Author's Note: On a Monday morning, before taking off for work, Doc ponders over his closeness to Marty - and finds the scraps of the letter that Marty wrote to him. This story takes place in the Lone Pine Timeline, which applies to many of my universes.

November 14, 1955
6:30 AM PST

Dr. Emmett Brown sighed to himself, as he was preparing to head off to work. He sure felt lonely, as he was already really missing Marty McFly. He just decided to head over to Holt's Diner, and grab some breakfast. While the past week was rather stressful for him - he truly did enjoy the company of the young man. He was real fun to be around.

Doc glanced at the boxes, where he stored all of Marty's 1955 clothes. He just wasn't sure of whether to keep them around, or give them to a thrift shop. While the clothes would serve no real practical use to him, he certainly couldn't bear to part with them.

He then glanced at the diagram that he built, for sending Marty home. While a part of him felt as though he should just destroy it, he quite couldn't bring himself to do it. He couldn't actually bear to part with anything that reminded him of young Marty McFly.

He remembered the night that Marty first showed up. Initially, he felt that kid had to be some sort of prankster - as some of the neighbourhood kids simply weren't above pulling pranks on him. Upon realizing that the kid's claims actually were true, he grew to become very fond of Marty - who actually managed to bring life into the mansion.

Doc reached into his coat pockets, to see if he had any loose change. He found that there were a bunch of paper scraps inside one of the pockets. Doc wondered where that could've come from. What on earth could he have possibly decided to tear up?

Upon surveying the scraps of paper, he realized that one of the scraps contained the address to Lou's Cafe. Another one mentioned "1985". Doc was very taken aback, as he realized that this was the letter that Marty wrote to him. Doc couldn't believe it.

"Great Scott!" gasped Doc. Copernicus, Doc's sheepdog, perked his ears. "This is that letter! I was certain that I scattered these scraps into the four winds!" Realizing that, subconsciously, he simply must've shoved the pieces into the pocket - he was starting to have second thoughts. "No, I mustn't! I do admit that it's tempting, but it's risky."

Doc glanced at the fireplace, realizing that he should throw the scraps in there. There seemed to something stopping him, though. After all, Marty was the one to write that letter - and the loss of the young man was beginning to leave a big hole in his heart.

Why is Marty's loss really hurting me, so badly? Doc pondered, confused. He's not born, yet! He's not supposed to even be a thought in anyone's mind. We haven't even had our first official meeting. By the way, how do I end up meeting this kid?

But I did meet Marty! Doc countered himself. He quite spent a whole week in this mansion! He actually was here, right in the flesh! Doc shook his head. Time travel can be rather confusing. This was my first time of meeting Marty. However, this wasn't his first time of meeting me! This is starting to make me feel dizzy!

Turning his mind back to the letter, he felt a very strong urge to tape the scraps back together. It didn't seem very right, though. He glanced at the fireplace, realizing that he should really throw the scraps there! What exactly was it, that was stopping him?

Of course, there was a fact that he missed Marty - and it'd be a real long time, before the young man would come back into his life. However, he felt that there was actually something else. He felt as though, if he burnt the letter, he'd simply come to regret it.

He then thought of how, all last week, Marty had been pushing to tell him something - and Doc refused to listen. On Saturday, he finally snapped at Marty - as he was quite annoyed with Marty's persistence. He couldn't quite understand why Marty was being so hard-headed about the whole thing. Why could Marty understand how Doc felt?

Doc then thought of the video, which Marty filmed in 1985. Apparently, it contained Doc's first time travel experiment. He suddenly had a real feeling that the video had something to do with it. What could it be, though? What could really be so drastic?

Doc then remembered the hug Marty that gave to him. While Marty really had been a huggable type of person, something about that hug seemed to be quite different. He really seemed to be... sad? He also mentioned something about about "missing" Doc.

Why would Marty miss Doc? Wouldn't he simply see Doc again... in 1985? Also, when the time became rather critical, Marty suddenly became very hesitant - as though he was actually beginning to have second thoughts. After a whole week of just wanting to return to 1985, something seemed to change Marty's mind. What exactly was it?

Oh, what the hell? Doc thought, as he made his final decision. He realized that, if he didn't read that letter, those thoughts would simply keep bugging him. Anyway, he could always burn the letter... after reading it. He finally reached for the tape.

He really owed it to Marty, to find out what could be so important. He glanced at the clock, realizing that he no longer had time to eat out. He would simply only have time to scramble up some eggs. Still, he needed to read that letter - before taking off.

Of course, Doc did quite enjoy his job. He loved being around small children - and he actually hoped to, one day, have children of his own. Perhaps, he would name them Jules and Verne - after his favourite author. Anyway, he just appeared to get along better with small children - than he did with most adults, who could be judgemental.

The job actually seemed to be harder than he thought, as he managed to tear up the letter quite thoroughly. Still, he needed to find out what it said. Otherwise, he'd quite end up being distracted - for most the day. The children certainly didn't deserve that!

"Finally!" exclaimed Doc, and he patted Copernicus. "I can finally figure out what it is, that Marty quite wanted to tell me. Then I should make some breakfast, and head off to work. You're a great friend, Copernicus - but I really am beginning to miss Marty."

"Dear Dr. Brown," Doc began reading. "On the night I go back in time, you will be shot by terrorists at 1:30 AM." Doc was so stunned, as he fully understood why Marty was rather persistent. "Please take whatever precautions are necessary... to prevent this terrible disaster." Tears actually filled his eyes, as he finished, "Your friend, Marty."

"Aw, poor Marty," murmured Doc, as tears rolled down his cheeks. "I sure feel sorry, now, for dismissing his concerns." Turning to his canine friend, he added, "I guess he really does care about me. Now I know why that video actually got to him, so much."

Doc carefully folded up the letter, as he placed it into his wallet. There's absolutely no way, now, that he'd actually be able to burn it. He just couldn't help but wonder what exactly he did, that would really make a group of terrorists decide to come after him.

"All in good time, Brown," Doc told himself. After all, he'd actually have thirty years to figure out what to. As for now, though, he decided that he'd better just make himself a quick breakfast. Perhaps, after school, he could head over to Holt's Diner. He really wished he could tell Marty that everything would be fine, and that he read the letter.

Then again, from Marty's perspective, he would return to 1985 - and simply find out, right away, that Doc was still alive. Marty likely would be quite overjoyed to see him, even though he would be quite confused. Doc would then give Marty a real big hug.

As Doc went to scramble up a few eggs, he wondered how exactly Marty would come into his life. That would actually be their first official meeting. He wondered what Marty's first impression of him was. Did Marty like him right from the start, or did he...

Doc quickly shook the thought out of his mind. Even if Marty's initial impression of him rather was that of a crackpot scientist, that wasn't what mattered. What did matter, was that Marty would grow to care about him. The letter really proved it, as it rather showed how much Marty was willing to risk - simply to ensure that Doc wasn't killed.

Doc began to think of Marty's mention of how his father never before stood up to the bully, Biff Tannen. When Doc looked over the picture, everything really seemed to be fine. Doc still couldn't help thinking of how that would affect the course of the future.

Marty did mention about his home life being rather unhappy. Was that a part of what drew Doc and Marty together? If Marty really ended up with a happy family, this time around - would he be as willing to spend time with Doc? Would he even like Doc?

Doc felt a pang of guilt, as he realized that he shouldn't be so self-centred. He should be rather happy for Marty, even if it could affect Marty's future relationship with him. Still, it wasn't only the fear of rejection from Marty that simply troubled him. If he and Marty never do become friends, it could also possibly result in a major time paradox!

Doc sighed to himself, as he poured the scrambled eggs into a skillet. He supposed he shouldn't assume the worst, as some of more judgemental townsfolks have done with him. Marty was a very friendly young man, and he deserved to be thought better of.

Marty said that he was seventeen years old. It meant that it would really be another thirteen years, until Marty was born. He simply wondered what Marty was like, as an infant. Still, after all is said and done, he knew that it was best to not push anything.

Doc pulled the letter back out, as he admired Marty's handwriting. This was something that Doc would treasure. Holding onto the letter would quite be like keeping a piece of Marty with him. That letter was the one thing that just proved, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Marty was there. It was an actual memento... a memento of the future!