Standing off to the side leaning against one of the agency SUV's, Ezra watched as the newly arrested perps were loaded into a transport van. Team Seven had just closed their latest case and it had gone off without a hitch. Ezra had posed as buyer, with the rest of the team in place to make the arrest once he'd handed over the money dealer completing the sale. Overall, it seemed a little too easy to him.

Even though the operation had been an easy one, he felt as if he'd been working on one of their harder cases. He had trouble remembering when a textbook case had left him quite so exhausted. A painful sore throat left him wondering if he were coming down with something.

"All's well that ends well," Josiah said with a grin as he clapped Ezra on the shoulder startling him. "Didn't mean to make you jump," the big man apologized.

"It's quite all right," Ezra said with a weak grin. "I was just thinking that this all went down quite easily…perhaps too easily."

"I figure the odds are with us to get an easy one every once in a while." Josiah took a good look at Ezra. He noticed the dark shadows under his eyes, the slumped posture, and pale complexion. "Are you ok? You're looking a bit under the weather."

Ezra rubbed his forehead, then nodded. "Just a bit of a cold coming on." He grinned weakly. "I'm sure it's nothing."

Josiah nodded but wasn't sure if he believed Ezra. The younger man tended to downplay ill health if he thought it might put him at a disadvantage. It was a personality trait the others knew well and tried to change. "You let someone know if it's more than just a bit of a cold." He clapped Ezra on the shoulder again, almost sending him sprawling. "C'mon. Chris said for us to head back to office."

M7 M7 M7 M7 M7 M7 M7

It was a good thing Ezra wasn't driving. By the time Josiah guided the SUV into the underground parking garage at the Federal Building, he was practically asleep in the backseat. It was only the cessation of movement that brought him to alertness, and he hoped neither Josiah nor Nathan noticed. He was getting tired of being tired. The last couple of days it didn't seem to matter how much sleep he got. His fatigue seemed to be near constant.

He pulled himself from the SUV and checked his watch. It was almost 3:00 pm. He only had to get through two more hours and then he'd have the weekend to try to recharge. Hopefully, whatever this was would be gone come Monday.

He had to lean against the side of the SUV for a few seconds to get his bearings. It felt like the bones in his legs had been replaced with jello and he was afraid he might fall as soon as he took a step.

"Coming?" Josiah asked as he looked back to where Ezra was still leaning against the SUV.

A brief smile flickered across Ezra's face. "Yes. Just thought I'd forgotten something for a moment." He pushed away and started walking to where Josiah and Nathan were waiting, hoping he wouldn't fall. He tried not to grimace as his joints ached with every step he took and now his head started to pound as well. He debated asking Nathan if he might know what was wrong with him but discarded the thought. "Shall we," he said holding his arm out to the elevators.

When the three men reached the office space Team Seven occupied, they each headed for their respective desks. Ezra noticed the light flashing on his phone indicating a voicemail and dialed to retrieve it. "Oh hell," he mumbled after he'd listened to it once. When he was given the option to delete the message, save it or, or replay it, he chose to replay it again to be sure he'd heard right. As he listened, he felt a presence near him and looked up to see Josiah standing by his desk and guessed the other man must have heard his expletive.

"Problem?" Josiah asked once Ezra hung up the phone.

Ezra took a deep breath and sat back in his desk chair. He first rubbed his forehead and then his throat. "You could say," he answered although he didn't expand right away. "Nathan, do you have a moment?"

"Sure, what's up," Nathan asked as he joined Josiah by Ezra's desk. "You don't look so good," he added on taking a good look at his friend.

"That was Lydia Rochelle." Seeing the blank looks on his teammates faces, Ezra further explained, "the grandmother of the young man who was choking in the restaurant some weeks ago."

"That kid you saved by giving him mouth to mouth," Nathan said.

"Yes. Him. It seems Mrs. Rochelle has been trying to track me down for a couple of weeks and was just successful today."

"Let me guess. She wants to give you some kind of award," Josiah joked.

"I wish. She said the young man hadn't been feeling well for some time and the doctor diagnosed him with mononucleosis. She believes he may have already had it when the choking incident occurred. She felt it was her duty to inform me as I was most probably exposed when I rendered aid to the young man." Ezra leaned forward on his desk. He picked up a pen and started doodling on a pad of paper refusing to look up at either of the other two men. "Other than fatigue, what symptoms should I be on the lookout for, Nathan?"

"Why don't you tell me what symptoms you have," Nathan countered. "And don't go trying to say you're fine. You look like death warmed over."

Ezra tossed the pen down and leaned back with a sigh. "Fatigue, sore throat, headache, no appetite, general achiness, chills" he listed then finally looked up at Nathan. "Would you like me to go on?"

Josiah leaned over and rested his hand on Ezra's forehead. "You can add fever."

"I think you know the answer to your question Ezra." Nathan came around the desk and stood by Ezra. He reached to run his hands along his neck. "But you can add swollen lymph nodes to the list, too."

"Perhaps you shouldn't get too close to me," Ezra said as he pushed his chair away from Nathan. "I wouldn't want to infect you."

"I had it when I was in college. You're not going to infect me. And just because you've exposed and have the symptoms, doesn't mean you couldn't have something else. Mono can also cause enlargement of the spleen. You should get checked by a doctor to rule that out and get confirmation"

"Confirmation of what?" Chris asked as he came into the Team Seven office area. He'd been in time to catch the last part of what Nathan said. "And what does a doctor need to rule out?"

"It looks like Ezra's been exposed to mono," Nathan answered as he patted Ezra on the shoulder. "He's not feeling too good right now?"

"Ezra's got the kissing disease?" Buck asked with a laugh. He, JD, and Vin had come in with Chris. "Just who have you been seeing...a cute little co-ed maybe?"

"Your immature mind would make you think that?" Ezra countered as he rolled his eyes. "For your information, Mrs. Rochelle called to let me know her grandson has been ill with it and most likely exposed me to it."

"You mean that kid you saved," JD asked trying to place the name.

"It would appear no good deed goes unpunished," Josiah said sagely then grasped Ezra's arm. "C'mon. I'll drive you over to the urgent care and get you seen."

Ezra resisted Josiah's prompting, staying seated at his desk. "If you don't mind, I'd prefer to contact my primary care physician and see if he can fit me in today instead of going to an urgent care." A slight shudder went through his body that had nothing to do with how he was feeling. "I'd prefer to avoid the urgent care. My last visit didn't end well if you recall."

Josiah crossed his arms but continued to stand by Ezra's desk. "I doubt there's going to be another hostage situation but suit yourself. I'll just wait until you make that phone call."

Ezra took a deep breath, let it out slowly, then rubbed his hands over his face. "I can assure you, Josiah, I have every intention of making an appoint as soon as possible with Dr. Putnam and I will even allow you to drive me there, but I don't need you to stand over me." He looked in Chris's direction. "Mr. Larabee, a little assistance."

"He's grown man Josiah. He'll make the call. Let him be." He directed his attention to the others, "and the rest of you get back to work." He waited until everyone followed his orders then walked over to Ezra's desk. "You better not be bsing about calling the doctor. You look like hell."

"Ordinarily, I'd be insulted at your description of my appearance, but I also feel like hell." Ezra picked up the phone and started dialing. "I'm calling right now."

Giving a small nod, Chris left his agent to the phone call.

Ezra wasn't on the phone long before he hung up. He marshalled his strength and walked over to Josiah's desk. "Dr. Putnam has an opening in 45 minutes. Would the offer for a ride still stand?" He looked away self-consciously, not liking that he was going to admit a weakness. "I'm not sure I should be driving as fatigued as I am."

"I'd be happy to, Ezra. Why don't you get yourself ready, and I'll let Chris know?"

Ezra nodded and tapped Josiah's desk nervously. "Thank you. I appreciate it."

Having secured a ride from Josiah, Ezra went over to JD's desk. "If I'm not mistaken, I believe you drove in with Buck today."

"I did," JD responded unsure what Ezra was trying to get at.

Ezra dug into his pocket and pulled out his keys. He took his car keys off the ring and handed them to JD. "Would you mind driving the Jag back to my townhouse? I'm sure Josiah can drive me home from the doctor's office and I'd rather not leave it parked here in the garage." His lips quirked in a quick smile. "I have a feeling it may be several days before I'm fit to drive and longer before I'll be back in the office."

JD accepted the keys held out to him knowing the enormity of the favor Ezra was asking. He didn't let just anyone drive the Jag. Even more to the point, it didn't come easy to him to have to ask anyone – even his friends – for help. "Not a problem, Ez. I'll be real careful driving it. I won't get a scratch on it."

Again, Ezra nodded slightly. "I appreciate it." He saw Josiah coming out of Chris's office from the corner of his eye. "I best be off. If I'm not home when you get there, you can put the keys through the mail slot. He didn't wait for an answer from JD before going back to his desk where he grabbed his coat and briefcase then joined Josiah.

"Ezra," Nathan called as he walked by. "You need anything, you give me a call.

Ezra nodded to acknowledge Nathan then met Josiah at the entrance to Team Seven's office space. "Shall we?"