Solid Hardwood, Engineered and Laminate Flooring - spot staining wood floor

Hi, I have previously stained and poly'd my hardwoods. After sanding etc. Now, someone worked in the room and scratched areas of the floor. I already spread stain over the old floor to fix the scratches. It's taking longer to dry than it did when it was able to sink into the wood completely. The poly coats were two in number and thin. Will it eventually dry where it couldn't sink in? Can I put new poly over it while it's still tackyor if I'm patient, it will dry? I know this is a very sloppy way to do things but I'm so tired of my house being torn apart, and I'm alone and female and couldn't move furniture by myself. I also couldn't tolerate renting a sander again so this is my problem Please and thanks, Sharon

How old was the poly? If it is old enough it may never harden correctly. It will take longer to harden on top of the existing finish. For a scratch repair I typically use a very fine brush and build the scratch back up to level with multiple coats, gently screen a few inches on each side after the final coat hardens, and than coat the screened area with a very thin layer. Careful rubbing with #0000 steel wool can adjust the gloss to match the wear in the surrounding areas and blend the touch up.