Here is Chapter Three. This is for Clarkeyfangirl and the pervs over on WFCTGIO ;) Thanks for the reviews and story alerts and everything. I love you guys :)

Christian closed the front door behind him and started to half-walk, half-run in the direction of Bridge Street, where he knew Syed would be walking on his way to the flat. The place looked pretty deserted, material from the market stalls fluttering in the gentle breeze. He froze, however, when he caught sight of the black BMW at the top of the street. An instinctive reaction, but it couldn't be, could it...?

Then he heard the unmistakable threatening tones of a voice he'd hoped to never hear again, coming from a hidden alley down the side of the street. He edged closer, and caught sight of one of his worst nightmares – Qadim, holding Syed up against the wall; looking ready to carry out the sort of violence Christian knew first-hand that he was capable of committing. He felt ice-cold fear spread throughout his body as it all came back to him, memories he'd tried to forget.

"Where is Syed?" he asked again, poised to pull on a leather glove in an almost casual manner. His voice was low and threatening, and Christian knew what was coming, and there was nothing he could say to stop it.

"I don't know," he sobbed, feeling the grip of a strong hand hold him in place against the pillar, arms holding his own, so there was no escape. All he could do was stare at the leather glove, which Amira's father was now slowly pulling onto his right hand, flexing his fingers. Christian shut his eyes in anticipation and just prayed that it would be over quickly.

With an intake of breath, Christian was back in the present. From where he was standing, he could see Qadim pulling on a black leather glove; the sight made him physically tremble and caused a cold sweat to break out on his back. He couldn't breathe. He felt immobilised; he knew Syed was in danger, yet he couldn't force himself to move. At that point, however, he saw Syed's eyes flicker upwards, and their eyes met. Christian saw the terror in his eyes; recognised because he knew it only too well. With that, the spell was broken, and Christian exhaled forcefully. Syed will get hurt if I don't step in right now. The thought of it, the thought of Syed getting hurt because of this man...suddenly he saw red. His legs began to work again. Focusing his eyes squarely on the back of Qadim's head, Christian broke into a run. He grabbed Qadim's shoulders, hauled him away from Syed and roughly shoved him against the opposite side of the alley.

"Don't you touch him!" Christian yelled at him, his hands gripping tightly on his shoulders. "Finish me off if you want to, but don't you lay a finger on Syed!" he could hear his voice shaking, but he meant it. He was scared, but if Syed was okay then it didn't matter. Without warning, Qadim raised his hands and grabbed him around the neck, pushing him backwards. Christian felt the cold, damp bricks slam into his back, and the feel of the leather glove around his throat. He couldn't see Syed. He started to gasp for breath. Qadim really is going to finish me off...

"NO!"

Suddenly the pressure on his throat was lifted. He hadn't realised he'd shut his eyes until they flew open in surprise. He saw a similar expression on Qadim's face as he was pulled backwards, away from him, towards the entrance of the alley, back onto the street.

Syed had grabbed him by his coat and had pulled as hard as he could. Realising what was happening, Qadim suddenly whipped around to face Syed and shoved him with considerable force, making him fall to the ground. Christian hadn't even begun to breathe again when he saw Qadim raise his fist, looking down on Syed. Before he could stop it, he felt, rather than heard, the sound of knuckles connecting with beautiful tanned skin, and he couldn't bear it. He cried out in anguish.

"Syed!"

He went to move forward, but something – someone – was holding him back. Only then did he notice the police car sitting right beside the BMW, and now two police officers were pulling Qadim back, up against the car, clinking handcuffs locking his arms behind his back. Christian shrugged off the one who was holding on to him and ran to Syed.

He was still on the ground, propped up on his elbow, his other hand hesitantly touching the spot where he'd been hit, just below his left eye. Christian crouched down beside him, tears in his eyes.

"Sy..." he began, tentatively reaching out to touch his cheek – it wouldn't be long before a bruise formed. "What happened?"

When Syed spoke, his voice was hoarse.

"He came up behind me...shoved me into the alley...Yusef told him about the engagement. He said he'd come back to finish me off..." he couldn't continue, and looked away, suddenly fascinated with the zip on his jacket. Without speaking, Christian gently put one arm around him, placing his hands under Syed's arms and lifting him into a standing position. Once they were both upright, he wordlessly pulled him in for a hug. Syed clung to him, and they stayed like that for a while, long after the police car had driven off with Qadim. They both took comfort from the embrace, eventually pulling apart to start the short journey home, their safe haven.

...

He watched them embrace from where he stood at the window, wanting to look away but not quite managing to. He'd seen Qadim earlier, ringing the bell to their old flat. He wondered what had brought him back to Walford, why he was seeking them out once again...then he remembered. The...engagement. Qadim must have gotten wind of it, and he had a feeling he knew how.

Just minutes earlier, he'd been bending over the sink washing his hands, and happened to glance out the window down Bridge Street, catching a glimpse of Syed on the phone walking up through the market. He observed his body language, relaxed and almost jubilant, probably on his way home. He'd also watched with baited breath as Qadim got out of his car and grabbed Syed from behind, pulling him into an alley. After a moment's hesitation he'd reached for the phone.

"Police, please. There's a man on Bridge Street, Walford, being attacked, or just about to be. It's round the side of the Queen Victoria pub."

He saw them begin to pull apart, and not wanting to be seen, turned away, drawing the curtain, phone still in hand. His tight grip on it loosened, now he knew his son was safe.