Diego moved rapidly through the crowd, his eyes alert and searching for little Miguel. Where could the child have got to? He eased himself around obstacles and people gently, and started getting worried after a few moments.

Vehicles were beginning to pack up and leave, and still the little boy had not been found. Such a small child would be invisible to coach and cart drivers, and accidents were very frequent on market day.

"Miguel!" Diego used his voice, powerfully above the noise of the crowd. "Miguel Azarola!"

Victoria met him, and noticed the worried frown on her friend's face.

"Diego, what's wrong?"

"Miguel Azarola is lost in the crowd. We must find him, Victoria," he said with distraction.

"I'll help," she said softly. She made her way on the other side of the crowd, and he heard her calling out the child's name. She was amazing, he thought to himself. She was always so helpful.

After a few moments of fruitless searching, he was almost ready to take a break and ask someone else to help, someone like the sergeant or a lancer.

"Miguel!" It was a panicked scream, and it came from Victoria. Diego glanced towards her voice, and saw that the little boy was frozen in fear with a buggy speeding towards him. It would crush him so easily, and he couldn't let that happen.

Zzz

Victoria saw Diego move and was amazed. He ran so quickly, and dived at the child, pushing the boy roughly out of the way of the vehicle. Diego had landed on the road, immediately in front of the buggy.

"Diego!" Victoria's scream brought Francisco out of the crowd, just as the buggy reined in a little too late. Horses reared and lunged a little, as the driver fought to control them. Diego lay still in the dirt, and Victoria tried to run to him. Francisco held her back as she tried to run to her friend, puffing from his own run, and he pulled her to him for a moment as he regained his breath, preventing her madly dashing towards already panicking horses. Isabella gave a little cry and ran to her little boy holding him safely in her arms, as she examined him for injury.

Francisco paused, taking in the scene before them, releasing Victoria quickly when the horses were subdued by more careful attendants. People had rushed to help, hearing the screams, and a crowd quickly formed. The driver of the buggy had swung down from his vehicle and was staring at the still man with shock in his face. He was completely unable to act, and others had to make him move aside and sit down.

"Oh, no….Diego," Francisco breathed, and then made his way quickly to his friend's side. He had to push people aside a little to get to Diego. Victoria beat him to Diego's side, and was already cradling the man's head gently when he reached them.

Diego opened his eyes slowly, and reached for Victoria's arm to help himself up.

"Not so fast, my friend. Let's look at you," Francisco said softly. "Diego, look at me."

Diego turned his eyes to him, and Francisco noticed that the pupils were a little unfocused. Blood trickled slowly from a small gash to Diego's head.

"Help me up, Francisco," Diego said, slurring a little. Francisco paused a moment, and hoisted him up to his feet.

"Ow," Diego said. "I'm…alright." He pushed at Francisco's hand, in an effort to make him release him, but the other man wouldn't budge. He stumbled a little, and Francisco supported him with both hands, to stabilise him properly.

"You were knocked out, Diego. Let someone help you," Victoria said anxiously. "Someone get Dr Hernandez."

"Is the child alright?" Diego said, letting Francisco support him. "Where's Miguel?"

Isabella nodded, and Diego sighed with relief.

"You saved my son's life, Diego," Isabella said, through grateful tears. "Oh, Diego, how can we ever repay you?"

Diego groaned a little, and put a hand up to his head.

"Diego, where's the most pain?" Francisco said worriedly.

"Wow, I'm bleeding," Diego stated, slightly amazed, glancing at his hand, and passed out, falling into the other man's arms. Francisco laid him on his back, and directed the crowd backwards a little.

Diego needed a good supply of air.

"Is he alright?"

"I think it was only a faint, Victoria. Perhaps a slight concussion with the head injury."

Diego came around gradually, when Francisco elevated his feet.

"We should move him, surely?" Victoria said softly. "This is the middle of the road…"

"I'm quite alright," Diego insisted, a little confused. "I can move myself."

"You will just faint again, Diego," Francisco said, patiently. "Rest a moment."

There was a little disturbance in the gathering crowd, as Alejandro pushed through to them.

"What happened?" He said, kneeling near his son. "Diego?"

"We should move him to the tavern at least," Francisco said. "If you could support his other side, Alejandro? Just be aware that he might faint again."

The men hefted him up, and as Diego put pressure on his feet to insist that he could walk without any fuss, he cried out in pain.

"Where's the pain, Diego?" Alejandro said, quickly, glancing over his son.

"My ankle," Diego murmured, clutching the other men's arms tightly, against the sudden flare of pain. "Ow, that hurts," he breathed. "That really hurts."

Diego allowed the other men to half carry him into the tavern, and position him on a chair.

Dr Hernandez approached them, and first he examined Diego's eyes to check his pupils, and then turned his attention to the ankle.

"It's swelling up already, Diego. It's severely bruised, and possibly broken," the doctor murmured. "Your head is bleeding, but the concussion seems very mild."

Diego sighed a little. "I can't have a broken ankle. That's just not possible. I have so much to do. There are things that only I can do…" He stopped, realising that the others were staring at him in concern. "Really, you will just have to fix it. Right now. What are you waiting for?"

Dr Hernandez placed a hand on his arm, and stared at him for a moment and nodded thoughtfully.

"Do you know what you are saying, Diego?" Alejandro asked with concern. He was definitely not making much sense. "It's not as if we can use paste…"

"It is just concussion," the doctor assured them, with a half-smile at Diego's confusion. "It will pass. Get him into bed, and watch him for a while. No excitement, and watch him carefully. Concussions are sometimes worse than they appear."

Alejandro nodded and Diego knew, even in his confusion, that he was going to be well guarded until the concussion passed.