Diego noticed the shivering and realised what it might mean, but he didn't mention it. Victoria was enthusiastically commenting on how well he was doing with his ankle, and he didn't want to let her down. Finally she thought he was worth something, and he wasn't going to lose that right now.

He paused to catch his breath, and try to quell the dizzy feeling in his head.

"Diego?" Her voice sounded like it came from far away, and he focused on it.

"Diego, are you alright?"

"Yes…I'm alright," he murmured, as her voice came back into its right volume. "My ankle…"

"We should rest," she said thoughtfully.

"How far have we gone?"

"It's hard to tell in this darkness."

"Is there any light from anywhere?"

"I know what I need to head for. I know what light means, Diego. I'm not stupid."

"I know, I know," he said, taking a deep breath. He let out the breath, and some of the dizziness cleared. Leaning against the wall, he slowly let himself slide down it. In this darkness, it was good to feel something behind him, to centre him.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to speak so sharply."

"I was condescending, patronising. It's completely my fault."

"Diego," she murmured, and her hand found his. "I wish I could see you."

"I can see you…" He murmured, reaching out to where he knew her face must be. "In my heart, and my soul. I close my eyes and I see you." He cupped his large hand around her cheek, and she placed a hand over it. The connection felt good.

"Your hand is very cold, Diego." There was alarm in her voice.

"Which one? Left or right side?"

"I hardly know…. Left hand," she murmured. "Why?"

"It doesn't matter," he said softly. He felt very tired and wondered if he had the strength to stand again.

"Diego?"

"You might have to keep going without me," he said. "I'll slow you down."

"Don't be silly, Diego. We'll get out together. We're helping each other. I'll wait for your ankle."

A shiver raced through him, and he shuddered. He dropped his hand, but she sought it out again.

"Diego? What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing's wrong with me," he lied. The throbbing in his arm reminded him of the scant regard he'd had for his gunshot nick. He should have been more attentive.

There was a silence as Victoria considered his answer. "You're lying…" She whispered. "How dare you?"

"What?"

"How dare you lie to me!"

"Victoria?"

"All these years of lying to me, and you are doing it again? I can forgive you, I can understand about Zorro. I love you, and you are lying to me?"

"What do you want me to say?"

"Tell me the truth," she demanded. "What is wrong with you?"

"My shoulder…"

"Your shoulder?" She reached for him in the dark, and found the buttons of the shirt. She unubuttoned the shirt and eased it off the shoulder.

His intake of breath as she went to touch it alarmed her even more. "I am certainly not leaving you."

"Victoria."

"It's inflamed. All the dust in the cave in, all the strain of the climb. This is my fault," she murmured.

"How is it your fault?"

"I should have looked at it when I wrapped the ankle. How could I have forgotten the shoulder?"

"It wasn't hurting…"

"Stop trying to be a hero, Diego. Of course it was hurting."

"No, it wasn't. All I could think of was getting out of the cave. It hurt later, but later was later. And the ankle was on fire after that climb. I was tired…"

"What a nuisance you are sometimes," she said with a sigh. "Really, Diego. You'll have fevers next."

Diego grinned a little. He was pretty sure the shivering already signified some sort of fever, but he wasn't going to give her that satisfaction. He was sure they were mild fevers and manageable for his body anyway, and now she would force him to rest, it would get better quickly. He was sure it would.

Zzz

Isabella sat near the fire and read quietly. Miguel was playing with Diego's old lead soldiers on the mat near her feet, and Raquel was investigating some wooden blocks.

"I could find some dolls somewhere. Elena had a few from her childhood, in case we ever had a daughter."

"She's happy, Alejandro."

"You could come out into the library, Isabella. The children are fine. Maria will watch them for you."

The children looked up at that comment, and Isabella could feel their eyes on her, waiting to hear what she would say.

"I want to be near the children, and they want to be near me, Alejandro. It is a mother's whim. Let it be," she said with a smile. "How is the search party coming along?"

"I already have the base group down at the cave, and I have sent messagers to the Indian tribe that used to live in that area. I thought perhaps they would know the cave system. Apparently they are afraid to venture inside. They seem to think evil spirits live there."

"Well, you did say the cave has always been unstable. Maybe that's why?"

Alejandro nodded. "Makes sense."

"You came to let me know you were leaving?"

"Yes," he said, a little startled. "How did you know?"

"Work clothes, Senor. It always gives gentlemen away. He'll be alright, Alejandro."

"I hope so, Isabella."

"Send me word as soon as you know anything, Alejandro. I want to be able to know what is going on."

He approached her, and bowed, taking her hand. His lips met the back of her hand, and she startled a little. She met his eyes with a look of curiosity, but he was gone before she could think of anything to say.

Her face flushed a little, and she pulled her hand towards her chest, where her heart was beating a little too fast for comfort. She wasn't sure what she felt about that. Diego had done that and it hadn't caused a reaction like that, and he was young and handsome. Not that Alejandro wasn't handsome….Oh, what did it mean?

"Mama, are you alright?"

"Yes, Raquel, I'm fine, sweetheart. What are you building?"

"A castle. To keep everyone safe, Mama."

"What a wonderful idea," Isabella said thoughtfully.

Zzz

Diego took advantage of the rest time he was offered and dozed off on Victoria's lap for a while. She stroked his hair, and realised he was a little too warm on his forehead. It explained some of the argumentative, moody behaviour. She had to play mother for a while, she realised with a tremor of fear. He could get worse, and fevers killed people just as often as guns and swords did out here in California. She couldn't lose him now, when she knew who she truly loved and needed.

She found the blanket in the bag by touch and feel, and spread it over him to help keep him comfortable, and ended up closing her eyes, and leaning against the wall. She slept for a while as well.

Victoria stirred when Diego started calling out in his sleep, and she settled him gently. Something about Max Destara again, no doubt. She turned and peered hard into the darkness before them, and wondered if there was a way out. Perhaps there was a side passage?

She felt a slight rumble, and she startled. Diego opened his eyes and helped himself sit more upright.

"What was that, Diego?"

"Not again," he murmured. He didn't have the energy to think, let alone run. "Another cave in?" Victoria sighed, and held him to her body firmly.

"We are together, Diego. That's all that matters." He wrapped her in his arms, and hoped that it was a distant cave in that was contained. If it spread towards them….he realised they would be dead within moments.