i can't find the time machine icon on my dock?

Is it in the Applications folder?

If so you can open it from there.

If it is you can get back on the Dock by dragging it there from the Applications folder again.

Allan

You have to look for the Time Machine icon in the menu bar, or in /Applications/Utilities. Before doing this, open Finder and go to the folder where the file is, so you will be able to restore the file