He didn't like the phrase panic attack — it was two very bad things being pushed together into one exceptionally bad phrase, and it made his stomach surge uncomfortably to hear the words applied to him that way. He thought he ought to protest — I wasn't panicking, I'm fine — but his mouth felt dry and it wasn't worth interrupting her, probably. She was being kind, and he shouldn't argue with her when she probably knew better. She hadn't asked to be here for that little episode, so this was — just another thing they could add to the list of things she'd done for him with no repayment of any kind whatsoever. And now she wanted to know what else she could do.

"Nothing," Ben assured her quickly, already feeling embarrassed about it. "I don't need anything. I'm fine. Honest, I'm fine."