Was he having a heart attack? Wait a minute. No. This was a fucking panic attack. He hadn’t had one in so long that he almost didn’t recognize the signs. It was out of the blue, like usual, and he couldn’t stop it. He dropped his head into his hands, gasping for breath.

Fur instantly pressed up between his palms, and a rough tongue licked his chin.

His chest shuddered, and he pressed his face to the dog’s fur, sucking in air. Calm. Be calm. It’s all right. He ran the litany through his head, finding comfort in the animal, his legs shaking as he slowly came down. An instant headache blasted him between the eyes, and he winced, willing it away.

Roscoe sat patiently, steady next to him, offering support.

Heat roared into Wolfe’s face as reality returned, leaving him hollow. He wanted to crawl under the table with the animal, but that wasn’t how he faced life. He lifted his head, even though it weighed about fifty pounds. “I’m sorry.”

Dana reached over and kneaded the back of his neck, her eyes soft and concerned. “Take a deep breath. It’s okay.”

Her touch soothed him, easing the pain exploding through his head. Even his ears heated. Talk about losing control in front of people he’d just met. He looked over to apologize to Serena, but she was facing her board, moving back and forth, and muttering a bunch of science-sounding words to herself.

Dana leaned in, her mouth close to his ear. “She didn’t even turn around. I’m not sure she knows we’re in the same universe with her. I like how completely she focuses, don’t you?”

Yeah. Especially right now, since the woman hadn’t seen his breakdown. If only Dana hadn’t seen it either. “I haven’t had a panic attack in ages,” he whispered. “I don’t know what happened, and it definitely won’t happen again.” Well, it probably would, but hopefully he’d be alone next time. Yet another reason why he shouldn’t enter into a relationship, even if he wasn’t about to battle to the death.

“Don’t worry about it,” Dana said softly, her touch bringing more ease than any run. “I’ve had a couple since my run-in with the Senator, and I understand. Yours passed quickly.”

Was she trying to build him up? Laughter tickled his throat, and he smiled. “Okay. I’m fine, now.”

She leaned back. “Good. How about you tell me why you suddenly went into a panic attack?”

There wasn’t any rhyme or reason to why, but when an attack hit, he knew he was dealing with anxiety. The woman was about to lose that sweet look on her face. “I want you to go home, to your parents’ house, for a couple of weeks.” He kept her gaze and wouldn’t release her.