Author's Note: This is a continuation of "The Wizard and the Merman". I highly suggest reading that one to get the idea of what the Professor's referring too.
Disclaimer: Don't own them.
That evening the Professor wrote the story he had told Gilligan in the hut. At the end he drew a sketch of Gilligan as a merman and couldn't help but be amused at the fact that he had unconsciously given the boy a dolphin tale. 'A dolphin suits him,' Roy thought with a smile. 'They're playful, gentle, and the one thing that are a shark's natural enemy.'
He looked at the sketch in thought. He had spent that entire night in the supply hut holding Gilligan as he slept. His mind had been too full to sleep. It wasn't uncommon for that to happen to him and some nights he could sleep for four hours and function just fine the next day.
He remembered Ramoo coming in and watching them for a long moment.
Roy glared at the asian man as his grip on the sleeping first mate tightened. "Stay away from him."
"Ramoo put boy on bed. Boy more comfortable. Sleep better."
The Professor shook his head. "Trust me he can sleep anywhere." He looked at him. "Why are you letting him do this? Gilligan's innocent!"
Ramoo frowned. "Boss hunt big game. All boring to him now. Even dangerous game like lion and tiger."
"But this isn't some hunt. This is murder! Word gets out…" The Professor's jaw clenched. "He's not going to rescue us at all is he no matter what happens?"
Ramoo shook his head. "No."
Roy looked at the first mate in his arms. He swallowed. "Kinkaid doesn't know him. He has no idea what Gilligan is capable of."
Ramoo looked confused. "Skinny boy? Seems dumb to Ramoo."
Roy glared harshly at Ramoo. "Gilligan's not dumb! Not by any means!"
"What boy do that help castaways?"
His eyes once again turned to the sleeping sailor. His expression softened. "He's beaten headhunters and a Japanese soldier in our defense. He's brave and unselfish when we're in danger." He frowned when he remembered Gilligan breaking his straw in half to save Mr Howell and ride out the storm alone. They hadn't let him of course and it wound up saving all of their lives!
Gilligan's boyish features seemed more prevalent as he slept on unaware of the conversation taking place.
Roy looked back at Ramoo. "I'm not leaving him tonight."
Ramoo only nodded before returning to his post.
The Professor looked out the window in thought as he listened to the familiar waves. He thought back to the story he had told Gilligan. In truth he had come up with it at the top of his head while mentally searching for anything that could comfort his friend. He wondered if Gilligan's wild imagination was rubbing off on him.
Roy chuckled. Well it wasn't necessarily a bad thing if it was. He looked at the sketch again before sighing and lighting a lantern. He then got up and exited the hut before going over to the crew's hut where Gilligan and Skipper were sleeping.
Well...had been but Gilligan's nightmares had evidently already started. He lowered the lantern so as not to disturb the two sailors and listened. He smiled gently when he realized the Gilligan was telling the wizard and merman story he'd told the night before the hunt.
"Well Little Buddy I'd say the Professor hit the nail on the head with his description of you."
Roy grinned seeing Gilligan blush in the faint candlelight. "Heh yeah…"
Skipper pulled his first mate to him as they sat in the far corner...much like the two of them had in the supply hut two nights ago. Gilligan couldn't see the captain's expression but he Professor certainly could. The big man had never looked so gentle as he did just then. His eyes were shining with love for the boy in his arms and Roy knew that love was very paternal. Outside that hut the Skipper was the captain and leader but right now this was the side that only Gilligan got to see. This softer side was hidden to protect not only himself but the first mate he held so near and dear.
This softer side that Roy had no doubt Gilligan was the one to bring out of him. He'd done it to Mr Howell too come to think of it. He remembered the rage the millionaire had been in when he'd reentered the cave with the rest of them. He'd gone all the way up to half a million for GIlligan's freedom and he had no problem believing that he'd of gone higher had Kinkaid not stopped him.
When they first landed Mr Howell would never have let that kind of money go. Not for anyone except his wife.
Roy stepped back and sat at the table. He looked at the Howell hut and remembered the week Gilligan had been their son. He had seen their elation and general happiness and Gilligan's misery. He had tried so hard to please them but it was harming his own spirit. In truth he had known, and even hoped, that GIlligan would want to leave. Coming up with that plan and executing it had been extremely fun and Gilligan's performance had been Oscar worthy!
Roy grinned as he thought back on it. Mr Howell had been far more understanding than they had all realized. He remembered the millionaire backing the Skipper out of the crews hut saying that he wanted to adopt him. The old man's eyes had twinkled in merriment that only seemed to be fueled by Gilligan's highly contagious laughter! Mrs Howell had only smiled eyes only on the first mate. He may not be a Howell by name but they still considered him a son.
He chuckled before looking at the girls' hut. Ginger had been flabbergasted about why Gilligan just couldn't be swayed by her sensuous beauty and would knock himself out when she tried to kiss him. When he had helped her with the play they could see her gratitude and when Mrs Howell had confessed what Gilligan had done for her something in her had changed. She became less sarcastic and more warm.
He smirked in amusement as he thought of Mary Ann. That girl had had a crush on Gilligan since day one and they had quickly become fast friends. And why not? They were the two youngest and if he was honest with himself the most hardworking on the island. He knew Skipper had had more fun pretend marrying them than he did remarrying the Howells! He chuckled thinking of how, in a way, were chosen by the island to be the prince and princess. After all they took care of the land and animals. Those two were a fairy tale in and of themselves.
Roy shook his head. Just like in his story Gilligan had touched everyone. He truly was that merman that could change the human world if they'd let him. He looked up at the stars as he thought about the impact Gilligan had on him. At first he had only thought of the first mate as a pest and always in the way. When had that changed?
He looked at the lantern's flame. There had been no particular moment when it had happened but he knew when the realization that Gilligan was more than he perceived hit: the missile. He would never forget when it had flown away. When it had fired up he had grabbed it to try to get Gilligan out but it had ripped out of his hands taking the first mate with it!
It had been then, when they all thought he was gone forever, that he had realized how much he had come to care for the boy. It had been then when, even though they had only been on the island for less than a year, the Professor had realized how important he was to their social microcosm. When Gilligan had returned sopping wet from however long his swim had been Roy had shocked himself when he had been the first one to him.
Roy sighed as he rubbed his forehead. It had taken a day or two for him to get over that. This time however it would take much longer and there was no telling how Gilligan was going to be. He frowned. This would change him. Battle fatigue was nothing to play around with and the Skipper had told them in the cave that if Gilligan lived through this it would be a long hard road back for him.
He would need time and support. Both of which would be readily given for however long it was needed.
Roy returned to his hut and gathered the story together. He then put a paperweight on it to keep it from flying away.
As he lay back down he thought of something. His story helped Gilligan fight. What if the others wrote their own tales? He tried to imagine what they'd write. Ginger's would be something out of the movies and Mary Ann would do a fairy tale as well. The Howells he wasn't sure of but he knew they'd think of something. The Skipper would have something sea and ocean related and maybe even expand on the merman world making himself one.
He was struck with an idea! It was perfect! Keep Gilligan as the merman but the others write their own encounters! Gilligan would enjoy the stories and see what they saw in him. They could then put them all together and present it to him as a gift. Spoken words would be forgotten the next time they yelled at him for some accident or another but to have it written down he would always go back and read it when he felt unloved. They could even use it as a reminder when they take him for granted again.
Roy smiled feeling more at peace. It was time to band together again.
After so many times Gilligan had saved them it was time.
It was time to save him even if it was from himself.