May 14, 1986 was the date on the Estate Sale sign. Most of the place had been cleaned out except for a few things.

Marty barged in, "Dad? Annie? Are we too late to stop the…" That's when he saw a lot of people about, getting purchasing a few things. He added sadly, "Sale…?"

Annie saw her boyfriend/cousin and walked over to him. She commented, "Late as usual. I've been trying to tell your dad not to sell any of Doc's things…"

George went over to them, "Yes but you would not believe how much rare stuff is back here."

Marty pointed out, "That's Doc's stuff! The city has no right to…"

George placed a hand on both of their shoulders, "Now look, I know you two are upset, but your friend has been gone for months, and the city really seems hellbent on using his land for that new parking garage and…" That's when he noticed something, "Hey is that a first edition Jules Verne?"

George had walked off, leaving Marty and Annie alone.

Marty groaned, "It's just not fair… At least things can't get any worse."

Annie warned, "Oh, it's already there."

That's when Biff came over to the cousins.

Biff was wearing Doc's helmet from 1955 as he greeted, "Hey Marty! Glad to see that you are finally here."

Marty deadpanned, "Hey Biff."

Biff was drinking a beer and asked, "Came to see if that crackpot had any buried treasure?"

Marty went over to the boxed up clocks and Einstein's empty food bowl. He admitted, "No. I'm just here…remembering." He turned to Annie and whispered, "How long has he been here?"

Annie whispered, "Long enough to drive me crazy. Did you see the old model of downtown Hill Valley?"

Marty perked up as he walked over there with Annie, "Man I still can't believe Doc made this in 1955."

Annie added, "And quipped that it wasn't to scale."

Marty saw something in the back of the courthouse, "Hey, is that Doc's notebook?"

Before either he or Annie could grab it, Biff came over to them. He commented, "Hey, that looks just like the courthouse! Ya gotta hand it to the old coot… He was good with his hands…"

Annie asked, "Uh Biff, can we have a look at that?"

Biff ignored her, "This would look great in my fish tank! Give the ol' carp somethin' new to nibble on."

Marty tried, "Let us see it Biff, after all, our parents go way back with you."

Biff shook his head, "Nah, I think I'll keep it."

Marty tried to grab the model courthouse but Biff took it away. That's when the roof opened, revealing the notebook.

Annie whispered, "Oh shit."

Biff smirked, taking the notebook, "Well, well, lookee what we have here… Looks like plans for something. What the hell is a flux catheter?"

Marty and Annie were both furious.

Marty huffed, "It's none of your business! Doc asked us to…"

Biff pointed out, "Brown is worm food. But this looks like it might be worth something! Hah!"

With that, Biff walked away from them.

Annie told Marty, "We need to get that book back. Any ideas?"

Marty admitted, "No, you?"

Annie joked, "If I did, I wouldn't have asked you."

Marty groaned, "I better go ask my dad then."

Annie stated, "I think Uncle George found your guitar anyhow."

Marty kissed her cheek as he went over to his dad. That's when he saw his guitar in a box, with a price tag on it.

He asked, "Hey dad, why does my guitar have a price tag on it?"

George answered, "Sorry son. Must've been an overzealous clerk. Just pick it up, I'll iron things out later."

Marty asked, "Hey dad, who is running this sale anyhow?"

George explained, "Oh, that would be me, son."

"You? Why?" The youngest McFly asked.

George told his son, "Well, once it became apparent that the bank was going through with the sale, I volunteered to oversee it in order to make sure that Doc's stuff would be treated with a modicum of respect." George turned to Biff and asked, "Isn't that right, Biff?"

Biff confirmed, "You got it, Mr. McFly!"

Annie whispered, coming over to Marty, "He knows respect?"

Marty held back a chuckle. He then turned to his dad, "Annie and I are trying to tell you. This sale is a joke! Doc's only been gone a few months and we happen to know…"

George interrupted, "Yes you've told us. Doc's not dead. He's on a trip. Let's say you two are right. Have you considered this 'trip' may not have been entirely voluntary? I hate to say it, but Doc's run up some pretty sizable debts around town. Maybe he's just hiding from his creditors."

Annie tried this time, "You've Doc all wrong, Uncle George. Sure, he's not very good with money… But that's because his mind is on bigger things. He's still a straight up guy. He'd never run away from his problems."

George noted, "You two do know him better than I do. But the bank is within its right to sell off his stuff. Maybe you two should find some things to remember him by, before Biff grabs them all."

Marty made a sad face, "About that…"

George was upset, "If he stole something from you…"

Annie told him, "Actually Uncle George, it's one of Doc's notebooks. He found it first but…"

George frowned, "Oh. Well then, I'm not sure what to tell you. I guess you'll have to appeal to his better angels or something."

That's when Marty remembered something and smirked, "Or something."

When they got outside, to their surprise, the De Lorean was there.

Marty stammered, "B - but it can't be…"

Annie added, "It's the De Lorean…"

Marty for the door. Steam came out of the back exhaust, startling them a bit.

The youngest McFly asked, "Maybe Doc rebuilt the De Lorean?"

The Baines girl offered, "Well open the door and find out!"

Marty opened the door with his foot, discovering Einstein in the seat. The dog barked at them.

"Einstein?" They both asked.

Einstein came out of the De Lorean.

Annie asked, "What are you doing here?"

Marty asked, "Yeah and didn't you bring Doc with you?"

Marty climbed in and saw that everything was off.

Annie asked, "Anything?"

That's when Marty eyed the tape recorder. He grabbed it up and showed Annie. Annie raised a brow. Marty hit play on it.

"Marty! Annie!"

Marty dropped the tape recorder out of sheer surprise.

"Doc?!" Both of them gasped.

Doc stated, "Marty! Annie! If you are hearing this recording, then the De Lorean's automatic retrieval feature is a resounding success!"

Marty was curious, "Automatic retrieval?"

Doc explained, "In case of my failure to return to the De Lorean within an allotted time, I've programmed the time machine to jump to these fourth-dimensional coordinates without me. As you both are well aware, time travel is an inherently risky activity, and despite my elaborate precautions there's always the possibility that I could land in trouble sometime. And that time is now! Or then. Or maybe later."

Annie frowned, "Sounds like he's in trouble again."

Doc added, "Marty. Annie. You both have come to my rescue in the past - or was it the future? Anyways, I'm relying on you two to do it again. Please take the De Lorean back or forward whenever I am stuck in time. Whenever you both get here, I'm sure you will figure out what to do."

Marty groaned, "That's it? Aren't you gonna tell me when that is?"

Doc replied, "Just go to the date specified on the time-circuit read out, under the heading 'Last Time Departed'. Good luck!"

Annie turned the switch as she asked, "Is there anything there?"

Marty saw that one in particular was going in and out. He hit it a few times before he answered, "No…"

Annie sighed, "Now what?"

Marty was about to say something but then noticed a shoe in the De Lorean. He picked it up and showed it to Annie.

He admitted, "Okay, I know it has been awhile since we've seen him but we know this isn't his shoe."

Annie offered, "We can give that to our furry friend and see if he can find the owner."

Marty nodded in agreement as he got out of the De Lorean. He gave the shoe to Einstein. Einstein got a good smell of it and then ran off. Both of the cousins followed behind him.

…

Wishmaker1028: And off we go! Please read and review! And always think outside of the box!