The arguments had gone on for some time, but Ducky remained obdurate. Finally, Gibbs took Ducky down to the basement to try his own powers of persuasion.

"Jethro, I am surprised that you got caught up in this," said Ducky when they were alone.

"No more surprised than me," shrugged Gibbs. "They needed someone to find out what Abby had done to DiNozzo …"

"Excuse me? Where does Anthony fit into the story?"

"Abby tried Azaria's spell on Tony. It worked …"

"It worked!"

"Seems so but DiNozzo managed to change into something else on his own but apparently he said it felt odd, nasty."

"I see. I was not aware that Abby had experimented on Anthony and I was also not aware that the incantation had been effective at all."

"Yeah, turns out that Abby is a bit vague about what happened," said Gibbs.

"And they were concerned about what Abby had done?"

"They thought there was something hinky about it. Thought there might be something sinister going on, that they might be under attack."

"Well, they're not," said Ducky briskly, "Now they know that it was I behind the transformation they can rest easy."

"Not sure it's that simple, Duck. They're doing their best, you know. Trying to work it all out. Couldn't you just let them have a quick look at your old books?"

"Jethro," said Ducky in exasperation, "It is unlike you to be naïve."

"What?"

"I'm sure there is a certain olde worlde charm about their efforts to do the right thing but …"

"But what?"

"The powers we are talking about here are very great assuming my reading of the evidence is correct."

"What you mean?"

"I have seen that they are capable of changing their form – that takes a tremendous level of power and skill and I am most doubtful that that is the limit of their abilities."

"Duck?"

"The old texts indicate a wide range of skills. They can transport themselves at great speed …"

"Tony said they were still trying to work that one out," Gibbs remembered.

"And also that they are able to influence the minds of others … I suspect they may have already done some of that with Abby."

"I don't think so," said Gibbs, "When she told me about what Craig said to her, it seemed OK to me."

"Jethro! You are allowing yourself to be swayed by the glamour of the situation."

"Glamour? Me?" said Gibbs incredulously. "When you ever known me to be swayed by something like that."

"You will have to forgive me, Jethro," said Ducky stiffly, "I can see no other reason for your attitude."

"How about the fact that I've known DiNozzo, Faith and Palmer for years? That I think they are good people … people with integrity? I'd say that's what swayed me and not glamour."

"Forgive me," said Ducky more sincerely this time, "I should not have said that. I am sure that you are motivated only by the best intentions, but I fear that I am not able to share them."

"Then why are you so determined about this?" asked Gibbs gently.

"I fear the consequences," said Ducky. "I regret that this may cause a rift between us, but I must remain firm in my refusal – no matter what our friends do to me."

"We won't do anything to you," said Tony softly from the stairs. "You're our friend. We wouldn't hurt you."

"But you don't deny that you have the power to do so if you wished?" said Ducky.

"We wouldn't hurt you," said Tony.

"That's not answering my question," said Ducky.

"I'd like to talk to you," said Tony. "As a friend."

Gibbs tested his gut and decided that it would be better to leave the two alone. "Go upstairs," he suggested, "I need some basement time and there's a bench in the backyard. You can sit there." If Gibbs somehow thought it would be better for Ducky not to be isolated in the basement, the thought went unspoken and Ducky and Tony, accustomed to obeying him, went away meekly enough.

"You will not change my mind," said Ducky as they took their seats.

"I know," said Tony, "But I'd like to talk things over with you. Get another perspective."

"You will forgive my scepticism, Anthony. You are, after all, well known for your charm."

"Doesn't seem to work on anyone at NCIS," observed Tony with a hint of bitterness. At that moment, Bruce wandered from the house and jumped ecstatically on to Tony's knees.

"It seems to be working with our feline visitor," observed Ducky. "Things really have changed, haven't they?"

"Ducky?"

"I was not aware that Jethro had acquired a cat."

"Ah," said Tony, "Bruce sort of got here … by accident. It's a long story," he paused, "Well, not a long story but perhaps one for another time." Bruce knocked her head against Tony's hand as a reminder to stroke her.

"Well, you know that I always enjoy a story – even if I am not the teller of that story. And Bruce is a very handsome gentleman."

"Actually, Bruce is a lady. I guess the story is a little longer than I'd thought."

"I'm sure it is fascinating but," Ducky huffed, "What is it you wish to discuss with me?"

"You know, when we discovered we had the Additional Powers, we didn't know what to do about it. I guess there was the first stage when it was kinda fun to find out what we could do but then it sort of hit us. It's a good thing we weren't alone …"

"I think there was some sort of intent behind that?" said Ducky cautiously, "Your ancestors knew it could be difficult to be alone."

"Your ancestors as well, Ducky. Yeah, from what we can tell they had a pretty good handle on what it would be like."

"Do you know how many people have found they have magic powers?"

"Additional Powers," corrected Tony, "We don't feel comfortable with the word magic. There are some other groups in the States and some in Europe. We try to work together …"

"Jethro mentioned something about a bureaucracy?"

"Yeah, it's probably just as well Gibbs won't have APs! We've involved lawyers and setting up a rule book!"

"And why did you do so?"

"Jerome and I are in law enforcement. Faith is a lawyer. Jimmy's in medicine. We're all responsible people, we've all seen what can happen when people abuse power … and that was ordinary power! Who knows what we could do with our powers? It scared us … and we figured that staying together, making rules might protect us as well as other people. In fact, as far as we can tell, the people with emerging powers seem mostly to be in law enforcement, medicine or some caring profession … doctors, nurses, teachers, care workers. Guess that might be part of the plan as well."

"I suggested to Jethro that you might be able to influence the minds of others," said Ducky. "Am I right?"

"Yes."

"You can make people forget things?"

"Yes. But we only do it if we have to … and we run it past other groups before we do."

Ducky shook his head, "And it is that element which worries me. I am most uneasy about anyone having that sort of power. Once again, I would strongly urge that you consider suppressing it."

"But even if we stopped other people getting them: and it's a big if, that wouldn't stop us having the powers for the rest of our lives. We know that much from when they were stopped all those years ago."

"Nevertheless …"

"And wouldn't it be like … I don't know, deciding not to use scientific advances, not to work out how to cure disease because you might cure someone who is evil?"

"I don't think that's the same sort of thing at all, Anthony!"

"We've been given gifts; don't you think we should use them? Musicians should make music, poets write poetry, movie directors should do their thing …"

"Again, that is not the same thing!"

"But any gift can be misused," protested Tony, "It doesn't mean we stop people learning how to do things just in case they misuse their knowledge."

"Humankind has managed without this knowledge, without these Additional Powers for centuries and I see no reason why they should not continue to do so."

"On that argument, we should never have discovered how to use fire!"

"Anthony, your arguments are ingenious, but they will not persuade me. I am ready to believe that you are trying to act responsibly but I am fearful about the future."

"You know, I wouldn't have expected that I would want to be responsible," mused Tony.

"Nonsense," said Ducky briskly, "A career in law enforcement – and I am sure there would have been other options available – is a good indication of your wanting to use your abilities for the public good. No, I am not at all surprised. You are a good man, Anthony DiNozzo … but you have not changed my mind."

Tony laughed, "I didn't expect to, Ducky! You, and Gibbs, can always run rings around me. The arguments you make are ones we've all made at one time or another … you're not the first to suggest suppressing the powers but, for most of us, it doesn't seem the right thing to do. It would be useful to be able to read the documents you've got – it might take some of the guesswork out of what we're trying to do but," he raised his hands in a gesture of surrender, "We'll respect your principles."

"And make me forget any of this happened?"

"No," said Tony, "We'll ask you to give your word that you won't talk of this to anyone …"

"I doubt if anyone would believe me anyway!" chuckled Ducky.

"That's what Gibbs said! We'll trust you, Ducky and hope …"

"That I change my mind?"

"Yes. The documents would potentially help us a lot. You know, I'm curious about one thing: if you have so many doubts about these powers, why didn't you destroy the papers?"

"I thought about it many times," admitted Ducky, "But something always held me back. I'd go and look at them, get ready to burn them but found myself unable to do so."

"I'm glad," said Tony, "At least it can give us hope you will change your mind."

Ducky shook his head sadly and Tony got up to go. Jimmy must have been watching from the house because he came out and looked hopefully at Tony who shrugged in resignation.

"Did you tell him …" asked Jimmy anxiously.

"Doesn't matter, Jimmy," said Tony.

"But, Tony …"

"Save it! Ducky still has doubts and he won't let us see his papers.

"But it could help …"

"I think forcing Ducky would just confirm his worst suspicions about us," said Tony lightly. "Leave it, we'll manage."

Ducky was curious about Jimmy's anxiety, "Am I to infer that there is some urgency to the wish to look at my archive?"

"Yes!" said Jimmy.

"No," said Tony, "Jimmy's just excited, that's all."

Ducky was surprised to receive a glare from Jimmy, but his assistant managed to prevent himself from saying anything and turned to follow Tony into the house. Ducky resolutely stared at Gibbs' rosebushes in the yard and then turned hastily as he heard a thump and saw that Tony had fallen to the ground with Bruce meowing next to him.

Jimmy rushed to kneel at Tony's side and then looked up at Ducky and hissed, "This is your fault!"