Disclaimer I don't own Spooks. All copyright belongs to Kudos productions and BBC television. No copyright infringement is intended nor should be inferred

1.

Tariq shoved his hands in his jacket pocket as he headed out of the newsagents shop. The dark winter night but him to the core as he made his way towards Thames House. Suddenly it didn't seem such a good idea to nip back into work to check the new cctv reader. He began to walk faster, aware of a man following him. He crossed the road, jumping into a black cab. The older man turned to him.

"Where to son?"

Tariq locked the car door before giving Beth and Dimitri's address. He suddenly wanted to be among friends - even if he knew Beth would tease him without remorse.

Cxxxxxx

Beth placed the phone back on the table as Dimitri stepped out of the shower. They were both exhausted and in need of s break but both knew the chances of getting time away from the Grid was negligible.

"Tariq is on his way over. By taxi." Beth frowned.

"Now? Why?"

"He was in the back of the taxi when he called. Sounded worried." She grabbed her jacket. "I don't like it when he gets worried. And since when does Tariq use taxis? It's not like him."

Dimitri dried his hair as he thought about his friend. The technical office was a genius but not known for his common sense. Beth looked over at her boyfriend, noticing that he was deep in thought.

"Call him back. Have him leave the taxi and wait for me to get there." She grabbed her car keys.

"Beth?"

"I'll find him. I don't like this. Rana from records said she was followed going across the park yesterday." She paused as Dimitri made the call.

"It's just ringing. Not even going to answerphone." He sighed. "He always answers."

"I don't like this." She headed towards the door as a car horn caught their attention. The driver seemed insistent as they headed out of the flat. Beth stopped in her tracks as the taxi door opened and Tariq fell to the floor.

Xxxxxxxx

"First Adam is shot and now this!" Harry ran a hand over his face as the assorted officers sat around the briefing room table. Ros leant against the wall; her anger barely contained.

"Beth?"

"I spoke to Masood; Tariq's dad before I got here. Apparently he's been worried about Tariq for a while. There's been more racial attacks recently. His parents were worried." She looked at the shiny oak table. "Why pick on him? Do you think it's related to something he's working on?"

"Could be." Ruth glanced at Harry. "Britain for Britain are stirring up trouble."

"Again?" Zaf rolled his eyes. "Can't believe it's still going. There's a precedent for banning these groups."

"Tell the Home Secretary, not me Zafar." Harry leant his elbows on the table. Malcolm spoke for the first time since he had arrived.

"When I spoke with Dimitri earlier I decided to retrace Tariq's steps. The cctv footage from outside the apartment building where Beth and Dimitri live is very clear. I took the car registration plate for Ruth to run and followed the car journey in reverse. Up until the point where Tariq hailed a taxi." He pressed a few keys on the tablet in front of him. "As you can see." He nodded at the screen behind Harry; aware that everyone's attention was on the screen.

"It wasn't random." Zoe stated firmly. "They knew who Tariq is. They deliberately targeted him."

"Yes." Ruth tried to keep her voice even. She didn't know if she was angry or heartbroken that her young friend had been attacked. "But he got into that car freely. He gave the taxi driver Beth and Dimitri's home address."

"Which means if he was targeted you two are now in the line of fire." Ros stated. "Calum arrange a safe house. No arguments Beth."

Beth opened and closed her mouth before looking away and nodding once.

"Tariq has been moved to ITU. He's seriously ill. It looks like someone wanted the boy silent." Harry looked at his team. "I don't know if this was due to his job, bad luck, something in Tariq's personal life or racism. What I do know is you should all up your personal security until we know otherwise. Adam is still recovering and Tariq is sick; so we are understaffed."

"We've worked with less." Ruth sighed. Harry nodded once.

"We find out who did this, how and why. For Tariq." Harry stated as the team set about preparing to leave the room. He pinched the bridge of his nose praying silently that history was repeating itself.

Xxxxxxxxx

A/N please review