Author's Note: This is going up a little ahead of schedule because my dear writing buddy Shynola needs some cheering (and has flattered me by suggesting my scribbles might do the trick). Once again, I'd like to thank everyone for alerting and favoriting and reviewing. I appreciate it very much. If you haven't reviewed yet, don't be shy. I won't bite! ;)

Rory stared at the Doctor, unsure what to say. He could see the Time Lord's guilt in his eyes even as the feeling of it faded from his mind. He wanted to say something reassuring – to tell the Doctor he wasn't to blame for their current situation – but he wasn't sure he really knew what their situation was. Unfortunately Amy wasn't so hesitant about speaking up.

"You're sorry?" she demanded, frowning at the Doctor. "Sorry for what?" The Doctor flinched and Rory spoke up quickly, hoping to take the sting out of Amy's words.

"It's not your fault," he said, fighting back a wince of his own when Amy turned to stare at him. He felt his face flush but he forced himself to hold her gaze.

"What is going on with the two of you?" she demanded, looking between Rory and the Doctor.

"Nothing's going on," Rory protested.

"It's like I'm only hearing half the conversation," Amy continued, ignoring his protest as she shifted her gaze to the Doctor. "It's not bad enough the blue people decided they didn't like us anymore…"

"I think that's my fault actually," Rory said. She turned back toward him, her frown deepening.

"How? How is it your fault?" she demanded. When he didn't answer she looked back to the Doctor. "What is he talking about?"

"There's something not right here," the Doctor murmured, his expression turning thoughtful. Amy waited a moment before stomping her foot in exasperation.

"Doctor!"

"The fountain Rory drank from is considered sacred by the men we encountered. He… blasphemed by drinking from it."

"But he didn't know that!"

"I did try to explain that to them…" the Doctor began.

"But I panicked and ran so now they think we're up to something," Rory finished.

"How do you know that?" Amy asked, staring at him. She kept her eyes on Rory as she continued. "Doctor, what is he talking about? What's happening to him?"

"I'm not certain," the Doctor answered, pulling out his sonic screwdriver. He looked at Rory, his brows lifting slightly and Rory nodded his consent. He held still while the Doctor scanned him with the screwdriver. The Time Lord had managed to screen his thoughts once more. Rory wasn't sure if he should be relieved or disappointed. As disconcerting as hearing the Doctor's thoughts had been, at least he wouldn't have had to wait to find out what the scan revealed.

"Doctor," Amy hissed impatiently, "what is wrong with Rory?"

"Nothing's wrong with him," the Doctor replied distractedly, studying his screwdriver. "He's going to be fine."

"Doctor!" Amy's voice sharpened and the Doctor turned toward her, shaking his head.

"Please keep your voice down," he whispered.

"What is happening to me?" Rory asked, struggling to keep his voice steady. For a second the wall between the Doctor's mind and his wavered and he gasped as he realized what the Time Lord was thinking. "I'm… I'm telepathic?"

"Yes," the Doctor said.

"He's what?" Amy's whisper was shrill and both Rory and the Doctor winced. She stared at them, her face full of worry.

"You said humans weren't telepathic," Rory said.

"You aren't, usually."

"Then how can I be?"

"The part of your brain used for telepathy is there," the Doctor replied, turning thoughtful again. "You lot took up speaking and stopped using it but it's still there, sitting dormant."

"So something's triggered mine, woke it up."

"Apparently," the Doctor said. For a second Rory could hear the Doctor's voice in his mind, repeating an apology. He waved his hand, dismissing it even as his thoughts raced. This had all started with the fountain. From the moment he'd seen it he'd felt irresistibly drawn to it. The water hadn't tasted like ordinary water either, and the Doctor had had to pull him away from it. He'd felt dizzy and that had almost distracted him from a strange surge of emotions. He realized now the wave of guilt and anxiety had come not from him but from the Doctor. He'd been getting snatches of it ever since, whenever the Doctor's shielding of his thoughts wavered.

"I don't understand," Amy said. "How…"

"I'm not sure," the Doctor admitted. "Something in the water from the spring must have triggered his latent abilities…"

"Can we undo it?" Rory asked, cutting him off.

"I think it will wear off in time," the Doctor replied thoughtfully. "If it was caused by something in the water…"

"But you don't know." Rory suppressed a shudder.

"We need to get back to the TARDIS. I can do a full work-up there." The Doctor tucked his screwdriver back into his pocket and turned away from them, frowning down the tunnel.

"And how are we supposed to get back to the TARDIS?" Amy asked. "We're stuck in this cave and there are angry blue people between us and the entrance."

"The village elder shared a map of these caves with me," the Doctor said, continuing to stare down the tunnel. "There's another way out. We just have to find it."

"Before the mullet-people catch up to us and kill us," Amy muttered. The Doctor sighed and turned to glare at her.

"Well yes, that is the idea," he retorted. "Now, Amy, hush." He turned back to his study of the tunnel and with a huff Amy leaned back against the cave wall. After a moment she moved closer to Rory.

"Can you hear what I'm thinking?" she asked softly.

"No," he answered, pushing himself off the wall. Amy frowned and he wasn't sure if she was relieved or confused. When she spoke there was a mixture of both in her voice.

"Why not?" She frowned at him for a second before looking to the Doctor. When the Time Lord didn't respond, she turned back to Rory.

"I don't know," he answered. "I think it's because you're not telepathic. It's like you're not… broadcasting."

"Can you hear what the Doctor's thinking?"

"Sometimes," Rory said, glancing at him. "Not right now."

"I've… shielded my thoughts," the Doctor said, not turning toward them. He was still studying the tunnel they were in, frowning in concentration. Rory watched him, feeling his skin crawl. It wasn't just him being aware of the thoughts and feelings of others; they were aware of his too. He felt his face grow warm as a rush of embarrassing memories replayed in his mind. There was the time he'd foolishly run for class treasurer, and tripped on his way to the stage to make his speech; his awful first kiss with Becky Stanson… His humiliation was interrupted by a fresh wave of dizziness. He felt his heart start to pound as he realized he could sense the Mullettes approaching.

"Doctor…"

"I know." The Doctor turned and stepped toward him, his expression serious. "Rory, you're going to have to shield your thoughts."

"What?"

"As long as you're… broadcasting they'll be able to find us," the Doctor said, taking a step closer to them and lowering his voice.

"But I… I don't know how," Rory protested.

"Imagine a door in your mind with your thoughts locked behind it." The Doctor accompanied his instructions with an image – for a second Rory could see a steel door, heavily riveted and bolted shut, in his head. He took a deep breath and nodded.

"I'll try," he said, closing his eyes. He tried to imagine the door standing between him and anyone else's mind, but his thoughts kept racing. How close were the mullet-people? What did they intend to do when they caught up to them? The Doctor had said they were nonviolent but Rory could feel how angry they were. His heart started to race as his fear increased.

"Come on, Rory," urged the Doctor. "Concentrate. You can do this." Rory squeezed his eyes shut tighter and tried again. He could see the door but each time he started to picture it closed, a new thought would distract him. He could hear the mental shouts of the blue-skinned people now. The image of the door wavered and with a sinking heart, he opened his eyes.

"I can't," he gasped. "I'm sorry."

"It's ok," the Doctor told him, clapping him gently on the shoulder.

"Now what?" asked Amy.

"Now… we run," the Doctor said, motioning for them to precede him in the tunnel. Amy caught Rory's arm to steady him and they hurried forward, moving deeper into the cave.

They hadn't gone far when they had to slow their steps to dodge around a cluster of stalagmites and stalactites. The jagged bits of stone increased, slowing their speed to a walk. Rory heard the sonic screwdriver sound behind them and turned to see the Doctor scanning the cave walls, floor and ceiling. There was no sign of their pursuers behind him but Rory could feel their emotions. They were still angry, and growing increasingly desperate to find the violators.

After a few minutes the trio moved past the last of the stalagmites. The Doctor came to a stop and Amy and Rory followed suit.

"What are you doing?" Amy asked.

"Keep going," the Doctor said, pulling his sonic screwdriver from his pocket and taking a few steps back toward the last of the stalactites. He was staring up at the cave's ceiling and nearly tripped over loose rock. Amy started back toward him, reaching out to catch his arm and steady him. He started and pulled back, waving her away. "Go on. I'll catch you up."

"We don't know where we're going," Amy protested. "You're the one with the map in your head."

"Just keep moving," the Doctor replied. "I'll be right behind you." He waved them away before turning back to study the rock formations again. Amy and Rory took a few steps before the sound of the screwdriver made them turn and look back. The Doctor had his screwdriver raised above his head, pointing toward the ceiling. Amy and Rory winced and covered their ears as the sound began to reverberate through the cave. The Doctor was wincing too but he didn't move the screwdriver. He waved with his free hand for them to keep going. A moment later the stalactites near him began to crumble. One crashed to the cave floor, sending out a shower of rock-chips and dust. The Doctor flinched as the debris flew toward him but he didn't move. A second stalactite fell and then the entire ceiling seemed to come down. Rory turned to tackle Amy, pushing her to the ground and shielding her with his body as chunks of stone flew around them.