Disclaimer: Marty, Doc and Clara are not mine, but the bank robbers are (unfortunate, I know) : P Here's chapter 6!

As a side note, these chapters are up on my website if you want to check my profile. I'm putting up the rest of Part 2, since Part 3 is not far away. Go me!

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Part 2: ii) 48 Hours Previous

Saturday, 26th July 1986
10:06 a.m.
Brown residence

Three loud claps later and the train appeared above Doc's family home, only 48 hours earlier. With careful co-ordination Doc lowered the machine onto the lawn at the back of the estate, where it could remain out of view of unwanted attention. Since the incident with Biff, Doc took far more precaution as to where he left the time machine. The alternate 1985 he had seen had taken care of that problem.

The two friends exited the train and watched as the steps retracted back, revealing the side of the train once more.

"Right! Let's get on with it then!" Doc called eagerly. Marty followed apprehensively.

"Wait Doc! What about the time machine? D'you think it's safe leaving it out in the open like this?" Marty stopped in his tracks to wait for the answer.

"Don't worry, it's perfectly safe. Nobody can see it there from the street, and besides it's securely locked." Doc increased his pace somewhat to the front of the house. Without turning he added, "I'm not planning on creating another alternate hell again, don't you worry."

The pair made their way towards the front driveway – the empty driveway, Doc noticed as it all suddenly came flooding back as to why it was empty.

"Great Scott!" Doc exclaimed without warning, almost causing Marty to crash into the back of him. Instead the teen avoided the collision and negotiated his way to Doc's side, concerned something had already gone wrong with their plan.

"What is it Doc?"

"The van! I can't believe I'd forgotten the van isn't here!" He slapped his forehead with the palm of his hand in disbelief. "I've taken it to the conference, in Los Angeles. Now we'll never reach Clara in time."

Marty almost felt like laughing; time travelling never seemed to go according to plan, and this trip was no exception. He placed his hands in his jean pockets, feeling his truck keys with one hand, realising there was another alternative.

"Hey Doc! I've got the keys to my truck still – we can take that instead!"

Doc turned to look at his young friend, the panic fading away at this new suggestion. "Are you sure? I mean, are you positive you didn't use your truck at all today?"

"Certain. I don't go out at all today - no reason to."

"Great!" Doc called with mild relief, eagerly heading out of the driveway onto the street, Marty only a few steps behind. Hurriedly they headed across to the main road, heading over to 9303 Lion Estates Drive.

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Saturday, 26th July 1986
10:31 a.m.

Almost half an hour later, and at last the duo arrived at their destination; granted, a little exhausted from their unexpected exercise drill. As soon as the house came into view Marty began to slow his running down to a mere jog; Doc had no choice but to follow suit, his age creating an unwanted barrier to running any further.

After taking a minute to rest Doc rose once again to the challenge. Removing the keys from his pocket, Marty made his way to the garage by the side of the house, allowing sunlight to reflect from the shiny black metallic surface of the Toyota four-by-four as the door opened. Doc was the first to rush in and head towards their means of transport. Marty unlocked the truck, granting Doc access as they both seated themselves upon the upholstery.

"OK then Doc, where to?" Marty asked as the engine kicked over steadily.

"She should be in town by now. Make your way over to the clock tower. If we're lucky we'll meet her before she gets to the Assembly of Christ Church."

Marty frowned, recalling the name from somewhere before. "Assembly of Christ Church…isn't that where I crashed when I arrived back from 1955 - the first time?"

"That's the one," Doc replied, as gradually the truck exited the driveway onto the main street.

He only hoped they could find Clara in time.

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Saturday, 26th July 1986
10:52 a.m.

It had seemed like hours since they had left Marty's home to look for Clara. Only ten minutes of searching had passed, yet Doc was beginning to feel they had arrived too late. Nervously he began to tap a steady rhythm on the dashboard with his fingers – no particular rhythm, but one that seemingly reflected the gradual passing of time, edging closer and closer to the fateful time Doc was here to prevent.

Marty had the added task of driving whilst looking on his side for any sign of Clara; one he felt he wasn't near to perfecting any time soon. The silence within the truck was almost unbearable for Marty, not knowing what to do or say in such a situation. He didn't know exactly what the plan was that Doc had in mind, or if there even was a plan set out at all.

Finally, after ten minutes of silent restlessness and impatience Doc opened the door and exited. Startled out of his thoughts, Marty brought the truck to a sudden halt by the curb.

"What is it Doc? Have you found her?"

Doc heard his name called out behind him. The exit had been a little hasty perhaps. "I thought I'd see if I could find her on foot, maybe have a better vantage point. Wait here while I go and have a look." Doc explained, leaving his young friend behind to wait patiently for his return.

"Sure thing." Marty sighed heavily and slumped partly back into his seat, feeling a little useless for not doing anything but wait for Doc to return. He looked through the crowd as far as he could see, recognising one or two faces as friends he knew or had met in the past. He had lost sight of Doc almost as soon as the scientist had left, camouflaged by the many bodies marching past him.

He squinted to expand the distance he could see. Needles and his "mate" from school casually walked past, not noticing Marty in the least. He hadn't seen very much of his arch-nemesis at school since they had almost had the accident with the Rolls Royce – maybe Needles was too apprehensive to try and stand up to the youngest McFly again and risk hurting his pride.

Without thinking Marty started to tap out his own rhythm on the steering wheel; the rhythm of one of Van Halen's many songs he had on tape, almost threadbare with the amount of times it had blasted out on his stereo. Mentally the song was playing back in Marty's head – the place where many of his other favourites were stored.

Needles and his friend had long disappeared into the crowd, not that Marty held any interest as to his whereabouts. Looking at the display on his watch Marty gave out another drawn-out sigh.

10:56 a.m.

Come on, Doc, Marty minded, impatiently. He watched the passenger wing mirror for any sign of them, soon to see Doc come into view in its reflection, one arm around Clara as he led her towards the truck. The teen quickly shifted in his seat, ready to drive on as soon as they were ready.

Clara was the first to acknowledge him. "Marty?" she enquired, not understanding why he should be here.

"Hi Clara," Marty replied, waving his hand almost in a salute fashion. Clara stepped back from the window to turn to Doc. Although somewhat quieter than before, Marty could just make out their conversation, though not without leaning towards the passenger window against his seatbelt.

He heard Clara's anxious tone ask what was wrong, followed by an uneasy attempt by Doc to try and concoct a reasonable excuse. When this failed to come, Marty felt he needed to step in.

"Doc called me an' asked if I could give you guys a lift. The van's broken down or somethin'," was the best Marty could do. Clara again turned to Doc, only this time more believability to her voice. She eventually agreed, opening the door and stepping into the vehicle, Doc close behind.

Just as soon as the door was closed the truck moved off, taking the trio to their next destination.