Jace kicked open Magnus's front door. He hadn't been answering, so oh fucking well. His door could be fixed, not that Jace gave a damn if it couldn't anyway.

"Magnus Bane," he growled as he stomped up the steps. "My brother is hurt because of you!"

Magnus appeared at the top, his expression neutral. "What are you talking about?"

"I said," Jace repeated slowly, his voice dangerously low, "that my brother is fucking hurt because of you."

"Alec?"

"Who else?" Jace shoved Magnus back. His mind was whirling with anger and frustration and dammit, Magnus deserved it." You hurt him! He's in the infirmary, Catarina said she needed your help-"

"In the infirmary?" Magnus interrupted, his face now worried.

"Do I have to repeat everything I say?'' Shouting now, Jace took a step forward, barely noticing how Magnus didn't back away. "He's been poisoned by a demon!"

"How exactly is that my fault?" Magnus demanded, eyes narrowing. "In case you hadn't noticed, I'm not the demon that hurt him."

"No, but you're clearly a demon of your own," Jace snapped. Magnus's expression didn't change, but his jaw tightened. "He has cuts all over his body, Magnus."

When Magnus only raised an eyebrow, Jace elaborated. " Straight cuts. Perfectly parallel. All up and down his arms, his hips, his thighs."

"Oh my god," Magnus breathed out, his eyes now widening in realization. "He didn't-"

"Well he did, and why else would he have done it except for you?" Jace reached out and yanked Magnus in by the shirt, which would have been funny in any other situation considering Magnus was much taller than him. "You're going to come to the Institute. You're going to help heal Alec, you're going to fix him , and then you're going to leave, understand?"

Magnus pried Jace's fingers off of him. The coldness in his expression had returned. He turned around and walked back into his apartment.

Jace marched into the infirmary with Magnus in tow, stopping in front of Maryse as she looked up. "I brought Magnus."

"Thank god," Catarina said, beckoning the other warlock forward. "I need all the help I can get, I don't have enough in me to- Magnus?"

Magnus had stopped in the middle of the room, staring at Alec, lips parted, eyes sad. He swallowed and started towards the bed. "I'll give him some of my strength. Jace, Maryse, could you give us some room?"

"There's plenty of room, the infirmary is huge," Jace snapped, but a firm hand grasped his shoulder and began tugging him out of the room. Jace glanced back at Maryse as they went, not daring to resist.

(Magnus's pov)

Magnus placed his hands over Alec's chest and closed his eyes. He felt the bed shift as Catarina did the same. He focused all his energy on pouring the majority of his strength into Alec as he hoped they could save him.

The door to the infirmary opened and Magnus and Catarina appeared. Everyone's heads shot up and Jace narrowed his eyes. "How is he?"

"I'll let Magnus explain," Cat murmured, stepping around everyone else. "Don't worry about the charge, Maryse."

All eyes turned towards the only Downworlder left and Magnus stepped forward, only to stumble. Izzy was up in an instant to grab him and help him to a seat.

"Why are you helping him?" Jace shook his head in disgust.

"He's here to help." Isabelle purses her lips. "I don't forgive you," she said to Magnus, "and I'm still pissed as hell but you care about my brother. Now explain. The-the scars, the cuts- tell me they aren't..."

Magnus looked away, unable to bear watching her expression of worry change once he answered her. "He'll live. He's better now, we got him into a stable position. As for the marks- I don't think anyone here is naive about what they are."

"How could he do this to himself?" Maryse took in a deep breathe. "How could he hurt us all like this?" Magnus didn't mistake the anger that flashed through her eyes and he didn't like it.

"I'm sure that's what he was thinking, yes," he snapped. "I'm sure he was trying to hurt you on purpose. Guess what, Lightwood-"

"Okay, Magnus, you look exhausted and I think you need to get some rest. You don't look like have enough magic left in you to make a portal or even walk back home. Let's go."

Magnus bit his lip, but let Isabelle drag him up and into the infirmary, avoiding Maryse's pissed expression, aware that Izzy's interruption was probably for the best.

"Is he going to be okay?" she asked softly once the door was shut.

He slowly dropped down onto the bed. "Physically? Yes. Mentally?" He shook his head.

There was silence for a moment. "He needs you," Isabelle eventually said. "I know Jace probably screamed at you and told you to stay away, but you're what Alec needs. Nobody else can save him. You have to stay and help, Magnus."

Magnus couldn't look away from her pleading. "I don't know, Izzy."

"Magnus," she whispered. Her breathing was irregular, tears dripping down. "You have to try. For me, for Alec. Please."

Her voice hardened. "I will never forgive you if you don't."

Magnus didn't look at her. He didn't know what else to do and he wanted to help Alec. But he didn't want to hurt him more by staying. Alec was precious, and he deserved to get better. He made up his mind, letting out a tired sigh. Slowly he raised his head and his eyes met Isabelle's.

"I'll stay."