"Hey there, Sunshine," Buck called out in greeting as Ezra walked into the office. "Nice of you to join us."

"Lose that alarm clock again," Nathan inquired as Ezra walked past his desk. In the six months since Ezra had joined the team, it had become a common sight to see him getting to the office well after everyone else. "Rest of us have been at it for over two hours now."

"Would you like an award," Ezra snarked as he dropped his briefcase on his desk.

As Ezra started to settle in at his desk, Chris came to the doorway of his office. "Standish, my office now," he commanded.

Pulling in a deep breath and letting it out slowly, Ezra got up from the chair he just sat on and made his way to his boss's office.

"Dead man walking," JD stage whispered as he walked by his desk.

Once Ezra was in Chris' office and the door was closed, Vin looked around at the others. "Why don't you guys just knock it off and leave 'em alone. He's been with us six months and you're all still riding him hard."

"Why?" Nathan demanded. "It's the same thing every day. The rest of us are here working and he strolls in whenever he feels like it. He needs to start pulling his weight."

"Really?" Vin questioned. "So, what time did you leave here last night?" he asked Nathan. "Five, right," he answered before the other man could. He looked over to JD and Buck. "How about you two? Same as the rest of us at five if I'm not mistaken." He looked over to where Josiah was sitting at his desk and not saying anything. "Same for you, Josiah." He received a silent nod although there was a slight smile on Josiah's face.

"So, we all left at five," Vin concluded. "And how about what you all were doing at two this morning. Tucked up in bed probably." As Buck opened his mouth to say something, Vin waved him off. "Save it. We don't need to hear about your latest conquest and exploits." He looked between the other four men. "Any of you got any idea what Ezra was doing last night...and don't say it, Nathan." The only answer was three blank faces and one knowing look.

"I'll tell you what he was doing. After being here all day working on the backlog of paperwork like the rest of us, Ezra had to meet with an informant. While we were all relaxing and having some down time, he was still working...and he does that a lot of the time." He watched as Nathan, Buck, and JD looked uncomfortable. "I don't suppose you noticed he looked like death warmed over when he walked in? He's had meets every night this week. He might be getting here two hours late, but he's probably had a whole lot less sleep than all of us this week."

"I didn't know," Nathan said suddenly uncomfortable.

"Yeah, that's the problem. You didn't know but you still went right ahead and leapt to conclusions." Vin looked from one to the other of the men. "I don't get it. We're supposed to be a team but sometimes we sure don't act like it. Leastwise some of us sure ain't been very welcoming of Ezra." He saw Nathan about to say something and cut him off. "It's rumors, nothing else. Nothing's been proven. Just because he doesn't have a lifestyle you approve of doesn't mean he isn't as hardworking and as good at his job as the rest of us."

"C'mon, Vin. You gotta admit the guy isn't exactly making it easy for the rest of us. I never saw someone keep to himself so much." Despite his words, Buck kept his head down not making eye contact with Vin.

"There's an old saying," Josiah said as he rose to join Vin where he was standing. "Once burned, twice shy. From what we've learned of Ezra's last couple of months with the FBI, he wasn't just burned. The men and women who were supposed to be his team practically set a lit match to him. Seems to me it's common sense that he'd want to hold people at arm's length until he was sure he could trust them."

Before anyone else could say anything, Chris's door opened suddenly, and he stuck his head out. "Nathan. Get in here. Something's wrong with Ezra."

Nathan didn't waste any time grabbing his backpack and going to Chris's office. "What happened?" he asked as looked in and saw the undercover agent on the floor. He hurried over and knelt by him.

"No clue?" Chris scrubbed his hand through his hair in frustration. "He was filling me on the meet last night. He stopped making sense and then he just slumped over."

Nathan rested two fingers on the side of the downed man's neck and found that his pulse was slow. He was just turning back to Chris to ask another question when Ezra started to stir. Nathan placed his hand on his chest and lightly held him in place. "Ezra? Stay still."

Ezra let out a small moan. His eyes blinked open and his unfocused gaze wandered lazily around the room before coming to rest on Nathan. "Wha' happened?" He made an aborted attempt to sit up, easily stopped by Nathan's hand on his chest, then sagged back to the floor. "Where'm I?"

"Just take it easy. You're still in Chris's office. You blacked out? Do you remember?" Nathan glanced briefly at Chris. "Did he hit his head when he went down?"

Chris shook his head. "I was able to grab him and get him on the floor before he fell? He ok?"

Nathan shrugged an answer. "Don't know. His pulse is a little slow and he seems a bit disoriented."

Ezra let out a sigh. "Must you talk about me like I'm not here."

Nathan switched his attention back to Ezra. He seemed more oriented, but he still lay docilely on the floor and hadn't tried to get up again. His eyes were heavy-lidded, and the paleness of his face only highlighted the dark shadows under them. "Sorry. Can you tell me how you're feeling?" Before Ezra could answer, Nathan added, "and don't you try blowing smoke. I want the truth."

Again, Ezra sighed. When he spoke, his accent was thicker than usual. "My head is pounding, and my muscles feel...weak."

"Uh huh. And how about before you blacked out. Do you remember?"

"Could I please get up off the floor?" Ezra asked without answering the question. "This is undignified." When it didn't look like Nathan was going to let him, he added, "If you let me up, I'll answer any questions you have."

Nathan signaled to Chris and they carefully helped the ill man off the floor and to the couch against the wall. When they did, Ezra's face paled even more if possible and, for a brief moment, he sagged between the two men. As soon as he was sitting, Nathan gently pushed him forward so his head was between his knees hoping to stave off another blackout. "Just take it easy and breathe."

"Could we please get rid of the audience?"

Chris looked over at the door where the other four members of the team were crowded looking on in concern. He crossed to the door. Without saying anything to the other four, he closed the door in their faces to give Ezra some privacy. "Ok. You're off the floor and the audience is gone. Now, answer Nathan's question," he ordered.

Carefully, Ezra sat back. "Could you remind me what the question was?" He glanced between the other two and saw their matched expressions of disbelief. "Honestly, I don't recall the question."

"It's ok," Nathan said. "I asked you how you were feeling before you ended up on the floor. Did you have a headache then? Were you dizzy? Did you feel weak? Any trouble breathing?"

"Yes, yes, yes, and no," Ezra answered. He tilted his head back against the couch and closed his eyes, so he missed Chris and Nathan exchanging confused looks.

"What does that mean?" As he asked the question, Nathan picked up Ezra's wrist checking his pulse again.

Letting out a sigh, Ezra opened his eyes slightly and looked in Nathan's direction. "I've had a headache all morning. I very briefly felt dizzy and weak, but I was able to breathe just fine." He closed his eyes again and let himself settle more heavily on the couch. "And why is it so damned cold and dry in this building?"

Nathan snagged his bag and pulled it closer to him. He reached in and pulled out a BP cuff and stethoscope, putting them on the couch next to Ezra. "You think you can get him some water, Chris…and ask Josiah to get that blanket out of my bottom desk drawer."

"Sure thing," Chris answered before leaving his office. He took a step out the door, which he closed carefully behind him, and was immediately surrounded by the other four men demanding to know what was wrong with their teammate. He held up a hand to quiet them. "All I know is he blacked out for few seconds. He said he's got a headache and he's feeling kind of weak. That's all I know so stop pestering me with questions. As soon as Nathan has any idea, he'll let us know. One of you grab a bottle of water from the breakroom. Josiah, Nathan says he had a blanket in his desk?"