The Professor stood at the window of his wife's hospital room gazing out at the dark night sky. The moon was shining brightly and the stars were twinkling but it had little effect on his demeanor. This was supposed to be Ginger's big night. It was supposed to be her moment to shine. The movie that she worked so hard on was making it's big debut for the world to see. Everyone was supposed to love it. Everyone was supposed to go on about how amazing the story was. How romantic! Praise Ginger for her brilliant storytelling. Talk of Academy Awards the movie would sure to win.
It was Ginger's moment in the spotlight. The night was to be all about Ginger Hinkley.
In a split second it's all taken away. Ginger, his beautiful redheaded starlet with incredible green eyes, was brutally shot and now lie in a hospital bed fighting for her life.
It angered him. Angered him deeply. Ginger was the kindest person he had ever known. Her big loving heart was what he loved the most. She had an incredible heart and cared a great deal about the people in her life. He had never known anyone quite like her. She was outgoing and very smart. Always used her life experiences to try and help get them all rescued from the island. Any plot from a movie she thought it was at least was worth a shot she would suggest they give it a go. How could anyone be so downright cruel to her! It was way beyond his comprehension. Ginger most certainly did not do a thing to warrant such treatment.
Roy turned away from the window and walked over to the bed. He kneeled down taking her soft white hand in his and held it tight. Eva Grubb was a jealous bitter woman.
Jealous because Ginger was everything she could never be. Eva could never achieve what Ginger had accomplished in her life. She didn't have her beauty and her charm. Instead of trying to better herself because she doesn't like who she is she tries to tear down Ginger. The vicious gossip and rumors that swirled around were solely because of the hatred that Eva held towards his wife. And that Connie Pearson. Suggesting that he should be with someone more like Mary Ann. That is what infuriated him the most. Sure Mary Ann was a very nice girl. But that's all she was. A girl. A sweet young girl. He didn't want that. What he wanted was someone who was experienced and wordly. Someone like Ginger. He could talk to Ginger about anything. There was no way he could do this with Mary Ann. In fact he recalled her lack of understanding when Erika Tiffany Smith was on the island. She did not seem to grasp how much he really was unsure about marrying that woman. All she did was mention something about how they would both be in the same world. That is why he went to Ginger. Ginger set everything straight. One kiss from her full luscious lips convinced him that he could never marry that blonde socialite. Especially after feeling the things he felt when the starlet had kissed him. It was incredible. An experience he wished to repeat.
He gently touched her delicate cheek. "I love you." He said softly.
All that time they wasted on the island dancing around what their feelings were. It was so ridiculous. Why did they have to hide it? It all seems silly now.
It wasn't like they both didn't know what the other was feeling. They gave away so many clues but yet they still pretended like they were in the dark. Or maybe they just didn't want to believe it. Whatever the reason he was sorry he wasted so much time.
Just like he was sorry he allowed Duke to have Ginger. Did absolutely nothing to fight for the beautiful actress. He just sat back and let Ginger…That was something he regretted. Roy supposed it did not matter now. He married that gorgeous movie star and she was going to have his baby. The Professor pondered if Ginger knew about her pregnancy. A part of him wanted to believe she did and she was planning on surprising him. It would be just like her to do that.
The same way he surprised her with the house they lived in. He recalled the look on her lovely face. She was ecstatic and couldn't stop gushing about what a wonderful man he was and how much she loved him. And went on and on about the nursery. Ginger loved the nursery. He found her in there a lot smiling at the crib and the changing table. And sitting in her rocking chair singing softly. He knew she was imagining she was singing to the baby she longed for.
Ginger did not deserve this! She did not deserve to be gunned down by a crazy woman! A crazy insane jealous woman. He truly wished they would have left Eva on that island.
He wished he could turn time back and convince everyone that they would take her boat back to Hawaii and leave her there as she wanted. They could have told the authorities about her and they could have sent a boat or something for her. Why didn't that do that?
There were a millions whys going through his head. He had no answer for any of them. What he did know was that there was no way he could live without his Hollywood starlet. Life meant nothing without her. His company, the house, it all meant nothing if Ginger wasn't there to share in it with him. The academic leaned over and gently kissed her forehead. "I love you." He whispered.
"You really should go home and get some rest." A voice said.
Roy looked up and saw Barbara standing there.
She walked in and over to the bed. "Roy go home. There is nothing you can do for her right now."
He looked at his blonde friend with anger flashing in his blue eyes. "I'm not leaving her." The Professor snapped. "I'm staying right here."
Barbara crossed her arms refusing to let him get to her. "You can't stay here all night. Please let me drive you home. You need to get some rest. This is not helping."
"I will stay here all night if I want." He barked. "She is my wife and I'm staying by her side."
"No." Barbara said firmly grabbing him up by his arm. "You march yourself home and get some sleep. You look awful. You need to rest. Ginger will be just fine. The doctors and nurses are watching her. She is in good hands."
The Professor wrung his arm free. "I'm staying put."
"No." She yanked his hand and dragged him out of the room shutting the door behind them. "I'm driving you back home right now and you are going to get some rest. That's how it's going to be."
He frowned and reluctantly followed his fellow scientist out to the parking lot. He got into her dark blue car and said nothing as she started it up.
Barbara ignored his icy silence. She knew he would act this way but it was for his own good. He couldn't stay there all night waiting. He needed to get himself together. The chemist knew that Ginger would agree with her. Barbara cared about the Professor and Ginger. While she had known Roy Hinkley for a few years, she had gotten to know the actress better and she really liked her. Barbara thought she was the perfect woman for that stubborn professor. Just what he needed.
The house came into view and Barbara pulled up to the gate. The Professor entered his personal code and the gate opened. She drove the car into the drive and up to the front door. Stopping the car, she looked over at the Professor. "You going to be okay?"
"Yeah." He replied in a somewhat monotone voice. He opened the car door and stepped out.
Barbara watched as he made his way to the white door and walked inside. She contemplated if she should stay the night in one of the guests rooms but decided against it. He needed to be alone and she would allow him that time. Barbara started the car up and drove away.
Inside the house the Professor sat on the sofa feeling exhausted. His eyes went to the picture of Ginger on the table. She was wearing a beautiful green summer dress. Her long red hair flowed behind her in the breeze. As usual he was mesmerized by her emerald eyes. They were so enchanting. His head then went back on the sofa and he sighed. Ginger had to make it. She had to be okay. He could not possibly live without her. She was his whole world. Before her he didn't think much of anything but he work. Research, writing, experiments. That was his routine. Love was the farthest thing from his mind. He gave it little to no thought. Then he meets a stunning beauty aboard a tiny ship and the rest was history.
How could anyone ever believe that he could have eyes for anyone but Ginger? He loved her more than he thought possible. For that idiot Connie Pearson to suggest her load of bull angered him. Ginger is gorgeous. How could any man not be attracted to her?
Yes he knew that Gilligan certainly was not. It wasn't that the sailor did not believe Ginger was beautiful. He did think that. It was just that like with Mary Ann, Gilligan was too naïve and inexperienced in the world. True he was in the Navy but he hadn't had the same life experiences that Ginger had in her life. Mary Ann was what Gilligan needed. She was down home and domestic. A sweet girl who was just perfect for the first mate. Mary Ann cared about him and wanted to make a good wife for him. The Professor could see Gilligan living on a farm with Mary Ann. The pair having several children. Taking care of the animals. Yes that was the perfect picture for the young ex-castaways.
It was not the picture for him. He enjoyed Hollywood. The gossip he did not but the rest of it. He thought it was amazing. True there were a lot of phonies and people who wanted to be around you for what you could do for them but there were also others who weren't like that. He had met several people in Ginger's inner circle and he found them quite pleasant. Like A.J. and Kaitlyn. A.J. was a big time movie guru who was married to a brilliant screenwriter/actress. Ginger adored Kaitlyn and they frequently consulted each other on scripts. Kaitlyn helped contribute to The Storm.
A.J. was quite a character and was becoming a good friend to Roy. He often asked the Professor his opinion for various things for his movie. He always wanted to make sure things were scientifically accurate. A.J. invited Roy to join his poker game. He was never much of a poker player before but he had a good time being around some of the other men in Hollywood. They gave him a lot of good advice on handling the rumor mill. And of course they also stated how lucky the Professor was to land a hot woman like Ginger Grant. She was something else and they all admired her.
Ginger was the one person who he would do anything for. Anything in the world.
He smiled thinking of one instance in particular…
Ginger wanted a rock garden. He was recruited to help her. Gladly he gathers up the rocks she needed. He walks out carrying a particularly heavy one.
"Oh boy that's a big one Professor!" She gushed.
"Why thank you Ginger." He says trying to keep hold of the boulder. "But believe me, the last thing this island needs right now is a rock garden."
"But you will get me some more won't you Professor?"
Would get her some more? Like she needed to ask! He knew very well he would gather every single rock and boulder on that island if Ginger wanted them. Just like the eye of the idol. It meant something to Ginger. It made her happy. So he trudges into the cave and crawls around looking for that useless $11 worth of quartz. Thinks bat because she insists it will help him focus in the dark cave. And he though mole before that because she said it would also help. Never in his life did he think he would act a clown all due to Ginger saying he should. His mind drifted to a time on the beach when he truly realized the effect Ginger had on him.
"How's it going Professor?"
"Oh uh well I have to wait till it…cools before I…try it."
"Gee I think it's amazing how you do all those experiments with such shaky hands."
"Well they weren't shaky until a second ago."
"Oh. Well maybe it's the heat or something."
Little did she know it was the heat. But not the heat from the tropical air. The heat he felt when she was around him. He had no clue how he was to act around her. He was astonished she would even speak to him let alone care about how he was trying to create nails. He didn't help matters later on. What came over him he didn't know. He supposed he was just in a hurry and wasn't thinking. But maybe he was. Who knows?
But for one reason or another he had to sniff the perfume directly on Ginger's neck. Not the bottle. No. The very perfume she was wearing it was he went for.
"Ginger!"
"In here Professor!"
He rushes in just as she is saying "Remember this dress I made it from.."
"Ginger I've got to sniff your perfume."
In what he determined was a delighted voice Ginger says "Professor! On the day we're leaving!"
"Have you got anymore of this?" He asks his face right in the crook of her neck.
"Professor I think you've had enough!"
"I haven't got time to explain but where do you keep your perfume?"
"Behind my ears can't you tell!"
He could tell alright. He could tell how intoxicating her perfume was and how he could spend all night taking in the provocative scent. Run his fingers through her silky red locks…Somehow someway he gets himself under control and manages to get out of the situation. Ginger was just confused and bewildered and said nothing more of it. He supposed she was just used to it but then…he recalled the Skipper having amnesia and making a move on her. The starlet was none too pleased and ran away. Then there was the time when Gilligan insisted there was another Gilligan on the island. This "Gilligan" tried something with Ginger who was horrified and took off as fast as she could.
It seemed the only one who could get away with "trying" something with the glamour girl was him.
The movie. That was another time he got to be close to Ginger. The scene called for a romantic kiss and Ginger was all too happy to perform the scene with him. The kiss they shared was amazing. He forgot himself and got lost in the moment. His arms went around her and he held her tight. During the shoot, the Professor forgot about the rolling camera and the fact that Gilligan and Mr. Howell were standing right there. What he knew was that he was kissing Ginger. When their lips finally did part, he caught his breath and Ginger asked in a seductive voice "How was that?" His reply "Uh..I…I was certainly..memorable."
The Professor recalled hearing Mr. Howell mumble something to Gilligan that sounded like "Lucky guy." Well he did fell lucky. Lucky that Ginger loved him. And he had to hold onto the belief that he was not going to lose her. She was a fighter and she would get through this. She would return to him and he would never let go of her.
Roy thought back to when he convinced her to be an oracle. For one thing he knew she was the only one who could pull it off as she was such a brilliant actress. One reason he believed she went along was because of the acting involved. Ginger loved performing and this gave her a way to do that. She sunk into the role so deeply she convinced herself she was a true psychic. He couldn't allow the others to find out and let her be humiliated. So he came up with the séance scheme and hid under the table to make it seem real. After it was over she confessed to him that she thought it was fun but he was right. They couldn't keep up the charade.
He told her that it was quite alright and that he had fun scheming with her. Told her was a whatever performer she was. No one else could have pulled it off like her.
Ginger told him that he was kind to want to do something to lift everyone out of their gloom and stop all the fighting. She was more than happy to help him do this.
Right now he felt helpless. Helpless to do anything for her. All he could do was pray. Pray that his beloved Ginger would be brought back to his arms. That's all he wanted. He wanted Ginger in his arms and for her to remain there. He lifted himself up off the sofa and slowly walked up the staircase. He looked at the beautiful portrait of Ginger and smiled before continuing on up the stairs. The Professor walked down the long hallway and to the master bedroom stepping inside. He looked at Ginger's vanity table and approached it. His hand picked up her perfume bottle and sniffed it. He sighed taking in the scent. His favorite one on her.
Placing it down he want over to the bed and sat. It was not too long along his beautiful wife was sitting there at her table watching him through her mirror. She could deny it all she wanted, he knew she was.
Then she dresses in a incredibly sexy gown which sets his heart rate skyrocketing. Ginger was certainly a pro at that. He recalled the feel of her lips against his own. The way her body was pressed close. Ginger's silky voice saying she loved him. Now he was here all alone. All alone. Ginger was in a hospital bed because of a crazy lady had a vendetta against her. There was no question he was going to make sure that Eva paid dearly. No one did this to Ginger. No one. He vowed justice would be served. If he could, he would go find that woman and end her life. But he knew that he could not do that no matter how tempting it was. He had to let the police do their job. He trusted them and also the PI that Mr. Howell hired.
The Professor could do nothing but hope that Eva would receive everything she deserved. He wanted that woman gone and out of their lives. The rumors she started were rough. However there was not a chance in hell he was going to walk away. Staying firmly by Ginger's side is what he was doing. Always. No matter what was thrown their way, he was going to stick by Ginger's side. Let her know they were in it together. She was never going to face it by herself. This would be no exception. Get through this they would. They could overcome anything and they would overcome this. Eva was not going to destroy their lives. She was the one who was going to be destroyed.