X MARKS THE SPOT

"What's Mr. Howell doing, Gilligan?"

Jonas Grumby, Skipper of the destroyed Minnow, saw one of his passengers, the wealthy Thurston Howell, III rush into the lagoon. He quickly ran over to his first mate, and little buddy, Gilligan.

"He's getting his will back. Guess he's changed his mind," turning away as the wealthy man snatched up the bottle and hugged it victoriously. Gilligan then walked back to camp slowly, his hands stuffed in his pockets, heavy thoughts clouding his mind.

"Gilligan!" Skipper bellowed suddenly, and he jerked to a stop.

"What did I do now?" he shrieked, but the Skipper only laughed.

"Sorry little buddy; you looked lost in your thoughts," the Skipper apologized, patting his friends back.

"I was, Skipper. I'm… I'm…" Gilligan couldn't choke out the words. He just couldn't describe the rush through the trees, out of the lagoon, and nearly drowning in the open ocean. Gilligan shivered at the thought. He didn't how he finally got out, but he did. He jumped out of his rocket prison and watched the missile go far out, hopefully never to be seen again. It had been a long way back, but he managed that as well.

"Gilligan, are you all right? You look really pale," Skipper asked, worried as his friend touched his forehead, shaking his head vigorously to wipe out the memory.

"Yeah, Skipper. I'm just really tired," he said, after a few minutes. To his surprise, Skipper leaned down and lifted him up.

"Lay your head on my shoulder, little buddy. We almost lost you today! You shouldn't even be walking around," the Skipper said, cursing himself for not seeing that his young friend was taken care of better.

"Okay Skipper. You know, I didn't think I'd ever see you again, I'm glad I made it! You're my best…" Gilligan's voice drifted off and was replaced by a small, soft snore as he fell fast asleep.

Skipper kept quiet as he easily carried Gilligan to camp. The girls and the Professor were sitting at the bamboo table and all looked concerned seeing the Skipper carrying Gilligan.

"Skipper, is he all right?" the Professor asked first, and the Skipper nodded. He pulled open the hut door and laid Gilligan in his hammock.

"He's out of it, Professor, I think that wild ride really shook him up, I should have gone after him. I'm such an idiot, I promised him when we got here I'd protect him," Skipper said bitterly, and he threw his hat on the floor. He then sat down and put his chin in his hands.

"Oh, Skipper - don't blame yourself! You obviously taught him well! Gilligan managed to get out and swim back, after all. He's a fighter," Mary Ann said, gently. She picked up the captain's hat and placed it next to him.

"I guess. It doesn't make me feel any better, though. No matter how mad he makes me I would never want…" Skipper said and trailed off, not even wanting to say those awful words.

"We know Skipper, we all would have missed him, but he is safe and sound," Ginger said, but the Skipper refused to be cheered up.

"Thanks girls, I'm going to catch some fish, Gilligan can have the biggest one I find. He deserves that much, at least," the Skipper said, and he walked off.

"I'll help, Skipper," the Professor joined him, understanding how the man felt, and feeling a bit guilty for making Gilligan do such a dangerous task.

"Good idea. I'll make Gilligan his favorite pie – no, I'll make him three! Come on, Ginger," Mary Ann waved them off and all four disappeared.

"Looks like you did it again, Gilligan! I never meant to scare them," Gilligan muttered to himself as he listened to his friends leave. He had been awake since he hit his hammock. Gilligan got up to retrieve his diary, he was still so tired!

"Dear Diary,

I think I almust dyed to day, a misle landed on the iland and I broked a miror, I gess I got mor bad luk. I had to diserm it and I got sweeped to sea. I dunno how but im aliv diary, I think I scarred the others. I reken their gunna throws me a partie.

Gilligan.

Gilligan closed his book and then his eyes. It felt like not a minute later he was being shaken awake

"AHHH! Skipper!" he yelled, and crashed both the Skipper and himself to the floor.

"Gilligan, calm down, it's me, I came to get you for dinner. I think you're going to love it, little buddy," Skipper said calmly. He had decided that no matter what, he wouldn't yell tonight.

Gilligan smiled at his friends as Skipper - at his insistence - carried him to the table. The table was packed with food.

"You take as much as you want, first, Gilligan. We insist," Mary Ann told him.

Gilligan felt as though he hadn't eaten so much, ever.