Hi everyone!

I wrote this after a sudden thought struck me. Does anyone ever wonder what happened in the movie between the time that John was shot and the time that he left? I was disscussing it with a friend of mine and she told me to write a fic about it. At first I didn't think much of it, then as I thought about it, i thought it would be an interesrting topic to write about. So here it is. This will be several chapters long, not a one-shot adn I'm not sure about the ending, wether to leave it the same or alternate it...give me your thoughts on it. I hope you enjoy this and please, please, please leave a review. they are what inspire me to keep writing..ok, done with long boring author's note! Thanks again!

Disclaimer. Don't own them...unfortunetly...

...0000...

"NO!" The shout started the multitude of people that surrounded the high cliff. Everyone watched in amazement as a young native maiden rushed to where the prisoner lay and threw herself across his head, shielding it from the impeding blow. The chief, equally surprised managed to side-swing his club so as not to hit the young woman. Breathing heavily, Pocahontas laid her head atop John's as her father glowered down at her. "Daughter!." he commanded. "Stand back!" "I won't!" came the defiant reply. her voice and eyes softened as she spoke her next statement. "I love him, Father."

Eyes widened round the battlefield at her shameless declaration. Even John's eyebrows rose, not out of doubt for her love for him, he knew she cared, but to declare it publicly? She seemed more relaxed as she replaced her head atop his after speaking for several minutes. Her heard her soft voice in his ear. "This is the path I choose, Father." she said, sounding more courageous then she felt. "What will yours be?"

John could hardly believe what was happening. She was willing to die with him? After only days of aquantince? She must love him. He glanced up to the best of his ability to see her eyes were closed, lips slightly parted, breath labored a bit. he could tell that she too was scared of dying, yet she was willing. All around them, silence was present. A gentle breeze floated slowly by and he closed his eyes and breathed in the fresh air, afraid that it would be his last.

When John opened his eyes, he saw her father raise his war club above his head. Thinking the end was near, the captain replaced his eyelids and readied himself for the blow. When nothing happened after several moments, he slowly squinted open. He had felt Pocahontas lift her head and she was now watching her father speak to the crowd. John fully opened his eyes, not understanding what was going on until he saw his love smile and felt the binds on his hands being cut free.

When the binds were initially cut, it took a few moments for feeling to return to his arms, as he had been tied to a pole for the better part of twelve hours. He tried to slowly bring his arms around the front of his body, but was hurried when she rushed into him, pressing herself tightly against him. A sob was relief choked in her throught and he encircled her into his embrace, not really caring if he was crushing her or not. He didn't know what had been said, but he knew that he was now free.

Pocahontas shook against him as she sobbed with relief, her tears soaking through his clothing. John sighed deeply and buried his face in her shoulder after silently whispering his comfort and pressing a soft kiss to her cheek and forehead. He could hear the governor say something from on top of the ridge, but he didn't care. His prime concern at the moment was the woman in his arms, willing to give her life for him. The commotion from below grew louder. Pocahontas had finally calmed herself down and now rested gently against his chest, allowing his to look down on the scene below. What he saw made him ill.

From above, he saw the governor grab Thomas's rifle from him, knocking him to the ground. Ratcliffe fumbled with it as he muttered something to himself. John frantically scanned the area for any possible target. His gaze fell on the chief, straight in Ratcliffe's line of fire. The man who had spared his life. The father of the precious woman whom he now held in his arms.

John quickly glanced from the governor to the chief and back again several times before making his decision. He muttered a quick apology to Pocahontas as he pushed her away. Just as he did, he saw Ratcliffe reach for the trigger. His eyes grew wide. "NO!" he shouted as he leapt in front of the man, pushing his out of the way just as the gun exploded with it's shot.

John felt a searing pain shoot through his right side as he fell to the ground. He could hear a major commotion down below, but did not understand what was going on. The next thing he knew, Pocahontas was at his side. "John?" she asked "John, can you hear me?" He gritted his teeth against the pain and glanced down to his side, where his hand was. Pulling it away, he saw it was covered in blood. Pocahontas placed a hand over her mouth to stop the scream that was coming. Her father lay a few feet away, still stunned by what had just happened. He scrambled to his feet and went to join his daughter.

John was still holding his side as Pocahontas encouraged him to breathe. Thomas reached them a few moments later, a look of horror at what he saw. He could see the difficult time that John was having not to scream out in agony for fear of scaring his love. Thomas quickly tore a piece of his shirt off, removed John's hand and tied the cloth around his friend's waist in an effort to cease the blood flow. "We have to get him away from here." Thomas murmured. Turning to Pocahontas, he asked. "Can we bring him to your village. Jamestown is a good two miles from here and I fear that if we try to move him that much, he'll die."

Pocahontas nodded, tars streaming down her face as she looked at John's face. He was now unconscious, most likely from the massive amount of blood loss he had endured in only the past few moments. He motioned for them to follow as her father and Thomas lifted John's form and began the trek back to the village. Pocahontas held his limp hand in hers as they walked. Fear clutched at her heart as she began to imagine the worst. What if he died before they reached her village? What if he couldn't be saved? What if... No. She must force herself not to believe the worst.

After about a half and hour, they reached their destination. Chief Powhaton led Thomas to Kekada's hut and motioned for him to bring John inside. Pocahontas began to follow, but her father stopped her. "No, my child." he said gently. "There is noting more that you can do for him." Pocahontas stared at her father, eyes welling up with tears. "Father, I can't leave him!" she exclaimed. Powhaton smilied gently at her and wiped a stray tear from her eye. "Go get some rest, my dear." he said gently. "Leave the rest to Kikada and the spirits." With that he disappeared into the hut.

Pocahontas sank to the ground, covered her face in her hands and wept as she would finally allowed herself to grieve. Sobs racked her body and she feared she might have fainted had not a pair of arms encircled her in a comforting embrace. She lifted her head to find Nakoma gazing at her, concern etched onto her otherwise serious face. 'Pocahontas, are you alright?" she asked.

Pocahontas gave a final choke, wiped her eyes and sat up as Nakoma released her from the embrace. "Nakoma, I can't lose him now." she whispered. "He was only injured because he was trying to protect my father. He doesn't deserve this." Nakoma shook her head. "You're right." she said softly. "He doesn't" Pocahontas raised her head once again. "Pocahontas, I owe you an apology. I was wrong about John. his actions today prove that not all white man are evil. I know I gave you a difficult time at first, but now I sincerely hope that all will be well with your beau."

Nakoma smiled at her friend. "And I will be praying my hardest that he is healed." Pocahontas smiled as she embraced her friend. "Thank you Nakoma." she said. "That is all I can ask." After a moment, the two friends released and sat in companionable silence. Pocahontas allowed herself to think back to the previous night. was it only such a short time ago that her world had been turned upside down? The native sighed as she leaned back and closed her eyes.

The noise from inside of the tent had ceased and both Thomas and her father exited to see the girls sitting on the ground. Nakoma nudged her friend and when Pocahontas saw who it was, she scrambled to her feet to meet them. "How is he?" she asked, felling Nakoma's presence as she came to stand beside her for support. The two men exchanged a look. "He's resting." Thomas finally said. "And for right now, I think he will survive." he added, seeing the question in her eyes. Pocahontas sighed with relief. "Can I see him?" she finally asked. The men once again exchanged an unsure look before Powhaton nodded his consent. Pocahontas ran to hug him before entering the hut.

Moonlight poured gently through the small hole in the top and cast almost a glow over John's still form. Pocahontas slowly made her way over to his side. For a moment she feared that he was dead, but sighed with relief at the slight rising and falling of his chest. His eyes were closed and he looked almost like a strange peace was over him.

When she reached his side, she took his hand in hers and raised it to her lips to press a gentle kiss to it. Tears welled up in her eyes and coursed gently down her cheeks as she stood vigil for a few moments. She gently reached out a shaky hand to touch his lips. It was hard to believe that only a short twenty-four hours before, those very lips had been touching hers in a passionate kiss that she would treasure for always. Gently, the maiden laid down beside him and placed her head on his shoulder, still clinging to his hand.

A few moments later, she heard her father softly call her name. Not wanting to be found in her current position, she reluctantly got to her feet just before Powhaton entered the hut. "Come, my dear." he said, "It's time to go. The young man needs his rest." Pocahontas nodded and leaned down to press a kiss to his forehead. While she was there, she whispered. "I love you." next to his ear. Though he couldn't hear her, it felt good to have said it. After one more final kiss, she slowly let his hand drop and prayed that he would be awake the next time she said those words to him. A smile crossed her face as she allowed Powhaton to escort her from the hut. She was in love and how she prayed that he would wake up so she could tell him face to face just how much it was.