Disclaimer: I do not own Gilligan's Island or the characters from the show.
Please Read and Review
Part Three
The Professor woke up the next morning feeling thoroughly tired and considerably irritable, which was not, he decided, a good way to start the day. Sleep had been elusive and the few hours he had managed were marred by strange dreams and haunting premonitions. Without a second thought, he decided to skip breakfast and headed down to work on the engine by himself.
A curious sense of concentration and dire motivation filled him as he worked, and in two hours he had fixed it.
It was nearing ten when the Professor arrived back in the clearing and announced his success. The usual elation and excitement followed, all of which the Professor noted with a dull sense of hostility to nobody and nothing in particular. Soon after the announcement, Tony, Gilligan, and the Skipper went to prepare the ship for ailing while everyone else dispersed to begin packing. Ginger and the Professor were left alone in the clearing, staring at each other in a peculiar sort of way, an awkward feeling between them for reasons the Professor couldn't detect.
"Where were you at breakfast?"
"I wasn't hungry."
They stared at each other some more.
"Are you mad at me?"
"No, should I be?"
"Well, you seem… troubled."
"So do you."
"Maybe I am."
"Should we talk about it?"
"It wouldn't help much."
"Why not?"
"Because I wouldn't know what to tell you."
"That seems rather bleak."
"I'm sorry. Let's just stop talking."
"Okay."
The Professor sat down on a bench and stared quietly at Ginger until she smiled back and sat next to him.
She intertwined her fingers in his and said, "I knew you'd fix the boat."
This declaration of confidence seemed to perk him up for he smiled back. "Thanks."
"…Finally, I can go home," Ginger whispered, mostly to herself.
The Professor glanced up at the sky. "I wouldn't be so certain. It's going to rain."
Sure enough, as soon as Gilligan came back to let them know the boat was fully prepared to sail, the sky opened up and rain fell down, heavy and cold.
The rain continued steadily for another day, thus delaying their departure again. The next morning, however, the rain had stopped and it was decided that they would pack up and leave after lunch.
A shiver ran down her back as Ginger worked on gathering her clothes and folding them neatly in a suitcase that seemed considerably smaller than she'd remembered. Although the rain had passed, the sky was gloomy and oppressive. To top it off, there was a dank chill in the air that bit away at any happy feelings she might have had.
She had been fighting an internal battle for the past few days and a dull fatigue seemed to be infiltrating her sanity. Tony? Roy? Tony? Roy? Tony? Roy? A constant drone that went through her mind till all she heard was Troy. Finally, she'd given up and decided that something was bound to happen and it was little use fighting it when it did.
Still, she was mildly surprised when somebody grabbed her arms and spun her around so that she was facing-.
"Tony!"
"Hello darling," he laughed, his grin more pronounced than usual. "Have you made your choice?"
"What?" Ginger asked in confusion, a tinge of worry fazing her.
"Me or him?"
"Him." The answer came naturally and readily, much to her surprise and relief.
"That's a shame; I was hoping you'd prove cooperative."
"Cooperative? Tony, let me go, you're hurting me."
Tony just laughed wildly, his eyes glinted maniacally. He wrapped his arms around her tighter and started unzipping the back of her dress slowly.
"What do you think you're doing you creep?!" she shouted, fear pulsing through her veins.
"I thought it would be quite obvious," he laughed. That laugh; somehow it sounded so horrid now.
"I know you like me, but this is ridiculous!" Ginger replied hotly, struggling in his powerful grip.
This time he truly roared with glee. "Oh, Ginger, I don't like you, not at all. You, of all people, should know better than to confuse lust for love. The attraction is purely physical. In fact, I hate you; I despise every inch of you! In fact," he cackled, his hands wrapping around her neck, "I'd strangle the life out of your pretty little head if it wouldn't be so obvious that I'd done it."
Ginger could hear her heart pounding desperately in her chest. Why was she standing here so stupidly doing nothing when this maniac was trying to kill her?!
"I've hated you since the day you ruined my career. And over what, some stupid little scandal that would have amounted to nothing. And now I'm nothing! Can you imagine what that might be like? To have your life's dreams squashed in a day, and to know the person who was responsible so well. Wouldn't you want to make them pay?"
"But then why all this time have you leaded me to believe there was something still between us?" Ginger managed as Tony's grip tightened dangerously. "This whole situation is insanely illogical!"
"But it was so much fun! Like a cat that plays with its food until ultimately devouring it. I couldn't just outright punish you. It had to be a slower, mental, drawn-out torture to be fully effective."
"You're terrible! A lowlife, no good, ba-"
"Ginger, Ginger, please. Cut the flattery and start cooperating," he interrupted, beginning to slide the strap of her dress down her shoulder.
Panic controlled her and she kicked Tony in the shin with all her might until his grip loosened enough for her to break free. She was almost to the door when Tony caught her arm. "I'll scream this island down if you touch me," she threatened.
"No you won't. If you scream, they'll come to your aid, but you'll have to face all the ugly truth. You'll have to freely face the facts of your own stupidity in believing my act. Or even the idea that you fell for me again. You won't scream; either way you're a coward."
With her free hand she slapped him across the face glaring at him in cold furry.
Tony chuckled darkly. For the first time, though, he seemed truly livid instead of just raving mad. "Ginger, you stupid whore," he muttered. Almost casually he slugged her face.
As her head moved backwards with the motion of the hit, everything seemed to move in slow motion. All the bad memories of Tony similar to this flew back and engulfed her. Self-ridicule and inconsolable hurt washed over her like stinging tears. But what she saw clearest scared her the most. Yet enormous relief filled her.
MaryAnn was standing in the doorway, her mouth open in horror, her face as pale as a ghost.
"MaryAnn," Ginger whispered weakly.
Tony let out a stream of curses and stormed out of the hut.
"Ginger," she said, rushing over to her friend. "Oh my gosh, are you okay?"
Ginger was shaking visibly but was determined not to cry. To cry would give Tony the victory. "I'm okay," she said, avoiding MaryAnn's worried gaze. Of all emotions, embarrassment filled her. She picked up a mirror and looked at her face. The side where he had struck was flaming red but didn't seem to be swelling, much to her relief. The other side of her face was a sickly pale that made her stomach feel uneasy.
MaryAnn assessed the situation by describing Tony with some creative phrases that would have shocked Ginger, coming from her, any other day. "Here," MaryAnn said in a much softer tone, handing Ginger a cloth she had dampened.
"Thanks," she replied as she sat down on her bed with the cloth pressed to her face. "I feel so… I don't know. Tony was, right, I am just a stupid whore," she tried to laugh about it, but somehow it wasn't funny.
"How can you ever say that?! When that cad hit you! How could you even try to defend his actions?" MaryAnn asked heatedly, sitting across from Ginger.
"Oh, MaryAnn. I wish it weren't true, but I deserved that," she mumbled. After MaryAnn had fervently attested to the contrary, Ginger went on to tell her of everything that had happened.
"And, the Professor knows nothing of this?" MaryAnn asked, not judgmentally, but out of sincere question.
"Not at all, and it needs to stay that way. Please, MaryAnn, he can't know about any of what I told you. Don't even mention what you saw," Ginger begged. "I know we don't always see eye-to-eye with things like this, but there's no point in telling him. Whether we like it or not, he and I both know our relationship is going end soon do to circumstance and there's no reason his memories of it should be ruined."
MaryAnn sighed and then smiled sadly and Ginger knew her secrets were safe. "You know, back in Kansas, I would have scoffed at news of something like this."
"Yeah, I know. Funny how being in a situation yourself changes your perspective."
MaryAnn stared at her roommate in concern. What a strange way to end their time on the island.
Ginger caught her gaze and assured her, "I'm fine, honestly," even though she was still shaking and tears threatening her vision.
"Okay, well, I needed to get a few things from the Supply Hut."
Ginger watched her walk to the door and said, "Hey MaryAnn. Thanks for putting up with me all this time."
Soon after MaryAnn had left, the Professor came in the door. "There you are," he said, sitting down next to her. "I had the occasion to run into Tony who said a few things to me, concerning you, that sparked my concern."
"Oh, really, what did he say?" Ginger was loosing the battle not to cry. She didn't have to be brave anymore. But if she cried, he would know everything.
"Something that does not do well to be repeated. What happened?" he asked hesitantly.
Ginger looked into his eyes and then burst into tears. The Professor put his arms around her and hugged her caringly, smothering her head into his shoulder.
He petted her head silently while the sound of her muffled tears filled the room. There was a mutual realization that they wouldn't speak of anything that happened. The Professor could guess enough and Ginger had paid her dues. Besides, if they didn't' talk about it, it might not have happened.
Holding each other, there was a strange peace in their minds. Not even the knowledge that it was all going to be over so very soon; that they must go their separate ways, could take away from the present. As soon as they let go, everything would be over, yet somehow it didn't come as a surprise, like they'd always known it would come to this. That their love would stay a memory to be kept on the island.
"I'm not going
to get over you."
"I would hope not."
"I'm serious."
"I hope you find someone else."
"I won't be looking too hard."
"I'll never forget you."
"I might just love you forever, you know."
"I love you too."
There was no final kiss, no big proclamation that told them it was over, nothing. But when their arms fell to their sides out of the embrace, they knew it was over.
The ship set sail regardless of somewhat unfavorable conditions. The water was choppy and the wind against them, but everyone was itching to get off the island for one reason or the other.
Melancholy infected everyone aboard the ship except for Tony whose mind was working furiously in a dangerous fever.
After being driven slightly off track by rough seas, the journey was taking longer than expected or desired. Twilight fell upon the boat and the cold gusts drove the passengers into the cabin, except for Ginger, who stood out on the bow staring out into the endless expanse of sea.
It happened so quickly then. She heard someone come up behind her laughing quietly. She turned around in time to see Tony's crazed expression before he stepped towards her and pushed her over the side of the boat.
The Professor had been in the middle of staring at the wall opposite him with the others chattering around him mindlessly. And then, a scream that made his heart rate quicken anxiously. A distant splash was all the Professor needed before he knew what had happened. He bolted through the doorway out onto the boat where he saw Tony laughing maliciously. The Professor kicked off his shoes and jumped off the boat without glancing at Tony.
The water choked him at first and the salt stung his eyes but he was oblivious to everything but the need to find Ginger. He swam around in the dark waters for what seemed like forever calling her name until he saw her head bobbing up and down as she thrashed to stay above the surface. Quick, practiced strokes brought him to her just preventing her from sinking below the surface.
He put an arm around her waist and advised, "Hold onto me!"
"I won't let go."
He kicked them back to the boat slowly loosing energy. Relief washed over him when he reached the hull. The Professor grabbed the rope the Skipper had thrown down and smiled at her.
"Oh, Professor… Are you always going to be around to pick me up when I fall?" Ginger mused
He could only smile back.
They felt the rope jerk upwards and were almost out of the water when suddenly a tempest of a wave poured over them. When the water cleared, she was gone and presumably underwater for he could see her nowhere. Taking a huge gulp of air, he plunged underwater. His eyes stung as he strained them to see in the dark murk of the sea. He felt around but found nothing so plunged deeper, his heart filling with dread. His mind was growing dizzy as he continued to search. Panic filled his strokes; he was running out of time. After commanding his mind to focus he felt his finger tip brush briefly against something.
Quickly he had Ginger's arm thrown over his shoulder and he surged upwards, his mind spinning, needing air desperately. The Professor drank in the air earnestly and looked over at Ginger to find her unresponsive. The Skipper had thrown down the line to him and he grabbed on.
"Ginger, Ginger, wake up!" he screamed over the waves.
He searched madly for a pulse as they were pulled up. He couldn't find one.
On the deck he laid her body down and tried everything he could to pump air back into her lungs. Nothing would or could help him now.
"No! No! Ginger, no!" he shouted as the truth hit him. He lunged at Tony who was dumbly quiet now, and it wasn't until the Skipper pulled him off the fiend that the tears engulfed his senses.
"That's not going to bring her back to life," the Skipper said gently.
Wracked with grief, the Professor fell on his knees next to Ginger.
He pulled at his hair as he cried over a faint trace of a sad smile that was left on her lips. She looked angelic with her hair strewn about her face haphazardly her body completely still.
He put his hands in hers to find them cold and lifeless.
The Professor couldn't think of anything sensible to do or say. All he knew was that he wanted to go back; he wished they hadn't set out to civilization. To be back on the island would be everything. If he was back on the island, they would still be together and all worries behind them.
Rain fell onto his back as tears fell from his eyes onto her face.