Here you go, guys (and girls). Next chapter!

Disclaimer: The poem Kate tries to read is by Emily Dickinson. I love her work, so I found the chance to use it. :)

He returned with Liz in tow. She had some clothing items in her arms and a toiletry carrier.

"Kate, Liz is going to take you to the showers." Kate blushed.

"I d-don't h-have any extra c-clothes."

"I have some here," Liz said.

"B-but w-what about the v-voices?"

"Here," Abe said and placed his hand on her forehead. Carefully, he built a barrier for her against others thoughts. "That should last until you get back."

"Th-thank you." She stood and followed Liz.

When they returned, Abe was nowhere to be seen.

"Abe, we're back," Liz called out.

"Just a minute," they heard from the tank. Sure enough, a few minutes later, he descended the steps to join them. He paused when he saw Kate. Her previously lank hair now curled around her clean and shining face and fell down her back. Now that she felt better, her soft beauty shone through. It was an…endearing trait. The thought struck Abe as odd, for he had never thought of anyone as endearing. He saw her blush a bit and stare at her own feet. It didn't occur to him that the temporary shield he had built for her was gone. "Do you feel better?" he asked when he stood in front of them.

"Y-yes," Kate replied.

"Thank you, Liz."

"No problem," Liz replied. "Just let me know if you need anything else." She aimed this comment towards Kate, who had taken a seat on the couch.

"I w-will. Th-thank you," Kate stuttered. Liz nodded and left them alone. Abe retrieved a book from one of the podiums and sat beside her.

"Would you like to read now?" Abe asked, receiving an emphatic nod from Kate. He opened the book, the same one as before, to a poem he had marked. "Tell me what you see on this page."

"L-letters."

"Do you know them?"

"Y-yes, b-but I d-don't know the w-words."

"I have an idea. You tell me the letters and I'll help you put them together."

"O-okay."

"What is this?" He pointed to the first letter on the page.

"It's an 'i'." He moved his finger. "An…f?"

"Yes. Now that's one word. How would you put them together?"

"Um… 'Eye-f'?" He knew not to laugh aloud…or mentally for that matter.

"No. The 'i' changes sound so that it becomes if, not 'eye-f'."

"Oh. O-okay."

"With that in mind, I want you to try to read the first line."

"O-okay. 'If I c-can s…'"

"Stop."

"'If I c-can st-stop on—'"

"One." She looked up at him. "It's one, not on."

"O-okay. What's this word?"

"It's 'heart'."

"So, it's 'If I c-can stop one h-heart fr…from b-b-br…'"

"Breaking."

"'If I c-can stop one heart from b-breaking.' I d-did it!"

"Good!"

"I h-have a qu-question."

"Ask away."

"W-will you h-help me b-block the v-voices?"

"Has the shield I built for you fallen yet?"

"Y-yes. It's b-been d-down f-for a wh-while."

"H-how long?" Kate stared at him for a moment.

"Y-you st-stuttered."

"Sorry. I didn't mean to."

"It w-was g-gone when I c-came b-back in h-here."

"Oh. Well, the only way to practice would be to have someone else in here."

"B-b-but I c-can hear yours s-s-sometimes."

"Hmm. Very well."

"W-what d-do I need t-to d-do?"

"Well…I'll think something, and you try to block it."

"H-how?"

"Imagine a wall between my thoughts and your mind." She closed her eyes and concentrated.

"I c-can't d-do it."

"Sure you can. Just try."

"O-okay." She concentrated again, and this time, she saw a mental image of a brick wall flash in front of her eyes. "I th-think I d-did it."

"Good. Now, I want you to try and keep my thoughts away."

"I'll t-try." She kept her eyes closed. Her look of utter concentration was…cute, and Abe couldn't help but think so. "I'm n-not c-cute." Abe was startled.

"I'm sorry, I-I didn't mean—"

"I-it's o-okay. It j-just m-means I d-didn't b-block the th-thought."

"You didn't freak out, either."

"I kn-knew it w-was c-coming. I w-want to t-try again."

"Okay." They continued to work on it, until Kate became frustrated.

"I c-can't d-do it!" Abe touched her shoulder.

"Yes you can! I know it's difficult, but it's only your first day. And you blocked a portion of my thoughts."

"B-but n-not much."

"It is still better than nothing."

"I s-suppose…" Her stomach growled.

"How about we try again later?"

"O-okay. M-may I g-get something t-to eat?"

"You probably only need to eat soup right now."

"That's f-fine. I l-liked that st-stuff earlier."

"I'll go get you some more."

"Th-thank you."

What happens next?

I would have a cliff-hanger, but I guess I haven't written it to do that yet. :P

Please review! If you hate it, let me know what I've done wrong. It helps me.

:)