Until you came along (english)

Chapter 24

2 weeks later

"Alec, calm down! Everything is gonna be alright!" said Magnus.

Alec, Magnus, Isabelle, Simon, Clary, Jace and Luke were all together in court. They had all come to support Alec and Magnus. Indeed, today was the trial of Jason, accused of attempted murder on Magnus. The trial had just taken place and they are all currently waiting in the corridor of the court, which the judge gives his deliberation. Alec could not stop pacing. All the others were sitting on a bench, feverishly waiting for the judge's answer. But Alec couldn't stop walking or trying to hear what was being said behind the door of the trial room. He was stressed as never before.

"How do you want me to calm down, Magnus?"

"Please Alec, come and sit down. You make me dizzy to walk like that!"

With a sigh, Alec finally decided to sit on the bench. He stood between Magnus and Isabelle. She pressed his hand gently. Magnus put a hand on Alec's shoulder and looked at him tenderly. At these two contacts, Alec felt a little better. Simon was sitting on the other side of Isabelle. Jace and Clary were sitting next to them, chatting in a low voice. As for Luke, he sat at the other end of the bench, and seemed thoughtful. Everyone was waiting impatiently for what would follow.

"Magnus, tell me what happened when you were there," Alec said, gesturing his chin at the trial room.

Indeed, Magnus had been called to testify against Jason. But Alec couldn't attend the trial, which made him furious. Moreover, it anguished him not to know what had happened. He would have liked to attend. Even more: he would have liked to testify against Jason too. But what Jason had done to him seemed nothing compared to what he had done to Magnus, it wasn't considered serious enough for Alec could testify against him. So only Magnus had the right to testify. And whenever Alec thought about what Jason did to Magnus, he had an uncomfortable sensation in his stomach and an unimaginable anger against Jason.

Magnus cleared his throat and told Alec how the trial went:

"The judge started reading the facts, which Jason tried to do against me. Then I was directly called to testify. I told everything: how Jason came home, the beatings, the threats ... I told how you had arrived just in time before he became even more dangerous."

At this memory, Magnus shook Alec's hand in his.

"Then," Magnus continued, "there was Jason's defense. His lawyer recalled his illness and used it to make him less guilty. Then it was my lawyer who spoke: he spoke about Jason's break-in at my home, the after-effects that led me to the hospital and the death threats. The judge listened to us all and then he decided that he had to make his decision. Either Jason would be released on bail, or he would go to prison for 10 years for attempted murder with a follow-up in a psychiatric hospital once or twice a month. The judge told us to go out so he could make his decision with the lawyers."

Alec was nervous listening to Magnus's story.

"And ... he was there? Jason?"

"Yes. He was present, but he didn't say a single word. His lawyer spoke for him."

"How was he?"

"He seemed ... elsewhere. As if he were somewhere else. He didn't look at me once. He seemed exhausted, as if he didn't stop making sleepless nights."

"Magnus ... don't think I'm going to have compassion for him."

Magnus chuckled.

"I know well. I'm just telling you the truth, he really didn't look good. He had barely raised his head to look at what was happening around him."

At that moment Luke spoke.

"That's because they gave him some medicines to temper his moods and bring down his violent attacks. To calm him down somehow."

"How do you know that?" asked Alec.

"I'm a cop," Luke reminded him. "And I have access to everything about Jason because I took him to the police and the psychiatric hospital."

"And you think it's the medicines that make it so stoic and ... empty?" Magnus intervened.

"These medicines are intended to stabilize him so that he's not aggressive. They were forced to administer them to him particularly today because it's the day of the trial. Imagine the disaster if Jason began to attack everyone in the middle of the trial."

Alec thought about that. Indeed, it would have been a disaster. Then Clary spoke to Alec:

"Alec, why weren't you able to attend the trial? After all, you know Jason better than all of us, if I can express myself that way."

But it was Magnus who answered.

'I didn't want him to witness that. He has already gone through enough things because of Jason, without adding more. And it didn't last long anyway."

"Let's also hope that they won't take too much time to give their verdict," murmured Isabelle.

Suddenly, a noise made them all raise their heads at the same time. The door of the trial hall had just opened, and two people came out of it: a small man about forty, with brown hair and holding a file in his hand; followed by another taller man. The first is the prosecutor Smith, who is responsible for defending the victim: Magnus. And the second man is Mr. Green, the judge who led Jason's trial. The prosecutor and the judge went straight to Magnus, who stood up immediately. Alec did the same.

"Mr. Bane," the judge greeted.

Magnus nodded politely.

"And you must be Alec Lightwood," the judge said, addressing to Alec.

"Indeed. I'm his boyfriend."

"Very well. You're the person who found Magnus Bane after Jason assaulted him?"

"Yes, I am. Why all these questions?"

"I need to check everything, mister Lightwood. It's a routine question."

"And I brought Jason to the police," Luke said, stepping forward. "I am Luke Garroway. I am a police officer."

"Oh yes, we had been kept informed," said Magnus's lawyer.

Mr. Green and prosecutor Smith shook hands with Luke.

Alec felt bad. All this waiting anguished him, he just wanted to know the answer of the judge. Isabelle, Simon, Jace and Clary were still sitting behind and attentively following the conversation.

Mr. Green spoke again:

"As you know, we have just deliberated, and we finally made our verdict. Jason was sentenced to 10 years in prison for attempted murder, with the obligation to go to a psychiatric hospital once or twice a month for treatment."

Alec listened to the judge's words, and he could not believe it. Jason's harassment and threats were over. He was finally going to be able to live in peace with Magnus, without Jason's constant fear in the shadows. He would finally be able to be happy with the person he loves, without fear of being threatened.

Magnus turned to him. Alec took him in his arms and hugged him tightly, as if they were only the both of them in the hallway of the courthouse.