Lennon nodded.

“You’ll put on the hazmat suit, and once it’s on, you may step foot outside the Q. Not before that. You got it?”

“I got it.”

“The CDC has specified that we are not to open that fence if it’s past eight a.m., andddd…” He peered at the screen on his kit, and then smiled at Lennon. “Looks like you’re going to make it with four minutes to spare, Mr. Pierce. Negative.”

Lennon blinked at him. He probably should have felt relieved. He didn’t, really.

The man put the suit in his arms. Maisie still stood in the distance behind him. She lifted a hand in a hesitant wave.

The man began rolling his cart away. Lennon took a step toward the fence.

“Hazmat suit on before you cross!” the man yelled.

“I…I know.” He turned. “Can I say something first? To the cameras?”

The man made an amused noise. “I’m sure they’d love that. As long as you don’t cross the fence line without the suit on, you’re fine.”

Lennon looked back again at Maisie. She stood right where the gate had opened, watching him.

“He’s gold. No one will touch the Q while he’s in here.” Jonathan Spencer’s words echoed in his head. He was an asshole, but he wasn’t wrong.

He approached the fence, still holding the hazmat suit. He put it down on the ground.

“Lennon, are you okay?”

“Lennon, what took so long? Why—”

“Lennon, can you tell us about your time—”

The reporters shouted questions. They stretched microphones on long poles over his head.

He turned to find his parents. They were behind the wall of soldiers, but he could see them both, holding hands, peering anxiously in his direction.

The cameras started flashing wildly, and he looked over his shoulder. Maisie had taken a couple of steps inside, closer to him. The man in the hazmat suit said something to her, pointing to the fence. She nodded.

He turned back to the reporters. They were still shouting questions. He took a breath.

“I—” He stopped. Everyone had gone immediately silent.

Thank you all so much for support! Everyone was so kind to me inside the Q, and I can’t wait to tell you all about what it was like inside. I met the most wonderful people. In fact, there’s one right there. Thank you so much to Maisie Rojas for making sure I got here in time!

The speech was right there. That’s what he should say. He should say it, and smile, and put on the hazmat suit. They’d cheer, and clap for Maisie, and there’d be a picture of her at the top of every news site in an hour. That would go over very well with people, because she was pretty, and they’d like that nice, pretty picture of the Q.

His parents would be proud, and his sisters would tease him about how cheesy he’d been, but really, they’d be proud too. His dad’s campaign—or “transition team” now—would be delighted. Cal would have him on every news show as soon as his quarantine period was over. Before then, actually. He’d do some virtual interviews as soon as possible.