Chapter 4

January 25th 1986
1:57 p.m.
136 Mayfair Drive (Emmett & Clara's family home), Hill Valley, California

The taxi door opened smoothly as the vehicle's occupants stepped out onto the pavement. First to exit the car had been Clara, as she lifted out the small holdall containing some of Doc's things. He too exited from the back of the vehicle, his face carrying his grief all too clearly. His white feathery hair was untidy, which was unusual of him. His clothes drooped helplessly about his person, as he had no reason to care about his appearance. Clara turned and smiled gently as she watched him make his way to the front door of their house. The cab driver beeped his horn impatiently, wanting his fare. Clara pulled a couple of notes from her pocket and handed them to the driver, thanking him for the assistance he had offered them both. Clara had ordered the taxi, for she had yet to learn to drive, and Emmett certainly wasn't going to be able to drive for a while with his emotions in disarray.

Emmett and Clara had been unable to go back into their home until the police had finished examining the scene, which had been the day before. Clara was going to leave Jules and Verne with a neighbour to be looked after, but then Jennifer had offered to look after them as soon as she had heard that Doc had been rushed to hospital. Clara had been the one who had had to deliver the bad news to Jennifer about Marty; a task that had been just as difficult as it had been when telling Emmett the news. Clara had felt the ache in Jennifer's heart from her expression, as Jennifer had literally collapsed in tears. Clara didn't want to hurt her anymore, but Jennifer had been persistent in helping in any way she could. "Besides," she told Clara, "it might help me to calm down." Clara, however, knew that would be impossible for her.

Doc turned the key in the lock to allow him access to a place of security. Just as he was about to step into the hallway Doc made the fatal mistake of looking to the side towards where his laboratory once stood. Some of the remains of the building still lay where they had fallen - a hefty reminder of the incident that had taken place a few nights ago, and of the price Doc had paid with his friend's life.

Emmett entered the living room to see his sons stood in the centre, their faces showing sympathy and sadness. Jules, the elder of the two boys at age 8, was the first to speak to their father.

"Hi, dad. How're you feeling?" he asked solemnly. His father walked up to him and knelt before them both, placing a hand on each of their shoulders.

"I'm feeling a lot better, thank you." Emmett smiled a half smile, hoping his sons would not see the hurt in his face. Verne, who was two years younger than his brother, knew his dad wasn't telling him the truth.

"We know, dad. We can see you're upset," he told his father. "That's why we want to help you, with whatever we can."

Emmett saw the sincereness in his son's eyes, and knew that he needed his family around him more than ever now. In one swift move he took his sons into a warm embrace, holding them tighter than ever, never wanting to let them go. It had only been over the last few days that Emmett came to realise how important life was, and how easily it could be taken for granted.

Clara entered the doorway of the living room just as Emmett was reaching out to hug his sons. She saw how hard he held onto them, as tears began to stream down his face. She could only imagine how much Emmett wanted it to be Marty he was holding on to, the "unofficial" son he had cared for, loved and protected through the hardest of times. Even though personally Clara had only known Marty for a couple of months she had felt the strong affection they had held for one another.

Emmett sensed her presence and looked up towards her. She smiled softly, turning to leave towards the kitchen to give him some time alone. He smiled back, knowing here was where he was best to be, surrounded by the love and support of his family. Softly, he whispered "Thank you" to whoever may have heard him.

January 27th 1986
9:12 a.m.
Brown family home, Hill Valley

Emmett knew only too well the day as it had arrived that morning. The day he had dreaded so much during the past week had now come so abruptly. Clara was frantically racing after Jules and Verne, trying to get them ready in time for when they were to head out for the church. Emmett stood in front of the tall mirror housed in his and Clara's bedroom, straightening the collar of his shirt under his black suit. He could hear Clara in the room next door – Verne's room – trying to encourage her youngest to put his shoes on properly. Jules was already prepared, but his younger brother had been busy on his computer game to notice the time go by.

Clara, concerned at what time it was now as they were due to be at the church for half past nine, had to keep reminding Verne of the reason why they were going to church, and why he needed to behave especially today for his father's sake.

"Verne, you need to get a move on, or we'll be late!" she tried to urge her son. Verne watched as she straightened his tie and smoothed down his suit jacket. "You know today is going to be hard for all of us, especially for your dad, so we all need to help out as much as we can today. OK?"

"Yes, mom. I'm sorry." Verne replied to his mother, the words full of meaning.

"I know you are sweetheart, I know." Clara replied, holding her son close as she kissed his head. "Now run downstairs and wait with your brother in the living room. Remember, no fighting!"

"Yes, mom." Verne kissed his mother on the cheek, then rushed downstairs to where his brother was. Clara watched him leave before her mind turned to other things.

She exited Verne's bedroom and made her way to hers. She walked in to find her husband standing before the mirror, looking down at his suit and trying to make it look as tidy as possible. Clara's long black skirt swayed from side to side as she walked to the back of her husband. Delicately she placed her hands on his shoulders and began to sweep down the suit.

"You look fine, dear," she told him. "How do you feel?"

"I don't know how I feel," he replied, allowing Clara to straighten the collar on his jacket. "I guess I'm still in shock."

"It's understandable," she answered, resting her hands on his arms in reassurance. "I just want you to know that you're not on your own with this. I'm here to offer you any support that I can."

"I know, and believe me I am very grateful." Emmett turned to look back in the mirror. "I can't believe that this day has ever come. To think that I have outlived Marty is absurd. This isn't how it was supposed to happen. I saw his future with Jennifer and his children. What changed that made time turn out the way it has?" Emmett saddened at this thought. Clara could see his distress.

"Like you always say, the future isn't written. It can be changed by anything, even by the smallest detail. We will never know why this terrible thing happened. But I do know one thing," Clara pointed out.

"And that is…?"

"If Marty were here now, he wouldn't want you to go on for the rest of your life blaming yourself for his death. There was no way you could have known those terrorists were going to come."

"I know that. But if I hadn't been so stupid to even become involved with those terrorists then Marty would not have been killed!" Emmett became more and more exasperated with himself.

"Yes but he died because he placed himself in the line of fire to protect you! To me, that is the bravest thing a person could do. You must never forget that Emmett." Clara saw the emotion build up in him again. She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. "Remember all the good times you had together. Keep those memories close to your heart, Emmett. Then you will never forget." She whispered into his ear. She felt him nod his head in agreement, along with a softly spoken reply:

"I will never forget, Clara. Never."

Clara stepped back to look at her husband. His face told of the exhaustion his body must've felt from grieving over the past few days, and his eyes showed the faintest whisper of heartache. She gently wrapped her arm around his, and smiled the sweetest of smiles. Slowly they walked out of the room and down the stairs towards the living room, hand in hand in support for the ordeal ahead.

Although Clara had been against allowing Emmett to drive, Emmett had been determined to see it through. She had no choice but to agree, and so she and the boys made their way to the blue van Emmett had bought only a month ago. Emmett was the last to leave the house, locking the front door behind him as he did so. Jules and Verne were already in the back and Clara in the front passenger seat waiting for Emmett to lock up.

Doc turned to walk towards the van when he suddenly stopped in his tracks. He could hear a faint rumbling sound, as though something small was running along on wheels along the pavement. Like, a skateboard, perhaps? Doc recognised the sound almost right away, and before he could stop himself his instincts had kicked in.

Marty!

He began to pick up speed as he made his way down the driveway. Looking to where the driveway met the road Doc waited impatiently to see the figure riding the skateboard towards him.

But as soon as he saw the figure his heart sank. A small teenage boy - about 12 or 13 - rolled by on a black skateboard. He looked over to where Doc stood, not noticing the apparent disappointment etched on the scientist's face as he rode by. He smiled at the enjoyment of letting the breeze sweep by him as the skateboard effortlessly glided along the pavement. His blonde hair floated effortlessly in the wind as he travelled on down the road before turning left up the adjacent road and disappearing out of sight.

Doc watched as the young boy rode past, his nerves finally settling and his muscles relaxing. What was I thinking? I must be going out of my mind!

He then smiled faintly to himself. I'm sure gonna miss that kid! he thought faintly, the memories all flooding back. If only I could see him one last time…

But Emmett knew better than that. To risk destroying the entire space-time continuum for his own personal gain would not work at all. He knew if there was some way he could bring Marty back then he would. But with the time machine out of action – damaged due to the fire – Emmett knew it would take time before he could even begin to come up with any part of a plan.

As soon as the thoughts had entered his head they had disappeared again. He opened the driver's door to the van, where a worried Clara sat.

"Emmett? What is it? What did you see?"

Emmett tried to smile at her reassuringly. "Nothing. Nothing important, anyway." He placed the keys in the ignition and turned on the engine. "I thought I saw someone I knew, that's all."

He took in a deep breath to calm his nerves as the engine roared to life, and steadily he directed the van on towards their destination.