Don Alejandro was on his way back from San Francisco with Don Nacho having to successfully add several more heads to his herd when he heard the news that made his blood freeze and robbed him of breath. Zorro had been captured! Alejandro's only thought was of his son. Frozen by the thought of his son it took him several moments to regain his sense and ability to think beyond that. He missed the 'how' of Zorro's capture, not that was really important right now. If his friend noticed his uncharacteristic freeze, Don Nacho did not draw attention to it. As the bearers of the news walked away to continue spreading it, Don Alejandro spared a quick glance at his friend before they both kicked their horses and hurried the final length of the journey to the de la Vega hacienda. Once there, they quickly entered the sala and began discussing what they had been told.

"I can simply not believe it." Don Nacho began. "How many times have we been told that Zorro has either been captured or turned against us? It seems to be Commandante Especial." Don Nacho stated with disgust. Both men uttered a small chuckle remembering the way it usually turned out.

"Indeed my old friend. Prehaps Diego has heard more from Sergeant Garcia." Don Alejandro stated calmly, fully expecting Diego to walk into the room at any moment. "He is probably asleep in his room again. I'll go get him..." He was carefully to add a tinge of disappointment to his tone in addition to shaking his head as he walked towards the stairs.

Don Alejandro got a shock when he opened the door and it was completely empty. Starting to worry just a little, he hurried down the stairs towards the stables. Even when playing the part of a pacifist, Diego had always been a loyal son, so he should have been at the hacienda to greet his father. The sight that greeted him only increased his worry exponentially. Diego's Palomino was there, but Diego was not. The fact that Bernardo was not around could mean only a couple of things. That his son was off being Zorro who was supposedly in jail or that Bernardo was off on an errand. Don Alejandro prayed that it was the latter.

Hearing footsteps behind him, Don Alejandro schooled his face hiding his worry and terror with anger and disappointment. Turning around, he said, "Diego must be in town." Shaking his head once again. "Let's go find out what is happening for ourselves." The men returned to their horses and rode to the pueblo.

Both men got an eerie feeling upon entering the pueblo as the silence was overwhelming. Most of the people, peons, soldiers and caballeros alike, had one of two expressions on their face; anger or sorrow. That more than anything convinced them that the Zorro that had been caught was indeed the real one. Anger overtaking his better judgement for the moment, Don Alejandro rode straight to the cuartel. "I wish to speak to the Commandante." He demanded.

"Commandante says no one is allowed in the cuartel while Zorro is in jail." Corporal Reyes responded. "I think he is afraid someone may try to rescue him. " Corporal Reyes added in a low whisper.

"That's absurd!" Don Nacho responded vehemently while Don Alejandro's face spoke of a barely contained fury.

"Sorry, orders are orders." Corporal Reyes answered sheepishly.

"Fine! Tell the Commandante to meet us in the tavern!" Don Alejandro demanded and then walked across the street to the tavern.

It was maybe another 10 minutes before the Commandante entered and a silence fell throughout the whole building. Seemingly unaffected the Commandante walked over to the two Dons. "You wished to see me Senores?"

Thankfully Don Nacho answered because Don Alejandro was a bit at a loss for words which had never been his strong suit. "Yes. What are you planning to do with Zorro?" Don Nacho asked in a calm voice, though he too owed his life to the outlaw.

"Do? Why what is to be done with any bandidos we catch! He will be hung tomorrow morning." The Commandante replied cheerfully to what was a rather obvious question in his opinion.

"And last rites? How are you going to do that if everyone is forbidden from even entering the cuartel?" Don Alejandro asked with a tone of anger as he found his voice again.

"Ah yes, that." The Commandante paused as if he had forgotten that detail. "Padre Felipe will be coming this evening after supper to administer those." There was a note of disdain in his voice as if the outlaw did not even deserve that. "Now as you gentlemen know, I am a very busy man and must get back to my post. Buenas dias Senores." and with that he turned and left before either of the two men could get another word out.

After sharing in a quick refreshment with his friend, Don Alejandro excused himself. "I am sorry my friend to leave you so soon, but I should track down that son of mine. Prehaps he is back at the hacienda by now."

"I understand. I hope he is for his sake!" The two friends shared a laugh and then Don Alejandro walked out the door to his horse.

His brief talk with the Commandante solidified it for him. Zorro had indeed been captured, the Commandante wouldn't have been so happy otherwise. He was able to rein in his emotions and keep his horse to a trot until the pueblo was out of sight.

After that he sped up and rode swiftly to the hacienda hoping to find Bernardo and some way to contact his son, since visiting was clearly out of the question.

Don Alejandro went straight to his son's bedroom figuring that Bernardo was most likely there and it also afforded privacy for the discussion about Zorro.

Sure enough this time when he entered the room Bernardo was in there looking depressed, if he wasn't already certain of Zorro's capture that would have given it away. Walking over to Bernardo, Don Alejandro put his hand on the other man's shoulder. Startled the man looked up and Don Alejandro noticed his bright eyes. Don Alejandro took a deep breath and planned out his signs for the deaf mute.

He started by pointing to his self then at his ear, and made the sign of a Z and made a fist near his ear and pulled up while tilting his head. From Bernardo's nod it appeared that he understood and Bernardo returned with a sign of his own. Pointing to himself and then his ears and nodded.

It took a moment but Don Alejandro got it. He tested it by saying it out loud in an incredulous tone, "You can hear?"

Bernardo nodded sheepishly.

"Thank goodness. I wasn't sure how to ask for your help. I need to to find a way to contact him, but since the Commandante isn't letting visitors in I am not sure what to do... Do you have any ideas?"

Bernardo looked shocked. He pointed to Don Alejandro and then made the sign of Zorro and then mimicked Diego by playing guitar.

"Yes, I've know for a while now. Now do you have any ideas?" Don Alejandro asked impatiently.

Bernardo paused for a moment and then he lit up. Holding up a finger he mimed writing a letter and then riding a horse and then made a cross.

"Let me see if I understand you. Write a letter and then take it to the mission...That's right! The padre will get to see Zorro! That's a good idea! Thank you."

With that idea he set to writing a letter. It took several tries to get his ideas down and get them in order. And then he had to figure out a way to let his son know without using specifics and names. Finally he finished it.

Don Alejandro de la Vega folded the letter and sealed it with a heavy sigh and an even heavier heart. His only son had finally been captured and was to be hanged tomorrow. There was just enough time to ride to the mission and be back before supper. Alejandro mounted his horse and rode to the mission, wondering how to approach the padre with the letter. Somehow just handing it over did not seem like a viable option. Wishing he had his son's talent for deception he dismounted and opened the padre's office door. Luck was with him as it was currently empty. Alejandro quickly decided that leaving the letter on the desk and riding away before he was seen was the best option.