Chapter 4

"So let me get this straight, you find an opening in his circle, you plant a spy and don't tell anybody about it until you get info. Then, instead of handling it the way you, as a leader are expected to, you go to the last person you're supposed to go to and you.. what, ask for help?"

"Pretty, much, yeah."

Jace could see just how ludicrous Izzy and Alec thought it was. So could he. He had broken almost every single unspoken rule regarding this sort of thing by contacting Clary and involving her and the Institute in this matter. But he also knew that as a leader he was entitled to make certain unconventional choices for the good of his people. Clearly, Izzy and Alec didn't feel exactly the same way.

"Jace" Izzy started carefully, "I'm not questioning your judgement as a leader and you know I love Clary and respect the work she does. It's just.. I don't know how to say this… it's-"

" What Izzy is trying to say is," Alec cut off Izzy, " that we both respect Clary and the work she does, professionally and personally. But, what we can't understand is why did you involve her in this. Especially since, you know."

Jace looked at Alec and saw the apprehension on his face. Despite him falling apart from Clary years ago, Izzy, Alec and Clary had still been close, irrespective of their career choices. He knew Alec cared for Clary and this wasn't his second in command asking, it was her concerned and protective friend.

"That's exactly why I'm involving her." Jace had the explanation ready to give from the moment he had gotten Izzy's call. "She has extra motive to help us, personal motive, which makes her a powerful ally. Plus, she has access to old records about Sebastian from before he turned up on our radar along with other resources."

"But-" Jace quickly added "- I'm not just using her for this. I know what this case is for her. I know how important it is. And I know that this will help her."

Izzy came towards him, a threatening look on her face but some relief in her eyes. "you better be helping her Jonathan Herondale, because if I find out that you are just using her, I swear to god, I will hunt you down."

Jace gulped as Izzy started to leave and looked at Alec.

"Alec-" Jace was cut off when Alec added to Izzy's threats.

" You know she's serious. The stunt you pulled today, you got off easy for it."

"I know."

"Good and don't hesitate to ask for help. You know we are always here for you, right?"

Jace clapped Alec on his back, giving a small smile. "I know. And I will."

Alec gave a nod before heading out the door. If was behind him with the dull thud, leaving him alone with his thoughts before he gave his mother a quick goodbye and headed home.

Coffee container in one hand, files under her arms and her hair flying everywhere, Clary was the definition of a hot mess on a Sunday morning. It was supposed to be her day off but then satan- or as he calls himself, Jace- called her up at 6 in the morning and told her to grab all the files she had on 'public enemy no. 1' and meet him at the Institute as soon as possible.

Having gotten ready in record time and quickly collecting the files and grabbing some much required caffeine, considering she would be dealing with a pompous prick for what would probably be the better part of her only day off, Clary reached the doors of the Institute at exactly 6:41 , expecting to be early but then questioning everything.

Jace was leaning against the door, seemingly unaware of her presence until he turned his head to look at her after hearing her hurried footsteps.

"Oh there you are. How long did it take to grab those files. I've been waiting here for ages."

"If you've been waiting for ages then why didn't you just go inside? Oh right, because you couldn't. Because you needed me." Clary loved teasing him, loved it when his usually emotionless face would crunch up just a little and his eyebrows would slightly furrow over his amber eyes and betray his slight irritation at being teased.

"You know what Morgenstern, maybe I'll just leave and not collaborate in this case-" Jace started to playfully walk away from the Institute when Clary stopped him.

"Oh stop it. You needed my help when you kidnapped me and you still do. So stop being such a drama queen and help me with this stuff."

"Oh how rude and ungentlemanly of me to let such a fair maiden as yourself stand with so much load over her petite shoulders. Let me get some of this stuff from you."

Jace reached for Clary's hands and she expected him to grab some of the files. Instead, he gently grabbed the coffee cup from her hand and said, "There, all set."

Clary was practically seething at this point and put as much bite behind her words as she could. "You took my coffee. That's my coffee."

"Yeah, I know." Jace made a face. "Pretty bitter isn't it. Who knew you were a black coffee kinda girl."

"I like it as bitter and dark as my soul. Or in this case, your soul. Didn't your mom teach you not to steal other people's coffee, especially at 6 in the morning?"

"One, it's not six, it's 6:45. And B, I've been waiting g here for you for ages and you practically stood me up. The coffee was compensation."

"Okay, it's 'two', not B. You can't change the way you speak in one statement."

"Potato, po-tah-to," Jace chirped, chirped, as Clary stared at him, the incredulity she was feeling probably showing on her face. "No time to waste time."

"Are you always this annoyingly crazy or is it just in the morning." Clary had to admit, she was enjoying how deeply his face flushed at that.

"It's usually only when I'm sleep deprived, or I've had a lecture from Izzy. Or in this case, a combination of both."

As soon as Clary heard Izzy's name, she grinned. The previous day, Izzy and left her apartment ready to kill Jace. Clary remembered how she stormed out to call Alec to pick her up and then started sending threatening voicemails to Jace. Clary inwardly flinched when she recalled how Izzy threatened to castrate a certain part of Jace's anatomy, that too in graphic detail. She looked at Jace and realized that he must've been thinking about that too as his expression conveyed terrified.

"Yeah how did that go? Izzy was quite enraged when she left my apartment yesterday, to put it mildly. "

"She was as kind as she is in situations like these. I got some very unappreciated and graphic threats yesterday, all thanks to you."

"Hey," Clary indignantly squeaked, "your were the one who kidnapped me. None of this was my fault."

"Oh would you get off the kidnapping thing. I thought we were over that."

"Jace, you kidnapped me for no practical reason whatsoever. We won't be over that u til I say we are over that." When Jace tried to protest, she quickly added, "or I'll tell Izzy that you didn't apologize, which I assume she wants you to."

Jace played, all the colour draining for his face. He said, horrified, "you wouldn't."

Clary smirked as she leaned against the door. Quickly swinging the coffee from his hands she said, "Oh I would."

Taking a sip from the now lukewarm coffee, she opened the institute door with her keycard and started walking until she stopped and turned to look at Jace and asked, "are you coming in or what?"

She opened the wide doors of the Institute fully open and relished in the shock and subsequent awe on Jace's face as he saw the inside of the Institute for the very first time.

I'm so sorry it took so long to update. My school reopens from Monday so I was busy in some last moment studying and finishing my leftover holiday homework. Hope you liked this chapter. As always, please rate and review. Constructive criticism is always welcome.