"And you're positive this potion will uh. . .do the trick?"

Magnus sighed inwardly. "Yes. Absolutely. All my potions, when used as instructed, come with a 100% guarantee." He wondered briefly if the annoyance was evident in his tone, before realizing he simply did not care. This particular client had been exceedingly trying and he was itching to be rid of him.

After a few more patent reassurances, his client finally satisfied, he bid him adieu and quickly saw him out. Once the door was securely latched and his wards back in place, he strode swiftly into the bedroom.

He opened the door gently, pausing briefly to collect himself before entering. His breath caught in his throat at the sight of Alexander, still dead to the world, laid out across his bed. It had been a little over 48 hours since his impromptu surgery and Alec had not stirred once.

Magnus thought back to the day after operating on Alec's infected limb. He had woken up with a stiff neck and a pounding headache, but mercifully once more he felt magic coursing through his veins. Despite his fatigue, he quickly set to the task of pouring healing magic into the wounded boy in his bed. This healing session was not marked by the same desperation of last time, as Magnus slowly and delicately worked his magic.

He started with Alec's raw ankles and wrists, grimacing at the vivid images the injuries stirred up. Pushing those memories down, he gently grasped each injured limb, blue sparks dripping from his fingers into the broken flesh, until the skin was whole once more. He continued this methodical approach until at last, he came to the wounded arm. Gently unwrapping it, he sighed contentedly to find no further signs of infection. He closed his eyes, concentrated, and once more allowed his magic to flow through him, knitting and binding the wound back together. His work at last finished, Magnus knew it now a waiting game.

Two days later, Magnus couldn't help the worry that crept into his mind as he regarded the unconscious Shadowhunter. He made his way to the bed, placing a hand tenderly on Alec's forehead, checking his vitals. He was pleased to find they were stable, as they had been the last 50 times he had checked. Now if only he would wake up.

Logically, he knew that Alec's body simply needed time to recover from the tremendous ordeal it had gone through, but in matters of the heart logic rarely took a front row seat. He needed to see those beautiful hazel eyes and that adorable lopsided grin.

Absently he ran his fingers through Alec's hair, the blue glow of healing magic trailing lazily behind. How had he let himself become so enamored with the young Shadowhunter? He had only known him a short while, and already, he felt that his happiness was tied to the fate of this young man. It was irrational and foolish, and yet utterly undeniable. Magnus Bane, the High Warlock of Brooklyn, was hopelessly and desperately smitten.

He was startled out of his musings as his wards suddenly pulsed in warning. A loud and persistent banging came from his front entrance.

"Magnus Bane? Open up, we need to speak with you!" A harsh voice shouted from outside his abode.

He glanced down at the Shadowhunter in his bed, it took a little longer than he had expected, but he knew they would show up at his door sooner or later to discuss the missing Lightwood.

"This is why you stay out of Shadowhunter business, Magnus," he berated himself softly. But as he looked once more at Alexander, he knew he would do it again in a heartbeat.

"Coming, coming!" He called to his unwelcome visitors. In a flurry of motion, he cast an invisibility glamor over the young Shadowhunter just to be safe, before withdrawing to greet his 'guests'.

"Ah gentleman, to what do I owe the pleasure." Magnus kept his tone light, devoid of the usual biting sarcasm he reserved for the mostlyinsufferable Shadowhunters. No sense in antagonizing them unnecessarily in this instance.

There were three men in all. Two who appeared to be there as the muscle, and the third, a tall thin man dressed impeccably in a gray suit, who was clearly their superior.

"We came to inquire if you have any knowledge about the whereabouts of Alec Lightwood."

Well at least they were straightforward and seeing as their weapons were not drawn, Magnus began to relax. Evidently, he was not a prime suspect, not yet.

"I'm sorry to say I do not. Has something happened?" He asked with feigned confusion and concern. Magnus while not known for his modesty, felt it was accurate to say that his acting was top notch – certainly good enough to fool these buffoons.

The tall wiry fellow responded accusingly, "It is our understanding that you were the last one seen with him before his disappearance."

"Well I cannot say whether or not that is so, it is true that I was with the Lightwood boy not two days ago, after reinforcing the wards, per Robert Lightwood's request. But I have not seen him since. I am sorry to hear of his disappearance."

"Hmmm. Very well. We will be looking into this further. If you should hear anything please contact us immediately."

Something in the way the man's eyes scoured his apartment sent a chill down Magnus' spine. Perhaps he had not been as convincing as he had thought. Or perhaps his interrogator was shrewder than Magnus had anticipated.

"Oh, absolutely. You can count on me."

Magnus casually watched the men file out of his apartment, he waited several moments, allowing for them to make their way out of his building before making his way to the window. As suspected he saw that the "muscle" had stayed behind to watch the apartment, pretty conspicuously too. Apparently, they were not worried about stealth, this was very clearly meant to send a message.

Magnus was counting on the fact that if once Alec woke up this could all be explained and resolved. Though with Shadowhunters you never knew. They were sticklers for the law. Though his motives were purely altruistic, kidnapping was a punishable offense, and one not taken lightly by the Clave.

Sighing, Magnus strengthened his wards, wanting to ensure no unwelcome visitors during the night, before retreating back to the bedroom and setting up his vigil beside the unconscious Shadowhunter.

"Oh Alexander," he whispered sweetly. "What have I gotten myself into? You know, if you wanted to wake up sometime in the near future that would be okay by me."

Magnus took Alec's hand in his and continued talking to him well into the night before finally drifting off into a dreamless sleep.