AN: First off, Happy 50th anniversary Gilligan's Island! One of the best shows ever created! :) Please, see my other author's note at the end of this chapter because I just want you guys to get to the reading of this long awaited chapter. Enjoy! :)
Disclaimer: Do not own anyone.
After dessert and dishes the Howells retired to their hut as did Mary Ann, but not without complimenting the redhead on such a delicious meal. The trio sat quietly by the fire, the Skipper poking it every so often or tending to it while the Professor was lost in his thoughts, and Ginger placed her head on his shoulder listening for any noises coming from their hut to alert her that her hutmate was having a nightmare. After a few more silent moments the captain cleared his throat and spoke.
"So, Professor, how is this experiment coming along?"
"Quite well, I'm actually surprised."
"I'm surprised she was gone that long."
"It's because of how much she loves Gilligan."
The Skipper stared at her a little shocked.
"Oh, come on, Skipper they have been sweet on each other since they met on the boat. Don't tell me you haven't noticed?"
"I have but..."
"Do you remember finding them at the end of the hunt?"
He flinched and nodded.
"She told me very little except what I'm about to say. There was fifteen minutes left of Kincaid's hellish hunt and they were almost back to camp when Kincaid appeared. She knew when Gilligan kissed her..."
"Wait, what?! Gilligan kissed Mary Ann?!"
"Skipper, please be quiet and let me finish."
The Professor chuckled at the captain's astonishment and listened closely to Ginger's gossip.
"When Gilligan kissed her then she realized he was going to stall for time and end up sacrificing himself. He bantered with Kincaid for a bit before the hunter asked for Gilligan's final words. He looked her in the eyes and professed his love for her..."
"What?!"
The men had simultaneously interrupted Ginger and she harrumphed.
"If I keep getting interrupted I'm not going to finish."
"Please, continue," the Skipper begged.
"He professed his love for her and awaited his fate, but then the alarm went off and they were relieved until Kincaid still had Gilligan targeted. She was frightened, but when Kincaid pulled the trigger she dashed over and knocked Gilligan to the ground saving his life. She was crying so hard she was barely able to profess her love for him and that's when you two, along with one of Gilligan's monkey friends, came in for the rescue."
The Skipper took his hat off and scratched his head a few times.
"I knew they liked each other, but didn't realize how deeply."
"I think being hunted put their relationship into perspective."
"I guess, Professor, but can they be separated for one night?"
"Not sure, Skipper, but this will be hard for the both of them."
"Professor, why can't Gilligan protect Mary Ann while she sleeps?"
"It's not that he can't, Ginger, but more of he shouldn't because Mary Ann needs to work out these nightmares. Maybe every once in a while it would be okay, but she needs to learn to rely on herself and the others not just Gilligan."
"It just seems to me that it helps her if he's there."
"Yes, but the moment he's not she has a nightmare and he comes running not letting her work it out."
"Do you think it wise to leave her crying underneath her bed all night or cowering in a corner?"
"No, but she'd come around."
"We'll see, but I'm going to bed before this part of your experiment goes awry."
She leaned over kissing the Professor's cheek and got up leaving the men to their conversation as she went to her hut. The intellectual blushed and the captain laughed heartily.
"If there was one couple I knew would end up together it was you two."
"Really?"
"There's no denying it because I knew the minute you two locked eyes briefly on the Minnow that one would be asking for the other's numbers, but we got shipwrecked and when she started to run to you for protection, well, it was obvious."
"Really?"
"Oh yeah, and you can't tell me you didn't like kissing her to make Duke jealous or that movie we made to get us rescued."
"Well, I, umm..."
The Skipper laughed at how his observations made the man of science uncomfortable.
"It's okay to love, Professor, and I know that's something new to you, but let Ginger lead she won't steer you wrong."
"Thank you, Skipper."
The older man smiled as they sat in silence for a little bit watching the fire die before heading to their respective huts to sleep.
Later that night, Mary Ann was having one of her nightmares as she screamed for Gilligan, but he did not appear and as she slowly awoke she saw a shadow come closer to her. She cried out for her sweet sailor, but he would not answer her call. In reality he was being held back by the Professor and Skipper while Ginger tried to calm Mary Ann down. The Howells watched the scene from their hut waiting to see if they were needed when Mary Ann's painful cries for her beloved went unheeded.
"Come on, guys, let me go, she needs me!"
"Gilligan, this is to help her get better."
"Well, it's not, Professor!"
"Gilligan!" Mary Ann cried out.
"Please, let me help her!"
"Little buddy, the best thing you can do is let Ginger help her."
"Gilligan!"
The young sailor fought against them, but to no avail, they were stronger.
"She's not doing a very good job!"
"Give Ginger some time to work her magic."
He was about to comment on the Professor's statement, but kept his tongue in check lest he be smacked on the head by his big buddy's hat.
"GILLIGAN!"
He could tell in her voice she was frightened and desperate. Screw this plan, she needed him! He stepped on the Skipper's foot which made him immediately let go of the young man and then he elbowed the intellectual as he ran off to her hut. Before he even made it to her door it swung open and he bumped into someone knocking them to their butt which in turn with the force of the bump made him land on his butt. He glanced at the person he ran into and smiled.
"Are you okay, Mary Ann?"
"I'm alright, wait, Gilligan?!"
She crawled over and hugged him.
"Where have you been? I was worried and..."
"It's okay now, but..."
He glanced around noticing the others staring down at them.
"But what?"
"We need to talk privately in the jungle."
"Okay."
They stood up and he took her hand leading her into the jungle on a path towards the lagoon.
The moon shone brightly upon the water as they sat silent on the sand with the creatures of the night creating a beautiful symphony as she glanced at him in her peripheral vision. He seemed scared, ashamed, and guilty of something as she reached out to squeeze his hand. He sighed and gazed up at the diamond-like stars winking at him.
"I'm sorry, Mary Ann."
"For what?"
"Today."
"Gilligan, you don't need to apologize for being ill."
He exhaled another deep breath and bowed his head, shaking it before setting his gaze on her.
"I wasn't sick, I was hiding."
She bowed her head knowing she had been right about clinging too much.
"No, I'm sorry, Gilligan, for clinging."
"No, Mary Ann, that doesn't have to do with anything, well, maybe a little, but..."
She stared back up at him with a questioning and he gulped.
"I was told to hide from you."
"Why?"
"Please, don't be upset, but it was the Professor's idea because he said you were sick."
She was confused and he had been too at the time when the intellect first explained it to him.
"Sick in the head like some of the Skipper's buddies after the war."
It dawned on her what he meant and she smiled at how they cleverly avoided to help her today.
"So, this was an experiment?"
He nodded profusely hoping she wasn't too mad.
"It was to help you gain your independence back, but I made it fail."
She squeezed his hand reassuringly.
"No, you didn't because I was out in the jungle most of the day by myself and it wasn't too bad."
"But I didn't let you work out your nightmare like the Professor told me to do. You were frightened and all I wanted to do was protect you, I'm sorry."
"Gilligan, don't ever be sorry for trying to protect me even if it's a nightmare, but how about I promise you that I will try to work out these nightmares before I run to you?"
She smiled warmly at him and this time he squeezed her hand in reassurance.
"You don't have to."
"I should so that the others can have a restful sleep."
"Are you sure?"
She nodded in confidence.
"I still think we should've at least talked about our ordeal first before doing this."
"I wasn't ready, but this helped."
"So, you're not mad at me?"
She heard a hint of fear in his voice and smiled lovingly at him as she stood brushing the sand off herself.
"I could never be mad at you."
He stood up grinning, brushing the sand off himself when she pulled him into a hug and a tender reassuring kiss. When they broke apart he searched her eyes and saw only love, secretly relieved that she wasn't angry with him.
"What about the others?"
"I'm a little upset, but I understand."
They headed back to camp holding hands and noticed the others had gone back to bed probably not wanting to incur the farm girl's wrath. They shared another kiss before going to sleep in their respective huts.
AN2: I do apologize for not updating sooner, but I never stopped writing this because in what spare time I got I wrote a little each week. The last 3 months have been unkind to my family, July my cousin lost her half-sister (she died of cirrhosis of the liver due to not caring for her pancreatitis that she had for many years, she had just turned 37, her sister also knew she was dying but told no one). August was very scary for my mother and I because she had been diagnosed with an ulcer in her colon in July, but she was having severe pain in the same spot. She went to the hospital where one doctor fought to get her admitted while the other believed it was only colitis, needless to say she was admitted for a week, and I would love to thank that doctor because he saved her life. They found that 2 feet of her colon was dying and didn't know why (possibly due to throwing a blood clot), but they did surgery to remove it as well as her appendix because it was right there and it was very healthy, if any of you know your anatomy of the colon it was her ascending colon. She's doing great now, but knowing my mother's own mortality scared me, she's 63, and I'm not ready to lose my mom even when she's a pain in my arse sometimes. :) This month I lost my temp job a week ago, it was quite a surprise, but it was due to the company owing money and losing two of its clients, when in doubt the first people to be let go are temps. It was sad because it was a great company and I liked it there, but I at least got 4 months of work in and now have to go hunting again with the help of the temp agency.
Well, more time to write and read for me! Plus, help potty-train my little guy, he's getting there. :) To everyone, I'm sorry if I haven't responded to reviews, but they are appreciated and make me smile. I'm also sorry for not keeping up with the reading, my goodness, such wonderful tales and I'm almost caught up reading and reviewing. Teobi, I am so glad to see you writing more, you are an inspiration and adore your stories as well as Miss Bridget which I promise I will give you those 3 chapters. :) Doll Girl, you know I just adore all the Merman tales, I can't get enough. I have missed everyone and in a way maybe it was a blessing because I've wanted to get back to this story so bad. Hope you enjoyed!
