PARTNERS IN TIME ⁵, back to the future

vii. ricochet

➠ 𝕤𝕠𝕟𝕘 𝕤𝕖𝕝𝕖𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟: 𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕪𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕚 𝕠𝕨𝕟 𝕓𝕪 𝕓𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕

JULES AND VERNE stayed at their respective spots, looking out to where the Delorean had disappeared with Marty inside. The brothers exchanged glances to one another as they watched it disappear to leave behind a trail of fire made by the tires. Heaving out a breath expecting the worst case scenario for the time vehicle to combust Verne turned over to his brother to ease his worry. "If he doesn't come back, we end up taking the blame you know."

Jules was going to say something in disagreement before sensing coming up from behind him. Recognizing the sound from being in the lab with his dad he grabbed a hold of his brother to take them out of the field where the vehicle was arriving. "Look out!" Jumping out just in time the Delorean roughly landed back onto the dirt path. The tires speeding past to kick up dirt to have them shield their faces to avoid the direct contact.

Through the dust filling the air both looked ahead to see the Delorean in fact having arrived successfully, the doors on either side to reveal the time travelers. Marty looked around in a brief haze before locking eyes with the kids now heaving a breath in relief. "I can't believe you did it!" Verne yelled, rushing over with Jules towards the vehicle before halting to him waving a hand to them.

Exchanging a look to one another they slowly came forward to him crouching down to their height. "I- I grabbed Amanda." Seeing the kids smiling in excitement he shook his head to try and deter them away from getting their hopes up. "But. . .I need the Doc. Something happened in the crash, she doesn't remember any of us."

Having a hard time believing this to be true, Jules laughed in the hopes this was just the pair trying to scare them. Like the pranks they used to do when their dad had brought them around to visit. "That can't be right?" He rationalized it again to himself before continuing. "I mean if anyone is going to forget anyone, it would be you. . .no offense."

"No, no. I agree." The passenger side soon opened to have the three lift themselves up to try and seem less suspicious of their crowded circle. Ogling the blonde now stepping out of the Delorean looking around completely wide-eyed over the boy just moments before she was lying actually having told her the truth.

Not wanting to think that she wouldn't even recognize him, Verne rushed over to tackle her in an embrace. "Amy!" Looking down to him surprised she turned back over for an explanation to Marty now coming over with his brother close behind. He looked up to her confused for not reciprocating to slowly let go himself. "You really don't remember me?"

Feeling sympathetic and at least hoping to have something coming through that would jog her memory she shook her head. "I-I'm sorry..." Amanda felt like she had to blame herself for this even if this was in no means her fault. She had no control over the events that would lead to this and had no way in predicting it even in the worst case scenarios. Yet continuing to feel the glances of the young boys and Marty on her as if she were to be pitied made her guilty.

Jules looked between them, turning back over to Amanda still trying to get her bearings in order. "We have to tell dad now."

"But—" He cut his younger brother off to have him huff a breath in disapproval before following along begrudgingly.

✧.*ೃ༄

ON THE STEPS of the Brown household later in the night than was initially intended the group made their presence known through the house as they switched on the lights upon entering. Looking around to the family home to explore for herself Amanda passed through some of the photographs lined on the entryway. Some were of the boys she was with along with whom she assumed to be their parents standing in front of a steam-punk styled train. Smiling over their entusiasm radiating off the image she was stopped by the woman in the very same photograph coming down the staircase.

Rubbing her eyes to adjust to the lighting with a yawn she was prepared to lecture her boys on the noise they were making this late into the night. Before any of them could have the chance to prepare them the three failed to hide the blonde already being in Clara's view to have sent back in surprise. "Amanda?"

". . .Does everyone know who I am here?" She whispered under her breath while Marty stepped up to try and give some explanation as to what was happening. An explanation coming from the wrong person as he himself had no clue what was happening.

Following after the commotion from the hall was beginning to settle the Doc came through expecting nothing out of the noise before noticing the other addition that had made an appearance. The boys turned to their father with their arms behind their backs in some failed attempt to delay the news. "Before you say anything—"

"You took the Delorean?" Doc interrupted Verne to assume as the brothers casted their glances to each other before trying to seem apologetic. This only failing as he was now sporadic over this, pushing his hair back over the various possibilities coming through. "Do you know how much of a risk the two of you took?"

"Well Doc, I actually drove," Marty nervously brought up to have the older man wave a hand in his direction next.

The laughter escaping him more along the lines of hysteria he continued to act dramatically on the matter. "That only proves the point on the risk. It's as if you've learned nothing of the mishaps from before. The mishap that even led to this." He raised a hand out to Amanda now watching the scene unfold silently, scared to speak up to be cast into blame for this as well. However the older man frowned to her and lowered his hands back down to the sides. "It's good to see you again, Amanda."

Rubbing the back of his neck nervously the Doc looked to Marty confused as she delayed her response back. "...About that."

She waved a hand awkwardly back over to the Doc. "You are the Doc, right? Marty said you would be the one to clear this situation up," Amanda explained back. Not having prepared for this he slumped back in the seat in surprise as she looked around to the others staring back at her and expectantly for the Doc to same something about the matter. Clearly feeling as if she were the blame of this she nodded to try and fill up the silence with some other statement. "Lovely home by the way."

Standing back up again after this to head into the direction of the make-shift lab outside, the Doc didn't cast a look on any of the others in the home. The brothers and Marty looked between one another to hope they were in the clear before his head came up again to stare at them directly. "You three, the lab, now." Trudging in the direction their father was headed Marty did the same before halting to turn back over to Amanda cautiously.

"He's always like this, we'll be back around," He told her to have her nod slowly in understanding.

Noticing the two Clara came up to put an arm over the girl to lead her away. "Why don't you and I make some tea, huh? From the trip?" Amanda agreed following her before turning back over to the others going into the direction of the supposed lab situated out in the backyard of the home.