--edited for accuracy--

Kayla led the Skipper to the elevator. They went up two floors, walked around a maze of hallways and ended up at a dark, silent door.

"This is it," she said quietly, giving the Skipper a small supportive smile.

Skipper nodded and slowly turned the doorknob, not wanting to make any sound. He held his breath and dared a look inside the still room.

The light was off, but some light from the next room filtered in through the cracks in the blinds. The only sound was the steady breathing from the occupant. Gilligan lay motionless, his eyes closed peacefully. He had a bandage wrapped around his forehead, two or three small cuts and a bruise on his face. An IV had been inserted into his right hand, and he had a bandage wrapped around his upper arm right underneath his shoulder.

The Skipper began to get teary-eyed as he observed the damage. He went over and sat in a chair next to the bed. "Oh, Little Buddy…..you're such a mess," he softly lamented.

Kayla, shaken up by this display of compassion, moved over to the Skipper's side. She placed her soft hand on his shoulder, sympathetically.

Skipper looked up at her. "Is he going to be okay?"

Kayla swallowed a lump in her throat. "Dr. Moss, who made the diagnosis, said that there aren't any broken bones, just the cracked shoulder. But, he thinks that Gilligan may be in a coma."

The Skipper physically and mentally depressed. He sank down in the chair, trying to let this information sink in. "Is he going to wake up?" he asked so quietly, almost as if he didn't want to hear the answer.

"There's no way to tell," Kayla said, downcast. She brightened significantly. "But, I'm hopeful that he'll be awake very soon!" She patted the Skipper's shoulder. "Don't worry. It's all gonna be okay. I've got to get back to work, but I'll come check on you guys in a few hours."

She began to walk toward the door, leaving the despairing man sitting alone in the shadows. She paused and turned around. She couldn't leave him like that. "Um…..look, why don't you talk to him? Tell him about some of the things he's done. Sometimes it helps to bring the person back if they hear about their past."

Skipper nodded. "I'll try anything," he said sincerely.

Kayla shot him one last optimistic smile before going back to her other patients.

Skipper scooted the heavy chair closer to the bed. He propped his elbow on his knee, placing his chin gently in his scalped palm. He sighed, and said, "Well, Gilligan, where do I begin?"

--

The end.

NoV: Just kidding! We must first see how Gilligan comes out of the coma and how did they get themselves into the "three hour tour" business! This one was short, I know, but I only had one point I wanted to make. Chapter eleven shall be up soon as I write it!