Disclaimer: I do not own Zorro.

Garcia Stands Acquitted

Sergeant Garcia wiped his brow of sweat. The midday sun was harsh, and he had been riding all morning. A glance around showed him that his lancers were feeling the same. It was easy to give the next order.

"Alright men, head back to the cuartel." He turned his horse toward the pueblo. "There is no sign of Zorro. I do not think we will find him today." Not that they ever did find him. The fox had a way of disappearing that was almost supernatural.

Garcia smiled to himself. Today, he was glad of that. Oh, he wanted to capture Zorro. There was the reward to think of. It was just that earlier this morning, Señor Zorro had saved his life. True, he had called him big and fat, but Garcia felt that there was a bit of fondness to the words. Certainly there was the trademark playfulness.

At any rate, Garcia couldn't bring himself to mind really.

Last night had been the longest night of his life. A life he had thought was going to be cut short with the rising of the sun.

Lugo's warning of other riders brought Garcia from his musings and he twisted in his saddle to get a better look. He grinned as he recognized the familiar figures. He reined his horse to a halt, signaling the rest of his men to go on ahead as he waited for the riders to approach. The lancers raced toward the pueblo with an alacrity that had been missing during their search.

"Hola, Don Diego. And hello to you too, Little One." Garcia gave the deaf-mute a little wave. "What brings you out on such a hot day? What's wrong?" He noticed his two friends were staring at him as if seeing a ghost.

"Saints be praised," the young caballero said, placing a hand over his heart. "I thought for certain I was going to be..." Diego lowered his head, not meeting Garcia's eyes.

"Going to be what, Don Diego?"

"I am so sorry Sergeant! I don't know what happened!"

Garcia sighed. Sometimes it was difficult to get Don Diego to make sense. "Please, Don Diego, I do not understand."

The younger man rubbed the back of his head, looking sheepish. "I tried following the messenger, but I fell and struck my head. Next thing I know, I am in my bed with a headache and half the day has passed. I thought that, well, that I had failed." Diego grinned suddenly. "But it seems that someone else has succeeded. I can't tell you how glad I am of that."

Garcia studied his friend for a moment as he processed the words. "The mess—oh!" Garcia beamed. "Yes. That rascal Zorro caught him. You were right Don Diego! It was all a trick."

"Zorro eh?" Diego grinned. "Is that why you and your men were out here?"

"Sí. The magistrado insisted we capture him. Unfortunately, we could not find him."

Something in his voice must have tipped his friend off, because the young man raised an eyebrow and stated, "You don't sound as if it were unfortunate."

Garcia chuckled. "Well, perhaps this time it was not. He did save my life after all."

"You know something, Sergeant?"

"What's that, Don Diego?"

"That sounds like the perfect toast. Shall we head to the tavern?"

Garcia beamed at his friend. "Don Diego, that is the best suggestion I have heard this morning." He paused as a thought occurred to him. "Perhaps the second best. The first was when Zorro suggested the lancers listen to the messenger's confession."

Garcia joined Diego in laughter, noticing that Bernardo joined in too.

Today was certainly a good day.