Disclaimer: oh the same old story…I don't own the characters.

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Part 2: iii) Making History…Again

Saturday, 26th July 1986
11:14 a.m.
Central Bank of California

Weaving in and out of the traffic with accuracy, sirens calling at full volume and flashing lights signalled the police car's attendance. Cars pulled over to one side to allow them to pass, one such vehicle being Marty's black Toyota. With little reduction in speed the emergency car raced past, off into the direction of the town square in no doubt to catch another criminal.

No sooner had it arrived the car had vanished, with only the sirens still reaching the human senses in the far distance. They continued the journey to the bank, where the town was busiest on a Saturday, mainly because of where the majority of the shops in Hill Valley were located.

The handbrake creaked against the upward force Marty applied as he pulled it. The truck remained still as the door opened to allow Doc to exit the vehicle. He turned to offer assistance to Clara as she in turn left the truck. Marty remained where he was, watching as they left, and ready to answer the expected question of why he hadn't moved.

Doc frowned as he leaned in towards the truck's window. "Marty? Aren't you coming with us?" he asked with a little concern, noting the teen's absence of "wanting-to-tag-along" enthusiasm he often held.

"Nah, you go ahead. I'll wait for ya here."

"Sure?" Doc double-checked. Marty simply nodded in reply.

Sighing softly, Doc returned to his wife's side where she had waited for him. She frowned herself when Marty did not follow, but decided not to question the issue further. Slipping past Doc as he held the door open for her, she glided into the foyer of glossy marble floor and gleaming polished surfaces, impeccably cleaned just that morning, setting high standards for the company that owned the building.

Ahead of them stood the long line of counters at which customers could be served. So far the bank appeared to be at its busiest; the long queue weaving in and out, following the trail the rope barrier set out. It looked to be a long wait.

Clara and Doc half-heartedly joined the back of the line - Doc remaining close to Clara's side. He appeared apprehensive and almost uncomfortable as he stood in line. He appeared anxious to leave as soon as he could; his eyes quickly moved across the building to the exit, then back to the queue ahead of them. Clara's touch drew his eyes quickly down to look at his hand under hers. She smiled to try and cease his worry.

"Is everything all right? You seem anxious not to be here."

Doc tightened his grip on her hand almost as if he held her only lifeline. "Of course, everything's just fine." He cleared his throat. "You know I just don't like to wait in long queues, that's all."

"It won't take long – a few minutes at the latest. Just be patient," Clara tried to relax him as best she could. "Are you anxious about Marty, is that it?"

The unexpected question almost caught Doc off-balance. "What?"

"Why he wouldn't come in here with us?"

"No, no. I'm not worried about him, or anything else for that matter. Just the sooner we can sort out our business the sooner we can leave." A deep sigh inhaled, Doc shook his arms to try and relax. They had averted the mugging that Clara originally faced, so now there was no problem. So why did he feel as though that was not the end of the matter?

The line moved along, though at all at the speed Doc wished it would. Still five people stood before them to be served.

Clara turned to him, lifting her hand in gesture of enquiry. "I was thinking…about what you said before. I would love to have a night in, just us two. A quiet night to ourselves where we can be lost in conversation. Almost like the night of the town festival. Do you remember?"

"How can I ever forget? That was the night of my life. Spending just those few hours under the stars, talking to you…I only wish it could have lasted an eternity." Doc smiled at her, taking in the look in her eyes. "Why not."

Clara's familiar smile of adoration returned to her, the one Doc feared he had lost when she had broke down in front of him only hours before. The smile he never ever wanted to lose. For a moment they stood taking in each other's love, before their attention was drawn elsewhere.

A young woman passed the queue on her way to the counter, attracting their attention for just a brief moment. An elderly man stood patiently behind Doc and Clara, politely signalling for the couple to move forward in the line. In the far distance Doc caught a glimpse of his friend waving to him for his attention. The teenager pointed to his watch and shrugged his shoulders in encrypted sign language. Doc frowned for a moment, obviously transcribing the message. Understanding that the question was "how much longer will you be?" he could do no more than to shrug his own shoulders in reply. He had no idea.

Marty sighed with decreased patience. He circled briefly just in the foyer, until something unexpectedly caught his awareness from the corner of his eye.

Then without warning, it had frighteningly seized his full attention.