When Belle returned to the office after her call with Jackson concluded, Dr. Larry was no longer there. Eli was already packing his tactical medical gear and personal belongings into his briefcase, as it was almost time to clock out. Siphoning her things together, Belle picked up her purse along with the gift bag Charles had left for Neon, waiting patiently for Eli to wrap up his end-of-day administrative work.
"Eli," she called softly to capture his attention.
He offered her a fleeting, completely impassive glance before shifting his eyes right back to the files on his desk.
"Can I leave Neon under your care this coming Sunday?" she asked, choosing to ignore his chilliness. "Jackson and I planned to visit the temple we went to last time. He wants to consult a monk there regarding a deeply personal matter."
"Okay," Eli agreed flatly. He paused for a beat, letting the decision settle in his mind before giving a definitive nod. "I can look after him."
