Day 29 - Exposure
A/N: Marty is too busy mourning to care about the wind. A short, alternate version of the graveyard scene from Part II.
This is all my fault…
He stumbled through the labyrinth of tombstones,
His trembling fingertips traced along the damp engraving on the stone.
George William McFly.
Thunder clapped ominously as he finished processing the name in front of him. "O-Oh my God…"
He's dead!
He's dead and it's my fault-
"Marty?"
"D-Doc!" Marty jumped to his feet in shock, turning into the wind to face his approaching friend. The bitterness of the breeze slammed powerfully into the fresh tears on his face, and he found his body trembling uncontrollably. "I-It's m-my d-dad! H-He's dead!"
"Yes I know!" Doc found himself having to shout over the howl of the wind. "I've just been reading through some newspapers!"
"H-How could t-this h-have h-happened?!" Marty stammered, throwing his shaking form into Doc's arms. His chest heaved as he fought to stop his sobbing, which was being exacerbated by his audibly-clattering teeth.
It suddenly occurred to the older man that Marty only had his signature vest to protect him from the elements. He glanced down at the shivering teenager in his arms and began rubbing Marty's back furiously. "Marty, how long have you been sitting out here?"
To his horror, Marty's teeth were chattering so hard that he couldn't answer. His arms were firmly tucked around Doc's waist, but even they were shaking. Doc quickly shook his arms free of his coat, seamlessly wrapping it around Marty in one fluid motion. "I think it's time we made our way indoors."
The fact that Marty wasn't protesting against being led away from his father's grave was another warning sign. He could barely hear Marty's stammering over the screeching wind, but caught occasional words of shame and despair among the howling.
Although he would never admit it aloud, a tiny part of him was ashamed of Marty's actions. I told him! I gave very clear instructions not to buy anything other than a damn Pepsi, and this is what happened! He created this future!
The logical part of his brain quickly stamped out that thought. He would never intentionally create a future this hellish. Especially killing his own father. He tried to do the right thing and get rid of it; if it weren't for Biff's stupid, greedy fingers-
Emmett, how about you stop pondering the ethical questions and make sure this kid doesn't freeze to death?
The scientist was startled from his thoughts by a loud sneeze from Marty, the younger man looking deathly pale in the faint moonlight.
He instinctively tucked the boy tighter under his arm and hurried his pace. "Hang on, Marty. You're not becoming a snowman on my watch."