A/N: As promised, here's Emily. I did the best I could, but she's a tough cookie. Not sure if it really sounds like her.
Disclaimer: Standard disclaimer applies.
"It's pretty bad."
"Emily…" Dave quickly interjected, the warning behind the tone obvious.
Oh please, Rossi, we already had this conversation. No, I don't like it- not one damn bit, let me tell you- but I'm not stupid. I get that causing a panic would be counter-productive, get a lot of people "sick", give us a whole heap of trouble, blah blah blah. I still think it's better to tell the truth, and God knows I don't mind toeing that Company Line you're suddenly so anal about every now and then, but do you really think I'm going to jeopardize my standing on this case now that Reid's been infected? After handing myself over to that… that… religious nutjob in Colorado so Reid wouldn't have to take another beating from another zealot psycho, you really think I would risk getting myself into trouble? Risk getting myself kicked off the case when my friend's life is on the line- again?
Think again, sir.
Even if I have to do something I've always believed is wrong- if I have to lie to a woman who, let's be honest, has every right to be concerned- so that I can actually be doing something useful for Reid then you're damn right I'm going to do it.
Gotta' stick to protocol, right?
And so Emily lied. Toxic mold, she said. Good one. Nothing to worry about. We hope. She could almost hear Rossi's internal sigh of relief and it was all she could do not to shake her head at him. As it was, it took a lot of restraint to hold back until the neighbor was out of earshot before uttering a meaningful "Don't 'Emily' me".
Let's just get this bastard and make sure no one else gets hurt. I don't want everything I just said to become a lie…