THE HUNTER
Hey all I bet this is the one you all been waiting for. Well here it is, I just hope none of you are disappointed. This was another challenge for me. I guess it's because I don't get the writers. Which is probably why the tags are so short, sometimes, and like this one, very long. It takes sometimes little, because the episode was good, and a lot because I didn't like the original tag. So many of GI episodes are about death and suicide, yet they're all jokes. The only thing I love is that when the topic comes up, the seven band together strongly and keep each other's hopes up.
But anyway, yeah, this episode was tough. I didn't appreciate Alan's humor in this at all. He jokes as though Gilligan almost dying is amusing. Poor Gilligan. I'm going to just guess no one talked about that awful night in the month between Kinkaid leaving and them hearing the report on the radio, which is why this is starting from tag and Gilligan finally talks about it and the six help him to move past it. I hope this note explains this. The reason I'm doing these tags is first, because I was dared, but now I just want to do justice to every episode and I like my endings better - LOL. Okay, ending long note.
STILL OWN NOTHING. ALL CREDIT TO SHERWOOD SCHWARTZ THANKS FOR THE GREAT SHOW.
Oh, one other thing, this tag is dedicated to Callensensei, because I think her story of The Hunter really inspired me. I was so moved by it and I have to recommend you read hers because she is awesome. I hope she doesn't mind, but I took a few ideas of hers for my story. Try and find them, Hon!
Gilligan tried to smile as the men laughed. He couldn't, so he tried to force a laugh and it came out nervous and very much forced.
"What's wrong, little buddy? This is great news! When we get off the island you'll never have to see Kinkaid again," the Skipper said, looking at him.
Gilligan winced reluctantly at the name. He then nodded and this time forced a smile.
"Yeah… Skipper… he's gone," he stuttered. But then Gilligan was gone. He fell off his chair and put his knees to his chest repeating the words over and over as though in a trance.
The three glanced at each other before hurrying to him. The Professor was the only one to squat. He grabbed at Gilligan's chin, with his hand, forcing the other man to look at him. But all it did was focus the unfocused Gilligan onto him. The jerk didn't seem to snap the gaze as Gilligan continued to repeat the four words.
"He's completely out of it… Gilligan, can you hear me?" the Professor asked, but only got the four words... "Yeah… Skipper… he's gone," over and over. The scientist quickly got out the pocket watch he had used to hypnotize the castaways. He concentrated, and Gilligan slowly shifted back to reality.
"Whoa… How did I get on the floor?" he asked still slightly dazed.
"You fell there after the report finished about that blasted Kinka…" Mr. Howell began, and the Professor put his hand over the millionaire's mouth. It was a bit too late, however as Gilligan froze again, this time in a standing position.
"Gilligan…" the Professor said, softly motioning the men to keep their voices down so as not to frighten him. To his relief Gilligan shook his head not falling into a trance again. To their shock, though, he fell in the sand and shook slightly, breathing heavy, like he was holding back tears he needed to shed so badly. As the Professor went to comfort him, Gilligan jumped up with his usual smile.
"Why are you all staring at me like that? Did I do something again?" he asked, confused at their astonished looks.
"No little buddy… You just slipped off your chair, that's all," Skipper replied, said and Gilligan shrugged.
"Oh, that's all… You all worry too much. I fall all the time."
"Yeah… Why don't you go collect fruit, or something, if you're all right," the Skipper suggested, and the first mate nodded.
"Okay. I feel fine, Skipper," he said and hurried away.
The Skipper gave the Professor a nervous look.
"Professor what just happened?" he asked.
The Professor look clouded. "He's blocking his memories as he has been the past month. That news must have shaken him. It appears that if he hears "Kinkaid," he fall into a trance, but not realize it," the Professor answered.
"Well, then, we'll just never mention it, and everything will be fine," the Skipper answered, relieved. He started to leave the hut but the Professor grabbed his arm.
"No, Skipper. I think we have to make Gilligan talk about this."
"You must be joking, Professor, you saw that poor boy…" Mr. Howell objected, but the Professor shook his head and folded his arms.
"I'm afraid I am very serious, Mr. Howell," he interjected: only to get a scoff.
"That's funny, coming from the man who keeps telling us to forget what happens on this treacherous place!"
The Professor sighed.
"And I was wrong," he admitted, and the other two raised their brows at the confession, which amused Roy Hinkley.
"Just because I have six degrees doesn't make me less a human! I have made plenty mistakes in my life, gentlemen."
"You have a point, but I don't see why the change now. Gilligan hasn't spoken of that night in the past month," the Skipper interjected.
"I know, and that makes it worse; because he's bottled it up… When he was kneeling, he was shaking like he was trying to not cry," the Professor explained, and Skipper gasped.
"And all we been doing is trying to make jokes out of this to lighten the tension," the Skipper said, "getting it" and he smacked the table with his hat in anger.
"Now you understand why I'm concerned for our young friend. All this time I thought it'd be best for all to try and forget the bad stuff, but I don't think Gilligan ever has!" the Professor agreed, hitting the table with his hand in frustration as well.
"So shall we throw a party for the boy then? We're getting quite good at that…" Mr. Howell asked, but the Professor shook his head.
"No… For now we'll just tell the women about Gilligan's trance… We need to get him to break before we can help," the Professor replied, and the two nodded and left to each locate one of the female castaways.
Mr. Howell went to his hut, while Skipper went to the girl's quarters, where he found only Ginger inside.
Professor jogged to where Mary Ann was hanging the wash and individually, the three men explained the situation.
XXX
They all met up at the table ten minutes later.
"So now what do we do, Professor? I really don't like the idea of upsetting Gilligan even more… He's been through so much already," Mary Ann asked.
"I know but…" the Professor began, but stopped as the missing castaway appeared, holding a bunch of bananas. He put them on the table and then noticed the six worried faces.
"Is something wrong? Are we in trouble again?" he asked, getting worried, and the Professor stood and led Gilligan to the empty place beside him.
"No Gilligan, we're safe," he said, and Gilligan sighed in relief. But the looks were still there and he became puzzled.
"You all look scared though… Should I be?" he asked, and the Professor shook his head again.
"We're just concerned about you."
"Because I fell off my chair? Professor, I've fallen out of plenty of trees, and a missile… I'm okay, really."
The Professor had been severely taken aback Gilligan's earlier his freak out. Now he realized why. He also saw why Gilligan never seemed to be scared, or show any feelings. He wanted to impress his friends… and cowards don't impress people.
"No, Gilligan, it's because you went into a trance a bit ago because of… JONATHAN KINKAID," the Professor answered slowly, remaining quite calm.
Gilligan winced at the name. "Why… Why would… Why would that name bother me? He's gone now…" he stuttered, and the Professor saw that he was breaking.
"But the memory isn't, is it?" he asked.
Gilligan saw that as a sign he was in trouble.
"Of course it is, Sir… Like you tell us; it's best forgotten, so I forgot him, like all the other scary things," he protested, really not wanting to be yelled at for this.
"Oh, Gilligan, you don't have to act so brave! It's okay… It's only us - your friends," Mary Ann said, the others voicing their agreement.
"I'm not acting… I'm really okay," Gilligan said again, but by now, everyone could see he was lying.
"Gilligan…" Ginger spoke, going to him.
He jumped up before she or anyone else could touch him.
"No… Please… Don't make me… I can't relive it!" he stuttered and took off running as fast as he could, feeling the sand slide as his shoes smacked every grain. He ran all the way to the lagoon and then grabbed rocks and threw them at the water angrily.
The castaways all followed him - some faster than others, but they all managed to find the now emotionally breaking man. Gilligan turned as his name was called by the Jonas Grumby. The Skipper went toward him, motioning for everyone else to move slowly. Gilligan only stared, warily, but then the Skipper shocked him by putting his hands on his shoulders.
"Its okay, Gilligan, you are safe now… Son," he said, emphasizing the last word.
It appeared that small three letter word did the trick, because Gilligan finally allowed his tears to fall. The Skipper pulled him to his chest and Gilligan wrapped his arms around the man's strong shoulders and cried. For the first time in the month since Kinkaid came to their island he let it all out. Like a child with a nightmare, he cried on his best friend's shoulder. Jonas sank to the sand, not breaking the grip. Everyone watched for a moment, but then added their own hands and rubbed the boy's back and arms. Gilligan could feel all six of his friends love and he did feel safe. He held in to the Skipper for a few more minutes though, until his tears stopped. Then he closed his eyes and fell asleep, his head resting on his strong friend's shoulder. The Skipper noticed the sudden release and moved his First Mate slightly and he fell into his arms like a limp rag doll - too exhausted to awaken. He easily lifted him, and cradled his body like a father with as child and led the group back to their camp. Disappearing into their hut, he laid Gilligan in his hammock and covered Gilligan with a blanket.
The Skipper came back outside again to where his other fellow castaways were not sitting at their communal table. He had a small book with him.
"Gilligan hasn't written since right before Kinkaid," he said, opening the diary to the last entry. No one was surprised at Gilligan's diary writing, but they were surprised when Skipper sat and began to write in it, making his own entry for that horrible date.
"What are you doing Skipper?" Ginger asked as she went over and leaned on him to see.
"I'm going to help my little buddy write that out… Its least I can do," he answered. Everyone smiled at that, and let him write - each wandering off quietly so not to wake Gilligan who slept peacefully still. Skipper finished and passed the book. The entry was short, like a paragraph, but unique.
Dear Diary,
Today a new visitor arrived. Too bad he wasn't friendly, as he tried to kill me. I survived though because I'm smart, strong and fast. But I know by morning if my big buddy hadn't come I'd have died. I sure am lucky I have someone like Skipper. And I think he sure is lucky to have me, Diary.
Gilligan
Skipper chuckled at his last line. "I really am, Gilligan," he murmured, and went back inside the hut. He put the diary back in what Gilligan had called its "home," and left again.
XXX
Gilligan slept until dinner. He got up, washed his face, and got out his diary, but stuck it in his back pocket.
"Hi Gilligan… Are you feeling better?" Mary Ann asked, and Gilligan nodded.
"Yeah… I'm super hungry, though," he said and she laughed.
He ate in silence, but when his plate was clean he picked up his glass and stood. "I just want to make a toast to all of you for not making fun of me, for crying," he said.
"We never would do that, Gilligan… I'm glad you let it out, now maybe you can heal," the Professor said, and Gilligan shook his hand.
"Yeah… Thanks, Professor… everyone. I guess now I don't have to be afraid of anyone, because you all will protect me," he said, and they all nodded.
"Of course… You may get on our nerves, but we all love you," Ginger supplied, and everyone toasted to that.
As dinner was cleared off, everyone hugged Gilligan, or least the women did, but the men's handshakes were filled with love. Gilligan smiled a genuine smile for the first time since Kinkaid and opened his diary to finally write. He noticed the entry and read it, chuckling after. "Aww, Skipper…" he murmured. He decided not to add another, and so, wrote the day's date.
Dear Diary,
I gess from Skippers enttree which he ded writ last munth a hunter tryd to keel me. I was so scareed but I new for my frends I had to mak it. I had to sav them and myself. Tuday I herd the man - his nam was Kinkaid - went crazeee. He got taken away and I lust it I gess. Prafesseer wuntid me to cry so I did on Skipper but he unly held me. Evry une tho was guud at careng fer me im glad I got them.
Gilligan