Author's Note: The events of this chapter take place right after Trilogy Universe Doc and Marty leave the Lone Pine Universe, in The Way We Could've Been.

November 27, 1986
6:28 PM PST
Lone Pine Universe

"Doc, I can't believe this!" called out Marty, as soon as his alternate self was dragged out by the alternate Doc. "I simply can't believe that your other self would get angry, just because he..." Tears filled his eyes, as he added, "I sure feel scared. I'm worried that you might, one day, also say that you hate me. This is really so... so upsetting."

"I'm sorry, Marty," Doc replied, softly. "I really don't understand what's gotten into... into my other self. After all, your other self simply wished for more time to relax - and my other self... I feel so sorry for your other self. This is very upsetting for me, too."

"I suppose it just would be," Marty whispered, as he swallowed. "Even if my other self really felt that... Doc, do you remember how... A few months ago, another version of me wished for... He wished that you had never met, uh, Clara. It was just such a..."

"Great Scott!" gasped Doc, stunned. "I wonder if it might even be the same one! This happened around the time that I... that I invented the dream-recording device. I felt so... Of course, this was from before I met Jessica Hoffman. I felt quite so jealous of you and Jennifer. I remember how I took it badly, when you and Jennifer wanted..."

"That was a strange time," commented Marty. "I remember waking up, and I suddenly recall fighting with you... the other you... because you really didn't plan to invite me to Disneyland... with you and your family. Those two days were rather strange."

"It must've been very confusing," suggested Doc. "The thing is, during that time, I've been so... Well, I sure felt very depressed. I'm so glad that Sabrina introduced me to Jessica. She's much younger than me, but she's really a sweet woman. I adore her."

"I've really wondered why her name wasn't Clara," Marty explained. "I guess we now know why. Clara's her, uh, great-great-grandaunt. Now that I understand that Clara was the schoolteacher... who fell into the ravine... I just feel bad about... Well, I try not to hate anyone. Still, there were a few teachers that I... I weren't too fond of."

"I simply understand, Marty," Doc replied, softly. "I understand that you really didn't mean any disrespect to... to Clara. After all, you sure couldn't've known. I just don't understand why my other self reacted so... so violently. I mean, if he's really me..."

"That's why I'm so..." Marty began to say, as tears stung his eyes. "It's simply shaken me up. I mean, if he really is another version of you... Well, how can I be certain that... I'm so worried that... Doc, it really doesn't seem like you. Know what I mean?"

"Yes, I understand," Doc replied, as his voice sounded a little wavery. "I do hope that your other self... I'm so afraid that there's nothing we can do. I mean, we don't know where they went. I suppose my other self was getting very stressed. Still, that's sure no excuse for any of the things that he's said. I'd like to give him a piece of my mind!"

"I just wish that we could find them," Marty commented, sighing. "The harsh words of your other self just stung me. I mean, I must admit that I feel rather scared. I'm very worried..." Tears began to spill down Marty's cheeks, as he added, "Promise that..."

"Aw, Marty," murmured Doc, as he drew Marty close to him. "I promise, Marty. I sure promise that I will never tell you that I hate you. I mean, that was really just mean... I'd almost think that the other version of me is some sort of... some sort of evil twin."

"How could he just say that?" Marty asked, sobbing brokenly. "How could he say that I was worse than the Tannens... or the Libyans? I feel quite... Do you have any idea how those words have... have broken my heart? Granted, I know that it wasn't quite me me he was talking to. I still very feel upset about it, though. I feel crushed!"

"I sure don't know what to say, Marty," Doc replied, with sorrow. "I am reminded of that day, though... the day that I tested out the dream-recording device. It brings about a sense of deja vu. I don't want to bug Sabrina, though. She's just very busy."

"I don't want to impose, either," Marty agreed, as he wiped his eyes. "I do wonder if it was the same version of me. It sounds like it could be, as your wife and children simply seem to be identical. I never know how his Doc met Clara, though. I mean, I really..."

"Well, being as you're really not that Marty," explained Doc, "when he went back to his world... Well, I'm sure that his memories went with him. It was a real interesting experience." Just then, there was a knock on the door. "That must be Jessica. Marty, please try not to stress yourself out." He then called out, "Come on inside, Jessica!"

"Hi, guys!" Jessica called out, as she stepped inside. "So, have your alternate selves left? I just stopped by the bakery. I figured that you'd like some glazed doughnuts. I have to admit, I'm sort of addicted to them. After all, they certainly taste delicious."

"They are gone," Doc explained, grimly. "The thing is, my other self got rather mad at the other Marty. I simply feel so helpless. I actually never thought that I could feel so dismayed with myself. I mean, poor Marty... our Marty... is feeling very upset!"

"I'm sorry about that, honey," Jessica replied, as she placed her arm around Doc. "It must be... Gee, I'm really still new to all this stuff. I've always been a very big fan of science fiction. Still, when you find out that some of the stuff is sure real... Anyway, why don't you explain to us about what happened. I might be able to help you out."

"Well, the other Marty really said something," Doc explained. "I'll just call them Marty Two and Me Two. Marty Two mentioned that he quite wished that Me Two had given him some time to relax, before dragging Marty Two off to 2015. It was when the..."

"I really don't see anything wrong with that," Jessica commented, softly. "It seems like a real reasonable desire to me. You just don't seem like the type to be angered by mild criticism. Why would the other you get very mad... over that? I certainly don't get it."

"From what I understand," Doc replied, softly, "Me Two somehow twisted Marty Two's words around. Me Two rather managed to make it out, so that... Me Two claimed that Marty Two wanted him to never meet Clara... your great-great-grandaunt. It's really shocking. Me Two ended up getting quite furious, because he felt that Marty Two..."

"Well, I don't know what to say," Jessica replied, stunned. "I do remember what they explained to us. Here's what I don't get, though. Even if Marty Two did say that he wished for Me Two... You Two... to never meet Clara... Well, I still don't see..."

"In all fairness," Doc explained, softly, "he was under a lot of stress. I still don't think that it's really any excuse. Since you've mentioned that, though... Do you remember the story that I told you about... when I first invented the dream-recording device?"

"Yeah, a little bit," Jessica replied. "You told me about how that really was a hard time for you. You simply told me that another version of Marty ended up... This is still hard for me to understand, Emmett. I was Sabrina's friend, before I met you. Still, I wasn't quite informed about her... her heritage. Say, do you think that it's the same Marty?"

"I remember that the wife's name was Clara," replied Doc. "Still, it wouldn't necessarily mean that it's the same Marty. If it was, I believe that Marty Two simply would've said something. Also, from the way that Me Two reacted, I'm thinking that it's not the..."

"That's a good point," agreed Marty. "I can't believe that I didn't even think about it! The reason for the other Marty... from a few months ago... being in this world... It'll really be... I'm just scared. I'm afraid that I'll say the wrong thing, and Doc would..."

"Try not to worry about it, Marty," soothed Doc, as he rubbed Marty's shoulders. "I'm going to make real sure that it never happens. The thing is, Jessica, Me Two said that he hated Marty Two. Poor Marty sure was in tears about it. Me Two knocked out Marty Two. Very roughly, Me Two dragged Marty Two away. I'm just not sure..."

"That certainly sounds awful!" gasped Jessica. "Well, why don't you guys have some doughnuts? It might really make you feel better. I'm sure confident that that Emmett Two would, eventually, cool down. Knowing Emmett, he never would stay angry."

"It's not just that he got angry, though," protested Marty. "He actually said that he hated the other me! Those words simply stung me, Jessica! It was like a knife really went through my heart! You should've seen the look on my other self's face."

"I don't really hate anyone," Doc explained, softly. "I'm pretty sure that my other self didn't mean what he said. Granted, there are people that I strongly dislike. I just feel that you should have a few doughnuts. It's been quite a long time, Marty. I don't think that my other self would actually throw away many years of a close friendship."

"Emmett is right, Marty," agreed Jessica. "Just try to relax. I understand that it was a very upsetting thing to witness. I'm very sure that it'll blow over, though. Also, I think that Emmett Two has also known Marty Two - during the week of November in 1955."

"It's really been over eleven years," Doc commented, gently. "If you count the week, Marty, that you were in 1955... In that case, I've known you for over 31 years! That should give you a peace of mind. When you were six years old, you were very cute!"

Marty managed a small smile, as he thought over what Doc said. Just a little over five months ago, Doc was quite depressed - because he didn't have a family. Now that he had Jessica, it just was no longer the case. He sincerely wanted for Doc to be happy. He hoped that Doc Two would realize that Marty Two, most likely, felt the same way.