They left the foundation to get some food, and when they returned Sarah decided she would spend the afternoon catching up on research articles rather than working in the medical laboratory. Mac felt more at ease knowing she was somewhere with fewer triggers. When he returned to his laboratory, Bozer and Riley faced him with worried expressions.
"Is everything okay?" Bozer asked.
"Is Sarah okay?" Riley cut to the chase.
"How did you know it was about Sarah?" Mac asked.
"Jack mentioned the last time he'd seen that expression on your face, it had to do with Nikki being injured," she told him.
Mac nodded slowly. "Okay, but what I'm going to say goes no further than us," he told them. "Where's Jack? He should know too, if I'm telling you two."
Riley called Jack to tell him to get his ass up to them. Once Jack had joined Bozer, Riley and Mac in the laboratory they locked the door so that no one else, even those with the code, could get in while Mac was talking.
"Sarah has mild anxiety and sometimes has anxiety attacks." Mac began. "I've known this from the start, and she's been getting better. Last night she had an attack with no trigger and was still a little off balance when she came to work. There was a small accident in the lab, and someone had a vial of blood spilt on them. Sarah had bumped them, and it tipped her over the edge emotionally."
"Is she alright?" Bozer interrupted.
"Physically she's fine, and so is the other person involved. Emotionally she's still a little shaky and upset. She blames herself. But she will be okay."
"Thank you for telling us, for trusting us," Riley said.
"Yeah, brother," Jack said. "If there is ever anything we can do to help her, let us know."
Mac ran a hand through his hair, letting out a breath he hadn't realised he was holding. "Thank you, for listening," he told them. "I know it's not really my secret to tell, but Sarah isn't in any condition to tell you guys today, and we had discussed telling you all sometime soon."
"Does she prefer being alone when she's like this or with people?" Bozer asked.
"For now, if she's having an anxiety attack, get me. Over time, she might become okay with the rest of you," Mac explained. "Once the attack's over, it really depends on Sarah, but today I think a quiet movie night would be okay."
Bozer nodded. "Alright. I'll get some chamomile tea, 'cause that is meant to be relaxing, and chocolate for the endorphins. Maybe some ice cream, too? Do I need to know about triggers in movies? Is there a movie Sarah likes that we don't have? Because watching movies we know the ending of helps with removing anxiety too."
"How do you know that?" Mac looked at him in disbelief.
"I did some research after you got back from Afghanistan," he admitted. "I know some Vets return with PTSD and anxiety, and I just wanted to be able to help if you did."
Both Mac and Jack looked at Bozer curiously. They hadn't stopped to think that someone at home would be worried about them enough to do that.
"You're one hell of a person, Bozer," Jack said.
"Get all that," Riley told him. "Peppermint tea and green tea as well. It says here they're supposed to help with anxiety." She pointed to her laptop screen.
"Thank you so much," Mac told them.
"Of course." Jack threw an arm around his shoulder. "We all care about her."