AN: I apologize for such a long wait, but I was focusing on gaining employment and with all that hard work I have finally after almost two years of being laid off found a job! Yay! In the meantime I've been writing and yes, lurking and not reviewing, but I must say to Doll Girl, Littlefish, TereseLucy, Miss Bridget Sharpe, Teobi, Harry Albus Dumbledore, & others I didn't mention, your stories are amazing and I love them! They have kept me entertained while waiting for an interview or when I can't sleep at night or when I have a moment to at least read. Thank you for such amazing stories! Now, that finding a job is out of the way I can start posting again, so here is a new chapter to enjoy!

Disclaimer: As usual I don't own any of these characters.


In the morning, before the dawn broke, Ginger shook Gilligan who mumbled incoherently. The redhead sighed, shaking him again and he wouldn't budge. She bent down and whispered his name seductively in his ear. He grinned in his sleep, pulling Mary Ann closer to him, and puckered his lips. Ginger covered her mouth stifling a giggle and shook her head in amusement. She removed his hat and with as much force as the Skipper, hit him over the head with his hat. He nearly jumped out of bed almost waking Mary Ann as Ginger calmed him down and returned his hat.

"What did you do that for?"

"It was the only way to wake you. Are you ready?"

He glanced sadly at the brunette's serene face and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. He bent over and placed a kiss on her cheek.

"I'm sorry."

He whispered it and she stirred briefly before Ginger escorted him out of their hut. He trudged to the Professor's hut and silently entered the closet. He sat down and went back to a dreamless slumber hoping this day would fly by.


When Mary Ann awoke she was surprised to find Gilligan missing and she panicked. She ran over shaking Ginger who cursed under her breath.

"Ginger, where's Gilligan?"

"He probably had to get the firewood."

"Are you sure?"

"No, but that seems a likely possibility. Can I go back to sleep?"

"Sorry, Ginger."

The redhead yawned and rolled over as Mary Ann dressed. She tentatively left her hut to prepare for breakfast and noticed the firewood had been gathered. She decided to peek into the boys' hut, but saw only the Skipper snoring happily and wondered if Gilligan was fishing at the lagoon. She couldn't dwell on it because she had to fix breakfast and hoped he was okay since this was unlike him.


She was setting the table as the others gathered around, greeting one another and making small talk as she went to grab breakfast. When she came back to serve them she noticed his place was empty and her heart skipped a beat in panic. She set the food in the middle of the table and gazed at everyone who eagerly dug into their pancakes.

"Where's Gilligan?"

They looked up at her hearing the fear in her voice. The Professor nodded at the Skipper to answer her.

"He said he was going to take a walk, Mary Ann, he wasn't feeling well this morning."

She couldn't muster a response and instead sat down to eat her breakfast while the others glanced conspiratorially at each other. They knew she'd go looking for him, but would she do it alone? They continued conversations while she played with her food in concern. I guess he didn't want her to get ill, but he could've told her or at least let her take care of him. This wasn't like him at all, something was wrong, and either they didn't know or they were hiding something from her. She could probably coerce something out of her actress friend or maybe the woman who was like a mother to her might spill the beans.


When everyone finished Ginger began clearing the table and Mary Ann helped.

"Let me, Mary Ann."

"Am I not allowed to wash dishes ever again?"

"Just for today and besides I can see you're worried about Gilligan."

"Oh, Ginger, it's unlike him to wander off if he's sick."

"Maybe he's not really ill."

"Then why would he miss breakfast?"

The actress shrugged her shoulders as she took the rest of the plates from the brunette and carried them towards the sink. When the young woman wasn't paying attention she placed the leftover pancakes on a plate and snuck into the Professor's hut. She knocked on the side of the makeshift closet and Gilligan stuck his head out noticing Ginger with a plate of food. He eagerly grabbed it and began shoveling as she giggled at his enthusiasm. She left so he wouldn't be discovered and went over to the sink to begin the menial chore as she noticed Mary Ann enter the Howell's hut.


Mrs. Howell opened the door to the young woman and ushered her in. Mr. Howell had his swagger stick at the ready and his wife glared at him, making him put it down, but not out of reach.

"I do apologize, Mr. Howell."

"I accept, but I want to be ready."

"Thurston!"

He jumped at his wife's voice.

"But, Lovey..."

"No more of it! Do you really believe this sweet child could ever harm you?!"

She had her hands on her hips as he cowered.

"Yes?"

"Oh poo! The poor dear had a traumatic experience, she had every right to be frightened."

"Yes, dear."

The rich woman turned back to the brunette and smiled.

"What can we do for you, dear?"

"Do you know if Gilligan is really ill or not?"

"I'm sorry, dear, I can only trust the captain's word that he's ill."

"Thank you, Mrs. Howell."

"My pleasure, darling."

Mary Ann dejectedly left the Howells and went in search of the Skipper to drag the truth out of him. She checked his hut, but he wasn't there and peered into the Professor's hut. She noticed the intellect was setting up for an experiment and he was glancing at his book then at what he was preparing. She didn't want to disturb him as she went back into her hut and found Ginger brushing her hair.

"Hey, Ginger, will you help me with the laundry?"

"Sorry, Mary Ann, the Professor asked for my assistance with his latest project."

"Please, Ginger."

She could hear the fear and desperation in the young woman's voice.

"Hasn't Gilligan come back?"

"No."

"I'm sorry, Mary Ann, I'd love to help, but I have a prior engagement."

She stood and faced her friend who now had her hands on her hips.

"You're always dodging your share of the work! I bet he didn't ask for your help!"

"That's not true! I'm doing dishes all day, it's only fair you do the laundry!"

"Yes, but I have to prepare and cook the meals, and in between have to do all the sewing! What do you do all day?!"

"I help the Professor when he needs me!"

"Help distract the poor man from his real objective!"

"He happens to enjoy my company!"

She glared at the brunette who was flashing daggers at her and the redhead inwardly grinned. The Professor had warned that Mary Ann might get angry if she couldn't find anyone to help her so that she wouldn't have to face her fear. Right on cue the Professor opened the door and glanced at the women staring each other down.

"What's going on?"

"Mary Ann doesn't believe that you asked for my help."

He chuckled and the brunette smiled smugly at the redhead.

"Please forgive my outburst, but I need Ginger for this experiment. I'm making a moisturizer since you girls are complaining about your skin drying out from the humidity."

The smile was immediately wiped from her face and in its place was a sheepish grin.

"I'm sorry, Ginger."

"It's forgiven."

She left on the Professor's arm while Mary Ann began the task of gathering everyone's laundry still wondering where Gilligan was and if he was okay.


A few moments later, they watched Mary Ann pace from the Professor's hut, fingers fidgeting as every now and again she stared off into the jungle. She didn't want to go in there alone, but what if he was ill or injured or even depressed after being hunted by Kincaid?

"Gilligan!"

The young sailor almost burst out of his hiding spot, but Ginger stopped him in time.

"Gilligan!"

He heard the fear in her voice and he tried to sidestep the redhead, but she moved with him and gently pushed him down on the crate inside the closet.

"Stay put, remember this is to help Mary Ann."

"I know, but she's worried."

"She'll be fine."

He bowed his head as she hid him and the Professor smiled.

"Gilligan!"

Still no response and he observed her debating inwardly on whether she should wait or go into the jungle to look for the young sailor. She picked up the basket and tentatively entered the jungle shuddering a bit from previous memories.

"She did it!"

Ginger jumped up and down while the Professor jotted some notes in a journal.

"Yes, and now the question is how long will she be able to stay out there alone?"

The actress halted her enthusiasm and stared out the window.

"Well, by the size of that load of laundry, a good two hours."

"I'm hoping you're right."