"Please let me come, father!" Rose begged.
"Do as I tell ye, Rose!" Ben shouted at her, in a tone that forbade any discussion, and that had Simon cringe and almost lose his balance.
Rose bit her lip and rushed back inside, and Ben started walking with the support of the two men.

Elijah frowned apologetically towards Rose. He started to walk Ben with Simon's help. "You didn't need to be that harsh. She is just worried about you."

It was good that someone told him sometime.

But Simon kept his mouth shut and walked, dragging his father's weight.

Ben knew Elijah was right. But he had been tired, humiliated, and Simon's crime was still fresh in his mind. "She should have listened the first time," he defended himself, rather than admitting fault. He wouldn't accept his authority being questioned in front of Simon anyway, not now that it seemed he had regained control over him - at least for a little while.

Elijah sighed seeing he wouldn't see things his way and didn't want to push. There were pressing matters to deal with He tried to walk at a normal pace towards the hospital.

After some bit of silent walking, they reached the large house that functioned as hospital, and entered. It was quiet. Simon helped his father sit down in the waiting area.
"There's a good lad..." Ben tried.

Elijah nodded as he called out for help. He looked for a bell or a chord to get their attention. "Simon is a very good kid. And he cares about you, Ben. " He mentioned it quickly as his attention was elsewhere.

If he wasn't busy being a thief. Ben remained quiet, and so did Simon, who was standing about awkwardly.
At last, a doctor appeared and looked at the old man in his torn fisherman's clothes. Then he turned to Elijah, whom he recognized as the constable.
"Can he pay?"

Elijah blinked and immediately gave the man a sour look. "You'll get your money, just help him."

Ben and Simon were for once united, glaring at the doctor. The doctor turned to Ben.
"What's wrong?" he asked, apparently unaffected by their glares. Or by anything else.
"I'm just about to have a cold, 's all... Ye needn't waste yer precious expensive time." Ben said coolly.