"I'm sorry Seaman Gilligan. Your foot was crushed. Your balance will be permanently off once it heals. I will put you in for a medical discharge so that you will still have insurance."

Jonas felt his heart sink and turned to the boy. "Gilligan…"

Gilligan let out a breath. "I understand Sir." He looked down at his hands. Disappointment shown in his eyes.

The doctor frowned in sympathy. "I'll leave you two alone."

When he left Jonas put a hand on the boy's shoulder. "I am so sorry Gilligan."

Gilligan looked at him and gave him a sincere smile. "I'm not. I'm glad you're ok."

The captain returned the smile for a moment and gently squeezed his shoulder. "I'm proud of you Little Buddy. Now I have to go talk to the Admiral. Are you going to be ok by yourself?"

Gilligan nodded. "Yes sir."

He gently squeezed his shoulder again before leaving.

When he got to the Admiral's office the elder sailor sent his assistant away so that he could talk to him alone. "How's Gilligan?"

"He's going to be medically discharged. Sir...what he did for me…"

He held up a hand. "I already put in the paperwork for the Navy Cross."

Jonas nodded. "Good. Sir uh...when will he be discharged?"

The Admiral raised an eyebrow. "After he's able to walk. We're going to take care of him. Why?'

Jonas had thought long and hard about this. Gilligan had given up his career and dreams when he saved his life. He'd been in the Navy long enough to retire. "I'm putting in for my retirement."

"I doubt Gilligan thinks you owe him a debt."

"I want to Sir. It's...we both belong to the sea and there is a way for the both of us. I'm going to return to Hawaii."

"The charter business?" the Admiral asked smiling as he got it. "Well you fill out the paperwork. We're going to dock in Hawaii so we can get him to a hospital. I'm going to relieve you of your duties here. If you need someone to put in a good word for you tell me."

"Thanks Sir," Jonas said relieved.

"That young man has really changed you. You seemed to have come alive these past few weeks."

The captain smiled. "He's one of a kind."

He nodded. "Well...keep one thing in mind with the business."

"That's that?"

The Admiral grinned. "Every captain of a ship or a boat needs a first mate."

With that he was dismissed and Jonas thought about that as he returned to the medbay.

Once he got there he stopped at the door hearing Gilligan on the phone.

"Dad I...but…" Gilligan's voice was filled with hurt. "Can't I come home for a little bit? I promise I won't stay long!"

Jonas frowned. Something wasn't right. He peaked in and saw misery in the boy's expression. The kid was close to tears.

"I...I thought you'd be proud of me for a change. I heard I might get a medal."

Whatever Mr Gilligan had said it looked like if a knife had been jammed into his heart as he shakingly hung up and put his head in his hands. He shook and trembled as he bent his right leg and hugged it before bowing his head in his arms.

'He's crying...' Without thinking he ran in and over to his friend. The moment he wrapped his arms around him Gilligan looked at him in surprise. Jonas raised a hand and wiped away the tears. "You are getting a medal. The Navy Cross for courage, bravery, and gallantry above and beyond the call of duty. You are a hero and I am proud to know you."

Gilligan stared at him for several seconds and Jonas watched as unnamed emotions passed in those deep blue eyes. Then he swallowed before throwing his arms around him. Jonas brought his arms up and returned the embrace.

For a moment time stood still and their heartbeats seemed to be in time with each other. Something unseen wrapped around the two men and bonded them together.

It was in that instant that Jonas Grumby knew who his first mate was going to be.

A few weeks later Gilligan was on crutches. He was in his dressed whites and stood straight as Jonas proudly pinned the medal on his chest. Behind him was Mrs Gilligan along with his two siblings.

It didn't get past him that his father wasn't there.

While Gilligan was talking to his siblings he asked Mrs Gilligan about his father.

She sighed. "He's...in a bar right now getting drunk. He didn't use to be this way but he came back changed from the war."

Jonas frowned. He had started drinking but he hadn't had a family to support.

She sighed. "Trent's not a bad man but he didn't want another baby. William's always trying to make him proud and earn his love." She looked at her son. "It wasn't hard for him to be convinced to join the Navy. He needed to leave for his own safety."

Jonas' jaw clenched. "He abused him?"

She nodded. "Trent's a heavy drinker. He never hurt me, Patrick, or Emily. Just William." She looked into the sailor's eyes. "Trent didn't work. I had to work two jobs to keep us afloat. I tried to throw him out and call the police but he was war buddies with half the force. He made William out to be a problem child and unfortunately his clumsiness only backed up the accusations." She gave a half smile. "Thank God for Jason Mulligan...or Skinny Mulligan...who somehow figured out what was going on. When Trent was in a rage that's where I'd send William. They're still best friends."

As she spoke his hands clenched. The more she talked the angrier he became, "He's safe now. I'm building a life here in Hawaii and I want him in it. I'll look after him."

She smiled warmly. "I see you've fallen for his charms."

"Hard not to."

"Tell me about it. He may not have been the best student but the teachers adored him. The Mulligans wanted to adopt him."

He nodded as he let out a breath and calmed himself down. He turned to the boy and smiled as he talked and laughed with his siblings. Gilligan looked over and met his eyes. The sweet smile he got from the boy was all he needed for reassurance that he was doing the right thing.

First thing was first though. That night he returned to his quarters on the ship and poured out every drop of alcohol he had down the toilet. He watched as it was flushed out of his life forever.

Trent Gilligan made a huge mistake choosing the alcohol over his own son. Jonas Grumby chose his Little Buddy.

He looked up at the mirror above the sink and studied his own features. The hardness in his eyes were gone and replaced by a twinkle that he had once had before the war. His features were much softer now and for the first time in a long time he smiled at his reflection.

That boy did so much more than save his life. He saved his soul. He retaught him how to love. Showed him that there was still good in the world. He tore down Jonas Grumby's walls and mended his mind and heart.

He grinned as he went back to his room and pulled out a white sailor hat that he had bought at the base exchange. It was just the finishing touch. He already had a boat, a spot at the marina, and an apartment with two bedrooms. After the ceremony he had told Gilligan to come look for him when he was healed enough to walk.

After several months Jonas smiled as he received a phonecall from the boy. He was nineteen years old now and would be down at the marina the next day. He had thanked him for the new replacements for his books that he had gotten for his birthday.

The next day Jonas smiled at the boy as he walked down the docks admiring the boats as he walked past. "Gilligan Little Buddy!"

Gilligan smiled when he saw him and went over. "Hi Captain Grumby! Wow is this your boat?"

"Heh sure is...come on board and have a look around."

Jonas grinned as the boy walked around in awe. When he wasn't looking he reached into a drawer and pulled out the hat. When Gilligan turned around and saw it he stopped curious. "What's that?"

"Heh...it's for someone that I hope will be my first mate."

Gilligan swallowed. "First mate?"

Jonas nodded as he went over and put the hat on his head. "I can't think of anyone better suited. You saved my life Little Buddy and did more for me then you'll ever know. You're the only one I completely trust."

"But...but my balance is worse than ever...what if…"

Jonas put a hand on his shoulder. "We can work around it. Being a skipper's first mate is an important job and finding the right person is often hard to come by. I don't want anyone else. I want my Little Buddy."

Gilligan beamed at him before throwing his arms around his shoulders! "Oh Skipper yes! Thank you!"

Jonas chuckled as he returned it. "You're welcome Little Buddy. Now...what's say we sail alone today and start work tomorrow."

Gilligan nodded excitedly as Jonas took the wheel and steered out of the marina into the open sea. When they were far enough away he dropped the anchor and they shared a lunch.

A grin spread across Skipper's face when they heard a sound in the water. Gilligan whirled around and just as the captain knew would happen, saw a pod of dolphins swimming nearby! He had been preparing this little surprise. He had found this feeding ground and would feed them. They knew his boat meant friends.

The boy's eyes were wide as he leaned over the side and reached out to them. Skipper wasn't the least bit surprised when they swam up to be petted. He grinned as he sneaked over and pushed him into the water knowing that he'd be safe. He laughed when his sputtering first mate scowled at him.

The scowl quickly vanished as he was able to swim and play with the dolphins and Skipper swore the boy grew a tail and became a merman!

The older sailor smiled as he watched Gilligan laugh and play in the environment he was born to be in. He swore that he would protect, take care of, and love his Little Buddy until the end of his days. He looked up at the sky and silently thanked God for this gift he'd been given.

That night at their apartment Trent Gilligan called his son but Jonas picked up the phone. When the caller identified himself he made sure Gilligan was in his room.

"Mr Gilligan I'm Captain Jonas Grumby. What do you want?"

"To speak to my son. My wife gave me this phone number."

"He's not available to you anymore," Jonas growled.

"He's my son."

"Oh so NOW he's your son?! You threw him away! You used and abused him!"

"I did no such thing! He's lying!"

"Why weren't you at his award ceremony then?!" he demanded. "You were in a bar!"

Mr Gilligan growled. "Put my son on the phone NOW!"

"He's not your son anymore!" Jonas said clenching his hands. "He's mine! Your loss is my gain! He's my son now and you know what I'm going to do? I'm going to teach him how to sail! I'm going to teach him what YOU should have taught him! I'm going to protect him! I'm going to take care of him! Don't you EVER speak to him again am I understood? YOU are not welcome around him! He's not yours anymore! He's MINE!" With that he slammed the phone down!

"Skipper?"

He turned around and saw the boy standing in the doorway eyes wide in shock.

He studied Gilligan for a moment. "Get some sleep Little Buddy. We have a big day tomorrow."

"Aye Aye Sir…" Gilligan said in awe as Skipper went into his own room.

Gilligan sank on his bed as the captain's words echoed in his mind. He picked up the Robinson Crusoe book and opened to the inside cover.

"Little Buddy,

One day you'll find your island.

Skipper"

He ran his fingers over the words before shutting the book and hugging it to his chest. His eyes watered as he recalled the captain's words.

Jonas sat on his own bed as his mind replayed the day and his own words about his first mate. He smiled. He had meant it.

As they lay down both of them thought the same thought: that for the first time in their lives they got what they always wanted.

They worked together for three years before that day in September 1964 when the day started out normal...but ended with the weather getting rough...the tiny ship tossed...and they landed on an uncharted deserted island with their five passengers!

Well...Gilligan found his island alright!

A/N: Reviews make me happy! So what'd you all think?