Diego Wakes

Diego was vaguely aware of voices and movement and the warmth of people around him. Pain kept everything shadowy, but little alarm bells were going off in his head. At one point he was sure Victoria was calling him and he really tried to wake up, he could feel her shaking him and he concentrated on her voice. The pain intruded as he neared complete consciousness, and he relaxed again, but as he did so, he was aware of a warm softness that could only have been Victoria.

Consciousness threatened again when he felt as if someone was carrying him, but he didn't have the energy to try to wake. Again softness around him, under his head – but this time probing and prodding of gentle fingers. A soft voice telling him it would be alright, he was safe now.

Fire coursed through his injured shoulder at the gentle touch. He tried to call out, to get them to stop, but words wouldn't come. Darkness continually claimed him.

He vaguely felt his hand being caressed gently, softly. It was a soft but firm pressure. Sometimes it was just pressure as if someone was holding his hands, waiting, praying for him to wake up.

Awareness returned in a bright flash of agony. Turning to his right side, he put pressure on the wounded shoulder. He moaned awake as the pain disturbed him. Blue eyes fluttering open, he found himself staring into Victoria's eyes. He frowned, and blinked a few times.

"Dreaming…" He murmured. "Not funny…not at all," he added.

"You are in Wise Eagle's tent," Victoria murmured. "You're hurt…" She frowned as well. Why was she frowning at him? What had he done wrong this time?

"Where's my shirt?" Diego struggled to sit up. Was he wearing his mask? Why was she looking at him like that? "Victoria…"

She looked away from him. He couldn't make out her expression but it felt like something was seriously wrong.

He managed to sit up a little straighter. He noticed the pile of Diego's clothes folded in the corner, and glancing down nervously he saw that his trousers were still covering his legs. His black trousers.

"Where's my mask?" Diego said, with a shaky laugh, realising with a surge of fear that the game was over. He reached out a hand to her, but she ignored it, and rose from her kneeling position. Victoria poked her head out of the tepee and called a name he couldn't catch. Then she slipped out, without answering any questions, and without looking at him again. The feeling of dread cut deep into his heart. Where was she going? What could he say? Was she angry?

Alejandro appeared at the opening and slowly entered. Their eyes met and Diego followed his father's progress with the sense of dread increasing in his stomach.

"Well," the older man said. "They say my real name is Roaring Puma," he added. "What do you think?"

"All power and noise," Diego murmured, as he considered it. "I like it."

There was a strange heavy silence for a few moments. Diego struggled to think of something appropriate to say, but his head hurt too much. Diego's muscles tensed, and he wished he could run away from the situation. He felt completely trapped.

"You're afraid of me, Diego?"

Diego shook his head, but didn't relax one muscle.

"Liar…" Alejandro said softly. He glanced away for a moment. Diego was staring at him, waiting for the roar of an angry father. "Do you know how much I love you?" Diego was startled.

Diego met his eyes. "I can guess…"

"You cannot imagine how the last few days have ripped me apart, son. It tore out my heart, it almost destroyed me," Alejandro whispered. "My heart nearly killed me…"

"Father," Diego said sharply. "What did Hernandez say?" His father was ill. Diego struggled to sit up and to concentrate on what his father was saying, but his arms shook a little and he had to relax. "You should be in bed," he added

"Maybe. And then I would never have realised just who my son is," Alejandro said softly. "Would that have been better, Diego?"

"Much more comfortable," Diego murmured, half joking

"More comfortable? Really?" The question prompted some thought.

Alejandro watched his son's eyes cloud over as he sobered a little. It was hard these days to pretend all the time, especially after slipping up a few times recently. Some longings were harder to deny than others, as the years went on. He was aware that this new change might bring further dangers, and he wasn't looking forward to dealing with some of them.

"Victoria will never forgive me," Diego murmured. He glanced down and away, feeling unequal to the conversation for a moment. The catch in his voice made him pause and regroup his emotions. He was not going to cry in front of his father.

"You love her." It was a statement, not a question. Diego took a deep breath and glanced at his father. The old man paused and crept closer, closing the gap between them.

"You trust that I will forgive you?" There was a sparkle of humour in Alejandro's eyes. Diego laughed softly and nodded.

"Goes without saying. I would have thought you'd prefer Zorro to Diego any day…" Diego petered off, noticing the change in his father's expression. "No?"

"My son, you are my greatest treasure. What is 60,000 pesos to me? When I see you alive, I realise I would pay twice that amount to ensure your safety. What is Zorro to that?"

"You could be ashamed on the other hand, of course," Diego said, wondering. "I am an outlaw with a price on my head."

There was an uneasy silence for a few moments.

"How could you think that you should keep this from me? What right did you have to deceive me? If you had told me early on, I would have counselled you to stop immediately…"

"A request I would have refused, for very good reasons," Diego said, his voice developing an edge. He knew something needed to be done. But perhaps there had been another way, one he hadn't considered. Perhaps he should have consulted his father on the creation of Zorro. At least after he rescued Alejandro. Diego glanced up at his father. "Now…what do you…suggest?"

Alejandro sighed, and turned his head. He wanted to tell him to stop, that his life was not worth the risks he was taking. The people were only uneducated farmers after all. He glanced back at Diego. His son was waiting for an answer. He knew that the people needed their hero. There was no going back now. Only forward.

"Marriage," Alejandro said, off the top of his head, startling both of them. He chuckled, and Diego let out a brief laugh.

"Well, since Victoria seems to have disowned me completely, it will have to be an arranged marriage," Diego said with a touch of despair mixed in the humour. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Momentary pain shot through him as he touched tender areas on his head. He flinched as he bumped the bandaging that covered the bleeding wound.

"Not wise to disturb the bandaging," Alejandro warned gently, taking the wayward hand and holding it for a moment.

"If you are truly serious about an arranged marriage," Alejandro began, his eyes gaining a mischievious twinkle. "I will put things in motion for that effect."

Diego sighed again, and nodded. "It's time for that heir. Your grandson," he murmured reluctantly.

"I already have my eldest grandson of sorts. Diego, Diego…Felipe can…" He stopped, and thought.

"What's wrong with Felipe?" Diego said anxiously. "Has something happened to him?"

"He will be fine, as soon as he sees you alive," Alejandro assured him. His surprise could wait until later.

Diego stifled a yawn. He was feeling so very sleepy now, but he wanted to fight it off as long as possible. "Is Esperanza alright? I found her wandering the hills…"

"She is fine, Diego, perfectly fine. She got to be Zorro's mount for a while, did she?"

"She performed so well, I just might have her as a spare," Diego joked. A wave of exhaustion almost overwhelmed him, almost making him pass out. Diego's muscles shook a little under the strain of sitting.

"Wise Eagle wants you to rest," his father said, getting to his feet. He resisted the urge to nag his son to lie back down. "You had a close shave today, son. Add sunburn, sunstroke and an infected cut to the shoulder to that list of discomforts. Not to mention that head of yours."

Diego sighed, and relaxed his arms, lying down against the softness of the furs. He turned to his left side, and watched his father leave the tent.