Every Cell

Summary: "Every single cell of my body loves you," she had told him. Well, every cell of his body still loved her.

CHAPTER ONE

She didn't know why but she followed him. Her feet were carrying her out the door, around and out to the alley before she even fully processed that he had run away.

And he was fast. He was moving faster than she thought was actually possible but she could still make him out as his blurry silhouette hurried away, almost turning the corner to get away from her and she knew if that happened she would never get the answers she wanted. So she called out.

"Hey!"

Jace froze at the word.

He didn't think. Why didn't he ever think? He could still make it out of there. He could still get away before this situation got out even more out of hand than it already was.

He told himself it was the best thing for her, for everyone, really, but especially her. The Angels had been clear. Any interference in their punishment could make things worse for her. So, as much as it killed him, he took a deep breath and started to make a move to walk away.

"Hey, I'm talking to you!" Her voice rang out from behind him again. She sounded desperate and he could hear the underlying confusion in her voice. It called out to him so he did the only thing he could possibly do.

He turned around to face her again.

She caught up to him quickly and closed most of the distance between them.

"You can really see me?" He asked her. It was obvious that she could. She was looking right at him, and had followed him out there. But he was still in a state of shocked disbelief that this was actually happening.

Nervous laughter bubbled out of her before she could stop it as she looked up at him. "Why do you keep asking me that?" She wondered, tilting her head inquiringly. "Of course I can see you."

He didn't answer. He just kept watching her, entranced. She was beautiful. Her red hair had grown out, bangs taking up most of the space on her forehead. Her makeup was different but she still looked absolutely stunning. He could see a million questions swirling in her eyes. And, damn him but he wanted to answer every single one.

"Don't I know you from somewhere?"

He stiffened again and she could tell she was making him nervous.

"We've met before, haven't we?" She prodded.

"No." He answered quickly, his voice hoarse and his eyes swirling with some indefinable emotion. She didn't know why or how but she knew he was lying. "I don't think so."

"Yes, we have," she insisted, nodding her head. Anguish flashed across his face so quickly that she was sure if she hadn't been so close to him, she would never have noticed. "I know that I know you."

He took a deep breath. "You've mistaken me for someone else then. It happens a lot," he said quietly.

"Please don't lie to me," she said, looking at him pleadingly. He swallowed convulsively, shaking his head urgently. "Please, Jace."She had no idea where the name came from but her mouth formed it automatically.

His beautiful eyes widened, snapping up to stare at her in shock. "What did you say?" He asked, his breathing increasing.

It was his name! She knew she had been right. "I said your name," she answered, her heart pounding in her ears. "You're Jace, right?"

"Yeah," he said softly, his mouth curving into a hopeful smile that lit up his face. "Yeah, I'm Jace."

She smiled back at him excitedly. "I'm Clary," she said, extending her hand out to him like a lifeline. He reached out and grabbed on for dear life.

Clary shook his hand, her heart beating so fast it would surely burst right out of her chest. She looked him over from head to toe, everything about him so eerily familiar.

As her surveying gaze swept over him, he felt a rush of warmth wash over him. He was so happy to be with her again, drinking in her presence. Then suddenly her gaze stopped and her eyes widened a fraction. She reached out slowly with her other hand, slow enough that he could have easily stopped her but he didn't dare. Her hand brushed the side of his neck, moving the collar of his shirt lower.

"What are these tattoos on your neck?" Clary asked, touching the unfamiliar black shape. It was beautiful. And familiar.

Jace reached up and flattened her hand against the tattoo, inhaling deeply. "They're not tattoos," he said finally, looking at her with an intensity he knew she didn't quite understand. Yet. "They're runes."

To Hell with the Angels. This was the woman he loved. Clary was the one for him and he would not lose her again.

TBC