Back To The Future, Part III ½

By Flaming Trails

A Back To The Future Story

Disclaimer: I don't own BTTF. If I did, Clara wouldn't have DARED slap Doc.

Note: Just addressing the age-old Backie Question: "What if Doc and Marty had told Clara about the time machine before they left?"

Chapter 1

Sunday, September 6th, 1885

Hill Valley, California

10:13 P. M.

"Maybe we should just take Clara with us. To the future."

Doc frowned and shook his head. "As you reminded me, Marty, I'm a scientist, so I must be scientific about this. I cautioned you about disrupting the space-time continuum for your own benefit. Therefore, I must do no less.

Marty stared at his long-time friend. Why the hell was he being so stubborn?! "Doc, this isn't some damn Sports Almanac! This is somebody human. Somebody you love. I've seen the way you guys look at each other."

"I know, I know. Don't remind me. But I can't do this. There's too much risk."

"Too much risk?!"

"Yes, too much risk. You can't just transplant a person from one time to another. Don't you remember how confused you were when you traveled to the 50s? Imagine how it would be for Clara, going a full century into the future! And there's no telling how she would affect our time."

"But, Doc, she could adapt. I adapted, right? It's not like she'll be alone. We can help her, like you helped me back in 55."

"But what about the risks to the future?"

"Doc." Marty looked Doc straight in the eyes. "If it was me, if she was Jennifer -- would you tell me to leave her behind?"

Doc had no answer to that. He turned away from Marty's gaze, looking into the fire. Could I? Could I tell him to leave behind forever the woman he loves?

Encouraged by the hesitation, Marty pressed on. "None of us belong here, Doc. Not you, not me -- not her. I don't know as much about it as you do, but I'd bet that, if we take her with us, we've got a heck of a better chance of getting back to the home we know. Back to 1985 as it should be. And as for the future -- you just told me it wasn't set. She might mess it up -- or she might make it even better. Take the chance, Doc."

Doc just kept staring into the fire. Saddened, Marty turned away. Doc would never do it. After all they had gone through, with Jennifer getting lost in the future, and Biff completely screwing up 1985, he'd never do it. Not even --

"Hey."

Marty looked back. To his amazement, Doc was smiling at him. "I always chide you for not thinking fourth-dimensionally," he said softly. "Come on. Let's tell her."

"All right!" Marty grinned. His best friend wasn't so inflexible after all. They jumped on their horses and rode off.

Sunday, September 6th

10:31 P. M.

It was awfully late for the local schoolteacher to still be up, but Clara Clayton didn't care. She had things to do -- things she had neglected in the haze of love. It was surprising what you forgot when the man of your dreams showed up.

She was doing a bit of last-minute lesson planning when she heard the knock. Puzzled, she pushed her long hair back and went to the door, wondering who on earth could be calling at this hour. Standing on her porch was Emmett Brown and his friend Clint Eastwood. They both looked pretty nervous about something. "Emmett!" Clara said happily. "What an unexpected pleasure. And Clint, how nice to see you too. Won't you both come in?"

"Thank you for the offer, but we'd better not. Not yet," Emmett told her, fidgeting with his hat. "In fact, we need you to come with us. We need to show you something."

"Show me something? At this time of night?"

"It's really important," Clint said. "And really, really hard to explain."

Clara hesitated a moment, studying them. Then she grabbed her coat and came outside. "Can't you tell me anything?" she asked stubbornly. "If it's this important, to take a woman out in the middle of the night. . . ."

"We're leaving, Clara."

"Leaving?"

"Leaving Hill Valley."

Clara felt like she had been struck. Leaving Hill Valley? Emmett couldn't leave Hill Valley! Not now! "What do you mean, leaving Hill Valley?" she said, feeling the beginnings of tears in her eyes.

"We have to. We don't belong here. But I don't want to leave you behind." Emmett took her hands tenderly. "We want you to come with us. But before we can take you, you have to understand where we're going and why."

"I would go anywhere with you, Emmett." God, she wanted to kiss him. Her dear, sweet scientist blacksmith. She leaned in closer, getting lost in his liquid brown eyes. "I love you."

"I love you too." He leaned down and gave her the gentlest of kisses. "I almost didn't leave because of you. It's why we want you to come."

Clara smiled teasingly at Clint. "Why, Mr. Eastwood, you love me too?"

Clint chuckled a little and smiled back. "I certainly like you. I've never seen Doc so happy. Heck, I didn't know my best friend could dance before you two met."

"Best friend?"

Clint blinked. "Yeah. Doc's my pal."

Clara began to blush. "I was certain you were related. I thought you might be at least his nephew."

"That's an easy enough mistake to make, I suppose," Emmett laughed. "Clint's -- no, Marty's -- real father often sarcastically remarks I'm the one who deserves the title."

"Marty? Your name isn't Clint Eastwood?" Clara frowned. Now why would he lie about his name? Unless. . . . "You're not wanted anywhere, are you?"

"I hope not! My real name's Marty McFly. I'm Seamus and Maggie McFly's great great grandson."

Clara looked from Marty to Emmett, getting rather annoyed. What nonsense is this? "Is this some sort of joke?" she demanded.

Both Emmett and Marty shook their head empathetically. "No joke. We wouldn't joke about this. Please, Clara, come with us. We can explain once you see."

The utter sincerity in their eyes convinced her that she should go with them. "If this is a joke, I'm going to be very upset," she warned them, following Emmett as he climbed onto his horse.

Emmett extended his hand and helped her on. "Trust us," he said, giving her hand a squeeze.

"I'm trying, Emmett. I'm trying."

Sunday, September 6th

11:00 P. M.

The firelight reflecting off its metal body gave the DeLorean an almost demonic glow. Which was kind of appropriate, Doc reflected as they galloped closer. Ever since the time machine had entered their lives, it seemed to have caused nothing but trouble.

You're being foolish, he chided himself. That's a machine. You can't blame a machine for human mistakes. And it's not like nothing good has happened from using that. Marty's parents are much improved, and he has a happier family life. And I -- I've got a girlfriend!

He looked back at Clara as they stopped beside their camp. She was staring at the DeLorean with wide eyes, mouth hanging open. "My God," she murmured as they dismounted. "What is that?"

"A DeLorean. It's a car. It's also, in this case, a time machine."

Clara's gaze snapped to him. "A what?"

Doc led her to the car and opened it up. "A time machine," he repeated, letting her had a good look at the insides. "One that I invented a century from now. Clara -- this is going to sound completely impossible, but I'm from the year 1985. Both myself and Marty. And tomorrow we intend to return to that time."

Clara looked from him to the DeLorean, then back at him. Very cautiously, she touched the time circuit displays. She knew he was telling the truth. Not only from seeing this incredible wagon. She could see it in his eyes as well. "1985," she whispered.

"Pretty heavy, huh?" Marty said, coming up behind them.

Clara blinked. "Well, it looks heavy enough. Far heavier than the wagons I've seen."

Marty burst out laughing. "Oh, man, I'm sorry, but -- you guys are perfect for each other!"

Clara looked at Doc, now absolutely baffled. "1985 slang," he explained, frowning at Marty. "Like 'dude' in this time. My 1955 self didn't understand either."

"1955 self." Clara shook her head. "Emmett, I don't know what to think anymore! You've just told me you're time travelers, and--"

"Why don't I start by showing you how the machine works, then we'll tell you about our adventures with it."

"That's gonna take up most of the night, Doc," Marty pointed out, not unreasonably.

"I'll try to keep it short. I'd rather she come with us knowing than not knowing." Doc hopped inside the car and began explaining to Clara how the different components worked.

Monday, September 7th, 1885

Hill Valley, California

5:49 A. M.

It was nearing dawn by the time they finished their narratives. Clara shook her head in wonder. "What's happened to you is simply incredible. I wouldn't have believed it, had I not see the time machine. I'm sure you're both eager to get back to your own time and forget all this."

"I doubt I'll ever forget it," Marty sighed.

"Me neither. In two days, we've both lived about a lifetime." Doc looked at Clara, trying to hide his nervousness. "Are you still willing to go with us? Skip over 100 years of time?"

Clara nodded bravely. "I've really got nothing keeping me here except my job. And from what you've told me, there's supposed to be another teacher here anyway, so. . . . My mother and father, back in New Jersey, told me not to come back without a proper husband. I don't think you'd qualify in their eyes, no matter how wonderful you are."

She abruptly realized what she had implied. Doc stared at her, face aglow. "You mean that? You'd be willing to marry me?"

"Willing?! Emmett, I'd marry you in a second!"

Doc threw his arms around her. "Oh, Clara!" He kissed her hard, making them both feel a tad dizzy. "Once we're all safe and sound in 1985, I swear by Jules Verne we'll get married." Smiling over at Marty, he added, "Best man?"

"Are you kidding, you bet!" Marty joined the hug. "This is great, you guys getting together. I mean, you two belong together. It must have been simple shitty luck to be born in different centuries."

"Please watch your mouth," Clara gently reprimanded. "And before we can think of marriage, we have to get to 1985."

"Very true," Doc nodded. "Here's my plan. The train leaves Hill Valley today at eight o'clock." Doc used a stick to draw a crude map in the dirt. "We can cut them off at Coyote Pass and bring the locomotive to the switch track. I've bribed some people, another engineer and such, to find them there and help them to their respective destinations. That way we hopefully won't change the future too drastically. We'll switch the track and head for the future."

He paused and looked at Clara. "This may seem a strange question, but you're a plucky woman. Do you want to help us hi -- borrow the train?"

Clara giggled. "I had my fill of excitement when you saved me from the ravine. I'll stay here and make sure no one tries to disturb your DeLorean." Her mood became serious again as she glanced at Marty. "But what about you and Buford? If you don't show up in town to fight him, everyone will think you're yellow."

Marty considered that for a minute. Then he shook his head. "It isn't worth it. I'd rather be a chicken than dead. I mean a coward," he explained, remembering Clara might not understand his slang. "Afer all I've been through, I just want to see my family and my girlfriend again."

"You're not being a coward," Doc told him firmly, "you're being realistic. You should never let strangers guide you. Trust your own instincts. If I'd listened to all my critics, we wouldn't be here right now." He paused. "All right, bad example, but you see my point."

A strange look appeared on Marty's face. Doc knew he was probably thinking about that bit of the future Doc had blabbed to him earlier. Not that the scientist had never intended to tell him. Before the whole mess with the Almanac, he had planned to give Marty some sort of warning beforehand. Well, maybe this whole rotten experience in the Old West had served to drive the lesson home.

The look went away as Marty nodded to himself. "Thanks. But are you sure about all this stuff with the train? What if something goes wrong?"

"I've planned this out extensively. Nothing will go wrong. Now, regarding the time machine itself, we'll return to 1985 early in the morning of October 27th. I don't want to risk people seeing the time machine. You and Clara will board the DeLorean immediately, and then once the train is at optimal speeds, I'll join you."

Marty and Clara exchanged a very nervous and very worried look. "That sounds pretty dangerous, Doc."

"Someone has to monitor the situation from the locomotive cab."

"But -- what if you -- fall, or --" Clara began.

Marty squeezed his eyes shut. "Don't talk like that."

"I have to take that risk," Doc said. "If we worry about it, we'll make mistakes we can't afford. Let's take this one stage at a time. Now, who wants breakfast?"

Monday, September 7th

8:19 A. M.

Doc and Marty took a quick moment to relax in the train cab. The hijack had gone off without a hitch. The locomotive was in their possession, the passengers and engineers left safely behind. It was time to head back to the future. But as they drove the locomotive up to the DeLorean, they saw a horrific sight.

Buford Tannen and his gang were with Clara.