Playing To My Own Tune

"Is that everything?"

"Everything I want to take with me, yeah." Marty glances up and over at Fred as he zips up his duffel bag. "I'm all packed."

Fred shakes his head. "I still can't believe you're moving out. And leaving Hill Valley to boot. You're sure you want to do this?"

"I'm sure," Marty tells him, conviction clear in his voice. "Look, you guys and the bar have been great. I can't thank you enough for taking me in and explaining everything to me when I got back. But lately. . . ." He shakes his head. "Hill Valley's got way too many painful memories. And I know I'm not the kind of guy who could kill his fetch to get his life back. I think it's better to just go ahead and move on."

"I can respect that -- I did much the same," Fred admits. He holds out a hand. "So -- good luck out there."

"Thanks. I'll be back to say hello, don't worry," Marty promises, shaking. "And I'll send along a letter every once in a while."

"Maybe I'll come visit you too, if I can," Fred says.

Marty briefly freezes, then recovers. "Okay -- just give me a little time to get settled." He smiles, rather melancholy. "I'll -- I'll see you later, then. Much later."

"Right," Fred says. "Goodbye Marty. Stay safe, okay?"

"Can't make any promises, but I'll try." They shake hands one last time, then Marty grabs his duffel bag and heads out. He pauses briefly by the back door to say a final goodbye to the owner, then it's out into the streets.

He walks until he can round the corner and get out of sight. Then he sighs deeply and holds up his wrist, looking at his PINpoint. He feels a bit bad about leaving -- he'd had some good times in Darkness Falls, and Fred in particular had become a rather good friend. But his best friends needed him a lot closer -- and he needed them. After everything that happened with Victor and Alice, not to mention Dee and Doc's little moment, that was extremely obvious. And it really wasn't like he couldn't go back and visit when he wanted. Though he was going to have to figure out what to tell Fred about him visiting Marty. . . .

Later, though. Right now, he has some moving to do. Marty punches in the code and PINpoints out.

He lands right in the courtyard of the apartment complex his friends are staying in. Smiling, he heads in the nearest door. "Hey," he calls, just in case anyone can hear him.

"I'm home."

(Context Links: Victor asks for help for his nightmares -- Frostbite lends a hand and Frostbite lets Marty know Victor's not sleeping well.)

To: julesverneflux@nexus.com
From: wannaberockstar@nexus.com
Subject: Victor Needs Help

Hey, Doc:

I caught up with Frostbite over here in the Nexus. She told me that Victor's been having some nasty nightmares recently. Apparently he's not sleeping well (or maybe at all) and she's worried about his health. I'm kinda worried too, Doc. Do you think you can check up on him?

Marty

(Follows from here: Frostbite Reunites Doc and Marty)

The little diner Frostbite took Doc to during her brief human LOL isn't too far from the sign. Marty looks around as he enters the place. "Looks cool -- kind of old-fashioned, though," he says, smiling a little. "Kind of like those pictures of Lou's Cafe Mom and Dad showed me once."

His smile fades a little as he thinks about his family. All that waiting, and then. . . . He glances back at his friend. How the hell is he going to tell him what happened? Glad as he is to see Doc, this is probably going to be kind of an awkward conversation.