Disclaimer: No copyright infringement meant with story. Characters owned by ZPI, not by me. I only wish to borrow them for a little while.

A special recognition goes out to the FF Zorro story, "Ultimate Justice Revisited" by lilKCsunshine. His story has enthralled me for years, and I have reread it many times. Plot bunnies attempted to be born spun from it, but without success. However, this one finally popped up after being inspired to also explore what could have happened after that episode, especially if anyone looked closely at Diego after it happened, and how de Soto could have reacted from the entire ordeal. So I want to thank lilKCsunshine for writing and posting such a fantastic story!

AN: Thank you for returning to my story, and for all the favs, follows and reviews. The Zorro fandom is the best fandom there is! All of you rock! I appreciate all the happy thoughts you send my way as well. Maybe that will help my mental block regarding Alcalde names. Lately, either I slip in the wrong alcalde name, or I misspell it. I can juggle multiple stories and fandoms, but I can't keep the two alcaldes straight? I guess I'll have to remember to fixate my attention on the particular alcalde I'm writing about. (rolls my eyes.) Uck.

Guess this time I misspelled "de Soto" throughout this story. I think I know what got into my brain this time. We used to have a bar in town called Desota's…so…that might have been it. Ha. I think I got them all corrected, I believe. Thanks to the readers who graciously pointed it out to me.

Well, enough of my babbling, please enjoy this next installment.

Previously:

Looking at Diego, Ignacio laughed. "So…a 'friend' are you? Well, not sure about that. And regarding the benefit of a trial, I haven't decided what to do yet."

Diego was very suspicious about that. His eyes narrowed as he asked, "What exactly do you mean by that, Alcalde?"

"You mean, why have I gone through all this trouble in confronting you, then not hanging you right away? Just that I have a few things to consider." Turning to Victoria, he said, "Please, Senorita, time for you to leave."

The Alcalde slowly walked up to the cell. He fixed a thoughtful gaze upon Diego. Diego met his gaze without hesitation and steeled himself for the trouble ahead.

"Well, Diego, what do you have to say for yourself?" the Alcalde began.

Diego pretended indignation. "Humph, this is ridiculous, Alcalde. Beyond ridiculous. Me, Zorro? Your run-in with the Indians the other day must have really scrambled your brains."

"You wish, Diego. Instead I do believe it brought me clarity. By the way, what happened to your hands?"

A chill went through Diego. Holding up his hands, Diego looked at them in wide-eyed innocence. "My hands? Unfortunately, I had an experiment blow up on me unexpectantly. I…several glass bottles blew up, and I got cut by the flying glass, as well as bruised by some flying objects."

"Remove those bandages."

"What? Why? I told you I was cut up, not severely, but bad enough. For them to heal, they must stay bandaged."

"I'll bring you more bandages. Remove them. Now."

Diego realized there was nothing else he could do, so he reluctantly began to unwind the gauze, revealing hands and palms reddened from skin torn off, as well as a multitude of small cuts.

"Diego, your hands don't look like they were cut up by glass. Instead…they look like the skin got rubbed off. As if you were climbing a rock wall without gloves."

Diego grimaced and gave a scoffing laugh. "No, don't be silly. When would I have done something like that?"

"Like when you had to be a hero and undergo the Indians' tests in my place."

Diego looked the Alcalde directly in the eye. "Again, me, Zorro? I don't think so, Alcalde, and when I get a chance in court I will prove it."

"Oh, so you think you'll get a trial? Under emergency law, I can declare a trial unnecessary in your case and proceed directly with a hanging."

Diego's eyes narrowed as he looked at de Soto. "You wouldn't dare. Not with your ambitions. Bypassing a trial for a relative of the King? Surely that would end any hopes of a political career for you in Madrid, if not your life itself."

de Soto got a pensive look in his eye, and he stroked his beard looking at Diego. "You've always been quite good at talking people out of trouble, haven't you, de la Vega? This time it's you yourself you hope to get out of trouble with your silver tongue."

"I only speak the truth, Alcalde. Trying to warn you. It's the least I can do."

"No, trying to save your own life is probably the least you will try to do." His eyes hardened, and he nodded towards Diego's shirt. "Unbutton your shirt."

"Again, why?"

"If you don't have anything to hide, you'll unbutton your shirt and prove me wrong."

"Wrong about what?"

"I believe you have bruises on your throat and chest. Not to mention many little cuts from the walk of pain."

"I told you, Alcalde. I received whatever bruises I have from injuries sustained when my experiment blew up. And this walk of pain? I don't know what you mean."

Shaking his head, the Alcalde tried to keep his voice level. "You're getting on my nerves, Diego, with your unwillingness to cooperate. Now, unbutton your shirt or I will cut it off myself."

Sighing, Diego began to unbutton his ruffled caballero shirt. As he did, several bruises appeared around his collar and chest. The Alcalde's smile grew wider as more bruises became apparent the further Diego unbuttoned the shirt. When Diego was done, de Soto instructed, "Now take it off and show me your back."

"Is that necessary, as well?"

"Oh, most certainly, Diego. I'm gathering evidence for any so-called trial I allow you to have. If I allow it to happen."

Diego held back a sigh, took off his shirt and showed his back to the Alcalde. "Satisfied, Alcalde?" He asked as he turned back towards de Soto. "Again, what does all of this prove? Like I said, I had an accident in my laboratory. Glass exploded everywhere, and some cut my back. Several instruments and books flew at me as well, causing the bruises."

de Soto smiled and said, "Yes, I can see that, Diego. That's exactly what happened." His lips tightened as he said, "You can put your shirt back on, Diego. Or should I say Zorro?"

Diego put his shirt back on, buttoning it as he spoke "You may say it, but it doesn't make it any more true."

"Au contraire, de la Vega. I have the written testimony of our classmate as to your character. I have physical evidence it was you under the mask who endured the Indian trials, as well as testimony from the doctor confirming what types of injuries a person would now display having undergone such trials. I have the lack of times when you and Zorro have been in the same place at the same time. Should I continue?"

Diego attempted to maintain eye contact with the Alcalde, but couldn't think of what else to say to distract the Alcalde from this deadly course of thinking he was on. How could Diego refute all this evidence? It had always been there, if anyone had bothered to look. Now, unfortunately, de Soto had finally put all the pieces together. And Diego was all out of ideas.

As a last resort, Diego resorted to his fictional effete character. "I just don't understand how you can possibly think all this evidence means I'm Zorro. I never enjoyed fencing; I only attempted it for my father and was rather poor at it. Except, by a miracle, my final fight with Sir Edmund. And I just got lucky when I beat Sir Edmund and he gave me his sword. Mainly because of his friendship with my father."

"You can go all day trying to convince me otherwise, Diego, but I know differently. I'll be back to inform you of my decision regarding a trial. Otherwise, I'm sure your father will be here soon demanding to visit you. I suppose I must grant him one. However, I'll be watching him and Felipe to ensure there's no escape attempt on your behalf."

With that, de Soto turned smartly around and walked purposefully out of the jail. Diego sighed. He was all out of ideas. He could only hope Felipe had figured out something. Over the years, Diego had watched with pride how Felipe had grown into a very resourceful young man. Even though it looked grim, Diego hoped Felipe would think of something. Even the idea of Felipe masquerading as Zorro once more had the possibility of providing Diego an alibi. At least Diego prayed it would. Because he very much doubted he'd ever find another way to convince de Soto he wasn't Zorro. If that would even work, instead of drawing unwanted attention to Felipe.

Diego sat down on the bed, realizing he may very well be out of ideas. No way should Felipe masquerade as Zorro this time. de Soto was more intelligent than Ramon had ever been. He very well would deny the so-called sighting of Zorro if Felipe wasn't present as well. Same with his father, if Don Alejandro would instead ride Toronado. And there were no one else in the pueblo they could trust or risk to do such a thing.

Diego hung his head, his shoulders slouching in defeat. His brain was tired with trying to figure out what they could do. His spirit was uncertain if it could dig up any more hope for the situation. Looking for some sort of relief, Diego rubbed his temples. He decided to lie down for a while, at least give his body some rest, if not his mind.

~~Z~~Z~~Z~~

As expected, Alejandro was Diego's next visitor. Diego was frankly surprised de Soto had granted him a visit, considering he usually allowed prisoners one visitor a day, if that. However, his father was allowed into the jail an hour after de Soto visited Diego.

Alejandro stopped at the entrance of the jail and gave his son a piercing look, as if he were attempting to see Zorro in him. He shook his head and approached the cell. Diego stood and met him at the bars, trying to put a smile on his face but barely succeeding.

Alejandro leaned towards Diego as much as he could, despite the bars. "Is it true, Diego? Are you really Zorro?"

Diego looked around his father at the jail door, to make sure no one was suddenly entering. He returned his father's look, nodding his head.

Alejandro slowly let out the breath he had been holding. He said softly, "Maybe on some level I always suspected. But I was too afraid for it to be true. You, risking your life like that. All alone."

Diego decided to refute his father's last statement in a less dangerous place, at a later time. If he was able. "I'm sorry." He leaned closer to his father, a most serious look upon his father. "Please, Father, do not attempt any crazy stunt to help me escape out of here. Please."

The de la Vega temper made an appearance, as Diego observed the fire flare up in his father's eyes. To give his father credit, Alejandro successfully controlled his voice as he asked in an even, low tone, "Why not, my son?"

"For the same reason I didn't ever tell you my secret. I don't want anything to happen to you. I couldn't bear it."

Diego watched the fire in his father's eyes blaze a hundred times hotter, it seemed. Alejandro swallowed deeply, however, and continued to keep his temper under control. In the same even tone, he said, "I'm sure we'll be able to discuss this at a later time. One when you're not in danger of losing your life."

"Well, Father, I'm not quite as sure…."

Alejandro gritted his teeth, a low growl coming out of his throat, and glared at his son. He looked at the door, as if making sure the Alcalde hadn't made his expected appearance. "Is there anything I can do for you, then?" he managed to ask in a quieter tone but through gritted teeth.

Diego wondered for a moment whether the request was sarcastic or not, but searching his father's eyes, he decided it to be a mostly honest question. "I don't know yet. Have you sent someone to get Don Cristobal?"

Don Cristobal, lawyer to the de la Vega family for years, lived in Santa Paula. Depending upon what de Soto decided, they might not even have time to get him to Los Angeles. However, it was in Diego's best interest to get him to Los Angeles as soon as possible.

"I can't get a handle on what de Soto is planning, Diego. Has he given you any indication whether he'll allow you an actual trial?"

"No, he hasn't. He has much to consider, I think." Diego looked at his father with speculation. "Unless…did you say something to him?"

"What?" Don Alejandro asked. "Well, I guess it's possible I may have reminded him of our being related to the King. And how that may affect his standing with the royal court."

Leaning closer to his father, Diego whispered, "Perhaps he's decided, but wants to make me worry by making me wait as long as possible."

"I told Juan and Carlos to rush as quickly as the horses would allow, to inform Don Cristobal. So, if your idea doesn't happen, perhaps Don Cristobal can save us then." As Diego was about to debate the pronoun his father used, Alejandro said softly, "If you die, my heart will die alongside yours, my son."

Diego grasped his father's hand and gave it a little shake. "Don't talk that way, please, Father." With all his effort, Diego managed to pull all his acting ability together and say persuasively, "I will get through this, one way or another."

As he looked at his father, Diego knew Alejandro was attempting to be just as positive as he replied. "Yes, I know you will."

At this moment, the Alcalde chose to appear. "I'm sorry Don Alejandro, but it's time for you to leave."

Turning towards the official, Alejandro said, "I did forget to mention, Alcalde, our family lawyer is on his way and should be here within two days."

Tugging at his coat, the Alcalde said, "A lawyer may very well not be necessary, Don Alejandro."

Diego managed to grab his father's hand as a reminder before Alejandro answered. Alejandro nodded at his son and gently removed his hand from Diego's. In an even, normal voice, Alejandro said, "May I remind you again, Alcalde, of the relationship…."

"Yes, yes, I remember. I remember very well indeed. And you can be certain I am taking it into consideration." Looking at Diego, de Soto gave him a pointed look. "As well as other evidence I have gathered as well."

Before Diego could grab his father, Alejandro turned onto the Alcalde. "What do you mean, taking it into consideration?" Reaching for de Soto's neck, Alejandro asked, "What would you do if I…"

At that moment Felipe and Mendoza rushed into the jail. As de Soto stepped away from Alejandro, Felipe grabbed Alejandro's hands. Mendoza said, "Don Alejandro! Violence won't solve anything."

Shaking out of Felipe's grasp, Alejandro raised his hands in surrender and stepped away from the Alcalde. "I'm all right." At Felipe's gentle nod, Alejandro swallowed and said, "I apologize, Alcalde. You are fully aware how important my son is to me. This has been extremely stressful for me. I again am sorry." He bowed his head slightly as the Alcalde.

Surprisingly, the Alcalde said as he wiped imaginary dirt and wrinkles from his jacket. "I accept your apology. I do understand you being under such stress." Directing a look of steel at Alejandro, de Soto said, "However, do not allow it to happen again, Don Alejandro. This is your final warning."

AN: Well, do we know any more of what de Soto has planned? Sorry, not sorry. The plot thickens, however. Hope this flows all right. Anyway, this one has been especially fun to write. So far, ha.

And I kept imagining Henry Darrow those times when he communicated that explosive de la Vega anger being very tightly controlled. I hope you could imagine it as well. I did like Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. in the role of Don Alejandro very much the first year, as the very stern father, but Henry brought a lot more range of emotions more convincingly, I think. Oh, and those dimples! If you are ever able to see him when younger on "High Chaparral", watch it. A very cute Mano he made, I tell you! And a very fun, interesting Western overall, it was. Unfortunately, it only lasted four seasons as well.

Again, reviews make my Muse very, very happy, inspired, and more productive…hint, hint. Thanks as always for reading and enjoying!