AN – By now, you should have realized how much I love giving realistic details about anything and everything. Some embarrassing moments for Victoria coming up now.

I absolutely LOVE that scene with Don Alejandro! I guess you haven't read about that necessary bodily function in a sick person in any fanfiction, or anywhere else, for that matter, because most people would prefer to ignore those gross, but important details.

Yes, unconscious, sick people still need to pee (that's why we plug them to urinary catheters nowadays, and forget about wet sheets).

In the show, I always wondered how Diego took care of Victoria while she was shot, because that would not have been "proper" at all. Just think about it… Naaah… Don Alejandro would not have allowed that kind of hanky-panky under his roof. LOL.

(But, please, don't fret too much about the gross details. I will wake him up before he has to poo, hahahahaha. Oops).

This chapter called "Revealing Zorro's dirty little secrets" was getting too long and out of control, so I had to split it in smaller pieces. So far, 2 big chunks for sure, maybe 3. Or even more, if I keep digging out his dirty laundry before he wakes up.

Enjoy! And please, review if you can. Not many reviews for the last chapter. That makes me sad. And sad writers don't feel like writing… (hint, hint!)

Chapter 56 – Revealing Zorro's dirty little secrets (I)

Victoria let out a deep sigh when she finally could close the front door of the tavern that night. Everybody had gone, including Pilar, Pedro and Pablo, and of course, all the customers and soldiers. And the alcalde. Especially the alcalde, that rotten, son of a bitch.

She put the key in her pocket and walked upstairs once more, slowly, taking her time, because she was tired of running around all day long.

"Everybody's gone. We can check on Diego now, at last," she said to Don Alejandro. "Help me with this. I am so tired tonight, I would like to forget about everything, take some drugs and go to sleep carefree, like he has done," she said, pointing at Esteban, asleep in bed. He had taken a good dose of laudanum and he had managed to relax and fall asleep again despite all the pain in his battered torso.

"Why don't you take some of the laudanum the doctor left for him and have a good rest tonight then?" Don Alejandro said, moving the chest of drawers out of the way. She unlatched the door and knocked on it, waiting for Felipe to open the other side.

"Are you crazy? How could I, when Diego hasn't woken up yet? I have to be with him!"

"Don't be silly. You can't be awake with him all night if tomorrow you have to be up and about again, fooling the alcalde," the old don said, following Victoria into the adjacent room when Felipe unlatched the door from the other side. "Felipe, is everything all right? How is he?"

Felipe made the "fine" sign, and then started moving his hands quickly, way too fast for Don Alejandro's ability to understand him.

"Wait, wait, wait. Slowly, please. I don't understand you."

"I think he is talking about Toronado," Victoria said.

Felipe nodded then, vigorously.

"Oh, yes. Toronado. Where is he? Where do you keep him?" Don Alejandro said. "He will need food and water, of course."

Felipe carried on signing then.

"At the hacienda? Are you saying Diego keeps that horse at the hacienda? Where? Not in our stables!" Don Alejandro said, baffled.

"I don't know what he's saying. I don't get it." Victoria said, shaking her head.

"Felipe, please. Try again. We don't understand you."

The youngster puffed, inpatient, and tried again, more slowly, but they still didn't know what he meant.

"Felipe, when I damaged my ankle, Zorro took me once to some large room that looked like a cave of some sort, and I saw Toronado's pen. Where is that place?"

"At the hacienda. He insists that cave is at the hacienda. But, where?" Don Alejandro said, raking his brain for a possible place, but he couldn't think of anywhere suitable for that.

Felipe made more signs, pretending to be reading, and setting up a fire in the fireplace, but they didn't get it. Frustrated, he walked past them to leave the room, tired of wasting time.

"Where are you going now? To the hacienda?" Don Alejandro said to his back. Felipe turned to look at him and nodded. "Felipe! You heard me! You nodded as if you could hear my question, but you were not looking at me!"

Felipe shrugged his shoulders then, as if he didn't care.

"So, can you hear then?"

Felipe nodded again, taking a hand to his ear, and then shook his head when he took it to his mouth.

"You can hear but you can't speak… But, why didn't you tell me you could hear? Why?"

Felipe signed again, but because the old don didn't seem to get any of his explanations, he made the "never mind" sign and then faced Victoria, making a Z sign with his finger in the air, pretending to use an invisible hat over his head, and a whip, also tugging at his clothes.

"Do you want to take with you Zorro's clothes and all his stuff?" Victoria said, and Felipe nodded then, relieved because at least she had understood that. "I hid all that at Apollo's pen. Come with me and we'll look for all the pieces."

"Good idea, Felipe. Take all of Zorro's gear with you so the alcalde cannot find any evidences here, or anywhere else. And, please, don't come back here tonight. Stay at the hacienda and have a good rest. Return in the morning, but not necessarily at dawn. Come whenever you are ready, all right? But have some rest, please. You must be really tired now."

The young boy nodded in agreement and moved towards the door to leave the room with Victoria.

"Wait. Let me say something else, please. I am really glad you can hear, don't get me wrong. That's such good news. But I look angry because I still don't understand why you kept that secret from me, why you didn't tell me. I hope you two can explain me that when Diego wakes up."

Felipe nodded again and left for the stables with Victoria in tow.

"Felipe, that's excellent news. You can hear! Since when?"

"For a while, shortly before Diego returned from Spain," Felipe signed.

"I didn't get that. Oh, Felipe, I am so sorry. I would like to understand you as well as Diego does, but I don't. It must be so frustrating for you not to be able to communicate properly with us. Sorry."

"It's all right. I am used to this. Nobody understands everything I say but Diego," he signed.

"What?"

"Never mind."

They got to the stables then, and Victoria moved some of the stuff she had in that small pen out of the way, to reach Zorro's clothes and weapons, all the items she had hidden in there, at the back, behind all the others.

"Here they are. Let me get a sack where you can put everything."

Among the things she had there in storage, she found a large canvas bag that once had contained potatoes, and she handed it over.

"Hold it up and I'll put everything in." She got the sabre inside first, and then the boots, the whip, and the hat, and then his clothes. When she was folding the cape, while holding the trousers over her arm, a small object fell from one of the pockets, tinkling over the hard floor.

"What was that?" she said, looking for the mysterious, little item, because it wasn't easy to see it under the fainted light of the small lamp they had taken to the stables.

Felipe spotted something, and leaned to the floor to get it. When he saw what it was, he gave it to her with a long face.

"The engagement ring! What was it doing in there?"

"I thought you had that ring in a chain around your neck."

Victoria understood that sign.

"Yes, I had it in a chain around my neck, but I returned it to Zorro when I broke up with him. Oh my God!" That brought tears back to her eyes, in yet another breakdown. "That was only two nights ago, although it feels much longer than that. Maybe that's why it is still in Zorro's pocket, because he either forgot, or he didn't have time to take it out."

"He arrived at the hacienda in a state after you broke up with him. He changed his clothes, went to bed, and the next morning the doctor arrived to check on Esteban, telling us about the breaking in his house, and Diego set off for San Bernardino, pretending to be heading for Monterey. I made him return to the hacienda that same night to track you down when you were abducted, so he got Zorro's clothes on, the ones still on the rack, and went out, searching for you and Esteban. And then this happened. So, yes, I don't think he realized the ring was still in his pocket," Felipe signed.

"I don't think he realized the ring was still in his pocket. I didn't catch anything you said, sorry, but, I am so happy I saw this ring falling off and we didn't lose it. I'll keep it safe until he wakes up and I'll return it to him again. I hope he will be willing to put it back in my finger." Still crying, she took her hands to her face, thinking about the worse possible outcome. "And if he doesn't wake up, I'll return this ring to Don Alejandro, nonetheless."

"Of course he will wake up!"

"What am I saying? Of course he will wake up! Don't you think he will?"

"Yes!"

"Yes, I hope we are right. Of course he will. And he'll put that ring back on my finger. I have to be hopeful," she said, wiping off her tears. "Now, get everything else in," she added, shoving the trousers and the rest of the black clothes in the bag. "And please, be careful on the way back to the hacienda. Don't let anybody see this stuff."

"I've done this a million times before, you know?"

"Sorry, what am I doing? I am sure you have done this a million times before," she said, oblivious to the fact she was repeating his words all the time now. Felipe saddled his pinto horse quickly and secured the bag in front of the pommel.

"Goodnight, I'll see you in the morning."

"Goodnight. I'll see you in the morning."

Felipe laughed then at left at once.

What is he laughing about now? Victoria thought, tilting her head, before she returned to the tavern.

ZZZ

On the way back to the tavern, across the backyard, Victoria bumped into Don Alejandro, who was emptying the chamber pot in the outhouse at the patio, in the latrine.

"Is that Diego's?"

"No, I think it is Felipe's. Poor boy, all day long locked in that room. He couldn't even get out to use the toilet."

When they got back to Diego's room, Don Alejandro lifted the bed covers to check him.

"I don't think Diego has passed anything yet, but being unconscious, he hasn't eaten at all, and we had hardly managed to get any small amounts of water in his mouth. But, let me check his bladder." He pressed on his lower abdomen then, and he stopped when a small, yellow stain soaked through the nightgown. "Ah, it is quite full. I didn't think it would."

He got the chamber pot on top of the bed and hesitated, fiddling for a moment.

"Victoria, I'm not sure if it is appropriate that you see this, while I collect his urine. You are not married, and you should not really be familiar with this part of his anatomy yet. Let's be proper here. Do you mind getting out of the room while I do this?"

Victoria could not help it but to blush like a poppy, lowering her gaze to the floor.

"Wait a minute… Why are you blushing? Please, don't tell me that you… that him… He didn't take advantage of you, did he?"

She kept staring at the floor, with the reddest skin tone of blushing she could ever have, too embarrassed to look at his prospective father in love.

"We made love. Once. So, yes, I have seen him naked before. It's not a big deal." Well, I haven't really "seen him", not technically, because it was so dark when we made love, but still…

"No! Don't tell me that he… that he… he seduced you? As Zorro? Before marriage?" Don Alejandro said, going mental. "I thought I had taught him well how to behave like a caballero! And wearing a mask should not be an excuse for that kind of behaviour! I can't believe this! I could expect that kind of shit from Esteban, but not from him! Not from him."

"It wasn't completely his fault, you see? I… I… Oh, please, don't make me talk about this! It is too embarrassing. I shouldn't be talking about this with anybody, and especially not with you," she said, mustering all her courage to look up at Don Alejandro, who was staring at her sternly. "Yes, I know, we were weak, and making love out of wedlock was wrong. But, you have to understand we have always been under a lot of strain, fearing every time we met it could be the last time we would see each other, especially when he knew he had to risk his life the next day, doing any stunts, like when he had to stop those floggings at the plaza and he got shot. And, unlike any other couple, we couldn't really get married that easily. So, we made love. Once. One lousy night. And then we regretted it, and he apologized for his behaviour, and it hasn't happened again since. Please, don't dwell on it, and let's get on with the task of helping him pass urine. Please, I'm begging you, forget about this, and don't mention the issue ever again. Por favor."

"I'm sorry, Victoria. It's just… Forgive me, I don't know how to react to this. I understand your relationship is an especially difficult one to handle, which has not progressed as it should have for four years, and that must be so frustrating for you both. I can see that, and I want you to know I'm not scolding you for this. Not at all. You are the victim here, because he is the man, so he is the guilty one. It is always the man who takes the active role in this kind of matters, so there is no excuse: he should have controlled himself, and it is his fault. And you cannot imagine how angry I am because he had me fooled also with this, let alone with everything else. How could he behave like that, for crying out loud! I even scolded Esteban during the whole fiasco of that bogus affair with Lucía, presenting Diego as a prime example of gentlemanhood, when he was guilty as hell himself. I feel like a total idiot, especially considering at that time Esteban was the innocent one. I really don't know how much of this deception I can take. Finding out all these little details one by one is like having little drops of water falling constantly on my forehead, as if I was a victim of the Spanish Inquisition water torture. And I don't know how much more I can take before I blow up like a firecracker!"

"Please, calm down, and forget about it. Let's get on with this instead. How do we do this?" she said, taking the chamber pot.

"All right. You hold the pot and his… you know… while I press on his bladder."

Victoria followed his instructions then, lifting Diego's nightgown, fumbling with his underwear, surprised to see how different that felt when flaccid.

ZZZ

Esteban slept for a few hours undisturbed, under the sedative effects of the laudanum. He woke up shortly before midnight, feeling slightly better, able to take deeper breaths now, as he could stand the pain of stretching his broken ribs more easily. He was alone in that room, lit by a small, solitary candle burning on the side table. He got up, put a shirt on, and walked into the adjacent room, because the door was open now and he could hear voices there.

"Esteban, you are up," Don Alejandro said. "How are you feeling?"

"A bit better, thank you. All that sleeping under the sedatives made me some good. How is he? Any changes?"

"No. He is the same. Still unresponsive," Victoria said.

"How are your ribs? Can you take a deep breath now?" the doctor asked.

"Yes, a bit better than before, thanks."

"Alright. That's good. Keep doing that and I'll apply the supportive bandage again in the morning."

"Did you eat the albóndigas?" Victoria asked.

"No, not yet."

"Do you want me to warm them up a bit? They would had tasted much better before, right after cooking them, but still, warming them up now would be better than eating them cold."

"That would be great, thank you. The nausea I had before is gone, and I am so hungry I could eat a horse."

"I'll be back in a moment. Take a seat in the meantime, don't stand there."

ZZZ

While Esteban tucked with gusto into his albóndigas, finally, Don Alejandro and Victoria talked to Doctor Hernández.

"Doctor, for a while, you have known Diego was Zorro while we didn't have a clue, so can you tell us some details about it, please?" Don Alejandro said from his chair at the side of Diego's bed. "We asked Felipe, but he has been quite reluctant to talk, and anyway, every time he tries to explain things in more detail we don't understand him, and he gets frustrated with us. Diego could have a conversation with him easily, just as if Felipe could talk like any other person, but we can't."

"Well, as I said before, you should talk about these matters with Diego when he wakes up, if…" The doctor bit his tongue before he finished the sentence with an "if he wakes up", but Don Alejandro knew what he meant.

"Yes, if he wakes up, I know," he said, leaning forward, burying his face in his hands.

"I'm sorry. Is there anything specific you would like to know? I would like to help you, but I can't tell you everything that went through his head, because I don't know it myself, obviously. But maybe I can offer you some insight on some other details?"

"Yes, please," Victoria said then. "For example, do you know where he hides? He took me to a cave once, when I damaged my ankle, and Felipe said there is a cave at the hacienda, but we didn't understand his signs with the location. And that was a very well-equipped space, quite large, with a stable for Toronado, and a laboratory and everything. Where is it?"

"Yes, I can help you with that. I know where that is. There is a secret back passage that ends a short distance away from the hacienda, but it starts at the library, with a secret, concealed door at the fireplace. It connects to that cave you are talking about."

"What? The old safety route to escape in case of an Indian attack?" Don Alejandro said, lifting his head from his hands. "Oh, my God, I forgot completely about that! Yes, there is a mechanism to open that door by the fireplace, at the mantelpiece, but I can't remember exactly where it is. I never had to use it for that purpose, or for any other, for that matter, so I had forgotten about it. That explains why I could be looking for Diego all over the hacienda and suddenly he would appear at the library carrying a book, when I had already checked that room and he wasn't there. I am such a fool! How could I miss that?" he cried, going back to sulking with his head between his hands. "I am such an idiot!"

"Yes, he played that trick with me a couple of times too," Esteban said. "Blimey. He is a real genius, mi primo, such a smartarse. That nickname fits him so well, now even more than before!" And I feel more and more like an idiot, definitely. But at least today, I am not the only one feeling like that, he thought, looking at his uncle, who looked mortified to have missed that clue as well as all the others.

"Who's taking care of Toronado?" Doctor Hernández asked then. "I didn't think about him at all, poor thing, locked down in that cave on its own."

"Felipe went back to the hacienda tonight. He said he had to go to tend for him at that cave, and he took all Zorro's gear with him in case the alcalde would find it at the stables," Victoria said, not mentioning the ring she found in his trousers.

"He is so clever that young man, and so mature, practical and level-headed. You should be very proud of him, Don Alejandro," the doctor said.

"Yes, of course I am! And I am so glad to know he can hear. Although, not so glad he lied to me about it, because he never told me. Why? Why did they have to keep that secret too?"

"That boy helped Diego so much, and his pretend deafness served an important purpose, because people would talk in his presence without filters, and he could find out interesting information for Zorro that way. So, don't be angry with him for not telling you. Besides, Felipe was deaf for a while, to begin with, that was true, and then he regained the sense of hearing. But Diego thought it would be more useful if everybody carried on thinking the boy was deaf, especially you, Don Alejandro. Your son told me that."

"What a pair of conning rascals!" Esteban said, laughing. "Well, at least I knew Felipe could hear. That makes me feel a little bit less of an idiot."

"You knew?" Don Alejandro and Victoria said at the same time.

"Yes, I found out after that horse race we took part in. Felipe heard that obnoxious jockey and his cronies planning to interfere with the girths of a few riders during the race, including mine. Diego asked me to keep it secret, because Felipe would be embarrassed to tell everybody he could hear after all that time, because people would treat him differently, especially you," he said, pointing at his uncle.

"The more I delve into this mess, the more deception I find everywhere around me. I don't know if I really want to keep digging for the details. I don't know if I can take this shit," Don Alejandro said, shaking his head in disbelief.

"Well, in that case, I won't say anything else," the doctor said. "You can ask Diego for the ins and outs when he wakes up. And now, as he is still unconscious and so unresponsive, I am going to fix that sore gunshot wound that refuses to heal."

ZZZZZ