clary were finally ready to return home to Brooklyn. They were stood in the entrance hall with the London Shadowhunters and Tessa, Magnus was nowhere in sight. Isabelle and Clary hurriedly bid their goodbyes as Jace stood beside Alec. Alec had been silent ever since that morning and he'd hidden out of sight of everyone until Jace - having checked everywhere else - went up into the training tower and found Alec sat cross legged on the floor throwing knives at a target on the wall. Jace had stood silently watching while Alec threw the knives, sighing as each one bounced off the target and fell to the floor with a loud clatter.

*****

"You know, it works better if you're standing up." Jace had said finally, entering the room fully. Alec hadn't looked up at Jace's intrusion, "Go away Jace." He muttered, throwing another knife at the target. Jace moved to sit beside Alec on the floor, "You can't hide from the world forever. Sooner or later you'll have to show your face. You're strong and brave, I know you can get through this." Jace said, taking a knife from Alec's pile and throwing it at the wall. It stuck in the target, "Well, what do you know. It does work. Maybe I should try this next time we're Demon hunting." He smiled, glancing out of the corner of his eye at Alec, Alec didn't react.

"I'm not brave." Alec toned, throwing another knife, again it bounced off the target.

"Are you even trying?" Jace asked his tone serious, Alec shrugged, "Not really."

Jace nodded, "We'll be going home soon. Once the cleanup is finished." Again, Alec shrugged.

"You are brave and strong. Do you want to know how I know?" Jace asked, throwing a knife at the same time as Alec, the two knives collided throwing each other off course.

"You're going to tell me no matter what I say." Alec muttered, his eyes now staring down at his trembling hands.

"I know, Alec, because I've never had to go through half of what you've been through. Max's death, coming out to your parents, dating someone like Magnus regardless of what people say or think about you. I've never done half of those things, but I've watched you and I've seen you get through them, wondering if I could ever have the strength to do that, to be like you. That's how I know." Jace paused, staring directly at Alec he could see the tears in Alec's eyes, "That's how I know," Jace repeated, "I know you're going to get through this, you always have and I'm going be there every step of the way picking you up when you fall." Finally, Alec looked at him and smiled, "Thanks Jace." He had said.

*****

Alec finally noticed Jace looking at him, "What is it?" He asked, breaking his staring contest with the floor to look at Jace.

"Nothing," Jace said, "I'm just glad I picked you to be my Parabatai."

Alec smiled, "So am I." He looked away as Isabelle and Clary joined them, "All set?" He asked, they nodded, they turned to face Tessa who was holding open the Portal for them to walk through, Isabelle and Clary went first followed by Jace. Just as Alec was about to step through the Portal a voice called him back, he glanced round and spotted Cortana stood behind him, she smiled, "Are you feeling any better?" She asked, her voice lowered to hide their conversation from everyone else. Alec nodded, "As better as I can be." She held out a small manga book for Alec to take, "It's not much but hopefully it'll bring you some form of happiness, it's my favourite but I want you to have it. There's a quote I heard once written on the first page."

Alec smiled, "Thank you." He wrapped his arms around her and gave her a quick hug before slipping the book into his pocket, "I'll try to visit at some point. We all will." He said and Cortana nodded. He stepped through the Portal.

*****

The Portal spat them out into the front yard of the New York Institute, Alec's smile dropped as he spotted his mom stood on the front step. Everything that had happened recently was beginning to take its toll and not just on him. He clasped his cold trembling hands tightly as his mom stepped towards, Clary was already heading over to greet Simon. A few song lyrics filled Alec's head as he stood, barely hearing what his mom was saying:

'My hands are cold,

My body's numb,

I'm still in shock;

What have you done.'

Alec shook his head to clear his mind as his mom hugged Isabelle, then Jace and eventually turned to him. He stood frozen in shock as her arms went round him. "Oh, Alexander. I was so worried." She whispered, he frowned in confusion and looked over at Jace and Isabelle for help, they looked as shocked as he was. He pulled back with a jerk. Did they have a visitor round? Is that why she was acting all different towards him? 'This is a trick,' He thought, 'or I died fighting Marbas and this is a dream.' But the weight of the book in his pocket was proof that he hadn't died. He shook his head, too confused to understand anything, and walked past Maryse and into the Institute. He knew his family and friends were staring at him, watching as he walked past but he didn't care. Nor did he stop when Jace called his name, he just marched by with his eyes glued on his combat boots trusting his feet to take him where he needed to go.

'I wonder how much more love this heart can lose,

And I'm dying, dying,

From these ancient wounds.'

He pushed open the door and found himself in Max's bedroom. He hadn't been in here for ages, not since they'd gotten back from Idris after his funeral. Tears pricked Alec's eyes as he looked around at his younger brother's bedroom. Max's books were still in the same neat piles on his bookshelves and his pyjamas were folded neatly on the pillows as though he'd just been about to put them on, although he never would again. A thin layer of dust covered the windowsill, but didn't cover any of Max's stuff - they'd kept the room regularly cleaned - Alec ran a hand along the windowsill brushing away the dust onto his jeans; he sat down on the edge of Max's bed. Isabelle had placed the figurine on the bedside table along with the copy of 'Angel Sanctuary' which Alec had placed beside it. Alec picked up the book and took the photo out of the back to stare down at it, tears trailing down his cheeks. 'Oh Max,' He thought, 'it should have been me! Not you. Me.'

Jace headed to Alec's room and knocked on the door, "Alec?" He called through the wood, "Are you okay?" There was no answer, Jace sighed and pushed open the door. The room was empty, he opened the door to Alec's bathroom but even that was empty, "Alec?" He called, glancing around the room. He paused thinking for a moment before an idea popped into his head, "I know exactly where he is!" He cried and headed down the corridor towards Max's bedroom, he knocked on the door again, "Alec?" He called as he opened the door. He glanced around and spotted Alec sat on the edge of Max's bed, a manga book and photo clutched in his hands. Alec looked up as Jace entered, "I'm okay." He said, "I just wanted to see Max." He turned the photo so Jace could see it, Jace smiled.

"Hey Max." He murmured and looked back at Alec, "Do you want to be alone for a bit?" He asked, Alec nodded. "Okay." Jace said, picking up Church who had slunk into the room behind him, "Why don't you go give Alexy a big cuddle, Churchy?" He said to the cat, walking over towards Alec.

"No, don't you dare!" Alec laughed, "I've had enough scratches from that devil cat to last a lifetime!"

"You won't scratch him will you Chruchy? No, because you're a good little kitty. You don't scratch Uncle Jacey, do you? No, you don't." Jace cooed, holding Church with his left hand he went to bury his face in Church's fur. But the cat was having none of it, he whipped round in Jace's arms and batted Jace's face with his paws, leaving scratches on Jace's cheeks. Jace dropped Church in surprise and the cat streaked from the room. "You were saying?" Alec laughed.

"He scratched me!" Jace exclaimed, "I can't believe it!"

"Uncle Jacey's good little kitty isn't so good after all!" Alec said, clutching at his sides which were beginning to ache from laughter, Jace pouted. "Whatever Alec. I'll be in kitchen if you want food, Isabelle claims it's my turn to cook. I only know how to make cheese sandwiches!" He turned and left Alec alone in Max's room with a sigh. Alec stood, "I'll see you later Max." He whispered and left, heading towards his own room.

*****

Magnus stepped through his own Portal back into the living room of his own apartment in Brooklyn, the cat carrier with Chairman Meow inside was held tightly in his hands. He hurriedly rearranged his furniture back to the way he liked it and let Chairman Meow out of the basket, "Home sweet home, Chairman." Magnus said as he looked around his apartment, "Isn't it good to be back?"

__________________________

A/N:

Yay, Magnus is back!!! I wonder how that will play out. Heehee.

Anyway, if any of you were wondering about the whole thing with Jace, Alec and Church it was inspired by something that happened with me and my kitty this morning. Haha.

On to things of importance, the next chapter is on the way! Adieu my friends. :)