A/N Want to note in this story at this point MAG is not together quite yet. Right now the sailor is working on winning her heart (as if he really needs to). Just wanted to point that out.
The Professor thought about what the Skipper had just said. "I suppose you are right. She has been clinging to me all day. I'm at a loss to know why. You would think she wouldn't want to be around men…"
"Professor, don't you see? Ginger's always turned to you when she was afraid."
"She has?"
The sea captain nodded. "When the storm hit on the Minnow, who did she immediately cling to? You. When we found that raft and it began to sink? Ginger threw her arms around you. When the women saw that balloon that they thought was a monster, who did Ginger head straight for and cling to? You. "
"Skipper what are you saying? Ginger feels safest with me so that's why she's…"
"Look I don't know much about psychology I admit but I do think that Ginger remembers who had always made her feel safe in past dangerous situations and that person is you. That's why she is clinging to you. That's why she doesn't want to be away from you."
The Skipper walked off back to camp leaving the Professor there. He supposed there was truth to what the sea captain said. Ginger did have a way of holding on to him when she felt afraid. That must be what her subconscious is recalling. That had to be the reason she did not wish to be away from him. He sighed and walked back to camp. How was he going to deal with this? How was he supposed to handle this especially….especially since he was in deeply madly crazy in love with the movie star. It was true. He loved her for some time and had been planning on telling her whether that Kincaid had rescued them or not. Truth be told the Professor had not trusted the man to ever send back help for them. Something told him that the hunter had no intention of helping them get off the island.
Regardless he was going to spill his feelings to Ginger. He couldn't keep them inside any longer. She had to know. But now. Now he was in a pickle of a situation.
The Professor arrived back at camp and saw the three women preparing dinner. Ginger looked a little bit like her old self. She looked up from preparing her dish and saw him there and smiled at him before going to back to her seafood salad. He sat down at the table pondering how to deal with this situation. Ginger was in a very fragile state. There was no way he could just up and tell he that he was in love with her. She may recoil from him or what he thought was more likely, she would just cling to him even more and withdraw herself from the others. What Ginger needed was to know they all loved her (him in a different way from the others) and that she could trust them. She needed to learn that they were her family and her friends and they cared about her.
He looked back at the girls. His eyes fell on Ginger as she handed her dish to Mary Ann. The movie star caught his eye again and she quickly left the kitchen and went over to the Professor sitting herself on his lap.
"Dinner will be ready in about a half hour." She said placing her head on his shoulder. "Mind if sit here awhile?" She asked.
"Not at all." He said putting his arm around her.
Mary Ann watched the pair. She didn't like it. It wasn't that she minded if Ginger wanted to sit on the Professor's lap. Any other time, Mary Ann would be amused by the whole thing and enjoy seeing the Professor squirm as Ginger flirted and said whatever she says to make him flustered. This wasn't that. Ginger was retreating into a helpless little girl state. It was like she couldn't function unless the Professor was there.
This morning, refusing to help with the dishes and the laundry. Ginger never refused to help her. The starlet liked doing the laundry with her. It gave them a chance to just talk and gossip about anything. Ginger would tell her all about her plans to get the Professor all flustered and Mary Ann would laugh. She recalled a story Ginger told her about how the Professor was making nails and when she showed up, he forgot what he was doing and his hands were shaking. Another story about how Ginger waltzed by him while he was building something and she wearing her leopard print bathing suit. The Professor almost hit his thumb with a hammer when he saw her. Mary Ann giggled to herself about the things that girl did to that science man . Her smile faded thought as she was brought back to the present. Ginger wasn't that woman right now. What she was now was fragile and scared. Her only source of comfort came from the Professor and it wasn't healthy. The woman couldn't keep clinging to him however Mary Ann knew that Ginger needed time. It was going to take time for her to heal from her horrific hellish ordeal. Mary Ann supposed that for now, at least Ginger trusted someone.
Dinner was ready and they all gathered around the table. Like at breakfast, Ginger placed herself next to the Professor refusing to move. However at least this time, she ate a little more as she seemed to be in a bit better spirits. She spoke a little to Mary Ann and to Gilligan however her concentration was still with the Professor.
Their meal was finished and Ginger did agree to help Mary Ann clear the dishes away. The farm girl watched her almost seeing the old Ginger starting to emerge a little bit. She hummed a little to herself as she washed the dishes and Mary Ann dried them.
The girls finished up the dishes and Mary Ann watched as Ginger went to find the Professor. She found him sitting against a tree near one of the torches. He had a book on his lap. Ginger sat down next to him resting her head against him. "What are you reading?" She asked.
"Shakespeare." He replied. "A Midsummer Night's Dream."
"Read it to me" She said with a smile. "It's one of my favorites."
The Professor looked at her stunned. "It is?"
Ginger nodded. "I like that story and Romeo and Juliet. I played Juliet at the community theater when I was in college. I always enjoyed Shakespeare's work."
The Professor smiled at her. "I never knew that."
Ginger cuddled up closer to him. "Read." She said.
The other castaways also gathered around as the Professor read aloud from his book.
Everyone sat enjoying the tale and also feeling good that Ginger was relaxed. The Professor came close to the end of the book and noticed that Ginger had fallen asleep. He put his book down and gently picked her up. "I think I'll put her to bed." He said carrying her to the girls' hut. Mary Ann yawned a bit and got up following him.
The Professor placed Ginger in her bed and pulled the covers up over her. He gently kissed her forehead and said goodnight before leaving. Mary Ann thought it was a touching gesture as she prepared for bed She pulled on her nightshirt and climbed into her own bed glad that Ginger was having a peaceful sleep. The Kansas girl pulled up her covers and drifted off to sleep hoping her friend would be okay.
The movie star turned in her bed pulling the covers up around her.
Ginger was walking in the jungle path on a bright sunny day. She hummed a song to herself as she picked flowers. Suddenly a shadow came across her in the shape of a tall male with a hat in his hand was a gun. "Hello my pretty." The gruff voice said.
The movie star turned slowly to see Kincaid standing pointing his gun at her. "Miss me?" He said evily.
"Leave me alone." She said. "Just leave me alone."
"Now come now my dear." He said walking closer his gun still pointed at her. "We need to finish what we started."
"No!" She screamed. "No! Leave me alone!"
The movie star took off to run by was stopped when Kincaid grabbed a hold of her wrist. "You aren't going to get away from me this time harlot!" He sneered.
"No!" Ginger cried in vain. "No! Leave me alone! Professor! Professor!"
Mary Ann was startled out of her sleep by Ginger's cries, She hurried out of her bed to run over to aid her friend however she was pushed aside as Ginger sprung up from her bed and ran out of the hut. The redhead then made a mad dash to the Professor's hut, running inside. Ginger spotted him asleep in his bed. She rushed over and climbed in wrapping her arm around him. Ginger had then calmed down a bit as she snuggled up close to the academic closing her eyes. The Professor was shaken awake by Ginger's movement. He sat up looking down at the redheaded movie star lying in his bed. What she was doing there, he had no idea. And he wasn't sure what to do. Should he let her sleep there? Bring her back to her hut? Ginger appeared to be in a deep sleep. He didn't have the heart to wake her, so he let her be.
He surmised that she may have had a nightmare and was frightened. There was no question about that. The scholar figured they would probably occur. Sighing, he laid back down and moved over a bit to give Ginger more room. However, it was short lived, as Ginger cuddled back up to him forcing his arm to go around her. This was not exactly what he had envisioned whenever he dreamed of Ginger at night but what could he do? The girl was frightened to the core by that evil Kincaid. He wished he could kill that bastard. He hated what he had done. The sight of Ginger on that floor…it tore at his heart. He put his arm around her tighter vowing to do whatever he could to make sure that she stayed safe.
Two Weeks Later
Mary Ann sat at the table watching Ginger with sadness. It had been two whole long weeks of the same thing. Ginger clinging to the Professor at meals. Refusing to leave him for one second. No matter what anyone did or said she just simply would not leave the Professor for anything.
"Ginger, how would you like to help me pick some berries?" Mary Ann asked one day.
"No. I'm staying with the Professor."
"Come on Ginger I really could use some help. It will be fun. We can talk and..
"I said no! N-O! No!" The movie star would yell. "I want to be with the Professor."
"Ginger." The sea captain said one day. "Want to help me fish? You can hold the bait for me while I…"
"No." Ginger said. "I want to be with the Professor. I don't want to fish."
Then there was the nighttime. That was the worst of them all. The nightmares. The vivid nightmares that caused Ginger to wake up screaming and then go running to the Professor's hut to climb into his bed like a frightened child.
The Professor, God love him, tried his best. He attempted to talk Ginger into going back to her own hut assuring her it was just a nightmare and she was perfectly okay.
"You will be fine Ginger." He would say. "I promise."
Ginger would shake her head and tell him that Kincaid was coming back after her.
"No. No that man is coming for me. I need you to protect me."
The Professor tried to tell Ginger she was a strong woman. She could face anything.
"Ginger I assure you you are a strong woman. You can face anything and I know you can face this."
Ginger ended up sobbing saying he couldn't turn her out. Kincaid was coming back after her. Didn't he care? The Professor ended up caving and allowing her to stay.
Meals were another story entirely. The Professor tried to arrive late but that only caused Ginger to demand they all wait to eat until he was there and she would fidget about nervously until he did finally arrive. He tried to leave the table early but that didn't work. Ginger would just follow him no matter if she was finished eating or not.
One day he tried to go to the other side of the island to explore some caves. The only thing it accomplished was Ginger sobbing hysterically until he came back hours later. No matter what he did, the Professor couldn't shake Ginger. The red head refused to be away from him for more than a minute.
Mrs. Howell spotted Mary Ann sitting there and walked up to her. "You alright dear?"
"Oh I'm fine. I'm just worried about Ginger." She said gesturing to the movie star who was watching the Professor fix something on their washing machine.
"She won't budge from him will she?" asked a concerned Mrs. Howell.
"No and it's been two weeks. I don't know what to do for her. She can't go on like this."
Mrs. Howell thought a minute. "I have an idea!' She said clasping her hands. "Why don't I invite you girls to our cabana! We can have girls' day!"
"Oh that's a wonderful idea Mrs. Howell!' Mary Ann exclaimed with a smile. "Come on..let's go ask Ginger."
The two women walked over to movie star. "Dear." Mrs. Howell said to the Hollywood starlet. 'How would you like to join Mary Ann and I in the Howell cabana? Just us girls!"
Ginger shook her head. "No. That's all right. I want to stay here with the Professor."
Mrs. Howell took a breath determined not to let the movie star refuse the invite.
"Ginger dear." She said pulling her aside. "I assure you it will be perfectly alright. It will just be us three women. No one else. We can talk about all the men."
Mary Ann nodded her head joining the two. "Yes. Ginger won't that be fun?" She then lowered her voice. "You can tell Mrs. Howell all your tales about how you get the Professor all nervous and flustered." She grinned.
The Professor finished up his work and approached the three women. "Ginger. " He said addressing the actress. "Why don't you join them? You'll have more fun."
"No…No…I don't think…." She said automatically grabbing his arm. "I..would rather be with you. "
He took Ginger aside and spoke as gently as possible to her. "Ginger, I know that you are still frightened. I know that it's hard for you to trust the others but I assure you, you can.
Go…join Mary Ann and Mrs. Howell. I'm going to be busy helping the Skipper with repairing the fish net. That won't be any fun for you. Please go join the other women."
Ginger slowly nodded her head. "Okay…If you think I should…..I suppose I could….try."
"Good." The Professor smiled. "I'll see you later. Have a good time."
Ginger watched him as he left feeling a sense of dread. She wanted to run after him. The movie star turned back to the other two women. "Um…okay…I guess…I'll join you."
"Good." Mrs. Howell smiled. "Come along dears."
Ginger and Mary Ann followed the older woman to the cabana. The movie star's eyes went back to where the Professor had walked off and then turned back to the other two ladies. Mrs. Howell unlocked the bamboo gate and guided the girls inside. There were tables and lounge chairs. A few of Mrs. Howell's parcel umbrellas were present. Ginger hesitantly sat down in a lounge chair. She looked around anxiously as if fearing something or rather someone was going to jump out and attack her. Mary Ann sat down in the chair next to her and placed a reassuring hand on hers.
Mrs. Howell sat in her chair. She called out to Mr. Howell who brought out drinks for the three women.
"There you are Lovey. Coconut milk with banana."
"Thank you Thurston dear."
"For you Mary Ann, mango and pineapple."
"Thanks Mr. Howell."
"And you Ginger a drink of passion fruit."
"Thank you." She said taking the drink.
"Enjoy!" He said with a smile as he left the cabana.
Ginger took a sip of her drink as the other two women chatted. She listened as Mary Ann told funny tales of Gilligan. His clumsy yet adorable attempts to court her. Like the time, he spent all afternoon trying to catch a blue butterfly that she had remarked to him she thought was beautiful. Try as he might, he was unable to catch the insect. Instead he caught a different one and attempted to paint it blue. Which may have worked if he had not dipped the entire butterfly in blue paint! Ginger managed a tiny smile listening to the story. Gilligan was a sweet boy. She always thought so.
Mrs. Howell told a story about Mr. Howell's humorous attempt to impress her at the race track when they were first dating. He kept picking horses with names that he believed would endear him to Mrs. Howell. Like Magnificent Blonde. Eunice Chantilly Lace and so on. The man picked them to win and neither of them did! Mrs. Howell on the other hand, somehow managed to pick three winning horses!
Mary Ann laughed at the tale. Saying it was sweet of Mr. Howell to try. What a dear man he was!
Ginger said very little nervously sipping her drink. Mary Ann tried to draw her into the discussion. "Ginger…tell Mrs. Howell about the time you and Gilligan could read minds…and you read the Professor's!"
"Oh yes dear do tell!" Mrs. Howell smiled hoping to hear the tale.
Ginger shrugged and sipped her drink. "It was no big deal. Nothing worth telling."
Mary Ann tried again. "Yes it is. It's a funny story. You see Mrs. Howell, Gilligan told me about it. You will love this story. Come on Ginger…tell the story.."
The green eyed actress just shook her head. "No…that's okay…I don't feel like it."
"Ginger..come on." Mary Ann pressed. "Tell it. It's a sweet story. We are all sharing. Share this with us."
"Please dear…I must know…what happened." Mrs. Howell said trying to encourage the movie star.
Ginger quietly took another sip of her drink. "It was nothing. I…I just said he was thinking of numbers. That's all. Nothing special."
"Numbers?" Mrs. Howell said confused.
Mary Ann smiled. "Ginger's measurements. 36-22-36. Gilligan said that the Professor tried to cover but there was no doubt where his little mind was." The farm girl grinned.
Mrs. Howell laughed. "Oh my…that certainly is delightful."
Ginger managed another small smile and said nothing.
"Oh Ginger, you have to tell Mrs. Howell about the time…you distracted the Professor with your leopard print bathing suit!"
"I don't think so Mary Ann. Why don't you tell her more about Gilligan." She said.
Mary Ann sighed. She thought at least allowing Ginger to talk about the Professor would brighten her spirits but it didn't seem to be working. Mary Ann didn't want to force her. It was a challenge enough to get Ginger to agree to spend time away from the Professor. The fact that she finally did agree was a start.
The farm girl went into another story about Gilligan while Ginger sat there barely paying attention. She didn't want to be there. She wanted to be with the Professor. Didn't want to spend the day talking with Mary Ann and Mrs. Howell about silly things. What she wanted was to bury herself in the Professor's arms and never leave. It wasn't just that he made her feel safe. She was in love with him. Plain and simple. Ginger Grant was head over heels in love with Roy Hinkley, Jr. This whole ordeal with Kincaid brought her feelings to surface more than ever. Knowing that the Professor respected her and was always there for her in times of danger was another thing that drew her near to him. He was so kind and loving to her. No other man ever was. The only man Ginger felt she could trust. She was still leery of the Skipper. Skeptical of Mr. Howell. Gilligan she was okay with but she was a little hesitant when he was around.
The Professor was the only one she could trust completely. At least in her mind at this moment. Ginger's fragile mind could not comprehend that the other three men of the island would do anything to make sure she was safe. It wouldn't entertain the idea that the three men loved her in different ways. Mr. Howell loved her like a daughter. Skipper loved her like a friend and Gilligan loved her like a sister. To Ginger, she had a reason to be suspicious of all three of them. The Professor was the only man to be trusted.
The movie star sat quietly listening to the other two women laughing and talking. A part of her wished she could be a part of it but she didn't feel like laughing. She was in too much pain. She hurt too much. Felt too violated and humiliated and ashamed. She finished her drink sadly and set it down. Truth be told, Ginger hated feeling this way but she couldn't help it. The horror that Kincaid inflicted upon her was still fresh in her mind. She couldn't escape it. Especially at night. That monster haunted her dreams. Taunting her. Stalking her. Claiming he would be back to finish her off. The only place she could find solace at night was cuddled up close to her beloved Professor. The dreams seemed to subside when she was with him. She felt stronger being near him.
Lagoon
"You think Ginger will be okay?" asked the Skipper.
"I hope so." The Professor replied. "I think it's just going to take time. We can't push her too hard. It's going to take a long time for her to heal from this It was a horrible experience and there is no telling how she will handle it."
"You're right." The Skipper sighed. "It is. I just wish there was something we could do for her."
"Well I think that she agreed to be with Mary Ann and Mrs. Howell is a start. I hope that they can keep her spirits up."
"And out of your hut at night?" asked The Skipper.
"I don't know about that." The Professor answered setting the fish net aside. "Ginger has horrific nightmares. She dreams that Kincaid is going to come back for her. It shakes her to the core. I've tried to convince her it's only a dream, and he's not coming back but she refuses to believe it."
"Can't Mary Ann calm her down? Ginger can't keep running to you."
"Skipper." The Professor said somewhat defensively. "The nightmares scare her. They are vivid and real. If staying in my hut helps her, I can't refuse her. I can't do that to her. Leave her scared like that. No I simply won't do that." He picked up the net again and began working on it.
The Skipper didn't say anything but he had a feeling there was another reason the Professor didn't mind Ginger running to his hut. The old sea captain knew one thing. He knew when a man was in love with a woman and there was no doubt in his mind that the scholar was in love with Ginger. Her running to him and to his hut probably made the Professor feel somewhat heroic. Of course, he knew the Professor had a point. Ginger couldn't help being scared from her nightmares. He was the only one who made her feel better. Skipper did take note the Professor had tried to wean Ginger off of him the past couple of days but had no luck. The woman just refused to leave his side no matter what anyone said. As far as the Skipper was concerned the one to blame for all of this was that bastard Jonathan Kincaid. If he hadn't….Ginger could have a normal healthy relationship with the man the Skipper knew she loved. He had known for a long time how Ginger felt about the man of science. She was way more flirtatious and seductive with the Professor than she ever was with him or Gilligan. Jonas knew Ginger meant nothing by them. She meant it with the Professor.
Now because of that evil bastard, Ginger was clingy and needy. She was no longer that happy vivacious woman with a twinkle in her eye that she once was. The Skipper looked back over at the Professor wishing that there was a way to fix this whole mess.
He knew the Professor was trying his best but was being pulled into much by his feelings for the movie star. The old sailor had noticed the smile the Professor had when he had arrived late at dinner one evening and Ginger jumped up throwing her arms around him saying she had missed him. Skipper could not blame him. The man was only human.
Still, there had to be something. Anything that could be done. They could not go on like this. Ginger needed to move past it.
Camp
Ginger had left the other two women saying that she wanted to be by herself for awhile. Mary Ann had suspected she really wanted to go find the Professor but Ginger insisted that was not the case. She walked to camp trying to resist the urge to go running to the Lagoon where she knew he was. More than anything, she wanted to shake this fright but was not having any luck. She dreaded going to bed knowing the nightmares would return. Ginger sat down at the dining table. A few seconds later Gilligan showed up carrying his butterfly net. "Hi Ginger." He greeted.
"Hello Gilligan. She replied.
"I'm going butterfly hunting. Want to join me?" He asked her cheerfully.
"No that's okay Gilligan. You go."
Gilligan set his net down and sat at the table. "Ginger…I know that you are scared. You don't need to be. You are like my sister. I won't let anyone hurt you. And neither will Skipper or Mr. Howell. And certainly not the Professor."
Ginger looked at the young sailor appreciatively. "That's sweet of you to say Gilligan. Thank you."
"Anyone tries to harm you or Mary Ann…they'll be sorry." He said bravely. "I'll show them!" He stood up flexing his biceps and Ginger could not help but laugh a bit.
"You are silly." She said with a smile.
Gilligan smiled happy that Ginger looked a bit like herself again. "Come on… come butterfly hunting with me. I'm going to catch that blue butterfly for Mary Ann!"
"No Gilligan that's okay. You go. Have a good time. I'm going to stay here."
"Ginger no don't stay here. Come with me. You can help me find that butterfly."
The actress shook her head. "No…I don't…You go…"
"Come with me." Gilligan insisted.
Ginger started to get angry. "I said no." She snapped. "I don't want to go butterfly hunting. Leave me alone!"
"Ginger.."
"Leave me alone!" She screamed.
Gilligan's eyes went wide. He never saw his friend like this before. "Ginger…it's me Gilligan..why are you acting that way? I'm not going to hurt you. I swear."
"GO AWAY!" Ginger screamed again before taking off for the lagoon.
Gilligan followed her and found her running to the Professor and once again throwing herself in his arms. The Skipper was startled by Ginger's actions. He saw Gilligan walking out. "Little Buddy what happened?"
"I just asked her if she wanted to go butterfly hunting. I tried to get her to agree. I thought it would be fun for her."
Ginger sobbed in the Professor's arms while he held her. This was going to be a bigger challenge than they thought. She was very fragile. Her emotions were on edge. She snapped at poor Gilligan when all the sailor wanted her to do was join him in butterfly hunting. Roy strained his mind trying to think of something that would help Ginger but was coming up empty. He was at a loss.
Mary Ann and Mrs. Howell came out to the lagoon and the Professor asked them to take Ginger back to the girls' hut. The man of science pondered what could be done. Ginger needed to have confidence in herself again. She needed to know she was not helpless. Just how they were going to go about convincing her of that was a mystery.
States
Jonathan Kincaid sat in his hunting lounge with an evil grin. He had just won the skeet shooting championship and was named Marksman of the Year. There was one thing that eluded him. That redhead. He never got to finish with her. Well that was going to change. He was going to fly back to that island. And this time, he was going to get what he wanted.