AN: I really appreciate all the reviews, thank you so much! :) Sorry this update took so long, my hubby was hogging the laptop, but that's okay because I was able to get more writing done. :) Now, on with the chapter, enjoy!
Disclaimer: I still do not own any of these characters they lovingly belong to Sherwood Schwartz.
The Professor was examining Mary Ann's ankle with Ginger watching.
"You'll need to stay off it for a couple days."
The young woman rubbed her ankle.
"How bad is it?"
"Just a small sprain."
"Thank you, Professor, can you get Gilligan for me?"
"Ginger and I can help you to the table."
"Yeah, here, take my arm."
The actress stuck her arm out for her to link with and the brunette smiled at her gratefully.
"Thank you, but I want Gilligan."
Ginger smirked as she glanced at the Professor and then dragged him out of the hut. The redhead shouted for Gilligan and a few minutes later he appeared in the doorway.
"You needed me, Mary Ann?"
"Can you help me to the table?"
"Sure, are you okay?"
"Professor says I have to stay off my feet for a couple days because I have a small sprain."
"Well, until you're better I am at your service, my lady."
He bowed to her and she giggled at his charm.
"Thank you, Gilligan."
They grinned and he scooped her up into his arms. He carried her out to the table and set her down on the bench while the others secretly smiled at the pair. Ginger with the help of the Professor brought lunch to the table and the Howells brought a bottle of their finest champagne. Skipper seated himself at the head of the table licking his lips at the juicy lobster in the middle of the table.
"How about a toast before we eat?"
"Good idea, Lovey."
Mr. Howell stood to open the bottle of bubbly and when the cork popped there was a surprised yelp. Ginger had been pushed off the bench onto the ground, Gilligan was halfway to the jungle foliage crawling since he tripped over the bench when he went to run, and Mary Ann was under the table shaking and hugging herself. The others glanced at each other concerned for the youngest Castaways and Ginger along with Gilligan sat back on the bench, but Mary Ann wouldn't come out of hiding.
"I'm sorry, Ginger, it was instinct."
"It's okay, Gilligan."
She smiled at him and he returned it, but frowned as Mary Ann clutched his leg. He gazed down at her, cowering, and his heart went out to her knowing he wasn't the only one that was still fearful.
"It's okay, Mary Ann, it's safe."
"You promise?"
"I promise."
She tentatively came out of hiding and sat next to him.
"I'm sorry, everyone, I'm still scared."
"We understand, dear," Mrs. Howell said.
The brunette gave her a small smile and Mr. Howell proceeded to pour everyone some champagne.
"A toast to Gilligan and Mary Ann for their bravery, daring, and cunning."
They all raised their coconut or bamboo glasses to Mr. Howell's words, clinked them, and drank the bubbly. They began to enjoy their meal and laugh with the exception of the youngest two. This didn't go unnoticed by the Skipper, but he said nothing knowing that they now had to deal with the aftermath of the hunt. The two ate hungrily though, but never said a word unless it was a one word answer.
Later, Gilligan was whittling while Mary Ann caught up on the sewing when the Skipper came back to camp with an armful of fruit.
"Oh, little buddy, are you going to help me pick coconuts today?"
"No, Skipper."
"And why not?"
"I'm busy."
"You don't look busy."
"I'm busy, Skipper."
"Whittling is more important than picking coconuts?"
Gilligan suddenly glared up at the Skipper who only glared back.
"Gilligan, I order you to pick coconuts, now go do it!"
"No!"
"Gilligan, I'm warning you!"
"No!"
"GILLIGAN!"
"NO!"
"Stop it!"
They turned to Mary Ann who was frowning, a little angry herself, and she motioned for the young sailor to come hither. He bent down as she whispered into his ear and he nodded.
"Are you sure?"
She nodded and he swiftly kissed her cheek before entering the supply hut grabbing the machete. He scowled at the Skipper briefly before heading into the jungle with a basket to put the coconuts in and the captain gazed at Mary Ann in disbelief.
"How did you get him to do it?"
"I asked him nicely, you should try it some time."
"Mary Ann..."
"You should also respect if he doesn't want to do it because you work him to death when you hardly do a thing. Maybe if you did a little more work I wouldn't always be repairing your pants."
He was taken aback by her statement and excused himself to talk with the Professor. He entered his hut where the Professor looked up from his book and smiled at the sea dog.
"Skipper, can I help you with anything?"
"I'll say you can, I think those two need an attitude adjustment."
The intellect gave him a questioning expression and the Skipper elaborated on what had happened.
"Skipper, they've been through a traumatic experience, it's only natural they lash out a little. Can you blame Gilligan for not wanting to go back into the jungle where he was hunted? He could be afraid that Kincaid might pop out at any moment and shoot him."
"What about Mary Ann?"
"She was trying to protect him and lashing out at you was all she could do. We don't know what they went through."
"Eventually they have to talk about it."
"Yes, but you have to give them time, you can't force it."
"I'm worried about them."
"We all are, Skipper, but things will get back to normal. I'll keep watch for signs of PTSD."
"PTSD?"
The Skipper scratched his head and the Professor only grinned at his friend knowingly.
"Post-traumatic stress disorder otherwise known as shell shock or battle fatigue."
"Thanks for clearing that up, Professor."
He left and went back into the jungle to gather more fruit as well as find his little buddy.
Gilligan was getting ready to gather the coconuts he chopped down when he heard rustling in the bushes and ducked down when he realized who it was. He stood up and let out the breath he had been holding.
"Gilligan, little buddy, there you are!"
"Hiya, Skipper."
He began picking up the coconuts and the Skipper went to help.
"I'm sorry about earlier."
"It's okay, Skipper."
"No, it's not, I should've realized that you may be afraid."
"Thanks, but that's not the reason I didn't want to pick coconuts."
"It's not?"
"Well, maybe a little, but I promised Mary Ann I'd be there if she needed me. I don't like breaking my promises and I'm sorry I yelled at you, but I didn't want to leave her."
"I understand, little buddy, how about you take the rest of the week off."
"I can't do that, but I'll take as much time as needed until Mary Ann's ankle heals before going back to chores."
"Are you sure?"
He nodded as the Skipper picked up the basket full of coconuts.
"Well, then, let's get back to camp, you've done enough today, little buddy."
Gilligan smiled and they went back to the camp.
When they returned Mary Ann was still at the table, but now mixing ingredients preparing dinner and telling Ginger how long to cook everything. She was taking notes and they glanced up when they heard the men. They smiled and Mary Ann gestured to the Skipper.
"Do you need any help, girls?"
"No, Skipper, but I want to apologize for earlier."
"It's okay, Mary Ann, I understand."
"You do?"
"Yes, Gilligan made a promise to you and I made him break it, but he is yours until you can get back on your feet."
"Thank you, but I still shouldn't have lashed out at you."
"It's okay, now let's forget it ever happened. Is there anything we can do, ladies?"
She gave him a small smile full of gratitude for his forgiveness.
"Not at the moment," Ginger replied.
"You've got everything, Ginger?" Mary Ann asked.
"Yes, I just hope it turns out okay."
"You'll do fine."
The redhead took the food and went to fix dinner while the Skipper put the fruit away in the food locker of the supply hut. Gilligan sat next to Mary Ann and she hugged him.
"Are you okay? You weren't afraid, were you?"
"I'm fine and I was a little scared, but I can't remain afraid of it or I'll never be able to do my chores. It's like riding a bike, if you fall off you get back on like it never happened or is that when you fall off a horse?"
The brunette giggled.
"Is there anything I can do?"
"Can you rub my ankle and tell me a story until dinner?"
He grinned and picked her up, carrying her to a lounger. She relaxed as he gently began rubbing her ankle and she sighed in content.
"Which story do you want to hear?"
"Surprise me."
He thought for a moment and then grinned.
"Alright, well, when I was little I was actually afraid of water."
"Really, but you are so at home on the water."
"I know, but when I was younger I was scared."
"Why?"
"My brother told me that the minute I get into the ocean I'd turn into a fish and get eaten."
She laughed.
"He was always trying to scare me with his stories, but I was also afraid of drowning. I had just learned how to swim and the ocean was huge, you could easily get pulled under. My mom was disappointed that I never played in the ocean when we were on vacation, but I promised her some day I would. I wanted to be sure I was strong enough. I became obsessed with it, took advanced swimming lessons and was even on the swim team in high school, we won finals four years in a row. It was only natural for me to join the Navy and when I enlisted after graduating I was allowed to have my family up for a week before I was to be an official sailor. I was stationed at Honolulu and the first day there with my family we went to the beach. My brother, sister, and her fiance ran in, splashing each other, and my mom looked at me. I grinned, picked her up, and threw her into the water then splashed her. My dad came in not wanting to miss the fun and we had a splash war. I kept my promise and I knew my mom was proud of me."
"I'm sure she was always proud of you, Gilligan."
"Probably, but I think I made her prouder that day."
She smiled and took his hands in hers.
"Thank you, Gilligan, I believe that helped the pain."
"You're welcome, Mary Ann."
She relaxed back into the lounger as he went to get a deck of cards to keep her entertained while they waited for dinner.
In the middle of the night Ginger was awakened by Mary Ann's crying. She tried to wake her up and the more she tried the more the brunette panicked in her sleep. She screamed and then called for him before waking on her own. For a second she didn't recognize the redhead and she tried to escape, rolling off her bed and began crawling away with Ginger trying to help her as she cried out for Gilligan. He appeared suddenly and picked her up as she hugged him close. He sat down with her in his lap and she sobbed into his chest.
"You're really alive?"
"I'm fine."
"I thought he killed you."
"He didn't because you saved my life."
"But..."
"You were having a nightmare."
"I'm scared, Gilligan."
"I'm here now."
"Stay with me, please."
He glanced at Ginger who only nodded her approval knowing he wouldn't try anything, he was a real gentleman. She stood up, placing all her weight on one foot, and made him get up. She laid down and she beckoned to him with open arms. He laid down next to her, enfolding her in his arms as she softly cried into his chest and he placed a tender kiss on her lips. She kissed back and snuggled closer as tears still fell from her eyes. They fell asleep that way, holding each other tight as if the one would disappear and never come back. This did not go unnoticed by Ginger who was concerned for her friend and wondered what had gone on in that jungle. Every now and again you could hear Mary Ann whimper in her sleep and in his slumber would squeeze her tighter to reassure her.
