The Road back to El Dorado.
(The Road to El Dorado II)

Summery: After arriving in Spain Tulio and Chel find their spark dying, and a few months later Chel and Tulio part as friends. Chel leaves for Africa while Tulio acquires passage back to Mexico to find El Dorado and Miguel aboard a schooner captained by an Irishman called Jack, but things rarely go according to plan...

Rating: M

Disclaimer: I don't own the Road to El Dorado, but I will!

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Tulio woke and tried to sit up, but something was preventing him. Opening his eyes he saw Miguel was still leaning on him, and he was still asleep. The two had shared various tales for most of the night. He settled back down, liking the way Miguel fit against his chest.

He didn't know how long he just sat there, but gentle knocking on the door disturbed him. He ignored it, but it persisted.

Tulio gently manoeuvred Miguel off him. His partner stirred, but didn't wake.

When he opened the door to reveal Jack, Tulio felt like strangling him, but when he saw the two bowls of soup Jack held, he was forgiven. Tulio hadn't eaten in a day; as for Miguel only God knew when he last had a decent meal.

'Dr. Valentine suggested it.' Jack said as Tulio took the bowls from him. 'He'll check on Miguel again tomorrow if you want him to.'

'Can he do it today?' Tulio asked, devouring his serving. 'I want to get Miguel out of here soon.'

'Why? To get him back to El Dorado?' Jack smiled at Tulio's shocked expression, spoon hanging out of his mouth. 'Miguel mentioned it while I was talking to him.'

'Well that's my plan.' Tulio removed the spoon to speak. 'We'll ride Altivo down the coast until we find where we landed last time, then make out way from there.'

'That could take months! Ow!' Jack exclaimed, lowering his voice when Tulio kicked him. He rubbed his shin violently. 'You two will be the death of me. Look, there's no contracts my crew and I can take at the moment, so why don't we all go for a little cruise down the coast on good old Silver, she's faster than that stupid horse, and more comfortable.'

Tulio thought it over in his mind. Jack had some good points, but it would mean he and his crew would know the starting marker of the trail.

'How can I trust you?' Tulio finally said. 'After all, it is a city of gold.'

'As long as I have the Silver Fox, I'm content.' Jack responded. 'And if you'd like, we could land you a few miles up or down the coast so my men don't get any ideas in their thick skulls.'

'I like it.' Miguel said from the bed, obviously awake. 'When can we leave?'

'Tomorrow morning?' Jack guessed, then corrected himself at Tulio's glare. 'This evening? Yes, this evening. I'll send Dr. Valentine to check Miguel then.'

'Bye Jack!' Miguel called as the captain left.

'You hungry Miguel?' Tulio had finished his bowl and moved to pick up his friend's.

'I could eat Altivo.' Miguel joked, then frowned. 'How will I...'

'I'll help you.' Tulio reassured the blonde.

'It's not too much trouble?' Miguel asked, sitting up.

'You're always trouble,' Tulio replied. 'But never too much.'

Miguel smiled.

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'Are you Mr. Egan?' A voice said from the dock. Jack looked up from coiling rope to see a richly dressed gentleman watching him intently.

'Screw the formalities, call me Jack.' The Irishman extended a hand, but withdrew it when the stranger didn't move. 'What you want?'

'Do you recognise this?' The man held up the necklace he'd given Tulio, who'd used it to free Miguel. Jack may have been imagining it, but there seemed to be blood on it.

'Vaguely.' Jack lied. 'Think one of the lass's on me last voyage wore it. Can't be too sure though. Why you ask?'

'How about a young man with a white horse?' The stranger ignored Jack's question. 'He has blue eyes and black hair tied with a purple ribbon.'

'Every time I enter town.' Jack said casually, refusing to panic. 'Round 4 or 5 just this morning. Got anything more specific?'

'He recently brought a slave, a slave promised to me.' The man growled and Jack fought the eagre to run away. 'He had golden hair and green eyes.'

'Every time I see my reflection, apart from the slave part.' Jack shook his head. The man suddenly jumped aboard and pinned Jack to one of the masts by his throat.

'If you're lying to me, I'll skin you alive then shove your skin down your throat.' The man threatened. Jack swallowed.

'Then I... will... tell ya if... I see him.' Jack wheezed. The man looked satisfied so he released the Irishman, but not before stroking his cheek. Jack turned his head and the man raised his hand to hit him, but seemed to reconsider.

'If you find them, your reward will be 100 dubloons.' Salar said softy before departing.

Jack massaged his throat carefully as the stranger disappeared into the crowd of people around the docks.

'Bloody English.' He swore under his breath, wondering what exactly he'd gotten himself into.

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'I would have liked to keep an eye on you Miguel, but I'm not going to stop you from leaving.' Dr. Valentine said after he'd finished checking Miguel's wounds and eyes. Where are you heading?'

'Spain.' Miguel said.

'Ireland.' Tulio said at the same moment. The partners paused before Tulio spoke. 'Spain via Ireland.'

'I see,' Dr. Valentine didn't sound convinced, but he didn't press the matter. 'Well I wish you two good luck but more importantly good health.'

'You really think we can find the way back to El Dorado?' Miguel asked one the doctor had left.

'We have to.' Tulio replied. 'I remember the way vaguely, but you and Altivo can help.'

'How can I help? I can't see.' Miguel stared blankly at Tulio, guided by his voice. He lowered his head, letting his hair cover his face. 'Just leave me Tulio, I'll just slow you down.'

'Hey,' Tulio lifted up his partner's chin, wiping away the single tear that had fallen with his thumb. 'I'll never leave you, understand? You give my life adventure remember? We'll find El Dorado again, I swear to you.'

'Really?' Miguel didn't seem convinced.

'Really.' Tulio confirmed, and they did their secret handshake, although Miguel was a little off. Not being able to see probably had something to do with it.

'Tulio...' Miguel started but someone cut him off.

'Tulio!' A voice yelled from outside. 'Tulio!'

'Not now.' Tulio groaned. He was going to kill that damn Irishman.

'Tulio!' Jack appeared at the door, panting.

'What.' Tulio growled dangerously.

'Leave... now... have to... man... had necklace... looking for... Miguel...' Jack gasped out of breath. Tulio felt Miguel stiffen, so he walked over to Jack and grabbed him.

'Slow breathes ok?' Tulio made Jack copy his own breathing so the captain could calm down. After several breathes he seemed to relax.

'Right, sorry. This English bastard, rich bastard I'll add, just appeared on my ship and asked if I'd seen you.' Jack explained.

'And did you tell him?' Tulio shouted a little harshly.

'No! I helped you remember.' Jack moved back at Tulio's outburst. 'I lied, so then he asked about a slave. What he said matches little Hathor over there.'

'Hathor?' Miguel piped up. Tulio and Jack ignored him.

'Then?' Tulio demanded.

'I lied again, so he pinned me to the mast and threatened me. It was weird, one moment he's about to hit me, the next he's caressing my cheek.' Jack shivered at the memory. 'It was disturbing, but the English are a few sails short of a frigate.'

'Miguel get up, we're leaving now.' Tulio helped his friend stand and guided him out the door. 'Jack go get Altivo.'

'How will we get away?' Miguel leaned heavily against Tulio, still weak from the beating's he'd received. 'We can't ride out of the city.'

'Jack's a captain remember.' Tulio lightly tapped Miguel on the forehead. 'Which means...?'

'He... has a boat!' Miguel said aloud. Tulio laughed and helped the blonde out of the building and onto the docks. He could see the Silver Fox at the end of the peer, Jack trying to convince Altivo to get on the schooner.

'Use apples.' Tulio shouted. Jack soon had the warhorse settled. Tulio lifted Miguel up so they could walk over the gangplank.

'Tulio...' Miguel said dangerously. 'I'm not a girl put me down.'

'You sure act like one.' Tulio grumbled, trying not to fall into the ocean. Once aboard he put Miguel down, but grabbed him when he swayed too far.

'Landlubber.' Jack muttered, moving to untie the ship from the peer.

'Capt'n!' One of the men shouted from the rigging.

'What?' Jack yelled back, barely catching the telescope as it dropped from the sails. Following the crewman's directions he peered back at the docks and gasped.

'Quick, hide!' He whispered to the two partners.

'Where?' Tulio couldn't see anywhere safe to hide.

'Why?' Miguel questioned, not seeing anything.

'That man is coming down here.' Jack heaved the lid off a crate. 'Get in!'

Tulio was reluctant to go into the small box, but he didn't see any alternatives. He helped Miguel into it then turned to Jack. 'What about Altivo?'

'I'll throw him overboard.' Jack said in all seriousness. Said horse nudged him lightly in the back as a warning. 'Ah! Just joking, good horsie. I'll lie again, Englishman wouldn't know if Pinocchio was lying, let alone little old me.'

Tulio didn't like the idea, but Jack shoved him inside and slid the lid back. The crate was too small for them to stand, but they could sit down. It was total darkness inside, and after only a few seconds Tulio began to feel uneasy. He couldn't see the walls, only feel them. There could be anything lurking in some corner and he wouldn't know. Tulio wondered if this was how Miguel felt all the time, always fearing a surprise attack.

'Miguel?' Tulio whispered.

'Yea?' His voice came from beside Tulio.

'You alright?'

'Little tight.' Was the answer. Tulio manoeuvred himself so Miguel sat between his legs. Feeling another heartbeat calmed Tulio down.

'Tulio?'

'Yes Miguel?

'I -'

They jerked in surprise as someone kicked the crate, hard. Tulio figured it was Jack's way of telling them to shut up.

There was silence outside until heavy footsteps walked across the deck.

'That's a beautiful horse.' A voice Tulio hadn't heard before said with an English accent. Miguel stiffened.

'It's him.' The blonde breathed. 'The one who hit me.'

'Shhhh.' Tulio squeezed his friend in reassurance. 'It's ok, Jack will make sure of that.'

Now why didn't he believe that?

'That old thing?' Jack said in reply, his footsteps moving towards Altivo. 'Brought him today for my niece back home. She'll be 7 when I get back. She has the most adorable face and when her mother braids her hair -'

'Why don't I believe you?' The Englishman said softly, but his tone cut the air like a sword.

'Cause I'm Irish and you're English.' Tulio could almost see Jack shrugging as he replied. Tulio prayed he knew what he was doing.

'Search the ship.' The Englishman said, and several sets of footsteps disappeared below.

'You know, I never caught your name mate.' Jack commented cheerfully.

'Don't touch me!' Jack must have put his arm around the stranger. 'And I'm not your mate. My name is Count Salar.'

'The one who slept with the servant girl?'

Miguel snorted. Tulio nudged him lightly but only just managed to hold in his own amusement.

'No.' Count Salar growled.

'Oh, the one who likes to dress in his mother's clothes at night and dance around the courtyard singing 'God save the King?''

Tulio clamped his hand over Miguel's mouth to stop him laughing. Footsteps came back on deck.

'They're not onboard my Lord.' A male said, presumedly to Salar.

'What about that crate?' Salar said. Tulio's heart stopped.

'See for yourself.' Jack's smart reply came. If the count didn't kill him, Tulio would.

Footsteps approached and Tulio's breathing increased. As they stopped directly in front of them Tulio saw his life flash before his eyes, mainly the last time he'd been to the new world.

Cortez, rowboat, horse, skull, map, small animal that kept following them around, trail, monkeys, Chel, El Dorado, gods, sheep, Chief Tannabok- wait sheep? Where did they come from?

A crate lid was lifted and Tulio froze to see... nothing? The lid hadn't moved. Jack must have placed another crate atop their hiding place. He wasn't going to kill the Irishman; he was going to kiss him.

Salar slowly lowered the lid.

'I told you so.' Jack informed the count, stepping next to him. 'Now why'd you waste all that time when -'

CRACK!

Tulio and Miguel both winced at the sound. Someone hit the deck a second later. Tulio couldn't tell if it had been Salar or Jack, but he suspected the latter.

'Captain!' Someone shouted. Yep, it was Jack.

'Hold!' Jack shouted back then grunted. Tulio desperately wanted to see what was happening. Jack filed him in. 'Get your foot off me Count, I've done nothing wrong.'

'I know you warned them.' Salar sneered, his voice coming from near the ground. Probably leaning down to taunt Jack. 'Next time I see you, you're mine.'

There was another crack and Jack yelped. The count's footsteps faded, as did his men's. Tulio and Miguel waited for someone to get them out. One minute passed, then two, then three.

'Jack?' Miguel whispered. There was nothing for several seconds, then...

'Bastard.' Jack spat, and the sound of a crate hitting the deck followed. Tulio helped move the lid and assisted Miguel get out. As he stretched his back cracked.

'That was close.' Jack said, turning Tulio's attention on him.

'God!' Tulio cursed. Jack's nose was bleeding freely, as was his lip. He was holding his side where it looked like the count had kicked him. 'Are you alright?'

'What?' Miguel asked from beside him.

'Just got a little bashed.' Jack calmly said, spitting out some blood. 'But 'm fine. Had worse beating's at the hands of lasses.'

He limped up to the wheel and gave orders to cast off. Within moments they were turning out towards the ocean. The sudden movement caused Miguel to fall into Tulio's arms. Tulio blushed bright red, but it didn't go unnoticed. Jack was laughing from above them.

Tulio growled at him but helped Miguel regain his feet. As the port grew smaller Tulio constantly made sure he was within arm's reach of his partner. If he fell overboard...

Said partner was getting reacquainted with Altivo. The horse was nuzzling him affectionately. Why does he nuzzle Miguel and lick him? Tulio didn't appreciate being covered in horse slobber.

Tulio looked back at the port, now only a blip on the horizon. Hang on...

'Jack why are we heading out to sea?' Tulio shouted at the captain. 'You'd said we'd head south along the coast.'

'Don't get your panties in a knot amigo.' Jack called back. 'Salar's men will be watching, so we'll keep this course until sunset then turn South West and meet up with the coast... say... I dunno... 20 miles south of the port sometime in the early morn, and wait for sunrise.'

'Miguel,' Tulio started. 'What were you going to say before, in the crate?'

'It's not important.' The blonde looked away. 'Really.'

Tulio let the matter drop, but only because he didn't want to press his partner.

'Tulio,' Miguel started. 'Help me up to the wheel. I'd like to talk to Jack.'

Tulio felt a sudden surge of jealousy, but swallowed it. Miguel, unable to watch the water, wanted some way to amuse himself, and Jack surely had a few tales hidden up his sleaves. He guided Miguel up next to Jack, helping him sit down on a crate.

The Irishman immediately started a tale about the time they'd been pursued by the French navy after unknowingly taking aboard a fugitive. Occasionally another member of the crew corrected Jack's words, mainly when he was talking about how brave he'd been. Tulio didn't know if the story was completely true, suspecting Jack was exaggerating some of the facts, but it was entertaining.

Eventually the warm afternoon sun combined with the steady rocking of the Silver Fox lured Tulio into a peaceful doze.

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When Tulio woke then sun had set. He yawned, stretched and looked around. Jack had retired, and Miguel as steering... wait Miguel!

'Miguel what are you doing?' Tulio yelled, not believing Jack would be that stupid.

'Jack said it was ok.' Miguel sounded like a child caught doing something naughty. 'Scott's watching me anyway.'

'Scott?' Tulio saw a figure perched on the railing. The man, Scott, waved then went back to his gazing.

'Left, little.' Scott said in a thick French accent. Miguel turned the wheel slightly to the left and Scott nodded. Tulio remembered Jack saying the French fugitives name was Scott... no couldn't be.

'Where's Jack.' He asked Scott. He didn't reply.

'Doesn't speak much Spanish.' Miguel said during the silence. 'Most of the crew speak French or Italian.'

'So Jack just let you take the wheel?'

'Not at first, but he couldn't resist 'the face.'' Miguel smiled, then added. 'He also needed some sleep. Tulio, he wasn't too badly injured was he?'

'Didn't look like it.' Tulio moved to stand next to Miguel. 'Why?'

'After you fell asleep he didn't talk much. And when he left he struggled down the stairs.' As if sensing Tulio's gaze on him Miguel explained. 'When you can't see, your other senses get sharper. It's amazing. I can feel the breeze on my face but also on the Fox, I can feel how she moved through the water, and how she turns when I fiddle with the wheel. Right now there are two crewman on deck, one being Scott, the other atop the main mast. Two others are talking below, and the ship's cat is sneaking around behind us.'

Tulio turned and sure enough a scrawny ginger cat was making its way across the deck. He vaguely remembered seeing something orange out of the corner of his eye several times on the voyage here, but he'd never actually seen the feline.

'May I?' Tulio asked Miguel. Miguel shrugged and let him take the wheel. The blonde reached out and grasped a railing to steady himself as Tulio fiddled with the wheel, turning the ship left and right to feel how she moved. He could feel the ship move when he jerked the wheel, but not when he turned it slowly. It seemed whatever Miguel could feel, he could not.

'No playin'.' Scott grunted. 'Right, little-lot.'

'Little-lot?' Tulio repeated.

'Halfway between a little and a lot.' Miguel translated. 'Like I said, he doesn't know much Spanish.'

'How much does he know?'

'Right, left, little, lot, straight, no and playing.' Miguel recited. 'At least that's all I've heard him say.'

'Brilliant.' Tulio squinted at the horizon, but couldn't see any land, but in the dark he feared the first warning he'd get was when they ran aground. 'How long till we reach land again?'

'What time is it now?' Miguel asked. Tulio moved to look up at the stars but stopped himself. They were in different positions then back in Spain.

'1 and half.' Scott grunted from his perch.

'Then another... hour?' Miguel yawned again. 'I'm suppose to wake Jack now.'

'How are you planning to do that?' Tulio inquired. Miguel frowned and Tulio hastily apologised. 'Sorry Miguel I didn't mean -'

'It's fine Tulio.' Miguel gave a half-hearted laugh, fumbling about till he found the dark haired man and wrapped an arm around his shoulder. 'Besides, Dr. Valentine said I could recover.'

Tulio was glad Miguel couldn't see his sad smile. The blonde was always the one who saw the light at the end of the tunnel, and often that was the only thing that had kept Tulio going. Miguel didn't deserve what had happened. If anyone should have been blinded, it should have been himself. He was the one who'd travelled with Miguel for years and failed to notice the bond they were developing.

'Tulio?' Miguel noticed his silence. 'Something wrong?'

'No, just thinking.' Tulio dismissed his concern. 'You take the wheel again, I'll get Jack.'

'Ok.' Tulio guided Miguel's hands back onto the wheel, his fingers lingering a moment longer than necessary. Miguel didn't comment, so Tulio headed below deck.

'Right, little.' Scott grunted from above, and Tulio swore he felt the Fox shift beneath his feet.

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I really don't believe this guys. 128 people read chapter 3 and NO ONE REVIEWED. Come on, just click the purple button and type in something. Please? Pretty please?

And I apologise for the delay of updating, it was my birthday so I got lots of new video games to play!

Desert Thief