Ben got up. He never cursed and always watched his tongue and yet... "Go to hell, Elijah."

Elijah sighed and frowned at Ben. "I've heard it before, and maybe I'm already going there. I'm still doing my job. And I could hold you here, but I don't want to. So sign this and you can go home." He turned the paper towards him to sign the bottom.

Ben lost his temper. "Ye know I can't write!"

Elijah rolled his eyes. "It's a signature. You can make an X or just scribble something on the line. As long as you did it is what matters." he gestured with his hand to show what he meant.

Ben took the pencil and wrote an X. "Can I go now?"

Elijah nodded. "Yes, go home. But don't cause any trouble with Simon or I might have to bring you back." He knocked on the door, "Rose? You can go home with your father now."

Ben glared. But when Rose came out, her eyes red, Ben wrapped an arm around her. "Come on, lass. No need to cry. We're goin' home already." Rose looked back at Elijah uncertainly, but then left with her father.

Elijah sighed and slipped into his chair, hanging his head covering his face. He wondered how things got so wrong and complicated.

And it was yet to get more complicated, for the following evening, Simon knocked.

Elijah opened the door and looked surprised. "Simon? Is everything alright?"