Time After Time || Chris Cornell

26. You're Still Here

Sheraton Hotel Columbus Ohio, May 18 2017

(Andi is 29, Chris is 52)

ANDI: Chris and I arrive at the hotel maintaining a pretty good low profile. His bodyguard Martin, was really good at keeping most of the crowd away from Chris and hiding me while we made our way to the main doors. Chris held my hand the entire way and as Chris checked us in under an alias name, I couldn't help but get this really strange feeling from Martin. I'm not exactly sure how to explain it. I know he's been nothing but nice to me since I showed up. Well he hasn't really talked to me at all, but for some reason, I get the feeling he's up to something. I don't have an idea what it would be, but he really is on Chris's ass like no other. The only time he wasn't, was the flight here, which obviously gave us some alone time... ehem... anyways.

Once we check in, Martin leads us with Chris's bags to the hotel room, going over when Chris is supposed to meet up with Kim Matt and Ben and just as he is about to leave us, I see him hand Chris a small bottle. I couldn't quite catch it fast enough but I recognize it from when I was searching the drawers for some clothes in Chris's room in Detroit.

"Alright Mr. Cornell... call me if you need anything else alright? " Martin says.

"Sure, thank you," Chris nods and with that, Martin flicks his eyes to me for a moment and I still couldn't shake the odd feeling that continued to flow through my body. Martin gives me a nod and I just give him a half smile, not sure what to do and he heads back down the hallway, taking out his phone and sending a few texts, then disappearing around the corner to the elevator.

"Fuck I can't wait to just... relax," Chris exhales as he fidgets to get the hotel key in the door while I continue to glance down the hallway.  "Andi?"

I turn and look up at him while he gives me that smile he always does, his hand reaching out for me to take his and i give him a sweet smile as I follow him into the hotel room. 

The room was gorgeous with living room set up at soon as you walked in, a door that lead to the 'bedroom' area and I'm only guessing that the bathroom was just as large. It practically looked like a small apartment in comparison, much like the hotel room in Detroit.

"We uh... got a couple of hours before we meet up with the guys so... we can still head out and get you some more clothes if you want," Chris says as he sets his bags down at the door, tossing the hotel key on the little side table. 

"Ok yea... maybe," I say. He turns back to look at me, his blue eyes gleaming as he steps closer to me. He brushes my dark curls off my shoulder and places his lips to my earlobe. I close my eyes for a moment, his lips feeling incredible against my skin. 

"Or we can... stay here... take advantage of the Jacuzzi in the bathroom and... maybe go for round two," He says so lustfully in my ear.

"Already?" I giggle.

"Well you know I gotta make up for lost time," He chuckles as he moves to touch his forehead to mine, glancing at me under his brow like he always does. As enticing as that idea was, I still can't shake the weird feeling I have. I need to say something. There has to be a reason why I slipped into the future to save him.

"Chris?" I ask after a few moments, his forehead still touching mine, the lingering scent of his cologne tickling my nostrils.

"Mhhmmm?"

"What's um... what's the deal with Martin?" I ask, trying to be nonchalant about it and flick my eyes to his. Chris moves his forehead from mine and shrugs.

"He's my bodyguard... why?"

I hesitate for a moment but I couldn't back out now.

"I saw him give you a bottle,"

"Oh... yea it's just my anxiety meds... a couple of pain killers... it's nothing," Chris says and I study his eyes for a few moments.

"Anxiety meds?"

"Yea... here..." Chris reaches for his bag and takes out the bottle that Martin gave him and he hands it over to me. I take the bottle from him and read the label and glance back up at him.

"Lorazepam? " I ask. Funny how this is the same drug that my doctor had put me on when they were first trying to treat my time slips. Needless to say that it didn't work and made them worse.

"Yea... it's ok though... I take 2 a day and... it's fine..." Chris trails off trying to explain.

"Why does Martin have them though?" I ask.

"He keeps them for me and just... gives me the dose that I need for the day," Chris hesitates and I furrow my brow becoming worried.

"Andi, it's ok. I've been just dealing with a lot of shit over the last couple of years and... I have trouble sleeping... so I take those to help," He continues to explain and I still look at him worriedly.

"Is this what made you want to...?" I trail off because I couldn't bring myself to say the words.

"No- no... those aren't... no. Whatever put me in that state last night, is never going to happen again. I know I almost made the biggest mistake and... no it wasn't because of those," Chris explains as he looks at my hand holding the little bottle. His eyes flick back to mine and I can tell he telling me the truth, but I can also tell that there is something deeper going on.

"But why does he hold them for you...?"

"Just so I don't go overboard. I had issues with pills in the past and I don't trust myself, so I have him hold them for me. That's it."

I look back down at the pill bottle in my hand slowly hand them back to him. He takes them from me and I look up into his eyes again and he give me a re-assuring grin.

"Andi, you don't have to worry. Nothing bad is going to happen again. You are here with me and that's all I need. I know I'm going to be ok now that you're with me," He says sweetly as he moves closer to me once again, placing his hands on my hips. I give him a small grin, reaching up and placing my arms around his neck as he draws me into his arms, burying his face in my curls. I close my eyes holding his head to me, feeling his soft curls through my fingers and knowing this is where I'm meant to be. I just wish I didn't have such a bad feeling about Martin.

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A/N: Hello Lovelies! How is everyone?

I know it's been a little while but I've been struggling a little with my writing. I swear every time I tried to write the next part, I'd feel it wasn't good enough and delete it and start over. That's not the only thing I'm struggling with. It's been 3 years since Chris has been gone and yesterday was really hard. I feel stupid that I miss him still but I can't help it.  What made it even worse was just all the stupid drama on social media that a certain someone continues to throw at everyone. Always about them and never about what really matters. So I know it's a day late but I wanted to celebrate Chris's life, and I think I'm ok with this chapter. If I don't put it out, I'll just end up deleting it or changing it or somehow become self conscious and just give up. I know I've second guessed myself before but this time... I don't know. I'm just in a funk and I miss him and I wanted to pay tribute somehow. 

Anyways, I hope you all like it, let know what you think. 

-Love, templeoftheslavegarden