Diego groaned deeply as he ran his hand through his hair.

It was one of those days.. He had spend all night riding around outside first capturing bandits, and then having to ride in huge circles to loose the Alcalde and the lancers before he could finally return to the cave at the break of dawn. yet barely had he been allowed to lay down in bed before his father had bursted the door open, berated him for still being a sleep and reminding him he had promised to help lead the cattle to a different field today, which was hard physical labour where you rode around on a horse having to guide the huge flock of cattle from one area to another without loosing one.

Under normal circumstances Diego would have enjoyed such an activity but he was dead on his feet already and the task already wasn't that easy.

Now it was finally afternoon and Diego had been let back into the Hacienda but todays work wasn't over, there was paper work to be done regarding numbers of cattle, their worth, predicting expenses and earnings for the next few months to put up a budget. Ones again, normally not an acitivity Diego would have minded at all, but right now he was nearly seeing double due to sheer exhaustion.

His shoulders were arching, his head was throbbing, there were black spots in front of his eyes, his father was berating him for having messed up with the cattle and now was nearly messing up with the numbers again.

What Diego would't do for a vacation, just one day, with nothing to do, no one to berate him or send him on a mission. That would just be heaven right now.

Just as Diego had finished thinking that thought did it knock on the door and both Diego and Alejandro looked up as a well known voice sounded from the entrance.

"Is Diego De La Vega at home?"

Alejandro blinked. "That sounds like the Alcade." he observed then turned to Diego. "What does he want?"

"I got no idea." Diego admitted as finally the Alcade entered the study room but he wasn't alone, with him was Mendoza who looked rather uncomfortable and several lancers armed with swords and riffles.

Wide-eyed did both Diego and Alejandro stand up, suddenly Diego wasn't tired at all any longer. What-ever this was about there was no way it could be good! De-Soto looked way to pleased with himself and Mendoza way to nervous.

"What's this about?" Alejandro asked. "Alcade, why are you breaking into my home."

"I'm here to make an arrest." De-Soto stated and Diego swallowed as he took a step backwards trying to keep a levelled head and observe the situation.

"Arrest?" Alejandro asked. "Who? What for?" he asked.

And De-Soto smirked satiesfied. "I gather you heard of the bandits Zorro's latest exploits, capturing the bandito Franzis Elscoro." he stated.

"Yes, he was apprehended by Zorro a few days ago." Alejandro nodded.

"Indeed, how-ever something did not fit." De-Soto stated. "Zorro had information, information he couldn't possible have had. Only a selected few knew of the route that that carrier of gold was going to take, one of whom stands in this room. YOU! Diego De La Vega."

At that Diego eyes widened as a finger was pointed at him. "What are you saying?" he asked. "You do know how Zorro is, there is a ton of ways he could have gotten that information."

"Si that is true, which is why I went through some old records written down by my predecessor, and often I found curious coincidences, Zorro having so much information he logically shouldn't be able to have, unless." De-Soto smirked.

Diego froze from where he stood, he felt an icing go over his entire body, his heart sinking and the world going into a slow pace. Could it be? Had it all finally caught up with him? He glanced around trying to find exit points for an escape, there was a few windows… But then again, if De-Soto realised he had Zorro in the room, chances was that the Hacienda was surrounded already, it probably wouldn't be so easy.

Alejandro though huffed. "Spit it out man, what are you accusing us for?" he ased.

"Not you Don Alejandro, only Don Diego." De-Soto grinned and Diego swallowed. "Don Diego! I hereby arrest you for working with the bandit Zorro and exchanging information with him on a frequent basis!"

"Now Alcalde listen!" Diego blurted but then halted as he blinked. "I'm sorry what?" he asked.

"You heard me." De-Soto grinned. "You've exchanged information with Zorro, on several occasions even!"

At that Diego blinked as he looked at De-Soto in stunned silence. "Oh." he said.

"Oh?" De-Soto asked now slightly annoyed. "Is that all you have to say?"

Alejandro frowned now annoyed. "Alcade, what is your proof of any of this?" he asked.

And De-soto bit together. "To do what Zorro does requires fonds, influence! And Diego has been his provider." He proclaimed then turned to Diego with angry eyes. "Not only have exchanged information. You gave Zorro the information he needed to interfere with the Pueblo and he gave you the information you needed to fil correct law suits. Like with the Thackery incident!" he stated throwing a piece of paper on the table. "How would you have known that, if Zorro had not given you the information."

Diego blinked at the paper containing description of the damming evidence in the thackery case which true enough, had been provided by Zorro and used by Diego to get Thackery down, now laying there on the table. Then Diego looked up at De-Soto, smiling embarrassed almost innocently.

Alejandro as well was gaping then he halted and he looked out in the air. "Wait just a." he halted. "That actually make sense, Diego you." he turned to Diego. "Is it true? Have you been helping him?"

"Well erhm…" Diego hesitated. "Well, I might have gotten a bit of information from him here and there." he commented. "And maybe he asked for a few remedies in return."

"So you have talked to him, and you didn't hold him down?" De-Soto asked.

"Me against Zorro?" Diego asked. "Alcade are you hearing yourself? He would wipe the floor with me in a second."

"So you're claiming you were under distress?" De-Soto asked with a lifted eyebrow.

"No, I haven't claimed anything. I only say I might have, didn't say I did it." Diego commented. "You got any proof Alcade?"

"I just showed you the proof!" De-Soto hissed pointing at the papers and Diego raised an eyebrow.

"So what you're saying is that you wanted me to… not present the evidence against Thackery and let a criminal go free?" Diego asked. "I mean yes, the evidence came to me by unknown sources but… Evidence is still evidence right?" he asked.

"You're missing the point!" De-Soto shouted now annoyed. "You worked with Zorro, just admit it! I got more than just one case to proof my point!"

"It's not really proof is it, just some allegations. If you don't have substantial proof there is no grounds for arrest." Diego commented. "And what if I were under distress? What if Zorro did put a blade to my throat or threatened my family if I didn't corporate then what?" he asked innocently.

And De-Soto bit together. "Just come to the garrisons, there's a cell waiting for you!" he demanded.

"Well al right, fine." Diego shrugged walking a few steps forward.

"Now hold on!" Alejandro exclaimed stepping forward. "You can't just…"

"Father, it's okay." Diego then cut in. "This is all just a desperate attempt on the Alcades part, he has nothing. A night in a cell wont hurt me at all, it's only the Alcade whom will look like a fool by morning." he commented in a slight shrug.

Alejandro halted, then he bit together. "Well, if you say so Diego." he commented reluctantly. "Are you sure though? Spending a night in a jail cell? I mean."

Then Diego offered Alejandro a slight smirk. "Trust me father, it'll be just fine." he then stated and Alejandro blinked taken a bit aback by Diegos ease ofthe situation.

And as it were, Diego willing got up on a horse and followed the lancers all the way back to the pueblo and didn't complain at all as he was lead to a jail cell where he laid down on the brinks stretching out his arms and yawned deeply.

"Don Diego I.. I'm so sorry." Mendoza fibbed as he stood by the door on the other side of the bars.

"Don't think about it, it's fine." Diego yawned deeply. "What nice weather this night, it's actually quite comfortable."

"Erh… si. It is a nice weather tonight." Mendoza blinked confused. "Don Diego it'll be al right, the Alcade can't keep you here and if.. If he tries. Zorro will safe you! He always safe people whom are innocent!"

At that Diego laughed out loud. "Relax Sergeant, i'm quite confident we wont even need Zorro." he smirked. "And as for getting out of here, no need to hurry." he smiled amused turning his head to catch Mendozas eyes with his own glistening one. "I was just thinking I needed a vacation, I actually get to sleep in tomorrow and father wont be yelling at me, that's nice." he smiled. "Then again, the Alcade probably will be the one doing all the yelling, that's going to be a head ache." he exhaled deeply, but then smiled again. "Ah, let the Alcade think what he will, it doesn't really matter I suppose." he yawned deeply.

Mendoza glanced at him then bit his lip. "Don Diego, have you really been helping Zorro?" he finally asked.

"I might have." Diego smirked. "You could say, I owe him. he did safe my fathers life after-all, a couple of times even." he exhaled. "And he saved your life, and you're my friend sergeant so." he smiled sheepishly and Mendoza brightened up.

"I see!" Mendoza beamed. "Don't worry Don Diego I wont say a word, my lips are sealed!" he swore.

"I trust you sergeat." Diego blinked and gave him a slight salute from where he was laying. "Well, please excuse me. I had a very long day and i'm very tired, I'm going to sleep now." he yawned deeply turning to his side.

"Ah yes, of course!" Mendoza nodded. "I'll… I'll see you tomorrow then." he said in a whisper and then actually tiptoed outside trying to be as quiet as possible, not that he needed to do that, Diego had already entered an amused and peaceful state of sleep as Mendoza closed and locked the door.

AN; Yep, ones again i'm going for a more humourus way into it. Did I surprise some of you? I do like to play around with exspectations XD
So yeah, this is ones again just a pretty silly mean to be humourus Zorro story, I hope at least some will find it slightly amusing.