As soon as John saw Pocahontas on the ground, he jumped of his mount and rushed to her side. " Pocahontas? Oh, Lord, please let her be alright" John breathed as he gathered her into his arms. He lifted her up on his mount, climbed on behind her and galloped toward Jamestown. Thomas saw him approaching. "John, what in the blazes has gotten into you? You act as if your being chased." John rode closer to allow Thomas to see Pocahontas' unconscious form in the candlelight. Thomas's jaw dropped. "John, what happened? Is she alive?" John nodded. "Yes, but she hit her head. A snake spooked her horse and she was thrown." Thomas immediately moved forward to assist John as he gently lifted her down and carried her inside. "Put her here." Thomas said as he led them into a small room with a single bed. John placed her gently down and simply watched for a moment. He couldn't lose her now. Not after just being reunited.
"Thomas?" A soft voice floated through the door. "Is everything alright? I thought I heard voices in h-" The voice stopped dead and both men glanced up to see a young woman enter the room. She seemed to be in her mid-twenties, her long blond hair pulled back into a tight bun. "Linda," Thomas replied as he moved toward her. "I thought you were resting." Linda continued to stare at Pocahontas's still form. "I was, however I heard you talking to someone and I was curious. Aren't you going to introduce me.?" she asked.
Thomas glanced over at John, whose eyes never left his love's face. " Linda, this is John Smith. John was one of the original men that founded this colony and one of my best friends on the way over. John, this is Linda, my wife." Linda extended her hand and John was able to pull his attention away long enough to return the shake, which also gave him a better opportunity to examine his new friend. Standing only a mere five-foot-one-inch, Linda was very small, but very jubilant. She seemed to have an outer glow that just radiated from her face. She was also very pregnant. John guessed her to be about seven months along. He reminded himself that he must speak with his friend later. When he arrived, he had been in so much of a hurry to see Pocahontas, he had forgotten all of what else he had left behind. He now saw that much had happened in his absence and he was eager to hear all about it.

As he released Linda's hand, he saw her eyes travel back to the bed. "And who is this?" she asked. Thomas began to speak, but John held up a hand. "Let me." he said. Thomas nodded and backed down. John took a deep breath and told the story in it's entirety. Linda listened, fascinated by most, mouth agape at times. When he reached the present again, John concluded. "And then Thomas saw me approaching and came too meet me." Linda's brow lowered. "The poor thing." she murmured. "Thomas, we must get Dr. Walker."

Thomas was already halfway to the door as she spoke and returned a mere ten minutes later. the whole room watched with silent anticipation as the doctor examined her. When he finally began to pack his things, Linda was the only one able to speak. "Will she be alright?" Walker sighed. "It's hard to say. The impact to her skull was quite great. If she does wake up, the damage to be extensive. The only thing any of us can do is wait." He accepted his hat from Thomas and turned to leave. He had only placed one hand on the doorknob before turning back. "If you are believers, then prayers might be a great assistance as well."

The three watched solemnly as he left, all at once sending up silent prayers above for a miracle. After the door had shut behind him, Thomas turned to his friend. "John, you should go home." John shook his head deliberately. "No. I'm not leaving her." Thomas placed a comforting hand on his friend's shoulder. "You must. You're no use to her at this point. It's better that you be half alive when she wakes up, not slumped from exhaustion." John opened his mouth to protest, but Linda cut in. "John, we'll care for her. You go home and get some sleep." John reluctantly agreed and left, still unsure if this was the right decision.

The next few days were the longest of John's life. Pocahontas did not seem to be improving and at the doctor's last visit, he had warned them to be ready for the worst. John refused to believe that she would be taken from him when they had been given a second chance. For five days, he kept vigil at her side, holding her limp hand in his as he talked to her, told her of his love. Thomas and Linda had been more than gracious in opening their home to him, allowing him to stay the entire day, only leaving to his home for sleep.

On the sixth day of his vigil, John felt almost exhausted. Though he had gone home to sleep, sleep often did not come. He had mostly lain wake, praying for her recovery. Only as few times and sleep been merciful and consumed him for a few precious hours. It was that sensation that John felt coming on now and unable to fight it, he succumbed to it. He picked one of the worst times to surrender to it. Only a few moments after he had fallen asleep, something was happening on the small bed at the opposite end of the room.

Pocahontas's eyelashes fluttered as she slowly came to. She tried to sit up, but a sharp pain in her head jolted her back to the pillow. She managed to opened her eyes after blinking a few times and slowly took in her surroundings. She was in a small, but clean room, a small basin sat in the far left corner. She turned her head slightly to the right and spotted John in the opposite corner. Her head was slumped against his shoulder in sleep and he was snoring. Pocahontas chuckled to herself. She thought he had seemed to good be true. As she lie there, she vaguely remember ed what had happened. John's return, the ride in the meadow, a snake... Pocahontas struggled to sit up. Where was she? When she tried to speak, she successfully managed to get out one name. "John?"

John let out a loud grunt before awakening. He rubbed his eyes, blinked and glanced around the room. He could have sworn he heard someone call his name. He scanned the room until his eyes fell on Pocahontas staring at him with confusion. John?' she asked again. "What going on?" John leapt from his chair, called Thomas and Linda and rushed to her side. "Pocahontas, thank God you're awake. Are you alright? How do You feel?" She watched him with wide eyes. "John, what happened? I feel fine, though my head is rather sore." Thomas and Linda barged in at that moment and both were pleasantly surprised to see he awake. Over Pocahontas's protests, Thomas went to fetch the doctor to inform him of what had happened. While waiting for his arrival, John introduced Linda to Pocahontas and then proceeded to explain to her about the accident. "You've been out cold for five days now." John said as he held her. "I thought I had lost you."

Before Pocahontas could answer, Thomas burst through the door, Dr. Walker on his heels. He quickly examined the patient and gave her a clean bill of health, something that he called an absolute miracle. Walker advised John to leave her here for another week's time before bringing her back home. John nodded and bid the doctor good day. the next week was spent making sure Pocahontas was comfortable. She could honestly say she was not bored. If she wasn't conversing with Linda, she was with John, who was constantly making sure she was alright. By the third day, she was ready to deck the man if he didn't leave her alone for a moment.

When the day came for her to return home, John insisted on escorting her back. After a quick good-bye and well wishes from Thomas and Linda, the couple set off for the village. Most of the walk was silent, though they did make small talk part of the way there. John's arm was nestled against her waist, the purpose he said was to keep her steady, but both knew it was simply an excuse for the real reason of wanting it there and she did not protest.

When the entered the village, Pocahontas saw her father standing in the center, looking none to happy. When he spotted the couple, he came toward them and Pocahontas could tell that something was wrong. She placed a hand on John's arm to stop him. "John, perhaps it would be better if I went on alone from here." When John gave her a confused look, she simply glanced toward her father. John followed her gaze and saw the chief storming toward him. "If you wish." he said. You're sure you're alright?" Pocahontas nodded. "Positive." John nodded and leaned in to kiss her good-bye. She did not offer her lips, only her cheek. This surprised John, but he kissed it softly, squeezed her hand, and was off without a backward glance.
Pocahontas watched him go, then turned to find her father towering over her, his eyes filled with rage. "Pocahontas, I need to speak with you. In private." he said through clenched teeth. Pocahontas nodded mutely and followed her father into his longhouse. "What is it, Father?" she asked. "Pocahontas, When did that man show up here?" Pocahontas narrowed her eyes. "About eight days ago. Oh, Father, it was wonderful. Nakoma surprised me and-" she stopped dead when she saw her father's gaze. "I forbid you to see him. Do you understand me?" Pocahontas was speechless "But why?" "Because I don't. He's irresponsible. and it seems that it is consuming you as well" "Why is that" Pocahontas asked, her anger flaring "Why? Let's start with the little horse escapade. Pocahontas, you could have been killed." "That wasn't John's fault!" she said. "I don't care if it was or not. He still could have at least told me what happened. I come home from my trip to find my daughter missing. Nakoma had no idea where you were. all she knew is that you were with him. I had to have one of the warriors find you." "Father, I'm sorry." she started, but he cut her off. "It's either him or me. Take your pick." Pocahontas's mouth dropped. "father, surly you can't make me choose between my people and John.." Powhaton glared at her. "You must." Pocahontas sighed "Fine. I choose him." "What did you say!?" her father asked. "H-I-M .Him." Pocahontas said. With that, she stormed out of the hut, leaving her surprised father behind.