Chapter 7

Felipe, Alejandro, and Victoria had long since been banished to Diego's sitting room while Doctor Hernandez completed his examination. While the doctor was in with Diego, Sergeant Mendoza knocked politely on the front door.

"Sergeant, do come in," Alejandro stepped aside and led the way to the back of the house where the others were waiting.

"Oh, good. I'm glad you're all here. I just wanted to let you know that the banditos who kidnapped Don Diego are safely tucked away in the Alcalde's jail. I personally ordered a twenty-four hour guard on their cells so that there is no chance they will escape."

"That is definitely welcome news," Alejandro patted Mendoza on the back. "Thank you for coming out here to tell us."

"Oh, there was one other thing, Don Alejandro. The Alcalde wanted me to tell you that he would honor your request. Since they showed compassion to Don Diego at the end and turned themselves over without a fight he's sending them to jail in Santa Barbara where they'll stand trial in front of the territorial magistrate."

"They deserve to hang for what they did to him," Victoria muttered, surprising everyone with her venomous tone.

"I agree with you completely, my dear, but Diego wouldn't hear of it."

"It was Don Diego's wish?" Mendoza asked. Alejandro nodded. "You raised a fine man, Don Alejandro. I don't know anyone else who could have gone through what he did and forgiven the men who did it so easily."

"Thank you, Sergeant."

"How is he, senor?"

"Not well. He's barely been conscious since we got him home and the doctor is with him now."

"I have to be going. If there's anything I can do, please let me know, Don Alejandro."

"Thank you. I know your concern means a great deal to Diego as well."

As soon as Mendoza left, Felipe was restlessly pacing back and forth again across the doorway again. Alejandro sighed trying to ignore Felipe's pacing. Victoria wasn't paying any attention to either of them; she was too busy trying not to look too worried.

ZZZ

"You know, Diego," Dr. Hernandez commented as he pulled tightly on the long strip of cloth he was wrapping around his patient's torso, "From the lack of surprise on your face, I take it you've had broken ribs before." He looked at Diego, who was sitting on the edge of his bed praying this new form of torture would be over soon.

"Cracked, yes. Broken, no. This is indeed a – aahh! – new experience," Diego managed to gasp out in between tugs.

"And just how, my dear boy, did that happen? I don't ever recall treating you –"

"You didn't." Diego grunted again as Dr. Hernandez pulled tightly on the next layer, and offered no further explanation.

The older man shook his head ruefully. "You're as stubborn as your father," he muttered. "You're incredibly lucky you didn't puncture a lung."

"I know," Diego grunted out as another layer of cloth went over the last to help coax his ribs into healing.

"I'm sorry this has to cause you so much pain, Diego. There's no other way."

"I know that too."

Dr. Hernandez placed the last layer of cloth and tied the ends tightly over Diego's chest and off to the side so that the knot wouldn't bother him lying down.

"All right. We've got to get you lying down. Let me do most of the work." Before Diego could protest the method, Dr. Hernandez grabbed both of his feet from where they were resting on the floor and swung them gently onto the bed. He placed a supporting arm behind Diego's shoulders and carefully lowered him onto the mattress and a waiting stack of freshly fluffed pillows.

Diego took a cautious breath and nodded. "Thank you, I'm fine. That's much better; the cloth bindings helped immensely."

"You're anything but fine, young man. Now," he began, moving on to examine the old musket wound on Diego's right arm. "How many more weeks were you going to wait to tell me about this, hmm? When it became so burdened with infection that I had to amputate your arm?" Dr. Hernandez correctly anticipated the denial forming on Diego's lips and beat him to the punch. "Ah, ah, ah! Not another excuse. Not one more. I don't care if you've fallen off Tornado, been bitten by a rattle snake," He pointed to the scar on Diego's forearm, "Or shot by a lancer," The physician continued saying while he pointed to the wound he was busy cleaning. "I want you to come to me. For heaven's sake, Diego, look at this arm! You'll be lucky if it heals completely after all of this."

But Diego was no longer listening. He'd stopped listening after the word 'Tornado' left the doctor's lips. Now he was just lying there…in too much pain to bolt upright and deny everything, and too stunned to realize he should be denying it…Vehemently.

Dr. Hernandez merely smiled as he took his stitching kit out of his bag. "Really, Diego. I've known you since you were a child. Did you think I wouldn't notice these scars?" He patted the musket wound dry before he began to carefully stitch it closed. He noticed that Diego barely winced. "How long has this been infected?"

"Just…just since yesterday." Diego's mouth was suddenly very dry.

"Hmph! Well I suppose I should just be glad you had the good sense to try and care for it properly, despite the obvious strain you've been putting it under."

"It's been fine, really," Diego argued halfheartedly.

"Oh, really? Squeeze my hand." Dr. Hernandez gripped the younger Don's hand, but Diego only managed a slight movement in his fingers. "It has to go in a sling."

"No."

Dr. Hernandez wasn't sure why the forcefulness of that response surprised him. "For several weeks at least," the elderly man insisted.

"Absolutely not."

"Zorro or not, my boy, you have to take care of yourself." He wrapped a clean bandage around Diego's bicep and pulled out a large cloth to fashion as a sling. "Diego I know this isn't what you want to hear. And, granted, had events occurred differently yesterday I'm sure there wouldn't be need for concern." The doctor sat down on the bed and said gently, "You won't get another chance. You must allow it to heal now, or it won't heal in the future."

"You don't understand. I can't just—"

"Zorro will just have to go on vacation and let the pueblo muddle along without him for awhile."

"I doubt that's possible. Believe me, I've tried."

"See that you try harder then. I'll order Alejandro to keep you here under lock and key if I have to."

"Doctor, please…Anything we discuss must stay between us."

"Well I can hardly count on you to obey my instructions yourself since I know perfectly well you've completely disregarded them in the past!"

"It's not that. He doesn't…I couldn't…He doesn't know," Diego finished softly.

That did surprise the good doctor. "Surely you're joking."

"I wish I were."

"Well you didn't stitch this arm closed yourself. Now who's been helping you?"

"I've told you too much already."

"Hmph! You've hardly told me a thing!"

"You're in danger now. I may not always be able to protect you."

"Oh, I don't know. You've done a commendable job for the entire pueblo for the last seven years or so."

"Thank you, senor. That's kind of you to say."

The older man held up the sling. "My good opinion of you doesn't mean I'll let you disregard my orders," He told Diego sternly. Seeing the defiant look in his patient's eyes, he decided to change tactics. "Please, Diego. I'd blame myself if you were injured permanently. I can't bear it when someone is hurting and there's nothing I can to do help." He offered a soft smile. "You and I are alike that way, I think."

"You really believe it's that serious?"

"I know it is."

Diego nodded reluctantly and let the doctor make his arm comfortable in the sling. He sighed heavily. "I don't know how I'm going to keep this from my father now."

"He doesn't even know you were injured?"

"He believes I was stabbed by Gilberto."

"I see." He thought for a moment. "Senorita Escalante is here. I'm certain I wouldn't have any trouble convincing her to…" He trailed off as a threatening expression descended over Diego's features.

"Not a word to the senorita, Doctor."

Dr. Hernandez let his mouth drop open in a very ungentlemanly fashion. "You mean to tell me that after all this time, she doesn't even know?"

"I couldn't risk it."

He stood up and started packing his medical bag shaking his head. "You know, Diego, I don't think anyone in the entire pueblo fully appreciates how difficult this has been for you all this time."

"I simply did what had to be done."

"That may very well be the understatement of the century." Hernandez snapped his bag closed. "That arm needs to be cleaned and re-bandaged twice a day for the first week, and for heaven's sake keep it immobile. You've got to let those ribs heal anyway, so it'd be better if you just stayed put for a while. I don't think you've got a concussion, just bruises, but these repeated head injuries of yours certainly aren't helping matters. The cut on your side should heal in a few days…Now promise me you'll not move from this bed until I say so."

"My word, if I have yours you'll keep this conversation between us."

"My word," He replied back in kind. "This isn't a quid pro quo, Diego, but I do think you should tell your father. He'd be very proud of you."

"Unfortunately, that is precisely why I cannot."

"Diego…I need to know if there is someone here you can trust to properly take care of that arm."

Diego gave him a wry smile. One he'd seen so often on Zorro's face. "I'm quite certain Felipe will threaten me with bodily harm unless we allow him to do just that."

"Do you want something for the pain before I go?"

Another wry grin. "No, thank you, Doctor. I'll just…muddle along."

"At the very least, drink some of that tea I hear you're so famous for."

Diego simply nodded and relaxed further into the pillows. "Felipe knows."

It didn't take a doctor to realize this patient was exhausted. Dr. Hernandez smiled to himself and headed for Diego's sitting room to speak with the rest of the family. As he reached for the doorknob, a soft, low voice drifted gently across the room.

"Thank you, Doctor."

"Any time, my dear boy. Any time."

ZZZ

Felipe practically tackled Dr. Hernandez as he came out of Diego's room closing the door behind him.

"He's asleep, thank goodness. However, he's in a lot of pain, so I doubt he'll be resting comfortably for long. Diego said you'd know what kind of tea he needs?" He asked Felipe.

Felipe nodded.

"How badly is he hurt?" Alejandro asked.

"I won't lie to you Alejandro, his condition is serious. He's very lucky. The bullet wound was merely a scratch, nothing to worry about. There's some bruising and rope burns from the restraints that should fade in a few days. His ribs and his arm concern me. He's broken at least two ribs and cracked perhaps two more. They're going to take weeks to heal."

"That long?"

Hernandez nodded. "And that's only if he stays put. The bruising was extensive. It's imperative he remain in bed. Something as simple as twisting too fast could cause him to puncture a lung."

"We'll see that he stays put."

"You said something about his arm?" Victoria asked.

"He re-injured it quite severely. It needs complete rest in order to heal properly. I've given him a sling which he is to wear at all times." Dr. Hernandez shot Felipe a knowing look. The younger man nodded back, a solemn, yet determined expression on his face.

Alejandro held up a hand in an attempt to ward off his confusion. "Wait just a minute. Re-injured?"

Dr. Hernandez looked uncomfortable. Diego had made it quite clear his father was not to learn the true extent or cause of the injury. "He…said he was stabbed by Gilberto." That was true, to a certain degree. He didn't like lying to his good friend, but he'd given his word to protect Diego's secret. He figured it was the least he could do under the circumstances, considering all that Diego had done and would do for the pueblo.

"But that was weeks ago! It hasn't healed yet?"

"I'm afraid it never had the chance. He's obviously strained it too hard, and on more than one occasion." The wise doctor didn't miss the guilty look Felipe cast at the ground. He wasn't quite sure why, though. Certainly trying to get Diego to do something he didn't want to do was like trying to get blood from a stone. He'd practically had to beg to get the young Don to follow his instructions. On the other hand, Felipe obviously knew his master's secret. Being the only one in the world with that knowledge, he would have been the only one in a position to take care of him. And clearly, Diego hadn't listened.

Fortunately, everyone was so wrapped up in their concern for Diego, no one noticed Victoria shuffle nervously on her feet at this news.

Alejandro still wasn't convinced with the doctor's story. "He never said a word. He certainly never mentioned that it was still bothering him…" He trailed off uncertainly. Why on Earth had his son kept this hidden from him? That was so unlike Diego, he mused. Usually the man ran to his bed at the first sign of a sniffle.

Victoria interrupted his thoughts. "Perhaps he was…" She paused a second, trying to word her thoughts so as to make them more plausible. "Considering your feelings, and did not want to provide you with an unpleasant reminder of recent events." There. That wasn't so bad. That sounded believable, even to her. However, when she glanced at Felipe, she knew he hadn't bought her excuse when he raised a curious eyebrow at her. Obviously, they'd have to talk later.

The senorita gazed in wonder at the boy. He knew. He had to. That was the only explanation for the guilty looks he kept casting at every inanimate object in the room as well as the look she got for lying to Don Alejandro just now. She could tell the boy had approved of her fabricated reasoning to the older man…And the only reason he could have for such behavior was to protect Diego.

Luck was with her as Alejandro, still in a bit of a daze after the news the doctor had given them, walked his lifelong friend to the door and out onto the terrace in front of the house. Victoria reached for Felipe's arm, intending to tell him the secret she had been carrying for over a year, but realized that wasn't her decision to make. Instead, she smiled and spoke slowly and gently so that he could understand.

"Felipe, I'd like to sit with Diego alone for a while if that's all right."

Felipe nodded, pleased that she cared so much for Diego. He knew she cared that much for Zorro, but his brother's alter ego was another matter entirely.

Victoria cocked her head and narrowed her eyes somewhat to impress upon him the importance of her words. "Can you make sure we aren't interrupted?"

Felipe nodded again, but he didn't let his bland expression dissolve into a mask of curiosity and confusion until Victoria had entered Diego's bedroom and closed the door behind her.

She knows, the little voice inside his head told him. But since that was the most ridiculous thought he'd had since trying to dress up as Zorro himself – even Tornado had thought that was ridiculous – he merely grabbed a chair from the far wall and planted himself in front of the door.

Someone would enter Diego's room before Victoria came back out over his dead body.

ZZZ

Diego was still asleep when Victoria entered the room. Deciding that the light would bother her healing friend, she went to the curtains and pulled them mostly closed giving the room a more darkened, but still homey feel. She couldn't help but marvel at the elegance of the thick curtains. Two rows of fabric hung from the curtain rod above the window that were certainly capable of blocking out any trace of sunlight should the occupant ever desire to do so. Since Diego did most of his sleeping during daylight hours, she figured that was indeed a good thing.

Victoria grabbed the chair located under the window and carried it soundlessly to Diego's bedside so she could sit and wait. She didn't dare grab his hand for fear it would hurt or wake him.

She didn't have to wait long. Not five minutes after she sat down, Diego started to stir. He moaned slightly, wincing as he took a deep breath in his half awakened state. The pain that caused in his ribs jerked him into full alertness rather quickly.

Afraid he was about to panic, Victoria took his hand in hers. "Diego? It's all right. Lie still now."

"Victoria," he whispered and swallowed hard. Victoria took the glass of water from the nightstand and let him take a long sip.

"Not too quickly now."

Diego nodded that he was finished. "Thank you."

"Do you need anything else? Are you hungry?"

At the mere mention of food, Diego's stomach rumbled loudly. "I guess so," he chuckled, but stopped immediately when the laughter bounced his chest painfully.

"I wish there was something more I could do."

"I'm fine. Doctor Hernandez offered me something for the pain, but I told him no."

Maybe this was the moment she'd been waiting for. The opening was perfect, she just wasn't sure if now was the proper time to spring this particular tidbit of information on her best friend. Within seconds, her stubborn streak won out. She was tired of keeping the secret. She had no idea how he'd done it so long…

"I would understand if you'd prefer your cactus tea. It certainly helped me cope with the pain of my sprained ankle that day in your cave."

Diego's eyes widened slightly before a lazy smile spread across his face. "Indeed." His voice was suddenly an octave lower. The rich, familiar tone of the man she loved, now so obviously lying before her.

Victoria reached up to brush Diego's bangs off his forehead. "I'm sorry."

"For what?" Diego couldn't possibly imagine what she had to feel sorry for. He was the one who'd been deceiving her all this time. What really concerned him, however, was the worried look on Victoria's face. He couldn't decide if it was just because he was injured or because he was…well…Diego.

"Not being able to keep the secret," Victoria continued.

"You've obviously been keeping it for quite some time." He watched her nod, not missing the fact that she was no longer making eye contact with him. He reached for her chin with his good hand and tipped her face so she was looking at him. He smiled softly at her. "How long have you known?" He asked gently.

Victoria smiled as she remembered the night she and Diego had been caught in a terrible storm on their way back from Santa Paula. They'd spent the night in an abandoned windmill to take shelter from the storm, and Victoria had recited her favorite poem to her good friend…

"The fire reminds me of when my mother used to read me poems and adventure stories about love and courage," Victoria remembered wistfully. "Love has no rhyme, and no reason. It strikes with a passionate fire, engulfing the hearts in flame," Victoria recited.

"And only your cool, sweet lips will quench my burning desire," Diego finished the poem.

"Diego…something happened today…Something that I've never noticed before. When you stood up to the King's Emissary, there was something about you…well, you seemed different somehow."

All of a sudden, a gust of wind blew the door to the windmill wide open. Diego dashed across the room and secured it again. He managed to smoothly change the subject afterwards.

Later the next afternoon, Zorro brought the bandits into town who had robbed the Alcalde's safe.

"Zorro!" a lancer exclaimed in order to get Sergeant Mendoza's attention.

"Good afternoon, Sergeant! Please accept these prisoners as a gift from me. I think you'll find what you're looking for in the leader's saddlebags."

"Senor Zorro…" Victoria trailed off, pleading with her eyes for her masked hero to stay longer.

Zorro smiled. "Adios."

Victoria wasn't about to give up quite that easily, especially since the Alcalde wasn't in town. "Will you ever be able to stay?"

"Your smile almost quenches my burning desire," Victoria quoted Zorro's parting line that day. She'd stared after Zorro as he rode away from the pueblo deep in thought until he was out of sight. It had taken her most of the day to convince herself that she wasn't dreaming or going crazy. Diego really was Zorro…and he wanted her to know, or he wouldn't have given her such an obvious clue to his identity.

"Ah, yes. I often wondered if I'd gone too far that day."

"And now?"

"Now I'm certain, but glad." He smiled ruefully as his stomach growled its displeasure once again.

Victoria stood up and kissed his cheek. "First things first. What would you like for supper?"

"You," He quipped.

"I meant in terms of food," She quipped right back.

"I haven't eaten since lunch yesterday. Anything will be fine, really."

"How about something light at first? I'll see if Maria has any soup in the kitchen. I brought a flan from the tavern you can have if you eat some supper first."

"Sounds wonderful."

She kissed his cheek again before turning to go. "Lie still. I'll be right back."

He turned to grab her hand before she left, inadvertently tugging his sling and jarring his ribs yet again. His sharp intake of breath had Victoria rushing back to his side.

"Diego!"

"This not moving business is going to take some getting used to," he offered somewhat lamely.

Victoria grabbed an extra pillow from the other side of the bed and tucked it carefully under his right arm to take some of the weight off the sling. Diego was instantly more comfortable.

"That's much better, thank you."

"Try not to move. I'll be back in just a minute." She paused. "You didn't get that wound fencing with the Emissary did you?"

"No, although he did hit me there, which aggravated the wound…How did you know?"

"No one's ever been able to best you with a sword. I doubt they ever will."

"I find I live longer if I do have doubts. Besides, I may have to fence left handed from now on," He looked down at the sling in dismay. This time, Diego paused, trying to decide whether or not he should satisfy her curiosity, which was probably more worry than curiosity at this point. It was one of the many reasons he hadn't told her about being Zorro in the first place. "I was shot by a brigadier while rescuing Tornado from the cuartel," He finally admitted. "Victoria…" His voice trailed off somewhere between a plea and uncertainty.

It amazed her how much power he let her have over him. "I've had a long time to think, Diego…and…I think I understand."

"I'm the one who should be apologizing. I…I never wanted Zorro's crusade to last this long. It's been incredibly unfair to you. I don't think I'll ever be able to express how much your love and devotion has meant to me all these years."

"I told you I loved the man beneath the mask and that I would wait."

"You did."

"I knew you would tell me when you felt the time was right."

"I almost told you that day in the cave."

Victoria smiled. "I know. I should have told you then that I already knew…but…I wanted…I needed you to be ready to tell me yourself. And after our conversation, it seemed pretty obvious you still weren't ready."

"I should have told you then that there are only two things that I am afraid of."

Victoria arched an eyebrow at her fiancé. "You were afraid I wouldn't love the man beneath the mask…that I was in love only with the idea of Zorro. There's something else?"

"That if my identity were ever discovered, I wouldn't be able to protect the people I care about most in this world."

Victoria nodded. Considering how evil Alcalde Ramon had been, she could certainly understand why Diego had started the masquerade in the first place. There really had not been any other way he could have kept his friends and family safe from retribution.

When Victoria didn't respond right away, Diego became concerned. "You're not mad?"

"Not anymore." That was the truth. She'd broken at least five glasses in the tavern the day she found out as a direct result of her temper flaring whenever she thought of how long he'd been able to deceive her. She'd eventually admitted to herself that was the true genius of his disguise. If his closest friend didn't know his real identity, it was unlikely anyone else in the pueblo could decipher the ruse. "At first yes, I was furious. I wanted you to trust me, but the more I thought about it, Diego, the more I realized it isn't about trust, is it?"

"No. I'd trust you with my life; you know that. Your safety is more important to me than anything in this world. It's bad enough that you've become a target because of me. I'd never forgive myself if something happened to you."

"And what about your safety? What if something far worse had happened to you?"

Diego flashed Victoria a crooked grin. "I am somewhat accident prone. Zorro on the other hand is very careful and extremely capable of courting danger the way he does."

Victoria chuckled. "You talk about him like he isn't you."

Diego grinned. "I have to. I'll admit, it makes my life more complicated, but it also means there's less of a chance I'll slip in public and give something away." Diego paused, and they were content to just sit there for a moment. Finally, a passionate expression overtook the one of amusement on Diego's face. "I do love you, Victoria. I love you more than life itself."

"I love you too, Diego."

"No more secrets, Querida. I promise."

"And you always keep your promises."

Diego leaned forward to kiss her, but he didn't get very far. He would have ignored the pain in his ribs, but Victoria gave him a wry smile and pushed him gently back into the pillows before kissing him gently on the lips.

"Lie still," she repeated and brushed his hair off his face again. "We'll have plenty of time to talk. Just rest now." She didn't have to work very hard to convince him as his eyelids were already having a hard time staying open. "I'll be back soon," she whispered and watched his eyes close and his breathing even out before going to fix his meal, nearly tripping over Felipe on the way out.