Colliding Hearts #Wattys2017

Chapter 26- Agreement

Jace appeared just outside of the Institute, his mind having wandered and he had almost ended up back at the apartment. Once the feeling of dizziness subsided he rushed forward and into the Institute, heading towards Alec's room; it being the first place he figured the journals would be.

He planned on hiding them with Mary Milligan, there no downworlder could touch them and no other shadowhunter would think to look there, all of the cache weapons having been moved. As he was rushing towards Alec's room he caught sight of Jocelyn and Luke, whisperingly harshly to one another just outside their room. Jace pressed his back against the wall and hid from their view as he eavesdropped on their conversation.

"We can't just run from our problems, it didn't work the last time and it won't work this time." Luke hissed as he could have sworn he saw Jace appear only to back up. He could tell Jace was near and he hoped he was listening to their conversation; if he was he could pass the news to Alec and Emerson, wherever they were.

"We didn't run far enough," Jocelyn began but Luke let out a sarcastic laugh.

"Yeah, not far enough, we left Idris and ran to Brooklyn. Clary is a well-known shadowhunter and Emerson is the damn Anahera, there is no place that those two can go and not be known." Luke hissed as he glared at his wife.

He loved her with all of his heart, she was his mate and he would give his life for her, follow her to hell and back if it meant making her smile. However, the way she was acting reminded him of a woman from long ago, a woman who was too afraid to accept things the way they were and would rather lie and run than stay and fight.

"I have to try, you've seen Emerson, she's not cut out for this life!" Jocelyn hissed as she grew frustrated with Luke. Couldn't he see that the choice she was making was the right one, the smart and safe choice?

"There is more to that girl than you are seeing, she lost the woman who raised her for nineteen years, not even three weeks ago and she is still getting up every day and facing this new world, on her own. She is doing that, not Alec, not Magnus not anyone but her." Luke stressed as he grew even more agitated with the conversation.

"I lost her once and I came damn close to losing Clary, either you come with us or you stay here. I'm not asking." Jocelyn spoke in a cold tone as she turned on her heel and left, heading back into their room and slammed the door. Luke fought the urge to scream as he turned and met Jace at the end of the hallway.

"What the hell is going on?" Jace spoke in a hushed tone as he ran his fingers through his hair and stared tiredly at Luke. Luke shook his head and crossed his arms; he had seen Jace after a battle enough time to know that something had happened.

"Where is everyone? Jocelyn thinks that taking Clary and Emerson away will solve everything. She doesn't know what we do but, Jace I-I." Luke stopped himself as he shook his head and ran his fingers across his face. It was apparent neither of them had an easy afternoon. Jace's jaw ticked and he felt the need to punch something rush over him as he let out a humorless laugh.

"Yeah, that, that's just great, Magnus and I decided that it was best for Izzy and Simon to know that Alec and Emerson shared a mark. Emerson was bitten by a Ravenor demon which apparently caused her to use her magic, she and Clary both are passed out at Magnus's." Jace breathed for a brief second.

"Magnus left to find you and tell you and I came here to get rid of the journals. It's best for everyone, especially Alec and Emerson that they stop looking for answers and everyone forgets about the last two weeks." Jace explained as he gave Luke the shortened version. He briefly wondered where Magnus was since Luke was here and not at work.

"It might keep Jocelyn from running off," Luke trailed off as he mulled over what Jace had told him. He wasn't keen on keeping people from being who they were meant to be but he had a special place in his heart for his step-daughters and possible future step-son in laws.

"Alright, alright we'll hide the journals, somewhere not even we know where they are. Are Emerson and Clary alright?" Luke questioned as he led Jace towards the entrance of the Institute. Jace followed in slight confusion, not understanding why they were leaving the Institute but didn't question it as he nodded in response to Luke's question.

"Their badass Fray-Garroway's, of course their fine, where are we going," Jace began but trailed off as a portal appeared near Luke's car. Magnus stepped out of the portal and fixed his blazer and focused on them.

"I trust you caught him up?" Magnus questioned, the portal remained open behind him and Jace realized that he would be leaving soon.

"I know enough, Jocelyn wants to take the girls and run, and if we can hide the journals she just might stay." Luke replied as he opened the passenger side door and leaned in, opening the dashboard and pulling out both journals. He passed them to Magnus and climbed out of his car and shut and locked the door.

"Where can we hide them?" Jace questioned as he all but glared at the journals. If Emerson and Alec had never found them he couldn't help but think things would have been a lot better. They could have just accepted the fact they share a magical mark and they could have started training Emerson to be a shadowhunter.

"Somewhere far away, a place not even I will be able to get them once they are there. Go back to my apartment and get them, Clary should be awake along with Emerson. If Emerson isn't awake just offer her a list of different foods loudly and she'll wake right up. Just poke Alec or toss water on him to get him up. I'll meet you tomorrow to let you know if it's been done." Magnus spoke as he held tightly onto the journals before turning and stepping into his portal. Luke and Jace watched as the portal vanished and they shared a curious look.

"I'll drive," Jace offered hoping to lighten the mood. Luke shook his head and walked around to the driver's side and unlocked the doors and opened it.

"I'm a great driver," Jace lied as they were both in the car and heading towards Magnus's apartment.

"I've seen the way you drive and I happen to like this car." Luke said only to have Jace roll his eyes.