Little had thought about going to Crozier for assistance, but ultimately decided no, it would not be fair to involve him, and in fact it might be more dangerous for him to become involved. After all, he's perpetually worried that Hickey may still try to target their captain. (Former captain, he always reminds himself, the thought forced and unwelcomed.)

But of course Crozier would find out; this town is small, and the event had gotten out of control; everyone's buzzing about it. When he sees the older man approaching, Little's already wincing, already ashamed, head dipping forwards as he hears him speak.

"I am sorry, sir. But I fear there can be no peace. I...I fear he will target Mr. Jopson and Miss Marsh, now. The way he has targeted others in the past."

Little does look back up at the other man's coaxing, listening to his words. No matter how much time may pass and how much may have changed in the months here, Crozier's words hold a certain value for him. More than anyone else's perhaps ever will.

"Our silence.... Then, do you think we should have voiced more about him outright, before now? Warned the people here? I have been... wary to. Wary I might earn his wrath. I have tried to be very cautious with him."

His method for dealing with The Hickey Situation had been to play it safe, keep the devil placated, but clearly that could only last for a short time. In the end, none of it really helped at all. It's only made the wounds fester longer, and bleed heavier when things finally erupted.

Crozier understands. Little blinks, at once surprised and relieved, so relieved; there have been countless times that he's doubted his own decision to stay silent, to do nothing, to keep his own quiet watchful eye on the happenings of this town and of Cornelius Hickey's presence within it. But Crozier sees why he would, and it matters. It helps.

(That, and the way the other man had approached him, looked at him.... For a moment, it could almost seem that they were back where they were before here, when Francis Crozier was his captain, and Edward Little was looking to him for direction.)

It emboldens him a little, perhaps. Something to his stance shifts, however subtly. He nods, eyes meeting the older man's now and not letting go.

"I agree wholeheartedly, sir." A pause as he considers, frowning in thought. "But I must admit, I haven't the faintest how to manage both things. He listens to no one, respects no one. How can we hope to keep him controlled?"

Crozier's right, of course — of course. It's something that Little's thought back to again and again, angry at himself for not catching it sooner. Looking back, he can now see how skilled Hickey was at such matters. How he must have been working from the inside out.

And the horror is the thought that things will repeat. Killings and mutiny; he nods, understanding exactly what Crozier means by a "shift." It's what he's been terrified of for months now.

"You are right. We cannot stop him from forming allies, but.... we can try to keep the people here as a community. So that if he does attempt to cause divide.... hopefully they will have formed a strong enough fortification as a community not to listen. Not to fall prey to him."

Ideally, that's what would have happened back out on the ice. Sometimes he still can't understand how it went wrong, how those men turned against one another. How it ended the way it did. But..... this is a second chance. And now they know what to look out for. They know what Hickey is. It's a good plan, it's.... something to try for. It's a spark of hope rekindled in him.

"I do still fear that he might turn his wrath to those involved. Miss Marsh... She has been staying under my roof, for extra protection. I feel we must keep an eye on her. The people here... they have been swallowed up into our upsets. They do not deserve to suffer for them."

God, there's such relief at the words, the concept of it — togetherness. And Crozier speaking of order and leadership.... Edward Little almost even smiles.

"It almost sounds as though you might take up the mantle of captain again, sir."

Something to his eyes does shift at that — if the smile stays only an echo at his mouth, it at least shines the browns of his gaze into something richer, warmed. It's soft, slight, and lasts only a brief moment or two, but it was there, before his expression sobers to something thoughtful again. He's had... much time to think upon this, all of it.

"The burden of.... being the sole leader... it is not something to be placed upon your shoulders." He sees that now; in fact, it would probably be impossible. This is not their ship. "But I do believe that this town has a need for leaders." Multiple. As Crozier said, people banding together, working together. "I have seen others stepping forth to try and help, as well. Strong people with good intentions, who wish to protect others. Constable Fraser, Mr. Wolf, Miss Earp..."

He doesn't know if Crozier is familiar with those names, but he thinks it would be nice if they could all meet. Join forces.

"And I will assist you however you need me to, sir. There is no question of it. I stand behind you."