From the top! TedXHidgens

Part 31

Hello Professor.
Hopefully we can discuss it in person soon

Henry woke up to Theodore still hugging him. Ted was still asleep so Henry didn't move. Don't want to wake him up before he has too. Everyone will be stressed enough as it is.
For a second Henry forgot everything that happened almost as if it was a dream. A really fucking shitty dream. Henry thought he had woken in Ted's arms after a very pleasant yet foggy day together. Perhaps that's what his dream was. He never did remember his dreams.
Henry loved Theodore. In that moment Henry had hope. He believed in Theodore. And he knew that Theodore believed in him. They got this.
Ted began to stir. He was waking up. Ted opened his eyes.
"Good morning." Henry smiled. Ted looked very messy having just woke up. Then again who looks good after waking up?
"Good morning." Ted yawned and rubbed his eye. He smiled back at Henry. Ted sat himself up in bed after letting go of Henry. Henry sat up as well.
"I love you." Henry needed him to know. They were in a situation where Henry didn't want a moment where Theodore didn't know his feelings. They might not make it out alive so it's important.
"I know." Ted chuckled a little bit.
"Rude! Really pulling a fucking Han Solo." Henry faked offended. He wanted to maintain this blissful mood because he knew it would be ruined really soon.
"I'm kidding. I love you more." Theodore smiled. He grabbed Henry's hand. Henry wanted this to be the rest of his life this moment. Nothing else. Not the infected. Not the media. Not biology. Just music and Theodore.
"Impossible." Henry kissed Theodore. Some of the pain had gone away. God that was cheesy wasn't it. I guess cheesy is nice.
"I'm scared." Ted's face dropped. Henry knew that they were in a serious situation but he just didn't want to focus on it.
"Me too." Henry has hope but not a lot of hope.
Paul came out of his bedroom. Emma following behind him. They looked in much better shape than they were last night.
"You guys can borrow some of my clothes." Paul offered as he walked into the kitchen.
"Well Henry's place is on the way. They can get clothes there." Emma sounded very tired. Henry guessed that she didn't sleep at all. Henry didn't blame her. He wouldn't have fallen asleep without Theodore there.
"Ok." Paul started pouring coffee.
The morning was very quiet. Everyone was freaking out silently to themselves. Paul and Emma were basically attached at the hip. Theodore and Henry were the same. None of them ate breakfast, just coffee.
Paul and Emma went back into their room to change.
Henry kissed Theodore's forehead. Henry was going to have to give him something to wear. It might be a little big but Ted will survive.
"Are you ready?" Ted asked.
"No."
"Me neither." Ted smiled sadly.
Emma and paul bolted out of their room clearly wearing whatever the first thing they touched was.
And they were off to Henry apartment. Henry held Ted's hand tightly.
When they got to his apartment Henry quickly rushed into his room to get dressed. He didn't want to hold everyone up. Ted followed behind.
"Here take this." Henry threw an old sweater at Theodore.
"A black turtleneck..." Theodore's voice trailed off.
It struck Henry. He had been wearing almost the exact same sweater that day 4 months ago. It's sweet that Ted remembers that.
Henry shook himself out if the sentimental stage of mind. They didn't have the time for this. The two men got dressed quickly. Henry tried not to stare at Ted changing.
With that they were in there way to the news station. Henry didn't know how this was going to work. He didn't know protocol for news shows. But he tried to maintain hope.

When they got to the studio where they filmed the show. Henry didn't know how this was going to work.
They walked inside. There was a secretary who barely gave them any attention when they walked in. There were a whole bunch of other people all probably with there own stories they want to put on the news.
Henry walked up to the front desk. He was still holding Ted's hand. He saw a couple of men jeering out of the corner of his eye. Henry presumed that they were homophobic assholes but they could also be jeering at the gaudy clothing they were wearing. Henry wanted to flip them off or to kiss Ted in front of them to get the point across but that would probably lower there chances of being put on air.
"What's you pitch?" The woman behind the desk did not look up from her computer.
"We are from hatchetfield. We were there that day." Henry squeezed Ted's hand as he said it. They were actually doing this.
The woman looked up from her computer screen. She looked skeptical.
"Everyone died from the hatchetfield incident." Her voice was serious.
"We didn't." Emma met the receptionist with a passive bitchiness.
"So then what happened?" That's exactly what Henry was fearing she'd ask. There's no way to not sound insane.
"We'll sound crazy but you need to here us out." Theodore replied. Henry was beyond nervous.
"We fear what happened in hatchetfield could spread if we don't raise any awareness." Henry tried to sound professional. Make her see them in a more serious light.
"You're lucky the producers want more hatchetfield news. Wait here." The receptionist gestured to the bench near her desk. She picked up her phone.
The four of them sat down on the bench. Across the room were the men who sneered at Henry and Ted. Henry didn't let go of Theodore's hand. The world might fucking end he can't let a couple homophobes ruin his love for Theodore.
Henry turned and kissed Ted in the cheek. Fuck you possible homophobes.
"What was that for?" Ted looked back at Henry and smiled.
"Nothing." He had obviously not noticed the asshole across the room. There was no need to point them out.
They sat there for a good twenty minutes. Every second was agony knowing the infected could be drawing ever closer. Ted's arm had moved around Henry's shoulder. This was a comfortable position to rest in. Henry kept his eyes on the other three and no one else in the room.
"Hatchetfielders." The receptionist called out. Everyone in the room looked up. Everyone's eyes were on them as they walked up to the front desk.
"Yes?" Paul was in front of the pack.
"The producers want to talk with you. Go through that door." The receptionist pointed to a door to her right. Ok wow they were doing this.
When they walked through the door they were met by a sharply dressed man and woman. They had note pads. They appeared surprisingly approachable, which Henry was not expecting.
"Hello my name's Raffael." The male producer stuck out his hand for someone to shake. They just kinda all took turns shaking his hand.
"And I'm Louise." The woman smiled not sticking her hand out after seeing the catastrophe of a handshake that happened previously.
"I'm Henry."
"I'm paul."
"Emma."
"Ted."
All of the introductions felt uncomfortable.
"So you're from hatchetfield." Louise sat back in her chair. Henry couldn't read her expression. He was too nervous. Ahhh
Henry nodded. He was a little tongue tied. This is a stressful fucking situation.
"So let's cut to the chase. What happened?" Raffael took a pen out and put in to the page.
Henry had to not sound insane. If they didn't believe them they're fucked. The whole plan rides on getting other people to fight.
"Before I start we are not insane. I have a doctorate in biology. I know what I am talking about." Henry took a deep breath. If they didn't believe him, what could they do? "The asteroid that hit did not rupture a gas line. The asteroid carried an organism, a pathogen really. It infected the people of hatchetfield, rearranging their genetic structure, functionally rewiring their brain. The infected had a certain bloodlust to kill, and spread the pathogen. You may recall the claims of sailors near the island, claiming to hear music coming from the island. Well, I did studies on the organism briefly, and it has an attraction to music, singing specifically." The producers looked confused but they don't look skeptical.
"We think that the music that can be heard are the remaining infected." Ted took a breath, "sooner or later they will find a way off the island. Once they get off the island, we're fucked. Excuse my language."
The four of them sat in silence waiting for them to say something.
"We're are going to need you to say exactly that on air. Same inflection and everything." Louise pointed her pen at Henry. Oh god. Ok they did it holy shit.
Henry turned to the other four. They looked hopeful.

"I'm sorry Mr. Hidgens but there was nothing we could have done to save them." The doctor had a remorseful tone. He's probably had to say that at least 5 other times today alone.
"Thank you for trying." They're gone. Steve had left the hospital. Probably to go out to a bar. Henry contemplated going to stop him but he would do the same. Leighton was sitting there stunned.
Henry say down next to him. They could make it out of this, together.

Henry got off the set and the other three ambushed him with a group hug. It must have gone well.
Henry was completely dazed. He really tried to remember what happened but he just blacked out. Henry's brain was just slowly giving up on him really.
The four of them walked back to Emma and Paul's apartment. On the way Henry asked what happened but the other three insisted it went well and didn't say anything else.
"What do we do now?" Henry looked to Ted. Henry grabbed Theodore's hand. It felt like the quiet in the middle of the storm.
"We prepare." Ted kissed Henry's hand. It didn't really matter what happened. If the other three are this hopeful it couldn't have been that bad. Henry's confidence grew.
"I think I'm going to stay in my apartment tonight." They were already on Henry's block. He didn't need to be around everyone for comfort. He wants to spend some time in his own apartment before whatever happens when the infected get there.
"Oh ok." Emma smiled at Henry, "see you tomorrow."
"Take care of yourself, man." Paul patted Henry's shoulder awkwardly.
"I'll make sure of that." Theodore smiled. Of course Theodore was going to stay with Henry. He wouldn't have it any other way.
Emma and paul headed off to their apartment. Henry walked up to his apartment Ted following behind him.
"I'm really proud of you." Ted was too sweet sometimes, "You did great." They walked into the apartment. Henry was glad that Ted decided to stay with him. He got to think of something other than what's going to happen. He just had to think about Theodore.
"Thank you." Henry intertwined his hand with Theodore's.
"You give me hope." Ted smiled softly. Henry let the world fall away while looking in Theodore's eyes. Henry knew that nothing could go wrong, nothing. Ted kissed Henry.
"I haven't eaten all day." Henry dragged Ted into the kitchen. It's not like Henry has any food. Theodore wants Henry to take care of himself and eating is pretty important in self care.
"I'll cook you something." Ted leaned on the counter and smiled. Henry doesn't really have ingredients to anything.
"You don't have to do that." Henry leaned up against the same counter.
"I want to." They were very close to each other. Henry maintained eye contact with Theodore.
They kissed once again.
"Today has been too long." Henry chuckled a little bit. Henry was very tired. Really fucking tired.
Henry was glad that Theodore was with him. Life would really be insufferable right now without him.
Everything will be alright.

~~~
Ohh long ass messy chapter! Idk what the fuck that really. Also I know that's not how news shows work.