Christmas at Joes

6. Christmas Past, the Parking Lot

    When Ebenezer came to, he was very groggy. "Where am I?"

"Joe's bar's parking lot ten years in the past." The Professor's Scottish accent penetrated Ebenezer's fog. "Oh, and I forgot to tell you those pills might knock you out. Especially if you've been drinking."

"Ten years in the past, are you serious? Can we go out now?" Ebenezer asked in a doubtful voice.

"Not yet. We need to survey the surroundings. It will be safer if we just observe from here first. The time machine is currently disguised as an SUV in a parking spot on the far side of the lot. We had to make sure no one would notice our arrival or departure. Our outside cameras can pretty much see everything in the lot. Here have a look." The Professor motioned for Ebeneezer to come over to the video screen on the central control panel.

Ebenezer looked at the screen. "All the cars do look to be dated, but that doesn't prove anything. How do I know we're ten years in the past?"

"Just wait. We couldn't be sure of the exact time we wanted to arrive, but with any luck, you should see someone you recognize soon."

"Oh my God!" Ebenezer shouted. "It's Carol!" He was seeing her come out of the bar and start to cross to her car when she was hit by a small Subaru going way too fast. The right headlight clipped her knocking her to the curb where she hit her head. The driver was looking to his left and never saw her. He must have been drunk not to have noticed the impact. Carol had been looking back toward the bar not expecting anyone to be driving that fast in a parking lot.

"I don't know if this is real or some fake video you've put together, but I don't want to see anymore!" Ebenezer angrily shouted hitting the monitor with his fist.

Ethereal put a hand on Ebenezer's shoulder saying, "It's real Ebenezer. Go to her and if you can bring her here. We may be able to help her." Ebenezer was already headed for the door.

"Don't let anyone see you," The Professor shouted after him. He then told Ethy, "You'd better go with him and make sure no one sees him."

Ebenezer dashed out the door of the time machine and found himself jumping out of a late model gray Ford Expedition with what looked like tinted windows that were actually opaque. He ran across the parking lot to where Carol was lying. Ethy was close behind him.

Ebbie got on his knees and cradled Carol's head in his lap. Her body appeared lifeless. He was crying and saying her name over and over again. She was unresponsive.

Ethy tapped Ebbie on the shoulder saying, "We can't stay here. Can you carry her?"

Ebbie scooped her up in his arms and carried her back to the Expedition and took her inside.

They took her to a small medical examination room inside the time machine and laid her on the examination table.

"Is she gone?" Ebenezer asked anxiously.

The Professor ran what looked like a dentist's x-ray machine over her body and looked at the results on a monitor.

The Professor turned to Ebenezer and told him, "You saved her life. The medical practices of this era could not have helped her, but we can. We need to leave and let my robots repair her internal injuries. It will take her a few days to recuperate. When she does, we must let her decide what she wants to do next. You understand that, don't you?"

Ebenezer nodded. "She's alive. She can do whatever she wants. I won't stand in her way even if she never wants to see me again. She is alive and for that you will never know how grateful I am to you."