Chapter 8

Felipe was hovering near Diego's bedside when he awoke again. The younger man rushed over as soon as Diego tried to reposition his arm in the sling. Felipe gently did it for him, adding another pillow beneath his elbow so he'd be more comfortable. Diego glanced around uncertainly for a moment before he was able to convince himself he was safe. His nightmare a moment ago had certainly tried to convince him otherwise.

"You know, Felipe, I'm beginning to think our fishing trip wasn't such a good idea."

Felipe couldn't bring himself to smile at the joke. I'm sorry, he signed. I'm so sorry.

"You're sorry?" Diego managed to hold back a wince as he sat up slightly higher against his pillows. "What on Earth for?" Felipe patted his chest with both hands and brushed them both to the side before pointing at Diego and then at the ground. "For leaving me behind?" Diego interpreted.

Felipe nodded and ducked his head. I should have come back right away.

Instead of being angry, like Felipe thought he would be, Diego gave him a look of complete understanding. "You thought I'd be angry with you." It wasn't a question. "I thought you knew me better than that by now…Felipe, you did exactly what I told you to do. Besides, Father told you to wait, didn't he?"

Felipe nodded, but he didn't feel any better. They hurt you.

"And I would bear that pain a thousand more times to keep you from it…He had a gun to your head, Felipe. I couldn't risk losing you."

And I'm supposed to risk losing you?! Felipe waved his hands frantically. Every time you leave the cave may be the last time I see you!

"I know…I know. Sometimes I forget this charade is just as difficult for you, if not more so, than it is for me."

You're all I have. I can't lose you.

"Felipe, you're not going to lose me. And…should something ever happen to me, regardless of the reason, you'll still have Father and Victoria. They care about you just as much as I do." Diego had learned not to chuckle the hard way, so when Felipe gave him a doubtful look, he simply smiled instead. "Well, almost as much as I do."

I don't care what Father said. I should have come back for you.

"Felipe, I needed you to get help in case I couldn't escape on my own, which turned out to be a very good thing indeed. You did exactly what needed to be done." Felipe ducked his head again, and Diego noticed the guilty look. "What is it?"

I should have helped you take care of the banditos at the start.

"That, amigo, was as much my fault as it was yours. I should have noticed them following us as they obviously had been since we left the tavern. Felipe, please don't be upset about this. I'll be fine in a few days."

Weeks.

"Days," Diego argued back.

Weeks, Felipe countered, and grabbed the cup of cactus tea he'd poured earlier from the nightstand.

"I'm trying to clear my head, not cloud it, hermano."

"Then start with this instead," Victoria offered as she breezed into the room and set a tray with a tall glass of juice and a steaming bowl of soup on Diego's lap. "And then you will drink all of that tea if I have to pour it into you myself, is that clear?"

"I was afraid of this."

"Of what?" Victoria put her hands on her hips.

"Of you ordering me around once you discovered my secret."

Felipe's jaw hit the floor as his eyes widened in shock. Diego just gave him his practiced, innocent look that was usually reserved for Don Alejandro.

"Did I forget to mention that? You'll have to show her the cave entrance later after Father has gone to bed, please." He took a careful bite of soup with his left hand. While it was true that he was incredibly coordinated with both hands, eating this way was something he had less practice with. He realized quickly he could manage just fine as long as he ate slowly. That was certainly better than having to be fed, though, so he didn't complain. He glanced up to find both Felipe and Victoria staring at him.

Victoria got over her surprise first. "Why after Don Alejandro has gone…he doesn't know?" She asked incredulously.

"No," Diego replied reluctantly. "I couldn't risk it. Just as I couldn't risk telling you."

"You were so upset yesterday…Is…Is that why? Because you can't tell him?"

"Yes. I've tried. Several times actually, but I simply can't. I'm concerned for his safety. I'm even more concerned for yours."

Victoria brushed her fingers against his sling. "Well, we're all safe right now. You'll just have to let us worry about you for a change, hmm?" Diego let out a frustrated sigh, which was so unlike him, Victoria thought, and then almost laughed the thought away. It was actually very much like him, she realized, just not the public image Diego had created of himself.

"I don't know what I'm going to do if I'm needed in town."

"You're going to stay right there, Diego. You're father can rally the caballeros for as long as it takes for you to heal."

"He'll be arrested. That's why I started this escapade in the first place. I wanted to be able to help without my father or anyone else being targeted because of it." The more he spoke, the more worked up he became until he started to lean forward. Unfortunately, his ribs stopped him before Victoria or Felipe had a chance. Diego let out a barely audible gasp, but Felipe had learned to anticipate his brother's flares in temper a long time ago and was already pulling away the tray on his lap before Diego could grab hold of something to throw. Victoria swooped in to finish the job before he could yell or hurt himself further.

"Diego…Diego," She put her hand on his cheek. His entire body was tense, but even she was amazed at how quickly he calmed at her touch. "Please relax. There's no need to worry right now. Everything in town is fine. Let's cross that bridge when we come to it all right?"

Diego tugged at his arm in the sling. "All right."

"Drink this," Victoria handed him the cup of cactus tea, "And don't you dare try and tell me you're not in pain," She scolded before he could even form the words. "You need it, so come on…I'll let you have some of that flan later if you do." She wasn't above bribing him, especially if his health was at stake.

Listen to her, Felipe begged.

Diego considered that the promise of flan might be worth it, but his utter distaste for the tea won out. "I don't need it. Really. I think I've slept quite enough, don't you?"

"No," Victoria and Felipe communicated at once.

"I could always go and get your father to get you to drink it," Victoria threatened.

"You wouldn't dare."

"Oh, wouldn't I?"

"That's not fair."

"It's incredibly unfair, and who ever promised you 'fair' anyway?"

"No one, I just keep expecting it." He swallowed the contents of the cup in three quick gulps. The effort didn't mask the bad flavor as much as he'd hoped. "After all this time, I'm not even sure why." Diego barely even registered that he was falling asleep already by the time Victoria rearranged his covers and fluffed his pillow for him.

Alejandro finished speaking to the doctor and made his way back to Diego's room in time for Diego to see him enter just before he nodded off. It was just as well. He didn't have the energy to deal with his father anyway. Their argument the day before had taxed his patience more than he cared to admit, and it was going to be all Diego could do the next time they spoke not to shout in his face 'I'm Zorro,' and just be done with it.

Felipe, however, didn't have the luxury of simply falling asleep when his future father came in. He was still upset with how Father had treated Diego. Knowing he was acting like a child, and deciding he simply didn't care, he sat in the plush reading chair in the corner of the room by the window and crossed his arms in front of his chest.

The sudden chill in the air wasn't lost on Victoria. The only problem was that she had thought Don Alejandro knew that Diego was Zorro and that they'd have something to talk about when he finally came into the room. Thinking back to the scene in the tavern yesterday, Victoria realized she should have known better. Diego had been truly hurt by his father's words, and if they had just been acting Alejandro would not have been so intentionally cruel just to maintain the charade Diego had created.

The knot that had wrapped itself around her heart since she'd heard Diego was missing tightened a little more. Her best friend had struggled, mostly alone, in his fight for justice for the better part of a decade. It had taken his kidnapping for her to realize how big the rift between Don Alejandro and Diego really was.

Victoria knew without a doubt that the secret of Zorro had been slowly tearing Diego apart since he'd first put on the mask. The question she had to answer now was what could she possibly do to help? And help she must, for she knew that deep down, the secret of Zorro was going to destroy the De la Vegas if she didn't.

"We gave him a tea to make him sleep." She said as a conversation starter.

"Was he in much pain?"

Victoria nodded, unable to form words past the knot that formed in her throat. They really had come close to losing him.

Alejandro seemed to read her thoughts. "If Felipe hadn't found him when he did…" He shifted uncomfortably, keenly aware that Felipe was ignoring him on the other side of the room. He sat next to Diego on the bed and stared regretfully at his son. "I hurt him with my words yesterday."

Victoria recalled the conversation she'd had with Diego in the tavern after his father had stormed out. "He understands you only want what's best for him." She couldn't help smiling at the older man as he visually checked over his son to make sure he really was all right.

"Is it?"

"I'm sorry?"

"What's best for him? I've never been very understanding of his…hobbies," Alejandro said delicately. "Perhaps if I'd taken the time to really listen to the many things he is learning and is passionate about I could have been less judgmental and more understanding of the kind of man he's trying to be." He waved an accusing finger at Victoria. "And don't tell me he didn't think I was being too hard on him."

Victoria just smiled.

"I thought so."

"He didn't say it in so many words, but I believe he just wants you to love him for the man he is, not the man you wish him to be." Ironically, he's exactly the man you wish him to be, Victoria commented to herself.

"I do. Of course I do."

"Then you should tell him. It would mean a great deal to him to hear it from you."

"He's my only son, Victoria. How did we grow so far apart?"

"I think, Don Alejandro, that is a question you will have to ask him. If it's all right with you, senor, I'll go help Maria in the kitchen."

He got up and embraced her warmly. "This hacienda would fall apart without your friendship and support, my dear. Diego is very blessed to have such a true friend." He glanced over his shoulder at Felipe. "I think I'll retire to the library for now." He turned to fully face the 'deaf' boy. "Will you sit with Diego?"

Felipe nodded and watched the adults go. Finally, Don Alejandro seemed to understand the strain Diego had been under; at least, as much as possible without knowing the man was Zorro. Hopefully, they would talk.

Felipe would have fought tooth and nail to keep Diego from telling his father the truth before today. Now, Felipe hoped Diego would share his secret if for no other reason than to raise the dark cloud of tension and pain that had slowly descended over the hacienda over the last seven years. Felipe wasn't naïve. He knew it would take a minor miracle for the two men to get through their next conversation without it turning into a shouting match.

He could only pray that miracle would include the divulgence of Zorro's secret, or else the relationship between the De la Vega men might become irreparable.