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Marty wanted to believe that Doc really was going to be alright—but even a child as young as he was recognized someone struggling, in spite of how well Doc tried to hide it when he was around. Doc got tired really quickly now, and had to take more naps during the day, and longer ones. And he still had that awful, long mark on his chest that Marty could always see the very top of when Doc wore his Hawaiian shirt—Doc had said that it was a scar and it probably wasn’t going to go away fully, but, whatever it was, Marty didn’t like it, for it was a reminder of how badly Doc had been hurt.
He wanted nothing more than for Doc to be all better, and like he was before all of this happened on the mountain—not falling asleep in his armchair in the middle of day while trying to teach Marty about science, for that was what had just happened; Doc had just needed to close his eyes for a moment, he’d said—and he’d nodded off to sleep soon after, the book slipping from his hands.
And Marty, worried and frustrated again, did the only thing he could do—quietly cry.
He was looking around for some Kleenex to wipe his nose when his gaze fell upon the room’s first aid kit. Mr. Solo had pointed it out when they’d moved in, and when Marty had asked what it was for, Doc had said that it had bandages and other things to help if someone got hurt.
His four-year-old mind kicked into gear, and he proceeded to grab the kit, opening it and looking baffled at all of the different things in it, but, at last, he spotted something he recognized—a band-aid.
He opened the band-aid’s wrapping and ran back over to Doc, gently sticking the band-aid on the visible part of Doc’s scar. He then stepped back to look at his handiwork, nodding in approval.
Surely Doc would get better sooner now!
But it was a while yet before Doc woke up from his nap, much to Marty’s disappointment; he sat on the floor, defeated, as Doc yawned and stretched upon waking up, pausing in confusion as he felt the band-aid on his chest, glancing down at it.
It didn’t take Doc long to figure out exactly what Marty’s thought process had been, especially with how disappointed he seemed.
He picked Marty up and gave him a tight hug.
“You know, I thought I felt better than expected when I woke up,” he said
“Really!?” Marty asked.
“Mm-hmm. And it’s thanks to you.”
Marty managed a wan smile and hugged him back, prompting Doc to tighten his hug further.
He couldn’t have known that Doc wasn’t referring to the band-aid itself—but just the knowledge of being loved and cherished that much was a healing force all on its own.