"Did he say what sort of documents?" asked Jerome eagerly.

"I didn't ask too much," said Gibbs, "Figured it would be out of character for me to start asking about them. I tried to sound … well, like I would have a few days ago if he'd talked to me about hinky stuff like this."

"Did he say anything?" asked Faith.

"He said he had some old texts. Passed down from his Mom's family. Said his grandmother was really into it and got bitter when the powers didn't come back."

"He knew about that?" asked Jimmy.

"No," said Gibbs sarcastically, "I just made that up! Look, he didn't say much except that he had these papers which he thought about destroying …"

"What!" exclaimed Jerome.

"… but decided not to. He gave Azaria the spell because he assumed it wouldn't work and it would show her that she didn't have any special powers. But he changed it a little."

"Why?" asked Tony.

Gibbs shrugged, "Don't think he knows himself. He's set on it all being nonsense, but I guess he's a cautious kind of guy."

"It doesn't make sense," said Tony.

"You think!" snapped Gibbs.

"I mean, I know what you said," said Tony hastily, "It's just that, as far as we know, our forebears didn't need to say spells or use incantations … so why would Ducky have a book of spells?"

"That's true," said Faith. She turned to Gibbs, "Are we sure Dr Mallard is talking about the same Additional Powers?"

"How the hell should I know?" demanded Gibbs, "How many of you are there? And how many had their powers suppressed?"

"It seems too much of a coincidence," said Tony, "And we all know how the Boss feels about coincidences. Maybe the book of spells is a red herring … you know, not linked with the other books."

"We won't know until we get a look at them," said Jerome practically.

"And how do we do that?" asked Jimmy. "You heard Agent Gibbs, Dr Mallard is hostile to the whole idea of Additional Powers."

"I think Jimmy's our best bet," said Tony. "I mean, I'm supposed to be away, and Jimmy is the person closest to Ducky."

"What do you want me to do?" asked Jimmy anxiously. "I don't want to break into his house: I don't think I'd be any good at that."

"You could suggest that you're looking into the psychological aspects of magic," suggested Faith, "You know, as part of your medical studies."

"I don't know, guys," said Jimmy, "I'm not very good at lying – and especially to Dr Mallard."

"You could just ask him straight out," said Gibbs tiring of the discussion.

"I don't know," said Jerome doubtfully, "We want to keep this all secret if possible."

"And …" began Faith.

"Make a decision quickly," ordered Gibbs as he looked out of his window, "He's just shown up!"

A few moments later, they heard Ducky coming through the front door,

"Jethro! Are you here? You're not down in that dratted basement again, are you? I'm sure inhaling all that wood dust cannot be good for you, you know. I must show you a recent study on the deleterious effects of dust inhalation: it was written for sawmill industry …" Ducky trailed to a halt when he saw the number of people already in the room. "I'm so sorry, I seem to have interrupted some sort of gathering … I will depart at once."

"No, Dr Mallard," said Jerome, "Please stay. Your arrival may be … opportune."

Ducky looked in surprise at Gibbs who seemed to be accepting of the Deputy Director's taking charge of the situation.

"Well," he said, "I am always ready to be of assistance. Anthony, I thought you were on vacation … and if you don't mind me saying so, you look a little worn … perhaps you should be taking a more restful vacation than the one you seem to be engaged in."

"I'm fine," said Tony automatically.

"Hmm," said Ducky doubtfully, "And, now Deputy Director, pray tell me in what way my arrival has proved to be opportune."

"Sit down, Dr Mallard," said Jerome as he gestured to everyone to resume their seats.

Ducky looked around sharply, still trying to take the tone of the room but deciding, for the moment, to keep silent.

"Ah, Dr Mallard," said Jerome, "Agent Gibbs has just told us that you have a collection of old texts relating to your ancestors."

"That information was given to Agent Gibbs in confidence," said Ducky frostily. "Jethro, I must say that I am disappointed that you spoke of it to others."

"It was important, Duck," said Gibbs. The sorry word was not quite said.

"Pray continue, Deputy Director," said Ducky.

"We would be grateful to examine those papers," said Jerome.

"And may I ask why?"

"Does it matter?" asked Jerome, still hoping to avoid a detailed explanation.

"I fear it does. As I confided to Agent Gibbs, I consider the material to be dangerous in the wrong hands and I have made sure never to disseminate it widely."

Jerome looked around the others as if to get permission for disclosure, "Dr Mallard, you may find this hard to believe, but we think that your archive may relate to … to us."

"I beg your pardon?" said Ducky.

Faith intervened, "Dr Mallard, we … I mean, some of us … have become aware of some Additional Powers which we have. We believe these were suppressed for some generations and have only recently been revived …"

Ducky laughed, "After all these years, it seems that Jethro does have a sense of humour! Jethro, I applaud your inventiveness in playing this trick on me although I will confess that I am surprised at who you chose as your co-conspirators."

"Not a joke, Duck," said Gibbs quietly.

Ducky's face hardened, "I see … and indeed, I do not consider this to be a laughing matter."

"We have Additional Powers," said Faith, "We prefer that term to magic."

"Then I fear you are all deluded," said Ducky curtly, "And I do not intend to waste any more time on this matter." He made to rise but Jerome waved him back again.

"I understand your scepticism," he said, "But I can assure you that we do have these powers."

"We are trying to work out how to use them," said Tony, "But not much evidence has survived to guide us. It sounds like what you have could be real useful."

"I'm sorry, Anthony …"

"Dr Mallard," interrupted Jimmy, "We're serious! And we're trying to be responsible about it, we don't want to do anyone any harm. Faith … I mean, Commander Coleman, is working on a code of conduct for us and Jerome is working on protocols."

"Mr Palmer," said Ducky sorrowfully, "Do you mean to say that you share in this delusion as well?"

"It's not a delusion," said Jimmy stoutly.

"You ever hear a delusion where the victims are setting up their own bureaucracy, Duck?" asked Gibbs drily.

Ducky sighed, "Jethro, I have lived a long and unsheltered life. I have seen countless forms of delusion and paranoia: this is nothing new."

"Why don't you demonstrate?" suggested Gibbs, once again wanting to cut to the chase.

"A demonstration?" said Jerome, "Well, I don't know. We don't really go in for that sort of thing."

"You let DiNozzo demonstrate to me," Gibbs reminded him as he recalled the polar bear cub sitting on his work bench.

"I think it would be OK," said Faith.

"OK," said Tony as he began to get to his feet, "What do you want?"

"No, not you!" said Jimmy hastily, "You need to stay as you are for a while yet."

Tony opened his mouth to object but received twin glares from Faith and Jerome. "All right then," he said sulkily, "Then who?"

Faith, Jerome and Jimmy looked at one another uncertainly.

"What's the problem?" asked Gibbs.

"Well," said Jimmy awkwardly, "It's hard to know what to do. I mean, the animal changes are the most obvious but that's what Tony is best at. Although, he has been trying to teach us as well. It's just that we're not very good yet."

"Don't think it needs to be spectacular," said Tony encouragingly, "I'm sure that a mouse would be enough to convince Ducky. Or, Faith, you managed an orangutan the other day."

Gibbs gazed at the Commander thoughtfully, somehow orangutan was not an animal he would associate with her.

"Oh, very well," said Faith reluctantly. She stood up and closed her eyes in concentration.

"Don't forget …" said Tony hastily.

Her eyes snapped open, "Don't forget what?"

"To come back with your clothes on!" Tony looked at Gibbs, "It's a rookie mistake … and it's kinda embarrassing when it happens. Although," he said, "Not that you wouldn't look good with no clothes on, Faith … but that's not relevant," he hurried on in response to a glare.

Faith closed her eyes again and seemed to compose herself, a few seconds later and Gibbs saw and felt the customary rush of wind and heard a popping sound before a young orangutan appeared on his couch. A few seconds later, and a fully clothed Commander was once again in Gibbs' living room.

"Hey, well done!" praised Tony, "You've been practising. The colour was beginning to go towards the end but that'll come with practice."

"Er, Tony," said Jimmy, "I'm not sure now's the right time for a lesson," he jerked his head towards Ducky who was staring blankly in astonishment.

Jerome smiled at Ducky, "So, Dr Mallard, we've shown you that we're telling the truth …"

Ducky swallowed and then said, "So, it's true! The powers have come back? After all these years …"

"Yes," said Faith gently.

"Goodness," said Ducky, "So, my grandmother was right all along …"

"Yes," said Jerome, "So you will help us, won't you? Show us your papers?"

Ducky stood a little straighter, "No."

"Excuse me?" said Jerome. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, no," said Ducky.

"Duck?" asked Gibbs.

"Jethro, I am surprised that you have caught up in this, but I will not be."

"Why not?"

Ducky turned to address the other people in the room, "I fear I cannot be of help. I do not believe that your powers will benefit our world … indeed, I think they are extremely dangerous. There is only one way in which I will assist you …"

"What's that?" asked Faith.

"I will assist you in establishing how you can once again suppress the powers, but I will not help you in any other way."