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Chapter Text

Mick had been sitting in the car for hours. He was surprised to see Josef’s convertible pull up. He rolled down the window and Josef snapped.

“Drive. You have one minute to get out of here. Meet me at the mansion.”

Mick turned on the engine and sped off. Fifteen minutes later he arrived at Josef’s Hollywood Palace.

“When are you getting a car phone? Josef growled. It’s 1985."

“Josef, if someone needs to reach me they can call me at home or the office. The service will track me down.”

“You were about to get arrested. Mrs. Turner called the cops and said a man was parked on her street the last three nights at 2AM. If you had a car phone when I got the call from LAPD I could have gotten in touch with you."

Mick slumped in his chair. “All right I’ll get a car phone.”

“How about you stop being a stalker?”

“I’m not stalking her. Mick said. I’m making sure nothing bad happens to her.”

“Mick…..Coraline is dead. The child is safe.”

“Josef, it’s a dangerous world we live in. There are perverts and….

Josef raised his hand. “I know but you’re crossing a line. I’m going to be leaving in a few months.”

Mick was surprised. “Leaving?”

Josef sighed. “Yes. Unlike you I don’t stay in one city for fifty years. I’m thinking Chicago, maybe you’d like a fresh start.”

Mick’s answer was immediate. “No.”

Josef sighed. “In that case I want to make sure you don’t get destroyed by the Cleaners before I go. He tossed him a wallet and passport.

“What’s this?”

“Travel documents. I want you to leave LA for a month and when you come back you’ll see nothing happened to the baby. I need to make sure you’re not going to spend the rest of your life following her. It’s not good for you or her.”

“Josef…..

Josef clapped his hands. “Enough. You fly to London tomorrow. I want a nice big ocean to separate us. There are credit cards in that wallet to go wherever you want.

Mick’s eyes turned silver. “I’m not a freshie looking for a sugar daddy.”

Josef also transitioned. “Drinking dead blood has put you in a sour mood. You weren’t always so judgmental of feeders. It’s not my money anyway. I’ll reimburse myself from your retirement account. Mick, it’s important that you get some distance, otherwise that woman is going to get scared and disappear in the middle of the day with that child and you’ll never find her.

Josef said the magic words. Beth was the only reason he didn’t drive into the desert and wait for death. If he lost her…..it was unthinkable. Better to lose track for a few weeks instead of forever.

Mick flew to London and tried to forget about Beth. He tried and failed. Every little blonde girl reminded him. He foolishly left London for Stockholm and in the ocean of blondes left for Zurich. Josef had been encouraging him for years to open a Swiss Bank Account.

Three weeks into his exile he flew back to the United States and arrived in San Francisco. He couldn’t risk going into LAX, he was sure Josef had the airport staked out.

He rented a car and drove to Hill Valley, CA. He used to spend two weeks there every summer from the time he could walk until he was a teenager. His Mom had grown up here and his Aunt Sarah had married into the wealthy Brown family.

He and his cousin Emmett had been something of an anomaly both being only children in a time of big families. Emmett was two years older but they always enjoyed playing together. They stopped visiting when Emmett went away to college and then the war and life caused them to drift apart. The last time he saw Emmett was on his wedding day in 1952. Aunt Sarah and Uncle Erhardt had died in a car crash in 1950, for all he knew Emmett was dead. He would be at least sixty-five by now.

Mick drove around Hill Valley and couldn’t believe all the changes. He hadn’t been there since 1938. What was once a nice small town was now a suburban sprawl with shopping malls. He drove up the road to where the Brown mansion should be but there was nothing there. Mick found himself overcome with sorrow. He didn’t know if Emmett had ever married, had kids or what happened to their huge house. He walked on the property and saw that the treehouse where Emmett showed him his science experiments was still there. He continue to walk the grounds and saw the huge parking garage where Uncle Erhardt had kept four cars an unimaginable amount in 1935. He wondered why the garage and treehouse remained. If Emmett had sold the property wouldn’t the new owners have bulldozed everything. He was so distracted he didn’t hear the dog coming until it had actually latched on to his leg. He bared his own fangs and the dog let go and started to whimper. He felt guilty. The little dog looked just like the sheepdogs Emmett had growing up.

“Good boy. I’m not going to hurt you.” Mick said gently

The dog cowered in fear and Mick heard a voice cry out.

“Einstein! Einstein! What did you do to my dog?”

Mick could have run, probably should have run but instead he turned to face the voice.

Doctor Emmett Brown’s jaw dropped and he said. “Great Scott! It’s Mickey St. John.

Chapter Text

Mick was about to say “You must be thinking of my Dad.” but before he could say anything his cousin said.

“Did you fall off the toilet too?” Emmett asked.

Mick was as confused as he looked. “Huh?”

“That’s when I figured out the Flux Capacitor which makes time travel possible. It’s taken me thirty years and my entire family fortune but I’m almost ready. How did you do it Mick? If you were trying to go home you must have overshot by at least twenty-five years or thirty years.

“What’s a Flux Capacitor?”

Emmett shook his head. “It’s what makes time travel possible. It’s the only explanation unless there is a hole in the space/time continuum. You haven’t aged a day.

Every vampire instinct was telling Mick to explain this was mistaken identity but Emmett Brown was the only family he had left. He couldn’t tell him about vampires, Emmett was so curious it would get him killed. He could see him looking for vampires to conduct scientific experiments on.

“Emmett, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I went on a cruise for my honeymoon, there was a storm and then the next thing I know I’m in a life boat and it’s 1985..

“Cruise? I thought you were going to Palm Springs.”

“Coraline met some friends there and they invited us on their yacht. We flew east and set sail for Bermuda

“Great Scott! I thought those stories about the Bermuda Triangle were a myth. How long did the storm last?”

“I don’t remember. We fell asleep and when we woke up we were nowhere near Bermuda, we were in the water and a ship brought us to Martinique. Thank God Coraline can speak French. I don’t know what happened to the captain or her friends. Coraline called her sister Cynthia.”

“Sister? Emmett asked. “I thought she didn’t have any family.”

“She has a sister, Cynthia. She was her maid of honor. She’s almost sixty but she lives in the same house so we sent a telegram. I don’t know what happened to anyone else on the boat. The police believed we were in a state of shock and Cynthia flew in and said she was Coraline’s mother. You know they had a lot of money so she got some forged documents. She’s just so happy to see Coraline she doesn’t care about all the time that’s passed.

Emmett glanced behind Mick as if waiting for someone to appear. “Where is Coraline?”

“She went to Paris with her sister. I told her I had to come home and see my family, let them know I’m alive. I couldn’t find them in LA so I thought I’d come here and maybe…….maybe you could tell me where they are.

Emmett shifted on his feet and stared at the ground. “Thirty years is a long time Mick. Your folks have been gone…..a long time. Your Pop died of cancer in ‘65 and your Mom just passed about five years ago of a heart attack. I took care of their funerals, I put them right near my folks.

Mick laughed. “I’m not sure your Dad would want to be near my Dad forever.”

Emmett smiled. “It’s not like they were getting a lot of company. I’m the end of the line.

“You never married?”

Emmett shook his head. “No, I’ve been too busy with science. Emmett brightened “Which is good for you because if it works you can go back to 1952 and tell yourself not to go to Bermuda. I mean it would be dangerous to change something like the assassination of JFK but you’re a musician…..

Mick played dumb. “Who is JFK?”

“Oh Mick. I better not tell you too much. I should be ready in a couple of months I just have to find some plutonium.

Mick raised his eyebrows. “Plutonium?

“I’ll tell you all about it. Why don’t you come inside and I’ll get you something to eat.

Mick followed his eccentric cousin to hear more about “time travel”. It was as ridiculous as “vampires.”

Chapter Text

Mick had been listening to his cousin for three hours explain how time travel worked. He told him he was overwhelmed and needed to get some sleep. Emmett tried to get him to eat something first but he refused.

After he was sure Emmett had fallen asleep he made a collect call to Josef.

“Mick, where are you?”

“I need a doctor at 1955 Riverside Drive, Hill Valley, California”

“Doctor or Cleaner?”

“Doctor. I need a human disoriented and unconscious for 24-48 hours.

I’ll have the doctor there in an hour. Can you contain her until then?”

“Him, and yes he’s asleep.

“Him? How much does he weigh? The medication needs to be measured for height and weight.

Approximately 5’10, 170 pounds, 65 years of age.

Josef laughed. “I didn’t know you had Daddy issues.”

“Josef, now is not the time. I’m coming back home after I make sure he’s all right. It’s important that he isn’t hurt or damaged.

“Mick, who is this guy?”

“He’s from my life before….but he can change my future.”

Mick let the doctor in and he gave Emmett a shot. “He’ll sleep through the weekend.” Dr. Johnson said.

“Is he going to be all right?”

The doctor laughed “Like you care. He’ll be fine just a little confused. I’ll send Mr. Kostan my bill.

Mick drove back to Josef’s mansion and arrived about an hour before sunrise.

“What the hell is going on Mick?’

“Josef, can you get your hands on plutonium?”

“Why? Do you want to nuke someone?’

"No."

“Mick that isn’t a yes or no question. I need to know the reason.”

Mick told him about his cousin and how rational he seemed when he discussed time travel. Josef thought his friend was having a nervous breakdown.

“Did you tell him you were a vampire?” Josef said quietly

“No. I said I got stuck in the Bermuda Triangle.

Josef laughed. “That’s a good one. I’ll have to remember that. Mick, if he’s so naïve he believes that what makes you think he could actually build a time machine.”

“Josef, he’s brilliant. He just needs plutonium to test it. I could go back in time. What if I never married Coraline?

“Excellent. Then you never would have met me and we wouldn’t be having this conversation about plutonium.”

Mick sighed. “Josef isn’t there anything in your life you would have done differently?”

“I don’t look back Mick.” He said sharply.

“I know but if you could travel back in time and change one thing, what would you do?

Josef was quiet for over a minute. “I would have taken a train out of Penn Station instead of Grand Central.

Mick paused. “I don’t know what that means but you can do it. If the time machine works, I’ll be an old man, Beth will never be kidnapped and you can change whatever you think needs changing.”

Josef had a faraway look Mick had never seen before. “Mick, I think you're crazy. I’ll check him out and if I’m convinced, I know people who can get the supplies he needs but you have got to stay put. Take the East Wing, I'll send Lana up to feed you.

"I don't eat fresh anymore."

"Mick, I think you're having delusions from dead blood. Prove me wrong."

"All right but not Lana, send me Rory."

"She has pink hair this week."

"Doesn't matter. Lana hates me, Rory can at least stomach me."

"Fine. I'll send Rory, what is your cousin's name?

Mick hesitated.

"I have the address Mick, don't annoy me by making me work for it."

"Emmett Brown."

Chapter Text

Josef had kept Mick secluded in the mansion for three days drinking only the healthiest freshies he owned.

Josef knocked on the door of the East Wing.

“Go away Breakfast, I‘m not hungry.” Mick growled.

Josef used his sweetest most feminine voice. “I don’t care what you want Sugar. Jay said I had to feed you or I was being put on lunch duty for a month. That means no parties, no clubbing, no movie premieres.

“Good. Maybe you’ll get bored with this unnatural life and leave it.” Mick snapped.

The door was opened immediately by a very angry Josef.

“Temper, temper Mick. Don’t talk to the humans like that.’

“I knew you didn’t have a human with you.

Josef was impressed, Mick was young but he had good DNA. Considering this house was swimming with human scent the fact that he could focus on vamp scent at such a young age made Josef a little sad. Mick could be a truly powerful vampire.

“Let’s have a civilized conversation.” Josef said.

“Does that mean I can leave the East wing?” Mick asked.

“Maybe. Cookie and Candy told me you took their blood from a syringe.”

“It was fresh and warm.” Mick said.

“I don’t care. I want you to drink like a vampire, it’s the only way I can be sure of your sanity.

“Did you find out about my cousin?”

“Yes, and he has never accomplished anything in his life. He has squandered his family fortune and has been living in a converted garage since his mansion burned down twenty years ago. He does have 3 PHDs and 2 Masters degrees but that just tells me he’s book smart. Doesn’t mean he can do anything.

“Josef, you‘re wrong. One year when I was eight we went to Hill Valley for Christmas. I was devastated because I thought Santa wouldn’t find me. We drove up December 20th. In three days Emmett built a model of the street I lived on, a perfect model down to the houses, cars, and treehouse in my backyard. He told me we would put it outside the Brown house so Santa would know I was there. He was only two years older than me and it looked like an architect’s model.

Josef chewed his lip. “Did Santa come the next morning?’

“Of course he did. The reason we went to Hill Valley was because Dad had lost his job and Mom didn’t want me to do without presents. Emmett’s father bought a lot of gifts and my Aunt asked Emmett to pretend he believed in Santa Claus. I told him the night we got there that Santa wasn’t going to come for me and he made the model.

Josef conceded. “That means he’s sensitive and artistic. It doesn’t mean he can build a time machine.

“Josef, in all the years I knew him he never lied about anything. If he says he can do it, he can do it.

Josef sighed. “I’ll have to meet him myself and that’s dangerous for him.”

“You don’t have to tell him you’re a vampire.”

“I wasn’t planning on that but how did I hear about his time machine?

“From me.”

“The last time he saw you he slept for 36 hours. He probably thinks you were a dream.”

“I’ll tell him you’re my nephew.”

“Your nephew?” Josef said suspiciously.

“Cynthia Xavier’s son. I told him that was Coraline’s sister.’

Josef laughed. “There are many things I’d like to do with Cynthia Xavier but calling her Mommy and letting her spank me isn’t one of them. Although there was this one time in 1891 that I gave her a beating for petty theft."

"You usually kill thieves."

"She stole a necklace from one of my freshies. The girl told me it was missing and thought Coraline's human had stolen it. It was found in Coraline's suitcase. She told me I could kill her human but when I smelled it the only human scent was Hazel. I made Coraline smell it and before she could make an excuse Cynthia said it was too pretty for a human. I told Coraline I wanted her human and to punish he handmaiden. I let the freshies listen while I beat her with a silver tipped whip.

"Where did you get something like that?'

"A vampire jeweler was happy to make a specialty item. He doesn't want his workmanship on any Duvalls or Duvall wannabees.

"How long have you known my wife and Cynthia?'

"Lincoln was President."

Mick shrugged. “You being my nephew will make perfect sense to Emmett. I told him Cynthia knows the truth about the Bermuda Triangle and that she’s rich. I’ll say I called her and she sent you to the States to discuss some European contacts.

“He would have to be a moron to believe that.”

“No, he just takes everything at face value from the people he cares about. He can’t imagine that I would lie to him.

Mick, I don’t know. Maybe we should let sleeping dogs lie.”

“I want to go back in time. If there’s a chance this technology is going to be created don’t you want some kind of control of it? Shouldn’t it be in safe vampire hands?

That won Josef over. “All right Uncle Mick.

Chapter Text

Mick drove Josef to Hill Valley.

“Let me take the lead.” Mick said

“Whatever you say Uncle Mick.”

Mick knocked on the door and Doc Brown opened the door and slammed it shut.

“Great Scott! I’m having hallucinations. I hope it’s not a side effect of the Delorean.

Josef sighed. “This is the genius you told me about.”

Mick pounded on the door. “Emmett let me in.”

“Go away Fantasy Boy. My cousin disappeared in 1952.”

Josef started to walk to the car. “I’m going to call the Cleaners and have him sedated.”

“Josef, he’s a little confused.”

“That is the understatement of the century.”

Mick banged on the door while Josef walked around the property. “Emmett, it’s really me. I saw you a few days ago and I told you about my honeymoon in the Bermuda Triangle. I’m here with my nephew Joey. Josef spun around at the nickname. If looks could kill Mick would be a dead undead man. He continued. "Emmett, I think he can help you get the plutonium.

The door opened again. “Keep your voice down.”

Mick said. “Emmett I’m here with my nephew, Cynthia’s son. He has made a fortune with the Duvall money and I want you to tell him about your idea and maybe we can make it happen and I can go back to 1952 and change my circumstances. I don’t have to lose my family.

Emmett shook his head. “I’m losing my mind. I think I’m having a reaction to the Libyan Plutonium.

“Libyan Plutonium? Mick asked. What are you talking about?

Josef walked up to Mick and said below human hearing. “He has plutonium within a half mile of here. He’s either nuts or……

“Or a genius.” Mick finished.

“I don’t need your compliments Dream Cousin or your imaginary friend." Emmett yelled. He waved his hands and said. Disappear.”

Mick noticed the video camera. “Is that camera on?

“It’s always on for experiments.” Emmett mumbled. “Why am I talking to a hallucination?

“I can prove I’m real. Play that tape tomorrow when you wake up and you’ll know I was really here. Mick wrote down his phone number. “Call me, and we’ll talk about getting this done.

Emmett put the card in his jacket for the sake of science he'd check it out tomorrow.

Mick and Josef went back to the car. Josef said.

“He believes he can do it. I thought you said he needed money for the plutonium.”

“That's what he told me. Are you sure you smelled it?”

Josef rolled his eyes. “I’m sure. Mick if he’s not crazy what are you going to do? If you really can go back in the past.

“I’m going to stop myself from marrying Coraline. That way I’ll remain human and all the people I killed will get to live their lives.

“Are you sure you won’t do more harm than good? What about the good things you’ve done?

“Except for saving that little girl I haven’t done a good thing since 1952. She won't be kidnapped if Coraline isn't trying to get me back. You said you would change something. Why can you change the past and not me?

'I'm older, wiser and what I would do is a blip on the radar. It would only change the lives of a couple of people. You have noble aspirations of atoning for vampirism. What if you kill people by not becoming a vampire?

Mick smiled. “You just don’t want to break in a new poker player. If I was never turned you’d have someone else for poker night.”

“Yeah but he would lose as graciously as you do.” Josef said lightly.

Mick started the car. “Let’s see if he calls me tomorrow. Maybe both our dreams can come true.”