Broken Trust

Chapter 7 - Don't get comfortable

"Brother! I'm so happy to see you!"

The way Jace almost choked the life out of Alec, as soon as he saw him, let Alec to believe, things might be worse with Clary, than he had originally thought.

"Easy now... I can't help you, if you kill me."

Alec wrestled himself free of his brothers embrace about the same time as Magnus caught up to them. When Jace saw Magnus approaching, he cast a sidelong glance at Alec, curious as to why he would bring the old high school jock with him. Alec rolled his eyes in response.

"Jace, it's nice to see you again."

Magnus extended his hand in order to greet Jace properly, but the only response he got from Jace was a glare and a huff of breath.

"I definitely can't say the same about you."

Jace was never known for keeping his opinions to himself, and Alec had to choke down a laugh when he saw the confused expression on Magnus' face.

"You don't think I know what you did to my brother, you slimy little weasel?!"

Stepping back and out of reach, Magnus looked to Alec for help, but it didn't seem to be coming. He took a deep breath to center himself before engaging in this tensed up situation.

"Jace... I know things didn't exactly go well between me and Alexander, but that is not why I am here. I am here to help you and Clary. And I promise you, I have been trying to make things right with your brother. I never meant to hurt him. I was just a coward and insecure. I'm sorry. To the both of you."

A little touched by Magnus' way of handling it, Alec placed his hand at Jace's shoulder, making him back away from Magnus.

"You have apologized enough to me Magnus. But I appreciate you apologizing to my brother too."

Staring Alec dead in the eye and ignoring Jace, Magnus responded.

"I will never stop apologizing to you Alexander. Never."

Alec tried to ignore the way Magnus words made his heart swell and his stomach flutter and grabbed his suitcase instead.

"Alright. Let's get going. Jace, you can explain what happened on the way."

In the car Jace told them about how he and Clary had gotten into a stupid fight a couple of nights ago, and then he had gone to a club, to drink his sorrows before he would return home and apologize to Clary. Just as he usually did when they had a fight.

"But you didn't go home, did you?"

Magnus leaned towards Alec and Jace from the backseat. He knew Clary very well and even though she might start a fight about something small, she wouldn't stay mad for days unless something really bad had happened.

Jace glared at Magnus in the rearview mirror. Still angry that Magnus was even there.

"Jace, talk to me. Is Magnus right?"

Alec feared the answer, especially when Jace shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

"Jace? Say something."

"YES! Okay? He's right! I didn't go home. I spent the night in someone else's apartment, but nothing happened, alright! I was just drunk!"

"Goddamnit Jace! How can you be so stupid!?"

Alec glared at his moronic brother. He didn't understand how people could drink them self so senseless, that they did stupid things as cheat on their partner. Then he caught a glimpse of Magnus in the rearview mirror and remembered that even though he hadn't cheated, he had gotten drunk and slept with Magnus the very same night, his boyfriend had left him. Maybe he wasn't one to judge. He took a deep calming breath.

"I'm sorry Jace. I didn't mean that. We all do things we regret. Lets just try and talk to Clary about this. Is she going to let us in when we arrive?"

Alec knew how much temper the little redhead had, so he doubted Jace would be allowed to go through the door.

"Maybe he will?"

Jace nodded towards Magnus.

"But I'm currently staying in a hotel, so I don't know..."

-----

"Babe, would you please let me in?"

It was a strange thing for Alec to see Jace in such a vulnerable state of mind. He had always been the strong one. The confident one. But he was a total mess right now. Standing outside a closed door. Begging and pleading for his wife to let him in.

"Please... Babe, can you hear me?"

Through the iced glass they could see a female figure approaching the door.

"GO away Jace! I don't want to see you! AND STOP CALLING ME BABE!"

"Ba... Clary, please. Alec is here with me. Let us in..."

The door opened a little. Still chained, so Jace couldn't push the door open.

"Alec? Why are you here? If you are going to defend him, you can might as well forget about it."

"No... I just want to know what's going on..."

"Then talk to Jace. I'm sure he can give you all the details!"

Clary was about to slam the door shut, when Magnus pushed past the others.

"Biscuit, lets talk about this. We are all adults, right? And I'm on your side, you know that."

"Magnus? Oh my god, Magnus! I haven't seen you in forever!"

She smiled at her old friend. She had missed him. Then she remembered she was mad and glared at Jace.

"If I let you in, you have to keep him away from me. They can talk in the kitchen. You and I stay in the living room. Deal?"

They all knew Clary wouldn't budge on this one, so they all agreed to her terms.

----

"Jace, you've got to tell me what happened. The whole story alright?"

Alec needed to know exactly what happened. He didn't want to believe that his brother was capable of cheating.

"You know me brother. I can get pissed and stubborn, but I would never hurt Clary. You know that."

Jace stared into Alec's eyes, begging him to believe him.

"I know... I know. So, what happened?"

"I went to the club and got a few drinks. I was pissed and I needed to blow of some steam. So, when this woman came and asked me to dance, I said yes. I was drunk and stupid, I know... well anyways, one dance became many and before I knew it, I was walking her home. I didn't want her to walk home alone, and yeah, I was too drunk to realize how stupid it was to walk another woman, than my wife, home. The next thing I remember is waking up, fully dressed by the way, on the couch, listening to a strange woman talking on the phone. It took me a couple of minutes before I realized she was talking to Clary on my phone. Apparently, Clary had been worried when I didn't come home, and then she had called me. The woman didn't want me to wake up so she answered the phone. I was so pissed at her, but I know it was my own fault. It was stupid."

Alec watched how his brother almost fell apart from telling the story.

"Please tell me that I didn't fuck up the best thing that has ever happened to me?"

"Don't worry Jace. I'll help you. Did you explain it to Clary?"

"No. when I came home, she had packed a bag with my stuff and placed it outside the front door. She won't listen to me..."

Alec stood up.

"I'll talk to her..."

"Don't bother."

Magnus entered the room.

"I've already convinced her to talk to him. But not until tomorrow. She needs some space. So Jace, Clary has agreed that you can sleep on the couch."

Magnus turned has gaze towards Alec.

"And you and I, get the spare room."

"Great..."

Alec mumbled under his breath and rolled his eyes.