A/N: All right, sportsfans. So…clearly the first Zorro story I've done. For all my fellow JAG fanfictioners out there…don't fret. I've got a few new JAG stories on the backburner. Maybe like the waaaay backburner, though. Be patient. Anyway, I hope people enjoy this one.

Relevant Info: This story starts a few weeks after Conspiracy of Blood.

Disclaimer: Like I'd be wasting my time with Zorro fanfiction if I owned it…

Ransom

Chapter 1

Diego de la Vega gave a contented sigh as he took another bite of arroz con pollo. Victoria, his tavern keeper, was without a doubt the best cook in the territory. Perhaps even the whole of the Spanish empire.

He smiled to himself. His tavern keeper.

Victoria.

He let his fork dip slowly back to his plate as he fondly remembered the day he proposed to her. It had been a somewhat harrowing experience as bandits chased them all the way to the cave entrance, but the result of their time together he would treasure always above all else. At least until they got married anyway. That would certainly trump becoming engaged. He was certain Victoria would agree.

He was definitely daydreaming by now about the day Victoria and Zorro had been chased by bandits and forced to take shelter in the cave.

The cave.

Sometimes he still couldn't believe he'd been so stupid in taking her to his secret hideout in the first place. If any one of about a dozen different things had turned out differently, neither he nor Victoria would be alive to discuss it. Diego shuddered wondering how long it would be before he could think back on those events and not shudder.

But despite the initial danger of the situation, they'd enjoyed a very pleasant dinner together. As Diego sat at the table picking at his food he belatedly realized he should do something special for Felipe for helping him so much that day. Especially after everything they'd been through in the past few weeks. Between Gilberto's death and the Alcalde slowly going insane while becoming even more evil – as impossible as that seemed – because of the guilt he felt over shooting Gilberto in the back, they'd had very little time to themselves lately.

He winced as a pain in his arm reminded him that his gunshot wound hadn't properly healed yet. Felipe had resolutely informed him yesterday after wrapping yet another bandage on the injury that it would have healed just fine by now if he didn't keep tearing the stitches open every other day. Diego had agreed, albeit reluctantly. Felipe was a force to be reckoned with when Zorro's safety was concerned. It was a good thing, too, Diego mused further, as he'd probably be dead a dozen times over by now if not for Felipe's quick action on any number of occasions when he returned to the cave in pieces instead of his whole self. He was certainly blessed to have such a devoted friend.

Yes, something special for the boy was definitely in order.

"Ow!" Diego mumbled as said boy elbowed him in the ribs and waved frantically toward the end of the table to indicate where the eldest de la Vega was trying in vain to get his attention.

"Thank you, Felipe," said an exasperated Don Alejandro.

"Father! When did you get here?"

"Diego…Really, son. You've got to get your head out of the clouds. Did you not hear a word I just said?"

"I thought you were going to Santa Barbara this morning?"

Alejandro huffed out a long sigh and sat down opposite Diego and Felipe at the table. "As I said," he spoke, clearly annoyed to have to be repeating himself, an annoyance of which for once Diego couldn't blame him, "I met a vaquero on the road who told me the cattle auction had been postponed until next week."

"That's unusual."

"Indeed! To think of all the time I would have wasted getting there and coming back and there'd been no auction! You know Diego, as much as I appreciate living in California in the wide open country, it would be nice if someone could devise a faster method of delivering information other than the Royal mail service."

"Yes, I know what you mean. I've been thinking, actually, that lights or perhaps even sounds could possibly be transmitted over a distance with the right-"

Alejandro held up a hand and immediately stopped the scientific babble about to start flowing constantly from his son's mouth. "Diego, please. I've had a long morning. I want a cool glass of lemonade, some lunch, and a long siesta."

Diego placed a practiced schooled expression on his face. Felipe ducked his head sympathetically as Diego barely held back his own sigh of frustration. Despite all outward appearances to his father and the rest of the pueblo, it was getting harder by the second to maintain his dual lifestyle.

"Of course, father." He glanced around the tavern, but didn't immediately see Victoria. "I'll go find Victoria and place your order for you."

"Gracias, Diego."

He nodded and ducked behind the kitchen curtain while knocking lightly on the doorframe so as not to startle Victoria. He spied her stirring a pot of stew at the fireplace in the corner, already preparing for the dinner crowd. She turned around at the knock immediately.

"Diego! Did you need something?"

"My father just arrived. He's been out on the road all morning and is positively famished," he said with his customary smile. "I wondered if I could get a plate and some lemonade?"

"Of course! Give me just a moment. I've got to put these beans into the stew right this instant or it won't come out right."

"No, no. I can do it." Before she had a chance to protest he grabbed a clean plate off the shelf and scooped out a perfectly portioned amount of chicken and rice. He gently set it on the table before pouring a fresh cup of lemonade. He must have looked more pensive than he thought he did throughout this process because she immediately asked him a question.

"Diego, are you all right?"

He smiled. She always knew when other people around her were troubled, and she was always genuinely concerned about them. It was one of the things he loved about her. "Actually, I was thinking about Felipe."

"Oh?"

"I've been especially busy lately, and I was wondering what I might do for him as…a sort of surprise."

It was Victoria's turn to smile. "I'm glad Alejandro is going to adopt him. He's the brother you," she barely stopped herself from saying 'never had.' That would only bring up unpleasant memories. Instead she finished, "Always wanted."

"Indeed," Diego wholeheartedly agreed. "I must admit, I was surprised when my father insisted on adopting Felipe, but you are correct. I'll be very excited when he officially becomes my younger brother. He's the best friend anyone could hope for," he finished sincerely.

"Well, you know he feels the same way about you." She replied, barely missing his knowing smile as she quickly stirred the stew. "So what were you thinking of doing?"

"I'm not sure," he admitted, placing the lemonade and plate onto a tray. "Something just the two of us, I think. I've hardly had any time to spend with him lately." He snapped his fingers. "Perhaps an extended fishing trip. I could bring my telescope and we could camp out under the stars for a few days."

"He'll love that!"

Diego nodded. "I hope you're right!" He was truly looking forward to spending some time with Felipe. They could even pack the practice sabers and have time for a few extra fencing sessions while they were gone. Felipe would certainly appreciate that. Lately it seemed every time he'd found the younger man in the cave he'd been inadvertently forced into giving a fencing lesson. If nothing else, he admired Felipe's discipline to learn. "I'd better get this to my father before he charges in here like a bull toward a red flag. Gracias, Victoria."

"I'll be out in just a minute, Diego."

"Ahh! Arroz con pollo! It's been a while since I've had this at the tavern!" Alejandro delighted as Diego set the plate in front on him. A sudden commotion at the door had them all glance up to see what was going on. Three vaqueros that Diego had never seen in Los Angeles loudly stumbled into the tavern and took seats at the table near the door. Pilar immediately wandered over to offer her assistance. To her shock and dismay, one of the men grabbed her and pulled her roughly onto his lap.

"Buenos dias, senorita!"

Incensed, and unable to restrain himself any longer that afternoon, Diego moved swiftly across the room and gently put his hands on her shoulders. She looked up at him with a grateful expression.

"Senor, this is a peaceful establishment," Diego addressed him in a tone that was somehow polite and incredibly threatening all at the same time. The three men were too stunned someone had intervened to stop Diego when he calmly extracted Pilar and gave her a gentle shove in the direction of the kitchen. The poor girl didn't need any further encouragement and immediately sought refuge behind the curtained doorway. "Now, then, I'm sure the owner will be out in just a moment to take your lunch order." Diego headed for the door, intending to head to The Guardian office and get out of the line of fire he now found himself in. There was never anything wrong with a strategic defeat.

He barely made it a step away from the table before a rough hand grabbed his elbow and whirled him around. Diego heard his father groan aloud at the table. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Felipe staring at him like a deer caught by a hunting party. Of its own volition, his mouth twisted upwards in a quirky grin that was much more common of his alter ego.

"I beg your pardon, senor. You must not have heard me. This is a peaceful establishment."

"And just who the devil do you think you are?!" The vaquero holding his arm demanded.

"Diego de la Vega." Diego watched with amusement as the man's eyes grew wide at the mention of his name. Some days it certainly was nice to have such an important father. Lord knew he couldn't take any credit for the success of the family rancho.

"De la Vega?" The man repeated incredulously. In truth, he couldn't believe his luck.

"That's correct." He glanced pointedly at the hand on his elbow and the vaquero removed it immediately, although he didn't apologize. Victoria chose that moment to angrily storm out of the kitchen, a frightened Pilar remaining behind as the curtain swung shut. Diego took the wind out of her sails before she even reached the table. "Ah, Victoria. These gentlemen were just about to politely order lunch." He glared at them daring them to challenge him. Little did they know he'd simply run across the street and get Mendoza to deal with them, but they didn't need to know that.

Victoria gave him a questioning look, but when the men put up no further protests, she calmly took the order and went back to the kitchen. Diego could feel his father's stare burning into his back and decided to head back to the table. At least now he'd get a chance to finish his lunch. He pulled out the stool next to Felipe at the table and calmly picked up his fork. He figured he had about five seconds before the lecture started.

It only took three.

"Diego, you might get into less trouble if you weren't so…" Alejandro stumbled over his next word, astounded he was actually using it to describe his son, "…Confrontational…every time someone insults a lady in the tavern."

Felipe hid a smirk by shoveling another forkful of chicken into his mouth and gulping down some lemonade.

"No one else seemed willing to offer assistance," Diego argued.

"That vaquero probably could have knocked you into next Tuesday."

It was times like these Felipe wished he could laugh. He didn't have to wait long for Diego's dry retort.

"Father, don't you think you're being just a bit melodramatic?"

"It's not like you haven't lost every fight you've ever been in, Diego." Since that statement was completely true, at least as far as Alejandro was concerned, Diego didn't bother to refute it and ducked his head slightly. He was surprised when his father's voice drifted across the table in a much gentler, although no less condescending tone. "Diego, I just worry about you. That vaquero is probably an experienced swordsman. What if he had challenged you? And you know he would have had every right to, young man! What then? What if I hadn't been here?"

"I'm sure I would have thought of something," Diego winked at Felipe.

"That's hardly the point, Diego. Despite your opinion on the matter, thinking cannot solve all of your problems."

"It certainly doesn't hurt."

"You're the one who would have been hurt if that man had a temper!" Alejandro took a bite of his meal before adding thoughtfully. "I think you should take some more fencing lessons."

Felipe choked on his chicken. Diego hurriedly patted him on the back and couldn't stop the small upturn of the corner of his mouth showing the barest trace of a grin.

"Father…no."

"Excuse me? You beat the emissary. Obviously they did some good."

"Father, I love you dearly, and you know I respect you, but I'm quite old enough to decide whether or not I want to take…fencing lessons," he finished with a noticeable amount of disgust in his voice.

It wasn't the first time Felipe admired his future brother's acting skills, although the time Diego purposely fell off a ladder had been just as amusing. Don Alejandro, however, wasn't amused.

"Not as long as you live under my roof!" The elder don declared loudly.

Diego glanced around uncomfortably. "Father, please."

"Don't 'father please' me, young man. I've had quite enough of your complacency-"

"I hardly think I'm complacent."

"Don't interrupt me," he thundered. "If you're going to insist on being lazy around the ranch, the least you can do is learn how to defend the property. As of tomorrow, I want you to start practicing on your own until I find you a suitable instructor."

"Surely you're not serious." Diego didn't have to fake the incredulous tone. Maybe he'd gone too far this time. He clenched his fists under the table.

"Oh, aren't I? Luck can only get you so far, my boy."

"Farther than you'd think," Diego muttered under his breath.

Victoria chose that moment to cautiously approach the table, pretending that she hadn't overheard their entire conversation. She topped off their drinks from the pitcher she was carrying. "Can I get you gentlemen anything else?" She eyed Diego sympathetically.

'A time machine,' Diego thought to himself, and fixed his gaze on a knot in the surface of the wooden tabletop, 'So I can knock my younger self upside the head when he invented Zorro.'

"No, Victoria, gracias. Delicious as always." Alejandro handed her a few coins to pay for the three meals and stood up. "Are you coming?"

Diego mutely shook his head, eyes still on the table.

"I'll see you at supper then." With a shake of his head for his son, and a polite nod for Victoria, he walked out of the tavern.

Victoria glanced again at Diego who still hadn't moved.

Felipe seemed confused, as if unsure if the last ten minutes of his life had been a very realistic dream or in fact real. He couldn't remember the last time Don Alejandro had treated Diego with such hostility.

And at the tavern, no less.

He felt bad for Diego. He worked so hard. So hard, in fact, that some days he hardly slept. And certainly no one else in the pueblo could understand all the sacrifices he'd made over the years. The younger man made eye contact with Victoria, and she discretely tipped her head towards the bar. He understood her meaning immediately and smiled his appreciation for her concern over Diego. He got up from the table, placed a comforting hand on Diego's shoulder he wasn't even sure Diego noticed, and wandered out the door to wait for Diego on the porch.

Victoria sat down on the stool Alejandro had just vacated. Diego was still staring blankly at the table. "He'll come around, Diego. As you said, he had a long ride this morning." He was quiet for a long time, and when he finally did speak, he did so quietly that she had to strain above the noise in the taproom just to hear him.

"He hates that we're so different. The harder I try to impress him, the further we grow apart."

"He just wants what's best for you."

"What he thinks is best for me," Diego corrected gently.

"Well, yes. But is that so bad?"

"In more ways than you could possibly understand."

She wasn't sure how to respond to that, so she just sat there, silently lending her support and willing to listen to anything else he had to say. Victoria couldn't remember the last time she'd seen Diego so upset. He was always a perfect picture of cheerfulness. It was this characteristic that made her startle in surprise at his next statement.

"I think he regrets calling me home from Spain."

"Diego! Surely you don't mean that. He missed you terribly while you were gone, he's just too proud to admit it."

"No, he's too proud to admit that his only son is…me," He nearly choked on the final word. "I've never been able to live up to his expectations. I doubt I ever will." The depth of his confession shocked even him. He certainly would never have admitted that to anyone else, except perhaps Felipe. That was another reason to do something special for him. Diego doubted that Felipe truly understood how much he appreciated his support; support that he couldn't get from anyone else because they shared the burden of Zorro's secret alone.

"He loves you, Diego."

Diego looked up at her with an unfamiliar smirk on his face. "He has to." He waved off the argument quickly forming on her tongue before she had a chance to voice her opinion on the matter. "No matter. I think I'll go start planning that fishing trip. At the very least it will get me out of the hacienda for a few days." Before he stood up, Diego cautiously reached across the table and took her hand in his. "Thank you, Victoria. Your friendship has always meant a great deal to me."

"Any time, Diego." Sincerity rang in her tone.

He stood and allowed himself the indulgence of kissing the back of her hand. "Con permiso."

"Adios, amigo."

Diego nodded politely to the group of vaqueros near the door on his way out. The leader, Paco, stopped eating and watched him leave with interest.

"All right, Paco. What's going on? You've been watching him like a hawk ever since we came in here. Why didn't you just challenge him and get it over with, hmm?"

"You heard him introduce himself, Jose."

"So?"

Paco sighed. "Luiz, tell me at least you understand?"

"I thought you were going to knock him across the room too, Paco."

"The De la Vegas are the wealthiest Dons in the territory. Perhaps the whole of California."

"Paco," Luiz began uncertainly, "You said we were finished stealing."

"Use your head, Luiz! We're not going to steal anything! Don Alejandro will just give us the money, amigos."

"He'd have to be…sufficiently motivated," Jose added thoughtfully.

"How much to do you think he'd pay for the return of his only son?" He smiled wickedly. "Ten thousand pesos?"

"Maybe even twenty!" Luiz whispered excitedly.

"We'll be retired and rich, living in the finest hacienda in Mexico. Come on. We'll follow him and his servant back to the de la Vega place."

"Why don't we just grab him now?" Jose asked as the trio walked onto the porch in time to see Diego and Felipe ride out of town.

"With all these people around…And when they are expected to return home? No. He may put up a fight. We'll wait until they're alone again. Vamos. We'll follow at a distance."