Chapter 4:

Dane and Jamie had left earlier than they wanted to, thanks to Dane's wonderful comedy song. At first, Mike was a bit leery on letting him play his song, but quickly lightened up when they began to brag about their son, Matthew. The song was just completely out of context to play in front of children, or their parents, but Dane didn't care. Soon, Mike could've really cared less.

Once Mike had gone to bed, soon after Dana had left, Nix snuck back into the spare room to check on the kid, Marty. He was awake, sitting on the bed, headphones in his ears. He smiled when he saw Nix.

"Hi," Nix said.

"Hey," he said, taking the headphones out of his ears.

"Sorry to make you wait so long," Nix said apologetically.

"Oh, no big deal," he said with a smile.

"My dad's asleep, as is most of my brothers," she said, "So we can go now."

"Most brothers?"

"I have three. The eldest is still up. Question, do you skateboard?"

"Yeah," Marty stood from the bed.

"You can use mine then," she opened the door into the dark hallway of the silent house, "Come on."

Marty walked carefully to the door behind Nix. The two snuck downstairs, carefully watching their foot movements to not awake the house as they snuck out. Dane was sitting in the living room, watching TV.

"Dane, we're leaving," she said quietly.

"OK," Dane said, "How's your head, kid?"

"Uh, better," Marty said.

"Good. Nix, I can't pick you up from Doc's tonight, sorry."

She shrugged, "Figured. It's no big deal."

"Be careful, ok?"

"'Kay," she smiled.

Nix drug Marty out of the house and into the garage. She handed him a purple and black splatter painted skateboard. For herself, she grabbed Logan's black and neon green one. She led him to the door out of the garage and into the driveway.

"Ready?" she asked.

"Sure," he shrugged.

Together, they skated off down the street. The ground was wet from the light rain from earlier that day. The streets were dark as were most of the houses. It was way past curfew and if they were caught, Nix would be in trouble yet again. Half of the time, she stayed over at Doc's house until the early morning when she would sneak back in the house. This time, was different.

About twenty minutes of silent skating, they had reached Doc's house, or garage. The lights were on like at any time of the day, or night. They kicked the boards outside the door and walked inside.

"Doc?" Nix called once she and Marty were inside.

"Nicole? Oh splendid! I'm glad you're here!"

"Doc, I uh, brought a friend."

"Nicole! How could you-" Doc stopped when he saw Marty, "Marty? What are you doing here?"

"I entered the wrong date in the DeLorean and ended up here," Marty explained.

"Where is she?"

"Bout three miles outta town. I covered her up with trees and branches. I had to find you first."

"Any damage?"

"Little bit. I think there's a problem with the fuel tank."

"Marty, I told you, compost is the fuel. I altered the tank to run offa that instead of plutonium."

"When did you tell me that?"

"It must've slipped my mind. Well, you ran into the best person to help you out, Marty. Nicole is my newest assistant."

"Nicole? I thought it was Nix?" Marty asked.

"Same thing. I prefer Nix though," she said, shrugging.

"But Nicole is more accurate and your actual name, my dear."

"Ok, Doc… whatever you say," she said rolling her eyes.

"Go check my math again, Nicole."

"I checked it earlier."

"I redid the equation and started over. Dane was right! It was the equipment!"

"See! I told you Dane is a smart guy… when he wants to be," she walked over to the drawing table where the Doc's math was.

"On his terms, Nicole!" he said.

"I know," she laughed.

"Doc, what should I do about the fuel tank?" Marty asked getting back into the conversation.

"Oh, right," Doc went into the lab and scooted passed Nix, "Marty, do you know a Mike Fox?"

"Heard of him, why?"

"Well, that's Nicole's father."

"What amazing guitar player is your dad?" Marty asked Nix.

"Yup," she said over her shoulder, now chewing on a pen cap.

"Is he still in the music industry here?"

"Pft! I wish!" she laughed, "He's a lawyer."

"What? Now that is utter bullshit!" Marty exclaimed, "he has what it takes, just the other day he got 2nd place in a talent show."

"Wait, what?" Nix turned to face Marty.

"I said he came in 2nd place in a talent show."

"Could you take me back?"

"What?" Doc and Marty asked in unison.

"Could you, Marty, take me back to 1985? My dad has to win that contest! Maybe he doesn't have to be a full time lawyer and completely hate his job. He could do the music thing and still be a lawyer. I can talk it into him! You have the machine!"

"I dunno, Doc, would it work?"

Doc pondered it over for a few breaths before answering, "It could, but Nicole, you have to be able to talk him into doing both, not just one."

"I can do that," Nix said.

"It's up to you, Marty."

He shrugged, "I don't see a problem anywhere. Well, only one. Can you pull off being an 80's kid?"

Doc and Nix laughed.

"What?"

"Marty," Doc began, "I told you, she is the best person to have run into. She's as 80's as any twenty first century kid can get."

"Positive?" he asked, uneasy.

"Totally. Favorite movie ever of all time is the Blues Brothers. Released on June 30th, 1980."

"What do you say, Marty?"

"I'm game," he said with a smile.

Wow, Marty thought, maybe this won't be so bad at all. I mean, she is cute. With those hazel eyes and dark brown hair, pale skin isn't all too bad. She was just gorgeous.

"We'll enter the same contest and be the finalists with your dad," Marty said.

"How?"

"Easy, we play."

"But how do you know for sure we'll be finalists?"

"Because, I just know."

She shrugged, "I trust you."

"Then it's settled," Doc said, "Marty, you'll take Nicole back and have her talk her father into being a musician. Splendid!"

"Doc, the car?"

"Oh, right! Just take a can of Millers and Nicole will handle the rest."

"Yes, Sir!" she called over her shoulder, "Oh! And uh, Doc, you're math is yet again fine."

"Splendid! You two get going now," he hurried the two out of the garage and handed Marty half a can of Millers beer.

"See ya, Doc," Marty called before Doc closed the door.

"That went well," Nix said happily, "Shall we get going?"

"It's three miles outside of the town," Marty said.

"That's the only downside," she sighed, picking up her skateboard.

"If you say so," Marty shrugged grabbing the borrowed one from Nix.

"Let's head on out. If we're lucky we'd get there by at least 2:30."

"Well," he sighed, "Let's go."

With that note, the two skated off to the hidden DeLorean.