AN: I know it's been a while, I've been working and loving it, but I really didn't have many free weekends except for this weekend. I did last weekend, but I needed to catch up on housework first. I did write a lot for this story during that time and hope to update once a week during weekends. I am enjoying everyone's tales and I might veer off and write a one-shot for the 500 tales because of the 50th anniversary of the show. So, don't fret or worry, I have not put this tale on hiatus this is still being written daily and will get posted once a week during weekends. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own any characters except some of the apes.


She had jumped at every noise, but was able to get through the laundry. It wasn't so bad, but she was worried for Gilligan and all the 'what if' scenarios that ran through her mind. This was uncharacteristic of him and once she was done hanging the laundry she was going to search for him. She wanted to see for herself that he was fine. She couldn't bear it if anything bad befell him. A few more clothes to hang and she was good as gone wondering if she should ask Eliza if she has seen him. She heard a whistle and nearly jumped out of her skin. Her eyes darted about, but saw no one when the whistle came again and she gazed up at a branch, smiling in relief.

"Geez, Sam, you sure know how to scare a girl."

"Sam's a pretty bird."

"Yes, Sam is."

He squawked in appreciation of her comment.

"Does Sam know where Gilligan is?"

"Gilligan loves Mary Ann."

She giggled at the bird's words realizing Gilligan was teaching the bird to say what he could not until Kincaid showed up and in act of bravery expressed his feelings for her. She furrowed her brow wondering where he was and if he was okay as she gazed back up at the tropical bird.

"Well, Sam, tell Gilligan that Mary Ann loves him."

"Mary Ann loves Gilligan."

"Just wish it hadn't been forced because of Kincaid."

"Kincaid is coming to get you."

Her head snapped up and eyed the bird. She knew he repeated and memorized words, but when did he overhear Kincaid unless it was Ramoo uttering nonsense to no one in particular and the bird overheard.

"Kincaid will be back."

"Sam, stop it."

"Kincaid is coming to get you."

"I said stop it!"

"Kincaid will be back."

"Shut up, Sam!"

The bird cocked his head a couple of times.

"Shut up, Sam. Shut up, Sam."

He repeated her phrase and flew off. She wondered if Ramoo was planning to bring his friend back, but nothing had been heard of what became of the pair. She was slightly worried, but right now she had more important matters to worry about and her priority was a certain sailor.


The trio in the Professor's hut were playing cards to amuse themselves while listening for Mary Ann and all ears perked up when they heard rustling from the jungle. Gilligan scrambled, almost knocking the table over, to his hiding spot while the Professor and Ginger appeared to be in the middle of an experiment as Mary Ann came waltzing out with the finished laundry. The redhead watched out the window as the farm girl distributed the clean laundry and glanced down at her watch as her friend entered the hut they shared. Ginger grinned at the Professor.

"Two hours exactly."

"Excellent!"

He wrote a few more notes in his journal.

"Wait, she's coming back out."

He rushed to the window and noticed the brunette studying the jungle before re-entering it. They gazed at each other and smiled before he jotted more in his journal.

"How long do you predict she'll stay out there, Ginger?"

She turned to the Professor and shrugged her shoulders before verbally answering him.

"I don't know."

"Think about it, would it be another two hours or longer?"

She glanced out the window, staring off into the jungle, placing herself in Mary Ann's shoes. If it was her beloved Roy she wouldn't stop until she found him.

"Maybe longer."

"Do you think until lunch time?"

"Maybe not until night falls."

"Do you really believe so?"

"She's searching for Gilligan, she'll turn this island upside down to find him, fearful or not."

The Professor pushed the curtain aside that hid the first mate in his closet.

"It's a good thing you're hiding in here."

"I suppose so, but when can I come out?"

"Tomorrow morning."

"What if she has a nightmare, Professor?"

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

"Do you think she'll be mad when she finds out?"

Ginger turned to him and then briefly caught the Professor's eye. She advanced on the pair and bent down in front of where Gilligan sat to be somewhat eye level with him as she took the sailor's hands reassuringly.

"She might be, I won't lie, but once she finds out the reason behind it she'll be more forgiving."

"Are you sure?"

"I've shared a hut with Mary Ann long enough to know she is forgiving and understanding."

He grinned and she squeezed his hands as the Professor smiled at how Ginger was good at reassuring others. Why she became an actress over a nurse was a mystery to him as she went to leave the hut.

"Where are you going?"

She flashed the Professor with a sexy smile and he gulped a little.

"To prepare lunch."

The first mate and the man of science stared at each other worriedly then glanced back at the redhead.

"What? Don't give me that look!"

The men smiled knowingly and the movie star pouted, placing her hands on her hips.

"I'll have you know that my cooking has improved!"

"I'm sure you have."

"Don't patronize me, Professor."

Gilligan chuckled.

"Maybe I'll skip lunch and hope for a big dinner."

The Professor tried not to chortle at the sailor's statement knowing he was thinking the same thing.

"Oh no you won't, you're going to eat what I prepare!"

"I'll be sick for sure."

"Oh, Gilligan!"

She huffed out of the hut and the men chuckled. They were only kidding with Ginger, her cooking had improved, but it wasn't like the farm girl's cooking. The Professor sat down at the table and motioned for Gilligan to do the same so he could teach him the game of chess to pass the time.


Mary Ann wiped the sweat from her forehead and sat down on a rock momentarily. It was getting late as she gazed up at the pink and purple hues tinting the sky. She had spent hours searching this island for Gilligan, but couldn't find him. He wasn't in his usual spots and he wasn't in any of his secret hiding spots, well, there was one she hadn't checked, but she was too frightened to check that one. She was certain there were other places he could be that she didn't know about and he could be staying there, but if he was really sick or injured he would stay at his 'Lone Wolf' cave. She had been avoiding it and she was losing daylight as she sighed. She got off the rock and headed in the direction of the cave trying not to relive the memory of what almost happened there. She wished the apes had seen him, but they hadn't seen him all day and Eliza promised to find her if she ran into him or if he stopped by to visit. Her heart began to race as she crept closer to the cave and she swallowed the lump in her throat. She stood in front of it and called out his name, but he didn't appear. She called his name again and still no answer. She got down on her knees and then bent down to peek into the hole, but only saw darkness. He wasn't in there and she sighed in relief that she didn't have to enter, but was concerned that she couldn't find her friend. It was getting dark and she headed back to camp hoping he was there. Why would he hide from everyone? Was he really sick? Was he scared like she was that Kincaid would return? Was he dealing with his fears or was he spending time alone? She didn't mean to cling to him, but after what Kincaid had put them through she retreated into a frightened little girl or as her cousins would say a scared hare. She had to admit that being in the jungle alone again wasn't so bad as long as it was daylight because with the darkness vast approaching it could conceal and she no longer wanted to be out here alone.

When she entered the hut area everyone was gathering for dinner, that is, everyone but Gilligan.

"Where's Gilligan?"

"Oh, hey, Mary Ann, he's asleep in the Professor's hut, he's not feeling well," the Skipper answered.

She sat down at the table momentarily confused as to why Gilligan would be in the Professor's hut, but figured if it was something serious the best place for Gilligan to be was with the man of science.

"Where has he been all day if he's been ill?"

"He felt a little better and was picking fruit when I came along. He didn't want to dodge his chores, but I made him promise to not climb any trees or carry too much because he needed to rest since he looked a little pale still."

"How come I didn't see you two out there?"

"They came back fifteen minutes later, after you had dropped off our laundry, dear."

"Thurston's right because we saw that poor boy get sick in the bushes, quite dreadful."

She sighed, he had been here the whole time, ill and probably wondering where she was.

"I should check on him."

"I wouldn't advise that, he really needs sleep and we don't know if he's contagious," the Professor said.

She sighed and played with her fork when Ginger arrived with dinner.

"I made everyone's favorite."

They all turned to Ginger, paling at what she might have made as she set it down on the table. A few gulps were heard as everyone eyed each other.

"Don't tell me, fish pie?"

"Oh no, Mr. Howell, something even better."

"What could be better than fish pie?" Mrs. Howell wondered.

"A charred pig," Mr. Howell retorted.

The others smiled as Ginger lifted the lid and were pleasantly surprised. She served them before sitting down and serving herself. They all took a bite and gasped at how delicious Ginger's meal turned out.

"Say, Ginger, what is this by the way?"

"Why don't you tell me what it tastes like, Professor."

She was flirting and he blushed as he took another bite.

"Tastes like crab."

"Good tastebuds, Professor, I made crab cakes, steamed vegetables thanks to Mary Ann's garden, and an orange-mango cream pie."

They dug in enjoying their meal as Ginger knew that Gilligan was enjoying his since she had made his first before bringing out the rest to the others knowing there would be nothing left for him. She smiled to herself and inwardly patted her back accomplishing something she had long forgotten how to do. She was trying to somewhat re-domesticate herself as well as prove that she could be independent and helping Mary Ann cook paid off as the others enjoyed her meal.