Those concerned about the end of this chapter will want to read Diego's Adventure as well, to get some spoilers to ease the stress...lol

Alejandro's "Loss"

Alejandro glanced around the room. All the guests had disappeared down to the basement, they were all safe. The gunfire had stopped for a while. The soldier instinct screamed 'danger'. Diego looked at his father, and both of the men realised what had happened.

The soldiers had fallen to their enemies. They had run away or been killed. Alejandro wondered about the Alcalde and his men. Maybe they were alright, maybe they had run away. He glanced at Diego. His son seemed to be thinking. Ever the strategist, my son? Alejandro knew his son's strengths. Physically Diego was powerless right now, mentally maybe not so bad?

Victoria glanced at him, unnerved about the sudden silence. "It will be alright, Victoria." Alejandro stared at his son.

"They will be trying to enter the house. How secure are the doors?"

"This is no fortress, Diego," Alejandro answered with a little irritation. "The strongest part of the house is the cave."

"As I said before, get Victoria and Felipe into the cave," Diego said firmly. "There is no other course of action."

"The library is in the middle of the hacienda," Alejandro said thoughtfully. "If they are inside with us…"

"The basement?"

"We get Victoria and Felipe into the basement with the others. Through the kitchen." Alejandro nodded.

Victoria and Felipe both immediately started to refuse to move. Felipe gestured to his pistol. It was ready to fire. Victoria looked around wildly, and grabbed a carving knife from the dining table. She brandished it like a sword. Diego couldn't help but grin at her.

"It's not funny, Diego. I am just as willing to protect what is mine, as you are."

Alejandro sighed.

Diego shrugged. "So much for my wonderful plans," he said.

"Plans?"

"No point in turning to them now, Father."

Alejandro was doubtful. Diego was already organising his tiny army into position.

"Victoria, close by me. Father, patrol outside the door. Felipe, cover us from behind," Diego ordered firmly. Alejandro saw the strategy. His son wanted Victoria in the middle of a well-defended team.

Alejandro came close to his son. "Father, I really need you in front of us," Diego said.

"You think they will threaten her?"

"What do you think, father?"

Alejandro moved into the front position, and kept his eyes open. He guided them expertly, holding his own primed pistol at the ready. It was a fair distance from the dining room to the kitchen, but once they got a little distance, he could lead them down the servants' passageway.

Crashing glass behind him made him glance back. Diego was facing the other way, and he had drawn his rapier. Victoria, where was she? It had been too sudden, too quick.

Felipe let off a shot, narrowly missing Brownlow's head. The older man laughed. "Get out of here, Felipe. Now." Diego's voice boomed in the silence. The boy paused, and then scampered out of the broken window.

Brownlow's minions climbed awkwardly out to chase the teenager. Diego knew that Felipe would easily outrun them, if either of them was like a fox, it was Felipe.

Alejandro moved to Diego's side. Victoria struggled in a man's grasp, his hand over her mouth. She managed to bite the man's hand, and he dropped her like a hot potato.

"I will break you, Diego de la Vega. You will be screaming for mercy by the time I am through with you. You will fall at my feet and beg me to kill you…" Brownlow said. He raised a pistol and pointed it at Victoria's head.

"Why would you shoot the lady, senor?" Alejandro said.

Brownlow glanced at him. "No reason," he murmured. "I just want to hear him scream…" The man moved his finger on the trigger, slow motion, finger movements.

Diego screamed. "No!" He leapt quickly in front of his bride, and to Alejandro's horror, blood began to spill from a large hole in his son's chest.

Alejandro ran forward, and helped Victoria catch Diego's bleeding form as he stumbled backwards and down.

Victoria leant her husband against her lap as she knelt with him. Panic stricken eyes went to Alejandro's face. Alejandro's eyes were focused on his son. The blood…there was so much red pouring out of him. It seemed unreal. It couldn't be happening. He promised his son…

"Diego," he whispered. His experience told him it was hopeless. "Diego?"

Diego's eyes fluttered open. Shock was there in their depths, but no pain. Alejandro smiled shakily. He could be strong for his son. It would only be a few moments. The bleeding was too heavy to even try to stop it. Something tugged in his mind, something about the unreality of the situation.

"Are you in pain, Diego?" Alejandro murmured. Diego shook his head. His son glanced down at himself, and his eyes glazed over a little. "It's alright. Victoria's safe."

The noise of another gun being primed made Alejandro glance behind him. He felt his son stiffen.

"Turn around with your hands in the air, Brownlow. You are under arrest," Alejandro vaguely heard the Alcalde announce.

Diego blinked a little. "I'll be alright, Father. Trust me…" He struggled a little in Victoria's arms. He wanted to look at his wife. Alejandro helped him shift to his lap, so that he was looking at her.

"I love you. I'm sorry," Diego said softly. "I couldn't let him. I couldn't live without you."

His hand traced her face slowly, his eyes drinking in her features. He sighed a little.

"I can't live without you, either, Diego. Don't die," Victoria said. "We don't deserve this."

Diego chuckled a little. Then he sighed, and closed his eyes wearily. He sagged against Alejandro's lap, and Alejandro realised the pain of losing his son all over again.

"I trust you, son. Believe me. I trust you," Alejandro said softly, holding him close, kissing him lightly on his hair. As if that would bring his son back to him. As if that would make everything alright.