Lost Chances and Revelations by JuliaBC

WDZ. Times Diego almost told his father he was Zorro.

A/N: Some of these times I lifted straight from the show; others will be from my imagination. This might be AU later. This has been lurking around in my mind pretty much ever since I first watched the show. How many times were there that Diego actually was about to tell his father?

This chapter is set immediately after Monastario Sets a Trap.

Rewatching Zorro's Ride into Terror made me realize that Zorro doesn't actually take Alejandro to the cave until the next morning. Please forgive that mistake, as I can't think of a way to correct it without changing the story too much.

As Alejandro slipped into oblivion, Zorro thanked God Almighty. It was hard enough right now; he couldn't be able to face it if his father were awake.

He scooped his father into his arms, and a lump rose in his throat at how light he felt. Either Alejandro had lost weight during the worrying reign of Monastario or he had gained more muscle in Spain than he'd realized.

And he couldn't tell his father that. He couldn't let his father know what kind of man he was. He had to keep the best part of him secret, the part that Alejandro would love most.

The man called Zorro's heart broke as he walked as quickly as he could. Even as light as Alejandro felt, his progress was halting and his heart pounded in his ears.

Was that beating the sound of Monastario's horse? Would the soldiers discover the switch too soon? Would Tornado make a mistake and lead them back to the cave?

His panic increased, and a choked sob escaped him. What a hellish night. He could never remember feeling so scared, so alone, not even in the dark days after his mother's passing.

Not even when he'd long ago gotten lost and not made it home until after nightfall. That night had long marked for Diego one of the worst instances of his life. But now this was replacing it, knocking it fully out of the ring.

The terror felt then, of not getting home, was nothing compared to the fact that he was now responsible for his father's fate.

The masked man continued on, until he reached the canyon, and then he fell to his knees in relief, gasping.

But there were more steps he needed to take. Behind him, he heard hoof beats, and suddenly Tornado passed him, heading straight for the cave and the oats he knew awaited him. Tornado did his job well, for Zorro could hear no hoof beats following.

His relief increased when Bernardo emerged from the cave moments after Tornado left it. The man looked around the canyon, and Zorro could see the worry and confusion Bernardo felt upon seeing the horse without a rider. "Bernardo!" He called, waving, and Bernardo's eyes shot to him.

In moments, Bernardo was beside him, signaling frantically.

"I can't explain now. Please, help me with my father. Monastario shot him."

That was enough.

Bernardo and Zorro worked together, boosting Alejandro up until his arms were draped over their shoulders.

Zorro was no longer able to carry the burden alone, and thanked God that he didn't have to. When Bernardo had come hurrying out of the cave, the night had become much less terrifying. He could no longer imagine a world that didn't have Bernardo at his side, as Diego and as Zorro.

When they reached the cave, Bernardo's able hands flew to cure Alejandro's wound. The same hands requested supplies, and Zorro became Diego to fetch the items needed. As he bolted down the back stairs, he prayed Cresencia was not in her kitchen, for hot water at this hour would need some explaining.

The room was thankfully deserted, and the usual pot of water hung over steadily burning fire. He was thankful for the practice of keeping hot water handy at all times as he gathered the other things and hurried back to his father's side, fright giving his feet wings.

Bernardo's hand did their usual magic, as easily as he'd do one of his card tricks. Diego's shoulders slowly slumped, and his eyes started to blink, until Bernardo shook him awake. "I know, I should go to bed, but I don't want to leave my father."

Bernardo's hands flew again, and Diego was forced to admit the wisdom in the man's words. "Monastario will indeed visit early tomorrow. You are right, I need to be prepared. Just give me a few moments, eh?"

He could see the hesitation, then Bernardo gathered his things and hurried from the cave. Diego moved back to his father's side, and a lump came into his throat once more. He reached over and took his father's hand, almost crying at how limp it was.

"Oh, father. I never wanted this to happen. I'm so sorry I couldn't stop this, believe me, I so wanted to. Why didn't I just try harder, during the talk? Why didn't I delay you, or something, just a few minutes? Why was I so helpless?" Tears ran down from tired eyes and Diego didn't even wipe them away. "All this time, I've been disappointing you so much. I just realized that maybe you will not live to see the truth. Oh, God, please let him live to know the truth about me. Please let him live long enough to be proud of me, and not ashamed."

Diego pressed his father's hand to his cheek, trying to imbibe some of his father's courage and strength through the action. "I am Zorro, father. And you don't know what it cost me to deny it earlier this evening."