I let out a pathetic yelp of a scream and covered my face with the monitor and hanger. I heard a loud thud. "Fuckin' Christ, what the hell are ya' doin' here?"

I peeked at Bon through my fingers. He had just woken up. His hair was a mess, his shirt had vanished, and his eyes were half open. He set the lamp down in the corner. My heart racing, I settled back down. "Stelle's party is a bit too loud for me..." I said. I held up the key he gave me. "I thought I'd come here..."

"Oh...yeah, right, I gave that to ya'," he said yawning, calming down now that I wasn't some maniac. He scratched his shoulder and gestured to the bedroom. "Need a place to stay? Go on an' sleep in there, I'll take the couch."

"I'm perfectly fine taking the couch," I said. I could see the man still needed about ten more hours of sleep before he would be coherent. He shook his head. 

"Nah, I'm awake anyway...." He stiffened at the sound of Bunny's snoring. He pointed to the monitor. "What's that?"

"A friend of mine is drunk," I explained. "I'm listening for her to make sure she's okay." That was a shitty explanation but Bon's tired brain seemed to think that was good enough. He nodded and pointed at my hanger. "I locked the door. This is in case I need to get in again."

"Huh....well go on an' take your...things to the bed..." He yawned again and stumbled toward the couch. "I'll be out here if ya' need me..."

I watched him collapse on the couch and in an instant he was snoring. I smiled. Bon's a lovely man. Taking my gear with me to the bedroom I saw it was unmade and messy. There was a shirt tossed to the floor and a few pairs of underwear.

Charming.

Moving aside a pair of slightly yellow socks I made myself comfortable on the bed. I placed the baby monitor on the nightstand next to a book, also yellow, and put my hanger on the bed beside me. Bunny was snoring like a pug. I wasn't sure how well I'd be able to fall asleep, let alone if it was a good idea. What if I slept long enough where Bunny's snoring stopped? Maybe she would simply wake up and that would be it. But I couldn't imagine something happening to her on my watch and sleeping through getting her help in such a crucial time. 

It had already happened to Bon.

But Bon was here. He was here and he was safe and he would be for a little while longer. I took a deep breath and relaxed in the bed, not bothering to take any clothes off. Bon didn't need to see that. I closed my eyes and took deep calming breaths.

**********

Scurrying and scuffling woke me up. I sat up ready to bolt when I saw it was just Bon. He froze where he was standing, holding a shirt in his hands. "Did I scare ya'?"

Suddenly remembering where I was, I relaxed, my heart pounding. "No," I lied, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. Bon kept rummaging around in his room for socks and shoes. I watched him for a minute wondering where the fire was. "Where are you going?"

"Out," he said. I could see he was much more awake now and his hair was a bit more tidy. "Friend of mine stopped by, asked if I wanted a drink." Bon showed me all his nice, white teeth. "Course I do."

"What time is it?" I couldn't stop yawning. 

Bon felt around for a jacket from his suitcase. He slipped it on and checked the pockets. "It's happy hour, that's what it is," he said. "Should be back sometime tomorrow mornin'. You're in charge."

I gave him a salute and he left the room. I heard the hotel room door close and decided to try my hand at sleep again. Bunny's snoring was still coming in loud and clear. It seemed no one thought to bother her. Or they simply couldn't get into the room. Reassured that I was safe here in Bon's room and that Bunny was safe in Stelle's, I let myself fall back asleep.

**********

I woke up again. I wished I hadn't. My muscles ached and I felt anxious for no reason. Like I had drunk a cup of black coffee the night before. I rocked a little bit to help me calm down. Why was rocking so stigmatized? Someone invented a rocking chair and we rock babies to sleep. I'd say it's a pretty normal human action. It's soothing.

But this time it couldn't soothe me. 

I checked the baby monitor and felt a huge wave of relief when I heard the snoring. It would be best to stay awake now and be on my guard. I looked around Bon's messy bedroom. It reminded me of my own room back in 2024. But everything has its place and I know exactly where everything is. And it seemed like Bon had a similar system here. 

After lying in bed for a while, hoping my muscles would relax, I finally got up and looked around the hotel room. Everything was right where Bon left it. Well, everything except Bon himself. I shrugged it off thinking it was still early. Bon said he'd be back by the morning. And if he was going to be here anytime, I might as well get myself ready so he can go straight to bed and sleep. 

I helped myself to the bathroom which was still dark. Wondering how on earth the girls in fanfictions go days without brushing their teeth. Hanging out with a band you love is great but the little things like these go undiscussed. Like using shampoo or toilet paper. It seems trivial but you're making your mark on the past. Every bottle of shampoo you finish up and throw away makes trash which then gets dumped out somewhere and you had a part in it. And for someone from 2024 making her mark in 1978, it was a big deal to me. 

Maybe I was just a nerd. 

Just like usual I woke up with no appetite whatsoever but I knew if I didn't eat anything I'd regret it later. There were some browning bananas on the counter and I grabbed one, hoping Bon wouldn't notice or mind. I almost dropped it when I saw the clock in the kitchen. 

I'm sorry, what does that say? Two in the afternoon???

How the hell did I sleep that long? I knew I was tired but I didn't know I was that tired! Then the anxiety started coming back.

Where was Bon?

Maybe the clock was wrong. But why would it be? Sure the bathroom light didn't work but at least the clock had to! He said he would be back by the morning and after a quick check around the place, I didn't see him anywhere. 

Why are you getting so worked up over this? He's fine, you know he's fine. He goes out drinking all the time. It's not 1980, he's not in any danger. You're making a scene!

I sat on the couch where Bon had been hours earlier. Knowing good and well he would be back safe and sound, I couldn't help but think the worst. 

Why did Bon have to die?

Why did that sweet man have to die the way he did? I tried not to let my thoughts get the best of me but they did anyway. 

He was here. This was his hotel room. I met Bon Scott in 1978, I thought time travel was impossible and yet here I was. He was here, alive and fine. I met him and he wasn't disgusted by me. And one day he wouldn't be here anymore. His death hit fans hard, but even harder after you met him.

Knowing exactly what was going to happen to him and knowing you couldn't do anything to stop it. 

I pushed away any stupid little tears. It wasn't 1980. Bon was perfectly fine. I was overreacting for nothing. Bon, and Malcolm for that matter, were here and they were fine. If only a little beat up from the fight the other day. The world wouldn't lose them for a while so I needed to calm down. 

Bon was all alone in that car....

The door opened and I shot up, turning around to see Bon walking in. He had a can of beer in his hand which he set down somewhere. "Still here?" He didn't look or sound at all hungover. Not even tired. I didn't know what to say. "Bit later than I thought....saw Phil at the bar an'-"

I didn't let him finish. Before I knew it I was flying across the room and grabbed the man in a hug. He stumbled backward a little but didn't fall. Bon was here and he was okay. There was nothing to get upset over, he's fine.

See? He's fine. Got all worked up over nothing.

Was it really for nothing? 

For some stupid reason or another, I cared about these men. It's one thing to be a fan of a band and care about these strange men whom you've never met. But when you meet them in a one in a billion lifetime chance and you speak to them and get to know them...it's different. 

Those silly little tears came back. I held still thinking maybe Bon wouldn't notice.

"What's the matter?" he asked finally hugging me back after the surprise. 

"Bad dream," was all I could think of to say. Bon stood there and let me hug him, probably afraid of hurting my feelings if he let go.

"Well....it's over now," he said. 

We stood like that for a while. Neither of us seemed sure of when to pull apart. Bunny decided for us when we heard her retching and throwing up over the baby monitor.