Chapter 5

Tuesday, October 18th, 1982

Hill Valley

2: 20 P. M.

Marty skateboarded up to Doc's door. Life was good for him. He had a steady job, a new girlfriend, and a friend who could take over for George McFly anytime. Smiling at the thought of a date later with Jennifer, he knocked on the door. "Yo, Doc? I'm here."

Doc opened the door. Instantly Marty knew something was wrong. Doc's face was hard toward him for some reason. But his eyes were sad, lacking their usual spark. "Doc? Something wrong?"

Doc forced himself to be gruff. "Nothing's wrong. And if I want an opinion from an employee, I'll ask for it."

"Jesus, you woke up on the wrong side of the bed today," Marty noted. "What happen, your-"

Doc cut him off in that same hard voice. "What did I just say?" Not waiting for an answer, he pointed to the yard. "There's a lawn out there that needs mowing. Get going."

Marty, completely baffled, nodded and headed for the backyard. "What's with Doc today? He's not acting like himself at all. And why are his eyes so sad? Just yesterday he was really happy. What happened?"

He found the lawnmower and some lemonade in the yard. Doc was in the garage again, testing something on his secret project. Marty started pushing, then stopped, wondering if he should ask Doc what was wrong again. "Doc?"

Doc didn't turn around from his test. "What, McFly?"

"What did I do?" Marty suddenly blurted, thinking some careless remark or action by him could have sparked this coldness.

Doc blinked, thrown by the question. He hadn't considered the possibility Marty would think himself at fault. He had been trying to suggest a Jekyll/Hyde transformation to the teen. "Why do you think you did something? Besides, I'm not paying you to talk."

Marty shut up and kept pushing. "Why is this happening?? He's usually such a great guy. . . . Or at least, he was until yesterday, when I told him about Jennifer and me becoming a couple. . . .

"Hey, Jennifer! Maybe that's it! It - no, it can't be. Why would Doc be jealous of her? A), he was really happy for me before, and B), he's a guy! I'm really gonna have to introduce - them. . . . Oh."

Marty abruptly realized what Doc was trying to do. He shook his head, a slight smile on his lips. "Just like my parents, wanting the best for me. . . . But what a weird way to do it! Whatever, that's why I like him. He's more interesting than other adults." He stopped mowing again. "Hey, Doc."

"I'm not paying you to talk," Doc repeated.

"Drop the act. Jennifer will love you."

Doc spun around, surprised. "How-?"

"You're pretty predictable. You act like my Dad so much, and you're eccentric - why wouldn't you do this?" Marty's smile faded. "Why the hell would you want to give me up just 'cause I met someone?"

Doc sighed. "I'm the local nutcase. I didn't think that Jennifer would want to date someone who was friends with me. It's happened before."

"Doc, we're pals. Hell, like family. I like being your friend. I gotta tell you, that's kinda weird when the friend's an adult, but you're great." Marty's eyes met Doc's. "Heck, I think I'd call you my best friend."

"Not a lot of people think I'm great," Doc shrugged, feeling a little depressed. "And from what you've told me a few days ago, my reputation's starting to rub off on you."

"Screw the other people. I've got things to do and people to be with. And you and Jennifer top the list." Marty frowned a little. "Damn it, Doc, you're not my dad. You don't have to do this sort of thing."

It came out before Doc could stop it. "But the way thing's are going, you're going to end up with my childhood!"

Marty blinked. "Your childhood?" he repeated, eyes widening. "Jesus Christ, Doc, how long has this shit been going on for?"

Doc shrugged, looking away. "My peers never saw me as an equal. I was smarter and richer than all of them. As a result, I was classified as the 'outcast', the 'weirdo'. My classmates all despised me. Before adolescence, I was an easy target for bullies. When I started dating, most girls wouldn't even look at me. And those that did were only interested in my money, like I said before." His eyes flicked towards Marty. "I suppose I'm unfairly projecting myself on you. I don't want you to break up with a girl you really love just because we're friends."

This was the first Marty had heard of Doc's childhood, and, frankly, it made him sad. He went over to the scientist and gave him a pat on the back. "Doc, I'd say we're best buddies. We might just need each other, no matter how stupid it sounds. No matter what happens, I'm not gonna stop being your pal. I'll have Jennifer meet you tomorrow. I'll bet she thinks you're great."

"And what if she doesn't? What's your contingency plan?"

"I'll just keep you and her in separate parts of my life. Either way we're still pals."

Doc snorted, not really believing that. "Marty. . . ."

Marty went back to the lawnmower. "I'm not gonna fight you about it, Doc. Stop being so stubborn. Everything will work out."

Doc turned away without answering, going back to his work. He could only hope that Marty was right about Jennifer. "Please. . . . I don't want to lose my best friend."

Unbeknownst to him, Marty was thinking the exact same thing.

Wednesday, October 19th, 1982

Hill Valley

2: 13 P. M.

Jennifer met Marty on the steps of Hill Valley High as school ended. "Hey, Marty," she said, kissing him in greeting. She frowned when she saw his nervous expression. "You look a little blue. What's the matter?"

Marty maneuvered her down the steps and sat her on an empty bike bar. "You gotta meet somebody today, Jen," he told her. "Somebody close to me."

"Your mom?" Jennifer guessed, sighing. She had already heard the stories about Lorraine. "Marty, she'll get-"

"Not my mom. Doc Brown."

Jennifer stopped dead, eyes wide. "Dr. Brown?" she repeated. "The Dr. Brown?"

"Yeah. And before you say anything Jen, just let me talk, okay?" Jennifer nodded, puzzled. "None of those stupid rumors about Doc are true. Doc's not crazy or evil or anything like that. He's just a normal guy who knows a lot about science. He hired me for a job and helps me with my homework. We get along great; we're friends. And I don't want to dump him as a pal. He doesn't have many friends, Jenny. If you don't like him, fine. You never have to see him again. But I don't want to stop being his friend." Marty took a breath. "Well, Jennifer?"

Jennifer looked at him, then slowly smiled. "I have to admire that kind of loyalty. C'mon, let's meet the Doctor. He sounds interesting, to say the least."

Marty smiled in relief. "Jennifer, you're the best. Let's go." They hopped on their skateboards and headed for his house.

Doc was in the yard, attempting to catch Einstein for his bath, as had been for the last hour. "Einstein! Come here! Bad dog!" He tried to tackle his wayward mutt, but got a mouthful of grass instead. Einstein eluded him again and dashed into the house, barking wildly.

Marty came inside just as Einstein flew in. The dog managed to knock Marty to the ground. Jennifer, still in the doorway, couldn't help but giggle. "He's certainly glad to see you."

Doc stumbled in, covered in dirt and grass. "Damn it, that dog sometimes. . . . Aha! There you are!" Einstein tried to run out the door, but Doc managed to grab the squirming mass of fur. "Bath time," he told the whimpering mutt firmly. "Marty, are - you. . . ."

Doc's voice died when he saw Jennifer by the door, her hand over her mouth. He blushed a little, extremely embarrassed. "What a way to make a first impression. . . ." He cleared his throat. "Jennifer, I presume?" he asked politely.

A snickering Jennifer nodded. "I'm sorry for laughing, Dr. Brown, but just the way all of it happened. . . ." She dissolved into helpless giggles. Marty started chuckling too, and eventually even Doc had to laugh. Finally, as they all wound down, Jennifer asked, "Is it like this every day over here?"

"Only on bath days," Doc said, holding Einy tightly. "I've never understood it. He loves to play in water. But add soap and he bolts." He glanced down at himself. "To tell the truth, whenever he needs a bath, I always end up needing one too."

"Want any help with him, Doc?" Marty offered, getting up. "I don't have any homework, the gym teacher was sick and we got a study hall."

"Same here," Jennifer said. "I'd love to help out."

"If you'd like," Doc said, looking at Jennifer nervously. "You'd better let Einstein get a sniff of you first, Miss Parker."

"Jennifer's okay, Dr. Brown." She let Einy sniff her hand. Einstein whiffed her, and promptly sneezed. "Oh! Must be my perfume."

"I'll get you a paper towel," Marty volunteered, heading for the sink. Doc, his blush and embarrassment deepening, apologized profusely. "I'm very sorry, Jennifer, he's usually not a sneezer. . . ."

Jennifer waved off his apologies with a smile. "It's okay. He's a nice dog. I'm sure it was just my perfume." She accepted the paper towel from Marty and wiped off her hand. "Whatcha say to us helping?"

"If you'd like to help, come outside. The tub's set up out there, and you're bound to get dirty." He carried Einstein outside, the teens eagerly following. "Surround the tub. He'll try to jump out."

The teens got into position. Doc got the wriggling dog into the water. Einstein tried to get out, but found himself blocked on all sides. Whimpering, he slumped down in the water, splashing everyone. Doc picked up the soap and a scrubber and started to scrub him down. Marty and Jennifer helped out any way they could, from helping Doc scrub to fetching towels. Einstein did all he could to get them throughly soaked. In between it all, Jennifer actually got to know the scientist, and he got to know her in turn.

Finally, they were done. Einstein jumped out of the soapy water, shook off, let the humans rub him down, and headed straight for the yard. Doc sighed and shook his head. "Hopeless. Simply hopeless."

Jennifer smiled and used her towel to make an almost futile attempt at drying. "I don't think I've ever enjoyed an afternoon more," she admitted. Doc relaxed, relieved. "You're a really great guy, Dr. Brown. I mean, you've got so much energy." She looked at him curiously as they emptied out the tub onto the lawn. "This is probably really rude, but how old are you?"

"It's all right with me. I'm 60, soon to be 61."

"60? Doc, you don't seem a day over 50, at most," Marty playfully protested. More seriously, he added, "Soon to be 61, huh? When's your birthday?"

Doc hesitated a moment, then figured, "What the heck." "The 22nd."

"The 22nd? This 22nd, Doc?! Holy shit, your birthday's only 3 days away! How come you never told me?"

"Are you planning to do anything special?" Jennifer asked, sitting on the overturned tub.

"No, and that's the reason I kept quiet about it, Marty. It's just another day like any other. The only difference is that you complete the 1-year aging cycle. Nothing to get excited about. So I treat it like any other day."

Jennifer frowned. "But it's a birthday. Don't you do anything?"

"Besides my normal routine, perhaps treating myself to some cake or something, no. It isn't important, Jennifer. Not like a national holiday or something."

Jennifer was about to protest the point further, but Marty abruptly said, "Well, I guess that's all there is to it. It's your life." He secretly winked and grinned at Jennifer. The girl nodded and followed Marty's lead in changing the subject.

Marty had a plan.