3:15 PM PST
Marty felt a little nervous, as he walked to Larry's Cafe. He was supposed to meet Emmett and his friends there. He really did agree with Sylvia's advice that he just tell Emmett what he overheard. However, he couldn't stop worrying about the space-time continuum. What if preventing his friend from being humiliated somehow ended up drastically altering the future? Still, he couldn't, in good conscience, just let his friend be publically humiliated. He then decided that he was going to warn his friend. Besides, the event did seem rather minor - and, most likely, it wasn't going to have a major impact on the space-time continuum. He then saw Emmett and his friends standing in front of the Cafe.
'Hello, Mike,' Emmett greeted, warmly. 'How are you doing?'
'I'm doing okay, I guess,' Marty said, shrugging.
Marty then followed Emmett and the girls, as they went to find an empty booth.
'So, what shall we have, today?' asked Karen. 'I could go for a BLT, right now.'
'Not me,' protested Leanne. 'I don't eat meat. Right now, I could go for some pancakes with strawberries and whipped cream.'
'Breakfast?' Karen asked, making a face. 'I could go for two BLTs right now, with a side of applesauce and cinnamon. Maybe have a Pepsi to go along with the meal.'
'I'll have some fried chicken,' suggested Marty. 'I'll have some chicken and biscuits. That sounds delicious.'
Then Larry walked over to their table, and asked, 'Are you guys ready to order, now?'
oooooooooo
Just as Marty and his friends were looking at desserts, Howard Needles and his gang walked into the Cafe, and they made their way over to Marty and Emmett's table.
'Hey, Brown!' bellowed Howard. 'I thought I told you never to come in here!'
'Right,' Emmett said, rolling his eyes, 'and since when do you own this Cafe? Did you change your name to Larry? Who are you to order me around like that?'
'Well, it's gonna cost you,' snarled Howard. 'How much money have you got on you?'
'It's none of your business!' snapped Emmett. 'Why don't you go pick on someone your own size?'
'Yeah, Howard,' chimed in Marty, as he stood up to Howard, 'what the bloody hell do you have against Emmett? What did he ever to do you that was so unforgivable?'
Howard then stood up to his full length, which was rather intimidating to Marty, who was so short in height.'What is it to you, punk?' snarled Howard. 'Who the hell are you, anyway? Since when are you friends with Emmett Brown?'
'Since about 3:30 yesterday afternoon,' Marty replied, smirking.
Marty's wisecrack, unfortunately, only served to infuriorate Howard. 'All right, punk!' snarled Howard. 'Now you're gonna get it.'
'Whoa, whoa, Howard,' Marty asked, pointing his finger behind Howard, 'what's that?'
As Howard turned his head, Marty punched him out. Marty then pushed past Howard's gang, as he ran out of the cafe.
Howard then stood back up, and he turned to his gang, and said, 'Go get him!'
Howard and his gang then ran out of the Cafe and began to chase Marty. Marty ran with all of his might, looking desperately for a sign of a skateboard or something. None was to be found, though - and Howard and his gang eventually caught up with Marty. Two of the gang members then restrained Marty.
'Thought you could get away from me, runt, huh?' sneered Howard, chuckling. 'Too bad it didn't work.'
Howard then punched Marty in the stomach, causing Marty to cry out in pain. They then began to beat up Marty, until he was unconscious. Howard and his gang then ran away, laughing.
oooooooooo
'Oh, no!' gasped Emmett, with horror, when he saw that his new friend was unconscious.
'Let's take him over to your house,' suggested Leanne. 'It looks like he's been beaten up pretty badly.'
'It's a real shame that he got on Howard's bad side,' added Karen, shaking his head. 'Howard and his gang can be very ruthless to people they don't like.'
'Don't I know it?' groaned Emmett. 'He shouldn't have drawn attention to himself like that. He should have remained quiet.'
'Well, I guess he felt the need to defend you,' Karen suggested, with a wry smile. 'Anyway, he doesn't live around here - so it's not like he could have known just how ruthless Howard and his gang can be. He was just doing what he felt was right.'
'I guess you're right,' Emmett said, sighing. 'It's just that I feel so responsible.'
'Aw, Emmett, nobody is blaming you,' Leanne said, gently. 'It's just that Michael Lewis really does have a heart of gold. He apparently cares a lot about you, even if he did only know you for a day.'
'I dunno what to say,' Emmett said, as he blinked back tears. 'It's just that nobody has ever cared so deeply for me before - besides the two of you, that is.'
'He is a very precious individual,' Karen said, softly. 'I wish he was staying with us for longer than a week.'
'Well, let's go bring him to our mansion,' Emmett suggested, quietly. 'Mom is a nurse, and she'll take good care of him. I hope he's all right. I don't want him to die.'
'I'm sure he'll be fine,' Karen said, gently. 'He's just been knocked out pretty badly. That's all.'
Emmett and the girls then lifted up Michael Lewis, and they carried him over to Emmett's car. They then gently laid him in the back seat. The girls then sat in the front, while Emmett drove over to his mansion.
oooooooooo
Later on that night, Marty began to stir. He was in a bit of a daze.
'Mom? Mom, is that you?' asked Marty, still half-asleep.
'There, there, now. Just relax,' Sarah Brown told Marty, placing a damp rag on Marty's forehead. 'You've been asleep for almost seven hours now.'
'I had a horrible nightmare,' groaned Marty. 'It was terrible. I dreamed that my best friend was a teenager, and Needles was being mean to him.'
'Well, you're safe and sound, now,' Sarah said, soothingly. 'Here in the good ol' Brown mansion.'
'Brown mansion! Argh!' exclaimed Marty, jerking straight up. Marty was fully awake, now. He sat up in bed, and he saw an older woman next to him. 'Well, you're my... you're my... my... Who are you?'
'My name's Brown,' Sarah told Marty. 'Sarah Brown.'
'Sarah Brown?' gasped Marty, stunned. 'You must be the Doc's mother.'
'Just relax now, honey,' Sarah told Marty, as she tenderly laid her hand on his forehead. 'You've got a big bruise on your head.'
'So, who are you - if I may ask?' asked Charles Brown. 'How did you and my son meet?'
'Well, I was in town, visiting some relatives,' explained Marty, 'and I've heard about your son. So I decided I wanted to get to know him better. It is a real shame he doesn't have that many friends.'
'Ah, I see,' replied Charles. 'I think many of my son's peers feel threatened by him, because he is so intelligent. In fact, I think it's jealousy.'
'Yeah, I think you're right,' Marty said, sighing. 'It's such a shame, really.'
'Well, Mike,' Sarah asked, gently, 'are you hungry? I have some chocolate ice cream, if you want some.'
'That sounds wonderful,' replied Marty. 'Thank you, Mrs. Brown.'