Gretchen watched Harvey approach her desk and idly wondered at the absence of his normal self-confident stride. As he drew closer, she noted his pale face and questioned him as he moved past. He disregarded her completely and she realised that he hadn't registered a word that she'd said.

Gretchen got to her feet to follow Harvey and heard Mike ask what was going on, his concern evident. They both watched as Harvey lurched across the room and Gretchen quickly retreated to call for help.

As she turned back to her desk, her eyes met Donna's along the corridor. She didn't want to draw attention to Harvey's office; assuming correctly that he would resent being placed on display. Donna caught the look on Gretchen's face and approached anyway.

"What is it Gretchen?" Donna asked, as her gaze moved to settle on Harvey. Her eyes narrowed as she watched him struggle to hold a water bottle steady, spilling the contents over his hand and onto the floor.

Her breath lodged in her throat and she rushed forwards, catching the door frame for support as she demanded to know, "what's happening?"

Her wide eyes flitted between Harvey and Mike. Harvey had managed to pour some water into a glass and she watched in alarm as he gulped a mouthful. She couldn't work out what was going on; her usually quick mind unable to make sense of the scene before her.

"Okay, I'm dialling 911." Mike said.

Harvey didn't need ambulances. He was never sick. He didn't need to go to a hospital.

"What's happening?" Donna asked again, her chest contracting painfully.

"No, you're not." Harvey told Mike.

Donna realised, with a wave of dread, that Harvey was struggling to breathe.

"Yes, he his." Donna insisted and she turned to Mike; "do not put that phone down!"

Harvey didn't acknowledge her presence and she wasn't sure that he'd heard her.

"Yes, I am." Mike confirmed, "you could be having a heart attack."

Harvey's father died. She felt sick.

"It's not a heart attack." Harvey confirmed.

Donna scrutinised his every move. Was that true? Would he know?

"You don't know that." Mike said, echoing Donna's thoughts.

"It's a panic attack." Harvey told Mike.

Harvey's voice was barely recognisable and Donna was still trying to understand; Harvey didn't have panic attacks.

Mike slowly put the phone down as Jack walked up and addressed the room.

"Hate to interrupt a special moment," he said.

The intrusion prompted Donna to act and her right arm swung out to create a barrier, halting Jack's movement.

"No, absolutely not, now is not the time." Donna exclaimed.

She turned and forced Jack out of the office, ignoring his protests and closing the door behind him.

She went to Harvey.

The blood was still pounding in his ears and the world had slowed around him, blurring at the edges; colours indistinct. The collar of his shirt was too tight, stopping him from dragging enough air into his lungs. He pulled relentlessly at his tie but he couldn't gain enough control of his shaking hands to undo it. Donna reached up with her own trembling fingers to pull it off for him.

She took his face in her hands and tilted his head up until his unfocused gaze rested on hers.

"Can you see me?" Donna asked desperately.

Through it all, Harvey heard Donna's voice and he focused on the fact that she was there. He reached out for her, his hands anchoring at her hips and fingers kneading her sides. He used her like a ship on a rough sea uses a lighthouse to find its way ashore.

Donna saw the haze in his eyes clear slightly and she caught a glimpse of Harvey again. Her body sagged in relief and she moved her hands to his shoulders to steady herself as unchecked tears spilled down her cheeks.

"Yes." his voice was hoarse, "yes, I can see you."

She was his safe landing, his beacon, his way home.

Mike backed out of the office, suspecting that they had both forgotten that he was there. He wasn't needed; Donna wouldn't leave Harvey alone.

"Can you breathe?" she asked him.

"Yes, just…."

"What do you need, Harvey?"

"Just… stay right there."

His grip on her tightened and Donna watched as he closed his eyes and tried to take long and steady breaths. She reached for his face again, pressing her fingers into the nape of his neck and stroking her thumbs across his cheeks.

Harvey focused on her body beneath his hands and gradually returned his breathing to normal.

After several long minutes, he opened his eyes and all he could see was her. He'd never seen her so upset and he reached up to catch her tears.

"I'm okay, Donna. I'm fine," his ragged words did little to reassure her.

"You're far from fine, I thought you were…" she was incapable of finishing the sentence.

If you die, I die.

She took his hands and linked their fingers together tightly at their sides.

"Was this the first time?"

His face told her that it wasn't.

She'd never forgive herself for missing this, her own hurt and anger had blinded her to how desperate he'd been. He'd told her that he was drowning and she'd told him no, when he'd needed her the most.

Harvey caught the guilt clouding her eyes; she was blaming herself.

"This isn't your fault," he whispered to her.

"You didn't tell me..."

"No. We haven't talked much lately. You may have noticed."

Yes, she had noticed that part of herself was no longer there.

Donna sighed, looked to the floor and pulled her bottom lip between her teeth.

"We can't go on like this, Harvey. It's breaking us and it just….. it hurts so damn much."

She fought to prevent more tears from falling and Harvey rested his forehead gently against hers. He re-tightened his grip on her hands and she pressed her fingers hard against his. It had been years since they'd been this close; touched this much.

He hadn't thought it was possible to miss someone as much as he'd missed her. It was as if the pain of their separation had been injected into his bloodstream, causing his heart to ache with every beat that it took.

Harvey realised, then, that she'd felt it too. He'd been so preoccupied with his own struggle that he'd given little thought to hers and he longed to take away her pain.

"I'm sorry for pushing you away." Harvey said, his lips only an inch from hers.

"I never wanted this to happen."

"I know."

"You scared the shit out of me." Donna said, pulling back and running her gaze over his face again; he looked exhausted.

"I'm trying to fix it. Fix me. I'm seeing a therapist."

"You are?" She did nothing to hide her surprise.

God, he loved her.

She arched an eyebrow at him, as if she'd read his mind, and he was overwhelmed with the need to tell her everything, to answer how.

"Can we go?" he asked, tentatively.

"Where?"

"Home."

She stared at him for a long time, her eyes searching his. Harvey let her see him, all of him, and she developed a cautious smile.

"Okay."

Donna squeezed his hands and slipped her fingers from his grasp.

"Let me tell Louis that I'm going."

Harvey breathed more easily than he had done for weeks, their splintered relationship no longer pressing on his chest; they were going to be okay.

He followed Donna out of his office.

"Gretchen, could you cancel everything this afternoon. I'm taking some time."

"Is Donna taking some time too?" Gretchen asked, with affected nonchalance.

"She is, yes."

Harvey turned to watch Donna stride purposefully away.

He knew that she'd soon be walking back to him.