Contents

Beginnings of a New Group

Wheeeee!

Bumpy Roads To Hell.

That's What Friends Are For

She's Always A Woman To Me

My Stuff.

Quidditch

Dinner Dates

What's Not To Love?

Bonds of Brotherhood.

Training Grounds

Planning

Hide and Seek

The Sulky Prince...ess

The Sulky Boy

The Thug.

My Cult Is Fun.

Vacationing Pets

Cures for Moodiness

The Start of Something Bad.

Not Quite What I Was Going For

Oh, Mac

Animal Magnetism

Picnic With The Family.

Girl Toys and Boy Toys

Banks, part 1

Beginnings of a New Group

Note: Thank you to Scribe for starting this one off with her last challenge.  Love you, dear.

"What the HELL was that!" was shouted by an agitated male voice, his body going tense and his hand reaching for the gun he wasn't wearing.

Greg listened, the nodded. "Hippogryph.  Pissed off one too, sounds like a bull maybe."  He shrugged. "Most of us don't live around magical creatures that often, unless you live with Alex's aunts and then you're surrounded by unicorns.  Or you work in a job like Ron's brother and you play with dragons all day."  He looked at the cop next to him.  "By the way, I am *not* the person to call for a dragon problem.  It's happened in the past, but I'm not.  You can call any of the other Banes, just not me for dragons.  Potions, healing, esoteric knowledge, but not dragons."

"Dragons and unicorns are real?" he asked, looking at him.  "Can I see?"

"Dragon?  Well....  Depends on if we go to the school to pick Dawn up or not.  Then we can pop in on their little dragon buddy, Keelian, who found Ron in a marketplace in Rio and decided he was his mom."

Don Flack snickered at that.  "Does that happen often?"

"Only to curse breakers," Danny called from behind him.  "I've never been to Diagon."

"I got sent to pick up a healing potion way back in my second year in the Marines," Mac offered from behind them, glancing around.  "Where to first, Greg?"

"First, well, bank.  Gotta hit the bank, get the exchange rate figured out and that stuff."  He glanced back at the unusually quiet Stella.  "You okay?"

"They look like they're in a Dickens novel."

"Some do.  Outside of Britain it's usually a bit more modern."  He grinned at her and motioned her closer, pointing at a shop.  "See?"

She blinked at the newest, hottest, designer gown on sale at the wizarding shop.  "Wow."  She looked at him.  "Is it cheaper here?"

"Not by much," Greg admitted, taking her arm and walking her into the bank.  He smiled at the redhead standing there.  "Hi, Ron.  Did Alex send you?"

"Yup, bloody bugger's just now getting off Draco."  Mac looked a bit stunned so he smirked.  "Sorry, but consort veela's, ya know?"  He whistled at one of the goblins, motioning him closer, getting an intolerant glare.  "Gruinth, these are the guys Alex and the rest of us are teaching, the first of the lot that New York refused to find.  Alex said he'd appreciate it a whole lot, and would willingly clean out *two* of the storage units at the manor, if you'd give them a *good* exchange rate?  And take it out of his vault?"

Gruinth grumbled a bit.  "Which house?"

"The one with the unicorns."

"I'd rather the other house. There's no telling what's being stored there," he complained.

"Yes, there is.  He's had us recataloging the whole collection.  Did his Great-Aunt, the first cursebreaker one, have a thing for cursed emeralds?"

"Indeed," he said dryly, nodding a bit.  "Come with me please."  They followed and he looked at Stella, then at Danny.  "You have a vault in New York?"

"They're still debating who has access to the family's vaults since the Vinese sent my family home ta spank 'em for breaking the covenant," Danny told him.  He grinned at Flack. "That's a goblin.  Any businesses, they own it, run it, are the backbone of it, and growl at us mere humans for being bigger and in the way."

"Yes, but we like our human curse breakers, or else we wouldn't put up with you humans," Gruinth assured him dryly.  "Did he send you with a letter and a key this time, Ron?"

"Alex?" he snorted.  He pulled out a letter and handed it over.  "From Draco."

"Thank you.  His mate is quite good at handling the family's matters."  He read the letter and fingered the key.  "That would be more than acceptable.  We'll get that shifted around immediately."  He looked at Greg.  "Alex has thoughtfully seen to the necessities of their training.  He's allowing them to use one of his more minor vaults so they don't have to worry about the exchange rate."

"Cool," Greg said happily.  "I'll contribute later this week, when I've got more gold made."

The goblin groaned.  "I had forgotten you were one of those."

"Of course I am, I hold the Bane's sanctuary since I'm the one with the most full-time and demanding job."

"Yes, I remember."  He looked at the others, then back at him.  "Don't they do the same job as you do?"

"Yup," Danny agreed happily. "Without the potions sideline."

"There have been expert potion masters in your family," the goblin assured him.

"Yeah, but I'm not one.  I'm a jock, or I was a jock.  I should probably brush up on potions anyway."  Greg looked at him and nodded.  "Yes, mother."

"No, that's Emilia.  And possibly Tipsy."  He shrugged and held open the office door for Stella, then walked in.  "We're doing the full shopping today, including Ollivander's and the book store, then we're going to pick up Dawn and do the beginning lessons at the castle since the magic's so pure."  Ron beamed at that. "Yes, you can snog Dawnie into the carpet again," he said patiently.  "Just remember the birth control potion, Ron."

"Always.  Since she was making it wrong there for a bit, we're always making sure we both take it."  Greg let out a whimper.  "Whoever taught her made her make a kick-ass fertility potion," he offered with a grin.  "Fortunately I was buying mine."

Greg looked at him.  "I will make yours personally so I don't have to deal with a pregnant Dawn *ever*," he said, patting him on the arm.  "The squealing would be very annoying and Emilia would giggle helplessly for weeks on end, which means I wouldn't get to partake of my consort veela's sweetness."

"Which seems to make them very cranky veelas.  I've never seen Draco more cranky than when Alex had the wizard's flu and couldn't fuck him into the mattress for two weeks."

"I remember.  I don't want to remember, but I remember him coming to pout at my wife for a week and a half of it."

"Better her than me!  Or Harry!  Poor Harry got broadcast at during practice by the pouting veela."

"While I feel sorry for Mr. Potter's injuries," Gruinth noted patiently.  "We should complete this transaction so that the rest of the day isn't wasted, Ronald."

He looked at him.  "Only my mum gets away with that," he assured him.

"You are an apprentice."

"Who is still having random outbursts of magic thanks to the flu and that stupid tomb we had to count crap in."  Gruinth moaned.  "I'd hate to redecorate or worse."  Then he smiled sweetly.

"I see you'll turn out like Alex," he said dryly.  He wrote down the details of this transaction, including that they were late found wizards so no wand imprint could be taken yet.  He pushed it over to Greg.  "You're using this vault number. I'll send someone down to get the gold for you."

"Can't we go?" Don asked.

"Most people don't volunteer to go to the vaults," he noted.  "If you wish, you may go as well."  Don beamed and nodded.

"New York's are enough to make me hurl," Danny said before anyone could suggest he go too. "Stella?  Dark, twisty roller coaster ride?"

"Sure, I'm up for it. Mac?"

"I'll stay.  I did it once before, thank you anyway."

The goblin nodded and summoned a lesser goblin.  "Take the two fledgling wizards down to this vault, draw out this much," he ordered, handing over the slip.  That got a nod and he led them off.  He looked at Greg.  "I'm basing it on the upper average of what most first years need, Wizard Sanders."

"Thank you.  The trained ones could use refresher courses as well.  They're not even carrying their wands most of the time."

"How do you carry yours daily on the job?" Danny asked.

Greg opened his jacket and pointed at the small holster.  "Quick draw, just in case.  This jacket and my on-the-job, branded jacket both have one.  Alex gave them to me for my birthday this last year."

"He was getting us ours," Ron told him, stretching then sitting down again.  "Most curse breakers carry at least two wands.  Alex has six or seven I think, he occasionally seems to pull one out of his bum for special things and types of curses."

"The ones who work in the lab keep their extras in a box for easy access and noted what they're used for," Gruinth told him.  "How many are you up to now?"

"Three."  He pulled them.  "My original, my secondary for intense charm work, and my one for the more delicate stuff.  I'm using Alex's for that but I'm getting ready to go for my own."  He heard footsteps and put them back in the holster inside his vest.  He saw the curious looks. "We hide them because almost no other witch or wizard needs or uses more than one wand.  It's a clear signal we're curse breakers and fairly good at it if you've got more than two.  Since people like to steal us so we can get them things, keeping them hidden helps us but also gives us a hidden weapon if something does happen.  Speaking of, anyone find Bill yet?"

"He was released the other day after getting his captor eaten."

"Good on him," Ron said with a smirk.  "Alex said he and Arens are the best at getting out of that stuff.  What was it?"

"A Fabrage egg under magical restraint."

"Hmm.  Interesting."

Danny shook his head. "I thought you guys only went for cursed stuff."

"No, any artifact that's been in a magical household or tomb, has magic, or is related back to a magic user.  There's some muggle-borns that go after the non-magical things that've been stolen out of magical tombs and houses because they can tell the faint magic that's tainted it over the years it was around us.  We've been working with one goblin who heads over really ugly vases that're non-magical."

"He studies them, Ron, and you're right, they are mostly ugly.  Which storehouses?"

"The ones that're vexing Draco to no end because Alex hasn't been sleeping again."

"Ah those.  That's fine.  I would appreciate it and it would make a very nice profit for you and the other apprentices plus him."

"You know he has more shit stored around everywhere than the bank does, right?" Ron asked dryly.  The goblin nodded.  "Good, because the caverns we've been working on cataloging have the tent spell on 'em."  The goblin moaned.  Ron nodded.  "Basically, that's how we feel too.  Oh, Alex wanted to know if you could send him after another library.  He said he's bored and we need to practice our book copying again."

"We hate library jobs.  It's nearly impossible to judge the worth of a book's contents without having a translation already available and it researched."

"He said you pay him a flat fee for that," Ron reminded him.  "Plus, he wants a reason to expand the library again."  Greg gave him a helpless look.  "We had to move some of the general charms books back to the other house."  Greg whimpered. "We've got the library plus the space between the second and third floors, Greg. It's still overly full.  He said he can't have the library expanded again until he has at least one whole wall of books that needs to be shelved."

"He should move the more theoretical works back there, that would give the Aunts and his father something to do besides hunt down and scare the farther flung family members."

"Aunt Cordy wants a new baby," Ron offered with a smirk.  "His father's pushing for an heir to be born instead."

Greg held his head.  "Don't mention that.  Catherine's still wobbling back and forth on that subject."  He looked at Danny, then at Mac.  "He wants Catherine to have their heirs for him.  He respects her and the family would allow her some raising duties, but that's just a horrible thought."

"What is?" Stella asked as she came in, a bit pale and wobbly but with pink cheeks.

"Draco and Alex have to both have heirs some year soon, his father's pushing for it now since Aunt Cordy wants a baby around the house."

"Tell me we won't get pounced by the aunts," Don pleaded as he came in, handing Greg a bag.  "We only need that much?"

"Some we can get directly from the bank," he offered. "Outfitting Lindsey took about twenty gold her first year plus the refresher books."  He shrugged.  "Okay, we're off to Ollivander's.  Thank you, Gruinth."

"Not a problem.  We like to keep Alex happy and unbored.  Otherwise he pounces us and the power that makes him such a good curse breaker causes the rest of us harm."

"We never do it on purpose," Ron offered with a grin.

"That's the most troubling thing about it," Gruinth assured him. "Make sure they get ice cream as well, Ron."

"Of course.  I think that's an excellent lunch."  He smiled at Stella and offered his arm.  "I am engaged so therefore you don't have to worry about anyone saying anything about you being with me.  Unlike the harpies that'll gossip if you're on their arm."  She smiled and nodded, walking out with him.   "Ollivander instead of the other stuff?" he asked Greg once they were outside.

"Yup.  It's usually the longer and more amusing stop."  He smiled at Danny.  "Do you still have yours?"

"I do but I need to clean and condition the wood."

"I've been using pledge on mine now and then," Mac offered.

Greg groaned and led them that way, taking them to the dusty little shop with only one stool.  Ollvander stepped out of the back, giving him an odd look.  "New York's academy purposefully passed over Don and Stella, and Mac and Danny are refreshing themselves while we Banes teach Don and Stella."

"I see.  Well, let's start with those who already have wands, shall we?" he suggested.  Mac pulled his out and he gave him an odd look. "What *have* you been doing to the poor thing?"

"Pledge.  It was a bit dusty and it says it's got wood conditioners."

Ollivander moaned.  "No.  If you must, use something like Olde English Oil, sir.  Not pledge or any other lemon scented monstrosity of chemicals."  He walked it into the back then came out without it.  "I'm purging the chemicals from the wood, before it makes a spell backfire.   Yours?" he asked Danny.

"Might not be the right one for me anymore. I used ta be a jock," he offered sheepishly, handing his over.  "I need to condition it.  Olde English Oil stuff?"

Ollivander handed him a bottle from under the counter.  "That is preferred. Though some *do* use broom polish," he said, glaring at Ron.

"Yes, I do, and so does Harry.  It's not like we don't have to do the brooms too," he noted dryly.  He smirked a bit.  "Also, Alex thinks I could go up to a third wand since I've been using his again for delicate stuff.  He's getting pissed that I'm stealing his all the time."

"We'll see after we fit these other ones, Mr. Weasley."  He looked at Greg.  "How is yours doing?"

"Excellent," Greg said proudly, pulling his out and presenting it.  "I've been teaching the kids how to care for their wands and brooms so I've been doing the conditioning treatments a lot."

"I can see that."  He handed it back and wiped off his fingers. "A bit less often would be fine, Mr. Sanders."  He went to get Mac's wand from the cleaning solution, coming out wiping it off.  He handed it back.  "Swish and flick for me please?"  Mac did so and some dull blue sparks came out.  "Was it always like that?"

"I'm not really powerful," he admitted, shrugging a bit.  "It's comfortable and I don't use it that often."

"Then that should be fine.  Share the conditioning lotion with your friend there."  He picked up Danny's wand to examine it, then handed it back handle first.  "Try it."  Danny concentrated then swished and flicked.  Nothing happened. "Yes, you do need refitted. What do you do now?" he asked, getting his tape measure out of the drawer.

"I'm a criminalist with the NYPD.  I do lab work and work crime scenes, especially homicides."  Ollivander stared at him.

"The same thing I do when I'm not doing potions," Greg told him.  "They all are, but Don's a regular detective."

"Oh.  I see."  He nodded and went to pull down a few boxes.  "Mr...."

"Messer," Danny offered.  Three of the boxes went back and a dull black one was pulled down.  "What's that?"

"That is some very nice wood from a very special tree in Florence and veela hair," he offered, handing it over. "Try that, Mr. Messer."

Danny took it and tried it, smiling at the pretty blue sparks that matched his eyes.  "Wow.  That feels nice."

"It should. A few members of your family have that same combination."  He took the old wand and put it aside.  "We'll let you trade out this time."

"Alex is footing the bill for the outfitting," Greg told him.  "I'm covering the rest."  Ollivander smiled at that. "Really."

"It's not a problem.  There are always people who need emergency or backup wands for something.  That's what the used ones go for."  He smiled and set his tapemeasure to work on Don, going to pull down a few boxes that were indicated by the measurements.

Don watched the tape work, smiling as it kept going.  "I wanted to know why it takes an inseam measurement."

"Longer inseams usually mean you're going to be good in transfiguration," Ollivander said as he came back.  "The longer interval between nostrils is indicative of being good in Divinations."  He looked at Stella.  "As are some family lines.  Try this one, my dear," he offered.  "Rosewood and unicorn ivory."  She smiled and tried it and he beamed at her, clapping once.  "That's the perfect fit.  Just like your grandmother's."  He took the tape measure back and handed Don a wand. "Go ahead and try it."

Don tried it and nothing happened.  He groaned.  "Not again."

"It just means it's not the right wand," Greg assured him, patting him on the back.  He frowned and did it again, then took off the blocking charm Alex had put on him so the mischief would stop around him.  "Try it again, Don.  Mr. Ollivander, he's a natural curse breaker."

"Ah.  I've seen a few of those," he nodded.  He got another box and handed it over next when Don's didn't quite agree with him. At least the fire was a pretty shade of green.  Ron stopped it and Ollivander handed over the next one.  "Willow and unicorn tail."  He tried that one.  "Hmm.  No, not that," he said once he had put the small cloud raining on his head out of his misery.  "This one is deadwood and veela.  Ten inches, very swishy for charms work."  He handed it over.  Don tried it and Danny had to duck the flying boxes of wands. "Interesting."

"Try mine," Ron said, handing over his second one.  "Since Alex said he's a natural curse breaker....."  He grinned at the wand maker.

Don tried it and fireworks came out but not good ones.  "Well, it's pretty."  He handed it back carefully before he set the ceiling on fire.

"Yes, but it does give me an idea," Ollivander admitted, heading further back into the shelves.  "Ah, here," he said, coming out with two.  One he handed Ron.  "So Alex can have his delicate charms one back, Mr. Weasley.  Try this one, sir."

"Don, please."  He took it and tried, grinning at the pretty multi-colored sparks.  "Why're mine so many colors when Mac's were just blue?"

"Two reasons really. That would be your secondary wand," he admitted, going to find another one.  He came back with another one.  "Eleven inches, birch and dragon's fire."  Don tried it and the sparks were harmonious this time.  "That is your main wand."  He smiled at Greg.  "Would Alex like to start teaching him on both now or not?"

Ron touched his arm tattoo to call, then nodded.  "Alex said that's fine."  He tried the third wand and it sparkled glittery trails of silver sparks.  "Cool, I needed this."  He tucked it into the holster and dropped some coins on the desk.  Ollivander gave him a look so he added two more.  Another look and another one was added, then he got six sickles back.  "Thank you, Mr. Ollivander.  Harry's supposed to come in for his second one soon.  Dawnie too."

"I've already seen Miss Summers and she's already got three."

"Yeah, but one's only for power storage. Not that she doesn't use the obsidian wand," he offered dryly.  "Freaks Flitwick out now and then how she's channeling the energy she's got."  He grinned at Stella.  "Your turn."

"Don't we have to clean up a bit?"

Ollivander smiled at her.  "The testing is why I never clean the store, my dear.  We should try a second one, just in case you have curse breaker tendencies."

"She doesn't get into trouble that way," Danny assured him.  "That's more me'n him."

"That's fine, Mr. Messer.  Gregory?"  Greg put down a handful of coins.  "Four more please, Gregory."  Greg sighed and put it down, taking the change back.  "There you are.  Do we need the boxes?"

"I could use one for mine at home.  Mine's cracked," Mac admitted, taking one of the spare boxes.  That got a smile and they left, Danny's wand going into his back pocket.  Don's went inside his jacket.  Stella's got put into her front pocket.  Mac carefully put his wand away and carried it.  Greg and Ron both looked at him.  "I don't use it that often."

"Sure," Ron agreed.  "Bookstore or other stuff, Greg?"

"Bookstore for the compacted lesson books, and then supplies for potions since I'm running that this weekend."  That got a nod and Don smiled at the owls.  "You've got an owlry in the city and we'll figure that out later."

"Can I get a broom?" he asked with a grin.

"Sure," Ron agreed.  "I need to pick mine up anyway."

"Let's see if you can fly first," Greg ordered, glaring at Ron.

"Every new wizard needs a broom," Ron whined.

Danny chuckled.  "Mine got mailed to me by my father," he told Don.  "It's still working so you can borrow mine now and then."

"Can we fly in New York?" Stella asked.

"Oh, yeah, there's a whole shielded section of the park," Danny assured her.  "I flew there all the time."  She smiled at that.  "If not, I know a few places outside the city where we're allowed to go play and romp."

"Okay.  I wouldn't mind trying."

Ron opened the door to the bookstore, letting her inside first.  He smiled at the pouting clerk.  "What?"

"Alex has something on back order he hasn't picked up in a month."

Ron held out a hand and it was handed over.  He paid the bill on the front and shrugged, stuffing it into his pocket once it was shrunk. "Thanks, mate.  Refresher and late-bloomer sets?"

"Back wall, beside the other textbooks, blue bookshelf, Ron."

"Thanks, mate."  He walked her that way, pulling down two and handing them to Don.  "Beginning curse breaker stuff for when you get that far.  It's got good shielding lessons in there to stop the mischief energy."  He frowned and pulled down another one.  "Magical creature guide as well, just in case."  He found the refresher sets and whistled.  "I didn't think there were this many."

"Oh, yes," Greg said, looking.  He pulled down a set and looked at the index, then put it back and looked at the other one.  He frowned and went for the larger set, looking in it.  "This one," he decided.  "Philip said it's harder but it's more comprehensive."  He handed a set to Stella and to Don, then got one of the less complex sets for Mac.  He looked at Danny, then the bookshelves.  Then he pulled down another set and read, nodding before handing over those three books.  "Potions heavy but you do lab work so you'll be able to understand it.  Also Defense heavy.  Alex said he's counting on you to do that for him since Mac's behind."

"That's fine. I was okay in Defense in my youth," he agreed, looking through it. "There's no herbology."  Ron found the compendium and handed that over.  "Gee, thanks.  Heavy ass book."

"Yeah, well, anything you ever wanted to know about herbs.  Dawn's got one since she sucks in there," Ron offered with a small grin.  He pointed at the thicker Defense one.  "I could've suggested that one."

"No thanks.  This is hopefully more than enough."

Greg looked at the Defense Compendium.  "When did you and Harry go through that one?"

"Fifth year."  He smirked a bit.  "What can I say?  We needed it."  He heard a familiar voice and looked around.  "Hermione!"  She came around a shelf and looked at him so he motioned her over.  "You remember Greg, right?"

"Hi, Greg."  She gave him a hug and smiled at the rest.  "I'd heard through the grapevine your group was sponsoring some late bloomers.  Are you them?"

"We are," Stella said, holding out her hand.  "Stella Bonasera."

"Hermione Granger."

Don beamed.  "Don Flack."

"Nice to meet you as well, Don.  By the way, the true books will be in here in about three weeks.  That way the wizards know what truly happened during the last three years of school."  She smiled at Mac.  "You are?"

"Mac Taylor, trained in Chicago," he offered, shaking her hand.

"Nice to meet you as well.  I'm over the Archives in cataloging right now."  She smiled at Danny.  "You look like someone I've been working with recently."

"Danny Messer.  Trained in New York."

She 'ah-ha'd.  "I do know one of your cousins.  He's in protesting that we stole some books from the Venice school."  She gave him a delicate hug.  "If you'd like, I can tell him you're around."

"We're all going to Alex's hidden house to start the beginning lectures," Ron told her.  "But I'll be back at the manor Sunday before Harry's game.  Just owl and tell me if you want to have tea and make me bring him."

"Can we watch the game?" Don asked.

Ron smirked at him.  "Alex planned that as the last thing you'll do this weekend since it's looking like a long game."  Don bounced a bit and he grinned at him.  "Calm down, mate.  It's not a great team they're playing but it'll be a long game because the snitch has been stubborn recently for Harry."

Hermione sighed and rolled her eyes.  "You'd think Harry would think about more than the snitch now and then, Ron."

"He does, when he's not in practice.  We get plenty of working with Alex," he assured her dryly, smirking at her. "Speaking of, Alex said if I ran into you he wants his books back too.  He knows that your boss has some locked away.  The anti-theft spell said so."  She groaned and made a note of that.  "Thanks, Hermione.  Tea Sunday, about two?"  She nodded and kissed him on the cheek, then waved before walking off.  "Oh, Hermione, Philip will be at the game," he called after her.  She gave him this little kitty nasty smirk and a wink before strolling off.

"That's mean," Greg said, swatting him hard.  "Behave."

"Why?  Philip needs something to do besides read now and then. Your wife said so," he teased.

Greg moaned and shook his head.  "We should go before Ron goes even funnier thanks to all the books around him."  Ron walked off with a chuckle, finding the ones he and Harry had wanted.  "You done?" he asked when they all headed for the checkout.

"I am."  He held up his next book and Greg moaned, taking it to look at.  "I've got the others at the castle."

"Thank you, Ron."  He handed it back and signed the draw slip at the counter, getting bags for everyone.  He looked at them.  "Two last stops.  Then Ron can take whoever into the broom shop and we'll have ice cream to give Dawn time to finish classes for the day."  They all nodded and followed. "Alex is still working on the anti-theft spells from the old manor?"

"Yup.  He's recently sent Philip a marked map of the castle to free his crap from wherever Dumbledore hid it.  Pissed Draco off to no end.  Half of it ended up on top of him when it appeared in the castle. He was examining some of the jewelry on the big table."  Greg giggled at that.  "Alex shut him up the old fashioned way when he stormed into his office to complain."

"Spanked him," Don asked.

"No, kissed him stupid and got a blow," Ron said dryly.  "Veelas are sexual beings and Draco's no exception."  He turned to look at the group.  "By the way, Draco is not to be called by his former last name.  He will hit you if you do."  They all nodded at that.  He grinned and turned around, finding Oliver standing there.  "Oliver!"  He gave him a manly, back slapping hug.  "These are Stella, Don, Danny, and Mac, Alex's new students."

"Hi," he said, smiling and waving.  "Coming to the game?  Alex had me get tickets for you lot."

"We definitely are," Greg agreed happily.  "We're hoping it's not another overnighter like the last one."

"Us too," Oliver agreed happily.  He smiled at Stella.  "Yes, I'm cute."

She shook herself.  "You are, but you're much too young for me."

He giggled and kissed her on the cheek.  "You'll get on just fine with Tipsy and them.  Greg, she said she wants a visit with these guys.  She sent me on bullshit errands all day to make sure I ran into you."  He headed into the broom shop.

"I guess the twins are making her unhappy again," Ron said dryly.  "Potion stuff, Greg?"  He nodded and they headed that way, Don smirking at Stella.  "Ollie has that affect on women.  That's why he's got groupies who try to break in and raid his underwear."  She giggled at that, punching him on the arm.  He smirked and nodded.  "Really.  That's why he's living above the joke shop."  He let Greg lead the way in there this time. "Ah, the scene of my discontent in school," he complained.

"If you had spent less time mooning over Granger and more doing homework it might not have been so bad, Ron," Greg said firmly.  "Others managed to pass Sev's class."

"He hated me doubly because of the twins and Harry, Greg.  The only Weasley he's ever liked was Percy, and that's because he's a kiss-ass at times."

"Well, yeah, but he's getting better," Greg reminded him.  He led them back to the cauldrons, finding good ones.

"Little, tiny baby cauldrons," Don said, looking at his.

"You don't need the bigger ones unless you start working in the field," Greg assured him.  He grinned at him. "If you do, Alex might hire you to help his crew since only Draco does potions among them."

"Thank Merlin," Ron agreed sarcastically.  "We'd die if Alex had to."

Greg nodded at that.  "Definitely."  He handed Stella the last one and went to get them component cases and have them filled.  Then he produced his list with a smirk and a wink for the salesgirl. "Hi."

"Oh, dear.  You're Snape's apprentice," she said blandly.  He smirked and nodded, beaming and bouncing a bit now.  "Restocking?"

"Please, Vishnu, yes.  Vegas is *horrible* to get some stuff out of.  They confused bear and deer testicles."

"I don't have to touch that stuff, right?" Don asked.

"Not at your level, mate.  That's a fifth year potions ingredient," Ron assured him with a pat on the back.  "Alex and Draco have anything to pick up?" he called.

"Draco's order is ready but it's relatively heavy, Mr. Weasley, plus you'd need to pay for it."

"I can do that, and Draco will pay me back or I'm chaining him down and then chaining Alex across the room."  She giggled and he smirked.  "Hey, it works!  I can sneak up on 'em when they're asleep."  She got his order and rang up the others, then she and her coworker went to gather things for Greg's massive list.

"Jeez," Danny complained, looking at the boxes of stuff.  "Do you do anything but potions, Greg?"

"I work," he offered with a smirk.  "I'm also teaching Hodges potions."

"Why?" Don asked patiently.

"Because he wanted to learn.  Since he's had so many brushes with magic over the last few years, he decided there's got to be a link between the two and he wanted to figure it out."  The salesgirl gave him an odd look.  "He got changed a few times."

"Poor guy.  By you?"

"No.  But the daughter did manifest and make him into a bunny rabbit for a few days," he offered happily.  "I was so proud!"

She smiled.  "My son turned our cat into a salamander, his friends told him cats were girly."  Greg beamed at that.  She put one last box there and looked at him.  He held up his key and she smiled. "Thank you for not making me heft six thousand gold to the bank tonight."

"Welcome, dear."  He signed the slip, adding two vaults to it.  She nodded and signed it, running it through the system.  One of them bounced and he flooed the bank, getting that fixed.  She ran it again at his nod and signed off on it at the second spot, putting it into the register.  "Give me three to send this home."  He called Emilia, who came at a jog.  She whimpered at the ingredients. "Just put 'em in the lab?" he asked cutely, kissing her.  "I'll reward you later."

She moaned and nodded, taking all that stuff home with her.

Ron looked at the stuff for Draco.  "Can it be flooed?"  She nodded. "Safely sent through by itself?"

"Nope.  Portkeyed would be safer."

Ron nodded and turned Alex's book into one, then dropped it on top of the boxes, watching as it headed there.  They had set up a delivery point for things like food and boxes.  His tattoo itched and he answered it, telling Alex he had sent it and his book needed changed back.  Plus how much they owned him and he expected it to be sitting on his bed when he got home.  He got another request and groaned, looking up.  "Fine."  He looked at Greg.  "I got ordered to pick up some owl food."

"That's fine. It's across the street," Greg reminded him. He looked at them. "I was going to let you guys browse the robe shop if you wanted."  Don smiled and nodded. "So he can do that and then we'll go to the broom shop or wherever, then the joke shop, then Hogwarts, then to the castle."  That got some smiles.  "Oh, watch out for Keelian, he likes to shirt dive."  He walked them out, letting Ron jog off for owl food while they went to the robe shop.  Don found one that looked really good on him and Greg indulged him while the others watched.  Then they went to the broom shop.  Ron's broom got handed over with a wink.  He took it into the back to try it.  Danny got into a talk about his old broom versus the newest model.

Mac just stayed far away from the brooms.  Stella gave him a look.  "I'm horrible at flying.  I don't have the natural grace.  I fall off more often than not."

Danny smirked at him.  "I'm an excellent flyer."

"You should be, you nearly went pro, Danny."

"Alex said he's looking at your wrist this weekend," Greg told him.  "He plays beater and he needs backup for family games.  Dawn and Ron are both keepers and he doesn't like to break up the twin's team.  He said they're nicer than he is."  Danny snickered at that, leaning on the counter.  "Did you need a new one?"

"Mine's in my bag."  He pulled it out of his pocket and enlarged it, then took out his broom and enlarged it.

"I want to learn that one," Stella ordered, pointing at the bag. "That's very handy for packing."

Danny smirked at her.  "Makes moving easier too.  I can fit *everything* into my car."  She smiled at that.  "One trip, all pretty light when shrunk?  Hell yeah, I use it a lot."  He looked at his broom, then let the salesgirl look it over.  "Think it's still okay?"

She took it to look at the spells, then shook her head.  "No, your levitation spell's cranked," she offered, showing it to him.  "It can be fixed, but it's time consuming."  She looked at him. "You used this in games?"

"No, that's my practice broom."  He pulled out another one and enlarged it. "This was my game broom."

She moaned and took it to hold and stroke.  "Oh, this is a classic," she whimpered.  Ron came out with his and moaned, getting in a stroke.  "His game broom."

"Ooh," he sighed, giving it another stroke.  "Very classic.  Not really fast by the Nimbus standard, but classic for aerodynamics and maneuverability."  She nodded and carefully handed it back, letting him shrink it again.  "Maybe you should get a new practice broom, Danny."

"You think?"

"I know.  We spend a lot of time using them at the castle and you don't want to risk banging that one up."  He led him to one and handed it over.  "I like this one for just general flying or you can't go wrong with a Stardust.  It's new out this year and *wonderful*.  Harry was thinking about trading his out for one."

"If Harry Potter trades out his Firebolt, they'd sue him," the saleswoman said dryly.  "Every boy wants to be Harry, Ron, and they all want Firebolt models.  It's how they make the majority of their sales."  He grinned at that.  "Are they paying him royalties?"

"No, and Harry ignores it unless they blatantly come out with ads using him."  He shrugged.  "He still needs a new practice broom."

"The new Stardust is good for that," she agreed.  "I wouldn't put a seeker on it for a game, but a chaser would be great. It's good for ups and downs, plus sudden direction changes, but not quite in the seeker category."

Danny nodded.  "Can I try it?" he asked, taking down that one as well.

"Of course.  Ron?"  He nodded and led him back there to try them out, letting Greg hold his broom for him.  "Are you guys playing fun matches?"

"All the time," Greg agreed dryly.  "The whole Bane network pretty much loves quidditch and we've got a few house players, plus the rest of the Weasley clan we can draw from. Only three beaters though.  Not that Alex doesn't make the twins sorry whenever he plays against them, but...."  He trailed off with a grin.  "Gringotts wanted Alex to play pro for a bit so he'd slow down.  That and to clean out some of his storehouses."

She nodded.  "You've got to expect he's got some nasty crap down there."

"You have no idea," Ron called.

Danny came out bouncing and handed over the Stardust.  "I want that one.  How much?"  She held up the tag and he hissed, but Greg filled out the slip. "Tell him I'll get him back later."

"He said we could get you guys brooms," Greg assured him.  "Stella?"

"I'll try it on someone else's first," she promised, backing up a bit.  The look in Danny and Ron's eyes was scary.  Very, very scary.

Don grinned.  "Can you teach us how to fly, Danny?"

"Sure," he agreed, punching him on the arm.  "S'not hard.  Just some balance and stuff."  He grinned and took his new broom, shrinking it down as well.  "Thank you."

"You're welcome."  She took the spare broom back from Ron and watched them walk out, moaning a bit.  He had one of the Great Brooms of the Ages!  She went back to the old Quidditch Quarterly magazines to figure out who he had been.  She remembered they talked about an injury and he sounded American, like the TV shows she watched.  She found him and whimpered. No wonder!  He had been set to go pro when he broke his wrist and had muggle doctors botch it.  Well, Alex Dumass would see about that!  He was pro quality himself!

***

They finally made it to Hogwarts and Stella stared at the creatures in the pens, then at Don.  "That's a unicorn."

"It is," he said in awe. "Wow."

A female voice chuckled as she walked up to them.  "I'd watch out, he's a cranky bitch since Apple's not a happy pregnant mare."   She smiled at them.  "Hi, I'm Dawn."

Don grinned at her.  "Ron's been happy about seeing you all day. He's inside with the Headmaster."

"That's cool."  She looked down.  "Word of advice, squeak, he likes that when he pounces, and watch out for shirt diving."  She whistled and Apple came over.  "Hey, girl.  How are you?"  She stroked her mane. "This is Ginny's mare, Apple."

"Someone gave her a horse?" Don asked, letting her sniff his hand so he could pet her.

"No, Ginny's a Valkyrie now."  He gave her a look.  "Seriously. She took part of the first quarter off for training.  Now Apple's pregnant from going into heat so her studly horned one there is cranky."

Don smiled, nodding a bit.  "I'd be cranky too if my girl was stuffed up."  Stella squealed and he looked back.  "Ohhh, it's a dragon!"  He walked over.

Stella looked at the creature that had leapt into her arms.  "Are you sure? It's purring."  She scratched the scales.  "You sound like a cat."  It belched some steam and shifted onto its back.  "Okay, so maybe you are a dragon."

"He is, that's Keelian.  He's just a baby."  Dawn came over to scratch the belly.  "Who's the little fierce one then?" she cooed.  The dragon steamed happily and stretched out, encouraging more pets. "Ron was out getting breakfast one morning while they were on vacation in Rio and Keelian pounced his foot, trying to eat him.  Ron just gave him an amused look and tried to send him home so he decided Ron was a mommy dragon.  Fortunately we got to keep him here at the school."  She smiled at Stella.  "He's a cuddly little sucker who'll sleep on your throat if you let him."  She pulled Don closer.  "He likes petted.  Don't be scared.  He'll only steam."

He gently scratched an eye ridge, getting a loud moan and a louder purr.  "He likes me."

"He likes anyone who'll pet him, the little bugger," Hagrid said.

Stella looked up at him and smiled.  "Hi.  I hope you don't mind."

"Nah, Keelian there needs love and affection.  Poor little guy gets so lonely sometimes."  He patted the swishing tail. "You behave."

"He's being fine," she assured him, kissing him on the cheek.  "Thank you."  Hagrid blushed and walked off to take care of the animals.

"You made his week," Dawn said quietly, smiling at her.

"He seems like he's a really nice guy."

"He is."  Don smiled at her.  "At least in the books he is."

"He is," Dawn assured him happily.  "Lets the kids climb on him now and then too."  She smiled when Ron came out.  "He got in a good pounce."

"That's fine.  Luna's coming and so's Ginny, but Alex said she could come up later with Apple.  Philip said to bring him with us since he's been sneaking into his office to steal his candy again."

"I'm sure he'll love crawling and skulking around the catacombs this weekend," she agreed dryly.  She looked at the dragon.  "Wanna go to the castle?"  He let out another loud purr.  "Go find Midnight."  He hopped down and went to find his playmate.  "Good boy.  Come back here with Midnight!"  She looked at them. "My familiar is a chow."

"They're good dogs," Stella assured her, smiling at her.  "So this is Hogwarts."  She looked at the castle.  "It's bigger than I expected.

Danny smiled at her as he joined them. "New York's looks like a really small college campus."

"Chicago's is mostly in one building," Mac offered.

"Venice's is in an old palace," Draco said as he walked up to them.  "Dawn."  She squealed and gave him a hug.  "Thank you, princess."  He smiled at her. "Are we nearly done?"

"Yup, but Ginny's going to be late."

"How did my baby sister get detention this time?" Ron asked dryly.

"Armwrench was in a bad mood so she asked him if he was having his period," she said with a smirk.  "He set hers off for her instead.  She had Apple bite him."

"Why was Professor Armwrench in a bad mood?" he asked patiently.  "We like him to stay in a good mood, Dawn."

"Big, blond, and stupid was down for a bit."

"Ah.  Yeah, I guess his brother would put him in a bad mood," Ron agreed happily enough.  "Midnight!"  The dog came trotting out being chased by the dragon and dragging Dawn's backpack.  "Luna packed for you?  By the way, don't be alarmed, Luna's having another non-blinking day," he warned.  "She'd be the blond slowly bending her wand by putting it in her hair."  That got some nods.   He looked around once the beasts got there.  "Luna said she was coming.  Lovegood!" he bellowed.  She came jogging out of the nearest greenhouse.  "We're going. Are you coming?"  She nodded and ran inside to get her bag and then back out.  He looked at Draco.  "The invitations are in place, right?"  He got a nod.  "You're sure?"

"I'm sure."  He lit a fire right there, making the unicorn stamp off.  "Sorry, bastard," he called after him.

"Hey!" Hagrid called.  "He's sens'tive!"

"So? He still tries to bite me!" he complained.  He tossed in some floo powder.  "Okay, we're going to Dumass Castle."  He disappeared to show them.

Ron pointed.  "Go ahead.  Take some of the powder, toss it in."  Don stepped up to do that but the fire didn't change color with the order.  "Crap.  I knew he was going to botch it." He called Alex, who came out to reset the floo.  "Try it again, Don.  He's got it fixed."  Don tried it again, disappearing this time. "I'll go last."  He pinched Dawn's bum and smiled at her squeak.  "What?"

Stella shook her head and disappeared. She came out the other side and smiled at the feeling of lightness and peace that filled her.  "Wow."

"Yeah," Don said happily, grinning at her.

"Get out of the way or they'll run you over," Alex called as he headed back to the house. "Come to the library when you figure out how to walk."

"Thanks."  They got out of the way, pulling Mac out of the way as well.

Danny came out last of their group and gave a lopsided grin.  "I heard about this place.  Where we headed now?"

"To the castle and to the library," Stella ordered.  He beamed and headed that way.  Greg came out with Dawn and Ron right behind him.  "Anything we should know about the lawn?"

"Now and then the three horses around here like to run out to scare you," Greg offered, smiling at her.  "Come on, guys.  Alex is probably in a cranky mood.  We made Draco get out of bed."  Draco snorted and nodded. "The goblins want you guys to clean the stuff here."

"Fat chance I'm hauling any of that crap," he retorted. "Besides, Alex said it balances out the innate power so we're not all blinded by it."  He waved a hand.  "Shall we?"   Don nodded and walked Stella that way, Mac behind them.  He smirked at Greg.  "He's bought more books."

"Alex is as big of a book nerd as Philip and Methos," he reminded him, patting him on the back.  "Is he ignoring you for the books?"

"No," he pouted.  "But he brought one to bed the other day."

"I'm sure it was only to kill time until you joined him, Draco."  He walked the pouting one up there, letting him pounce his mate.  "Are you in heat or something?" he demanded.

Alex smirked.  "Not quite, but it's very nice," he offered before kissing his mate again. "Play later, Draco," he ordered, making him sit in his own seat.  Draco smirked at him. "I'll even play exploding snap for who gets to be on the bottom tonight."

"You're on.  Even though you do cheat," Draco said smugly.

Mac just stared at the books.  "Wow.  Chicago didn't have this big of a library.  We don't have this big of a library in New York."

Danny looked around then at him.  "Nice job, Alex."

"Thanks.  I'm hoping for another library job soon."

"I told Gruinth that, he complained," Ron offered.  He got his book off the shelving cart and sat down, then leaned back in his chair.  "Me, can we have something to drink and nibble!" he yelled. "We had ice cream for lunch!"

"Stupid boys not eat right!" she called back, coming out to bring him something to nibble on and swat him.  "Ron knows better than to not eat right.  Ron should be eating better, should be eating Dawn's food!"

Ron smirked at her.  "Dawn is a meal by herself," he agreed happily.  The house elf 'eeped' and disappeared.  "Sorry," he called.

"Me not upset, getting tea!"

Alex sighed and shook his head.  "Ron!"  He threw a book at his head.  "Behave and quit giving the house elves dirty thoughts!"

"Yes, Alex," he said sweetly.  "Oh," he said, standing up and emptying his pockets.  He tossed Draco the owl food, then Alex a bag he enlarged. "Tipsy and the twins."

"Thanks, Ron," he said happily, digging into his bag of pranks.  He looked at Danny and motioned him closer, getting a nod.  He looked at his wrists, then pressed on his palm.  "You can play with me on family and Bane games.  You just need to practice some."  He let him go.  "Sit!"  They all sat.  "Wands?"  They got them out.  "Good.  Let's start with the easiest stuff."

"Floating?" Don asked.

"Not quite.  There's some easier stuff."  He pulled his primary wand.  "Luminos."  It lit up.  "Go ahead."

Mac and Danny both pulled theirs, lighting it up.

"Do we have to say it really loudly?" Don asked.  "Luminos."  His lit up very brightly.  "Hey, that's good, right?"

"It means you've got energy to burn," Alex assured him.  "We can do that too.  Stella?"

She held her wand up. "Luminos."  It lit up.

"Good job.  Now say 'nox'."  They did and it unlit, but Don's had an afterglow.  He pulled Don's hand over and put a crystal in it.  The afterglow faded.  "That's fairly common in young curse breakers.  I had to sleep with one because I was my own nightlight for a few months."  He looked at Stella.  "No one says you have to use it after you get control."

"I'm not sure I'm going to be doing that," she admitted.  "It's just so odd!"

"It is," Danny agreed, patting her on the back.  "It was for all of us.  Mac was there too.  Even I thought it felt odd to be using my own wand and I was born with it."  He shrugged and sat down.  "What's the lending policy?"

"Here in the valley unless you ask."

"That's cool," he agreed happily.  "My old practice broom got drooled on."

Alex nodded.  "So did mine.  What did you get for the new one?"

"Stardust," he said happily.

"They're good brooms," Alex agreed. "I had mine customed to counteract the random surges of magic I get now and then."  Draco nodded fiercely at that.  "Sorry, dear."

"Thankfully we can now fly on your broom together again," he noted dryly.  "Plus my wrist was able to be healed."  Danny snickered at that. "A magic surge took out his flying charm."  Danny moaned.  "Exactly."  He smiled at Don and Stella.  "All right, let's move forward.  The closer we get you lot to control this weekend, the less trouble that Don will draw."  That got a happy look from Mac.  "Got into trouble did we?" Draco asked dryly.

"Plant demon in the park," he muttered.

"It thought he was cute, wanted to make baby demon flowers with him," Danny teased.  He moved out of the way of the punch this time, smirking at him. Stella squealed so everyone stared at her and the new lump on her stomach.  "I've heard of energy pregnancies but that was really quick, Stella."

"Dragon!" she said, moving the bottom hem of her shirt to get it out.  "Don't do that!"  It gave her the most pitiful look and she let it cuddle, but not go back down her shirt again.

"He did that to Ginny for the first month," Dawn assured her.  "Rooms?"

"You need a separate one?" Alex asked, looking confused.

"No, theirs," she reminded him.  "Plus for Ginny and Luna."

"Luna can have the spare room in our suite," Ron reminded her.  "Ginny can have the couch if she wants or the spare in Harry's suite.  The others are already set up in the spare tower."  She smiled at him for that, giving him a gentle kiss.  "Snogging later, work now," he reminded her gently.  "Then squealing right after that," he added with a smirk.  She beamed and nodded, taking Stella off to the side to work with her while Alex got Don and Draco and Ron took Mac and Danny.

Greg just found where he had left off last time in the potions section and pulled down the next book to start reading again until he was needed.

***

"Ha!   Got you, you little brat!" an older woman's voice said from the hallway, waking Don up.  He got up and went to open the door, making Tipsy Ramvette-Wesaley smile at him. "Sorry, toddler running after the dragon."  She waved a hand and carried her daughter off.  "You don't chase dragons until Uncle Charlie says you can," she ordered as she carried Joxer off.   "You know that, Joxer."

Don smiled and closed the door, going back to bed.  Once there, he found a small lump in his warm spot. He looked at the dragon. "Got bored?"  He snuggled back in, letting it have his chest if it wanted.

"All right, where's the dragon!" Dawn yelled an hour later.

Don moaned and laughed, bringing her in there.  "Snoring into my bellybutton, sorry.  Tipsy was chasing her daughter, who was chasing Keelian."

"Joxer is a holy terror when she and Keelian get together," she agreed, coming in to get the dragon.  It squeaked and unsheathed his claws. "Don't you dare!"  It calmed down and huffed her.  "Thank you.  Come on, let's go back to the nest and let Don sleep.  Sorry."

"He was fine.  Fairly warm but fine."  She smiled and walked off with him, petting and stroking over the firm scales.  Don smiled and curled up again, taking over that warm spot.  Dragons were very warm creatures.  He'd have to remember that.

Dawn went down to the kitchen, getting him some meat, then took him back up to the nest in hers and Ron's room, letting him curl up in there again. "Are you cold?"  She put a heating charm on the base of the nest and left the meat in there with him.  "There you go, baby.  You rest and then you can play tomorrow."  She went back to bed, finding him right behind her.  "Are you lonely?"

"Probably sleeps with the unicorn," Ron mumbled, lifting the covers.  The dragon curled up between them and he smiled, kissing Dawn gently.  "There, comfy?"  She nodded.  "Where was he?"

"Hiding from Joxer in Don's room."

"We'll call Charlie tomorrow about the extra cuddly one."  She smiled and nodded, snuggling as close as she could without getting a claw to the breast for it.

***

Stella came out of her room a few hours later and decided to wander around.  She heard some music and followed it to what must be a ballroom, looking around.  She saw a ghost and walked carefully closer.  "Are you real?"  The man stopped playing and looked at her.  "I've never seen a ghost before."

The ghost smiled.  "I am real.  I'm Master Nierly, the music master indebted to this family for saving me, my dear.  He floated closer.  "I didn't mean to wake anyone."

"You didn't. I can't sleep."

He nodded. "It's often that way when you first discover the gifts.  Some get excited, some think too much.  When I found out my mother was a siren and I had the gifts, I got very drunk and had to hide from some sailors I drew accidentally."  She smiled at that.  "It was terribly rude of them to chase me that way, especially those with their pants already down."  She let out a small chuckle.  "I know, it was odd."

"I threw a massive fit and had tempers for days," Draco said as he walked in.  "It happens to the best of us. I used to get frustration bombs in the library doing homework."  The ghost laughed and Stella gave him a clueless look.  "Veela broadcast sex, dear.  I did it in Hogwarts."  She blushed a bit at that.  "Exactly."  He smiled at her.  "Come walk with me and we'll talk."  She nodded, following him outside.  "It's a pretty night," he offered quietly.

"It is.  New York's hot and muggy."

"We get some humidity but not too much in this valley," he offered gently.  "The others had a much easier transition.  I heard Flack's sister was one of us?"  She nodded.  "The other two knew?"

"Mac's a muggle born," she offered quietly.  "Or whatever you call 'em."

"No, I can't use that word anymore," he said dryly.  "I still remember the consequences from the last time I said it."  She smiled at that.  "Have you talked to him about this yet?  He seems like the sort who'd have taken this news fairly hard."  He walked her off toward the stables.

"I hadn't.  You think he wasn't a happy boy?"

"From the way he is now, I doubt he thought it was more than a prank until forced to accept it."

"Maybe," she agreed quietly, considering it.  "It's just so strange and odd!  Magic's something that you read about in books!  Not books I usually read but books."  He nodded at that.  "Now I find out that I've got a family history of it and that I can do it.  I feel...unsettled."

"As you should," he agreed.  "You should remember that nothing will *make* you use it.  The same as we do have some very muggle science oriented wizards in our world.  Most of them muggle born admittedly," he offered dryly, smirking at her. He let her into the stables, hearing the quiet whuffing noises from the horses.  "There's nothing here that would make you give up your usual life.  Nothing says you can't do whatever it is you do every day for a living.  It could even be helpful now and then."

"We do what Greg does."

"Which I still don't understand," he assured her, patting her on the arm.  "He manages to use it daily and still not use it on the job.  He's had some people suggest he should use it on the job and he's refused."  She relaxed at that.  "With your boss knowing, he could never force you to use it on the job.  Not unless he were going to do the same.  Or unless it was magic related."  She nodded.  "Besides, the greater majority of your life will have nothing to do with magic.  You're a muggle.  You're going to remain a muggle.  Even if you were to marry a wizard, you'd still only use it around the house for cleaning spells and the like most likely.  Perhaps some preservation things."

"You can preserve things?"

"Of course. Time stop and other methods.  Alex and them have to use it a lot on the job to stop degradation and those issues.  Another thing I don't pretend to understand.  From what Gregory said, chemistry is like potions only he works with dead people.  Which sounds suspiciously like necromancy to me, but I don't claim knowledge of that either."  She smiled and nodded.  "Right now, you're learning a lot of things you'll probably never use.  It's to build your skill levels and to promote a certain way of thinking.  It's only at the higher levels that you get into the theory behind magic and that sort of thing.   We all had to learn the same spells and show proficiency with them to graduate.  It showed that the indoctrination had been successful and that we had a good handle on controlling our innate responses.  Unless you're a curse breaker or a veela," he offered with a sarcastic smirk.  She giggled.  "Weasley is still one of the *worst* at leaking magic when he gets frustrated.  I take mine out on my mate and wear him out. This is teaching you how to wear out your magic so it doesn't back up and explode on those around you some day.  Once you get a bit further on, we'll let Greg guide you in ways of using your magic that could be helpful should the situation arise on the job or to protect your life if you're getting shot at."

She hugged him.  "Thank you, Draco."

"It's not a problem.  Now please get off before you wrinkle me."  She smiled and got off him.  "For now, just know that you'll use the first few lessons and about ten others you'll learn this weekend more often than half the other stuff in those books Gregory bought you. It's progressive.  You don't learn cast fireballs before you can put out fires.  As long as you pass the test at the end, you can even ignore your wand for long stretches.  Mac apparently has."  She nodded at that.  "Now, you should rest.  Tomorrow's going to be a more strenuous day.  Alex wants you lot through the first six months of charms at the very least before you leave."  She nodded and patted the nose hanging over a stall door.  "That's Diablo.  Alex's stallion.  He's a bit touchy but he seems to like females."  He smiled at her.  "We should go back inside before Alex hunts me down and takes me on the lawn again."

"We should.  Thank you, Draco."  He nodded and led her back inside, closing and locking the doors behind them once they were in the house.  "In the books, you were a bigger bastard."

"Alex fucked it out of me," he admitted dryly. "I don't like to disappoint him."  He dropped her off at her room then went down to his to climb back into bed. Alex snuffled him and relaxed, wrapping him in his arms.  "Night, love."  Alex kissed the skin he was resting against and settled back into a deeper sleep.

***

Danny woke up at the nudge, looking at the house elf beside him.  "Give me ten to clean up."

"Breakfast is in kitchen.  Alex is saying to head down when yous is ready."  She disappeared.

Up the hall Don shrieked.

Danny laughed, getting up and heading to the bathroom to get cleaned up for the day.  By the time he came down, Don was dressed and calmed down.  "House elf get you up?" he asked, clapping him on the back.

"Yes.  All I saw was big eyes and big ears."  Mac smiled at that.  "Did you see a lot of them at your school?"

"We only had three to do laundry and cook," Mac admitted.  "They were ordered to ignore us if we came begging for treats and snacks."  He sipped his coffee.  "Where's Alex, Draco?"

"Outside checking on the storage areas.  Someone got into one through a seal."  Ron and Harry came in.  "Who was it?"

"Keelian," Harry said dryly.  "Alex is trying to coax him out of there before he ends up living in that one."

Greg smirked from his spot.  "Makes sense to me.  Dragons gather nests."  He looked at Don. "Yes, that's Harry Potter."

"You read the stupid books, didn't you?" Harry asked blandly.  Don nodded, grinning at him.  "Total shite, mate."  He looked at the house elves.  "Don't you dare stuff me full.  I've got practice before the game today."  Me snorted and pushed him into a chair, putting a huge plate in front of him.  He gave Ron a helpless look so they changed plates.  "Thanks, mate."

"Welcome, Harry."  He grinned at Don. "Don't worry, Harry's a normal guy at home.  He farts and swears and scratches stuff that makes Luna and Ginny laugh at him."  Don relaxed and sat down across from them.  "So, being a cop must be at least a little bit exciting."

"Usually not in a good way.  If I'm having an exciting day, something bad's happened."

Danny snorted.  "Like the squirt gun wars."

"Yeah, there's the odd stuff too," Don agreed dryly.

"Squirt gun wars?" Dawn asked as she and Ginny walked in.  Ron blinked at his sister.  "She's got to exercise Apple.  We're doing flying exercises while she's doing that.  Of course she's in official clothes, Ron."

Danny blinked, then nodded once.  "Valkyrie, right?"  She smiled and nodded.  "Better you than me, sister.  Much better you than me.  I'd look horrible on the horse and with the vow of chastity."

She smiled. "It means I get to play with the unicorns for at least a few more years."  She sat down and smiled at Don.  "Yes, I know I'm hot, Thor designed slutty outfits, dear."  She patted him on the hand.  "Can I have the scones and jam?"  He nodded and passed them down.  "Thank you."  She fixed her plate.  "Keelian!  I'm going flying in a bit!" she bellowed.  The dragon came running in with Alex behind him by a few minutes.  "Thank you, dear.  Maybe Alex can lend you some stuff for a nest of your own."  She let him into her lap and fed him a bite of scone.  "You rest, we'll go fly on Apple in a minute."  He smirked at her and settled in, staring at Don.

"What?  I'm learning how to fly today."  The dragon huffed at him.  "If I'm any good you can go with me."  That got another smirk and a tail swish.  "He really is like a cat at times."

"Very much. That means he's healthy," Dawn agreed happily. She smiled at Alex.  "We're doing flying lessons while Ginny's exercising Apple, then we'll get back to work on charms and stuff."

"That's fine.  There's paperwork Draco and I have to do for a few minutes then we'll join you."

Draco looked at him.  "Since when do *we* do the family paperwork?"

"Since I've still got to sign the paperwork authorizing you on the rest of the vaults, Draco."  He moaned at that and nodded.  "Then we can go fly."

"Yes, dear."  He looked around.  "Where's Lovegood?"

"Sleeping in.  Ethan wore her out yesterday morning and she's tired," Ginny told him.

"More than I wanted to know about her sex life," Alex said blandly.  "Could she be pregnant?"

"We're not sure," Dawn admitted. "The hellhounds have started to come back around. One's trying to nurse again."  Danny and Mac both choked at that.  "Sorry, I guess no one told you.  Luna's mated with a nature path warlock and a mid-level demon, one who used to be a chaos sorcerer but changed during the battle.  Ethan has the worst timing, he keeps calling during Herbology and having mental sex with her. It wears her out greatly at the moment."

"If she gets pregnant, the castle will expel her," Alex noted patiently.  "You need to remind her of that, Dawnie."

"Sev has," she promised. Greg smiled at that. "He's on her ass about it too, Alex.  He hates Ethan."

"I don't always like Ethan but I understand his nature," Alex pointed out patiently.  "I especially didn't like him after some of his stunts in Sunnydale.  Then again, that's his nature, he's a chaos sorcerer.  Speaking of, Wes is a sorcerer, not a warlock.  He's not an oath breaker."

"If you say so.  Angel said he was."

"Angel needs to crawl out of your sister's ass again, Dawnie.  Wes never promised more than he'd help Angel if he needed him.  Since Angel didn't call when he needed help, it's his own fault."

"Good point."  She shrugged.  "He glared at Angel when he called him that in front of Sirius and them.  Spike growled at him for that."

"And I'm guessing Angel's going to be plagued with Ethan too," Ginny agreed sarcastically.  "Can you do much worse than a stripping house elf?"

"Oh, so much worse," Alex assured her with a mean smirk.  "Oh."  He looked at Greg, then at Danny.  "You got a floo call earlier when the wards went off. Someone heard I was working with Flack and called, said she knew Greggy."

"Who?" Greg asked.

"Potion's teacher at Chicago."

"Aiden?" he asked, looking confused.

"Burns?" Flack asked, sitting up straight.  "She's one of us?"

"She is?" Mac asked.

"You're just bad at spotting us, Mac," Danny said, patting him on the wrist.  "Yeah, she's a potions person.  Not as great as Greg or Snape, but pretty decent.  She's teaching in Chicago because the last guy knocked himself senseless with a flying cauldron when he made a mistake.  She got one from a student but still."

"You knew where she is and didn't tell me?" Don demanded.

"How could I have!" he complained.  "It'd expose you to magic and I didn't know you knew."  They stared at each other.  "We'll call her later," he promised.

"Thank you. I miss Aiden.  Speaking of, new girl?"

"Not a clue," Danny assured him patiently.  "Sheldon thinks something funny's going on.  He thinks Mac and Stella were going to run off and get hitched and we're their attendants. So I guess I'm doing her hair."  Don cracked a smile at that when Mac and Stella both choked. "I told him we were going to visit a mutual friend out of the city."

"I'll make sure Sheldon knows it won't happen," Mac groaned, holding his head.

"You're cute and all, Mac, but I take you as someone who'd be kinda boring in bed," Stella agreed happily.

Mac glared at her.  "I never had any complaints from Claire."

"That's the benefit of marriage," Dawn agreed happily, smiling at Ron.  "You get to know their bodies very well."

"Eww," Ginny announced. "Some of us are under a vow of chastity and have a sore wrist already!  Let's not give the perpetual virgin more smutty thoughts please!"

"Yes, dear," Dawn sighed, shaking her head.  "Why do you have a sore wrist?"

"Listening to you and Luna compare oral sex techniques!" she complained.

Alex patted her on the back. "You know you're welcome back when Apple goes into heat again," he promised gently.  She nodded, pouting at him.  "It'll be at least a year and we can always obliviate the memories if they're too hard to bear."

"No, I'm fine," she assured him, just pouting a bit. "She's a cranky pregnant mare."

"They can be, yes," Alex promised, patting her on the back.  He looked at Draco.  "We did agree to that, right?"

"As long as her mare was in heat," he agreed.  "It'd save her from doing something stupid in her need or jumping one of her many brothers or cousins by accident."  Ron glared at him.  "You were right there, she nearly got you and Potter once."

"Point," he complained, still glaring.  "Lay off my family, Draco."

"All right, I'm ending this round now!" Alex announced.  "Or else you're both cataloging each and every jewel in all the catacombs."  They shuddered and hunched down.  "Thank you!  Remember, your lines' founders were desperately in love and snogged and shagged every chance they had."  That got harder shudders from them. "Good.  I'm glad that's settled."  He heard a thump and looked at one of the elves, who went to check, then came back to whisper in his ear.  "Ron, thank you for reminding Miss Granger I wanted my shit back.  Most of it's here."

"I'll catalog it during the charms lessons," Draco promised.  Alex looked at him and nodded. "Do the cataloging books automatically update?"

"They do and if they have cards in the card catalog it'll place it on the shelving cart within an hour."

"Thank you."  He stole a quick kiss.  "Virgin brat, may I please have the tea?"

"Fine, slut boy," she sneered, handing it over.

He smirked at that compliment. "Yes, I am.  Quite proud of it too."

"Yes, and you two kept us up yet again," Harry complained. "Someone needs to strengthen the anti-noise spell between my suite and yours.  I try and it gets louder."

Alex nodded. "I'll do that tonight, Harry."  That earned him a smile. "Practice?"

"Thirty minutes," he moaned, scraping his plate, finishing his tea, and heading up to grab his necessary things so he could head off.  "Later all!"

Don looked at Alex.  "This is like a madhouse at times."

"No, that's when we've got a ton of artifacts and we're figuring out what they are.  Then it's a madhouse of sorting into the requisite piles of 'nasty', 'unholy', 'will eat you', and 'dangerous'."

"Will eat you stuff isn't considered dangerous?" Stella asked.

"Not really.  I can fight off something that could eat me.  That other dangerous stuff could kill me without me knowing."  He beamed at her. "Last month I brought home a demonic containing necklace that strangled the wearers so it could steal their souls and gain power until it could break out and eat the world."

"Word of advice, never try on any jewelry that's just lying around," Dawn told her.  "I got sent a cursed piece and it nearly choked me for liking Ron instead of the giver."

Stella nodded. "Wow.  Is this just curse breaker stuff?"  Everyone at the table who knew nodded.  "Good!  I don't want to collect cursed stuff.  I wouldn't mind learning how to make jewelry, but still."

"I'm kinda looking forward to finding the expansion charms," Danny told her.  "That way I can have a *real* apartment."  Mac moaned at that. "Exactly.  Even just two more rooms and expanding what I have would be really nice."

"You can do that?" Don asked.

"Remember in book four, the tents?" Ron asked.  Don nodded happily, beaming at him.  "You can do that on an apartment too. Live in a total shithole and do it."

"Which I do," Danny admitted dryly.  "You can also conceal the extra rooms from those who don't know."

"If you're really unethical, you could also make your landlord forget your apartment existed and not pay rent too," Dawn reminded him smugly.  "Willow did that once."

"Which is a bad thing," Ron said patiently. "Following Willow's example is always a bad idea, Dawn."

"I know, just saying," she said happily, smiling at him.

"Ethan did it on his penthouse in Chicago," Alex said with a small shrug. "I lowered my rent in Sunnydale by about five hundred a month so I could afford to live there on what I was making."

"Yeah, rent was really horrible there," Dawn agreed.  Ron looked at her.  "It was."

"I've got an apartment about the size of this kitchen and I pay about two grand," Danny told her.  Ron gave him a horrified gape.  He nodded. "New York rent is horrible."

"Worse than most places," Don agreed.  "My apartment's only a bit bigger and I pay about the same amount."  Stella and Mac both nodded.  "Can you show us that shrinking spell?"

"Once you've gotten a handle on the basics we'll be going over, I'll get to it tomorrow," Alex promised with a smile. "It is the most handy thing.  We use it on camp gear and stuff."  Ron nodded at that. "Okay, let's finish up and get to flying lessons while I sign some papers and stuff."  Everyone finished up and Draco followed him into the office while Ron and everyone headed outside.  Dawn got Stella.  Danny got Don.  Ron watched and flew around a bit while Ginny and Apple worked out together.

Don yelped as he took off.  "Level off!" Danny yelled.  "Like it's a joystick, Don!"  He summoned his game broom and took off to fly with him.

Dawn smirked at Stella and winked.  "Okay, like this," she ordered patiently, showing her.  She got off and handed over the broom.  Stella got on and she adjusted her grip.  "Good.  Now, when it's activated, you turn using the handle. He's right, it's just like a pilot's joystick.  Down is down.  Up is up.  Level is level.  Turn the broom and lean with it, not lean to turn the broom or you roll."  She nodded.  "Okay.  Drop it, stand beside it and hold out your hand.  Say 'up' firmly."

Stella got off the broom and laid it down, then put her hand out.  "Up!"  It flew into her hand, making her smile.  She remounted and kicked off gently, taking off slowly and letting herself float up until she got nervous and leveled herself out.  "This is really fun," she said happily.

Dawn smirked and nodded.  "It is.  Alex, I'm stealing your good broom!" she yelled, then summoned it.  She flew up to join her.  "Okay, let's do some gentle laps, what Danny and Don are doing."  Stella nodded and followed her.  "You'd make a really good chaser, Stella."

"What's a chaser?"

"The person with the ball who throws it.  We'll show you tomorrow."  She smiled at her.  "I'm a keeper, I block chaser's shots."  She headed up and Stella followed, holding on tightly.  "No death grips.  You won't fall and Ron's more than able to catch you."

"I've fallen from higher up and it only stings a bit," Ron called.  "Really."

Danny looked at him and smirked.  "Total BS," he called.  Ron smirked at him and shrugged. "That's how you know a real player," he told Don.  "We don't mind the bumps and bruises."  He flew down and took Mac, putting him in front of him. "Quit pouting."  He headed back up, talking quietly in his ear to instruct him how to do it.  Mac was still stiff and uncomfortable but at least he was in the air now.

"Can I get down?  I'm going to be sick."  Danny landed and let him off.  "Sorry."

"Not everyone likes to fly."  He shrugged and zipped off, taking a couple of fast loops around the valley and coming back to where everyone was floating together.  "So," he said, grinning at them. "This is part of my sport.  Well, outside of baseball, but that's okay too.  What do we think?"

"I like this," Stella agreed happily.  "There's safe spots to fly in the city?"

"Yup, when we get back I can take you to the school and show you where they are on the maps."  Don smiled at that.  "You're doing good too."

"It's fun.  I always thought it sounded fun in the books."

"Oh, it is," Danny agreed happily.

"I think Stella would make an excellent chaser, Danny," Dawn offered.

"I can see it happening.  We do have a borough-wide league. The PD has a team on it," he offered.  "If we can get these two trained it'd be kinda cool to play together."

Stella burst out giggling.  "I just had the mental image of Sheldon catching sight of us flying and trying to explain it to himself."

Danny snickered.  "Lindsey catching us and trying to explain it to Sheldon," he offered.  Don snickered at that too.

"He'd check her forehead and vitals first," Stella agreed happily.  "We can cover this at work, right?"

"I do," Danny said with a small shrug. Greg joined them.  "How many people at your work know?"

"Nearly everyone on my shift in the labs.  Death Eaters came after me.  It blew my cover big time."

"I bet," Don agreed.  "Why did they come for you?  I mean, you obviously went to Hogwarts, but still."

"I'm an alchemist, Don.  If he had me and my stones, he could have funded his crusade and gotten rid of Lucius sooner."  He blinked at that so Greg nodded, smirking a bit. "Yeah, that's how I have the legitimate mansion in Vegas with a pool."

"Wow."  Stella looked at him. "Is it hard?"

"Very and it's theoretical.  Each of us who manages it does it just slightly different.  Magic is a lot like that. That's how you tell wand signatures.  You put a bit of yourself into each spell."  She nodded at that.  "That's a higher level class though.  Theory is a senior level elective.  Like art."  He grinned and looked down as Draco and Alex joined them.  "She stole your broom."

"I saw.  We'll get the other two brooms the next time they come up if they decide to stick with it."  He floated sideways a bit, letting Draco float up next to him.  "What was the house elf issue?"

"Grocery shopping.  They need to go. I told them to take one of the vault keys."

"Thank you," he said, giving him a gentle kiss.  "Okay.  Do we want to teach the basics of quidditch?  And what's wrong with Mac?"

"Airsick and nervous," Danny offered.  He grinned at them.  "You guys just want to fly around a bit and then head back into lessons?"

"Sure," Don agreed, looking at Stella.  "Or did you want to learn how to play?"

"I want to watch a game first."  She smiled at Alex. "Thank you for spoiling us rotten."

He kissed her on the cheek.  "Not an issue. I hate most of my sisters so I'm adopting you guys."

"You like Katya."

"Yes, but if I tried to spoil her, she'd try to castrate me again," he complained.  He smiled.  "The ring of rocks holds the anti-disclosure spells.  Stay within them.  Otherwise someone might see."  They nodded and headed off to explore the grounds. Alex went to check on the health of the spells with Draco's help, adding in new layers of magic to toughen them up again.  He also added in satellite interference just in case.

***

Danny smiled at Mac and then whistled sharply.  "I'm calling Aiden!" he yelled.  Don and Stella came running with their cocoa.  "Good."  He found the pot of floo powder.  "Useful stuff to have.  When we get back, we'll see if we can manage a floo port somehow for you guys, or you can come use mine."  He tossed in the floo powder.  "Aiden Burns."  Her head spun up and she blinked at him.  "Hi, precious," he said with a smirk.

"Mother of God," she breathed. "You're one of us?  They never found you?  I thought you were the sibling of one of us since I never saw you with your wand."

He snorted.  "Please!  They found me and I went to the local Academy.  My family's been wizards for *centuries*, Aiden.  Mac's a muggle born.  No they missed those two," he said, pointing at Don and Stella.  Who smiled and waved.  "We're in Scotland taking the beginning lessons with them.  We taught 'em how to fly today too."

She smiled at him.  "I miss you, Danny.  Hi, Mac.  Hi, Stella, hey, Don."  He grinned back.  "So, how did they miss you guys?"

"They told my father I didn't have it when he asked," Don told her.  "My sister got her letter and dad checked, but they said I was normal.  Turns out I'm a natural curse breaker."

She moaned.  "Ooh, you poor man," she sighed.  "No wonder you get the hellish cases."  She shook her head.  "Who's teaching you guys?  All I heard was a fellow potion master who went to Hogwarts."

Greg walked over and waved.  "Hi, Aiden.  'Tis me and Alex Dumass, plus his apprentices."

She blinked.  "You're a wizard, Greggy?"

"I'm the Wizard of Blood, Aiden babe."  He smirked at her and she whimpered.  "Yup.  I had to prove it to Brass so I gave him bunny ears."  She burst out giggling and he grinned.  "They're heading to the game tomorrow and then home afterward.  When's break for you guys?"

"Two weeks, same as New York's."  She smiled at them. "I've missed you guys. Teaching potions is horrible!"

"Hey, at least they fixed the school," Greg said dryly.  "Lindsey Willows is my sponsored kid.  We almost took down your school for that."

"What do you mean almost?  You sicced the Legacy on us."  She smiled at him. "Good job by the way. They didn't even have wands."  Mac moaned at that.  She looked at him. "You went here?"  He nodded.  "Wow, I would've expected somewhere like Fischer Academy for you, or maybe even Andromeda."

"Local boy.  That way I didn't have to board.  Mom hated the idea of boarding schools."  He sat down. "How are you doing?"

"I'm okay.  Teaching is very stressful.  Almost makes me wish for another trash barge case some days.  We've got a good potion's lab here but some of the kids never got taught a damn thing.  The school got taken over by the military during the purge so we're just now getting ready to graduate the first class of semi-trained wizards. We've been playing catchup to get them ready."  She looked at Danny.  "I can't believe you're a pureblood, Danny."  He nodded. "Why didn't we hit the school at the same time?"

"I'm five years older than you. We probably had some overlap but I was Cheshire house.  You?"

"York.  No wonder I never saw you there."  She shrugged. "Okay.  So, how're lessons going?"

"I got to fly," Don said happily.

She grinned at him. "You fall off yet?"

"No.  Not yet.  Mac gets air sick."  She giggled at that.  "Dawnie said that Stella might make a good chaser."

"Maybe," she agreed. "That takes high levels of pushiness and tenacity.  Want me to call the PD team's coach for you guys?"

"Please," Danny agreed.  "I want to see if I can still play with my wrist."

"Holy shit! I was there at the same time.  You fell right before the school championship!" she said.  He nodded.  "Damn!"

"Vaguely.  Damaged some of the nerves but Alex and I did okay earlier when he was working with me.  He thinks I could play with some good wrist guards this time."

"Wow.  If you do, I want invited back for the borough championship."  They all nodded.  She smiled. "I miss you guys and your insanity.  Here all I've got is Spike and Sirius."

Don chuckled at that.  "Ron and Don went off on those two earlier.  Arguing over who was worse."

"Spike.  Vampires always win."  She frowned.  "Hold on.  Ron Weasley and Dawn Summers?"  They all nodded.  "You're with who?"

"Alex Dumass," Greg said fondly, showing off his tattoo.  "They're helping.  They're Alex's apprentice and little sister."

"Oh, man, you're among the famous sort now, guys.  So, was Potter there?"

"He's collapsed on his bed," Don said happily.  "We had breakfast with him."  She giggled at that.  "I know, but I read the books to see what my sister could do.  I got hooked," he complained.

"Now that you have the reality, it's much more complicated," she agreed.  "I'm a coworker of Sirius Black."

"I thought he died."

"Strange stuff that necessitated a time turner," Ron said from the doorway. "You guys can have her included in your next lesson but she won't remember how to get here.  Tell Sirius Harry said hi but he's too tired to call because the season's just getting under way.  Tell Spike Dawnie says hi and that she looks better in her leather pants than he does.  Tell him I agree and to get on Angel's case for calling Wes a warlock too."

"Okay.  Sirius!" she yelled.  Her head turned and she passed on the message, then turned back to Ron.  "He said that's no excuse, of course they're torturing Angel, and anyone would look better than Spike in a pair of leather pants, he's got a flat ass."

Ron snickered.  "He does.  Thanks."  He headed off.  "Not too late, guys.  We've got a long day tomorrow if you want that expansion charm."

Aiden smirked at them.  "That is a handy spell.  I'm living in a slum but I've got an eighteen room apartment with classical furniture that I transfigured myself."

Danny nodded. "I'm doing my apartment when I get home.  Then we'll practice the spells for their apartments until the next lessons."  Mac looked at him. "Silencing, soundproofing, lighting stuff.  The homey spells.  That way they get practice and their apartments are fully muggle proof."

"Okay," he agreed. "I've only got soundproofing on mine."

"You don't use yours very much," Aiden reminded him.  "I used mine about every day. Hell, I had a bath drawn for me by the time I got home thanks to my wand."

"Yeah, that's about what I've used it for.  That and transfiguring clothes now and then. I was pretty muchly hiding it," Danny agreed.

"I heard rumors about the Vinese coming to kick some family's ass," Aiden agreed.  Danny nodded.  She winced and hissed.  "Are you in trouble?"

"Nope.  I didn't know a thing about the covenant."

"Damn," she said in awe.  "Well, at least you were recalled to the family home to be tortured or stuff.  So, Stella, you handling it okay?"

"Enough," she admitted. "It's still really strange, Aiden.  Did you do a lot of thinking?"

"Not really.  It got me out of the house and away from my mother.  I was happy until I got there and realized I had *no* clue what the fuck was going on."  Don grinned at that.  "Your sister?"

"Called crying the second night because she didn't understand what a boarding school was or how people managed to live with bad food."

"Which house was she in?"

"Cheshire."  Aiden nodded at that.  "She might've known Danny back there."

"Yup, I remember your sister.  She used to come bug me and my friends to help her in defense," Danny admitted.  "She got pretty good when the guys made her learn the spells by attacking her in the halls, but she was pretty weak her first few weeks."  He shrugged. "Standard upperclassmen bullying."

"They did it to me too," Aiden agreed.  "Hey, since you're over there, can you guys pick me up stuff from the Weasley's shop?  Please?"

"I got some stuff upstairs," Danny assured her.  "Whatcha need, Aiden?"

"Ooh, anything!  Please!  Especially something to stuff up dog noses.  Sirius, get the hell away from my ass!"  They laughed and she sighed, shaking her head.  "He ran off again. Animagus are not fun at times, especially that one."

Greg laughed.  "Speak for yourself.  I like being a lizard."

"Figures.  Where were you in Hogwarts?"

"The year behind Sev.  I was his apprentice."

"You were a Slytherin?"  He smirked and nodded. "Wow."

"Very.  And hey, I finally got Emilia," he said proudly, pulling out the picture to show her.  "We're still in Vegas."

"Really wow. Good job, Greggy."  He smiled and put the picture back.  "Damn it, we need a convention to talk."

"MNPO," Greg reminded her.  "Next month in Miami."

"What?" Stella asked.

"Magical Nation of Police Officers."

"Oh."  She nodded.  "Can we go without joining?"

"Nope.  We can get you joined before then," Greg assured her with a wink.  "I can do that tonight."  He waved at Aiden. "I'm going to do that.  You going?"

"I am.  I'm still part of it, even though I'm not working in a lab."  A small explosion went off behind her, you could just hear it.  "I'll see you guys soon.  Call me when you guys get back into the states.  That was one of my darling future corpses."  She waved and disappeared.

Greg pulled out his cell and called someone.  "Grissom, read me the number on that blue pamphlet on my desk please?  Yeah, that one.  For the convention.  We've got to get the cops here with me enrolled so they're part of the brotherhood."  He smiled and muttered it to himself. "Thanks.  No, I can make it back in time for shift on Sunday, but I'm attending a quidditch match with them that day.  Sure.  I can do that."  He listened.  "Grissom, look at Ecklie and tell him we found some late blooming wizards and if he tries that I'm going to turn him into something I can use in multiple potions."  He hung up and dialed the other number.  "Timmy," he said happily, walking off.  "You've heard the rumors about the New York academy?"  He nodded.  "No, man, they lost tons of people.  Including some cops."  He looked back at them and they all nodded.

"Oh, I don't know.  You mean like Don Flack Jr.?"  He smirked at him.  "You do?"  He looked at Don.  "He's the alternate keeper for the PD team."  He listened again.  "We're teaching him and Bonasera actually.  Well, Messer is, Taylor is.  Those two are.  Burns was, we just talked to her.  She's teaching  potions in Chicago but might go back to a lab someday soon.  They're about to get eaten by her."  He grinned. "Please!  Thank you.  Of course.  I'd like to see them at the convention too.  Fank you, Timmy.  Love you too, man.  Hey, do we know who's attending down in Miami?"  He grinned.  "Thanks."  He hung up.  "They'll be at the lab Tuesday to talk about their brotherhood.  Be there.  I'm going to bed, night, guys!"  He headed up the stairs to call his wife over the tattoo bond and have mental sex with her.

"They're so cute together it's nearly sickening," Stella said quietly.  "Ron and Dawnie too."

Don nodded. "True, but young love and all that, Stella.  You gotta appreciate it."

"Oh, I do, and I'm hoping I'm just as cutesy when it hits me."  She stood up and helped Don up off the floor too.  "We should all head to bed. We've apparently got a long day tomorrow."  She stopped Mac.  "Are you okay?"

"I don't use it, Stella.  Hardly ever.  I'll be the benevolent boss watching over my fruitcake staff to make sure they don't get into more trouble."  She smiled and nodded.  "Remember, you can talk to me about this stuff too."

"I know.  Just not at work or in the open."  She glanced around, making sure they were alone. "Do you think Flack is going to make our lives a living hell?"

He smiled.  "Curse breakers are born that way, Stella," he said fondly.  "That's how you tell them apart from the normal wizards.  The more trained he is, the less hell it'll cause."  Alex snorted from the doorway.  "No?"

"The great ones are always dedicated to Loki's name," he said dryly, smirking at them.  "The more hell we cause, the greater we'll be.  Harry and Ron together equal my spot and I'm second highest at this time, until the first guy dies.  Bill, Ron's big brother and my last apprentice, is right behind us.  It's part of who we are, but he'll be able to manage it better."  He nodded and walked off. "Go to bed, kids.  There's harder charms coming tomorrow and you'll need to concentrate.  Next time we'll get into transfiguration instead of charms."

"Thank you," Stella called.  She looked at Mac again.  "He'd be the expert."

"He would be.  He's been causing havoc and chaos for years.  Especially when he got deaged."

"He did?"

Mac nodded.  "Yeah, it's a fairly famous story."  He led her up to his room to explain.  "See, Dumass is one of the top curse breakers, has been for decades.  He's about ninety at the moment."  She blinked at that.  "He was on a job, retrieving something, when a curse hit him.  No one knows the origin and there's been rumors it was both sides doing it, but it deaged him from sixty something to five. Then the old headmaster at Hogwarts got involved.  He put a shield around Alex and sent him to Sunnydale, the Hellmouth.  He lived there until just a few years ago backing up the Slayer as a guy named Xander Harris.  When they called a reunion here about the Voldemort situation, he got called back and the shield around him was removed.  It freed him to use his magic again."

"I'm taking it this place is dangerous?"

"You know those dark places in the city where inhuman things roam?"  She nodded once.  "Sunnydale is like that.  He hunted them, without his magic and it screwing him up badly, for years. Dawn's big sister used to be the slayer.  He adopted her when her sister died," he said quietly.  "She's technically a vampire from what I understand."  She shivered at that. "So they freed Alex and he came back here, where he got into it with the Dark Lord's supporters.  They didn't want him joining the battle on the side of good, but Alex is Alex and did.  He and Draco's father ended up in a problem and he called Right of Reparation, which got him given Draco.  Draco's since acquiesced and accepted it. He has to have since he's a consort veela and he could've killed Alex by now.   Alex came back to help with the battles, along with a group called the Banes, which Greg is apparently part of.  That's what the tattoo he and Ron keep touching says."

"I noticed that.  It's some sort of communication charm?"  He nodded.  "I didn't know you could do that."

"You can.  It's fairly ancient magic. I have the feeling Father Philip helped with that while he was a student.  He's always been one for the whys of ancient magic.  When he was a priest he was the one doing the exorcisms that the church didn't want to do. Anyway, Alex ended up defending the school and fighting in the final battle with everyone.  He also ended up taking a year back at the school for some reason, I'm not sure why. They wanted you guys to learn a lot.  Alex used to be known as a dueling champion.  He's a skilled swordsman as well.  They gave you guys to the best person for the job.  You saw the library, most curse breakers don't do things like that.  They gather and hand over. I've worked with a few because Gringotts will send someone out to break shields.  Which was why I'm surprised no one found you out before this since you were in Narco and that's something drug dealers do."

"I remember a few consultants but they were focused on the job and not on us."

"That's probably how they missed you," he agreed.  "Alex is somewhere between a knight and Indiana Jones.  He's been known to have convenient ethics now and then and he's also known for sleeping with a lot of women, but Draco would've stopped that as well.  Harry's his family, Ron's his apprentice and marrying into his family.  You two may not get it the same way Danny and I did, but you'll learn enough to know what you're doing and he'll be pushing Don harder because of his gifts.  Did you read the family history the goblins found for you?"

She nodded. "It said one of my grandmothers was known as a seer who saved her village from the Nazis."

He nodded.  "It's in the history books that she did.  I used to wonder if you were one too and just hiding it better than I could.  Every now and then I still leak accidental magic.  Flack's gifts explain so much that I've noticed with him leaking magic at scenes now and then.  It usually helps us find stuff, but still."  She nodded at that. "I need you to learn as much as you can, Stella.  I'm not comfortable with a lot of the magical stuff that you could end up running into and I'm not sure Danny's strong enough to handle it on his own.  Even being a pureblood.  If something happens it'll probably be you two and Don handling it.  There's other cops in the city with skills but I doubt any other CSIs.  No one's ever twigged me as one.  Anyone who knows your last name should've wondered about you.  Danny as well.  So learn all you can and we'll handle whatever we can, all right?"  She nodded.  "Good.  Just don't get dead playing quidditch, okay?  I'd miss you."

She hugged him.  "I'll be careful, Mac.  I promise.  How many are there in the city?"

"Ask the guy who shows up Tuesday. He'd know most of us.  Take whatever you can and make your decision about using it from that.  Also, look at the books on divination."

"Greg told me he can teach me that."

"Good.  Which means he's got some," he said dryly.  "Only someone with the gift can teach it to another with the gift."  She relaxed and nodded.  "I don't know how and I have the feeling I'm going to be calling Grissom this week."

She nodded. "It might be a good idea, Mac."  She stood up. "I'll let you get to bed.  Have a nice night and thank you."

"Welcome.  Sweet dreams."  She smiled and left, heading down to her room. He checked his watch, mentally calculating the time in Las Vegas.  He snorted and pulled out his phone and called.  "Grissom, Taylor. No, actually I'm with Greg," he admitted.  He smiled at the  groan.  "They didn't miss me.  They missed Bonasera and Flack. I'm here getting a refresher at the same time.   We should talk.  Are you going to that convention Greg told us about?"  He smirked.  "I don't know, you might ask him to call and see.  No, we got them onto brooms today.  Stella and Flack are going to a quidditch game tomorrow with Danny, Greg, and I.  Yeah, that Danny.  Came to find out earlier so was Aiden. She's teaching in Chicago.  So, yeah, I'm thinking we should form some sort of mutual support group.  Sure, I'll tell him.  Why?"  He listened and moaned.  "Thanks, Grissom. We'll talk in a few days?"  He smiled.  "Yeah, he told me about the bunny ears."  That got a laugh. "I'll yell down the hall.  He's about three rooms down.  No, we're in Scotland with Alex Dumass and his family."  He smiled.  "Sure.  Thanks."  He hung up and went down to Greg's room, tapping gently.  Greg opened the door. "Lindsey came in huffing and pouting and David changed in the lab."

"Crap."  He grabbed a shirt and nodded.  "Thanks, man."  He found his sneakers and headed outside to make a portkey and take off from there.  He landed back in the lab about dawn local time, looking at the destroyed locker room.  He turned around and found Warrick behind him.  "What happened?"

"Some kid tried to push Lindsey farther than she wanted to go.  She belted him one and came here to hug her mother.  She was still emotional and pissed off.  We think she leaked magic and it made David change again."

"Okay. Where is she?"  Warrick pointed at the shower area.  "Thanks, man.  I've got it.  Send David in here."  He nodded and left, so Greg locked the door behind him. David's other form was small enough to get in through the cracks if he wasn't already in here.  He headed for the shower. "Hey," he said gently.  She sniffled and looked at him.  "C'mere."  He opened his arms and she rushed over to hug him.  "I know, it's scary when it takes you over," he soothed, righting a bench with his foot so he could sit down and put her on his lap. "It's all right.  No one's mad at you.  It was an honest reaction to being nearly hurt."  He got her calmed down, using his wand to unlock the door when it was pounded on.  Ecklie walked in and put David down on the floor.  "Thank you."

"What the hell happened?"

"She was nearly assaulted and she was angry and scared," Greg explained.  "Magic is emotional in nature.  It calls out to your emotions."  That got a nod.  "It snapped.  It's a normal thing to happen. She's not the first one who had a leaking issue when she's hurt.  We've seen women who're being abused by their men who've killed them without knowing it, they're still huddling in the corner crying when they died."  That got another nod. "She'll be fine and we can put the lockers and everything back into place easily enough."

"Okay.  Can we stop this?"

"No," he said, staring him down.  "I wish like hell we could prevent anyone from trying to force her to go too far sexually, it'd make me one happy father, but we can't."

"Good point.  Okay, just clean up in here and help Hodges then."  He walked out, closing the door behind him.

Greg looked at her.  "He's sorry he's an ass," he said quietly.  She nodded, hugging him around the neck.  He looked down at David, flicking his wand at him to send a bolt of power his way.  David returned to human, rubbing his ass.  "You okay?"

"Fine.  Just a bit scared.  What the hell happened?"

"Someone tried to make her go farther than she wanted."

"Hell."  He patted her on the head.  "Next time, vent on Ecklie's car."  She let out a weak smile.  "You all right?  Need to see someone?"  She shook her head. "Is the guy okay?"

"His tires popped when I stomped off," she said weakly.

"Is he one of us?" Greg asked.  She nodded.  "Then Penn'll have his ass for breakfast."  He called him.  "I'm back for a few minutes.  Did anyone report the kid who made Lindsey leak?"  He listened and nodded.  "Yup, that's what she said."  He smiled at her.  "You also laid a truth charm on him that they can't break."  She shrugged at that.  "I don't consider that a bad thing either."  He listened.  "No, tossed the locker room.  We can clean it up pretty easily."  Someone pushed open the door.  "Not yet, Sarah."  She left again.  "Did you get the name on the watch list?"  He nodded. "Okay, just making sure.  Yeah, it's handled.  Thanks, man."  He hung up and put his phone back in his pocket. "It's all okay. You're not in trouble.  If you have to, we can use a diverter for the next few days."  She nodded, snuggling back into his arms.  He touched his tattoo, calling Blair, who he knew had one he used to wear.  It landed at his feet a few minutes later.  David picked it up and handed it over.  "Thank you.  This is on loan from Blair," he said quietly, putting it around her neck.  "What it does is it releases some of your natural magic back into the air.  That means that any plants around you will have great growth until you take it off, okay?"  She nodded, looking at him.  "Now, are you sure you don't need to see someone?"

"I'm sure," she agreed quietly. "Thank you, Greg.  I'm sorry, David."

"Not a problem.  I'd lose my temper too and magic is emotional," he assured her.  He nodded. "Let me get your mom while you and Greg swish and flick things back into place."  She nodded and he left.

Greg handed her her wand and took out his.  "Just like normal, but it may be a bit harder."  They cleaned up the mess by the time Catherine got there.  "Hey."

"We weren't sure what to do with her when she started to leak."  She looked at her daughter.  "Are you okay now?"

"I'm fine.  I'm sorry, Mom."

"Don't be. I'd have killed the little bastard."

"She popped his tires and put a permanent truth spell on him," Greg offered with a small smirk.

"That works for me.  Did you apologize to David?"  Her daughter nodded.  "Then we're good.  We'll go home and talk about what happened; we'll talk to Emilia about witch's self defense lessons tomorrow.  Okay?"  Lindsey nodded and gave Greg a squeeze before moving over to hug her mother.  "Honey, this was not your fault.  This was his fault and I'm going to kill the little bastard if he comes near you again."  She walked her out.

Greg stood up and looked around, righting something he had missed, then looking over as the door opened.  "Good as new, Gris."

"What happened?"

"Magic responds to strong emotions.  She nearly got attacked earlier."  He moaned and slumped a bit, nodding.  "It may seem harsh, but this was the right cure at that time.  It kept her from harming others and Warrick could handle anything she might've thrown at him in her anger and fear. It's normal but I put a diverger on her for a few days."  That got another nod.  "I'll see you tomorrow night, Gris. It's nearly midnight where I am."  He smiled.  "They're doing good."

"Good, but you're still nearly out of leave days."

"I shouldn't have to go back with them next time.  They could even travel here for potions lessons if I had to.  We did the first lesson earlier today and it went okay.  Flack has *no* skill at it but Stella's doing okay and Danny's learning as well.  It goes with the mindset and I can do theirs by video when I do David's next time."

"That's fine.  Thank you for helping her."

"It's the guy I am, Gris.  Don't worry about her, she'll be fine.  Nothing went that far."  That got another nod.  "I'm headed back to Alex's."  He headed back by portkey, smiling when he landed and Draco was there.  "A boy tried to push Lindsey too far. She had a major leak."

"It's happened to the best of us.  Dawn had one last year when a boy tried to grope her.  He ended up part of the wall until Flitwick and McGongall calmed her down.  Is she all right?"

"She's fine.  Her mother's got her now.  Are you doing the next few potions lessons with them?" he asked as they walked back to the castle.

"I can.  Are they complaining about the amount of time you're taking off?"  Greg nodded. "Then I'll do the next few and we'll work on synching it with your schedule teaching Hodges."

"That's what I was thinking.  We can use a set of charmed mirrors maybe.  Or maybe at the convention."  He opened the door and ran into Stella.  "She's all right."

"Good.  What happened?"

"Magic is emotional in part, it responds to stronger emotions, like fear and anger. That's when you leak," Draco told her.

"Lindsey's date wanted her to go farther than she wanted," Greg added.  She shivered.  "She's fine.  The leaking got offensive against him and then she had a small breakout back at the station.  Ripped up the locker room.  She's good now."  She smiled and nodded at that.  "That'll be the next lesson I'll be doing with you guys.  Well, maybe not present, but over the charmed mirrors or something."

"Not enough leave time?" she asked.

He nodded.  "I've spent a lot of it over the last few years.  Between the war, Emilia and the kids, and this stuff, I've spent a lot of days here and there, mostly in twos and threes."  Draco nodded at that.  "But the good news is that Draco can teach basic potions and we can work out a way to do it by charmed mirror or something.  I'm teaching Hodges so it won't be that hard.  Plus the convention is coming up."  He smiled at her.  "You should be in bed.  We'll be giving you a headache for lunch tomorrow."  She smiled and went back to her room.  He looked at Draco. "Have Alex work out a syllabus.  Just in case you guys end up on a project and I've go to take over."

"He's already got one written up.  He figured you, Emilia, and Tipsy would be the most help if we had to leave suddenly, then you and Sev could teach potions and stuff."

"Works for me."  He clapped him on the back. "I'm going back to bed.  Night, Draco."

"Good night, Greg."  He closed up the house and went up to his room as well.  His own personal blanket covered him the moment he laid down, wrapping him in his arms to snuggle.  It was a good night and everything was safe for the moment.

Wheeeee!

Mac Taylor walked back into work Monday morning smiling and happy.  He felt good this morning.   His weekend in Scotland had went well.  He had gotten to know his people a bit better.  Danny had proved he was the badass he had been when he was younger. He ran into Sheldon and smiled.  "Good morning, Sheldon."

"It was a good weekend off?" he asked happily.

"Yes, a very nice weekend.  How was yours?"

"Six dead bodies from Friday night clubbing, all related, and a domestic that we've already solved.  She killed him because he came home drunk after nearly four years sober."  Mac nodded at that.  "How's the friend you went to see?"

"Fairly decent.  We reconnected, we watched a sporting event.  Stella and Don did a bit of shopping.  We got back about midnight."  He smiled at that and nodded.  "Oh, we heard from Aiden.  She's in Chicago and is doing well.  She's not fond of her job now and then but she's okay."  He saw Danny coming in.  "Did you send Aiden the stuff you got her?"

"I did.  I tossed it over last night."  He smiled at Sheldon.  "My man!  What's up, doc?"

"Seven homicides Saturday, but six were related and the other was a domestic, already solved."

"Wonderful.  Need my help in Trace?"

"No, I'm okay there."  He looked from one to the other then back.  "Where were you guys?"

"Out of the country," Danny noted dryly.  He grinned at Flack as he came in.  "You're pouting."

"I don't pout," he said firmly, staring at him.  "I realized this morning I make crappy coffee compared to his housekeeper."

"Well, yeah, everyone makes crappy coffee compared to his housekeeper.  She uses purified water."

"I've got to get one of those pitchers then," he said.  "Sheldon, thank you for dropping six new cases on my desk.  Who was over it this weekend?"

"Salvaro.  Whose last day was Saturday.  They're all related at least."

"Gee, thanks.  I love serials first thing Monday morning."  Sheldon grinned back.  "When can we go over it?"

"Whenever you've got a few free minutes.  I just got here too and I haven't gotten called out yet."

"I'm off to do paperwork, let me know what I need to," Mac ordered, heading for his office.

Danny looked at Sheldon.  "Need me or did you pull Lindsey?"

"I pulled Lindsey," he admitted.

"Have fun with that then, I'll take Stella today."  That got a nod and he headed for the locker room to get his gear.  He found Stella in there holding her head.  "Beer?" he teased.

"Much beer at the game," she agreed.  She looked at him.  "Who do I have today?"

"Probably me.  Sheldon and Monroe caught a serial on Saturday."

"Better them than me this morning."  She opened her purse and took the small vial of stuff Greg had handed her when he had dropped her off.  She grimaced but her headache eased almost instantly.  "Oh, better," she moaned, tossing the bottle into her locker.  She grabbed what she'd need for the day and closed her locker, looking at him.  "You don't have a hangover?"

"I have a supply of that stuff at home," he said wisely.  "I took the practical application class on that a few years back."  She smiled at that. "Mac's in the office so I guess it's us.  He's briefing Flack on that case since Salvaro was the answering detective.  I'll drive."

"Might be a good idea, yeah," she agreed, following him out.  They met Mac coming out of his office.  "Is Danny working alone or are we a trio today?"

"We are a trio today because we have a nice body waiting for us in the park that's partially pinned under a dead horse."

"Okay," she agreed, following him out.  She glanced at Danny.  Then at Mac.  "Riding accident?"

"With what the detective said, no.  Not unless he was pulling a Lady Godiva."

"Staged hopefully?" Danny asked.

"I haven't seen it yet, Danny, but I can only hope so."  They made it outside and to the car.

***

Danny looked over when someone tapped on his door.  "Just a minute!"  He finished the charm he was working on and hit the charm to hide stuff from those who didn't know, closing the new extra door to his apartment before going over to answer the front door.  "Monroe, what's up?"  He let her inside, checking the hall.  "Need help on the serial case?"

"No, I came over to see if you wanted to do something tonight.  You weren't answering your phone."

"Yeah, I turned it off since I'm not on tonight."  He turned it back on, checking the incoming call log.  Just her number and one from Mac. "Hold on, Mac called and left a voicemail."  He got into that and listened, then nodded.  "Okay."  He hung up.  "I was going to clean tonight.  The kitchen's still a wreck and I've got stuff growing in my fridge.  My momma would kill me for leaving my fridge that way."

She snorted.  "Like you really want to clean tonight, Danny."

"Well, no," he admitted.  "But I should so I can eat."

"We can get something on the way.  Sullivan's?"

"Sure."  He shrugged.  "Let me change shirts."  She nodded and he went into his bedroom, going to change his shirt and figure out if he was bringing his wand or not.  He decided on not this time and turned, finding her standing in the doorway.  Which meant she had bypassed another four doors he had recently put in.  "Give me a few more."

"How are you affording a spot this nice?"

Danny smirked a bit.  "Rent control.  I've been here for a while."  He went back to buttoning his shirt.  He left it loose, putting his badge on underneath and then his gun as well.  He felt hands go around his chest and looked back at her.  "That's not what I had planned for tonight."

"You can't tell me you don't want it."

"I can."  He got free and looked at her.  "No, Monroe.  I don't date at work."

"You dated Aiden."

"No, Aiden and I were buddies," he corrected calmly.  "We were best friends, we never dated.  I don't date people I work with.  Things get awkward."  She frowned at him.  "Seriously.  It's bad politics all the way around.  You start mixing emotions with samples and you get stuff that's misrun and stuff that's overlooked.  I'm sorry if I gave you that idea."

"No.  Everyone says you used to date Aiden."

"Nope, sorry.  Aiden dated some guy who worked at the Met for the last six months she was here."

"Oh.  Did you guys go to see her this weekend?"

"No.  She's in Chicago.  We did talk to her.  She called. I talked to her again last night, but we were up in the woods visiting someone."

"Sheldon said out of the country."

"Canada's only a few hours away," he pointed out dryly.

"Point.  I'm sorry, Danny."

"Not an issue. You still want a beer?"

"I probably shouldn't."  He nodded, accepting that.  "Will we be okay tomorrow?"

"We'll be just fine," he promised.  She smiled and nodded, leaving the apartment.  He groaned and held his head, going to call Mac.  "It's Danny.  No I'm okay.  Yeah, want a beer?"  He smirked.  "More like issueage as Alex would say."  He nodded.  "Yeah, that one.  Who said I was dating Aiden?"  He listened.  "No, she was dating that guy at the Met.  Not me.  I don't date at work.  Yeah, that's why.  Well, she did want to know how I could afford a place this big."  He smirked.  "My thoughts but I'm not sure that's the right thing. Thanks, Mac."  He hung up and slumped down on his couch, taking off his badge and gun to leave there for now.  Then he went back to fixing up his apartment and hiding the door from everyone who wasn't invited in.  He searched his room, finding a piece of her hair and used it to exclude her personally from the other rooms. Just in case she tried to come back. Then he went to sit in his new library and put his feet up, watching the tv in there with the door open so he could hear if someone knocked.

***

Mac looked at Lindsey when she came in the next morning.  "Hi.  Got a few?"

"Danny turned me in?" she asked quietly.

"He was worried that things could get said in the heat of the moment, Lindsey.  He said you wouldn't do it on purpose but he wanted me to know in case anyone else insinuated something.  Like whoever told you to approach him because he had dated Aiden."

"I didn't mean to cause any trouble."

"You didn't," he assured her.  "We're just making sure that no one else could say anything to either of you.  Things like that can ruin a career."  She nodded, understanding that.  "So, let's go talk in my office and I'll make official note that someone had suggested you date a coworker but you turned the idea down. Okay?"  She nodded, that made her look really good.  He smiled and led her that way, puling his wand once they were alone in the elevator.  "Obliviate last night," he whispered.  She went stiff, then moaned and held her head. "Are you okay?" he asked, slipping his wand back into his pocket.  She looked at him and nodded. "Come on, you can lay down in my office, Lindsey.  I have some tylenol if you need some."  She nodded again and let him lead her that way.  He noticed Sheldon frowning.  "Headache."

"Okay."  He watched them walk off, frowning at the sight of something.  He waited until Mac had Lindsey laying down to go confront him.  He gave Mac a look and nodded at a nearby corner, making him join him there.  "Mac, your jacket's hiked up," he said quietly, staring at him.  "How long have you carried a wand?"

"You know about..."  He led him out of the way.

"I was an ME, Mac.  We see the personal effects more than you guys do. I've seen a few over the years," he said quietly.  "Is she all right?"

"Headache."

"From...."

Mac gave him a dirty look. "Why?"

"Because if you obliviated her," he said quietly, "you should know she's fairly resistant. Someone tried it at the multiple homicide.  One of them was a witch and her boyfriend didn't want her known about.  I gave him her wand since it wasn't a reason for the killing."

"Thank you for telling me.  Anything like that I need to know."

"Of course."  He glanced around then back at him.  "You're trained?"  He nodded. "Good.  Military?"  Mac nodded at that.  "Then maybe it'll stick. If not, what should I look for?"

"She came onto Danny last night and saw his expanded apartment."

"Expanded.....  Ooh."  He licked his lips.  "He is?"  Mac nodded. "Okay.  I'd never suspect him or you."

"We thought you were going to freak if you found out," Stella said from behind him. "Lindsey all right?"

"An advanced lesson," Mac said quietly.  "Not an issue."

"Okay.  Flack went in there to check on her."  She looked at Sheldon.  "He said your case had someone like me?"

"Um, damn," he said, shaking his head.  "How many?"

"The four of us," Mac offered. "Are you?"

"Sibling of.  She went to Andromeda."  He shrugged.  "I saw plenty around the house."

"Good.  If you see it again, you come directly to me," Mac ordered.  Sheldon nodded at that.  "Thank you, Sheldon."  He looked at Flack as he came over with Lindsey.  "Is she all right?"

"Fine.  Headache. I'm going to take her home."

"That's fine.  I'll let her make up the hours so she doesn't use sick time," he promised.  Don nodded and walked her down to his car.  He looked at Stella, who looked amused. "What did you think I did in the service?" he asked quietly.

"What did she do?"

"Came onto Danny last night citing the rumors of him dating Aiden."

"But Aiden wasn't.  Danny doesn't date at work.  I asked him out and he told me that."

"He called me to make sure I knew in case it became problematic considering hie was working on his apartment last night."

"Ah."  She nodded. "So did I.  When is Timmy getting here?"

"An hour.  Ten."  She smiled at that.  He looked at Sheldon. "If you see her leaking, I need to know ASAP.  Her or Flack," he ordered quietly.

"They missed you?" he asked.  Stella nodded. "Damn.  Sorry.  I can get some of my sister's books if you need them."

"No, we've got tutors," she assured him with a grin.  "Thank you though."  She pinched him on the cheek.  "Need help on the serial?"

"Please.  I'm not sure if I need you or Danny though.  It's all Trace stuff."

"I'd get Danny.  He's better at that."  He nodded and went to find Danny to help him. "You did what?" she mouthed.

"Obliviated."  He adjusted his wand so it wouldn't show.  "I'm going back to my desk."

"Sure, have fun with that. I'll see you on the next call."  She headed to find her last case and get back to work.  He went to put his wand in the drawer until their new union rep came to get them.

***

Don walked into the meeting room late.  "Sorry, she lives near the middle of nowhere."  He sat down and looked at the cop he sort of knew.  "Hey, Tim."

"Hey, Flack.  You are?"  He nodded, putting his wand on the table.  "Excellent.  Who's training you guys?"

"Dumass."

"Ooooh," he moaned, ending in a small shiver.  "So the Bane network has your training.  Makes sense with Sanders being among you guys.  Okay, this is the benefits package and stuff on the convention," he said, passing down a pamphlet. "On it is my contact number.  If something should happen, I need to know.  It's my job to cover this stuff on the PD, got it?"  Don nodded.

"I had to obliviate Monroe earlier.  She came onto another of my guys and saw him expanding his apartment."  Tim looked at him.  "It's what I did in the military."

"That's fine. I'll check on her later to make sure it holds."  He looked at Danny.  "Doing the living in a slum thing?"

"I've been living in a slum but now I've got the family's library.  Plus a nice, quiet spot to sit and read."

"That's fine.  I do have some rules that we live by.  It is considered unethical to reduce your rent by more than half.  We know those of us with this life have to sometimes spend a lot to cure a problem and we considered that a fair compromise."  Everyone nodded at that.  "It is considered unethical to announce this at work."

"I found out earlier Sheldon Hawkes' sister went to Andromeda.  My wand wasn't very well covered and he saw it," Mac offered. He got given a dirty look for that.  "I'm not used to carrying it anymore.  I haven't really used it in years."

"Fine, Mac, be more careful.  Since he already knows, I'll make sure he's good with it.  You told him to report anything like that directly to you?" Mac nodded.  "Including any leaking and things?"  That got another nod.  "Good, then what's wrong with Flack?"

"I'm a natural curse breaker according to Dumass," Don offered with a small smirk.

"Then please find control before you drive me insane," he pleaded.  "Take a few weeks off for some intense training with him.  Please."

"I don't have that much leave time built up," he admitted.

"So?  I can arrange that for you, Don.  Really, I can.  I can call it continuing education necessity and do it that way.  Since one of the Deputy Chiefs is one of us, it'll fly.  Have you told your father?"

"Not yet. I'm avoiding that yelling match."

"Might be a good idea."  He looked at Danny.  "I know you."

"You should know me, you lived three doors down from me for two years, Timmy."

"Oh, okay.  Oh, Danny."  He slapped himself on the head.  "Sorry. My mind's going with the convention stuff.  By the way, do we know anyone in Miami who knows?"

"Yup, but he's doing what Mac's doing so I can't out him," Don offered.

"Crap.  I need a local anchor down there for the concealment spell on the hotel."

"I'll call him later tonight, give him your phone number," Don promised.

"Thank you."  He smiled and patted him on the shoulder, then had to work to get free.  "You're taking leave time.  You're sticking to things."

"I'll call Ron to see what I need to do."

"That's fine.  Thank you."  He smiled at him.  "How did you like hanging with Harry?"

"He was a pretty nice guy about me staring for the first few minutes," he admitted.  "Ron assured me he belched and scratched like the rest of us."  That got a grin and a nod.  "We saw the match before we came back."

"*Please* tell me you guys'll think about playing?" he begged.

"I need better wrist guards but Alex and I worked out how I can play," Danny admitted with a smirk.  "I'm still damn good too."

"Blessed be, Goddess!" he said happily, beaming at him.  "Stella, Mac?  Don?"

"Airsick," Mac said quietly. "I don't fly."

"I like to fly and Stella and I were told we might make pretty good chasers," Don admitted with a small grin.

"If you could play beater, we'd kiss your ass, man.  Every day before every game."

"I have no idea.  I'd have to try," Don offered.  "We need both beaters?"

"One got shot last year the other's retiring to be a mom.  Our keeper's leaving next year.  I'm our reserve."

"Magdaline," Danny reminded him.  "She's in Narco."

"Oooooh, I had forgotten she played on the house team.  That's not a bad idea."  He wrote a note to himself.   "Can you see if Flack can be your second?"

"Sure."

"Thank you."  He made another note.  "Okay, third thing.  You guys are now on call for anything really bad.  Like the seventy foot demon Dumass and his apprentices took out for us because the local school was shit."

"And then some," Danny muttered.  "They were throwing finites at it.  If I'd had my wand I might've tried to help."

"That's okay.  I can agree with that.  I didn't have mine either."  He shrugged.  "You can't do much about that unless you can do the wandless stuff too."

"Does that work?" Don asked.

Stella nodded. "I know someone who's a Druid and hers does."

"Okay," Don agreed.  "I can accept that."  He looked at Timmy again.  "Do we have a list of ethical conduct rules?"

"We do and I put it into the pamphlet.  Technically, New York has an overlord since we don't have a ministry over here.  He's also in tight with the military idiots who want us to be the army instead of the army."  He looked around the table.  "Sorry, Mac, but some of your bosses are morons."

"I knew that already," he admitted. "They came for me too.  I pointed out I'd already done my service."

"Good. That works for me."

Danny looked at the rules then up at him.  "Alchemists can only double their monthly salary?"

"That way it's not too conspicuous.  I'm sure you hid your expansion project, right?"  Danny nodded at that.  "Same thing, different topic.  There's none of us in IAB."  That got some nods.  "Unfortunately we're the city that the strange stuff hits first.  We end up getting outed at a phenomenal rate.  I don't know how many times I've obliviated Hillborne."  That got a small smirk from Danny.  "Did you?"

"No, but the thought had crossed my mind."

"Thank you.  From now on, you come to me first if they're coming for any of you.  That's what union reps are for."  That got a mass nod. "Okay. Learn the rules by heart.  I'll talk to Hawkes in a minute.  You guys are coming to the convention?"  That got smiles and nods.  "Good.  Flack, you're taking off because you're leaking again.  We don't want to hurt you or anyone else.  Sometimes it's got to happen, my man."

"I'm good with it.  I don't mind taking a vacation as long as we've got someone competent filling in for me."

"I can get Mirck over to fill in for a few weeks.  He's in Staten Island Homicide.  That good enough?"

"I heard he's okay," he agreed.  "He wanted to transfer over?"

"Yup, and you're getting an open spot next month.  Therefore he can fill in now and then transfer."  He made a note about that.  "Do we have any questions?"

"Can we get reimbursed for the convention?" Danny asked.  Stella punched him on the arm.  "Ow!"

"Yes you can.  Just like any other convention, Danny.  Forty percent."

"Works for me.  Less I've got to pay in the end."  He reread the list.  "Half the stuff on here is stuff I'd consider borderline ethical."

"Yes, well, it was a compromise," he said patiently.  "How did Sanders explain his gold?"

"Old school friend who owned a mine and was paying him back for a loan during their school years," Flack said with a smirk.  "Reported it the day he got back."

"Excellent.  If you take that up, I need to know first."  Danny nodded at that.  "Good. Any other questions?"  No one said anything.  "Then where might CSI Hawkes be?"

"Hopefully in the lab with his multiple," Mac offered.

"That's fine."  He gathered up everything and smiled.  "Danny, call me in two days about the beater stuff.   Good enough for you?"

"Yeah, I've got to get wrist guards and Don needs his own broom."

"That's fine," he agreed happily.  "Stella too if you can please."  He hurried out, going to find Sheldon and talk to him.  Sheldon smiled at him.  "Ah, you know me."

"I do know you.  How many are like you in the PD?" he asked quietly.

"About eighty at the moment."  He smiled at him.  "You were tested, correct?"

"Heavily, twice."

"Good.  You can handle covering and watching?"

"Of course. I call you for problems?"  That got a nod and the pamphlet being handed over.  "What about healers and stuff?"

"I've got two who know about us on call for any hospital in this city," he assured him.

"Good.  Can I get tickets to the inter-borough games?"

"Of course.  The website has dates and times.  You're more than welcome to come to any of them you want to."  He smiled.  "Any other questions?"

"Where can I go to get my sister something special for her birthday?"

"Ask Messer.  He's got to take Flack shopping soon."

"Okay."   He smiled.  "By the way, one of the vics had a wand so I gave it to her boyfriend."

"That's fine.  It wasn't a reason for the case?"  Sheldon shook his head. "Then that's fine. That's an appropriate resolution."  He smiled.  "Thank you, Sheldon, for making this so much easier."

"Not an issue.  Let me know if I can help."

"Thank you!"  He walked out, going back to his post and writing out the emails he'd need to from his notes.

Sheldon got back to work, tucking the pamphlet into his scene case for now.

***

Danny walked Don into the quidditch shop in New York's shopping area, smiling at Sheldon when he joined them. "You find it?"

"I did.  She's going to love it. She likes odd crystals."  He smiled at the shopkeeper.  "Hi."

"Hello.  How can I help you today?"

"I need wrist guards, Don needs a broom.  We're playing inter-borough."

"Okay.  What do you play?" she asked Don.

"He's trying for beater but I know he'll at least make chaser for the PD team," Danny offered.  "I play beater and I've had a wrist injury before."

"All right."  She led him to the wrist guards.  "Try them on to find the best fit."  She led Don to the brooms.  "These are the models we carry in-house.  The others we'd have to special order for you."

"I've got a new Stardust," Danny offered.  "Plus an older Kiplian."

She turned to look at him. "How did you get one of those!"

He smirked at her. "I rode it while I was playing at school.  QQS in Diagon said it was still in good shape."  She moaned.  "He needs to be able to keep up with me."

"Who are you?" she whimpered.

"Messer."

She went limp and nodded, giving him an adoring look.  "I cried the day you fell."  She gave him a hug.  "The black and blue ones, Mr. Messer, sir.  They're the best there are and I'll give them to you at price since you're going to try to come back."  She got Don down a broom.  "We'll try this on for size and if it's good with you, there's a top of the line broom that'll be the best yet."

"I still have to live on my salary."

"He can take it out of my vault and pay me back," Danny assured her.  "The family's vaults are mine according to the Vinese.  Even though my father tried to kill me for playing quidditch and not being a thug."

"I've still got to tell my dad they missed me on purpose."  He took the broom to try it out, coming out looking uncomfortable.  "Danny, what was I riding at Alex's?"

"Ron's Cleansweep six."

She got down a different broom and handed it over to him. "Try that."  He went back and tried it, coming out smiling.  "Feel good?"

"A bit too tiny around.  I need something I can grip without feeling like I'm going to break it."

"That would be for the best."  She looked around at her stock.  "Shoot, the one I'm thinking about is special order only."

Danny came over and handed him one, then made a shooing motion.  She looked at him and he shrugged.  "It's a good broom and it'll require his talent to make it great.  These are stiff."  She led him back and got him some other gloves, like handball gloves but they went further up his wrists.  He tested them, even letting her hand him a bat to test and flex.  "These I like."  He smiled at her.  "How much?"

"Fifty dollars."

He checked his wallet and handed over his card.  "I'll take two sets.  Don?  Did you fall and crack your head open?"

Sheldon looked in there.  "He's leaned back and totally relaxed."

Danny looked and grinned.  "Get your lazy ass down, Don.  You can have that one."

"How much do I owe you?"

"That one's three hundred eighty," she offered.

"I can afford that."  He landed and let her have it for a minute, then looked at the gloves.  "Do I need a set?"  Danny nodded.  "Even if I end up playing chaser?"

"Yup, keeps the sweat off the quaffle."  Danny nodded and got his own pair, letting her measure him to fit it.  Don paid for his and took his bag and box, then they walked out to the main street.  "We need anything else today?"

"Can we get that butterbeer stuff over here?"

"Special order," Sheldon told him.  "I got her some for her thirtieth."  He smiled at them. "Where to now?"

"Now, we drop the broom in the car and head to the school to look at the maps of safe flying areas."  He winked at him.  "You need anything else, Sheldon?"

"No, I'm okay on everything at the moment.  I wonder if we've got a potion maker in the PD."

"Sanders, in Vegas," Don said dryly.  Sheldon whimpered.  "He started our lessons."

"Oh, I know Greg.  He's so going to get it when I talk to him next time."  He grinned.  "Thanks, guys."  He hurried off.

They went to Flack's car and then to the school, Danny getting them inside.  The guard gave them an odd look.  "We need ta see the safe-fly maps."

"That's fine, sir.  Are you a graduate?"  Danny nodded.  "It's up in the library, on the East wall."  Danny nodded and led the way up there.  "Sir, your friend looks familiar."

"I came to be tested but you guys missed me."

"Oh.  I'm sorry about that, sir.  Did you need to see the headmistress?"

"Nope, we're good. I'm tutoring him," Danny assured him.  He led the way into the library, right to the maps.  "We have changed the area of the park," he offered, pointing at it.  "Anything in red is magic only.  Anything in blue is covered but we can be seen by normals. Everything else is no magic."

Don stared at all the red and blue spots. "Wow."

"Very."  He pointed at a spot.  "I'm on a blue block, I didn't realize that."  He looked around, finding the librarian.  "Handy carry copy?" he mouthed, pointing at the map.  She nodded and got him one to copy.  He smiled and kissed her on the cheek.  "You were the best librarian I've ever met, and the nicest.  Do you still make cookies for finals?"

"I do, I find it keeps other junk food out of my library."  She patted him on the cheek.  "Mr. Messer.  Why didn't you buy a map?"

"Because I couldn't find the bookstore, again," he admitted dryly, smiling at her.  "I'll buy this copy."  She chuckled and nodded, taking the three gold for it.  "Thank you, dear.  Red's still clear, right?"  She nodded.  "Good.  Oh, this is Don Flack."

"I remember your sister," she said, shaking his hand.  "I also heard that we missed you."

"You guys tested me and missed me," he offered quietly.

"Natural born curse breaker," Danny said dryly.  She whimpered. "Yeah.  I'm helping tutor him though.  We're flying together."

"Good. You were always so relaxed in the air."  She patted him on the cheek.  "I'd go before the headmistress hears you're here.  She's not exactly fond of the PD at the moment since her daughter was arrested for doing stupid stuff."

He nodded and led Don down the back stairs and back to the car.  "Well, that was my school.  Nearly yours."  He smiled and handed over the book. "I know most of 'em."

"Thanks."  He got in, letting Danny drive this time, while he looked over the areas they could go to.  "Can we fly tonight?"

"Yeah, we can do that. I've got to get my broom from the house.  I've got the other rooms shielded so I can't just summon it."

"You can do that?"

"Yeah, that's the Accio spell."  He grinned as he merged with traffic, heading for his place, which wasn't that far away.  "Should we invite your dad down tonight to watch us practice?"

"I'd rather not be shouted at in public today."

"There's privacy shelters," he assured him.

Don nodded and pulled out his phone, calling his home. "Hey, dad, Don.  I'm going to the park to play for a bit and wanted to know if you wanted some fresh air.  No, I'm going down to the arena section with another guy at work.  Sure, know how to get there?"  He smirked at his father's groan.  "Yeah, I can do that.  Thanks, Pop."  He hung up.  "She used to play?"

"She might have after I fell. That was my senior year, her third.  She was in training to be my replacement."  Don nodded at that.  He parked in front of his building and ran inside to get his broom, coming out with his new one.  His old one was like someone he had married in his teen years.  He knew ever dent, ever blemish, every inch of the flying spells on her.  This new one he needed to get to know that way.  He also got his ball set and brought it down too.  He got back in and handed Don his broom.  "Don't bang it."  The balls went into the back seat and he started the engine, heading to the park.

Don smiled when he felt the magic wrap around the car.  "We're really protected?"

"We could fly in from the parking lot," he promised.  He found a good parking spot and got out, handing Don back his keys before taking his broom and the balls, getting out so Don could get his broom from the trunk.  "All right, what do you remember about the balls in quidditch, Don?"

"Um, the shiny gold one ends the game.  The quaffle has hand-holds and it's totally normal.  The bludgers were the psycho balls that giggled as they chased you?"  Danny smiled and nodded.  "As a beater I'll be playing with the psycho ball.  Using it as a weapon against the other team and keeping it off my team, right?"

"Right," Danny agreed.  They made it into the practice area.  "There's a spell here to slow the bludgers down by half," he promised.  He opened the case and handed Don a bat, taking the other one himself.  Then he unsnapped the bludger cover and got out of the way.  It flew up.  He kicked the case closed and out of the way.  "Join me when you can."  He took off after it, going to get in some practice swings.  His wrist hurt but not like it had when he was younger.

Don unwrapped his broom and checked it over carefully before taking off to join him.  "We need to get a picture of me on the broom for Aiden."

"We should," Danny agreed with a grin. "During the first game, man. That way you're in uniform."  He hit the bludger at Don.  "Now, bat it back at me."  Don did a nice side hit.  "Good job! Just like handball, man."  He hit it back and Don had to chase after it, swooping down to do that. "One hand on the broom or you fall!" he yelled.  Don nodded and got it underneath him.  "Next time, fly lower!"  He showed off a bit before batting it back.  Don smirked and did what he did.  "Isn't this better than the gym any day?"

"Much," Don called back, smirking as he sent it back with a really hard backhand swing.  "Incoming!"  Danny ducked the blow and chased it down, hitting it as it turned to get him.  Don chased it down and hit it back, having to lean down to hit it.  "I know, fly lower," he called.  "It dove at the last second."

"They do that.  That's why they're psycho balls, Don.  They like to hit you and your broom."  He swung tightly and got it as he came back around.  Don chased and sent it back.  "Good job!"  Danny chased it this time, then sent it back with a vicious backhand.  It turned mid-return and came after him again.  Danny did a loop, coming up behind it and sent it down, which made it go after him.  He let it follow him back toward Don, who got it off his ass and chased after it.  "Excellent!"  He noticed Don's father coming into the practice area and returned the serve.  Don growled and went after it since it was lower.  He ended up nearly underneath it and got it back, following it up to hit it a second time and get it where he wanted it to go.  "Good plan!"  He hit it back and Don flew out to meet it, sending it at his chest.  Danny had to get out of the way and got it with the tail of his broom instead, smacking it back at him.

"No fair! I'm not risking my broom that way!"

"Keepers do it all the time, Don.  You tired?"  Don nodded, panting.  "Fly toward the ground and hit it into the dirt!"  He followed, it'd follow one of them.  Don got it into the ground and Danny hopped off his broom to capture it and wrestle it back into the box with Don's father's help.  "Thanks, Mr. Flack."

"Welcome."  He looked at his son.  "You were doing what?" he asked.

"They misread me, dad."

"I can see that," he said quietly.  "You're being trained?"  Don nodded.  "Fully?"

Danny looked at him.  "I'm working with him and so is a really good curse breaker and his apprentices, Mr. Flack.  He's not the only one they missed or misread."  He closed the top of the case once their bats were back in there.  He took off his gloves as he walked over, putting them in his back pocket.  "Don's doing okay and he's studying really hard. We're covered on the job and he's trying out for the inter-borough league with me."

"He looked okay up there," he said, looking at his son.  "It was your mother who probably got you misread.  I knew you'd still be an officer, Donny."

"Gee, thanks, dad.  Do you know what happens if your magic turns stagnant?"  He slowly shook his head.  "It changes cells that can turn into cancer."  His father moaned. "Ma get any others?"

"No, just you," he admitted, walking closer. "You're safe on the job?"  Don nodded. "Someone else knows?"

"We've got our own union and Danny's a CSI in my unit."

"Okay."  He clapped him on the arm.  "Tell me when the games are and I'll show."

"There's a website," Danny said, handing him the address card he had picked up in the broom shop.  "We told Tim, the union rep locally, we'd be trying out just after the convention in a few weeks."

"That's fine.  Thank you, young man."

"Danny," he offered, shaking his hand.  "Your daughter was in my house."

"She said your friends tormented her to make her stronger."

"I was an asshole when I was younger."

"We all were," he agreed, smirking at him. "You watch out for my son, Danny.  I mean it."  That got a nod.  "Thank you.  Call me if something happens to him."

"Of course.  Right after whoever's handling it."  That got a nod and he left them alone.  He looked at Don.  "Beer?"

"No, I'm okay.  He didn't seem too surprised and he wasn't yelling."  He looked at his buddy.  "Thanks, Danny."

"Not an issue.  He'll probably yell the next time you head over for dinner."  Don nodded at that.  "Okay, we should head home and shower.  I stink."

"Nah, you played pretty good for an old guy," Don teased.

"Keep it up, I'll teach you to play seeker and find the shiny gold ball under bright lights."  He lifted his broom up and got the balls. "Help me with these things."  Don got the other side and they took everything back to the car.  Danny had to summon one of his gloves but that was fine.  When he got home, he found Lindsey waiting on him.  "Hey."  He unlocked his door, making sure the other door stayed hidden for her while he put his broom and balls behind the couch.  "Want a drink?"

"No, I'm okay."  She looked around then at him.  "Have you ever had the feeling of deja vu?"

"Yup, a lot."  He sat down and looked at her.  "What's up?"

"I was going to see if you wanted to go out tonight."

"No, I just got back from a workout.  I'm thinking about soaking off the sweat and curling up with a book.  Maybe Friday?"

"Friday would be okay," she agreed.  She sat across from him.  "I've, um, heard some rumors, Danny."

"They seem to breed around the station," he agreed with a small grin.  "'Bout what?"

"You and Aiden.  That's why you're so hard on me."

"No, I'm hard on you because you need to be able to keep up with Mac.  Mac's got this issue with seeing us as superhuman at times."  She nodded, realizing that.  "No matter how good you are, there's going to be days you've got to be better.  He expects it.  Now, Aiden, she was good.  She was the sort you could get answers from before you had a question.  She was always chasing down the leads.  She pulled a lot of overtime because of it.  I don't compare you two. You're nothing like Aiden. You don't have collagen in your lips, you aren't mouthy, and you're not the same sort of classy she was when she tried."  He leaned forward.  "As for me and Aiden?  I don't date at work, Lindsey.  I never have.  Friends, yeah.  Aiden and I were buddies.  Lovers?  Nope.  Never happen. Things go wrong and get weird, cases suffer and people who should rot in hell go free."

She nodded. "I can understand that.  So you don't hate me because she left?"

"No."  He hated her because of her attitude now and then, that smug know-it-all thing she had now and then.  The air of 'favorite child' that kept coming out.  "I judge everyone on what they do.  It wasn't your idea to get her fired."  She smiled, accepting that. "So, if you want to have a beer or two as a friend, we can do that Friday."

"Okay.  After work?"

"Sure."  He smiled at her.  "Anything else need cleared up?"

"No, I'm okay. Thank you, Danny."  She stood up, looking around. "You'd think this place would be bigger.  There's no bedroom?"

"It's pretty sealed up at the moment.  I saw a mouse earlier."

"Yeah, I've had a few of those too.  Thank you."  She smiled and let herself out.

He got up and locked the door, making sure the chain was on as well, then he charmed the door unopenable by anyone but him and emergency personnel before heading to his shower.  He had gotten out of his shirt when someone knocked on the door, making him sigh and walk out there. He checked out the spy hole and undid everything on the door, letting Sheldon in.  "Hey, w's'up?" he asked, closing it behind him.

"Small issue."

"Okay.  How small? Like bugs small, like magic small?"

"Like the witch's body disappeared from the morgue small."

"Any paperwork?"

"Hammerback doesn't remember signing anything to hand her to the mortuary."

Danny nodded. "He around?"

"At work."

"Her family?"

"Back at least three generations."

"Okay.  Can we do the paperwork with their help?"

"I can't get in to see them."

Danny moaned and nodded.  "Let me shower."  He headed that way, going to take a quicker shower and put on clothes.  He came out and headed to his bedroom to dry off and put on nicer pants and a button-down shirt, a robe over his arm for now.  He grabbed his wand and shoes, then his badge.  He stopped to put on his shoes and his gun, then followed Sheldon out, resealing the door.  He even let Sheldon drive.  "What's her last name?"

"Casaras."

"Know 'em."  He looked at him.  "Do we have a copy of the paperwork?"  Sheldon nodded and pointed at the stuff on his dashboard.  "Thanks, Doc."

"No, thank you.  He's probably been obliviated and he's confused."

"Yeah, too much of that shit'll ruin your mind."  They pulled up outside the victim's house and he gathered the paperwork, then slid into his robe, heading up to the door with it.  He tapped gently, giving the man who answered a long stare.  "You took her without the paperwork."  He held it up.  "We have to have it and don't obliviate the ME.  He's already got enough mental problems. He talks to tha dead."  He was let inside.  "Listen, we all know it had nothing ta do with her being her.  Probably not anything to do with the family."

"I couldn't stand to see her there," he said quietly.

"Then next time, you call us.  You tell us it's a religious thing.  Hammerback's a good guy.  As long as there's no reason ta keep a body, we won't.  We don't have that much storage space and we've got plenty of people unidentified.  Then it's a few sheets of paperwork and you can take her."  He handed over the paperwork.  "Okay?"

"Are you working down there, Mr. Messer?" his wife asked as she came out.

Danny nodded, giving her a grim look. "I'm one of the CSI down there.  I've helped Sheldon Hawkes, the main CSI on the serial case, with some of the evidence.  His sister went to Andromeda so he knows.  All we ask is that you try to make it look legal."

"We'll let that be known."  She signed the paperwork and handed it back.  "Thank you for handling this quietly."

"No one deserves their kid to die and yelling for trying to get her among her family doesn't make any sense to me.  Just, in the future, let it be known that we work with people, okay?"  She nodded. "Then I hope we solve this quickly to give you peace and I hope no other griefs touch your family," he offered more gently. "I'm sorry for my intrusion."

"It's not a problem.  Thank you."  She shook his hand and he bowed, then left, taking off his robe on the way back to the car.  She looked at her husband. "I told you they'd come about that."

"I didn't know any of us worked such a menial job."  He led her back into the dining room, where they were holding the wake.

Danny let Sheldon drive him back to the station, going to hand the paperwork to Hammerback himself so he could check on him. "Hey, Doc," he called as he walked in, making him jump. "Sorry, bad day?"

"We had a body disappear."

"Sheldon called me ta go see the family with him.  They kept the paperwork."  He checked it over then handed it to him.  The other man smiled and relaxed.  "That should get someone off your ass and make 'em quit nibblin' at the delicate stuff, 'kay?"  He grinned.

"Thank you, Daniel.  That was very kind of you."

"Eh, they were hurting and not thinking.  It's not the first time it's happened."  He patted him on the cheek, then removed the spell from him when he turned back around to file the paperwork.  "You need any more help tonight?  Any other bodies get up and walk out?"

"Only the normal amount of vampires," he offered dryly, looking at him.  "I felt that."

"Felt what?"  He grinned at him. "I'm surprised you don't stake the vampires when you've got 'em open."  He grinned and walked out, heading back to the car.  "He's fine," he said as he slid in.  "It was a piss poor obliviate."  He looked at his coworker. "Do we have a bad vampire problem?"

"Not this year.  Most of the time I embedded stakes."  He shrugged and started the car, heading home.  "Thank you, Danny."

"Not an issue.  They probably didn't know we work here too.  Oh, Lindsey's got deja vu."  He grinned at him.  "Beer?"

"No, I'm going to go home and read."

"I was going to go home and transfigure more pillows."  Sheldon laughed.  "It's hard to get 'em just perfect.  Not too squishy, not too hard, not too thick."  He shrugged.  "It's an exercise in control.  Plus I could use some more."

"Sure."  He dropped him in front of his house a while later then went home to write his sister an email and attach the portkey she had sent him to the present he had gotten her earlier in the day. She worked in the middle of nowhere and mail service took forever.

***

Don jumped as someone landed behind his couch, looking back at them. "Ron!  What's wrong?"

"We heard you were leaking."  He leaned on the back of the couch, looking him over.  "Those two books I handed you, do the exercises in them, Don."

"I've started, they're hard."

"Of course they are.  Remember, the passion and heat that you're giving off could better be used in another area, other than magic and quidditch, though that might be heresy, I'm borderline on that recently," he offered with a grin.

"Too bad I'm not dating."

"Yeah, it is."  He patted him on the shoulder.  "Just work at it.  It's always hard when you start.  The more you work at it, the less you've got to consciously control stuff and you can yell and scream at people without turning them purple and fuzzy, like Dawn did, or pregnant like my mother did once."  Don choked and he nodded. "Seriously. A fake pregnancy but yeah, she fully thought she was pregnant. She ended up that way because her husband celebrated and she couldn't take her birth control potion, but mum made her think she was."  He clapped him on the shoulder again.  "The stickiness is the internal passion for things, Don.  Go wank off if you don't have a girl."  He stood up and winked, then disappeared again.

Don wiped his face off and went to take a shower.  At least he could cure that problem!

***

Mac looked up as Lindsey walked into his office and shut the door Thursday morning.  "Problems on your case?"

"Sheldon's hiding something about one of the bodies, but he says it's not important."

"He told me.  It's not pertinent to why they died.  It's just about a special set of skills she had and a club membership."

"Oh."  She frowned. "Are you sure?  The guy I liked for it creeps me out.  Sheldon said that was normal when you were looking at sociopaths, but it was even creepier than that."

"I'm sure."  He smiled at her. "Do you guys need help questioning him?"  She nodded. "Is he here now?"

"He is."  Mac stood up and pulled his gun out to put back on, then something else she couldn't see went into his inner jacket pocket.  "What was that?"

"A new recorder I'm testing for someone."  She nodded and walked out.  He gathered himself together and walked down there.  "Sheldon?"

The former ME looked at him.  "Something's very odd about this case.  Danny's in there because I went to him first."  He moved out of the way so Mac could watch with him.  Lindsey came down and he took the file. "He's just spouted off 'women are lesser beings' stuff, Lindsey.  You won't be able to break him."

"I can still watch."  She moved closer, frowning a bit.  "Man, what's wrong with the acoustics?  Usually you can hear very well from here."

"I'm not sure," Mac admitted, opening the door and walking in.  He looked at the man, then at Danny.  He closed the door and felt the anti-listening spell go back up.  "Issue?"

"Wizard's duel that got out of hand.  She took the challenge for her boyfriend.  He wanted her so he challenged the guy.  Or so it looks like.  He got the others as collateral damage."

The wizard snorted.  "I wanted *him*, not her.  She was defending her little boy."

Mac stared him down, making him whimper and back away, then looked at Danny.  "What's the usual procedure?"

"Usually?  I call the overlord and we've got to confiscate his wand anyway.  You could see if we call Tim about these things."  He shrugged and came over to pull the guy up and handcuff him. "Thank you for confessing."  He got him patted down and put all his effects on the table in front of him. "Say bye-bye to the wand, bright boy," he hissed in his ear.  The wizard started to struggle and Mac came over to gather everything while Danny made him sit down.  "We'll see what the overlord says about this stuff."  He pulled out his phone and dialed out.  "Tim, Danny.  We just arrested one'a us.  No, not literally.  Our serial was a duel gone wrong.  Yeah, we've already done that.  Do we contact the overlord to let him know or treat him normally?"  He smirked.  "Thanks, man."  He hung up.  "He's just like any other scumbag according to Timmy.  We keep the wand in evidence even if he gets bail."

"Agreed."  He sealed the bag of possessions and they walked the guy out together.  "Have you met the overlord?" he asked quietly once they were in the elevator.

"I have, twice.  Once for him ta yell at me, once for me ta hand over someone really nasty who did shit I couldn't put up with.  Then he yelled."  He smirked. "Vegas' overlord is so much tighter than ours is."

"Who is the guy in Vegas?" Mac asked.

Danny smirked as they landed and the elevator door opened.  "You've never seen Penn and Teller's stage show, Mac?  They're pretty good, even for being stage magicians and stuff."  Mac just gaped then muttered something and led the guy out. Danny smirked and followed, signing them in for processing.  "He's not ta have a pencil. Pens are fine, pencils are bad. He's the sort ta stab himself with one," he told the booking clerk.

"Okay.  We'll put him on as a suicide risk. Thank you, CSI Messer."

"Eh, not a problem. He wanted the guy and she defended her boy. The others were just collateral."

The booking clerk looked at him. "You killed a woman to get her boyfriend?  He'd probably be straight and not want you anyway."  The wizard glared.  "Yeah, you're gonna have fun."  He took him off.

Danny smirked at him.  "Not like most of us care," he noted dryly.  "There's ways around that."   He walked off happier, taking the effects back to evidence for now.  He had marked it on the slip in case someone wanted to find it.

Mac shook his head.  Some days he wondered why he lived this life.

***

Don landed on the blackened spot of earth and looked at the castle, then at Draco. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be.  Potter's still leaking magic and he's been learning for years.  Weasley's brother got onto him. Alex should've thought further ahead.  Come along, we're cataloging."  He led him down into the catacombs.  "He's here, Alex."   He gave him a nudge and went back to his box of crap, as he called it.

Alex smirked at him.  "Leaking happens to all of us."

"I got sticky."

"I've done that too.  I ended up nearly dying in a trap because of it."  He grinned.  "Come on over, you can help and we'll go over the shielding lessons again, Don."

"More hands means I have less of a headache later," Ron quipped.  He held up something.  "Alex, I thought you promised to get rid of this thing."

"I did.  It came back.  It keeps coming back."  He took it and tossed it out of the way.  "Sorry, formerly holy chamber pot."

Don snickered and took off his jacket since it was warm.  "What do you need me ta do, Alex?"

"Pick up a notebook and a pen, and start cataloging what you can about something.  We'll be able to see your affinities pretty quickly and that'll help us shield you better.  Just don't touch any box with a red mark, okay?"  Don nodded and got a notebook and pen from the stack of them, getting down to work.  He looked at Ron.  "You wear all that energy out with Dawn most of the time."

"I had wondered if being naturally horny was a curse breaker trait too," Ron said dryly, giving him a look.  "I noticed you haven't leaked since you and Draco took up but you did before you started sleeping with him."

"Why do you think I loved a tenth of the world, Ron?"

"I heard it was half," Don teased with a small grin.

Alex looked at him.  "Not really. One to three lovers a night, most every night, for seventy- five years?  Nope. Not even close."

"Three a night?" Don demanded, staring at him.  "How?"

Ron smirked at him.  "He dated some quads and sets of twins."  Don's mouth fell open.  "At the same time.  There's a reason why Draco sits funny every single day."

"I heard that."

"Tough shit, Draco.  You do."

Draco looked at him. "I do take him sometimes, Weasley."

"Yeah, and?  You still end up on the bottom during morning sex."

"Point," Draco agreed smugly.  "It's usually quite excellent as well.  Since you're so interested were you planning on watching my magnificence in action?"

"Eaugh!  Nasty bugger!"  He shuddered.  "I like my women, Draco."

"Thankfully or I'd have to hurt you for cheating on Dawn," Alex noted dryly, staring him down.  He looked at Don again.  "Technically, most of the wizarding world is fine as long as it's not kids or sheep."

"Can't say as I like either of those," Don admitted, getting back to work on the necklace he had chosen.  He could feel something in it and Alex came over to whisper in his ear, making him nod and cast that charm.  It helped, a lot.  He found himself stroking over the necklace once he was done cataloging it, just looking at the various spells.  It was well-crafted.  The jewelry itself wasn't anything spectacular, a fairly expensive string of rubies put together with silver backings, but the spells woven around them were much prettier."

"What color are they?" Alex whispered in his ear.

"This one's pink and it feels like beauty.  There's this long blue one, it's not quite as tightly wrapped and it feels like a protection spell.  The green one's bugging me though.  What it is?"  He looked at him.

Alex looked at the necklace, activating the spell for himself. "This one?"  Don nodded. "Fertility.  It was part of a wedding set."  Don shuddered and put it down.  "Condoms work on us too, Don.  Never worry about that."  He grinned and handed him the next one.  "Do that one.  Let's see where your affinities lie."

Don looked at it, then at him, frowning.  "It's magical?"

"It is.  Cancel the spell on yourself."  Don did that then stared in horror, dropping it.  "Huh, he can feel dead things and he's got a good jewel and spell affinity. You're going to have fun in the field."  He clapped him on the back.  "The dead thing used to wear it, Don.  It's long dead and dust."  He got back to work, finding what he wanted and needed to work on next.  Doing this meant they could strengthen their affinities, especially when you only had a touch of it like Don did.

"Was everything in here from dead stuff?"

"Some tombs.  None very recent.  Nothing under fifty years.  I'm sorting out some of the family's stuff that got taken during the purges in Russia that Stalin did."  He held up a really old dress.  "Ron, what do you think of this one for Dawnie?"

Ron looked then at him.  "I think her tits would fall out and I'd be hard-pressed to let her wear it outside the room."

"Okay."  He handed it to him.

"That's got some dead stuff on it too," Don said, frowning a bit.

"Um-huh.  The owner's dead. You'll weed that one out soon."  Don nodded and concentrated like the books had told him.  Draco walked up behind him and stroked over the back of his head, putting him at ease, and it clicked off.  He frowned at him.  "How did you do that?"

"You're trying too hard. Magic is part of you, it's in your blood and every cell of your being.   If you try too hard, you block it off.  It should come nearly as naturally as breathing, Don."

"Oh."  He concentrated on the shielding lesson he had tried at home before calling because he had stuck to the couch.  It came up and he sighed in relief.  "Oh, man, that's nicer."

Alex smiled at him. "In two weeks, when you go to the convention, you'll be firmly able to do that and manipulate it when you need to drop just a few layers to sense something.  Ron and Harry got the basics in a month and we've been expanding them out to other areas to work in the field.  Since I doubt you'll be giving up being a cop to go raid tombs with us, we'll get you able to do it on your vacations."  He grinned.  "Stress relief is very good at times.  You'll mostly get to blow the hell out of stuff."

"Cool."  Don nodded and got back to work, frowning at something.  "What language is this in?"

Draco looked.  "The bane of my existence, Goblin."  He went back to his box of crap.  "Alex, can't I switch?"

"No, Draco.  Not unless you want to go through the box of magical sex toys."

"I'll teach Don how to enact the spells so they won't go after Weasley again," he promised.

"Fine.  Ron, go do his box."

"Yes, Alex."  They switched off and Don headed over to help.  "Watch out for the blue one, it's a buggering toy."

Don snorted. "I've never had one of those."  Draco gave him an odd look.  "What?"

"Sit," he ordered, "firmly."  He opened the box and pulled out the blue toy, letting him catalog that one.  "If you turn it on, it will do it for you."

"Can I bring some of this back for Stella?"

"Sure," Alex called. "Just make sure she's alone when she turns them on."

"Cool."  He and Draco shared a mean smirk.  Curse breakers were good pranksters at times.

Bumpy Roads To Hell.

Don strolled into the convention hotel, smiling at the desk girl.  "Flack, NYPD?" he said.  She smiled and found his reservation, handing him the packet he'd need and his card key. "Thank you.  Are the rest of us here yet?"

"In the banquet room, Detective Flack.  The meet and greet is going on."

He beamed.  "Thank you."  He headed up to his room to drop his bag and get Stella's present, then back down there, his convention badge on his belt.  He walked inside and smiled at the registrar, letting her see it.  "Where's my homies?"

"By the food table the last I knew. Detective Bonasera was being courted by three different officers."

"Thank you."  He grinned as he walked that way, nodding at some people now and then.  He did stop at the bar to get a bottle of beer, running into Danny.  "Hey."

"You're back!" he said happily, giving him a one-armed hug.  "How was it?"

"I found a lot of shit in the catacombs I can't admit to," he offered happily. "Necklaces that choke people.  Stuff that makes people happy and dancing.  Stuff for fertility on wedding nights.  That stuff seems to be drawn to Alex since he's such a lech.  Your snoring covered up Draco's yelling when we were all there the last time."  He followed him back to where the others were and he put the shrunken package in Stella's hand. "Open it when you're alone later on tonight," he ordered with a smirk.  "Alex said you could have those."

"What are they?"

"Open 'em tonight," he ordered with a fond smirk.

"I'm not sure I should trust that look, Don."

"You can.  It'll be good."  He kissed her on the cheek.  "How was it while I was gone?"

"Mirck was okay.  He's staying to fill Salvaro's spot.  We were bored without the trouble you bring but that's okay."  She smiled at the people staring at them. "This is Don Flack. He's a detective in Homicide that we work with a lot.  Oh, Sal!"  He looked over and smiled. "Don's back!"

He came over, smiling and shaking Don's hand.  He was a huge blond man, with a long braid of hair.  "I've heard much about you, Don.  I'm Sal Mirck."

"Welcome to the twelfth.  I'll be back when we head home."

"Good.  Stella pouts."

"I do not!" she said, hitting him on the arm.  He moaned and gave her a pitiful look.  "It won't help you, Sal.  If you want spanked, go ask Mac."  He nodded, heading that way while the others laughed.  "Don just got back from doing some intense curse breaker training in Scotland with Alex Dumass."

"I found a lot of stuff I can't talk about in his storage areas," he agreed smugly.  "He sent some of them to Gringotts and got a steaming mad goblin call at six the next morning."  Stella giggled at that. "They're demanding he send over more of the stuff like that so Ron and I hefted and toted earlier today with Harry.  Draco, of course, supervised."

"Draco is still a princess," Stella agreed.  "I'm sure you know Paul from the last normal cop convention but this is Drew.  He works in LA.  Also this is..."

"Sandburg," he said, shaking his hand.  "Which department are you working in now?"

"Not, man.  Jim's still freaky."  He shrugged. "I'm sane again though."  The others laughed.  "What can I say, working with Jim is enough to rob anyone of it.  Where's Aiden?"

"I just got here.  I was hoping she was here so I could pounce her."

Sandburg smirked.  "She said the same thing earlier."  He grinned at the others. "Your departments need a slightly used anthropologist who gets hounded by trouble thanks to his partner?"  They all shook their heads and walked off.  Blair smirked at the students of the group.  "The Prof was thinking about offering you guys membership since you're coming along all right.  It'd give you all our memories about magic and that stuff, including Alex's.  It would definitely speed up your learning."

"I could go for that.  That way I'd know what to do when the plant demon comes up and tries to make baby demonic flowers with me," Don said dryly, sipping his beer.  Blair smirked at that. "Does that happen to normal people?"

"I don't know.  Since I started with Jim, I haven't been one.  Somehow, every bad thing in the universe comes for me and him.  Terrorists, hostage taking morons, serial killers.  No demons though.  Cascade must be low on that area. Hopefully."  He finished his drink and smiled again.  "Think about it and let us know, okay?"  Don nodded.  "Cool.  Greg's somewhere.  Probably with Aiden talking potions."  He sighed.  "Greg is such a nerd."

"Coming from you, that's a heavy compliment," Stella teased.

"Well, yeah," he agreed smugly.  "Greg's worse than I could ever be as a nerd."  He walked off, heading to find someone else to talk to for now.

Don looked at Stella and grinned.  "We should go pounce them."

"We should.  Danny's probably back with them and Mac's talking supervisor stuff with Horatio.  He caused a stir when he came in."

"Alex said he was hiding in plain sight.  He also said that Speed had been one."  He shrugged and headed that way, stopping at Horatio to shake his hand.  "Hi again."

"Hello yourself, Don.  How's the training going?"

"Okay.  I just got done with two intense weeks with Alex and his boys."  Horatio smirked at that.  "I'm a natural curse breaker."

"I figured you would be," he agreed.  He glanced around then at him.  "Thank you for letting me decide to contact Timmy myself."

"You said you were hiding in plain sight, it's not my job to out anyone."  He shrugged and grinned.  "We're off to find Aiden.  Find me during dinner to chat?"

"Of course.  I couldn't convince you to come down, could I?"

"Sandburg's looking for somewhere more sane," Stella offered with a grin.

"Horatio, no poaching my staff.  I've finally gotten them broken in again," Mac complained lightly, smirking at him.  "Unless you want Lindsey.  She's a good CSI but she's slightly resistant and I've had to obliviate her three times in the last two weeks because she wants Danny so much."

Horatio moaned and shook his head.  "Not particularly.  You could try with Grissom."

"I know Gil.  I can do that."  He nodded. "I could use one of his new guys."

"Greg's in the field," Don offered smugly.

"I don't think I could take Greg on a hyper kick in the field," Mac assured him.

"No fair, I'm not hyper in the field and they even make me dress like a real person, which my wife hates," Greg said as he escorted Aiden over.  Don squealed and hugged her, getting one back.  He grinned at Stella.  "I'll do a tech trade.  Not an issue.  Emilia said she's tired of the desert for the next six months."

"We'll see if we can do a tech switch that way," Horatio agreed.  "How are you doing, Greg?"

"Okay, Horatio. Emilia is still cranky and hating me being in the field."  He shrugged. "It's my dream but she thinks it's dangerous."

"It is," he agreed quietly.

"Yeah but it drew me the same way potions did.  I don't want to give it up to sit in the lab and run samples all day."

"I understand.  How are you doing on the aging thing?"

"Not too bad.  I've gotten a few looks.  I keep going on and on about this great moisturizer and how I've gotten Nick onto it too now that he's finished his treatments and is using sunscreen again."   He grimaced. "Nick ended up with melanomas.  Maybe you should get checked too, Horatio?  You spend an awful lot of time in the sun."

"I get checked yearly, Greg," he agreed gently, smiling at him.  "You fuss worse than Calleigh.  I've even made Eric get checked."

"Good.  Nick's finally done with his treatments so he's back on duty again.  Grissom might not mind a tech switch."

"I'll see what we can work out.  Lindsey and others might like being out of New York in the winter."

"I'd rather go to Vegas, it's dry heat, you guys have humidity and my hair would frizz," Stella said with a grin.  He chuckled and nodded.  "Mac?"

"I like New York.  We'd have to go in the off season anyway.  Danny and Don are trying out for the inter-borough teams," he said proudly.

"I wish we had quidditch down here," Horatio agreed.

"I wish we had some in Vegas," Greg said dryly.  "I used to play on my house team."  Horatio nodded that he did too.  "What did you play?"

"Keeper. You?"

"Chaser," he offered with a grin. "Sev made me stop so I wouldn't ruin my hands."  He looked at the conspiring wizards.  "A curse breaker and natural trouble with potions," he said dryly.  "Should we run and hide?"

Don smirked at him.  "I only got to talk to Tipsy that once, Greg."

"Oh, damn," Greg sighed, shuddering.  Horatio gave him an amused look.  "The Bane network includes Tipsy Ramvette-Weasley.  Owner of Ramvette Inc.  The guys who make the pranks?  She married the Weasley twins and is helping them run their shop in Diagon."  Horatio moaned at that.  He nodded. "Yeah.  And they have kids.  Two sets of twins."  He saluted him with his glass.

"I brought you a catalog," Don teased.  Aiden squealed and hugged him again.  "I miss you.  Monroe is stiff and no fun.  She's still trying to outdo Danny."

"She's still trying ta hit on me, get it right," Danny complained as he came over.  "Man, it's getting tougher and tougher to get her ta go away!"  He got his own hug.  "Please come back!"

"Danny," Mac sighed.

Danny glared at him.  "She can still teach in the local school, right?"   Mac nodded and backed off at that.  He grinned at Aiden. "Please!" he begged.  "She keeps saying we were dating!  Even Sheldon's pissed at her."

"Now that's bad," Don said dryly.  "Why?"

"She's been bugging him about Aiden there for weeks now.  I don't know why."  He shrugged and sipped his new drink.  "We should do dinner tonight."  She smiled and they all nodded. He looked around.  "I think Sandburg ran everyone off."

"Possibly," Horatio agreed.  He looked at Mac.  "I'm the only one in my lab."

Stella snorted.  "What do you call Alexx?"

"She is?" he asked.

"God, Horatio, you need a conversation starter," Greg said, patting him on the arm. "I can do that."  He grinned at him. "I'll call on Alexx tonight to talk to her, see if she wants to catch dinner."  He winked and walked off. "I won't mention you by name."

"Thank you."  He frowned then shook it off and looked at Mac. "We should do dinner, let the kids catch up together."

"Sure."  He grinned at Stella.  "I'll see you guys later?"  She nodded.  "What did Don give you?"

"He said to open it when I was by myself.  I'm not sure that's a wise idea or not."

"I can be there, just in case," Aiden promised with a grin.  Stella beamed and they walked off together.

Don looked at Danny.  "Greg said they're thinking about offering us Bane membership."

"I'd like that," he decided.

Don nodded.  "Me too.  We should hide before Stella opens that."  Danny raised an eyebrow.  "Alex had a whole *box*, huge box, of charmed sex toys."  Danny spluttered.  "Draco said either he got rid of at least half of them or he was going to charm them to attack Harry and Ron."  Danny walked off shaking his head.  Don winked at Mac and jogged off, heading up to hide in his room.  Stella was just up the hall, he could see her disappear into her room.  He locked his door and waited, hearing the shriek then the giggling.  Someone knocked so he checked, then let Aiden in.  "She good?"

"Those are so cute!  She's a very happy girl now.  The batteries won't be running out, right?"

"Not in the least.  But I did strap down the blue one specially.  It's apparently a boy-liking toy."  Aiden burst out giggling and he hugged her. "I missed you, brat."

"I missed you too, Flackey, but if you turn into the horny curse breaker stereotype I'm handcuffing you."  He gave her a squeeze. "Not even for fun, but there's a few cute girls from the Midwest in the group who're looking for some.  I'll introduce you tonight."  Stella's shriek sounded less than outraged and more like happiness so they left it alone for now.

"I will get you for this!" Stella yelled down the hall.  Then a door slammed.

They burst out in new giggles, collapsing on the bed next to each other.

***

Stella stormed up to the table that night, swatting Don on the head.  "You mean ass bastard.  Not that I didn't need it, but still!  Some warning would've been nice!"

"I told you to open them in private," he offered, giving her the puppy eyed look.  She grimaced.  "I strapped down the blue one, just in case."

"Thank you for that."  She sat down a bit delicately.  Danny looked at her, then pushed over a small vial. "Pain killer?"

"Yup.  Greg heard what Draco made him bring home with him."

"Then why didn't he keep the blue one?"

"Not like I like boys," Don defended.

"You every try?" Aiden asked smugly.  He shook his head. "Then how would you know?"  She smiled sweetly.  "Remember, it's all good in the community, Don."  She pinched him on the cheek, then looked at Stella.  "How was it?"

Stella smiled.  "Very nice.  It took me an hour to figure out how to stop them, but it was very nice."  Don beamed.  "I'm still going to pay you back for that."

"He got me a catalog from 3W," Aiden offered.

"I've got one of those at home and their special products catalog too," Stella assured her.  Danny moaned at that, shaking his head.  "I won't use any on you."

"Yeah, and I believe you too, Stell," he said fondly.  "Not."

"Fine, I'll *try* to keep you out of it," she assured him, then pinched him on the arm.  "No Greg?"

"No Greg.  He's having tattoo sex with his wife again," Danny agreed smugly.  He looked around, spotting someone he hadn't seen in years.  "I'll be back."  He walked over to the other table to talk to the brunette, tall, fit man, earning a brilliant smile and a hug.  They sat together to chat like old friends, which they were.

Don looked at Aiden.  "Please come back to New York."

"I'll try."  He smiled at that.  "So, what did you learn?"

"Lots and lots about curse breaking.  I learned how to unravel spells and how to warp them.  I learned a lot about shielding and why I leak now and then, and how to cure it easiest, which means finding something to pour some of my excess energy and attention into.  Possibly a girlfriend if I have my way, but I'll need to find something. I did a lot of flying with Ron and Harry, sometimes with Draco.  Draco's got a smoother style than Harry, he's all dart and swoop, like a hunting bird.  Ron showed me what a keeper should do.  Alex worked on my beater skills a lot so I'll be giving Danny a run for his money."  He grinned at the women, who beamed back.  "I've already called Timmy and told him I want to try out for a beater position.  Apparently Danny's done the same thing."  He shrugged.  "We'll see how it goes and Danny promised to take pictures of us in the air during the first game for you, Aiden."

"Thank you. You'll look so cute in quidditch pants."  She pinched him on the cheek, glancing back at Danny.  "He looks so familiar."

Don looked then nodded. "He looks like Danny's chaser buddy from school.  All the posters of him that Alex and Harry found have him leaning on his shoulder.  Said his name was Tony or something.  Ron's the real fanboy of the family."

Stella smiled.  "You two can work on my flying skills the next time we head for lessons, weekend after next."  He nodded and beamed at her.  "You think you'll get to play?"

"Tim said we don't have a shot in hell of getting another beater candidate who's more than pretending.  He said most of them are chasers who want a change so I'm probably going to have a pretty good shot.  Alex did teach me how to play chaser just in case though.  Harry said his team is doing that now in case someone gets injured momentarily."  The ladies nodded at that.  "So I'm okay enough, better than Alex expected me to be with only a few lessons, but Draco seriously put me through my paces every afternoon when everyone else was taking a nap.  He's good, not Harry good, but pretty good."  Danny came back.  "Was that the guy in the poster that Ron found, the one you were leaning on?"

"Yup, that's Tony.  He couldn't go pro thanks to his family."  He sat down and looked at his buddy. "Draco called and said he was getting you up to house standards."

"Alex said I'm pretty good."

"Good.  We'll test you when we get back.  Tim's already said when tryouts are."  He handed him the slip of paper.  "He said Stella could try out too if we got her up to speed."

"We can only try," Don said happily, grinning at him.  "I'm under orders to find something to take some of the passion out of my life by wearing it out."

"You should've kept some of the toys," Aiden teased.

"I'm not like that," he complained.  "Meany."  She just smirked. "I'm not."

"See, in our house we had one guy who kept saying that and he ended up liking house elves."

"Eww!"  He got up and went to the bar muttering 'eww' the whole way over and over.

Danny looked at her.  "Which one was that?  Pigmonton?"

"Bradley, the younger Bradley brother."

"Oh, him.  He's into house elves?"  She nodded.  "Eww."  Don came back.  "The sad thing is that I tutored that guy in herbology."

Don snorted and looked at him.  "You heard the anti-Angel rant, yeah?"  They all nodded, Stella had heard it from Aiden apparently.  "Alex sent him a house elf strip-o-gram."

Danny and Stella paused, then went to get their own drinks.  Aiden gave him an odd look.  "Spike said there was a story behind their house elf Morgan.  That is really good torture."  He beamed and nodded.  "Think we could do that to Mac?  Maybe arrange for Lindsey to catch sight of it?"

"That's mean," Danny called as he came back.  "Don't include us in mean stuff.  We'd get into trouble and have to deal with the pouting person."  He sat down, looking at them.  "He already hates me."  Stella gave him an odd look when she sat down. "You remember when he first found out?  He said pureblood like it's a bad thing.  So that's just another strike against me at the moment."

"Danny, he doesn't hate you.  He's a bit disappointed in you now and then but he doesn't hate you," Stella assured him.  "He's never said anything more than he's disappointed in you."

"Yeah whatever," he complained.  He looked at Don again. "At least wait until right before he fires me first, okay?"

"Sure."  He punched him on the arm. "He won't be, Danny.  I know he won't be."  Danny nodded.  "Why?  Did something else happen?"

"No.  He's been doting on Lindsey again and she's giving me these pitying looks."

"I think that was more about keeping her under control in case she broke the obliviate," Stella offered.

"Really?  Then why is Sheldon doing the same thing?"

"He is?"  Danny nodded.  "Since when?"

"Two days ago."  He took another drink.  Someone banged the banquet hall's doors open and he reached for his wand.  "Who the fuck?" he muttered, looking at the guy standing there.

"This is a robbery!" he said, pulling out a Mac-10 machine gun and firing a few rounds.

"Yo, moron, we're cops," Don called back.  "Low paid and pissed off because you're interrupting our free time!"  The man glared but someone behind him pounced and got him down.  Don shook his head and sipped his drink.  "Moron."

"Horatio will be pleased, his guys won't have to come out at all," Stella offered, looking at Danny. "I'll find out what's going on."

"Thanks."  He looked at Aiden.  "If so, you guys need a flying coach?"

"Well, yeah, but the job pays shit."

He shrugged.  "It happens. That's why the tent spells were created."

"Point."  She nodded, accepting that.   Horatio walked in and grabbed the suspect, hauling him out of there and outside. "Someone's not a happy camper," she said happily.

"Really," Don agreed, nodding. He grinned at her.  "If our team goes into a championship thing, would you come?"

"Of course.  I'll even wear a tight sweater and a short skirt like a real cheerleader."  He grinned at that.  "I should introduce you to some of the ladies I know."  She got up and hauled him up, dragging him with her.

Stella shook her head.  "She said all curse breakers are horny creatures."

"He already gets more'n me anyway.  I can't get jealous over that," Danny said dryly, saluting her with his drink.  "When is dinner?"

"About a half an hour."  She got up.  "I'll be back, watch my purse."  He nodded and moved it closer to him, while she went to find Mac.  She punched him on the arm, making him wince and hiss.  "Why are Lindsey and Sheldon giving Danny pitying looks and why does he think you hate him this time?" she demanded.

"I don't know," he said, shrugging a bit and still rubbing his arm.  "Why did he say?"

"Something about you being an anti-pureblood snob and them giving him pitying looks."

"Lindsey might be because I'm working with her all the time.  He does good with Sheldon.  I don't know why Sheldon would be giving them to him.  Are you sure he's not paranoid?"

"Mac."

"I don't know, Stella."

She took his glass to sniff, grimacing.  "Greg!"  He came jogging over.  "What's in this?"

He sniffed then grimaced and held it away from him.  "A very bad truth potion."  He went to the bar to find the bottle and stop this before it got out of hand.  He didn't want to work this weekend.

***

Horatio walked up to Stella early Sunday morning, clearing his throat.  "Stella?"  She smiled at him and kicked a chair out so he sat down.  "Have you talked to Eric?"

"No.  I haven't talked to any of your crew."  She looked around.  "Danny's not up yet, but I know he talked to Alexx last night.  Why?"

"Eric never showed up for work and Calleigh's worried."  He glanced around.  "Since I'm part of the spell, I can't leave the hotel until it's canceled. Would you mind going to check on him for me?"

"Sure, not an issue.  Your team can't?"

"Calleigh's swamped in ballistics and he and Ryan don't always get along very well."

"Sure."  She finished her breakfast and wiped her mouth off.  "Address?"  He handed over a small piece of notepaper.  "I'll call Mac or Danny when I find him for you, Horatio."  He smiled at that and tipped his head.  "Tell Mac and Danny I'm doing this and kick Mac's ass if Danny's still sulking.  Lock 'em in a closet if you have to."  She walked off, going to get some stuff from her room before she left, like her rental car keys.  She programmed the address into the little map feature machine and followed the direction, ending up at his place about a half-hour later.  She parked and got out, looking at the building. It was nice but kind of plain, what you'd expect from an apartment building.  She walked up to the front door, finding the buzzer for his apartment, then leaning on it until she got a male- sounding grunt.  "Eric Delko?  Horatio Caine sent me to check on you. I'm Stella, from Mac's lab in New York."  The door opened so she walked inside, heading to the third floor since his apartment had been 3-C.  She found the door cracked and walked inside, smiling at him. "Hi."  He grunted again, nodding a bit.  "He said Calleigh called really worried about you.  Are you okay?"

"Tired," he complained quietly.  He flopped down on the couch, looking at her.  "You work with who?"

"Mac Taylor in New York.  Your lab and our lab collaborated a few years back."  He nodded once at that and drank the shake he had been mixing in the kitchen.  "Want me to call them?  He's at this convention thingy and they won't let him leave.  He said Calleigh was swamped and he didn't want to send Ryan."

"Probably a good idea," he admitted.  He found his cell and grimaced.  "Totally dead."  She handed over hers and he smiled.  "Thank you."

"Not a problem.  Horatio was trying to talk Mac into a tech switch for a few months to give us all a break."

"That could be fun," he admitted, dialing slowly, like he really had to concentrate on the number.  "I'm fine," he said in greeting.  He looked at Stella.  "At least you sent someone pretty and deadly after me.  No, H.  Hangover."  He took another drink.  "I didn't think I was on today, H.  It's Saturday."  He frowned and looked at her. "It's Sunday?"  She nodded, sitting down.  "Damn it.  Sorry, H.  I'll appear as soon as I shower and change clothes.  No, I don't know.  Thanks."  He hung up and handed her back her phone. "Thank you."

"Not a problem," she offered with a smile. "I've called off with a few of them myself after bad cases.  Need a ride in?"  He nodded, getting up to shower and change, then coming back out looking a bit more awake.  She walked out, letting him get his door.  "Got everything?"  He went back to find his badge and gun.  "You going to the station or to see Horatio?"

"He ordered me to see him first."

"That's fine.  That's where we're holding the convention," she offered with a gentle smile.  "Are you sure this is just a hangover?"  She took off his gun and put it on the right way.  "Unless you pull cross-ways."  He shook his head with a small moan.  "Come on.  We'll go see Horatio.  Maybe he'll send you back to bed."

"He probably should," he agreed, following her down to the car.  His eyes were half-open now and she gave him a gentle nudge to buckle up, making him nod and do that, then letting him slowly drift off again.  She gave him another small nudge, making him gasp and flail awake when they got to the hotel, grabbing his head and holding it.  "Crap, that hurts.  I hate the sun."

"It's nice and dark inside," she promised gently, parking and walking around to let him out and lead him inside.  Something was making her very concerned.  Most cops didn't have migraines like this.  She found Horatio waiting on them.  "He grabbed his head when he woke up outside, Horatio.  This isn't normal hangover stuff unless he's always getting migraines."

"I haven't seen any evidence of one."  He tipped Eric's face up, making him look at him.  "Eric, what day is it?" he asked quietly.

"Saturday?" he asked hesitantly.  He looked around, looking confused.  "What'm I doing here?"

"I had you brought here. It's Sunday," he said gently, moving closer.  "Eric, look at me."  Eric stared at him and he shivered.  "What's the last thing you remember?"

"Alexx."  He shook his head, holding it.  "I keep seeing her in the moonlight outside, H.  I don't know what's going on."

"Oh, I do," Greg offered, holding up a hand.  "Having seen this before on Rosenburg."  He came over and knocked him back out.  "He's got backlash, Horatio.  Danny?"  He perked up.  "Go shield your room, all magic facing externally.  He's got backlash."

"On it."  He went to do that, his buddy going to help him.  Stella gave them a few minutes then took Eric with her.

Greg looked at Horatio.  "Call Alexx, make sure *she's* okay."  He nodded, pulling out his cell to do that.  Greg went back to his room, muttering about relaxing weekends off.  On the way he called his Alex, letting him know.  That got him to find Don and drag him up there.  Alex had said Don could break any shields on him. They found the potions he'd need and went to Danny's room, finding Stella standing guard.  "I've got it."  She nodded, letting them inside.  Horatio was there.  "Is she all right?"

"Just fine and perkier than I've heard in months," he admitted quietly. "She said she has no idea why he's got a headache or where he might've seen her doing that."

"Oh, I do."  Greg leaned down and opened one of Eric's eyes, waving a bit.  "Eric, I'm going to make you drink this really vile stuff, but it's going to help so don't puke it up, okay?"

"Who're you?" he asked quietly.

"I'm Greg, I work with Grissom's crew in Vegas."

"With Warrick?"  Greg nodded.  "Where's Speed?"

Greg blinked, then looked at Horatio, who shrugged.  "I don't know yet," he told Eric.  "Give me a few, Eric.  Drink these things for me, okay?"  He mixed the vials together and handed them over, watching as he drank it.  "Okay, Don, I need you to break whatever shield is over him.  Alex said you should be able to feel it like a layer of cotton wool."

Don nodded, sitting next to him to run a hand over his forehead, then his chest.  He pulled his primary wand and then his secondary one, tapping him gently on the chest while he said something.  Eric moaned and clutched his head so he destroyed the second and third shields he could feel too.  "Greg, there's a really old spell on him," he said quietly.  "I'm not sure I can remove it."

Greg came over, testing to see what he felt.  "You can.  That's the lynchpin the others hooked into.  Apparently he saw one of us working in the past and they tried to shield him from the knowledge without an obliviate attached.  That way he could still access it but not speak of it.  Alex does that when he has to gather stuff from archeologists in the field.  This would be just like stripping a spell off something else."

Don nodded and picked up his first wand again, going slower this time, muttering the incantation.  Eric suddenly arched up, then burst out crying.

"Shh, hey," Greg soothed, holding him, moving Don out of the way.  "It's all right, Eric. I've got you.  You're all right."

"Speed," he whispered.

"Shh, tell us when you're ready."

Horatio looked at Danny, who nodded and took the address he wrote down. "Check to make sure he's there," he requested quietly.  Danny nodded and headed out.  He moved closer.  "Eric?"  Eric looked at him.  "What happened?"  Eric latched onto him, hugging him.  "Shh, Eric, what happened?"

"She was raising him, H."

"Who was?"

"Alexx."

He swallowed and forced himself to stay calm.  "Okay.  We'll do what we can, Eric.  For right now, use Danny's bed to rest.  We've shielded you so you can rest."  That got a nod and he helped him lay back down.  "You rest. I'm going to be downstairs."  He nodded.  "Good boy, Eric.  You rest."  Eric closed his eyes and Stella moved over to fuss over him for a bit while he and Don walked outside.  "I know one of those was mine.  Could you feel if the others were male or female?" he asked quietly.

"The oldest one was male.  The newer ones were all female, Horatio."

"Thank you."  He looked at Mac.  "Go retrieve my ME please."  He nodded, going to do that.  "Thank you, Don."  That got a nod and he headed off to get something to eat.  Horatio went back down to the lobby to wait on Danny and Mac to return.  Danny came back first, shaking his head.  "No body?"

"No body.  Grass was fixed but no body."  He swallowed.  "We think?"

"I know, not think, Danny.  Mac went to get her."

He nodded.  "He'll yell."  He looked back as the doors slammed open, turning to look at the woman storming in.  "You could have killed Eric," he said quietly, making her stop and stare at him.  "He's got symptoms of backlash."  She shivered.  "Where is he?"  She opened her mouth.  He grabbed her and shook her.

"Danny!" Horatio ordered.

He stared into her eyes.  "If you did it wrong, Alexx Woods, you could have given something much worse an opening, then he'd have to die again.  We need to tie off the energy.  Where is he?"

"Calleigh's house," she whispered.  "She knew but she refused to help."  She looked at Horatio.  "I'm sorry."

He nodded.  "We will be talking.  Danny?"

"I know where it is," he agreed.  "I looked it up on the way over."  He headed out with Mac this time.  "Did you yell?" he asked once they were in the car.

"I forced myself not to.  What thing?"

"The First Evil, Mac.  Resurrections done wrong give her a gateway back.  She can destroy this whole plane of existence and there's not much we can do to fight her.  She was covered under 'odd things to give you nightmares' in Defense."  He sighed.  "He's not the first to be risen, that's why we know," he admitted quietly a moment later.  He found the apartment building and got out, heading to the elevator.  He pushed a button, taking him up to her apartment.  He tapped gently and a blonde woman opened it, glaring at him.  "We need to make sure he came back right.  Nothing further."

"You can't."

"I can," Danny said, pulling his wand and moving her.  She shrieked and he glared.  "Don't even."  He walked past her, finding the man on the bed.  "Tim?"  The man woke up with a moan.  "I've got to cast the checking spell on you."  He gave him the most pitiful look. Tim looked different, thinner, than the last time he had seen him.  He almost looked weaker in some ways.

"Why?" he asked, looking at him.  "Are you dead?"

"No, and neither are you."  Speed sat up, staring at him.  "Alexx resurrected you last night."

"Don't tell him that!" she yelled.

Speed glared at her, making her back up. "You did what to the natural order?" he asked blandly.

"Fucked it all ta hell and back," Danny offered, moving closer.  "Preston told us how to do this.  I've got to.  If so, we'll have to tie down your magic, Speed."

"I know."  He shifted position, getting comfortable.  "You're in practice, right?"

"And taking lessons from Dumass."

"Wow."  He blinked at that. "How old is he now?"

"Twenty-one, just barely," Danny said with a smirk.  "Deaged back to five a few years back."  He pulled his wand, checking him over.  He found one small spot of wrongness and it was easily cleaned out of him, sending the food that had been in his body before he died into the bathroom.  Speed moaned at that.  "Sorry.  Purging."  He finished it and checked him over again, then got up and helped him up. "You're good.  Want to borrow my wand?"

"Please."  He walked to the mirror and checked himself over, slumping in relief.  "Thank you, Danny."

"Not an issue."  He took his wand back.  "She used Eric.  Don Flack Jr. undid her shields on him."

"Damn it," Speed muttered, grabbing his shirt and walking out into the living room.  "We'll be talking, Calleigh."

"I'm sorry, but we had to," she pleaded.  "Speed!"

"Not yet," he said, holding up a hand.  He looked at Mac, then at Danny.  Then back at Mac.  "Where's Horatio?"

"He's anchoring the spell on the convention this weekend. He can't leave the hotel until it's canceled."

"Okay.  Any idea where my wand is?"

"Ask Horatio," Mac ordered.  "I know he checked it on you to see why your natural magic didn't defeat the bullet."

"Because I was working on protection spells around Calleigh and Alexx."  He walked out, slamming the door behind him, heading down to the car.  Danny came out a minute later and Mac followed.  "Her?"

"Horatio said she was to stay there until he got free later.  Eric's on Danny's bed at the moment."

"Backlash," Danny offered in explanation as he started the engine.  He backed out, heading back to the hotel.  "Need to stop for a latte on the way?" he joked.

"No, I'm always grumpy," he reminded him dryly, frowning a bit.  "When did you come out at work?"

"Recently.  The old torture hall missed some people on purpose.  I've been refreshing myself while we train them."

"Good.  You were too good to go down that way."  He looked out the window.  "Take a right."  Danny did that, letting him drive past the office, then back to the hotel.  He got out and walked inside, finding Horatio waiting.  "Hi."

"Speed," he said calmly, looking him over.  "Are you all right?"

"Yes.  Why didn't you tell me you knew magic!" he said, slapping him on the arm.  "Bastard!"

Horatio smirked at him.  "You never told me either, Speed.  Alex Dumass told me."

"Oh."  He frowned. "You should have better sensing than that, H."

"I should," he agreed calmly.  "Alexx is in my room.  Eric is in Danny's."

"Is Eric all right?"

"Fine.  Tired but fine.  She needed someone normal to help her."  Speed nodded at that.  "Calleigh?"

"Still living."  Horatio smiled at that. "I'm still pissed."

"As I would be."  He moved closer.  "It's up to you about staying, Tim.  I'm not going to tell you any differently," he offered quietly.

Speed punched him, knocking him down then walking over him. "That's your damn answer, Horatio.  Where's my wand?"

"On my dresser," he called, rubbing his jaw as he was helped up by Danny.  "He's a bit upset."

"Ya think?" Danny asked dryly.  "He'll be fine.  No wrongness that wasn't the food left in his body from before he died."  He clapped him on the back.  "You wanna go save her?"

"I'm not getting in the middle of that shouting match."  He walked over to the desk to warn them there was going to be a lot of shouting from his room, explaining it as an officer was having a bad argument with his spouse.  Then he went to lurk outside to make sure no one else died.

Danny looked at Mac. "Beer?"

"It's too early for beer, but we're going to be talking."  He led him off by his arm, taking him to his room to talk to him about the accusations he had made to Stella.

***

Speed sat down next to Eric at lunch time, uncovering the takeout box.  Eric moaned and woke up, blinking at him. "Yeah, I'm real.  It wasn't a nightmare for anyone but me."  He held out the box.  "Dinner?"

"Please."  He sat up, scooting back some. "How....  Speed?"

Speed reached over and pinched the hell out of his arm, making him yelp.  "See, told you I was real."

"But...how?"  Speed pulled his old wand and hit him with it, not with a spell, just a tap on the head.  "Huh?"  He looked at the wand, then at him.  "Like the Harry Potter books?"

"Yeah, and I have it on good authority Harry hates those books.  Danny and Don from New York know him."  He shifted to face him.  "How did she talk you into it, Eric?"

He slumped. "She said it was to make your afterlife happier, to make sure your last rites were done and accepted."  He looked at him. "My grandmother whispered about that stuff," he said miserably.  Speed nodded.  "I didn't think it'd do...this."

Speed nodded again.  "It was a rite of resurrection.  Calleigh agreed that it could be done and she wouldn't say anything about it, but she wouldn't help."

"That's why she came to me."

"Yup."  He leaned closer.  "Now we've got to work on how to torture them since you're about as emotionally damaged as I am at the moment."

"We pulled you back from heaven?"

"Kinda."  He smirked a bit. "I was bored anyway.  There's no motorcycles."  Eric cracked a smile at that.  "So we'll be okay?"  Eric nodded, taking a bite of his sandwich, not taking his eyes off him.  "I'm not disappearing unless I get shot again."

"You get shot again and we're pulling you back sooner."

"One do-over per life, Delko.  No second times after this."  Eric nodded at that.

"Then I'd clean your gun this time," Horatio said as he walked in, closing the door behind him.  "Eric, are you all right?"

"Better now, H."  He looked at him.  "You have one of those. I saw you using one years ago, when I first came on."

"You did, and I blocked the memory from you so no one could hurt you because of it."  He sat down, looking at him.  "Are you all right with that?  I don't use mine anymore."

"Fat chance that'll keep happening," Speed said firmly.  "I'm not the only wizard in the PD, I'm not handling all the strange shit cases by myself anymore, Horatio.  You can have some too."  He glared at him.  "Selfish bastard!"

"Speed," he warned.

"I was working an extra ten or twenty cases a month about the magic stuff."

"Then I'll gladly help," he agreed quietly.  "I'm not in active practice.  I went back to my old life after I found control."

"So!" he said hotly.  "You're back in active practice now or I'm kicking your ass.  I'll make sure you practice, you make sure I clean my gun.  Deal?"

"If that's the only way to make sure you do," he agreed.

"Probably," Speed said dryly.  "It's not like I'm used to that stuff."

"Fine."

"How are you going to explain him coming back to life?" Eric asked.

"That we'll figure out later," Horatio offered.  "Alexx did it so I'm assuming she had an answer to that as well."

"Hell, I can always be my little brother," Speed noted dryly.  "It wouldn't be the first time.  Eat, Eric."  He ate another bite.  "Thank you."  He looked at him.  "Calleigh and Alexx?"

"Are ready to beg for forgiveness.  If you'll hear them out."

"Not tonight I'm not."

"Agreed."  Someone tapped on the door so he got up to answer it.  "Danny."

"Keep the room for a bit, Horatio.  I've got to pack."  He nodded at Eric, then flicked his wand at the dresser. "Restora."  The clothes flew into the suitcase, folded and clean like they had been when he had packed them at home.  He grinned as he gathered them, then nodded.  "If you need us, call. You know where we are."  Horatio smirked a bit and nodded.  "Let me make sure I didn't forget anything."  He did a quick turn around the room, finding the few souvenirs and packing them.  Then he punched Speed on the shoulder.  "Write, bastard.  Tony too."   He left, heading down to catch a cab back to the airport.

"Danny, Stella's got a rental," Don offered from the front desk.  Danny stopped to hand in his key and whisper that Horatio was using his room for that domestic he was solving.  She nodded, making a note of that, then he looked at Don. "You done?  All packed?"

"Of course."  He saw Tony coming off the elevator and smiled.  "Tony, call, man.  Soon!"  He got another grin and a nod.  "Especially if you need help with him.  I would've come to Philly for you."  He smirked and walked out with Don.  "Mac?"

"Already out there.  He called to make sure I made it."  He grinned at him.  "Next time we should apparate or portkey," he said quietly.

"Too much chance of being seen."  He got into the back, his bag on his lap.  "Flying tonight or tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow night. I've got dinner with the folks tonight.  This'll be when they yell."

"You did good earlier," Danny assured him, grinning at him.  "Nearly as good as Ron."  That got a smug look.  "They send you home with more books?"

"Hell yes, especially on transfiguration.  I guess we're back to that our next weekend there."

"It's a fun class," Danny offered with a grin.

"Can you do the animagus thing?"

"Never thought to try," Danny said. "I might now.  Greg said being a lizard is fun."  There were a lot of things about his past life that he wasn't planning on sharing so that little lie was okay with him.

Don grinned. "I can imagine you as some pissed off kitten now and then."  Danny swatted him with a fierce glare. "I can!  Especially right now!"

"Keep it up. Get a bludger to the head during practice," he joked.

"Yeah, yeah.  Blow me," he joked back.

"You're the one who says you're straight."  Don gave him an odd look. "Oh, please.  I went to boarding school.  I tried them both there, just in case.  Doing boys was encouraged so you didn't get some poor girl expelled for being knocked up."

"That's why my mother refused to let me board," Mac agreed.

"Guys, you're giving me thoughts that're giving me a headache and are going to make me crash," Stella complained. "Not even the magical vibrators Don gave me will help with that thought.  Quit until I can disappear."

"Sorry," Danny offered with a bright, wicked grin.  "Draco said if you wanted the rest of the box you were more than welcome to them.  Greg said so."

"No thanks, I've got enough now," she assured him.  "So quit unless you want to walk to the airport."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Thank you."  She shook her head and muttered in Greek the rest of the way there because men were bad things.  It was men like the ones in the back seat who were the reason she didn't date.

***

Danny walked up to his front door, finding it open.  "Crap," he muttered, pulling his gun before dropping his bag next to the door.  He nudged the door open with his foot.  "NYPD," he announced.  "Don't make me shoot you.  I don't need my coworkers to come over tonight."  He moved in, slowly searching the kitchen, then the hidden areas since the door was open.  He found Lindsey in on his bed and glared, putting his gun up.  "What the fuck are you doing in here!" he shouted.

"I came to see how the convention went," she defended.

"So you decided you were Goldilocks?"  He pointed.  "Out.  Now!"  She pouted.  He pulled out his phone, calling Mac, and as it turned out Stella and Don.  "Get over here.  Now."  He hung up and glared at her some more.  "Out of my bedroom!"

"Not until you explain why it looks like you're making drugs," she snorted.

"Huh?"

"Your little lab?" she sneered.

"That's herbal stuff, thank you.  Not drugs. Totally legal and sold in a few nicer shops in the city."  She sneered at him.  "It is.  Mac's going to be checking anyway."  Someone pounded on the door and walked in.  "Don?"

"Me," Stella called.  She walked in and looked at Lindsey.  "Uh-huh."  They shared a look.  "I thought you protected the door against her."

"I did," he said bitterly.  "Specifically I might add."  He stomped off, going to get his bag.  He found Mac and Don coming up the stairs.  "Get Monroe the hell off my bed, out of my apartment, and tell her I'm not making drugs!"

"Calm down," Don said quietly, heading in there.  He found the doorway and walked back there, finding Stella yelling how she could be arrested for breaking and entering.  "Maybe we should," he agreed.

"You're in it with him!" she shouted, getting off the bed.  "You're in on his little drug running business!"

"Excuse me?" Don demanded.  "I don't touch the shit, Monroe!  I never have, I never will."  She backed away from him.

"Don, leaking," Stella said gently, laying a hand on his arm.  "Calm down."

"She just accused...."

"I heard," Mac noted as he came in with Danny, who tossed his bag next to his dresser.  "Lindsey is going to show me what she thinks she found. I've got my kit in the car.  We can test any substance in there," he said calmly. "Then she and I are going to have a talk at the station."

"She accused me...."  Don started again.

Mac held up a hand.  "I heard," he repeated firmly.  "I know you're not.  Now, Lindsey, let's go see this suspected drug lab of yours."

"Not mine," she snorted. "I tested stuff myself. I found opium."

"You may have found poppy tea but it's not illegal or dangerous," Danny said blandly.  "It's basically the same strength as a poppy seed muffin."  He looked at Mac.  "Get her out of my bedroom."  He nodded and walked her out.  He glared and pulled his wand, casting something quietly and making her yelp.  "Wigs," he muttered, going to reset the spell against her again.  Once she left the apartment, one way or another, she wouldn't be coming back.  He walked into the lab with Mac's kit, handing it to him.  "Here."

"Thank you, Danny.  Poppy tea?"

"Everything's labeled, Mac.  Read them."  He crossed his arms, watching him gather samples to test.  He glared at Lindsey when she moved closer.  "You're in so deep for breaking into my place.  When did you get here?"

"Earlier."

"How much earlier?" he demanded.

"None of your business."

"It's my fucking apartment!" he shouted.  Someone pounded on the door so he walked out there, cutting Stella off.   He saw a cop out there and pulled his badge.  "One of my coworkers was in here waiting on me when I got home from a weekend out of town," he said dryly.  "My supe is in there with her."

"That's fine, Detective.  We got a report of a woman screaming."

"No, more than one, Steve," Stella assured him. "This is Danny, he's on my shift.  Don's in the kitchen."

"Okay.  I'll leave this in your hands."  He smiled at her. "We miss you at the pool hall, Stella."

"I'll drop by next weekend when I'm off shift," she promised with a wink and a smile.  He grinned and nodded, walking off, reporting back that it was handled and an officer's place. She walked over and closed the door, making Danny look at her.  "Calm down. Don's the one who leaks like a sieve."  He nodded and turned, hitting the wall, then calming down.  "Thank you.  What poppy tea?"

"The purple stuff Greg had us buy for a few lessons?"

"Oh, that stuff.  That's poppy tea?  Mine's dried."

"Yeah, and you add boiling water then strain three minutes later and it's tea," he noted dryly, heading that way again.  Lindsey was opening a cabinet and he snorted.  "You're not going to find anything in there, Monroe."  She pointed at the boxes and he looked.  "I don't take over the counter cold stuff.  I haven't in years.  It makes me puke."  He looked at Mac.  "You know that."

"I do."  Lindsey glared at them.  "He does.  Sheldon had to dose him the last time, Lindsey."  She moaned and slumped a bit, then moved the boxes to show off something else.  "Lindsey, he doesn't make enough to buy that stuff.  None of us do."  She glared at him. "Seriously."

"Maybe his family gave it to him."

"Considering my family kicked me out when I went to college and they're in Italy, and have been for the last few months?  Doubt it," he noted dryly.  "My family hates my ass, Monroe.  They have for many years because I didn't follow the family's plans for my future."  She glared at him.  "Anyone from the old neighborhood can tell you that.  Hell, I can call my mother if you wanna ask her.  She'll swear at you and assure you she kicked me out and tossed my clothes after me for being a bastard and not following my father's grand plans."  She backed off.  "Mac, I want her out of here.  I want that shit she obviously planted out of here as well.  You can dust for fingerprints and won't find mine."

"I've already done that," she sneered, showing him a box.  "See, that's yours."

"How would you have compared it?" Stella asked from behind Danny.  "Danny cleaned before we left for the convention.  I stood here and watched him wipe the whole apartment down, Lindsey."  She shrieked and tried to attack her but Danny pushed her back into the wall, glaring at her.  "Bad idea. That's assault."

"I'm sure someone will listen to me."

"Yeah, crackheads," she said happily, smirking at her.

"You're all in this together!" Lindsey shouted.

Danny pulled his wand.  "You wanna know what this is really about, Lindsey?  What we're hiding from you?"  She sneered and nodded.  "Okay."   He pointed his wand at her and changed her into a small, furry dog.  An ugly dog, but a small, yappy one.  "That's what this is about."  He walked out, going to call Timmy. "Come get the bitch I just changed in my apartment.  Monroe was waiting on me, she planted evidence showing I was making drugs, and now she's a bitch."  Don choked and groaned from the kitchen.  "Don, make me some coffee please?"  He listened to the calming words.  "No, I'm not changing her back!  She was waiting for me on my bed!"  He hung up and looked at Mac.  "He won't be back for a few hours."  He went to unpack and remake his bed.  There was no way he was sleeping on those sheets until well after they were washed.

Stella came in.  "How do I make a muzzle?"  He got into an old trunk in his closet, handing her one.  "What did you used to have?"

"A cat.  It hated to travel."  He shrugged and got back to making his bed.  "If the landlord comes back, tell him it snuck in and that's what the screaming was."

"Sure."  She went to muzzle the dog, it was a bit tight but it worked well enough, then she went to check on the coffee.  "She's a lap dog."

"Wonderful.  What did Timmy say?"

"He's not home yet."  She shrugged.  "You wanna call someone?"

"Nope.  I'm staying out of that one except to support Danny."  They shared a look and he shrugged.  "Not my issue, Stella.  It's his.  I would've picked something without vocal cords."

She smiled and nodded.  "Maybe an amoeba."   Mac coughed and she looked at him.  "It'd be quieter."

"It would be," he admitted.  Someone pounded on the door and he walked over to answer it. "Hi.  Sorry about the noise. One of our coworkers snuck in here with her dog and was waiting on Danny to get home.  He's already had her sent off and we're waiting on someone to take the dog."

"Okay.  It will be gone?"

"Yeah," Danny called, coming out of the door. "Not an issue.  Not like I want the ugly little thing."  He went back in there to retrieve it, bringing it back out. "See?"

"It is really ugly," he agreed.  "If it makes a mess, you clean it up."

"If it makes a mess, I'm making her owner clean it up with her tongue.  Not an issue.  She broke in here."

"Which one?"

"Monroe.  The new girl."  The landlord nodded. "Sorry about the yelling. I came in and she was on my bed.  Then she tried to say my tea stash is drug-making."

The landlord snorted.  "Not hardly.  You're a cop!"  He walked off shaking his head. "Have fun and get rid of the dog."

"Yes, sir!"  He looked at Lindsey. "You cause me more hell and I'm having you fixed," he sneered.  She quit struggling.  "Good."  He put her down and walked off, going back to clean out his lab once he put on a pair of gloves.  "Mac, I stole gloves from your case."

"That's fine.  Better safe than sorry, Danny."  Someone tapped politely on the door and he opened it, letting Timmy in.  He pointed at the dog. "There she is."

"Daniel," Timmy called, walking that way.  He looked around the lab, then shuddered.  "She was setting you up?"

"She was also on my bed reading one of my magazines when I walked in."  He looked at him. "She can stay a damn dog for all I give a shit.  If she gives me more hell, I'm having her fixed."

"Fine," he soothed.  "I can take her home and change her back."

"Mail her to Tony," he snorted. "Or Speed."

"Speed has more than enough on his plate at the moment and Tony stayed an extra day to hang out with him."  Danny grinned at that. "I know.  He was your keeper and your trouble buddy.  I'm hoping Tony doesn't pull what Woods did and resurrects his former teammate who recently died as well."  Danny nodded, getting back to work. "I'm sure we can find out where she bought all this stuff up if something comes of it."

"Yeah, hopefully," Danny said quietly. "You want her back, you change her back, you keep her ass away from me and away from IAB so she can't follow through with her threats," he said more calmly.

"I agree.  Would you accept it if we wiped the past month from her memories in a more permanent way?  Let her prove her intentions without the stress and drama?"

"No," he said honestly.  "I don't think it'd work.  She's breaking free of the oblivious."

"Point.  There's a more permanent way though.  I can get someone from Canada's Mysteries department to help with this."  He looked out at Mac.  "We can remove the last month permanently," he offered quietly.  "Make it seem like she was in an accident or something."

"I'm not sure I can trust her," he offered. "Even with that she was causing stress."  He looked at Stella and Don, then at Timmy.  "I'll be more than happy to write her a nice evaluation and send her on, Tim.  I can't have this drama in my lab."

"Agreed.  Danny?"  Danny flicked his wand with a muttered 'fucking finite incantantum' and then went back to his purging.  "By the way, good work with Speed today, Danny."  Danny nodded at that.    "Old man Prestons would've been proud of you and how you managed to hide it and still keep some knowledge."

"I put it all in a pensieve," he admitted quietly.  "I didn't want to remember and use it when I got too stressed."

"I understand."  He clapped him on the arm and looked at Lindsey.  "We are going to talk, young lady.  Then we'll be finding you somewhere more suitable to be."

"Missouri?" Danny offered.

"That's mean," Tim assured him with a smirk.  "You don't have any of your old pictures?"  He walked her out by the arm, taking her back to his place to call their overlord and see what he wanted to do with her.  Then he called Horatio to arrange for him to find her a spot somewhere nice down there in a small lab where she could have personal supervision. That was right before her last month was taken from her by a more powerful wizard, who had a bit of a sadistic streak with how much he enjoyed it. Besides, everyone wanted to retire to Florida, right?

***

Don tapped on Danny's door the next night, jimmying the lock when he didn't hear him.  He knew Danny was home already.  "Messer?" he called as he walked in.  "Did you get eating by a unicorn?"

"They're herbivores," he called from the bedroom.  Don walked that way.  "Sorry, I was looking at some old stuff from my school years."

"Yeah?  Let's see."  He sat beside him, looking at the pictures he had out.  "Who's that?"

"Tony."  He grinned at the old shot of the team together.  "My junior year's house team."  He let him hold it.  "Tony was our lead chaser, Speed out keeper, and I'm the great hope of beaters everywhere," he said fondly, picking up another one. "This was taken right before I fell."  He let him have that one.

"How did you fall?"

"Intentional foul from the other team," he said quietly, taking the pictures back.  Don put a hand on his arm so he looked at him.  "Not my family that I could ever find out."

"That's good at least."  He gave the wrist a squeeze. "You never wore wrist guards?"

"Wouldn't have mattered.  I fell from near the top of the middle goal.  I landed on that arm.  It nearly shattered."  He looked in his old trunk, then smiled and pulled something out.  "That's the team I was signed with before I got hurt."  He let him see the old poster.

"I'm sure they're happy you can still play and that you're such a good guy."

"Maybe," Danny agreed, taking it back and putting everything up.  "I found my lucky shirt but it's too tight to wear."

"Can't be too lucky if you were hurt," he offered quietly.  Danny nodded at that. "You were holding a black broom in that last picture."

"I ended up selling it years ago," he said, looking at him.  "I was getting depressed seeing it in the closet every time I took out a shirt.  I couldn't take it so I sold it to a student who came behind me who was looking pretty good.  It's been passed down to the better player each generation in my old house from what I hear.  They symbolically ride it at least once their first year."  Don smiled at that. "Yeah, I'm a big pile of mush today.  Come on, we need to make sure we can play together still.  Dumass is tons better than me."

"He told me how he codes plays," Don offered.

"Good.  We can use that."  He gathered his brooms and let Don get the balls, locking and sealing the door with his wand this time, then following him down to the car.  "Sorry, I was having a bad case of 'I remember when' syndrome."

"We all get it.  I was a pain in the ass when I was that age."

"I was a bastard," Danny admitted with a slight grin.  "I was every bit a thug."  Don smirked at that. "Yeah, the cocky jock with the family to back it up.  Who would've thought, huh?"  He got into the car, letting Don drive since he knew the way now.  "Your dad or sister coming?"

"Dad said he'd come for the first match if I made it onto the team.  Tim called and said we've got one other person trying out.  Stella's going for chaser if we can get her trained so we're picking her up.  I took her to get her broom late last night, after shift."

"That's good.  At least she'll have her own.  I need time on my game broom to make sure it's still up to snuff."  Don nodded at that.  "When's tryout?"

"Tomorrow after work and Mac said you've got tomorrow off."  He grinned at him. "That way you can do whatever fancy jock rituals you need ta."  He turned, pausing in front of Stella's building, honking twice.  She came jogging down the stairs and got into the back.  "Hey.  You ready?"

"As I'll ever be."  She buckled up and Don took off.  Danny grinned back at her.  "What's going on in your place?"

"Nothing much.  I was going through some old pictures really.  I was going to have a few copied and send 'em to Speed and Tony.  Remind 'em of the good days."

"That's cool."  She ruffled his hair, earning an outraged noise.  "Lindsey left for Palm Beach today."

"Good," Danny agreed happily.  "Any memories leaking yet?"

"Not a one.  He totally ripped everything and Mac cleaned her name off any casefiles from that time."   She smiled at them.  "So, Don, find any good blackmail material?"

"Nope.  Some good pictures of him on his broom back in the day with Speed and that Tony guy.  He showed me his junior and senior quidditch pictures."  She beamed at Danny for that.  "Can you clean the brooms out of the picture?"

"I'm not sure you can do that on wizarding photos," Danny admitted. "I'll have to ask, just in case."  He shrugged and slumped down a bit as they pulled into the park.  For some reason he had a bad feeling about this.  "Don, let's get a burger first."

"We'll lose the light by the time you feed your bottomless pit stomach, Messer," he said patiently.  He glanced at him. "You don't have that divination shit, right?"  Danny shook his head.  "You're sure?"  Danny looked at him and nodded. "Good.  Then why the worry?"

"Just a dark feeling."  He shrugged. "I get the same walking into most alleys without knowing who's down there."

"Fine."  He parked in the same parking lot, getting out and grabbing his broom.  "Stella, help me get the balls since he's got both his brooms."

"Sure."  She got out and helped him grab the ball case.  Danny followed behind them.  She heard a muttered curse and looked back.  "What?"

"Some stupid prankster tied my shoelaces together," Danny said patiently, untying them, letting Don have his brooms to hold.  He got done and stood up, turning to look at the kids gathered behind them. "Yes?" he asked calmly.

"You're Messer, right?"  He nodded.  "You're playing again?"

"The PD has a team," he admitted.  "I'm trying out for it.  I haven't played in years because of my wrist."

"Oh."  One of the kids stepped forward.  "You're too old to play."

"Yeah, tell that to Potter's teammate Bear," Don snorted. "He's in his forties, kids.  You mind?  We're practicing for the PD team."

"You're a cop?" he sneered.  "Where did you go to school?"

"Scotland. I have private tutors."  He smirked.  "I'm also a curse breaker."  They backed off at that.  "Danny, we got issues?"

"Nah.  Old house rivalries," he said, nodding at one kid's scarf.  "I graduated that shit long ago, kids.  Have a better night and maybe I'll see you guys at the game."  He turned and walked off with them.

"Sonny says you don't play," one of them yelled.

Danny put up a shield by reflex and turned, barely holding in the thrown hex he wanted to use.  The kid's hit him and he sneered.  "You're how old?"

"Sixteen."

"Oooh, so he sends a little kiddie after me?" he taunted.  "Yeah, real smart, kid.  Run home to your daddy.  Before I take you back to the school and have them tan your ass for ya."  He turned and walked off again, shaking his head.  "I am calm," he said quietly.  "I am staying very calm.  I will not attack the minor child from my rival house.  He is stupid and I'm far beyond that and I am staying calm."  Stella gave him a worried look.  "I am."

"I'm proud of you for it," she agreed gently, taking off her jacket once they got to the field.  "Are you sure we can leave this stuff down here?"

Don smirked at her.  "Alex knows every single lock spell in existence, Stella.  He's taught me a great many."  He put everything in one of the privacy shelters and let Danny lock it, then locked it overtop of him.  "Let me know when you're ready to change brooms, Danny."

Danny nodded and let loose the bludger, then handed Stella the quaffle.  "Get used ta it and join us, Stell."  He flew up to bat around the stubborn ball, just warming up.  His new wrist guards were slid into between hits and then Don joined him in his own.  "So, how did you practice?"

"Against Ron mostly.  He helped the twins.  Bear came up for a day of practice too. He wanted to play with Alex."  He swooped and hit the bludger with an evil smirk.  Danny laughed and slung it back at him, then switched hands with the bat and hit the next return on that side, his sore one.  It made him wince a bit.  He switched back.  "You okay?"

"Fine.  I can't hit both handed anymore.  Not a great loss.  It was my weaker side anyway."  He dove, hitting the bludger up at Don's tail, making him spin out of the way and hit it back toward Stella.  Danny got in the way and hit it off, then chased it since it was heading toward the kids.  He saved them and continued on.  "Sorry, guys."  He got higher up again,  getting back into the swing of things.  "Stella," he called a few hits later.  "Catch the bludger!"  He hit it at her, letting her dive to catch it and wrestle it back into the box.  "Okay, now join us.  The balls are fine."  She nodded and mounted up with the quaffle under one arm, joining them.  "Okay, three main things.  Passing, carrying, and aiming.  Guys like us will be trying to hit you with the bludger.  Guys like other chasers will be doing anything they can to stop you.  That includes cramming in on either side, nudging, stealing, hitting your broom with theirs, but that's a foul, and then you've got ta shoot."  One of the kids flew up and Danny looked at him. "Keeper?"  He nodded.  "Which house?"

"York."  He clapped his hand and Stella tossed him the ball.  "Not bad.  Most of them throw one handed. Remember, the hoops are big and keepers can only be in one spot at a time."

"True."  She got the ball back and threw it overhand, making him smile. "Better?"

"Much.  Now do it while looping around."  He tossed it back and she got into it, doing as he ordered. "You're pretty decent for being ancient," he said after a few more passes.

"I'm not even old enough to be your mother, kid."  She threw at him again and he dove to catch it, making her smirk.  "Besides, I'm playing with other wizards my age. Not the little kids at the school."

"You guys ever come talk to us?"

"I don't know.  We've got a union rep in Timmy Blastmore.  He ever show up?"  The kid shook his head.  "I'll mention it.  Maybe I'll come instead'a him."  He grinned. "My old broom still hanging around?"

"Blackie?  Yeah. Safely stored in a nice locking cabinet against us.  We try every year, but it's still locked. Any idea how?"

"She was always a temperamental broom," he offered with a smirk, diving to catch the quaffle then hauling it at him.  The kid had to spin to catch it, smirking back.  "You're pretty good.  You going pro?"

"No, not right out of school.  Anyone who does ends up mysteriously being injured."

"Yeah, don't remind me," he said dryly.  "I thought my world had ended."  The kid nodded at that.  "Go for the major tryouts next spring, kid.  That should be long enough to clear it."  The kid smirked and threw the quaffle back to Stella.  "You're good."

"Thanks, old man.  By the way, Sonny said if we couldn't stop you, he was going to be betting on you."

"Yeah, well, Sonny's about to feel the wrath of my foot up his ass," he said dryly. "Remember, people like Sonny die horribly painful deaths at their friends' hands, kid.  You don't wanna be his sort if you want a future.  Been there, nearly didn't make it out to tell the stories."

"Understood.  He's still got a kid in the house right now."

Danny smirked.  "Thank you.  Her mother Daphne, or his mother June?"

"His mother's probably June.  He's a redhead."

"I know his Ma.  She'd be turning over in her grave.  He killed her right after she gave birth because she wanted ta move.  Now think about that."

"He's got a mother."

"No, he's got a stepma.  Tell him to trace it back and talk to Honey about June.  Tell him one of the Boys told you about it.  Then tell him to look up his half-sister Steph.  See what she can't say anymore."  He nodded once and flew down.  "You be careful, kid," he called after him.  He looked at Don, then at Stella.  "Blackmail," he said fondly. "Great things, huh?"

"You sure he killed her?" Don asked.

"I can't prove it, but I know he did."

"Can't prove it magically or at all?"

"At all.  Her dad got paid off and he was the only witness.  House burned right after that so no forensics.  The ME was paid off and said it was a suicide."  They nodded at that.  "The kid'll be a badass some day soon but he's only fifteen.  If he's got his father's brains, he's already got a juvie record."  He stole it then tossed the quaffle to Don, who caught it easily. "Burger?"

"Burger," Stella agreed, wiping the sweat off her forehead.  "This is really a workout."

"Yeah, better'n a treadmill any day," Danny agreed fondly. "Still gotta have strong legs though."  He landed, putting the ball back in the case.  He laid his broom down next to him while Don unlocked the privacy pavilion, taking back his other broom.  "You think I can play on my precious one there?"

"I think you're just as good on either," Don agreed, smirking at him. "Talent makes the player, not the broom."

"Yeah, it can, but a good broom goes very far," he said wisely.  Stella chuckled at that as she put on her jacket.  "Okay, let's be fed and then we'll talk about strategy back at my place?  Since I've got the nicer one and the good beer?"

"Sure," Don agreed, taking the brooms.  Stella got the balls.  Danny kept his wand in his hand, just in case.  It was getting dark and they were in Central Park.

That's What Friends Are For

Don stretched, standing up to get his whole back.  The new detective, Sal Mirck, smirked at him.  "Tryouts tonight."

"Good.  Better you than me playing, Flack.  I'm much too old and stuck in my ways for that."  He handed over a case file.  "It says you've had him many times.  Got any ways to push him?"

Don looked then smirked and nodded. "Yeah.  He's a thumb sucker."  That got a smirk.  "I suspected him of going toward sex crimes once and he gave me this horrified look.  He's a prude."  He grinned.  "I'm off for the day."

"No way!" his Lieutenant called, coming to the door. "No you're not."

"Yeah, I am.  I told you I was leaving on time tonight."  He gave her a look.  "Remember, I have that sports thing tonight."

"You've got to be kidding me," she said flatly.  "You've got seventeen case files open on your desk, I haven't seen a shred of paperwork from you, and you want to go play *sports*?"

"I handed you ten reports earlier today, boss, and I've only got ten open."  She glared and he shrugged.  "Go check your inbox!"  He put on his jacket.  "Besides, shift's up.  You keep yelling about overtime."  He gave her a look and she huffed off.  He gathered up some stuff to do at home, stuffing it into his bag.  "Night all."  He headed off, going to get Danny from the labs.  He was over a microscope.  "Danny, time's ticking?" he prompted.

"Two more slides," he ordered.  He made a note about that one and switched out, swearing a bit under his breath.  He stood up and rubbed his eyes, then got back to work, making notes.  He switched out and smirked, doing that one.  He printed out the view and grinned at him. "Get Sheldon up here.  Let me give this to him and then we can go."  Don nodded, going to get him for Danny.  Danny smiled, taking off his coat.  "Slide three is definitive.  Slide two is irritating.  Slide notes are beside the microscope, three's still in there."

"Okay.  Thank you.  Good luck."

"Thanks."  He grabbed his stuff and headed for the locker room, running into Stella.  "You ready?"

"As I'll ever be."  She smiled as he went to change his full outfit.  He came out in boots and a pair of jeans, sliding his t-shirt over his tank-top undershirt.  He grabbed his wrist guards out of the locker and put them on, flexing his hands as he walked off, his wand inside his jeans pocket, his keys had already been in his jeans pockets since he had picked out his outfit last night.  He ran into Don.  "Stella's coming."

"Good."  He checked his watch.  "Where are we going?"

"The arena.  The one we play at."  They headed for the car, Stella could follow.  She jogged to catch up, getting them at the elevator.  "Broom?" he asked once they were safely alone.

"In Don's trunk, same as yours after last night."  He smiled and nodded, rubbing his wrists and flexing his fingers.  "Bad day?"

"Hefting that body earlier. I'll be fine.  Just a bit stiff. I was gentle the rest of the day."

"Danny!" Mac called.  The three of them groaned and he jogged to catch up.  "You're done with the slides?"

"Yeah, and I gave Sheldon my notes. We're headed for tryouts."

"Okay.  Good luck.  Let me know how it goes."  He clapped them on the back.  "Stella, dinner afterward?"

"Sure, thanks, Mac."  She left with the guys, weathering the looks.  "About the current case, guys.  We do it once a week."

"If you say so," Don teased.

"I don't need a man except for trash duties and backrubs with your gift," she snorted, getting into the back.  Danny climbed into the front to drive.  Don gave him a shove so he scooted over.  "Pushy, Danny."

"I'm used to being pushy."

"Yeah, well, my car," Don said as he got in to drive.  He stuck the keys in and turned them.  A grinding noise.  "No!" he moaned.  Danny zapped the key with his wand and it started.  "Thank you!"  As long as it turns off."  He put it into gear and headed off.  "The arena is the blue spot, right?"  Danny nodded.  "The one with the star?"  Danny checked the map and pointed at the square, making him nod and head that way.  "We should get there in time."

Stella did the sensible thing, calling Timmy.  "We're leaving work right now.  We're at the spot on the map that's marked 'arena' right?"  She nodded. "Good."  She hung up.  "The star.  They just moved it last month."  Don nodded, turning around and heading the other way.  She relaxed and centered herself, going over the tips she had given and read in the book on quidditch she had found with Don.  They parked and she got out, looking at the small looking building.  "We play in here?"

"Stella, apartment stuff," Danny said patiently.  He got out and went for the trunk, hand hesitating over the brooms.

"Play your old one," Don said in his ear.  Danny nodded and grabbed it, then his other one just in case, heading inside.  Don smirked at Stella, tossing her hers, then grabbing his so they could head inside.  Timmy met them inside the door, carrying Danny's new broom.  "We good?"

"You're in good time.  It's okay.  The rest of the team is here."  He looked at Danny.  "Weren't you off today?"

"Sheldon needed help."  He shrugged and worked his hands and wrists again.  Timmy gave him a look.  "Body hauling out of a dumpster."

"Ow.  I'm sorry."

"Me too, but I was good to them all day."  He took off his jacket and put it down carefully.  His wand went on top of it, then he stretched before mounting up and heading into the air.

Stella looked around the arena. "This is nice."

"It's not legal for pro quidditch but it's good enough for a home league," he said happily.  Don grinned and took off. "Tell me Alex Dumass worked with him," he pleaded quietly.

"Plus Ron and Bear," she agreed, taking off her jacket and putting it over top of Danny's then heading into the air herself.  She caught the quaffle someone tossed her.  "Goals?" she asked, passing it back.  The chasers smiled and she caught it again.  "Do we have a keeper?"

"We do, she's running late," another of the chasers offered.  "Have you played before?"  She shook her head.  "Then let's run some drills with the beaters running around us."  He looked down at Timmy.  "Release 'em."

"Fine."  The bludgers were both released.

Danny looked at Don and pointed at one, getting a nod.  He looked at the other beater candidate, getting a nod.  He took off after one of the bludgers, saving Stella from a bad hit.  Don swooped around him, rolling over his back to get the one heading for him.  Danny aimed at the second string of chasers, getting a shocked noise.  "What?  You said to practice!" he called.  The third beater went after it.  "Good, you guard, Don'll guard the other one, I'll shoot at them."  She nodded and he went back to it.  His bludger got sent at him by Don, he hit it back and switched with him, sending the other one at the beater.  Someone blew a whistle so he sent that one into a wall, making it hit the padding and be caught in a net that came up.  Don did the same and the net caught that one as well.  They landed, looking at the coach.

"Good job by all the beaters."  He looked at Danny.  "Can you play both wrists?"

"Not really.  I'm good enough with one," he assured him.  "I'm working on the other."

"Okay.  How sore is it?"

"Enough.  It sucks badly at the moment.  I had to lift a body earlier."  He shuddered. "Sorry, part of the job."

"I understand."  He looked at them.  "Okay, chasers only for now.  Beaters relax."  They nodded and headed over to sit with the jackets, Danny checking his wand. The coach looked at him.  "Not too bad for being out of practice," he said as he passed by.

"Thanks, Henderson."  He smirked at the other person.  "He hated playing against me in school."

"I hated playing against you but I was only a first year when you crashed."  She smiled at Don.  "Who're you?  I don't remember you at the school."

"Don Flack. They missed me.  I'm being tutored privately."  He shook her hand.  "My sister went."

"Her I remember."  She smiled at him. "You're good for being a newbie."

"Thanks. I've been working hard with my tutor and his kids."  He grinned at the coach as he sent Stella over. "You okay?"  He checked her face.  "Bruised?"

"No, I'm good.  He wants to test the other guys."  She sat down and gave him a nudge with her shoulder.  "Even if I only make alternate I'm good with it.  Maybe next year."

Danny looked at her.  "You're good enough."  She smiled at that.  He went back to watching the chasers practice.  "He's good," he said, pointing at one guy.  "Very good."  Don watched and nodded.  "Pro level good maybe."

"He is," Stella agreed. "Cute too."  Both guys grinned at her.  "Hey, I can look.  I'm single."

"True," Don agreed happily.  "Maybe there's still hope for you settling down some year."

"Gee, thanks, Don," she said dryly.  The woman with them laughed.  "I'm dating," she assured her.

"I made the mistake of marrying my high school sweetheart.  It sucks.  Date a lot and be very careful."  The coach blew his whistle and motioned Stella back, cutting half of the guys out there, including the good guy.

Danny leaned down to him.  "You looked good."

"Thank you," he said with a cocky smile.  "I practice daily anymore.  I made the team last year too."

"Good job."  He went back to watching the other chasers.  He winced at a stupid move Stella made.

The guy hissed.  "How long has it been since she played?"

"The local school missed her.  We're being privately tutored," Don said quietly.  "She's just learning how to fly."

"Then I'm impressed, guys.  Good job."  He watched her.  "Fly lower!" he bellowed. "Layers in the air!"  She switched tactics and got the quaffle, throwing it through the open hoop.  "Better," he decided.  The coach looked at him, giving him a glare.  "What?  She's just learning!"

"Bonasera!" the coach yelled. She flew down, hovering in front of him.  "You're one of the ones they missed?"  She nodded. "Who's tutoring you guys?"

"Alex Dumass and his family.  Ron and Dawnie gave me my first flying lessons about a month ago.  Why?  Am I messing up badly?"

"No, you've got promise," he offered.  "Go back to it."  She nodded and turned, zipping off to catch up, catching the quaffle when it was tossed to throw it overhand at the keeper, who had to duck since she aimed for his head.  It went through the hoop.  The coach looked back at Danny, who smirked and shrugged. "She plays like Tony."

"I saw him last weekend.  He's NCIS, DC now."

"Too bad they don't have a team down there."  He went back to watching, then turned around. "Speed?"

"Miami."

"Ah.  Under Caine?"  Danny smirked and nodded.  "Interesting.  If we had more people, I wouldn't mind starting an inter-PD season."  He went back to watching.  "Bonasera, you're greedy!  Pass!"  She passed and the other guy took the shot, missed, and the other guy dove and got it before it hit the ground, flying back up to toss it.  Stella growled and took it, making the goal.  He laughed.  Yup, she was trained by Danny.  "Selvo, get back in there, change out!"  The good guy got out there and pointed one of them out, pairing with Stella, letting the other guy be their third.  He saw the smirk and rolled his eyes.  "Just as much trouble as Speed and Tony too," he complained.  Danny laughed and nodded.  "Fine."  He traded out the third one for the other guy.  That one worked a bit better but not much.  He groaned and rubbed his face, calling someone.  "Where the hell are you?  We've got a good third and you're missing!"  He snorted. "I don't care!"  He hung up and pouted, glowering at the chasers. "Release a bludger.  Flack, Twitchet, you go out together."  They nodded and headed up to guard them.  "No offensive moves, Flack," he called.  He got a nod and Don played defensive instead.  She caught the bludger in the stomach and Danny zipped out there to help ease her down, talking quietly in her ear.  "Guess I've got a backup beater."  His other chaser came in and he pointed.  "Tag out the third."

"Her or him?"

"Him.  She's decent, just new."

"New?"

The coach looked at her. "They missed her.  That's Bonasera."

"I've heard of her."  She flew off, tapping the other chaser and sending him off with a pout.  "I believe in passing!" she yelled when Stella stole the quaffle, much to their third's amusement.  She flipped him off too.  "Bastard.  Bonasera?"  She threw it at her, letting her make the shot.  "We'll work to integrate you," she agreed after doing a few more passes with her.  They landed to talk about their brooms, Stella letting her see hers.  "That's nice."

"It is," their male counterpart admitted, watching the beaters.  Don and Danny were seamless and he smirked. "We need a new keeper," he said quietly.

"Magdaline is in Narco according to Danny, he said to tell Timmy to pass that on," Stella said.

The female chaser glared at their coach.  "Magdaline is playing?"

"She is?"

"I called her," Timmy offered.  "She said she's a new mother."

"And?" Danny called.  He hit the bludger back into the net and landed. "Phone."  It was handed over after it was dialed.  "Maggie, Danny Messer.  Get your ass on your damn broom and get your ass down here.  We need a keeper, if I'm playing beater I want the damn best and Speed's in Miami.  Now."  He hung up and handed it back, then went to do some more work with Don.  "Give us the other one or release that one."

"Take a break, kids," the coach called, sounding amused.  He shook his head.  "Messer, remember, you weren't the coach, you were the team's cheerleader.  Speed and Tony co- headed the team."

"Bite me.  One's in DC, the other's in Miami.  They're not here to run you over."

"Thankfully.  Tony took way too much pleasure knocking me off my broom."  He looked over as someone appeared, taking the baby she handed him.  "Hi.  You're small."  The baby smiled and farted.  "Gee, thanks, kid."  He watched as the mother floated up there, going to take Don's bat and hit Danny with it.  He ducked and pinned her from behind, kissing her on the neck.  "I think she's married, Messer."

"She's my ex, I can congratulate her for getting back on a broom."  He let her go with a grin. "That's Don Flack Jr.  The other female down there is Stella Bonasera, we work together."  He beamed at her.  "Go play keeper."

"Fine," she complained, whistling at the chasers.  "Get your lazy asses up here!"  She took up position and cracked her knuckles, catching the first one and tossing it out.  She blocked all but three shots, nodding at the good technique.  "You can be better.  We'll work on that."  She floated down, looking at the coach.  "Practice is when?"

"Every Wednesday, eight."  She nodded, taking the baby back, then apparating off while on her broom.  "She's still good," he said fondly, smirking at Danny.  "Thank you!"

"I'll be their alternate," the female beater candidate offered.

"Good.  You do what, Messer?"

"CSI, Homicide."

"Bonasera?"

"Same, level three."

"Flack?"

"Homicide.  I work with these nuts."  He grinned. "When do we get uniforms so I can send Aiden a picture."

"You know Aiden?" the coach asked.

"We worked with her, we were buddies," Danny said with a smirk.  "She's in Chicago teaching potions."

"Poor girl.  We'll do uniforms next practice, take pictures then."  That got nods.  He looked at the chasers.

"We're keeping Bonasera, the others can play alternate for days when we get called in."

"Agreed."  He clapped his hands.  "We've got a team.  The fire department and the Bronx team is history."  That got some smirks from his team. "Practice, Wednesday!  Eight, sharp.  You call me if you can't get here on time.  We practice here.  We play at the other spot."  That got a nod and they dismounted, gathering stuff.  Danny had to find his wand again but that was all right. "We have broom cabinets, Flack.  That way it doesn't get hit in your car."

"Please."  They followed, Danny putting both his brooms in there.  They were locked with spells that Don hadn't seen yet and that was good with him.  Danny came back and got his game broom, taking it with him at the last moment.  "You don't trust him?" Don asked quietly.

"I need to polish it."

"Is that a metaphor for masturbation?" Stella asked as she joined them.

"Well, yeah, but I still need to do it.  It's like waxing the car."  He smirked at her.  "The other stuff is all extra stuff for later."   He winked and put the broom in the back with him, letting her have the front seat.  "We need a shower."

"We do," Don agreed happily.  "That is one killer workout.  That and some jogging and I'll be set."

"Really," Stella agreed, lifting up her hair to wipe off the back of her neck.  "That's a great workout.  Too bad Mac's chicken."

"More like air sick," Danny offered.  "It makes him sick so he tilts and the broom goes out of control so he crashes."  She laughed.  "Seriously.  I've seen it before.  Tony got that for about six months until they fixed his ears over summer break."  He grinned at them.  "I've got to find the pictures I want to send and pop 'em down to 'em."

"I'm sure they'll like that," Don agreed, heading for Danny's house first.  He dropped him off. "See you in the morning!"  Danny waved and grinned, heading inside.  He looked at Stella.  "Off to play with your vibrators?"

"No, shower, long bath, dinner. I got the other chaser's phone number.  He's even single."  She smiled at him, letting him drop her off.  She kissed him on the cheek.  "Thanks, Flack."  She headed inside, happy with her day. She called Mac once she got in. "I made it.  So did they.  Practices are Wednesday at eight."  She beamed. "Thank you.  No, shower.  I stink and I'm sweaty.  Sure."  She hung up and went to take a faster shower than she wanted since he wanted to have dinner and go over that case.

***

Speed looked over as something thumped on his couch, leaning over to grab the small package.  He smiled at the address, flipping it over to open it.  He lifted out the few pictures, smiling at the content.  "Danny," he said happily.  He called Tony.  "It's me. Danny found our old pictures.  Yeah, I just got three sent to me.  Well, my couch but I don't have a desk at work."  He beamed.  "Junior, Senior, and post-grad."  He beamed.  "Sure, whenever you get a few days off.  I'm bored as hell at the moment while they work out if I can come back or not.  I have no idea.  I was thinking memory charms really."  He chuckled.  "Sure.  Later.  Come down anytime, Tony.  Be careful too. You get hurt more than I do."  He hung up and got up to put the pictures on his shelf.  Then he went back to the couch, sitting so he could watch them move.

***

Tony walked into his office the next morning, finding a plain brown package on his desk.  He smiled when he saw the return address, opening it.  They were frozen pictures, but still wizarding instead of muggle photos.   He put them on his desk, out of the way but where he could see them.

His boss came over to look.  "Cleaning crew?" he asked dryly with a smirk.

"No, school play."  He looked at him.  "The one time I did it."

"Interesting."  He looked at them again then back at Tony.  "Was that like that one with the trash can lids I got drug to?"

"Stomp?  No, not really."  He grinned and leaned back.  "A friend who works in New York sent them down, Gibbs."  He nodded at Ziva as she came in, then looked at his boss.  "Boss, I'm having an ethical quandary."

"About?"

"If I do something that'll piss everyone I know off but it's for a selfless and good reason, even though it bends the accepted order, is it wrong?"

"Huh?"

"Never mind."  He shook his head. "I'll figure it out."

"No, give it slower."  He moved closer, sitting on the edge of his desk.  "I've noticed you've been preoccupied since you got back from that convention.  Your friend there?"

"Yeah, both of 'em."  He swallowed.  "An idea came up and it'd be totally wrong and against everything that you probably believe in, but it'd be for a selfless reason and it'd make some people very happy.  Is it still wrong?" he asked quietly.

"You don't have the easy problems do you?"  He stood up and looked at him.  "Wrong is wrong.  If it's a bad thing, even for a good reason, it's a bad thing."

"Thanks, boss.  I needed someone to talk me out of doing it."

"What?"

"I can't."

"Can't or won't?"

"Can't," he assured him.  "I can't."  That got a nod.  "Thank you."

"Welcome.  Glad I could help.  Report?"  It was printed off and handed over.  "Thank you."  He went to his desk. "So, who are they?"

"Guys from my school days."

"They went to Ohio State?"

"No, school before then.  I did attend high school, Gibbs."  He smirked and got back to work.  He glanced at the pictures now and then, remembering the better days.  He looked at his coworkers as they came over to snoop.  "From a play in high school."

"You did it to meet girls?" Ziva asked.

"No, I did it because they were my best friends.  Ever."  He shifted in his seat and McGee moved out of his way.

"I know that dark haired one from somewhere," he said.

"He works in Miami."

"Oh."  He nodded and went back to his desk.

Ziva looked at them, then at him.  "Quidditch?" she asked quietly.  He nodded.  "Interesting.  I know someone who went, I worked with them.   You stay in practice?"  He shook his head. "Pity, it could be useful."

"Only if I were like some that were recently stopped, Ziva," he said coolly. She nodded and went back to her desk.  "Let's not have that conversation, all right?"  She nodded, looking calm, cool, and collected, like always.  "Thank you."

"You've seen that play?" Gibbs asked.

"I have," she agreed.  "I once worked with someone who acted in it."  She smiled at it.  "It was amusing."

"It on tape?"

"Nope," Tony said before she could say anything.  "Especially not me in it, boss."  His boss shrugged and got back to work.  He glared at Ziva, who shrugged slightly and got to work on her own reports.  He sent up a silent prayer that he wouldn't have to try to obliviate Gibbs.  He didn't think it'd work on him.

***

Danny wandered into work the next morning, looking like hell warmed over.  Mac stared at him.  "What?" he asked, sounding cranky to his own ears.

"No sleep?"

"Problematic calls all night.  Lindsey called up to talk about the accident. I told her about the car crash."  He handed over the notes he had made. "She called at two."  He stomped off to get his jacket and head to the lab.  Sheldon gave him a long look.  "Long talk with Lindsey, Doc."

"How is she liking Florida?"

"She said it's nice and hot, plus the sun gets in the way of everything."  He went into the lab, looking at the tech in there.  "Yes, I'm going to growl and snap.  Give me something ta do."  A whole stack of stuff was handed over.  "Thank you."

Mac came in a few minutes later.  "Do you have an open case?"

"Do you really want me to deal with the citizens of New York today?" he countered sharply.

"No. Good work, Danny.  Give us all reports when you're done."  He hurried off.  Danny sometimes took these moods and it was best just to let him go.  He ran into Stella.  "Did Lindsey call you?"

"No.  Who did she call?"

"Danny."  He handed over the notes. "Make sure those get to Don too."  He smiled at her. "Danny's having one of *those* days."

"Good to know.  He in Trace?"  Mac nodded quickly, glancing back that way.  "I'll spread around the warning."  She walked off, going to warn everyone to leave Danny alone for a while.  Fortunately the techs were already ahead of her, Don and Sheldon were talking about their latest case so the notes were given over and copied fairly easily, and she got to go on her first call of the day.

Back in the lab, Danny answered his phone.  "Messer."  He listened to the foul voice on the other side for a moment, then looked at it and laughed, hanging up.  "Up yours."  He got back to work, not letting it get to him.  He had already warned the coach that Sonny wanted his ass dead.  He'd tell Mac later that he had called.  Sheldon leaned in.  "Your stuff is next," he said before he could ask.  "I'm doing Mac's first since it was on top."

"Okay, page me.  I'm heading out on a call."

"Done."

"Thanks, Danny."  He headed out.  He knew what the temper brewing was going to come to.  "Danny was just muttering at his phone," he said when he passed by Mac.

Mac groaned.  It was worse than he thought.  He headed for Trace.  "Danny, Sheldon said you were going to throw your phone?"

"Sonny's not worth the price of a new phone."  He tossed it back, letting him catch it.  He checked the number while Danny worked.  "Yours," he said, printing off something, getting to work on Sheldon's case.

"Thank you."  He wrote down the number and put the phone beside him.  It rang again, coming up the same number. "Want me to get it?"

"Sure.  You cuss the stupid fucker out."

Mac flipped open the phone.  "Messer's phone."  He listened then snorted. "That's very amusing, Mr. Sassone.  He's said he's not really caring at the moment however.  No, this is Danny's boss.  If you remember, I arrested you."  He laughed at the new threat.  "Thank you for that.  I'll be seeing you soon."  He hung up on the laughter. "He just threatened to shoot me.  How very nice of him."  He walked off humming, going to report that to someone who could arrest him.  Some of the officers kept track of those guys so they were easier to pick up.  He went to prepare himself for a new confrontation with Sonny.

Danny smiled, his whole mood perking up.  Mac was happy threatening someone, it was a good day again.  He got done with his stack and went to sign in for street and scene work.  No sense in making someone cover for him or staying around when Sonny got brought in.

***

Don tapped on Danny's door, getting the man himself. "Pizza?" he asked, holding it up.

"I could eat."  He let him into the apartment, taking the pizza to where the tv was now.  He sat down with a sigh of relief.  "Practice tomorrow."

"Yeah, looking forward to it."   He sat down beside him. "You wanna talk about some of this stuff?"  Danny shook his head.  "You sure?  You've had some extreme mood swings recently.  I heard the ballistics tech saying you had PMS."

"I'm fine."

Don patted him on the shoulder.  "You're not. You're being a girl."  Danny glared at him.  "Hey, just saying," he said quickly.  "You're having some wild mood swings, even just today.  Was it Speed?  Seeing Speed and Tony again?  Rejoining your old life?  Bad memories?  If you tell me, I can let you talk it out like I'm just a wall."

"I'm fine."

"You're not fine.  You haven't been fine for a few days.  So what's wrong?  Was it the kids in the park?  Calling back your old life or what?"

Danny shook his head, then took off his shirt.  "Do you see the tattoo?"

"No, I don't."  He ran a hand over a scar.  "That's not even in the right spot."

"No, it's not."  He pulled away and put his shirt back on.  "I'm fine."

"You lie for shit, Messer."  He shifted a bit closer.  "Talk to me."

"It's just stress and old memories.  Speed, Tony, and I used to be the hottest of the hot things in school.  I'm old now.  I don't have the girls falling over their tongues to get mine.  I don't have the future I thought I'd have.  Even if I wanted it I can't play pro now.  It's not the life I imagined before I fell.  It's this defining moment in my life, ya know?"

"Yeah, I've had one of those myself.  Mostly about a girl in my life dying."  Danny nodded, understanding that.  "You still get hot chicks out the ass.  They do still watch you, Danny."

Danny shrugged.  "It's not the same, Don.  Back then, Tony was still in tight with his family.  He ended up giving that up.  Speed wasn't quite the brood master he is now.  Still sarcastic but he was *fun* back then if you agreed with his version of fun.  If not, he often made you his fun," he admitted.  "Usually with me at his back.  Now it's not the same.  Those two knew every tiny thing about me.  We were bastards," he said fondly, looking at a nearby picture, then at his new buddy.  "It's still not the same."

"Of course not, even if they were here it might not be the same really.  They've missed stuff."

"Yeah, but they heard about it.  When Speed died, it was like the world ended there for a bit," he offered quietly, looking at Don again.  "Then suddenly Tony's grieving for a teammate and I see him for the first time in years to cry on my shoulder.  I couldn't help him then.  I did later because he needed me to.  All I could do was hold on and let him cry on me."

"That's what friends do," Don agreed easily.

"Yeah, but now he's troubled with the choice to do that to Kate or not.  I can't help him.  It's starting all over again.  Everything's turning to hell, just like it did after I fell."

"Why?"

"Right after I fell, Tony talked to his dad and got kicked out.  Speed left the city a few years later because of some shit in his life that he wouldn't come to us about.  It's like shit was spreading us apart on purpose."

"Could it have been someone doing that?" Don asked quietly.

Danny shrugged.  "I don't know.  I couldn't find any evidence that my fall had anything ta do with anything.  Tony chose a bad moment I guess.  His old man got pissed that he didn't want to be a businessman like him and other things.  Speed went on to college here in the city and then shit started in his life, but he refused ta tell us," he admitted, shifting some so he could curl up more. "Things just went to hell."

"It happens to the best of us," Don agreed.  "College changes things for everyone.  People who were tight get looser, and kids you thought you knew turn into assholes with the addition of too many girls and too much beer."  Danny shook his head. "No?"

"No. We were still the same guys.  It's just like something put a pry bar between us and shoved.  It feels wrong."

"Then work to get closer, Danny.  You can pop around at will, right?  No one said you can't pop down to Miami or DC for a weekend."  He gave his head a shove.  "Not on game weekends, but nothing says you can't do that."

"Tony said he's working alone, magically, in his office," he said dryly.

"So don't show up in his office.  Call first, pop down for dinner and drinks, then come home.  It's only DC.  It's not like it'll take as much time as it did for me to get back from Scotland."

"Point," he admitted.  "Yeah, maybe I will.  Speed was moping around last I knew. Tony's struggling with the thing with Kate."  He picked up the phone to call him.  "Tony, me.  You wanna get together soon for dinner?  Mine, yours, don't matter."  He grinned. "Sure, we can invite Scruffy down there too.  He's moping."  He beamed.  "No, I just got a kick in the ass from Flack.  Yeah.  He pointed out popping around was doable."  He grinned. "Just think, neither of us kept in rigid practice.  Speed is in more practice than we are, man."  He chuckled.  "Definitely.  No, but Don's here with pizza.  Don, you mind if he pops up?"

"Fine with me.  I don't mind meeting your old friends.  It'll make me understand you better when you turn into a girl."

Danny listened.  "No, not literally!  They thought I had PMS today."  He smirked.  "Yeah, one of those.  Oh, Sonny called, twice."  He moved the phone away from his ear at the yelling.  "I know.  I let Mac talk ta him the second time so he could threaten him. Yeah, I'm home.  Call Scruffy so you guys can get scared that I'm working with Flack."  He hung up and looked at him.  "Thanks."

"Welcome."  He gave him another head shove, looking over at the popping noise.

"No, see, I've learned the secret of that move, it's a slap, not a shove."  He smacked Danny upside the head.  "Where might Sonny be?"

"Being fucked up the ass in prison?" he offered dryly.  "Tony, this is Don Flack.  Don, this is Tony 'I am a slut' DiNozzo.  He brought pizza, Tony."

"From the good place?"

"They closed a few years back," he offered, moving the box.  "Come sit."  Tony hopped over and sat between them, giving Danny a hug.  "Thanks."

"Welcome. Speed had Eric whining at his heels about magic again so he's going to be later."  A pop belied his words.  "Send him home pouting?"

"No, he's pouting on my couch.  I told him I was coming up to visit Danny."  Speed grinned at them.  "Hi, Don."

"Hey, Speed.  They ever put you back to work?"

"I start in two weeks, unless Horatio bothers someone to death," he complained, coming over to sit down on Danny's other side.  "So what's going on?"

"Danny and I made beater on the PD inter-borough team," Don said proudly.  "Stella got third chaser."

"Congrats."  Speed looked at him.  "I'm coming for at least one game."

"Of course you are."  He gave him a hug. "I missed you guys."

"Yeah, well, watching from heaven wasn't that cool.  No motorcycles, no thrill rides.  Just calm, peaceful shit that annoyed me."  Tony glared at him. "What?"

"He, um, lost a teammate recently," Danny said gently.

Speed nodded. "Yeah, I met her.  For some reason, she read more than I did."

"Kate?" he asked, looking confused.

"Oh, no, sorry, Becky.  Kate....."

"Todd?  Caitlyn technically but only Ducky ever called her that.  Former Secret Service person?"

"They had their own meadow to hang in, sorry, Tony."

"S'okay."  He reached over to pinch him.  "Bastard."

"Thanks."  He grinned sweetly.  "So, Flack, I unfondly remember your sister.  She used to bug the hell out of us and give us puppy eyed looks begging for attention."

"Yeah, she said you guys picked on her."

"Couldn't really help it.  The girl was a horrible flirt," Tony complained.

Don nodded. "Yeah, that's why she's married and I'm not.  Oh, Danny, Ma yelled for over four hours at dinner. I ended up walking out when she repeated."  Danny groaned.  "But that's okay.  Dad yelled back a few times so I'm happy enough at the moment."  He reached over Tony to pinch him. "Are we practicing besides team practices?"

"Oooh, no, not while you're still learning stuff."  He looked at his buddies. "The school said he was powerless.  He's a natural curse breaker and they said he was powerless. Dumass took him in and they said he wasn't a wizard."

Tony burst out in giggles, leaning on Don's shoulder.  "Oh, man.  Prestons test you?  Old guy, white goatee?"  Don nodded.  "He was such a damn flake.  Scared of fairies."  He sat up, looking at Speed.  "Remember the pixie lessons?"

"Unfortunately yes.  I also remember cleaning the defense classroom for a month for releasing the pixies on him."  Don snickered at that.  "Anything you could get up to in a muggle classroom, we got into worse," he assured him.

"Stripping charm our fifth year," Danny remembered fondly.

"And our sixth year," Tony agreed with a sigh of pleasure.  His phone buzzed and he groaned. "No, not another case."  He pulled it out.  "DiNozzo," he said without hint of a whine.  "No, boss, I'm with my buddy.  Sure.  Be right there.  Yes, I know, I ran for a change.  Be right there.  Go ahead inside."  He hung up and stood up.  "Laters, Danny.  I'm on this weekend.  You?"

"This and next.  Game the weekend after that."

"Cool.  See you then.  Speed, pop down later."  He winked at Don. "You, take better care of Danny.  He's stubborn and sometimes does dumb stuff."  He disappeared.

"Dumb stuff?  You?" Speed taunted with a smirk.  "Why ever would you do dumb stuff, Danny?"

"Would that be like letting Mac be threatened by Sonny the second time he called today?  Or would that be him hanging up on him the first time?" Don asked.

Speed smacked Danny upside the head. "I thought we agreed the next time he saw you I'd be killing him."

"Yeah, well, you weren't here when he outed our past dalliance to Mac," he said bitterly, glaring at him. "Got me in no end of shit with Taylor, Speed.  Told him I was a Tanglewood boy."  Speed moaned.  "Yeah.  After that I had ta shoot someone so I got taken off the promotion grid. You nearly got a new CSI on your shift."  He swallowed. "I came so close to calling and saying I was coming down.  To get me an application and start working on the personal parts."  Speed hugged him. "Thanks."

"If it was that bad, you should've come."  He looked at Don.  "It's fixed, right?"

"Mostly.  Some guys still don't like him greatly since it was a dirty cop."  Speed hissed and Don nodded. "Mostly it's okay again.  Just now and then something pops back up."  He punched Danny on the arm. "I thought this was supposed to cheer you up, not upset you more."

"Sometimes you've got to vent," Speed offered, shrugging a bit.  "We let Danny vent and then cuddle him until he's normal and demands that we pick up pretty girls to sleep with."

"Been a while for that," Danny sighed.

"Yeah, me too.  Even before I died."  He looked at him. "Was there a curse on the school?"

"According to the kids in the park, any good quidditch player who wanted to turn pro got hurt," Don offered.

"You're a curse breaker, can you look at it?"

"I'm still training but I can whine to Alex."

"Please, man. I'll sleep with him."

"No you won't, he's got a very possessive consort veela that no one can even look at funny."

"Who?" Speed asked.

"Draco Malfoy."  Speed gaped.  "Yeah, Alex got him in a reparation thing that he had against Lucius and Draco's reformed.  You never call him a Malfoy.  He's still a princess now and then, but he's not a Malfoy.  Now he's a Dumass princess and consort to the prince of the family."  That got an amused look.  "Alex straightened the kid out.  He's pretty decent now.  Didn't even say the 'm' word about me or Stella."

"Stella said someone tanned his ass over it," Danny offered. "Probably the scary aunts who kept coming in to feed us."

Speed looked at him. "You went with them?"

"Of course. I needed the refresher.  Tony and I are both out of practice, Speed."

"Damn.  You wouldn't think I'd be the one to stay in practice."  Danny nodded.  "Are you refreshing okay?"

"Pretty good.  I put stuff in a pensieve and retrieved it recently.  Oh, the Vinese had a fit on my father."

"Good!  Someone needed to beat his ass repeatedly."  He gave him another squeeze, looking at Don.  "You don't cuddle him?"

"I like girls and he'd kick my ass if I tried."

"Cuddles have nothing to do with sex," Speed assured him, hauling him closer so they could cuddle him.  "See?"  Don wiggled free so he grinned.  "You lasted longer than Calleigh did.  I'm impressed."

"She normal again?"

"Yeah, they all decided I had to come back, one way or another, because the team was going to hell and their personal lives were in a shambles, so therefore I could fix that for them.  Apparently I gave them something to fuss over and it was good enough."  Don nodded, understanding that. "How's your lab?"

"We're looking for a replacement for Lindsey."

Speed made Danny look at him.  "You worked with her?"

"I was nearly stalked by her."

"Eww.  I'm sorry."  The phone rang and Don got it.

"Messer's house."  He listened and handed the phone to them.  "Sounds like a panicking Tony."

"What happened?" Speed demanded calmly.  "What do you mean he found your wand?  Excuse it as being a Harry Potter fan, Tony!"  He rolled his eyes.  "Then put the big grump on."  He heard a growl. "Listen, Gibbs, you've got nothing on Alexx Woods, so just quit, okay.  He's a Harry Potter fan in the closet.  Just let it go."  He hung up and looked at Danny.  "I'll be back in an hour after we deal with that."  He stole a quick kiss, getting a grin, then he disappeared from right there.

"So, you like boys?" Don asked a few minutes later.

"I like girls, but sometimes guys are nice if they understand.  Boarding school was like that.  We couldn't get into the girls' rooms and being with a boy was preferable since the girl would be expelled if she got knocked up."

"Wow.  That's tougher than most Catholic schools."  Danny nodded.  Don relaxed again.  "You three?"

"Shared a room for six years, Don.  One night I played connect the dots on Tony's back zits. Came out looking like a Picasso."  That got a snort. "Seriously.  After that, we all took the cure because Tony drenched me in purple paint that stuck to anywhere I had hair.  I looked like one of those tellytubby things without the antenna."   Don snickered at that, shaking his head. "We were hard on everyone around us but between us it was a game.  I used ta torment Speed all the time by hiding his classwork on him.  Then we copied off it and it suddenly appeared when he started to do it over, most of the time.  Now and then it showed up just as he got done with the second round, and a few times the fifth round was when they all showed up.  He criscoed our brooms and told all the girls in the house that Tony liked house elves, but that was good with us.  I did everything with those guys."  His phone rang and he sighed, picking it up.  "Messer?"  He listened.  "Are you scared of the growling, stubborn Marine?  Sure, I deal with one of those daily."  He hung up and stood up.  "We'll be back in an hour.  Turn on the game and save us at least two slices each."  He disappeared, landing in Tony's apartment a few minutes later.  "Guys, he can't be worse than Mac," he complained.

"Who are you?" Gibbs demanded, glaring at him.

"Messer, NYPD."  He glared back, earning a smirk.  "I deal with a stick-up-the-ass Marine every day, Gibbs.  You got nothing on Taylor when he's cranky."  That got another amused look.  "Seriously."

"I know Mac Taylor.  I'll tell him you said that."

"Go right ahead, I've said it to his face before and called him a fucking princess."  Tony gaped so he shrugged. "What? He was a Marine, yay.  Doesn't scare me.  Hell, I've seen Stella with PMS and no chocolate and no midol.  Nothing's scarier than that."  Tony let out a small chuckle.  "You'd like Stella, Tony.  She's a smartass.  When I first met her, I thought we had changed Speed into a girl again."  Speed giggled at that, collapsing onto the couch.  "You didn't think so?"

"I do," he gasped. "I can see how you thought that.  Oh, Gods, I'll have to tell Horatio that.  He thinks I'm a stiff guy."  He wiped his face off, looking at Gibbs. "If you know Taylor, do you know what he did in the Marines?"

"Yeah, and I married one of you by accident once.  Is it natural to come with drama queen tendencies?"

"Was that the one Fornell married too, boss?" Tony asked dryly.  Gibbs nodded.  "Oops.  Does he know?"

"No she took that memory from him."

"Don't worry, we'll be doing the same for you," Danny agreed with a grin.

"Fat chance, kid."

"Bet me," Speed agreed.  "Tony's got to have a happy life.  We want Tony to have a happy life and have many little DiNozzo babies that we can torment and corrupt."

"I'll turn his babies into suits," Danny said proudly.

"You do that and my father would pay you," Tony said dryly.

"Why?  The Vinese took my whole damn clan home ta kick their asses and left me the assets."

"Oooh!" Tony squealed, hugging him. "I'm so proud!"

"Me too."  He beamed happily at Speed. "I'm selling the monstrosity I grew up in."  Speed came over to hug him too.  "Thanks, guys.  I miss you."

"Maybe I'll transfer to the New York office," Tony offered quietly.

"You move from your desk and I'll kick your ass, DiNozzo," Gibbs warned.  Tony shot him a glare.  "I don't care if you're doing Barney and the Teleflubbies or whatever they are. You're staying."  He looked at Speed. "I saw the news about you.  How did you come back?"

"Really hard spell that could've provided an end to the world."

"That's what I wanted talked out of, boss," Tony said quietly.

Gibbs took a deep breath, then nodded.  "She'd kick both our asses if we tried it, DiNozzo.  Especially if it hurt others."  Tony nodded, relaxing again.  "Good call to bring it to me."  He punched him on the arm. "We will be talking."

"Tonight, boss?  I was catching up with my crew."  He pouted.  "Please?"

"Fine.  Go.  We'll talk all day tomorrow.  You can come help me work on the boat."

"Yes, boss. Thanks."  They disappeared, still in their huddle.

Gibbs moaned and rubbed a hand over his face. "How did I get sucked back into that world again?" he complained, heading for home.  He needed a drink.  Badly.  Before the flashbacks to the fights he had with his witch of a wife started again.

***

Danny walked into work the next morning smiling and happy, beaming at Stella.

"Who dressed you?" she asked, looking at the fairly tight jeans and button-up shirt.  "Speed?"  He beamed and nodded. "Why?"

"I missed my crew."  He headed for the locker room to grab his stuff for the day, going to put himself on for scenes.

Mac coughed from behind him. "Danny, how do you know Jethro Gibbs?"

"He's Tony's boss and he thought he was scarier than you on a princess day," he snorted, smirking at him.

"I do not have princess days, Danny."

"Yes, you do," Stella called as she walked in the other direction. "Please have one today during the budget meeting."  Mac glared after her, she could feel it.  Well, at least Danny was happier.

Mac glared at Danny again.  "Do you think that's appropriate to wear to a scene?"

"At least it doesn't take dry cleaning and Speed gets away with it," he offered with a cute grin.

"I'm not Horatio."

"No, you don't have red hair," Don agreed from behind them.  "Didn't Speed and Tony do a nice job on him, Mac?  Nice, relaxed, happy Danny is nice to see again, right?"

"It is, but he's still not dressed...."

"Mac, say one more word and I'm going home since you called me in on my last day off."

"Sorry.  Fine.  Try to stay away from the general public today, all right?" he ground out, heading to his office.

Danny glanced around then pulled his wand, giving Mac a very nice kitten tail.  Then he headed off to the first scene of the day while Don snickered and went to hide.

"Um, Mac?" Sheldon called a minute later.  "Are you having a wardrobe problem?"  Mac looked down at himself, then his backside, groaning and muttering to clear it up, even though his wand was still in his desk.  Sheldon handed him his jacket.  "I'd hold it," he suggested, getting out of the way.  He knew a Princess Mac day when he saw one.  He was even nice enough to warn the other techs.

Mac got to his office and found his wand, removing the tail.  Then he sat down to call Miami.  "Can I trade Speed for Danny?  Just for a few weeks?"  He groaned.  "Did you get a cat tail too?  Alligator?  Why?"  He nodded once at the brusk 'it's native' explanation.  "Apparently Speed, Tony, who works at NCIS, and Danny all got together last night to cheer each other up."

"I was there and it was hilarious," Don called.  "I'm not telling though."

"Apparently Don joined in too," he added for good measure, still regretting this assignment.  "If you won't take Danny, can you just send Speed up and I'll move down there?  You're sane at least."  He smiled at that. "Sure.  We'll send the three playboys down to your end of the world so they can stare at bikinis all day."  Horatio's smart remark about Eric made him smile.  "Are you sure?  Thank you, Horatio."  He hung up and put his head down.  Maybe they could arrange it so Horatio came up for a month or so while Danny went down there.  Maybe he'd take Flack with him too.  As long as it wasn't during the quidditch season.  He had been ordered from on high that both of them were to be available and ready for practices and games, no matter what case came up.

***

Speed walked into work, smiling and happy.  Horatio gave him an odd look since he had just been out on a gruesome case.  "Find the killer?"

"No, but I found something very interesting.  She's smuggling pearls."  He smirked at him.  "Used them like a sex string to get them past customs.  They were too small and too long to be anything else."

Horatio nodded once.  "If I asked, would you and Danny like a month together while Mac and I hide in the other city far away from you two?"

"It'd have to be after the playing season, Danny could use a tan so it'd have to be down here, and we'd have to bring Tony too.  But sure, have fun on that vacation in New York when you arrange it. Danny might even let you stay at his place.  He's fixed it up very nicely."  He saw the thorn in his side coming closer.  "Ah, Rick Stetler," he said dryly, smirking at him.  "Did you need something this fine, beautiful day?"

"How did you survive?" he snarled.

"The Grace of God and some very good friends.  Fortunately they love me enough to save my tired ass from things that make me want to hurl."  He gave him a pointed look and then his phone rang.  "Speedle," he answered, smiling.  "Hi, Tony.  Why?"  He listened and smirked. "Killer.  He'll be stoked for that.  Thanks."  He hung up. "Horatio, you have your wish.  Tony's team at NCIS just caught a *major* drugs, guns, sex, and assassination ring that briefly got one of their officers.  It'll be all of us and Vegas, plus some work in Chicago."

Horatio nodded.  "That's fine.  We'll be briefed when?"

"When Tony gets here tomorrow.  Well, tonight, but he'll be briefing us tomorrow while Gibbs goes to New York to do Taylor since he knows him."  He smirked as the implication sunk in.  "Not quite, he married into the family as it were."  He walked off whistling, happy to have ruined another of Stetler's moments and given Horatio a reason to swear yet again.

"How do you put up with him?" Stetler ground out.

"I like him being happy, Rick.  It makes the day go faster."  Anything that annoyed the Internal Affairs asshole who vexed him was a good thing in his book, even if he had to suffer.

"Horatio, he's scaring me, he's smiled at me and he's whistling!" Calleigh called.  "Make Speed normal again!"

"He spent some time with his friends last night," he called back, shaking his head.  "Sorry, I have to deal with that."  He went to calm Calleigh down before she panicked.  No one was used to Speed not being grumpy all the time. He got there just in time to hear Speed suggest Eric help him pick up women and watch him change him into a dog.  "Change him back," he ordered firmly.  "Now."  Speed sighed and changed him back.  "With permission, off the clock, and no picking up women during your lunch break either."

Eric pouted at him.  "I can't?"

"No!"  Eric stomped off pouting.  He glared at Speed. "What got into you?"

"This is the guy I was when I migrated," he offered sheepishly. "I'm channeling Tony.  Sorry, boss."

"I should smack you like he gets.  Behave, Speed."

"Yes, sir."  Horatio stomped off and he let out another wicked smirk.  "For now."  He went back to work, enjoying the hell out of himself.  It wasn't truly love unless your friends accepted your odd moods too.  He wondered how Danny was doing in his 'fuck me' clothes.  He put in his ear bud and called Tony.  "My man!  Are you channeling Danny today?"  He grinned at the implications of his 'yes' sounding pouty.  "What?  No pretty women?"  He beamed. "No, I'm channeling you so Danny must be going for brooding and steaming sexuality today at work.  What did you dress him in?" He listened to the description and beamed. "Nice choice. That did make him look hot.  Maybe he'll get some play at work."  He beamed. "I am too.  Tell Gibbs I blew him a kiss, man, and that we're ready for the briefing anytime today."  He hung up and grinned since Horatio had come back.  "Danny said something last night."

"Is it going to send me for my bottle of tylenol or just a bottle?"

"It made me giggle like the time I accidentally took 'shrooms."  Horatio put his hands on his hips and stared at him, head cocked slightly to the right.  "Danny thought, when he first met Stella, that it was me and that I had been turned into a girl."

Horatio cracked a smile at that. "I can see how he came to that conclusion."  He stared him down.  "Are you done playing?"

"No. I'm channeling Tony. Danny's channeling me on a happy day, and Tony's channeling Danny today. Apparently if we were girls we'd have synched cycles long ago with how close we are."

Horatio stepped closer. "Remember, should you cause me that much stress, I can do to you what you did to Eric.  Or worse," he said quietly. "Since I'm not in full practice, you'd probably get stuck that way.  Are we understood?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good.  Play more nicely and more quietly.  I won't make you quit playing totally just quit picking on Eric and Calleigh. Or me.  Be more subtle.  You're usually smarter than this, Speed."

"Sorry, I'm having a goofy Tony day."

"I understand that," he agreed quietly.  "Just tone it down.  Do it during lunch.  You've already made Calleigh cry when she caught you turning Eric into a basset hound."  That got a nod. "Thank you.  You and Tony can pick up all the women you want tonight.  Just be safe, be careful, and wear this urge out with them."

"With Tony?  It wouldn't be the first time."

Horatio moaned.  "Not what I needed to see when I take something for my headache, Speed," he offered quietly. "I remember my own days in school very well."  He patted him on the arm, looking at him. "Understand?  Can we agree on this?"

"Yes, Horatio.  I'm sorry I scared Calleigh."

"Thank you."  He walked off to tell Calleigh he was sorry then went to take some tylenol for his headache.  He didn't mind playful moods, just not in the lab.

***

Gibbs walked into the CSI lab, flashing his badge.  "Special Agent Gibbs for Mac Taylor."  The receptionist paged him immediately.  He sat down to wait, figuring he was a busy guy.  He came down a few minutes later.  "Paperwork day?"

"Second day of budget meetings.  Thank you for saving my sanity, Special Agent Gibbs.  This way."  He led him to his office, closing the door.  "Please let Danny, Speed, and Tony be together for a bit, Jethro," he begged.

"Tony's in Miami."

"They have practice on Wednesdays," Mac offered.

"I doubt we can get this solved that quickly, Mac."  He looked him over.  "Have you been okay?  It's been a while since we talked."

"Decent, but I still miss Claire."

"I'm sorry.  You can have one of my ex's."

"It wouldn't be the same.  Your exes couldn't burn jello salad."  That got a small smile.  "So who do I owe the pleasure of this visit to?"

"Our director said we're to work with the locals on this case. We've found connections to Chicago, you guys, and Miami."  He handed over the folder he had been carrying.  "We need to correlate any deaths related to this group first and then work on it."

"I can lend you Danny," he offered.

"Isn't he one of your lead CSI?"

"Level two," he admitted quietly.

"Is he bad?"

"No, but his past came back to haunt him and then he got into a shootout with a dirty cop."

"Ah.  Those things happen and usually impede forward momentum for a career."  He sat down across from him.  "Still, he's valuable in the field I bet.  I could use someone who was fast but not terminally new."

"We have an ME who just traded into the field."

"Why?"

"He wanted to see the whole thing instead of just a body. He's in the same position you are with Danny and stuff.  His sister is one of us."

"That's fine.  How new is he?"

"He's got good instincts and he's pure scientist. I like Sheldon.  He'll go far," he admitted. "I can also let you have Stella or Danny when they're not busy."  He looked in the folder, nodding a bit. "I know we've seen a few just like this," he offered, looking at him.  "We can start with a case search by MO and suspect's name."

"That would go faster.  Usually I have McGee do it."

"Can I switch him and Danny?"

"Hell no. He's the only one who can fix my PDA.  Plus, Abby likes him."

"You kept Abby?"

"She's our forensics lab."

"Wow. She and Danny might get along."

"I won't let Abby date a wizard, Mac.  She's already goth."  That got a small shudder. "I like the girl but sometimes she's got bad taste in men."  He shifted and crossed his feet at the ankle.  "Once we get things moving, we should be able to pop around back and forth to deal with this.  I'll try to keep Ziva out of this office." Mac gave him a look.  "She's Mossad in on special assignment.  I got assigned to teach her."

"Thank you.  The last Mossad agent I ran into, I ended up shooting in the ass."  He paged Sheldon then got back to briefing himself.  Sheldon tapped and walked in a few minutes later.  "Sheldon Hawkes, Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs, NCIS.  We've got a case that crosses over with them and Miami.  Pull all the related cases and start from there, Sheldon," he ordered, handing over the file.

"Sure.  Can we take over a lab?"  Mac nodded.  "Okay.  This way, Special Agent Gibbs."

"Just Gibbs is fine," he offered, nodding at Mac before getting up and following him out.

"NCIS.  Does Ducky work with you?"

"I thought Ducky's reach was limited to DC," he said dryly.  "Should've figured.  I do.  He's our team's ME.  I'll be calling him later if you wanted a minute to chat."

"No, just tell him I said hello and to be well please."  He opened a lab door and flipped on the lights.  "We haven't used this one today.  We can work in here."  He got them into the computer system and sat down, looking at the specifics. "Hmm, I remember doing an autopsy like that one."  He typed in the method of killing and pulled up the related files.

***

Tony strolled into Miami's office with a bright smile for all the beautiful women.  He pulled his badge for the receptionist.  "I need to brief Lieutenant Caine on a case?" he ordered quietly.

"Who can I say is here, sir?"

"Special Agent DiNozzo."  She nodded and paged him with that information.  A small blonde woman came over and he looked at her.  "The last time I saw Horatio, he was larger and a redhead."

"He's in the field," she offered, smiling at him.   "He said you can start with me and Speed in his office."  She looked at the receptionist.  "It's about a case."  A badge was handed over.  "Thank you."  She led him back to Horatio's office, smiling at Speed since he was behind the desk.  "What sort of case, Special Agent DiNozzo?"

"First, it's Tony, and it's a sex, drugs, and assassination ring," he offered, handing over the folders.  "It crosses into a few cities. We're hoping we can keep it on this coast.  Las Vegas and Chicago all have bad enough times keeping down the crimes going on. We'll pull them in if we think one's active out there but we sent an agent to brief them.  Actually, Abby volunteered to go to Vegas but Gibbs said no."

"Wonder why?" Speed noted dryly with a smirk.  "She was cute."

"She's very sweet," Tony agreed with a grin.  "When someone framed me for murder, she worked day and night to get me free."  Speed smiled at that.  He noticed Calleigh looking at him funny.  "Our, well her, assistant hated me because I got him fired for screwing stuff up at another lab so he planted enough forensic evidence for a slamdunk case, but Abby found the stuff that had been kept around it, like lab preservatives.  She ended up duct taping him in the lab."

"She sounds like she's quite the girl," Calleigh agreed, going back to the folder.  She finally handed it to Speed.  "Where did you want to start?"

"Pulling up all related cases?" Speed suggested. "Lets see if we can provide a pattern. Then we'll talk with the other cities once they've got theirs up."  He looked at her.  "You want or me?"

"You can have Ryan, he's skulking around right now."  Speed raised an eyebrow.  "I know what Eric told you but he's not a bad guy."

"Eric never said he was.  He called him a drama queen when he first got here but that he had settled down some.  Come in, Ryan."  He stuck his head in.  "This is Special Agent DiNozzo, NCIS.  We've got a case crossing over into multiple cities. You want to help him pull up related cases or me?"

"I can do it.  I took off my tiara a few months back."

"Good.  I'm the only princess allowed in this lab," Speed shot back with a smirk.  Ryan blushed and nodded.  "We'll get along just fine as long as you pull your share of the work."  Ryan glared at him for that.  "Not that I've heard differently."

"Thank you.  Agent DiNozzo, if you'll come with me, we can take over a lab to pull up related cases."

"Thank you."  He smiled at Speed as he took the folder back.  "I didn't know you still had the tiara, Speed."  He walked off with him.  Ryan gave him a sideways look.  "I went to school with him, that's why I got sent while the boss went to New York."

"That's cool.  Was he always so surly and odd?"

"Speed?  Surly?"  He snorted.  "Speed was once named "most likely to brood his lover to death" by our house.  I don't think he's quite went that far, but....."  He grinned at him.  "Before you ask, I don't share blackmail.  He's got way too much on me."

"Okay.  Can I at least tell Eric so he can ask?"

"Sure," he offered with a grin.  "Speed said some great things about all of you. We've got another friend in New York that Gibbs is dealing with today."  That got a grin back and Ryan let him into a lab.  "This is nice.  Abby would adore this.  I should take pictures so she knows what she's begging for."  He took out his camera phone to send her pictures.  He got back a text messaged squeal and a complaint about the director looking over her shoulder. "Hold on.  Go ahead and start, I've got to calm her down.  New Director syndrome."  He called and smiled.  "Hi, Abby.  You got the pictures of their lab okay?"  He nodded.  "Any word from Gibbs?  I don't know, sweetie, we'd have to find a legitimate reason for you to see the other labs to see what we'd need to update.  Ah, hello, Director.  We do need Abby on the cutting edge and Miami does have it," he noted patiently.  "New York's not that far behind and neither is Vegas, but Miami's a tech's dream."  He smiled at Horatio as he walked in.  "Abby wanted to know if she could tour the lab to see where we could use some updating, Horatio."

"I don't mind bragging about our labs," he agreed with a small smile.  Ryan handed over the folder so he got acquainted with it.  "I remember a few of these.  Ryan, any luck pulling them up?"

"I'm imputing characteristics now, Horatio."

"Gotta go, Abby.  I'll call later with an update for you.  Tell Gibbs we're pulling up related case files if he calls from New York.  How's McGee?"  He looked at Horatio.  "Who should McGee brief in Vegas?"

"Grissom.  Night shift," Horatio ordered.

"Abby, tell him to brief Grissom and his night shift crew.  Yes, tell him it's an order.  Horatio trusts them by the look on his face.  Tell him I said so, that's why.  Yeah, well, some people kiss ass for a living, Abby. It's the way of the world of politics."  He heard the director snort.  "They do, ma'am.  Tell him to brief Grissom's night shift. Gibbs will back me up if they're the best in the city."  Horatio nodded at that.  "Lieutenant Caine said they are, yes. Thanks, Abby."  He hung up. "The director is hanging over her shoulder," he said with a grimace, calling Gibbs.  "Get Abby free, make sure McGee isn't being bogged down by asskissers in Vegas, Caine said to have him brief Grissom and his night shift."  He smirked.  "No, that was an order, boss.  The director is on Abby's six and in her lab.  She sounded stressed.  Like she was going to explode on her for Chip.  Oh, she's getting an invite to come look over Miami's labs."  He hung up on the groan.  "Sorry."  He came over to look, frowning at the pattern. "They've either been very active here for only being four years old, or they've copied someone.  Can we narrow it down by suspects or those who've been solved?"  Ryan typed that in and it mostly cleared the map. "Good job, guys.  We've got more open cases than that in our bureau."

"My guys do their best every day," Horatio agreed.  "Ryan, take that off and let's look at the timeline issue. Are you sure this group is only four years old?"

"The military counterparts only met four years ago with the thorough background we did.  We know two went to college together before they joined but nothing criminal or even vaguely disturbing came up until their partners joined.  Then you start seeing petty crap around that area until about two years ago when they started to majorly smuggle because they got moved to foreign bases."  They shared a look.  "They met with their partners just over four years ago."

"So we can keep it within that timeline."  Ryan finished adjusting their timeline and less dots were on the screen.  "Nice job, Mr. Wolfe.  Can we weed it down by any other categories?"

"Well, we know they started doing assassinations officially two years ago but one of the partners had that as a hobby before then," he offered, looking at the map.  "We can't find much on his background.  The FBI has it locked for some reason.  We've got a call into them but they're being clams.  Even Gibbs can't threaten them into giving it up at the moment."  He shifted closer. "Where is that big clump centered?"  Ryan clicked on one. "Maybe we can weed out that?"

"We did catch that serial killer," Horatio agreed.  "That was right before I took over the lab.  Can we exclude those, Mr. Wolfe?"

"I can try, I'm not sure if I can or not, Horatio."  He typed in a new command and they dropped off.  "Okay, the 'not' commands work like I think they should."

"McGee could have many happy nights with this software," Tony said fondly.  "He's a geek and a hacker."  He pointed at one. "Still a clump."  Ryan clicked on one of those dots, bringing up that file.  "Interesting."

"What's the case count?" Horatio asked.

"Sixty-three, Horatio.  All but six are solved."

"Then we may have to reopen a few of the investigations," he agreed quietly.  "Pull the six unsolved first, then we'll go back over the others."  Ryan nodded, printing out the database list.  He looked at Tony.  "At least it's a starting place."

"Which is all we ask for," he agreed with a smile. "I've also got a call in to JAG for any bases in the local area with similar crimes.  Just in case."  That got a nod.  "Any military academies?"

"Two," Ryan agreed.  "Non affiliated, just military academies, like prep schools."  He looked at him. "Both are just outside the city.  The base just south of here does have a base school and there's a community around it."

"Excellent.  Navy?"

"Mostly Air Force but I'm guessing they may have some Navy pilots," Ryan offered.  "I have no idea how that works."  Tony nodded, pulling out a notepad to make notes on that for Abby to look up.  "Should I search statewide as well?"

"Please.  Is the base in your area?"

"Just outside it," Horatio told him.  "Search statewide, focusing on that area first.  If they were military it would be logical that they'd do things closer since they've got a limited distance they can roam most weekends."  Ryan nodded, adjusting his search string.  It came up with a lot more dots, but they found more unsolved cases.  "Interesting.  That's the base," he said, pointing at a clump.  "And that's Pensacola," he said with a glance at Tony.  Tony nodded and took down names.  "Print that as well so he can fax it back, Ryan.  Good work so far."

"Thank you, Horatio.  Are we assigning anyone specifically?"

"I'll let you and Speed handle most of this," he assured him.  "You both have the lightest case load at the moment."  He saw Eric go walking past.  "Eric!"  He came back.  "This is Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo.  NCIS.  They're down on a crossover case."

"Tony, please," he offered with a smile, shaking his hand.  "Speed's said some nice things about you over the years."

"You know Speed?"

"We went to high school together."

"Ah.  Got any good blackmail?"

"Yes, but he's got pictures of me with monstrous talking zits."  Eric snickered at that and nodded.  "Sorry."

"No, that's okay.  At least you'll get to catch up with him.  H, the case this morning, it was a smuggling thing.  He tried to come back.  Frank got him."

"Thank you, Eric. Very good work.  Finish the forensics so it's a sealed case for the prosecutors."  Eric nodded and smirked at Tony before leaving.

"Talking zits?  I've never heard that expression," Ryan offered with a grin. "Not that mine were any better when I was younger.  Should I search out into our files of residents who got killed in other states too?"

"No, if it crosses into that, we'll go there then," Tony promised with a smile for him.  "Thank you for your help, Ryan.  That list has case names and files, right?"  He nodded.  "Then I'll fax that back to Abby for her to collate and send on to Gibbs.  Then I'll start on the unsolveds with you, if Horatio agrees?"

"That would be fine.  Thank you, Tony."  Horatio walked off to tell Speed to help them, then went to take some more tylenol.  He could only imagine what a talking zit looked like and he knew Speed could have pulled that off easily by what he had done earlier in the week.

***

Danny looked up as Gibbs walked into his lab, smirking at him.  "Need help?"

"Yes, and I just got given you."

"Okay, what do we need today?"  He looked at a nearby tech, nodding at his station.  "It's running, catch the paper, hand ta Stella please."  She nodded, coming over to watch that for him while he walked Gibbs off.  "What's up?"

"We've pulled a list of cases.  Miami's system apparently runs faster."

"Miami's got people down there who beg to hand the lab money.  We don't.  They're using some great new software according to Speed."

"So Abby said.  She wanted to take the tour."

"I wouldn't mind," Mac said as he caught up to them. "I doubt we could get the budget and grants for it though."

"Mac, can we ask the Gates Foundation maybe?"  Danny offered. "Or maybe I'll ask around some of the guys from school?"

"You could do that.  I'd like to update the lab a lot."  He looked at him. "Need help pulling cases?  I'm between scenes.  My last one was a heart attack."

"That's fine."  He handed over the list. "That's what Sheldon's found so far.  Tony reported a bunch of cases down there through the state and in Miami-Dade so he's looking at the unsolveds first."

"That's always wiser, then you can go back to see if we've put the wrong person behind bars," Mac agreed, leading him to the case file room.  "Anything older than three years and it goes to a special warehouse for up to twenty years unless it's not solved," he offered. "I can get you in there as well."

"Thank you."  He looked at the nervous file clerk.  "We need this list pulled and available for us."  The length of the list got a moan but Mac glared and the guy hurried off. "I have to do that now and then.  That and swat people on the head."

Sheldon came up to them, handing over another, shorter, list.  "This one is around the same area, has the same names mentioned," he offered.  "I can't be sure if they're related or not."

"Thank you, Sheldon, good work," Mac praised.  He checked his watch, then looked at Danny.  "Don't forget practice tonight.  I don't want to be chewed out."

"I don't forget that stuff, Mac, and my watch alarm is set.  Relax.  Don'd come get me if I even thought about running late."

"Practice?" Sheldon asked.

Danny grinned.  "Stella, Don, and I all made the inter-borough team."

"Congrats.  When's your first game?"

"Three weeks."

"I'll be there," Sheldon promised.  He saw the platform being hauled their way.  "All in the same general area?"

"Yes, sir.  We sort by area of each borough so it was a matter of going through a few shelves.  Any that I haven't checked off, I'll bring to you wherever."

"The old lab up on three please," Sheldon ordered.  That got a nod and Sheldon maneuvered the cart with Danny's help.  "We're going back to the same lab, Gibbs."

"I'll be right up."  He waited until they were alone, then looked at Mac.  "How do you handle that stuff?" he asked quietly.

"Danny's happier and more effective now," he offered quietly.  "Plus it keeps things quiet."  He led him up to that lab with the rest of the files the clerk found at that moment.

She's Always A Woman To Me

Tony looked at the case list, then at Speed.  "This doth suck," he said dryly.

"It does, but it's grunt work like this that makes it easier to catch the idiots.  Do we at least have them under surveillance?"

"Oh, yeah.  They're staying at their present bases, even if they ask to transfer to combat situations.  We know right where they are and everything.  As long as they don't go AWOL we're good."

"Okay, I'll trust you on that."  He glanced at Ryan, then back at Tony.  "Dinner then call Danny after practice?"

"Sounds good.  I heard Don was doing okay.  We'll have to pop up for the first game if we can."  He got back to work after stretching, going back to his sorting.  "I wish we knew if they had minions yet."

"We can't figure that out?"

"They've selectively worked with a few clerks here and there but the clerks usually get found out for messing up paperwork, then they transfer when the clerk is removed from duty.  It's never been suspected that there was a tie between them.  Most of the time it was considered the clerk shipping home questionable stuff to their families and they were removed back stateside and given jobs out of the way so they couldn't do it again.  Very few were arrested for what they were shipping back and the things that were more priceless, like the one time they did weapons, an investigation was done but they weren't connected because they had forged paperwork.  It was good enough at the time but you keep seeing the same guys at the same spots when these things show up.  One of the other field offices caught onto that but couldn't prove anything so they flagged their records with all the past casefiles and information about what they had been doing during them.  So far there's only four and a possible civilian fifth in one's wife.  So we can't be sure if they have true minions or they find people who've risen to their level of incompetence and blackmailed them into it.  Personally I think the later, but Gibbs thinks they've got to have minions for an operation this big.  McGee and I both think that they're using mostly computerized systems to track and handle operations so they don't really need more help except in the clerks when paperwork becomes necessary."

"How have they been shipping things?" Ryan asked.

"Some UPS.  Some Fed Ex.  Once they shipped stuff back as a dead airman that they inputted into the system without anyone realizing.  McGee found that one and went to Vegas to see if he was ever real.   He doesn't think so considering all his military files and paperwork start in October of two years ago, right about when they met their last partner, the one who does assassination as a sideline."  He shrugged. "They're using perfectly normal means, not shipping out enough for it to be caught.  They've got a few dummy companies set up so no one questions why they're sending prescription drugs through the mail to Minnesota or Scotland."

"What part of Scotland?" Speed asked.  "You know Don's training over there so Danny goes with him now and then."

"Good point.  Not that high up though.  Danny told me about the castle and it's not that high on the continent.  We've got our office over there handling that end of the investigation for us since this is so widespread."  He leaned on the table. "They've kept everything just legal enough not to be looked at.  About what you'd expect for an internet based business.  They pay business taxes and local taxes.  They show up in the right databanks.  They're not running anything that would normally need inspections because even the drug business is a subcontractor and a warehouse basically.  When the authorities raided them to check for us, everything was in perfect order.  These guys grew up in the system and they know how to use it."

"Do they maybe have a background like some of our school friends?" Speed suggested lightly.

"No, I checked.  No hint of it in any background file that's open to us.  I can't tell you about the sealed file however."  He checked his watch.  "It is way past supper.  Ryan, we should probably break for the night.  Do we gather things up and seal them again?"

"Horatio said to leave them in boxes and mark the stack for which case it is."  He started to gather files together.  "What gets me is that they're in clumps.  I know that's because they're moving bases, but still, all around one single area."

"When you're living on base but you don't have leave, you have to keep within a certain distance to the base in case you're going to be called back in," Tony explained. "Even on your unit's days off. Most guys don't seem to get farther than the video place, the laundromat, and the grocery store, like you guys do."  Ryan nodded, understanding that.  "So I'd expect clumping around their assigned locations and wherever they were living at the time. One of the guys has a wife so he's not required to live on base, just nearby."

"So it makes sense, but there's a pattern here," Ryan said, spreading out what he had been staring at.  "Looking at the dates, they were basically going up the street this time."  Tony frowned as he looked. "If this is all connected to the same case and not a coincidence, that's just odd."

"That is odd," Speed agreed, moving to look.  "He's right, I know that area.  He went up the street, took a left, went two blocks, did another one, took a right, went up a block, did another one."  He looked at Tony.  "That's insane."

"That was right before they shipped out so they were cleaning up loose ends," Tony said, pulling out the original file. "Yup, three of them were being transferred the next weekend so they had to clean up.  The last guy was being moved the next month and that's the few mop-ups it looks like," he said, smiling at Ryan. "Nice catch, Wolfe."

"Thank you."  He looked at him.  "We should map these."

"We can do that first thing in the morning, unless you want to take everything home with a map."  Ryan shook his head.  "Neither do I.  I need to eat."  Ryan let out a small smirk at that.  "Let's be realistic.  It's been two years.  Me eating and having a good night's sleep on Speed's sofa means that I'll be fresh to catch new stuff in the morning and it'll go better."  He looked over as Horatio came in.  "Ryan just found the mop-up phase."  He got out of the way so Horatio could look.  "I think we should break for the night, come back in the morning and do the mapping, then try to fit any of the other cases into it."

"That would be the most productive since it's been ten hours," Horatio agreed, looking at him.  "Your boss called wanting an update."

"I'll get him on the way home as I cling to Speed's back. I can get a ride, right?" he asked with an annoying smirk.

"Sure, you know how to hold on."  He looked at Horatio.  "Good for you?"

"Good for me.  Dinner and a nap would help you all."  He clapped Ryan on the back.  "Good job, Mr. Wolfe."   He left them to clean up, heading up to grab something from his office then going home.  By the time he made it to his hummer, Tony was making Speed laugh as he hung on.  They were very cute and friendly together, he hoped no one said anything about them *being* together, but that was a police station for you.  He got into his hummer and headed for home, needing a bite to eat and sleep himself.  It had been a long day.

***

Danny landed in Speed's apartment, hugging him.  "Gibbs growled at me," he said with a grin.  "I told him I knew bra-diving dragons who were more scary.  He gave me the oddest look."

"You know bra-diving dragons?" Tony asked.  "Why?"

"One adopted Ron in Rio and Keelian's just a baby.  He did it to Stella and Ginny both. Likes to rest under shirts but over tummies."  He walked around to sit down.  "Anything good?"

"Ryan found the mop-up phase.  They went street to street, doing it logically," Tony offered, handing him a box of food.  "We got you some."

"Thanks."  He dug in.  "We found the same thing when they were in New York, and the last few murders coincide with the last guy leaving."  He ate a bite, smiling and moaning.  "Oh, good food."

"I refuse to eat bad food," Speed reminded him before taking a bite.  "They seem to always ship out that way."

"They do and I think it's on purpose," Tony admitted, taking a sip of beer.  "That leaves their more deadly member behind to finish the clean up duties that they don't want to deal with.  Right now they're at Norfolk and pissing people off.  I emailed everything we had to Abby so she could collate and spread the information to the others.  Oh, Ziva ended up in Chicago instead of McGee."  He took another sip of beer.  "They don't like her much.  Do we have one of us up there?"

"Greg said that we've got people who know. Two detectives at the twenty-seventh know about Sandburg and Lindsey Willows when she attempted to go there before the group had to shut it down.  They're knowing but not part of us."

"Then we may be able to get them to help us," Tony decided.  "If Ziva hasn't pissed everyone off with her blunt behavior."

"It's Chicago, they're used to blunt," Speed reminded him. "You said that when you were in Peoria."

"I did, but still."  He finished his beer and dug back into his dinner.  "Anyway, how was practice, Danny?"

"Okay.  Stella's turning into a pretty good chaser.  Don and I are doing well together.  Don still likes to reach instead of swooping closer to the bludger.  Alex Dumass worked with him a lot during the two weeks he had him for control lectures."  They both smiled at that.  "Ya know, we might be able to talk him into you guys coming for a refresher as well."

"DC's a null area," Tony offered.  "Thankfully.  I'd hate to see someone using magic on the politicians.  Though it might make them work harder and quit bugging us."  He looked at Speed.  "How does your lab get such nice toys?"

"They like that we have a high solve and conviction rate and people don't like to mess with Horatio.  They indulge him in his whims since our stats are so good."

"We're still a few years behind you guys and we can't get anyone ta help us," Danny complained.  "Can we get trials of what you guys have at least?  Just one really good lab?"

"I'll ask H tomorrow.  If not, they've got a hacker, Danny," he said nodding at Tony, who just smirked and nodded.  "Maybe we can get you a DVD with the programs on it and let McGee warp it for their and your use."

"Maybe," he agreed with a sigh.  His phone rang and he groaned a bit, pulling it out.  "Messer," he answered.  He looked at the phone and handed it to Tony.  "Sonny."

"Sonny," he said fondly, smirking a bit evilly. "Yes, this is, how *nice* of you to remember me.  Did you hear, I'm a Fed now."  He chuckled and hung up.  "He whimpered."  He tossed the phone back and dug in again.  "I'm starved."

"You didn't eat lunch," Speed reminded him.  "I didn't eat lunch.  Alexx nagged that I didn't eat lunch."  He ate another bite.  "Did you get lunch?"

"I had a trash barge for lunch.  Lunch was not an option today," he said dryly, eating another bite.  "Turned out to be an old science classroom skeleton."  That got a small giggle from Tony.  "Hey, at least you don't have to do many dumpster jobs."

"Trying to eat," Speed complained.

"Sorry."

Tony gave him a hug. "I'm sorry, Danny.  We do some but we get more parks and woods than you guys do.  Plus we have limited jurisdiction."  Danny nodded, pouting a bit.  "You can always transfer."

"I'd get lynched since I'm on the team.  Mac even got called to make sure I made it to practice and games without interruptions."

"You gotta love it when your bosses bet," Tony said fondly.  He gave Speed a hug.  "Because you were left out."

Speed gave him an odd look.   "How long has it been since you had a girl?"

"Gibbs keeps me too busy to date," he complained.

"Maybe that's a hint," Danny offered with a small smirk. "He did try to pump me for information.  I told him about the day I traced the zits on your back."

Tony snorted. "Every teenager has acne.  Even my handsome ass."

"Yeah, I remember that one that went septic on your tight ass," Speed agreed with a smirk.  "How you had to pop it for a week straight before it cleared up."

"How the girls thought you were comparing your ass to the ones you usta grab," Danny added with a smirk of his own.  "How you got Hannah to pop it for you that final time so she could get out all the stuff, then she cleaned it gently and you claimed you got a blow out of it."

"I did get one out of it," Tony defended, but he was smiling.  "Damn it, we need to be in the same city again!"

"Vegas?" Speed offered.  "They've got a nice overlord, we'd have Sanders and some others.  Limited shopping areas but hey, we can apparate and portkey.  With enough of us, we might even get a quidditch team started."

"Plus, Sanders told us how he's got ten really upset minor potions people who want to kill him for being so good and smug," Danny told them.  "A few creatures people.  Pretty showgirls with fake tits."

"I like real tits," Tony complained.  "Maybe we can all move to New York?"

"Too cold," Speed complained.  "No bikinis either.  You guys can move down here.  Warm, humid, bikinis, spring break."  He smirked a bit at Danny, winking.  "Even you could get laid."

"It may've been a while but I don't usually have problems with that, thanks anyway."

"Pity.  Think about what you could do with a freshman on her first spring break."

"Endure the giggling by gagging her?" Tony asked.

"Quite possibly," Speed admitted. "Okay, senior on her last break."

"Doing her doggy style so you didn't have to see the drunken drooling," Danny suggested.

Speed threw a noddle at him.  "Guys, I'm trying to help."

"You do it very well," Danny assured him.  "But I'd still have to bring Don and Stella.  Just so Mac wouldn't have to deal with a pouting curse breaker trainee and a waspish woman with a broom fetish."

"Broom fetish?" Tony teased.

"Oooh, she loves flying.  Dawn got her up her first day and she didn't want to come down.  Don loves ta fly but Stella's better at not coming down.  Don said it took two hours to get her off her broom at the shop.  She fell asleep on it."

"Awwww," Speed said, then burst out giggling.  "Sure, bring Stella, her broom, and any tiny bathing suits she may have, we can put her up."

Tony's phone rang and he groaned as he stretched to get it. "Yeah, boss?"  He smirked. "No, talking with my buddies.  Yeah, Danny's here.  Why?  Did you get the stuff I sent Abby?"  He grinned and looked at Danny.  "Did you find that mop-up pattern too?"

"Yup, and it's being mapped while we eat."

"He said the computer's mapping it while we eat.  Did Chicago kick Ziva out?  Abby said the Director sent her to Chicago."  He pulled the phone away from his ear.  "Boss, I need that hearing.  It's my good side after all," he said patiently.  "Keep it up, be a fluffy little bunny," he warned when the yelling continued.  It stopped at that.  "Thank you.  I needed that ear in working order to cover your six, boss, even if it would have a cottontail."  He pulled the phone away from his ear again.

Speed took it. "Gibbs, calm down.  Tony's finally getting food for the first time today.  We didn't let him eat Ryan earlier."  The growling stopped.  "Then quit making unreasonable demands."

"It's not unreasonable.  We're always on the clock," Tony said, taking his phone back.  "Sorry, boss, they're a bit overprotective of me since they found me again.  Now, what's up?"  He listened, then nodded.  "Okay, I can do that.  Why?"  He nodded again.  "Sure.  Thanks, boss."  He hung up and stood up.  "Someone called Sanders with a 911 page, one of the guys who apparently knows him in Chicago.  One of them is on vacation at home in Chicago and they're threatening him on their current case.  Apparently they do have a minion who knows some magic, or his wife does.  McGee passed it onto Gibbs, and Sanders told him the truth when Mac got on there, so we're protecting one Stanley Raymond Kowalski.  Shall we?"

"Sure," they agreed, standing up and straightening out their clothes before disappearing to the point that Sandburg had set up in Chicago.  Which was inside the apartment apparently.  Blair smiled at them.

"You rang?" Danny asked dryly, smirking at him.  "Hi, Blair."

"Thank God, guys.  I don't know how to help him. They broke in and killed his turtle earlier to show he was next.  It's his only pet," he said at Speed's amused look.  "It was a show and tell thing."

"Someone did that to a stray cat I took care of once," he admitted.  "Where's our detainee?"

"In the bedroom.  They also sent an email to his boss accusing him of wrong-doing and of being gay.  His boss stuck up for him so they sent it up the chain.  His boss told the other guys what was going on and they pointed out Stan has had to go undercover a few too many times and if they don't remove him, anything that was slightly less than ethical while he was under would come out and taint the department.  So they're not firing him but they want him hidden and available to come back."

"Okay.  We can do a disguise spell," Tony offered. "I'm pretty good at those really."

"Won't work.  Stan's slightly magic resistant.  Personally, I think Stan's a squib and he doesn't realize it."  He shrugged.  "Either that or it's infecting him and making him go odd.  Earlier today his hair changed colors without his permission."

"Sure," Danny agreed, heading for the door to the bedroom.  The other was open and it was clearly a bathroom.  He knocked. "NYPD, friends of Sandburg society."  It opened and he looked at him.  "Hi."

"Danny?"

"Yeah, me."  He smirked at him. "I went to the academy in New York."  He pulled him out.  "This is Tim Speedle and Anthony DiNozzo.  Tony's a Fed, Speed works in Miami.  We're going to be your protection detail or figure out how to hide you in plain sight."

"They want me out of the city," he admitted.  "One of mine was seriously bad and it was less than legal in parts so I could fit in," he finished quietly.

"Been there, done that," Tony assured him.  "I do a lot of our undercovers."  His phone rang so he rolled his eyes and answered it.  "Yes?"  He smirked. "Hi, Abby.  What's up?"  He nodded while he listened.  "Okay, but I'm not at the office, dear.  No, we broke for dinner and sleep time.  So gather, fax or email in the morning. I can check from Speed's computer or my phone if I have to.  Sure.  Thanks."  He hung up.  "She's found another case connection. I love our Abby."  Stan let out a small grin at that.  "You can grin.  Abby's nice.  Even though she is kinda scary at times, she's very nice and sweet."

"I'll keep that in mind.  Hell, I married a lawyer."

"I've met DA Kowalski on a case that crossed over before, you have my sympathies," Speed offered patiently.  "So, do you have a city preference?"  Stan shook his head.  "Any disguise preference?"

"I have wards on the doors and she broke them," Blair offered.  "I'm good but not that good, and Alex is fussing over Draco for some reason."

Danny licked his lips.  Clues were clicking in his head.  "Draco's a consort veela, right?" he asked.  Blair nodded slowly.  "If I remember right, aren't there family curses?  Don said he was acting like a bitch in heat recently.  That's unusual for them, unless they're going critical; that's how they wear out the curse's energy so it doesn't kill them outright."

"Oh, shit, it violated when they helped Ginny.  His family's curse is monogamy.  Emilia said so."  He touched his tattoo, sending that frantically back to Alex before it was too late.  Emilia joined in to add her help to the situation when she realized it had been Ginny's help.  He smiled and relaxed. "Alex thinks he can cure it, it's not too late, so it's all good but we'll have to find someone else to wear out Ginny when her mare goes into heat next time."

"Mare?" Tony asked, looking confused.

"Ron Weasley's little sister is a Valkyrie on reserve call," Blair said dryly, smirking at him.  "Her mare, Apple, picked her this year.  Vow of celibacy unless her mare is in heat."

"I wonder if toys violate that," Danny said thoughtfully.  "Don brought back half a box of stuff that Draco made him remove from Alex's storehouse.  All charmed."

"She thinks so, but she's got sore wrists since Luna and Dawn like to compare sex techniques in front of her."  Blair looked at Stan.  "They're two very good CSIs and one very good Fed.  Danny's helping my group of friends train some kids who were missed, who work with him, so they're covered magically that way.  So however we need to do it, we can."

"We can get Don's advice too, that way it's one that can't be broken very easily," Speed suggested.  "Alex has been pumping him full of information from what he said."  He bit his lower lip as he looked at him. "Any idea where you want to end up or how you want to be disguised?"

Stan slowly shook his head.  "No.  Her note said that nothing you could do would confuse her. She'd find me no matter what I did."

Tony looked at the note Blair held out, then snorted. "She's a weak little bitch," he said fondly.  "Shit, Speed, you can out-duel her probably.  I know I could."  He looked at Stan again.  "Okay, pack.  We're going to Miami.  Blair, arrange with Greg to have all his financial stuff moved with him.  He'll end up in one of the three cities.  Have McGee help you since he's in Vegas."  That got a nod.  "Anyone you need to call, Stan?"

"Ray."  He grabbed the phone and dialed. "Ray, me. Stay really safe and watch Benny for me.  Yeah, they're sending me out of town for my own good."

"It's part of an active federal case," Tony said more loudly.

"Hear that?"  He smirked.  "Yeah, well.  I've got three guys here that Sandburg referred me to, they're all working on the case apparently."  They all nodded. "Yeah, with that Ziva chick?"

"She's unfortunately my teammate," Tony admitted.  "Newbie too."

"She's Tony's teammate if anyone asks.  No, he's helping me hide.  Thanks.  No, tell Stella I'm safe and good, but I'm basically running and hiding for now because I have to.  Thanks, man.  Kiss your Ma for me and tell her I'll write if I can."  He hung up and went to pack some stuff. "I'll be able to get a job, right?"

"Sure," Tony agreed.  "Maybe not as a cop, but sure."  Stan nodded at that.  "We'll do what we can.  Maybe Gibbs can pull some strings."  He looked at Speed. "Grab the food, head to Danny's since he's up there."  He nodded and disappeared.  He looked at Danny.  "Head home, I'll bring him by portkey to your living room so make sure it's clear."

"On it."  He headed home to do that.

Tony created the portkey, smiling at Blair.  "How is your sentinel?"

"Cranky.  Overprotective.  About the same as before he dumped me and drove my sanity to jump out a very high window.  He still thinks it was nothing."  He shrugged.  "I'm dealing with it at the moment but I'm about to go visit Greg again for a few weeks."

"Watch out for his potions work.  McGee mentioned he was a closet Harry Potter fan earlier, he saw his cauldron necklace."

"Uh-huh.  It was probably holding his stones.  Someone tried to break into his house again but their house elf stopped them.  He's got one that reminds everyone of that guy Jett."

Tony snickered. "I bet that's so cute," he cooed.  "A little homicidal house elf."  Stan gave him an odd look as he came out with his three bags and a box.  "That's it?"

"The rest can be put into storage," he agreed quietly.  "That's my clothes, a few books, and some pictures."

"Okay."  He took two of the bags, letting Stan get the box and the other one. "Touch the paper and we'll head."  He did so and Blair activated it at Tony's look, taking them off.  They landed and Tony had to catch Stan so he wouldn't fall, but that was all right.  "Hey, guys."  He waved at Don and Stella.  "If we ask, boss, can we all have a good month in Miami with Stella and Don and bikinis?"

"We'll see, DiNozzo," he said firmly.  "Detective Kowalski."

"Hey."  He shook his hand.  "However you wanna do this.  Not my first time undercover."

"So I heard.  They briefed me already."  He led him into the back room to talk to him about what might come out and what was going on in that present case.  He came out a minute later.  "Get Abby on the phone.  I can't get Ziva, yet again."  He disappeared again.

Tony called Abby.  "He's pissed at Ziva, she's not answering her phone," he said fondly.  She giggled so he smirked a bit.  "Boss, got Abby, she's eating dinner in the lab and she's found a new connection."

"In a new city?"

"No.  Overseas stuff.  A few new shipments."

"Fax it to me tomorrow. You too."

"Hear that?"  He grinned. "He agreed. No, we've got a detective with the current, open case in Chicago who got threatened."  He smiled. "Thanks, baby."  He hung up.  "Boss, Abby's more than willing to cover him however she needs to.  The Director went home early with a headache and she's been good all day since she didn't even snap at her. Hence her eating barbeque shrimp for dinner." He looked at Stan.  "How and which city are we hiding him in, Gibbs?"

"I'm not sure yet.  He's pretty open to everything but he says that your way may be found."

Danny snorted and went to pull one of his old textbooks.  "Not really.  There's things no one can break, not even Dumass."  He found it and sat down to look through it.  "We can...do a permanent disguise spell, which means it'd be on something we implanted in your skin.  It'd last as long as it was in there. When we shield over top of it, she'd never find it."

"We could do that to change race, gender, or physical descriptions," Tony agreed.  "There's a way to break that but they'd have to have you for hours to break it.  We can make you look like anything you want to be, Stan."

Why gender?" he asked.

"Because she wouldn't be looking for a girl," Gibbs assured him.  "It's one of the oldest dodges in the world. You could look just like yourself and be passed over."

"Speed and I are very good at making girls out of boys," Tony said proudly.  "I did Speed once. He got hit on so many times he had to run and hide in the closet."

"Don't remind me," Speed called.

Danny got up to look at him, then at Stella.  "When I first met you, I thought you were him as a girl again," he told her, making her laugh and hug Speed.  He went back to his reading.  "We've also got the permanent, DNA changing spell, which is not recommended for use by anyone but someone like Dumass and who has an artistic touch.  We've also got the more temporary, non inserted, method of disguise spell.  It would go away whenever you took it off but it's easier to break."

"I like the inserted one," Tony admitted thoughtfully, looking at Stan.  "The problem is that it's better if we use your own natural features as much as possible.  That way you don't have to worry about any discordance when you shave and stuff.  You don't have the features to change race.  We might be able to do a mixed race change, but your bone structure really doesn't lend itself to it."  He tipped his face off to the side to look at it in a different light.  "You have a wonderful bone structure."  Stan pulled away from him. "It's a consideration.  We can change your skin and hair color easily enough, but you're going to have to live that way."  He ran a hand through his hair.  "Longer would be easily done.  It'd change your whole facial look too."  He stepped back.  "Speed?"

"You've got the eye for beauty," he pointed out, looking over his body.  "He's well-built.  The job shows on him."  He walked in and moved around him until someone popped in.  "In here."

Alex leaned in.  "Thank you, guys."

"Welcome," Danny said with a small grin. "Draco's going to be okay?"

"Draco will be fine.  We'll have to redo our vows and Ginny will need more help when Apple goes into heat next time, but we'll be fine."  He smiled at him.  "What's up, Stan?"

"One of you guys came for me."

"Why?"  He walked in and looked at what Danny was reading, then wrote down a title and gave it to him.  "Yours."  He looked at Don and Stella, then back at him.  "We're being called on an assignment as well.  We've got the library job I wanted and it's in danger.  It's part of the Alexandrian library."  Danny moaned a bit.  He nodded.  "So, we'll let Greg and Tipsy take over their overt training while you two look over their shoulders.  They're doing okay at this time, but it's going to be one hell of an assignment.  It's kinda in Iraq."  He got a moan from Gibbs, looking at him and nodding.  "Yeah. It'll be destroyed if we don't move it, but we've got to sneak in and over."  He looked at Danny again.  "Can you handle their training?"

"I can. Just be safe, Alex.  We can't lose you already," he said gently.  "Can we borrow the library?"

"Yeah."  He handed him something, whispering in his ear.

"I will," Danny agreed, taking it and putting the necklace on then putting the dagger on his belt.  "Thank you."

"Welcome."  He straightened up and shrugged. "That book is in there. Greg and Tipsy have permanent invites unless I die.  If I die on this, I'm so going to haunt the bank for eternity."  He looked at Stan, then back at him. "I'm setting stuff up so Don can train and making sure he doesn't *have* to work to train.  Arens will be going with us but he's technically retired. We're just hoping to make it back."

"What part of the country?" Gibbs asked.  Alex pulled out a map and handed it over.  "Here," he said, pointing at something. "There's a command post there.  Permanent setup.  Talk to them.  Have Taylor write you a letter.  He served in that unit once upon a time."

"I can do that," Mac called from the living room.  He walked one in and handed it over.  "Silverstein or whoever took over for him, Alex.  Only him.  No matter who else pulls rank."  Alex nodded. "Good luck, come back as soon as you can."

"Oh, I will.  We're leaving tomorrow after I finish fixing Draco."  He looked at Danny again.  "I'm leaving Ginny in your care if we're going to run long. Greg had a vision that someone was going to mess with Apple somehow.  We're not sure how it personally relates back since it usually does, but...."  He shrugged.  "So help her however you feel best.  As long as Apple's in heat, she's covered under her vows."  Danny nodded at that.  "Take care of my house.  Greg'll handle the son, Harry's going to stay due to practice, and I've got to go detox my mate and be claimed into the mattress."  He waved and disappeared.  "Thanks," he called as he faded out.

"Welcome," Mac said, shaking his head.  "His life is never simple."

"Yeah, and he likes it that way," Danny reminded him.  He looked out there. "Don, he's leaving you training stuff and I'm watching over your shoulder."

"That's fine."  He came to the door.  "What're you doing to help Stan?"

Speed looked at Tony and they both looked at Danny, who closed the book but kept his finger in place.  "What's easiest?" Danny asked.

"Gender.  Race is too tied in with the fine bone structure and hair.  We can change the color and texture but the bone structure points to a past history of pale people from Viking country and Britain.  Besides, the weed-whacker hair has got to go," Tony said.

Speed looked him over again, then nodded.  "Up to you, Stan, but if we're going to make you not look like yourself, it'd be easiest that way.  Otherwise, lengthening and coloring the hair.  Glasses."

"I need glasses anyway," he admitted, pulling them out and putting them on.

"You even look like a geek," Danny offered, smirking at him. "Nice job."  He stood up, handing Tony the book's name.  "Get Don or Stella to sneak and get that so we can do it tonight, before we all get worn out."  He nodded, going to do that.  "Speed?"

"We can but it won't help the physical attributes.  Anyone looking at him would see the same pointed chinline.  The same cheekbones. Those are going to be hard to hide."

Stan hung his head, then looked at them.  "I won't make a good girl."

"You'll be a girl for all purposes," Danny assured him gently.  "The illusion would be implanted on a small sliver of silver in your arm or your shoulder.  No one touching you would know the difference.  Not even groping.  I did it to Speed once for six weeks."  He grinned a bit.  "Pissed him off to no end not having his dick during a date."

"I'm not doing that all that often," Stan admitted sheepishly.

"Well, do you think you can handle that, even if it lasts six or seven months?" Speed asked.

Stan sat down, looking at him. "I've gone undercover for longer."

"This would be one of the hardest ones you've ever done," Tony said as he came back. "You'd have to live as one all the time.  No taking it out."  He nodded and everyone cleared out so they could talk.  He came out a half-hour later.  "He's agreeing.  We need to prep the spell and implant."

"Got it," Danny offered, holding it up.  "We'll let you sculpt since you've got the better eye."

"Sure," Tony agreed, taking it in there to work on it.  He could feel the spell the other two had laid.  He spent a good two hours molding and crafting the beauty part of the spell, using what Stan had already to help it be the best it could.  When he came out, most everyone was crashed on the couch, so he shared a grin with Stan.  "You look good."

"Thanks.  How long after it comes out does it last?"

"Six days."  He smacked Speed on the head.  Speed woke up and nudged Danny, who nudged Don.

Don grinned at him. "He did a good job.  The hair's a nice touch."  It was longer, reaching his shoulders, and barely curled.  The body was firm and tight, not too outrageous but generous in the right areas.  It used the thinness Stan had and made it look like she was just very toned.  "Nice job."

"Thanks."  Tony grinned at him.  "See, I told you it was important to tweak those last few things."

"I guess it was."  He looked at Gibbs, who just blinked.  "What?"

"Your voice is husky."

"It is," Tony agreed with a grin.  "Just another tweak of the spell."  He waved a hand.  "Danny, Speed?"

"Good job.  Is she coming with me or you?" Speed asked.

"I'd have to slip her into NCIS," Gibbs admitted.  "It'd take me about a month."

"I was a detective," Kowalski admitted.

"I've seen your record.  Mac and I talked with Horatio."  He smirked at him. "I'm a demanding boss."

"That's an understatement," Tony assured him. "He's a holy terror when he hasn't had any coffee and he makes FBI agents piss themselves."  Stan giggled and all the guys grinned at how natural it sounded.  "Ours, boss?"

"Ours for now, Tony.  If she's twigged to, Mac agreed I could send her up here or down to Speed if necessary."  He smirked at her. "That month will allow you to get used to your new body and skills."

"Okay.  I'll need to get all my bank account and last check stuff."

"Already done.  McGee's arranged it so it'll be waiting on us.  That'll give you more than enough to get a modest place and wait to be paid."  Stan nodded.  "Did you pick out a name yet?"

"I couldn't figure out one that sounded like my natural one.  I've, um, had some problems in the past coming out the other side."

"Understood," Gibbs agreed. "Been there, done that.  Tony too."

"I was thinking something unique and new agey.  Constanza?  Shortened to Stan?  Or Standa?"

"Last name," Gibbs ordered.  "Kelly for the first name?  It kinda plays off your old one.  I tend to address everyone by their last names."

"Works for me," Stan agreed, grinning at him.  "My ex wife would freak if she knew and could see me."

"I've met your ex on a case.  Nearly as bad as my three," Gibbs assured him smugly.

"Plus, hey, you can still date girls," Speed reminded him.

"Or not," Danny offered.  "Up to you about that."  He looked at Tony.  "You get to make sure she acts like a woman."

"I'm in Miami working on the case.  She can come with me and we can work together," he offered, looking at Stan, who shrugged.  "Speed?"

"I've only got the one couch, Tony," Speed pointed out patiently.  "Unless I add rooms like Danny did."

"It's a nice job," Gibbs told him. "Think you can expand my basement?"

"Not a problem, boss. I can even figure out how you're getting the boat out."  Gibbs smirked at him.  "So, we're on for Miami, boss?"

"Yeah, that'll be fine.  We'll introduce her to Ducky to finish any girlish lectures."

"Calleigh owes me majorly," Speed assured him.  "Alexx too.  We can do that."

Tony nodded.  "Did you yell at them yet?"

"Oh, a few times.  I'm not walking anywhere near the morgue at the moment.  I'll yell again if I do."  He walked around the couch, taking Stan's arm.  "Get the stuff, Tony, we'll transfigure what we can tonight so she's got something for tomorrow."  Stan nodded, looking at him. "Beats bra shopping."  Stan nodded at that.  "Danny, weekend?"

"I'm on so call."  He smirked at him. "Don't worry, Stan.  It'll be fine.  We'll do whatever we can ta help and hey, you can help us look at the pretty girls on the beach."  Stan nodded, letting Speed take him off.  Tony got his things and left with them. "Okay."  He clapped his hands.  "Gibbs, you can have the couch in the library if you want. The rest of you have homes unless you're sleeping with me."

"You're too cuddly for me," Stella said, smiling at him.  "Don?"

"Yeah, going home too," he agreed, yawning a bit.  "When can we learn that apparating thing?"

"When you're not tired and we've got all day to teach you," Danny promised.  That got a nod and a grin, so they left the normal way, Mac nodding and following to drive Stella home.  "Be safe," he called after them.  He looked at Gibbs.  "The couch in there is more comfortable to sleep on."  He headed for his bedroom, going to strip down to his boxers and go to bed.

Gibbs turned off lights and made sure the door was locked before going to the library. He found a few books on magic in there, especially about theory.  They looked interesting so he pulled one down and laid down to read for a while.  He would understand Tony better and he would make sure he wasn't pulling anything too boneheaded at work.

***

Horatio walked into the lab the next morning, looking at the blonde woman standing there.  "You are?"

"Kelly Standa," she said, shaking his hand. "I'm working with Tony."

"All right."  He blinked, looking at her.  Then he put on his sunglasses and looked at her again.  "Ah."  He closed the door, leaning against it.  "Against your will?" he asked quietly.

"No, saving my ass.  AKA Stan Kowalski, Chicago PD."

"Mac called," he said, opening the door again.  "Welcome to Miami.  Watch the handshaking, you're a bit firm."  He smiled at her. "Calleigh has tomorrow off. I'll make sure she knows she's to help you."  He walked off, going to find Speed.  "You left her alone in the lab?" he asked calmly.

"I came to get a soda.  It ate my money," he said, zapping the machine with his wand. His dollar and his soda came out so he saluted him.  "Seen her already?"

"Yes.  The spell was very well done."

"Thanks. Tony, Danny, and I were always very good together."  He headed down there, giving Tony a look.  "Machine ate my dollar."

"I had a talk with Calleigh.  She'll help if you quit glaring at her."

"Fine. If I must."

"You probably should, Speed.  Yeah, it sucks.  It sucks majorly.  They did you wrong and all that.  But you're back.  Have some fun with it.  Enjoy it.  Be pissed later on when you have to go back."  He patted him on the cheek.  "We missed you a lot, Speed.  Danny called crying when he heard.  He called off work to come to your funeral, he spent all weekend clinging to me," he offered quietly.  "You destroyed a lot of people by dying.  If Danny hadn't been scared of the consequences, he might've done it sooner."  He gave him a small cheek slap.  "We're selfish. You touch too many lives to stay gone while you're still young and pretty.  You can't go back until you're old and crabby, okay?"  Speed nodded.  "Then I'm really happy you came back. I nearly lost you and Danny that weekend."  He slapped him again.  "Now, enough mush.  Gibbs would've slapped me on the head by now."  He led the way back into the lab.  "Eric, down boy," he ordered with a grin.  "She's very pretty and very tough.  She can probably put you on your back and cuff you before you could do more than moan."

"I've only dated girls before," she said, blushing a bit.  "I've never seen the point of dating guys."

"If you decide to try, I'd gladly take you out dancing," Eric promised with an impish grin.  "No strings attached."  She nodded and he walked out happier.

Speed looked at her. "Eric's a playboy but I've never heard anyone say anything other than he was nice and gentle.  So don't let him tease you too long.  He's got girls all over the city."

"Sounds like me at home," Tony said fondly, smirking at him.  "Don't you have a few stashed away for emergencies?"

"Not since school, Tony.  I went with the 'one girl, one Speed' approach since the twins broke up with me."

"Twins?" Stan asked him, looking confused.

"Identical.  They said since I couldn't tell them apart anyway I should have them both," Speed said proudly.  "Very sweet, very nice.  Very married with multiple kids now."  Tony snickered at that. "Hey, I saw Maggie, your ex.  Just had her first one.  She's playing keeper on the PD team with Danny."

"Aww.  What's she working now?"

"Narco."

"Awww.  I'm sure she's very adorable.  Anyone else I'd remember?"

"Henderson is coaching."

Tony snorted. "Yeah, right.  Danny'll have the team in his hand within a week since we're not there to overrule him."

"What team?" Calleigh asked from the doorway.  "Hi."  She walked in and shook her hand.  "I'm Calleigh.  I hear I'm showing you around Miami tomorrow and doing a bit of shopping?"

"Please.  Tony keeps putting me in really short skirts and very uncomfortable bras."

"They're all uncomfortable if they've got wires.  We'll see what we can do about that," she promised happily.  She looked at Speed.  "I'm sorry."

"Uh-huh.  I'm still working on the acceptance stage."  She gave him a hug and he looked at her.  "You weren't really part of it, I can forgive you," he offered quietly.  She sniffled and nodded, giving him a squeeze.  "Alexx is coming, you should head off."  She nodded and kissed him on the cheek before leaving.  Stan gave him a curious look. "I died.  They decided I was a sucky dead person."

"Ah.  Well, it shows you're loved and needed.  Stella wouldn't have done more than piss on my grave.  Benny might've grieved, Ray maybe, some of the other guys, but nothing like that."  She shrugged. "It shows you're loved and wanted."

"Needed," Tony agreed.  "Gibbs and I talked about it again," he offered quietly, glancing around.  "Her first act would be to kill me."

"It probably would be," Speed agreed, giving him a faint smile.  "The few times I met Kate she gave  me that impression."  Tony nodded, pulling out a stool to sit on.  "Where is Ryan?"

"It's his day off.  He faxed in notes from home on what he found last night while we were working on other things, and left us to sit on the beach and think."

"Okay, so he'll be in after lunch," Speed decided, getting to work on the mapping stuff Ryan had already done.  "Come see, Kelly."  She moved closer, looking over his arm at what he was doing.  "We're so high tech here you get monitored when you shit," he offered quietly.  "But it's a nice thing.  We work faster sometimes."

"We've only got three computers and we still type charge sheets," Stan complained.  "That's it, I'm staying somewhere there're computers."  Tony grinned at that.   "Seriously!"

"Most labs are behind Miami's.  Danny covets the lab too," he promised.  "My Abby does too."

"Yeah, you and Abby, there's a topic of conversation," Speed said dryly, giving him a look.  "So?"

"Not going there.  She's Gibbs'."

"Literally?"

"I'm not sure I want to know. If they are, he's keeping her happy and bouncy.  If not, then they're still that tight."

Speed nodded, smirking at him and leaning a bit closer.  "Danny called him cute in a 'tie you down and enjoy watching you struggle' way."

"Danny's got an eye for the older guys anyway.  He always went for the strong, steady type with older guys and the cute and perky younger girls.  If we'd had cheerleaders, he would've dated the whole group of 'em."

"Cheerleaders can be nice, they're usually flexible," Speed offered.

"Yeah, I know that from personal experience, dear.  Just saying.  Danny was the guy who slept with the quidditch coach that one time."  Stan snickered. "Sorry, Kelly.  He did, he was experimenting."  They shared a look and he grinned. "But usually he does these cute, chatty, happy, perky young women.  He's going to be the guy dating the twenty-year-old when he's ninety."

"So he'll be the Alex of his day?" Speed teased.

"Yeah, pretty muchly.  Speaking of dating, did he and Don's sister go out?  I could never tell."

"No.  I asked.  He taught her how to flirt.  One of those times she called him an asshole with a broom permanently implanted in his ass she asked him to teach her how to flirt so she could capture that Craig bastard.  She married some muggle guy and Don seems pretty happy with how her life is."

"Good.  He taught her how to flirt?"  Speed smirked and nodded. "Why didn't she come to me?  I was always better at it."

"Because you were dating the psycho ho Bethany and she was scared of her killing her for daring to talk to you in the common room."  Tony smirked a bit proudly at that.  "So she asked Danny that night she made him help her in herbology.  I was in detention in Defense, as I usually was, you were being sucked down by the super slut vacuum party."

Tony laughed at that.  "Bethany knew we weren't exclusive."

"True, but she still nearly took some heads off.  That's why I stepped in to send her packing, Tony.  She was a bad choice."

"I've had so few of those," he noted dryly.  "Why do you think I kept moving departments?"

"I thought it was because you got found out," Speed noted sarcastically, staring him down.  Tony grinned a bit and nodded.  "You were doing Stupid Danny Stuff, weren't you?  Early Stupid Danny Stuff, not the later, Sonny-era Stupid Danny Stuff."

"You know very well his father was pushing that."

"Yeah, and?  Still stupid.  Only Danny could be a wizard and become the mascot of a street gang and unable to get free because he couldn't expose magic and his father wanted it."

"Yeah, well, the Vinese had a long...talk with his family," Tony said proudly. "One of my Aunts gossiped about it when I asked.  She ripped them all a new one and handed Danny the family's assets."

"Then why haven't you gone to her yet to mediate with your dad?"

"My father's a fucking bastard and her godson.  Why do you think?"

"She might stick up for you.  She used to dote on you, Tony."

"I sent her a letter when I went to Ohio State.  She said it was good I was following my heart, even if my father didn't approve.  It sounded less than happy with me."  He shrugged.  "She picked her side."

"Sorry."

"So am I, but he's old and dying.  I was a late child," he said fondly.  "Even if I stay disinherited, I'd still be happy enough with my salary."

"Hey, Greg got alchemy to work," he offered quietly.

"Point."  He grinned at him.  "But I was never good at potions. That was Danny. I was good in Defense and Divination."  He looked at Stan.  "We all majored in quidditch but we had our areas and we backed each other up.  Speaking of, I got to yell at Sonny again last night.  That was the call at two this morning. He called to bribe me to get Danny back."

"Interesting. You tell him to go to hell?"

"No, I carefully recorded it when I saw what number it came from and then hung up laughing. I used your computer to send it to Abby this morning so she could pass it on.  He was going to tell Gibbs I tried men," he snorted, bursting out in giggles.

"Maybe he'll get onto you about your daddy complex there for a bit," Speed said dryly, staring him down.  "I doubt he'll care."

"Me either.  He knows I date things that're cute, naughty, and slightly leaning toward evil."

"So we should look for someone like the fixed Draco?" Stan offered sweetly, grinning at him.

"Yes, perfect, only I'd prefer female and maybe not a consort veela.  A regular one would be okay but consort veelas have family curses that're very picky."

"Well, hey, when you're ninety and Alex has an heir, you can date her," Speed teased.  Tony beamed and nodded, bouncing a bit.  "Found another row of murders from the stuff Danny sent," he offered, pushing it over.  Stan walked over there to look.  "Sorry, Kelly."

"Not a problem.  Got to get used to the thinner ankles anyway," she said sarcastically.  "If I run into certain people I know, can I freak them out by flirting with them?"

"As long as you don't let them know until after you're done," Tony agreed happily.

"Yeah, but Ray was talking about a vacation down here next month," she offered with a smile.  Tony snickered at that.  "He made me do his paperwork."

"Good enough reason for me," Tony agreed happily.  He looked up from the map a minute later.  "Okay, these guys are predictable.  I'm going to be bored until I get to chase them down and pounce."

"Sure, let me tell Gibbs that," Speed noted dryly.  "Think you'll get whapped on the head again?"

"Probably," he agreed happily, getting back to work.

***

Danny looked up from his examination.  "Okay, these guys are really starting to bore the shit outta me," he announced. "They're predictable, they're stupid, and they're leaving clues everywhere.  How that one guy and his wife got these fuckin' morons this far I'm not sure but if we can take her down, I'm sure the men'll cave faster."

Gibbs looked at him.  "That sounds like overconfidence," he cautioned.

Danny snorted and pushed over what he had been looking at.  "Look familiar?"  Gibbs nodded, smirking a bit.  "Use it then. They're annoying the fuck outta me with this.  Stupid little boys with big plans and no clue. I got enough of that when I was younger."  He looked out the door when someone yelled his name. "In here!"  Don walked in.  "They're copycatting themselves."

"Nothing works like success," he offered.  He looked at him.  "I got a call this morning at three bribing me to give you to Sonny."

"You laugh in his face, tell him you were gonna piss on his broken, beaten body, and then hang up?"

"Not quite."

"Pity, that's about what I'm gonna do."  He smiled sweetly.  "Thank you for the warning, Don.  Help him for few, 'kay?"  He touched his wand and disappeared.

"Fuck!" Don muttered, calling Mac.  "Danny just took off.  Sonny called me with a bribe to get him back.  Something about pissing on his mutilated body, Mac.  Where do you think he went!"  He hung up and took a calming breath. "Sorry, he's been bothering Danny now for a bit."  He came over to look.  "Fed Ex never saw?" he asked after looking.

"Their scanners only pick up certain drugs and anything from a known pharmaceutical company is excluded. They ship for a semi-legitimate one so they're getting around it."

"Are they using magic to make sure no one looks?" he asked quietly.

"Not a clue," he admitted.  He looked at him.  "Will Danny be okay?"

"Yeah, once he's got some bruised knuckles."  He walked over and closed both doors, looking at him.  "Danny's dad is a thug, broke all the rules of the wizarding world thug.  Daddy wanted Danny to follow, introduced him to the wrong crowd for a bit in his times off school.  Sonny got arrested about a year ago and told Mac, who Danny hadn't told yet."  Gibbs winced at that. "Nothing major or anything but yeah.  Basically.  Sonny's trial is coming up.  Sonny wants Danny really badly."

"Abby said he called Tony, he sent her a tape this morning."

"How would he know Tony?"

"I suppose he would've went to save his friend.  He's the sort to take on a street gang to save his buddy."  He shrugged. "You'd have to ask him but that's my guess."

"Probably a good one," Don agreed quietly.  "Well, I have no idea where Sonny is, but I'm guessing Danny's going to be fine when he comes back.  Split lip, maybe a black eye, but bruised knuckles. Then Mac'll give him a few days off without pay, he'll go to Miami to help down there, maybe helping Kelly down there.  Then he'll come back like nothing happened when it's all done with."

"You think this trial is going to be over with that quickly?"

"Yeah, I do.  Sonny's a small cog in the larger pond.  He's not that bright, his lawyer could've used Danny being here for a lot more in the courtroom than getting Mac onto Danny's case here did.  He blew his wad way too early.  He's not very bright, he's got no planning ability, but he knows which other cogs his touch.  Which means the Feds want him to talk and he hasn't.  Others want to make sure he doesn't talk since his gang tends to work for the highest bidder and exists to cause problems with the minor businesses for them to clean up.  If Sonny opens his mouth, his days are severely numbered.  If he doesn't open his mouth, they're going to be paranoid that he will, hence his days being numbered."  He grinned.  Danny opened the door and walked in.  "You okay?"  He looked at his hands. "No bruises.  Couldn't find him?"

"Mac called and said if I touched him I was fired."

"Well, that could happen too.  I'd figure a few days unpaid," Don offered.

"No, he said that'd jeopardize the case and that's what he wanted.  He ordered me back here."  They shared a look.  "Jethro, I'm going to take Don down to the basement for a minute, okay?  We'll be right back after I'm slightly evil."  He walked off, taking Don with him, quietly telling him what he was going to be helping him do.  He had done it once before and Tony had helped.  That time had gotten him free.  This time, well.....  They'd have to wait and see how it went.

My Stuff.

Danny walked into his apartment and found someone waiting on him. "How in the hell did you get in?"

"You don't lock the door very well?" Don suggested with a smirk.  "Mac said, and I quote, Danny is not to be left alone.  Even if you have to sleep with him, he's not to be left alone where he can go after Sonny again.  So get your ass in here before I have to handcuff you to me tonight.  Not that I'm not cuddly or anything but I doubt you'd like it."

Danny shut the door, looking at him. "I'm not exactly a cuddlesome sort, Don."  He hung up his jacket and headed into his bedroom to change.  "Get dinner yet?"

"No.  What do you want since your fridge is bare?"

"I don't care.  Not Chinese."

"Deli, pizza, yak?" he called back, sitting on the couch in the good tv watching area.  Danny only kept the front part of the apartment for show.

"I've had yak, it was tough and chewy," he complained as he walked in wearing sweats and a t-shirt.  "Don't really wanna do it again."  He flopped down, looking at him.  "When did Mac give this order and did Gibbs end up going home or not?"

"He headed back to DC to coordinate the arrest.  Tony and Kelly are back there with him.  Speed's already called to say they're gone, he's on tonight, and it only took Eric ten minutes to hit on her."  Danny smirked at that.  "I told him what Mac had said.  He said you may be able to pick locks if you had your wand so you don't have it at the moment."  He held up the wand he had summoned with a bright grin.  "I'm not allowed to give it back until you go to work tomorrow, even if Speed and Gibbs show up."

"Give me," he said, trying to snatch it, but Don wasn't there.  "Oh, fuck, please don't splinch yourself," he moaned, getting up to find him.  He was in the kitchen, looking at himself.  "At least you didn't leave part of yourself back there.  Give me my damn wand."  He snatched it and ran a check over Don.  "Fine. You're good.  Now, the charm is apparatum.  Do it now, picture yourself back in there."  Don beamed and did it, making the little pop follow the cuteness of his happy grin.  Danny moaned and swished his wand. "Now, we do target practice.  Hop from there to the doorway, inside the open doorway."  Don nodded and did that, landing just where he wanted.  "Good boy.  Now, back to the kitchen, facing the fridge."  Don did that.  Danny disappeared, heading to a wizarding bar he knew.  Let's see how well Don had learned how to track.  He nodded at the bartender.  "I still got credit, right?"

"You do, Messer.  What's up?"

"Students are driving me nuts," he complained, sitting down at the bar.  "Flack just figured out how to apparate.  I snuck off."  He pulled the old phone over, calling Mac.  "I don't need a sitter, I'm having a beer."  Then he hung up and took his beer to sip, smiling at the bartender. "I'm not here."

"That's fine.  You sure?" he asked, giving a pointed look over his shoulder.

Danny looked then snorted and nodded.  "Especially not for him or his boss."  He took another drink, hearing the popping noise of someone coming in.

"Felix," Speed said smoothly, then someone yelped in pain.  "What are you doing back in New York?  Last I knew there was a federal warrant out for your arrest, my man."  He glared at him.  "Since I'm a cop, Tony's a Fed now, and Danny's a cop?"  The man got up and ran out.  "Good."  He slapped Danny on the back of the head.  "You worried Flack.  That's not nice.  He's trying to be good and behave."  He watched Danny grin sweetly and take another drink.  "He'll be back some other time."  He took Danny's wand and pulled out his handcuffs, cuffing Danny's hands behind his back.  Then he turned the handcuffs into portkeys, waving as he took off.  Danny would be in a bit of pain in his wrists and he'd definitely land on his butt on the floor when he arrived.  "Bastard."  He finished his beer for him, then headed back to Danny's place.  Flack had him laying on his side on the couch with the tv on.  "Nice job."

"Thanks.  Where was he?"

"An old wizarding bar he used to frequent.  The last time we all went was our post- graduation party and we paid about five hundred bucks and only drank three.  Oh, wizards and tequila are bad.  Repeat that.  The last time we had tequila, Tony ended up in Africa with a native tribe somehow.  I ended up in Miami on the beach, being drowned if I remember right.  Danny....it took us about three weeks to find Danny. He was on a beach in Mexico soaking up some girl's twat and humming about how natural tequila was so much better."  Don laughed at that.  "There is something about the magic that means tequila is always a very bad idea.  By the way, the tracking charm," he said, handing over Danny's wand and moving Don off to the side to teach it to him.  "Cast it and the last syllable is the apparating charm.  Got it?"  Don nodded.  "Good.  Practice your apparation.  Most of us popped around the house for weeks. I popped into the bathroom and scared the crap out of my mother while she was in the shower once."

"I got my sister," Danny said pitifully.  "Can't I please be unhandcuffed?"

"Switch out, I'm still on tonight."  Don nodded and went to switch them out, flipping Danny onto his stomach and kneeling just over his kidneys to produce just enough pain to make sure he wouldn't struggle during it.  Then he got his handcuffs on him and tossed Speed his.  "Thank you.  Call again if you need more help.  I'm off at ten."  He waved and disappeared.

"Can I at least be cuffed in a way that means I can sit up?"

"Nope. You were bad and you ran.  No way in hell I'm facing Mac down and telling him I lost you twice."  He swatted him on the head. "Behave."  He sat down beside him and flipped through the stations.  "Why don't they televise quidditch matches?"

"Because most traditional wizarding households only have radios.  It's on the WWN all the time.  Besides, if we did that, muggles would find out.  All we've got is our own home shopping channel."

"We do?"

"We do.  Turn the crystal on top of the tv until it's blue.  Then change the tv to channel 36."  Don got up to do that, changing the channel, flipping down to make sure nothing else came in.  One radio station was playing something but he grimaced and moved on.  "Weird Sisters.  All the rage in Britain."

"Not my sort of music."  He found the home shopping channel, finding it on the potions ingredients hour.  "You think Greg watches this?"

"No, he's got to go out and check everything by hand," Danny complained, wiggling until he could sit up. "What're you gonna do when I I have to use the john?"

"Either I'll handcuff you to me or if you give me too much shit, I'll make you sit down.  Not like I'm holding it for you, Messer."

"Bastard."

Don grinned at him.  "Me?" he asked sweetly.  "Run into Sonny?"

"His third-in-command was in the bar.  He came up to me then Speed made him take a run before I could hit him."

"Pity, but Mac said...."

"Bite me," he complained.

"Danny, it'll taint the case," Don said firmly.  "Sonny will soon be taking it up the ass in prison every day for the rest of his life.  Leave it there for now, okay?"

"Fine.  You tell Gibbs anything?"

"Enough.  He thought Tony might've went to face Sonny down to get you back."

"He and Speed ambushed them.  Set up a totally fake trap and got everyone in a body bind, then called the cops as they carried me off.  Still bound but off.  Sonny *hates* Speed, but thinks Tony should understand where he's coming from."

"I doubt Tony's father is a Godfather."

"No, but he's a business guy and Sonny insists he is too.  To him, I'm profitable."

"My Ma went through the same thing with the local gossip hogs about my career but nothing else like that.  If you want, you can borrow her."

"No thanks.  She still nagging you?"

"Yup.  Supposedly this means she can have grandbabies sooner since I'm around some very nice witches.  Expands my dating pool."

"Yeah," Danny snorted.  "Talk Stella into coming home with you.  Or maybe Luna.  It'd stop that."

"Luna might have her eaten and I like my mother, Danny!" he complained.

"She wouldn't have her eaten but she'd never beg for grandkids again."

"Maybe not but I don't want her traumatized that much. I do love my mother, most of the time."  They shared a look.  "So, why aren't you living it up at the old home place?"

"Can't stand it. It's ugly and nasty."

"I'm sorry."

"Yeah, but it sold well."  He tried to shrug and wince.  "Can't you just handcuff me to something?"

"Fine."  He got one cuff undone and handcuffed himself to Danny. "There, better?"

"Some.  Does this mean I'm using you as a pillow tonight?  And why are we watching them go on and on about the uses of newt's eyes when they're full of crap?  You can't use it as a substitute for that!"

"Why not?"

"Potions isn't like cooking. There's no easy substitutions.  Maybe someone like Greggy or Snape can, but I can follow the recipes.  I don't make substitutions because it can explode or do other funny stuff to you.  I don't need to turn into a green sludge monster this week."

"Has that happened before?"

"No comment."

"You or them?"

"No comment."

"Oh, come on, I need *something* embarrassing to make sure they treat my buddy right."

Danny looked at him.  "No comment and drop it."

"Fine," he said, starting to pout.

"That look only works on girls and I only top, even when I tried guys."

"I don't pout."

"You do pout, I can hang shit off your lower lip.  No puppy eyes either."  He looked at the tv again, taking the remote and flipping the station before using it to knock the crystal off the top of the tv.  "There, better."  He settled in to watch it.  His free hand was playing with his stomach, teasing the little hairs there as he watched the current episode of Angel.  "Ya know, vampires aren't that nice and they usually don't dress that well," he said finally.

"You mean they don't use hair gel and brood?"

"Nope.  Not that I've seen."

"Do they date blonde chicks, lust after cheerleaders, and little whiny boys like Xander?  Plus, do you think Alex knows about this?  He's gotta be shitting himself laughing at them."

"Not that I've noticed.  I haven't seen one in a few years though."  He looked at him.  "Ask Sheldon, he's seen one since I have."

"He has?"

"Well, they do die."

"Point."  He considered that for a moment.  "So, ME's know all about this shit, all the cool stuff and the wands and the vampires and all that stuff?"

"They have to deal with it.  I guess they take a special class when they become an ME.  Or maybe they pull each other aside and whisper it in the locker room.  Who knows, but a lot of ME's implant wood.  Sheldon did, he said so.  He also pointed out he's seen a few wands in his day thanks to personal effects."

"I hadn't thought about that."   He let it drop there, he'd think about it some night when he couldn't sleep. "So, can I get any sort of blackmail out of you on Speed and Tony?"

Danny just smirked at him.  "Don, they were there when my familiar had kittens and kept me from panicking.  They were there for me after my first time with sex, and Speed was in the next inch of bed if I want to get technical about it.  Tony was against the wall but he's always liked it a bit rough with the cuter girls.  They know shit on me and I know enough shit on them that we can take polyjuice and convincingly play each other, to the last moment of our lives.  I know shit on them that would make them freak if they knew I thought about it.  I know a few things they thought they could hide.  Unfortunately for you, I'm not going to tell you any of it.  I don't trash that relationship."

"Speed said you had a teddybear," he taunted.

"First, my grandmother sent it.  Second, not like I slept with it. I used to use it to hold pens and other contraband."

"Pens were contraband? You guys used quills?"

"Until my fourth year, yeah.  Then I figured out how to write it with a real pen and have the quill copy it.  Or I used a fountain pen.  Not the point.  I'm not trashing my relationship with them to give you blackmail to give to Gibbs or Mac, who'd pass it onto Horatio.  No way in hell.  Little things like how I made one of Tony's zits talk one night and we took pictures.  Nothing else."

"Oh.  Okay."  He pouted a bit more.  "Anything cutesy?  Like making them pay bets by wearing girls' clothes?"

"We turned Speed into a girl once but you already heard that."

"Nothing else cutesy that can make Tony and Speed blush?  They told me shit on you."

Danny grabbed the phone and dialed Speed. "Who told him about the contraband hiding spots?" he demanded.  He got a laugh and hung up on so he called Tony. "Did you two really want me to spill stuff to Don?"  He listened to the more reasonable voice of teasing.  "Yeah, sure, make me mention Maria?"   Tony quit chuckling.  "Or what's-her-name in Mexico?"  He smirked.  "Now, you guys told him what?"  They got a rundown.  "Oh, I'm so telling him about Cynthia then."  He hung up and glared at him. "Tony once nearly ended up kissing someone with lepersy.  Admittedly Speed tricked him into it, and we were heavily drunk, but he was so shitfaced he couldn't see anything.  I ended up saving him at that time by screaming like a little girl at some unknown rat-like thing.  It made her run off so he was safe.  Never take three drunken kids to the carnival on Coney Island.  It gets bad."  Don was still gaping.  "Oh, and we did get Tony into a dress, in male form."

Don giggled.  "Why?"

"He was trying to woo this really pretty girl who said she'd only date someone in a skirt so he dressed up and went to hit on her again.  He looked pretty good in drag.  If I knew where the rest of my stuff from school was, I probably still have the picture.  As long as it wasn't destroyed.  Can I have my wand back?"  It was handed over and Danny grinned, standing up and taking Don with him to the old home place.  He looked up, hearing people moving. "You had better be the cleaning crew I hired!" he bellowed.  "NYPD otherwise!"  Someone came to the top of the staircase and looked at him.  "You are?"

"Your father hired us to come pack some of his personal effects, sir."

"Yay.  Nothing of mine goes.  I don't care what they ordered and I check everything."  That got a quick nod and he disappeared.  Danny looked at the cuffs, then at Don.  "I'll be good."  Don pulled out the keys and released him, putting the handcuffs in his pocket.  "Let's see."   He said a quick tracking charm, finding his stuff.  It still resonated of his and Speed's touch since Speed had helped him pack it.  He headed for his old room, seeing it cold and empty.  "Did you guys pack this one?"

"No, sir, it was like that.  The shielding charm is on the closet and the attic."

"Thank you."  He broke the charm in there and looked at the boxes.  "Yes!"  He got down to look inside, smiling at what there was.  "My former crap."

"Alex taught me how to make portkeys for things," Don offered, moving forward to do that for the whole stack of boxes, sending them to Danny's place.  They scoured the rest of the house, Danny taking a few other things, then they headed into the attic.  Up there he found some more stuff he wanted and sent it home as well.  They came back down and Danny checked all the suitcases.  "Danny, what about the information on what your father used ta do?"

"That'd either be in the stuff he had hidden in my room or his office but the shield on it's set to his blood."

"Then we can break that with yours," Don assured him, leading him down that way.  He looked at the guys. "Were you supposed to be in there?"

"No, sir.  The Vinese said to leave that room alone and anything else pertaining to it was to be sent to you to either cover up if it included magic, or to be destroyed."

"I'm a cop, I don't destroy evidence," Danny assured him.  "You can tell her I said that.  Cover up magic yes, destroying evidence no."  He let Don take his hand and prick his finger, watching as the shield warped around his finger.  Don spread his blood around in a pattern and it pulled back totally from the door.  He checked and broke the other shield, then they went inside, leaving the door open.  "Will it come back?"

"Yeah.  It might even self-destruct if we don't get shit outta here."  He looked around, sucking on his top lip for a moment.  "Call Mac?"

"I doubt he wants to deal with this."

"It's evidence."

"It's his night off."

"So?"  He shrugged.  "Find anything dealing with yourself, Danny, I'll call Mac and see what he wants ta do."  Danny nodded and went to scour the office for anything on himself while Don leaned against the wall to call.  "Don't forget the computer," he ordered as the line connected.  "No, he's staying out of trouble.  We came to his old place to pick up anything he had stored here and broke into his father's office since someone was packing up their stuff.  Yeah, well, I'm not sure it won't be destroyed, Mac.  The shields were pretty fierce and blood related.  I had to break one and warp the other.  Sure, know where it is?"  He looked at Danny.  "We're near Battery Park?"

"Nope.  We're at home.  Battery Park was his mistress.  When she died, he took over her place for work things.  Last I heard it had burned last year."

"Okay."  He listened and nodded. "Yeah, that's probably the home address."  He tossed the phone to Danny then went to look in all the filing cabinets.  He found a few with Danny's name on them and glanced at them, then tossed them at him.  "I don't want to know that stuff, Messer."

"I was forced to be there and I didn't partake.  Thank you."  He looked in there and snorted.  "Totally made up shit."  He read farther.  "I was two when this one happened, Don.  This isn't me.  It must've been one of his guys."  He put it back.

"Here's one with your birth certificate.  So that's when your birthday is," he said dryly looking at him.  "And your complete file from your teenage years.  Including grades."  Danny snatched that to look through, smiling at something. "What?"

"The only time I ever got rewarded.  I passed Defense as tops in my year.  Usually that was Tony."  He put it in front of him and got to work on the computer.  His password was right next to it.  Someone pounded on the door.  "Who is it?" he yelled, leaning out of the office but not leaving just in case.

"Me!" Timmy yelled.

"S'open."  He walked in.  "I came to get some of my school stuff and found them packing my parent's shit.  We're cleaning out his office."

"You could be risking....."

"That's why we called Mac," Don interrupted.  "Quit throwing a hissy."

"Fine.  Anything that's overtly noting magic?"

"Nope."  He went back to his search, then back to the doorway.  "What?"

"He said if we ran into you to please ask you politely for the three pictures on his desk," he said respectfully.  "Plus the big one in the dining room."

"Timmy, check that one for contraband, I'll do the ones in here."  He checked all the pictures on the desk, finding some had money, some had diskettes, and one had something he wasn't sure he wanted to know about.  But the pictures were handed over to him, getting a nod.  "Anything else?"

"He did say not to inhale the powder, sir."

"Point taken.  Thank you."

"No, sir, thank you."  He left with the stuff, heading back to the Vinese's house so she could check it as well.

Danny got back to work cleaning any signs of magic out of the office.  Mac and Stella got there a bit later with another officer.  Danny looked at him and he pulled his wand.  "Cool.  My father's office.  Don thinks it'll burn if and when I leave."

"We searched the other place but I can't break the hidden spot charm there."

"Get me on my day off," Don agreed from his corner reading Danny's life file.  Danny came over and took it back.  "Hey, Stella, did you know when his birthday was?"  He snatched it back with a triumphant smirk.

"No, he never told me."  She came over to sit down next to him and look through it, then at him.  "Got stuck?"

"Like I wanted ta be there," he said, taking it from her.  He sat down on top of the file this time, glaring at them.  "You've got evidence of multiple crimes all around the office, guys.  Oh, Mac, don't inhale the powder.  It's probably poisonous."

"Fine."  He put on some gloves and bagged that first, then got to work confiscating everything they could.  This was going to be very helpful to someone and gathering this wouldn't take that much time.

***

Mac faced down Timmy two days later, just staring at him for a moment before he put a file in front of him.  "Do I have to tell you where that came from?"

"He knew about us, Mac.  He paid well and we're paid shit."

"So?  You're still a cop and working for Messer Sr. isn't what I'd say was on the approved second job list."  He leaned forward.  "Tim, we've got to hand this over too.  I don't hide evidence."

"You let Messer have his file!"

"Danny's file had things like his birth certificate and his grades. Don got it first.  Danny made sure he got it first and Don doesn't cover stuff up for anyone either."  He stood up.  "You've got about two choices at the moment, Tim, and neither one is very good. With a couple of exceptions it said you were doing subcontracting work for him.  Those few exceptions are what's going to bite you on the ass.  One says that you fixed a case for him."

"The was no evidence anyway."

"Then I want you to call your boss and meet him somewhere.  Maybe they can help you.  Maybe not.  The OCB detective went through this first...."  He saw him relax.  "He's already put a call out to IAB, Tim.  Yours wasn't the only one we found.  Yours was probably the only wizarding cop we found, but still."

"You'd do this to my career?"

"If I found things like this on Danny I'd be kicking him then firing him," he noted.  Timmy swore and stomped out.  "If you talk to your boss and he agrees, then that's up to you, but I'm not hiding it," he called quietly. He got flipped off. "I'm sorry, but you knew the risks."  He sat down again, looking at the file.  Then at Danny's file.  There was a sheet missing.  His father had numbered them on the back.  He called Danny in, watching as he shut the door.  "There's a sheet missing in your file."

"Yeah, there is."  He pulled it out of his jacket pocket and handed it over. "The stuff I witnessed.  Notice I said witnessed, not participated in."  Mac nodded, looking up at him.  "The rest of the file said Sonny was to do what he hadn't been able to do, to mold me into his spitting image.  That was Sonny's training regimen."  He licked his lips.  "I was juvie at the time, I didn't do anything during it but be forced to watch, a lot of the times by force.  If you want me to I'll explain that to whoever."

"Danny, this is uncomfortable for both of us."

"No, ya think?" he asked sarcastically.  He calmed himself. "I didn't do anything wrong and I had ta be saved from Sonny, Mac.  Not like I wanted to be there, I just couldn't get free when I wasn't in school.  He even tried to keep me out of the school once but Tony's dad got me there when he called to see why his son was moping about me going to another academy.  So it's your call."

"They'll realize the page is gone, Danny."

"You've got it.  I remember what I saw."  He turned and walked out, going to find the IAB guy coming in.  Well, female in this case.  He nodded.  "My father and them fled the country," he told her.  She smiled at that.  "He left me in charge of his shit at the house.  So I raided the office."

"Is there a file with your name on it?"

"There is.  There's also mention of how he wanted someone to mold me in his image so he got me into a street gang as a mascot and they made me watch shit. By force.  Mac's having one of those flinching when he sees me moments."

"I see."  She walked out, following him back to the office.  "He came to me about the file his father kept on his training?" she said delicately.  Mac groaned.  "Please.  Before I have to get mean."  It was handed over. "Those notes are in there?"  Danny picked them up off the desk and handed them to her.  "No wonder."  She looked it over.  "It said you were forced to watch.  He kept notes on this?"

"He kept notes on what his people did to track stuff," Danny admitted. "That's what most of the boxes are.  I got saved because two of my friends faced down Sonny."  She looked at him.  "Up to you, lady."

"Well.  You were how old when you got saved?"

"Seventeen."

"I see."  She sat down in one of the desk chairs, looking over the list again.  "It says you participated in a heist?"

"No, I was in the van tied up.  That was Sonny's version of participating for me.  The only incident they drug me in during was this one," he said, pointing at one.  "Then I was forced to cooperate or they were going to hurt me and my sister.  One of the guys was dating her so she was waiting at his house."

She nodded, making notes of that.  She looked at him.  "It doesn't look the best but you're being honest and the notes back you up.  We'll see what the others say."  Mac coughed and handed her a file.  "Who's this?"

"A union rep to a smaller, speciality union," he offered quietly. "I advised him personally to call his boss about this since it looked like he hadn't done very much for him and I'm part of that union, as is Danny."

"All right. Where is he?"  She looked.  "Oh, Tim."  She nodded and stood up.  "He always took a lot of joy coming down to deal with Hillborne over one of you guys."  She looked at Danny, then at Mac.  "I'll see what I can do since it doesn't say he helped, he was a juvenile, and he's cooperating this way.  Danny, stay in the city?"

"I've got plans to visit a friend in DC later this weekend.  Just an overnight thing.  I can be reached and found.  He's a Fed."

"That might not look very good on him."

"He's one of the guys who saved me."

"Oh.  Then he knew?"  Danny nodded.  "All right.  Let me look over this information.  I should have something figured out by this weekend."  She walked off, files clutched to her chest.

Danny leaned out.  "I need the rest of mine back please.  It's got my birth certificate and stuff."

"If I can, Detective."

"Thank you."  He looked at Mac again.  "I didn't expect you to cover for me, Mac.  I don't expect it outta anyone in this department."  He walked off, going back to work. He still had cases to work on.

Mac put his head down with a moan of complaint.  This day couldn't get much worse really.

***

Stella found Danny later that night in the lab, tapping on the wall before she walked in.  "Danny?" she asked quietly when he stiffened.  "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine.  Why wouldn't I be fine?"

"You're missing your buddies?"  She walked in and gave him a gentle hug but he shrugged her off.  "I know it's hard," she said gently.  "The lady from IAB was saying that your file lists you as being forced.  Hillborne snorted but read it over very carefully.  Then he stomped off looking pissed.  He and Mac are talking."  Danny looked at her.  "You can go lurk."

"I can cast an eavesdropping spell too.  Right now, I don't care."  He shrugged and got back to work.  "I need to clear this one no matter what, Stell.  Thanks."

"Can I help?"

"They might say I tainted you, Stella."

"I doubt anyone could even think that," she said more firmly, moving to the table to help him look at the evidence.  "Are you sure it's a homicide?"

"Yeah, slug to the brain," he said, shoving over a picture.  "Twenty-two.  It's kibble so we can't get a ballistics match.  Bullet composition said it was hand-packed but that doesn't help us much until we figure out who did it."  He went back to studying lab reports.  "Apparently he was into teas for his health.  He's got a few of them in his system.  Sheldon said they couldn't produce anything harmful."  He handed that one over.  "Also, he had sex before he died but for some reason it doesn't seem right that she did it.  The neighbors who heard the shot said they saw a guy running and it's definitely vaginal contributions that they found on him.  Along with the condom."  He looked at her.  "The neighbors said he wasn't dating anyone that they knew.  He was a bar pickeruper.  So it could be jealous boyfriend or husband, maybe even brother protecting a reputation, but that doesn't feel right either."

"Gut instinct is good but we've got to back it up with evidence," Mac said from the doorway.  "Anything solid?"

"The bullet was kibble but hand-packed.  There's so few of those in the city, ya know?"  He gave him a look.  "He drank tea, he picked up in the bars.  Nothing at the moment."

"That's fine.  Go home and rest, then come back and start again, Danny.  Hillborne said he wants to talk to you tomorrow so you'll have to be here in the labs, but you're not suspended."  He walked inside.  "Practice?"

"Is at eight."

"Fine."  He clapped him on the back, looking over the pictures.  "Was the bullet post- mortem?"

"No, COD," Danny admitted.  "The choking and that stuff happened as he died.  So they tapped him in the back of the head and it wasn't good enough, so they tried again."

Mac nodded.  "Not the first time.  What did the bruises tell you about the hand?"

"Overlapping," he said, mimicking it.  "Smaller hands.  Again, I'm thinking woman, probably the one he had sex with, but the people saw a man running."

"Could it have been a big woman?"

"Mac, he was naked, it was a guy."

"Oh.  Never mind."  He looked at the lube composition.  "That's not natural."  Danny looked.  "That's a preservative, right?"

"Yeah, consistent with KY.  I already checked that."

"No, I know what he's thinking, I'm going psychic again," she teased at Danny's odd look.  "There's a new lube out that's part female vaginal fluid.  It's for the trannies who aren't open about it but are letting their men think they're female."

"Eww."

"It's a specialty item down in the Village.  I remember hearing about a rape case that had a sample of it last year."

"Would the store be open this late?"

"Yeah, probably, but I don't remember which store it was.  Let me call my source over in SVU and see if they remember, I'll pop by in the morning to get some since I live off that way.  That way it won't piss Internal Affairs off any more than necessary by you not being in here."  She pinched him on the cheek and smiled. "Okay?"  He nodded. "Good.  Don's staying at your place again tonight.  That way you can't do something more stupid."

"I didn't do anything stupid."

"You went out for a drink and ran into one of Sonny's guys, Danny, yes you did," she assured him.

"He did?"

"Speed warned me," she offered with a small shrug.  "He was only gone for about ten minutes."  She pinched him again.  "I'm getting apparation lessons this weekend, Danny."  She walked off, going to change and go home.

Danny looked at him.  "Are you doing them for her?"

"I can.  How did Don learn it?"

"Accidentally before I got him last night.  I slipped off while he was practicing.  I only went to a wizard's bar for a beer."

"Fine.  Don't do it tonight.  I want you in the house, with someone who can verify you were there and not out destroying Sonny or any evidence.  Oh, Sonny got arrested today on his fifty outstanding speeding tickets?"  Danny just gave him the most smug look.  "Good job on the misfortune hex," he said quietly.  He left, heading back to his office to call Don and make sure he could handle another night with Danny.

***

Don opened the door, looking at the stacks of boxes.  "You know, we could go through them tonight," he offered as he walked in.  No answer.  "Danny?"  He headed for where he usually sat, in the corner in the library.  That's where he found him, looking through a photo album.  He walked around to look at it over his shoulder.  "You were so young," he offered quietly.  Danny started and glared at him, closing it.  "You want help cleaning up the boxes?"  Danny shrugged.  "Can I see?"

"Nope."

"Please?"

"No."

"You were a cute kid."

"I'm cuter now.  Drop it, Don."

Don made Danny look at him.  "We're buddies and I just wanna see if I can spot the scrapes and bruises.  Besides, I like watching wizarding photos move."  He gave him a gentle smile.  "You can see my baby pictures if I can steal 'em from Ma if you want.  I don't mind."

"I do."

"Fine.  Be protective of your past.  Not like I don't know some of it.  It hasn't mattered to me yet, Danny."  He sat down on the arm of his chair, tapping the album.  "What years was that?"

"Baby through sixth grade, right before I started the academy."

"Did you get to go to a normal school?"

"Catholic.  So a lot of pictures of me in ugly uniforms."  He handed it over.  "Fine.  You're not getting into the later ones."

"Okay."  He switched places with him, looking at the younger Danny, the one who grinned that silly, slightly insane grin in almost every picture.  "Baseball?"

"I played it at the catholic school," he admitted quietly.  "I went back to it after I fell and killed my wrist that way.  I pitched with my other hand."

"I noticed that it was your off hand for batting."  He flipped the page, smiling at the scruffy little guy with the fish in his hand. "Where was that?"

"Lake Tahoe.  A business trip I got to go on."  He pointed in the background.  "That was Tony's dad's cabin.  I saw another kid on the beach that day but I could never be sure if it was him or not since he was a blond at the time."  He flipped forward a few pages.  "That's one of my favorites.  That's my Ma and my sister."

Don smiled at the happy girls hugging Danny and his bike with a bow on it.  "First real bike?"  Danny nodded.  He tapped the sister's face.  "I've seen her somewhere."

"You have.  She managed to marry an absolute shitbag but he wasn't in the life.  So I see her now and then for lunch. She nagged me for years about taking my wand back up.  She thought I could stand against my dad and Sonny both with it.  I'm a badass, but not that bad."  His cell rang and he answered it.  "Yeah?"  He listened, frowning a bit.  "I don't know, Stan.  Would it help?  If not, go ahead and use me for cover.  Sure."  He grinned.  "Tony's got a few if you need one."  He smirked.  "Not a problem, Stan.  Be safe."  He hung up.  "He's getting hit on and Tony's not playing the proper boyfriend role."

"You're probably a very attentive and spoiling boyfriend," Don teased, going back to the book.  He found one last picture, and it was an older Danny.  He was stretched out on a couch reading then looked up at him. "When was this one?"

"I don't know."  He looked at the book.  "That was the junior year Creatures' book.  Could've been anytime that year or the next two."  He handed it back.  "It was probably taken by Ma.  She used to sneak around and catch me reading and stuff. The only one she didn't take was when she found me in my room with a girl."  He shrugged and stood up.  "I should unpack and move the other boxes. At the very least I've got books and clothes in there. Maybe something'll fit me."  They went out to heft the boxes into the proper rooms to go through them.  Someone had marked what was inside them.  They each took a box and sat beside it to sort through it on the floor.

Don came up with an envelope and looked inside.  "Whoa."  He held up the cash. "It says emergency fund?"

"Yeah, my running away to live with Tony or Speed fund.  I thought I took that with me when I went to college."  He shrugged it off.

Don did a quick count.  "Danny, there's fifty large in here," he said, handing it over. "I doubt that was *your* emergency fund."  He dug further into the box.  "Cute plaid skirt too," he offered, holding up the plaid miniskirt.

"That's my sister's crap," he said, taking it and putting it back into the box.  Then he called his sister. "I cleaned the stored stuff in my room out of the old place and came across some of your stuff.  You want it?  Oh, I don't know, your emergency fund maybe?"  He listened, frowning.  "What do mean it's mine? It was in a box with a skirt."  He groaned and held his head.  "What did he take from me?" he asked quietly, sounding impatient, but oh well!  He listened and nodded.  "Who was she?"  He took the phone into the library and found his yearbook, finding her picture.  "Who was she?"  He went stiff.  "That mother fucker," he muttered.  "Thank you, dear."  He hung up and called the number he had been given in Venice. "May I please speak with the Vinese?" he asked politely.  "I am calm!" he snapped.  "My fucking father removed memories from my head!"  He calmed himself again.  "Vinese, this is Daniel Messer.  Yes, there's a small issue.  When I was cleaning my stored possessions out of their house, I came across things that pointed to him having removed memories from my head.  Oh, I don't know, women's clothes, fifty thousand dollars, a few pictures.  My sister said he did. Thank you."  He hung up and turned, hitting the wall.

"Who was she?" Don asked from the doorway, handing over a picture.  "I can call Greg to see if he knows how to break memory charms."

"It won't do any good.  He removed the memories.  They're in a pensieve somewhere else."  He looked at him. "Apparently I had a girlfriend right before I graduated.  We were serious, she got knocked up.  I have no idea where she is.  That's what my sister said."  Don swallowed and nodded.  "I've got her name but she's from a pureblood family as well.  She could be anywhere."

"There's no way to search something like alumni rolls at the school?"

"I don't know if they keep them."  He found the number for the school in the yearbook and dialed it, smiling when it went through.  "I'm a graduate a few years back and I just found out I've been made to forget someone very important in my life, like my near-wife.  Do we keep alumni rolls so I can see if I can find her?"  He nodded a few times.  "I understand.  I can give you her name?  Daphne Balliston?"  He sat down.  "Yes, this is he.  No, I just found some of her stuff.  Do you know anything?"  He held his forehead, listening.  "Did he get anyone else, like my buddies?"  He nodded.  "Thank you."  He hung up and held the phone out. "Call your sister and ask her?" he pleaded.  "He got Tony and Speed too."

Don walked in and took the phone, dialing her house.  "I know it's late," he said at her snapping.  "Sit."  She said something smart.  "Danny just found out about someone named Daphne Balliston?"  She moaned.  "You wanna give it to me or him?" he asked patiently.  "So?  You can come see me, and probably him, play quidditch next weekend on the PD team.  Oh, you haven't spoken to Ma.  They missed me on purpose, Ma said so."  He grimaced. "Yeah, well, they still dit it."  He nodded, going to find some paper and make notes.  "Would anyone know what happened?  His parents got their asses kicked by the Vinese."  He listened to that explanation and nodded once.  "Okay. What do I tell him?  He's just now found out."  He nodded.  "Thanks."  He hung up and looked back in the library.  Then he called Speed.  "It's me.  No, not escaped.  What do you remember about a Daphne Ballliston?"  He winced at the shouting.  "He cleaned out his assorted stored stuff at the old house."  He nodded, looking over as Danny padded out and took the phone.

"Who was she to me?  Dad admitted he got all of us and the school backed it up."  He listened.  "How do you know?  Oh, they do?  Wonderful."  He listened to the story.  "So how did she die, Speed?"  He slumped and nodded. "No hope of it being a false report?"  He nodded. "Thank you.  Yeah, Don found some of her stuff and an envelope marked emergency fund."  He smiled at that explanation. "Thank you."  He hung up.  "Fucking death eaters."  He stomped back in there to go through the box.

Don calmed himself down and followed.  "You okay?"

"Nope."

"Okay.  You want a beer?"

"No.  Not right now."  He finished going through the box, finding a few pictures between some outfits.  He looked at them, not even a tingle of familiarity.  He looked at Don.  "That was her."  He handed it over. "That was my senior year."  He got back to the box, putting the rest of it aside, re-sealed as well.  Don handed him the cash once it was sealed.  "Don...."

"It's money, Danny, and it's something that you can put away somewhere safer.  Let me guess, that was your elopement and ring money?"  Danny nodded.  "I'm sorry."

"Me too.  I don't remember her.  At all. I remember her being there, but nothing about her."

"Maybe he didn't want you to suffer," Don offered quietly, patting him on the back. He sat beside him, handing the picture back.  "Mourn and then move on.  It was a long time ago, even though it's a new hurt.  My sister said your father told the whole house why he was doing it and to not prompt the memories.  That it was kinder since you were about to marry and you were suicidal according to him.  She said Speed disagreed, but your mother made him see it her way."  Danny sniffled and nodded, looking at the money.  "Would she want you to suffer?"

"No, probably not.  Not if it was love."  He looked at him.  "If I could remember her, I'd be so much happier."

"She said it was right after you fell, Danny, that it was too much for you to take."  Danny nodded, looking down at his lap again.  "If we could stop the bad things from happening, we would.  At least no one else will ever be suffering at the hands of the Death Eaters."  Danny nodded at that.  "You want me to push the boxes out of the way so you can go ta bed?"

"No, I'll be okay.  I need to go through this stuff."  Don nodded at that, pulling his box over to help him work on it.  "Think that's the only one of her stuff?"

"I don't know.  We'll have to wait and see," he offered. "Only one way to find out."  Danny nodded, digging back into his clothes and effects from college and high school.

***

Don stopped in Mac's office.  "We opened the boxes of his stuff last night. So he's wearing clothes he used ta wear in college."

"Good.  He could use a few new outfits."  He looked at him.  "Did he have a bad night?"

"Yeah, but not too terrible.  He'll be fine."  He straightened up.  "We've still got practice tonight.  Should I warn the coach about this stuff?"

"I've already called him and told him what's going on and who's on his ass, but that he's not in trouble so far.  He's called the other team members, who agreed that he'd get looked at funny for his last name alone.  Much less when he turned over information on his family.  A woman named Magdaline called and said to watch out for him if he was going through his old stuff.  Any idea why?"

"Memories of his past and the fall and stuff I guess," Don offered.  It wasn't his place to tell Mac anything about Daphne.  "He seems okay.  A bit tired and snappy but okay."

Stella whistled.  "Look at you, Danny.  New clothes?"

"Stuff I had stored," he offered with a small smirk.  "Since I'm in the lab I can do a bit nicer today."  He held out his arms and turned around.  "Like it?  I wore it on my college interview."

"You look nice.  Is that silk?"  She fingered the blue shirt's sleeve.  "Ooh, it is.  Very nice.  Pants?"

"Silk too," he offered smugly.  "Gotta love it when you can still fit into your old clothes."  He looked at Don.  "What's up?"

"I asked if the coach knew about your interview problem later today.  Mac said he told him and that Magdaline called and asked him to make sure you were okay.  Most of the team had a 'well, duh' moment about this stuff."

"Makes sense ta me too," he admitted dryly. "I handed over the information; of course they want to talk to me.  We still on for practice tonight?"

"Yup.  Call if you're going to be late and I'll drive?"  Danny nodded, accepting that.  "Then I'm off to face down my boss, who wants me to be a typing slave."  He walked off smiling and happier.  Danny would be okay.

"Danny, are you all right?" Mac asked, coming out to join them.

"I'm fine, Mac.  Just some bad memories and partial memories."  He raised an eyebrow.  "Yeah, of that sort.  Apparently my ex died right after I fell thank to some idiots in robes and hoods.  It got taken from me by my parents."

"I'm sure it was a thoughtful move on their part," he offered quietly.  "You can talk to me if you want.  You know that right?"  Danny nodded.  "Then my office is open. Stella, any luck on that lube?"

"Yup.  I dropped a small sample pack off with the tech so they can compare it."  She smiled at Danny.  "He looks really good.  I can't fit into some of my college stuff."

"Me either.  I gained a last inch and a lot of muscle since then."  He smiled at Danny.  "You do look nice today."

"Thanks."  He walked off, going to work on his case until someone came to get him.  It's not like they wouldn't keep him waiting as long as they could.  It was their feeble attempt at intimidation.  He found his lab coat from yesterday in the same spot and put it on so he wouldn't get anything on his clothes.  He looked good in this outfit.

***

Danny walked into practice an hour late, giving the coach a helpless look.  "Hillborne is dumb," he noted quietly as he walked past him.  His broom was handed over.  "Thanks.  Was it safe?"

"Very. You good?"

"Yeah.  When I was younger my father got me into a gang and made me watch 'em to learn the family business.  I got out and he didn't like it, hence me being disinherited.  Since I turned over information they wanted to talk about that stuff for hours on end.  I've been with him since lunch."  He mounted up and flew up there, then swooped down and tossed his shirt onto the bleachers.  Don tossed him his set of wrist guards.  "Thanks."

"They finally done?"

"They said for today.  Hey, coach, any word on Tim?"

"No, not yet.  Why?"

"My dad hired him as a guard for something and they were hounding him too."

"I'll call to check, Messer.  Just warm up and we'll go again."  That got a nod and he moved off to call Timmy.  "What the hell is going on?" he hissed.  He got the full story and winced, then nodded.  "Thank you.  Are you safe?  No, Mac doesn't let anyone off.  Not even Messer. He's spent all afternoon with IA."  He smiled and relaxed, nodding.  "Thanks, man.  Be safe.  Let us know where you're moving."  He hung up.  "He's fine, Messer, but he's switching cities on advice of his boss."  Messer nodded at that.  "You warmed up?"

"Enough.  I did my wrist stretches on the subway over."  He shifted on his broom, flexing his fingers and taking the bat Don tossed him.  "Thank you.  Let's go!"  The bludgers were released and he swooped down, taking his irritation with the PD out on them.  They soaked it up just like they had when he had been frustrated before a test.

Don grinned at him.  He knew Danny would be okay with some wearing out of his temper. "Hey, coach, uniforms?" he called.

"After we're done," he called back.  "Get back to work, Flack!"  They got to work, working together to save everyone else from the psychotic balls.  He smirked, proud of his team.  He saw Stella give Danny a few looks but that was fine.  She'd baby him later.

Quidditch

Danny looked over at Flack, who was fussing with his uniform.  "Stop it," he said quietly.  "I'm sure you've played some sort of sports in the past.  Same thing, only up on brooms."  He went back to his pre-game ritual.  He said a prayer and started to work on his wrists, rubbing liniment into them to make sure they wouldn't cramp up if they went long.  He got done with his rubbing and wiped off his fingers, then slid on his wrist guards.  He left them open for now.  The liniment was heating up and he didn't want to be burned or anything.  He stood up and pulled on an undershirt then his uniform shirt.  They wore blue, the same color as the NYPD uniforms, and the overrobe wasn't that badly fit.  He swung his arms, wincing a bit.  Never mind.  He took it off and did a few quick fitting charms to fit it to himself, then put it back on and nodded since it was looser.  He tied it closed and sat down again, flexing his fingers back and forth.  His phone rang so he answered it.  "Yeah?"  He listened, then smiled. "Arena.  Yeah, there.  We're changing now, we go to the platform in about ten minutes."  He looked around.  "Good, call Stella.  Make sure she's okay. They've got the girls in another room."  He hung up and looked at him.  "Aiden.  Your sister?"

"Already here.  She dropped me off."  He grinned at him.  "Your wrists okay?"

"They'll be fine, Flack.  Concentrate on yours."  He went back to making sure his hands would be okay, looking over as the coach came in.  He got given a hesitant look. "Liniment just in case, coach."

"That's fine.  You done?"

"Nearly."  He bent down to lace up his shoes, then stood up and did his wrist guards.  He looked at his brooms, choosing his old one. He frowned, something felt off.  "Do a check, coach."  He handed it over.

The coach took it out to the ref to check, getting another of the brooms just in case. Each team had their own broom case that was supposed to stay sealed. "Ref?"  He came over to check, frowning a bit.  "Messer noticed his," he said, pointing at the older one.  "I removed it from the case myself."

"I'll get someone in here to remove the charm."

"Thanks."  He went back there.  "Everyone, I need your brooms. They're checking for new tampering."

"I didn't think the fire department was that desperate," Don joked, handing his over.

"They're not but it wouldn't be the first time.  We've got a prankster around here who likes brooms."  He took them out, then went to get the women's brooms.  The other coach had his out there too.  "Can we play?"

"I need someone with more finesse," the ref offered.

Danny walked out and called Greg. "I need someone who's good at removing charms on brooms.  We've got a prankster who did both teams' before the game. The arena in New York.  Yeah, there, thanks, man."  He hung up.  "Half an hour at most."  The ref gave him an odd look. "I know some friends who play."  He looked at his coach.  "Stella?"

"Bundle of nerves."

He nodded, walking that way, tapping on the door.  "Stella, want a shoulder rub?  I need to stretch my hands."  She came out and hugged him.  "It's fine.  It's just like a longer practice, on with more people watching.  Now, sit and let me work on your shoulders."  She nodded and got a chair to sit in, letting him attack her shoulders.

"Do not wear out your hands, Messer," the coach ordered.

Don came out to take over, giving her a grin.  "You look cute in your uniform."  He heard a squeal and smiled at Aiden as she came over.  "Hi."  He gave her a hug. "Doesn't she look tough yet girly?"

"She does.  Nearly everyone looks hot in quidditch uniforms."  She kissed Stella on the cheek.  "I know you'll kick ass, Stella.  You are the queen of quidditch in this city.  Now, let's deal with your hair, sweetie."  She pulled a ribbon out of hers and got to work braiding Stella's hair with the ribbon so it stayed in place.  She got one wince but that was all right.  Then she took the rubberband off her wrist and tied it back. "There, that should keep it in place and out of your eyes."  She gave her a hug, then Danny and Don.  "Kick some ass for me, guys.  Make me proud.  I'll be between the two hot honeys and the new chick."  She hurried back to the stands when she saw a redhead coming their way.

"Forge," Danny said fondly.

"I'm Gred, Danny, get it right," he teased.  The ref swallowed and he smirked.  "Who better to remove a prank?  Besides, we played."  He checked the brooms, removing all the bad spells.  "Are self-polishing charms allowed?"  The ref shook his head so he took that one off as well.  "There you go.  This one's got a wonky flying charm," he said, holding up Danny's old broom.  "I don't know why.  Someone tampered deeper."

"I'll get your backup, Danny."  The coach went to do that, letting the ref and George Weasley check it for him.  Danny took it with a smile.  "We good?"

"We're good," the ref announced.  "To the platforms if you're ready."  He walked off to bring the balls out.

***

In the stands, Stan and Aiden were talking.  She noticed the nets coming up.  "What're they for?" Stan asked.

"Protection of the crowd," Tipsy said as she sat behind them.  "Hi, boys."  She smirked at Stan and pinched her on the cheek.  "You're adorable!"

"Draco's fixed, right?  Danny wanted to make sure," Speed asked, smiling at the young girl staring at him.  "Hi."

"You're scruffy."  She reached out to run a hand over his beard.  "It tickles?"

"Not me.  Girls say it does when I kiss 'em."  She beamed at that.  "Which one are you?"

"Joxer."  She grinned wickedly.  "I help let dragon loose."

"Yes, you certainly did," she sighed.  Tipsy shook her head and looked at the sons.  "You three behave."

"Sit with pretty woman!" Iolaus demanded, pointing at Stan.

"How 'bout next ta me, little guy?"  She lifted him over so he could snuggle into her side. "You can explain stuff to me, okay?"  He beamed and nodded, then grinned at Aiden.

"You're a little charmer," she teased, straightening out his hair.  She looked at Tipsy.  "I don't mind.  I'm Aiden, a friend of Danny and Don's."  She shook her hand.

"Tipsy Ramvette-Weasley."

"I love you, you give me sanity while I'm teaching potions," she said, giving her a hug.  "Thank you.  I'd kill my students otherwise."  She pulled back and smiled at the young boy poking her in the side.  "Sorry, did I squish you, Iolaus?"  He shook his head and took his own hug.  "Thank you."

Tipsy grinned at her son.  "He has good taste already."  She looked at her husband as he came back.  "Iolaus has nice taste."

"He gets it from us," he teased, kissing her. "After all, we realized that your beauty hid a wickedness that was better than even Greg's."  She giggled and kissed him.  "Make room for a daddy, guys."  The boys shifted apart, sitting on his lap.  "Thanks."  He grinned at his wife. "We'll switch out in a few."

"That's fine, dear."  She stroked his cheek.  "So, are they any good?"

"From what Alex said, yeah.  Bear even said Don had skills and he'd heard of Danny in the past."  The teams were announced and they watched, all the kids 'ooohing' and 'ahhhh'ing when they flew out.  "You guys can do that soon," he promised.  They smiled at him and got back to watching.

"So, this is like basketball on brooms with three hoops?" Stan asked Tony, who nodded.  "Okay."  She watched what was going on, listening to the announce go on about the balls and things.

"Regulation play is outside," Tony said in her ear.  "It's also a lot more fierce. You get more bumping and shoving."  Stan smiled and nodded, watching raptly as the PD team got possession and they took off, mouth slightly open.  "Speed was our keeper, that's the guy in front of the goals.  Danny always played beater, but I played chaser, like Stella," he said, pointing at her.  Stan nodded slowly, following it back and forth.  Tony grinned at Speed, who smiled back.  Then they cheered on their protege of evil and his teammate, Danny.

After all, someone had to watch out for Danny when they weren't around and they had to be at least as good as they were.

***

Aiden pounced Don as soon as they landed, taking control of his mouth.  "You looked hot," she whispered.  "Tonight, my place.  Or else I'll have ta start without you until I hunt your cute ass down."  She walked off, going to get ready for him.

Don beamed and hugged his sister.

"Please, don't slip me the tongue like she did you," she teased.  "You look good up there, Donny.  Very cute."

"Please, I'm the Man," he announced, smirking at her and his mother. "Hi, Ma."

"Don."  She kissed him on the cheek.  "You did look very manly."  She patted him on the cheek and smiled at Danny, who was surrounded by his friends.  "Introduce me?"

"Danny?"  Danny looked over.  "Ma, that's Danny Messer, my coworker and fellow beater."

"Former pain in my ass every day of my school career that we shared," Don's sister added, giving him a hug.  "Looked good again, Danny.  Happy to be back up there?"

"Very," he agreed with a grin.  "Thanks, Steph."  He ruffled her hair.  "Guys, remember the Mini-Flack?"

"Hey, Steph," Speed said with a smirk.  "I'm surprised you haven't pounced him for all the pranks Tony pulled."

"Why bother?  Tony will eventually come back and I can get him then."  She pinched Tony, making him yelp and rub his side. "Good, you deserve it for the frog smelling shampoo that time."  She hugged him. "I've missed you guys."  She smiled at Speed.  "Want one?"

"Sure."  He gave her a hug too.  "It's good to be back around the family.  Hey, H?"  Horatio came over.  "This is Stephanie Flack, Don's little sister. We used to torment her for ages on end.  Steph, this is Horatio Caine, my boss in Miami."

"Hi."  She smiled and kissed him on the cheek.  "For putting up with Speed's insanity without his drug of choice, Danny and Tony."  She skipped back to her brother's side, going to talk quidditch with him.

"Danny, beer later?" Stella called as she came out of the dressing room.

"You're on.  Bring some over," he called.  She smiled and nodded, going to talk to Tipsy and whichever twin husband she had on her arm, plus the kids.  She adored those kids.

"I'll see you later for a beer too," Don called, walking his family off.  "You guys too," he told Tony, punching him on the arm.  "Don't hit on my sister.  Let me kill her husband first."  Tony snickered and nodded.

Danny grinned at Stan, noticing how he was moving.  "Come on, you can clean up at my place, Stan."  She blushed and nodded, but Tony took her arm and took her there.  He looked at Speed.  "Let me change and get my other broom back to see if it can be fixed."  He disappeared to change out of his uniform and grab both his brooms to take home.  He came out and found Mac talking with Speed and Horatio.  "We're heading back to my house," he offered.

"I've got better beer and sanity at mine," Mac assured him with a grin.  "Go celebrate your first of many wins, Danny."  That got a grin and he disappeared with Speed.  "Come on, that way you can tell me about your nephew."

"He's a squib," he offered quietly.

"Are you sure?  With how they missed Don and Stella?"

"How would I tell?"

"Ask Danny to check."  He shrugged.  "I relate all such questions back to Danny.  I see myself as the benevolent boss watching over some mild insanity now and then.  I'm almost surprised we didn't see Gibbs or Grissom."

"Grissom said he's never seen a match."  He shrugged and followed Mac out to the car.  "Do you think Yelina would've stopped him from going to a school?"

"No, but I think Ray might've, Horatio.  You said he hated you for this stuff."

"Point.  I'll be checking him when I get home later tonight."  He smiled at him.  "It would be nice to have another wizard in the family."

"Yeah, it would be," Mac agreed, driving off once traffic had cleared up a bit. "I could use some of that too."  Horatio nodded. "Claire freaked the only time I took her to a match.  The bludger came near her and the beater as well.  She refused to ever watch another one or listen to it on the radio."

"I wish I could share a similar story but I haven't had anyone that serious in years. Anyone I dated was a muggle."  He shifted some, looking at him.  "How's Danny doing?  Speed said he had some problems this last week."

"He cleared out his father's office."

"Oh, that sort of problems."

"Yeah, that sort of problems.  He also found out his fiance was taken from by Death Eaters

right after he fell," he offered quietly.  "His father had his memories taken of her as fully as he could. He's had a roller coaster week all week, but it looked like he used the bludger to take it out of his system."

"At least he has an outlet.  Speed just rides his bike really fast.  Worries us to no end."

"If he's as good on a bike as he is on a broom, then he'll be fine."

"Even the greatest of the great fall, Mac.  Even Potter and Wood."

"They're training with Dumass so they've probably met them both.  I know we had breakfast with Harry a few times."

"You...had breakfast with Harry Potter?"

"And Ron and Dawn and the dragon and Draco," he agreed dryly.  "Harry's a sleepy morning person.  Draco's usually happy as long as he got his morning infusion of Alex.  Ron and Dawn are nauseatingly cute and cloying.  Touchy-feeling is too light of a description for those two.  Then again she's gone most of the time.  Lovegood is very strange and scary.  Ginny Weasley is interesting.  She's a reserve Valkyrie and she's got a mouth like a sailor at times. Keelian's a cute little baby dragon but he likes to shirt drive.  He did it to Stella, Ginny, and Dawn."

"Mac, perhaps I should drive," Horatio said calmly.  "Keeping dragons is illegal."

"He's the school's dragon. He adopted Ron in a bazaar in Rio."  He shot him a grin as he pulled onto his street. "Besides, we're nearly there."  He parked and got out, leading Horatio inside.  "Get comfortable.  Good beer, mediocre beer, or something stronger?"

"Beer's good.  Good beer is always appreciated."  Mac nodded and got them each one, handing his over.  "Where were you training those two?"

"Dumass Castle.  He ceded the manor house with the unicorns to the various aunts.  They were nagging about heirs last I heard, they wanted Catherine Willows to have it for him since she has a young witch of her own in Lindsey."

"Interesting."  He sipped his beer.  "Ron got adopted by a dragon?"

"Curse breakers draw trouble.  The more trouble, the better they'll be.  Plus they get physically sticky when they're leaking magic.  Don had to do an extra two weeks with Alex.  I'm surprised he didn't need a nap before the game.  Alex left him some tasks to continue his education.  From what he was complaining about the first one was that he could have anything he could free from the cavern, but no one could help him, especially not Danny.  We can only help him look stuff up or hint at what he's doing wrong."

"Sounds interesting.  What did he bring home?"

"A temper tantrum."  He grinned at him.  "Alex made it so he could unlock the cavern but he's got to do each thing separately. So he's working on learning his anti-lock and anti- sticking spells. Alex said he could go out on digs for his vacations, that way he could blow stuff up and attract his own dragon."

"Keeping a dragon is illegal," Horatio said again.

"Not in this country. We don't have a Ministry."

"Point," Horatio admitted, thinking about it.  "I know we've got a bad creature smuggling ring down in Miami.  I've had to bust them a few times and talked to the Ministry in Mexico about it."

"We call Canada for anything like that," Mac agreed.  "I'm not sure we could handle anything like a Ministry anyway.  Not with the purge still floating around."

"Wonderful.  I'm hoping they don't show up on my doorstep."

"They shouldn't," Mac offered.  "Not like you're young enough."

"True, but Greg told me they tried on him."

"Greg's still a young thing," he assured him. "Besides, he's a known potions master.  Not everyone knows about his alchemy stuff but he's a known potions master, about eighth on the world's top list." Horatio looked impressed at that, taking another drink.  "You and I would be the ones they got rid of as being useless since we're not in practice."

"I'd hope not.  I'd hate to have to kill some of your former bosses, Mac."

"Me too.  They'd be really pissed when I turned everything they taught me back on them."  Horatio smirked at that.  "I would.  Oh, how's that case going?  I haven't heard from Gibbs recently."

"They're transferring back up here, the paperwork got in before the block was widely known about," Horatio said dryly.  "We've narrowed their kills in Miami down and we're going back over it to make sure of any evidence we might have.  So expect Tony to be around a lot more often."

"He and Speed make Danny happy and odd.  It's good that he's happy, I don't mind Tony for that reason alone."

"Better you than me.  Speed apparently channeled Tony's playfulness one day.  Eric ended up as a basset hound to help him pick up girls in the park."  Mac snickered at that.  "I made him change him back but it still wasn't appropriate since they were in the office at the time.  We have just as many glass walls as you guys do."  They shared a look, then shook their heads.  "I have no idea why we got glass walls.  They're dangerous if something happens."

"As Greg found out."  Horatio made a quizzical noise. "You didn't hear?  Catherine accidentally left something underneath a fume hood and it lit.  It blew up the DNA and chem lab.  Greg had second degree burns on his back for months.  It was a few years back."

"Damn."  He finished his beer.  "At least he managed to heal and keep going.  He moved into the field after that?"  Mac nodded.  "Emilia knew?"

"They got together just after that," he told him.  "She would've freaked and killed everyone in her way to get to Greg.  She's got the classic overprotective consort veela issue. You know, Danny could use one of those."  Horatio cracked a smirk at that.  "He could.  Someone to protect and humor him, but who wouldn't let him get too odd?  It could be good for him."

"I won't tell him you suggested that, Mac," he promised, patting him on the hand.  "Kelly's doing fine," he offered.  "Calleigh taught her a lot about being a woman."

"Apparently not about wet panties with the way she was moaning and moving after the game."

"True," he agreed smugly.  "Then again, I'm sure if she wanted, Tony or Speed could take care of that for her."  That got a smirk and a nod.  "Maybe Danny would calm down if he had a real girlfriend."

"He's had a few over the years, they make him bouncy and happy.  Does he swing both ways?"  Horatio nodded.  "Any idea why?"

"From the way Tony and Speed were talking?  He likes cute young girls that giggle and act like cheerleaders.  For guys he likes someone more mature.  Speed noted that he thought Gibbs was cute in a 'tie you down and watch you wiggle' way."  Mac snickered at that.  "I didn't take him as one to take him up on it, but you never know."

"Yeah, you never know.  Maybe that's what he needs."  His phone rang and he groaned.  "Taylor," he answered.  He nodded a few times.  "That's fine.  Thank you."  He hung up and called Danny. "Your spell should've just been broken. You might want to make sure and let Hammerback let you see the body if it didn't."  He listened. "That is what I'm saying, Danny.  Thank you."  He hung up.  "Sonny Sassone just committed suicide," he said fondly.  "One less asshole yanking Danny's chain."  Horatio smiled at that.  "Want another?"

"Sure, I can toast to another criminal being gone.  Too bad he evaded the years of justice he'd get in prison."

"It's better this way."  He got up to get them another beer, handing Horatio his.  "So, I take it Miami's having to do without you and Speed today.  Bored?"

"Miami never closes, Mac.  Bite your tongue.  If we ever got bored, they'd start taking away my tech budget."  He pulled out a CD case from his pocket.  "This is what we've got in the lab and where we got the funds for any grants."  He handed it over.  "That way Danny can quit whining to Speed.  Kelly's old precinct apparently had typewriters."

"That had to suck."  He got up and put it safely on his desk then came back.  "Thank you.  We could use a new goodie quotient."  That got a smug look.  "Want to change labs?"

"No thank you. Some of your precinct looks like a catacomb."  He smirked a bit.  "Besides, I'd miss the sun."

"I could use some sun more often, but not as often as you guys get it."

"We do get a lot of sun," he agreed happily.

***

Danny beamed at Don as he walked into his place. "So, how was your dinner with the family?"

"Fun. Speed took video for Greg."  He beamed at him. "I looked hot up there and you looked okay too."  Danny threw a throw pillow at his head, making him laugh.  "Sorry, you looked good too."

"Damn right I did."  He smirked at him. "So, you're my guard tonight?"

"Sure am.  I figure we can get through the rest of the books tonight maybe.  If you want."

"Sure.  I could use them being shelved."

"Where's everyone else?"

"Tony took Stan home for a bit.  Speed got a call from Eric, who was pouting.  He wasn't so sure the case doesn't have to do with magic so he had to check it out.  If he's got time he'll be back tonight."  That got another nod and Don followed him into the library, helping him move boxes where they needed to go.  "I'm surprised you're not with Aiden."

"I've got a raincheck.  The military tried to raid the school again."  Danny stared at him, mouth slightly open.  "They're fine, they pushed 'em back, but they're having to check the school over.  She said one of the students was making exploding potions in the just in case and it worked very well all over the walls so she's cleaning it up at the moment."

"Is everyone okay?"

"Fine.  She said they showed up and tried to claim some of the kids.  Sirius and Spike met them and beat the guy's ass.  I called Abby so she could pass it onto Gibbs or whoever.  I figure someone's watching those things."  He answered the phone when it rang.  "Messer's pad."  He raised an eyebrow.  "Yeah, Greg, you need us, we're there.  Need me too?  On it, man."  He hung up.  "Everyone in Vegas is swamped and Greg just got handed a body dump by himself.  He's seeing at least twelve bodies."

"Crap."  Danny went to change clothes, tossing Don something to put on. "It's cold in the desert at night."  He slid into a light jacket then grabbed his case, checking everything.  He grabbed a few extra things, putting them into his pocket. Including new batteries just in case.  "Okay, we're going to portkey.  It's too far to apparate quickly."  He created one out of forensic journal he had been meaning to hand to Greg the next time they got together.  They landed a few minutes later and he gaped.  "Holy Mother of God, Greg."

Greg looked at him.  "Grissom said everyone else was busy and of course I could handle a body dump.  I told him I had multiple bodies and he said to do what I could for now.  Brass is coming with the ground sensing radar equipment.  I called the ME's office and he's bringing extra bags.  Hey, Don, thanks."

"Not an issue."  He looked around.  "How far out is your line?  You've got other bodies."

"I knew that.  I cast a telling charm.  I've got another cavity of bodies over there," he said, pointing.  He took the magazine Danny handed him and grinned, stuffing it into his case.  "Thanks for this, guys."

"Okay, you know the drill.  Take soil samples each new layer.  Separate any dirt out to the side, on top of a tarp if you've got it."

"Yup, already started that, but I'm about to uncover body thirteen."  He looked at them.  "I'm so far over my head."  Danny nodded, putting on some booties and gloves, handing others to Don.  They got down to help, Danny handing over his spare batteries when Greg's lantern went out.

Jim Brass finally showed up.  "You moved the line too far back, Sanders.  Um, you two are?"

"Messer and Flack, NYPD, in on special favor for Greg," Danny said, looking at him.

Don pointed at their left.  "There's more bodies that way."

"How many?"

"I'm not that well trained yet, Detective Brass."

"Just Brass is fine, Flack."  Don grinned. "Yeah, he's said a lot about you two.  Where do you need me, Greg?"

"Let's start by defining the boundaries of this pit and then we'll move to find the others.  I have the feeling there's a lot more out here and I don't know why.  Oh, I've already sent off the military once."

"Crap.  Where the hell is Grissom?"

"DB in a liquor store with Warrick.  Cath and Sara are on a call at a casino, a DB post-sex as they said when they walked out.  I'm in way over my head, Brass."

"You are, kid.  I'll call Grissom in a few when we've got a clearer body count.  If he's not here in a half-hour I'm going to scream."

"I owe you, man.  Thank you."  He got back to work uncovering that body.  Then he took a picture and moved to a new area when Jim flagged the boundary of the pit.  "Do we have more tarps?"

"Yeah, let me get one of the patrol guys to get some," he offered, using his radio. "Bring in more tarps, get the ME in here ASAP and if any other CSI show up, they're to be sent back.  We've got more than one pit of bodies."  He finished outlining that one then flagged the sole body he found just off to the side, then he found the start of a new pit.  "Hell.  These are older."

"Of course they are. If this many people disappeared at the same time, we'd have heard about it by now," Greg said bitterly.  "Don, do you have an estimate?"

"Sixteen, maybe seventeen?  I'm still in training, Greg."

"I know, but it's a good estimate.  Danny, can I have you start on the south edge and meet us?  Don, take the other side?"  He nodded and they both shifted over, letting him get the center and the more precise center work.  "Get some of the grunts in here, Jim?  Please?"

"I've already tried that.  They claim it's not their jobs."  He put down another marker.  "This one looks to be about the same size and depth," he offered.

"I told David we had at least twelve and I was still digging, to just bring a case of bags," Greg said bitterly, getting back to work.  He stopped and marked a ring, then took a picture.  He got up and went to use the radio.  "Guys, get your asses back here and help do the basic excavation or I'm telling the Sheriff," he ordered coolly. "We're nearing thirty bodies or more."  He handed it back and got back to work, shaking his head.  "Who's off tonight?"

"Nick."

"Damn it."  He called Grissom.  "Just an update, boss, we're up to about thirty bodies now. I'm borrowing CSI wizards from other places and another detective, plus we owe Brass majorly."  He hung up and got back to work, not caring that his boss had only grunted.  "I'm guessing he found bugs.  He didn't sound terribly into the phone call."

"Hell."  He looked around, spotting another area that had nothing growing on it.  "Want me to call out the cadets?"

"Only Grissom or Ecklie can do that," Greg noted patiently.  "You wanna wake Ecklie up?  I'll charm you fireproof," he offered with a grin for him.  A few of the uniforms came over.  "Dig that pit, don't get that close to a body.  Get down to the point where you can see outlines, then wait for instructions.  Another of you help Brass do the ground radar thingy."  They nodded and he got back to work, taking another picture.  "This is so going to suck.  Is Nick fit for fieldwork?"

"No," Brass said.  "He can dump pictures onto a laptop though."

"I can do that," Flack offered.

Danny looked at Greg.  "Flagging sectors?"

"Once we find all the body dumps I'm hoping we won't have to.  We'll number pits."  That got a nod.  "None of these bodies are fresh so I'm doubting we're going to get much from digging up the rest of the desert.  If we need to, we can do that tomorrow.  When we won't have to rely on field lights and an ever-patient ME's assistant."  He looked up as the ME's van drove up.  "Dave, bad news, man.  We're looking at least thirty."

"I brought a case of bags, Greg.  When you find a pit like that, you always find more according to Doc Robbins.  He's hoping it's old deaths."

"Some," Brass admitted, looking at him. "Let me call Stokes to do camera and light stuff."

"Thanks," Greg said, giving him a pitiful look.  "I feel like we're in _The Stand_."

"I saw that miniseries."  He called Nick, looking around. "Stokes, get to Sanders' crime scene.  He's got a massive body dump.  We've already got at least thirty and Greg's doing triage to get at the bodies.  Pit numbers and body tags.  He said we can search anything else later unless we find some really fresh stuff.  Everyone else is busy.  He called a few friends from the NYPD to come help."  He grinned.  "Yeah, well, it's us and Dave."  He smirked.  "He's busy at a liquor store.  Thanks.  Yeah, that's us.  Tell Emilia it's not dangerous."

"I'll need cuddles later," Greg ordered.

"He said to tell her he'll need post-traumatic cuddles later."  He smirked.  "She said that's fine. She'll make you breakfast."  He hung up.  "He'll be here within forty minutes."  He took the secondary GSR from Dave and got to work with another uniform on another area that had been cleared off.  "Another pit," he announced a few minutes later.

"Fuck," Greg complained.

"Hey, with this many bodies, you'll make level two within the solving," Dave offered, giving him a gentle smile.  "How long before I can start bagging, Greg?"

Greg pointed at the bodies he was uncovering.  "Let me get into the finer details and pictures, Dave."  He moved back to the first body while the others uncovered his scenes for him.  "Please let this be the mob and not the military," he prayed, looking at him.  "They were already here."

"I'll tell Doc and tell him we'll need a lot of dry storage."  He pulled out his cellphone.  "Doc, David.  Greg's uncovering bodies by the minute.  We're already over forty.  Yeah, I'm serious.  Because Grissom is out there with you.  He got Brass in on his night off and Stokes to come out to help too.  Plus a few guys from the NYPD that he knows.  Thank you."  He hung up.  "He said we'll find a spot for them."

"Good.  We'll probably end up assembly lining the fingerprints if we can get them," Greg said. He took a few more pictures, getting out of the pit to take a more wide-angle view.  "Okay.  Let's go ahead and move the first one even though it's a bit dirty.  That way any trace around the body can be gathered there.  We've got too many here to do it here and some of it is probably things like skin."  Dave nodded and reported that, getting an assent from his boss that it was a valid strategy.  "Mark 'em Pit A, body 1 through however many."  Dave wrote out the first tag and got the first body into a bag with some help from Don.  "Thanks, guys, seriously.  I can see Emilia screaming at me about not sleeping from this case."  He got to work uncovering the next set of bodies.

"We've got layers, Greg," David said quietly.

"I saw.  Top body then down, Danny, or is it full layer and then down?"

"Start top body, clear a few, then the middle of it.  Then you work layers on each side so you know how far you go."  Dave nodded and they got to work on that.  He called Mac.  "Hey, it's me.  Greg just pulled a multi-billion body dump in the desert and they're full tonight.  Don and I are in the desert with him.  Yeah, he probably could, Mac.  We're looking at at least forty bodies and we're still doing GSR sweeps."  He hung up.  "Mac and Horatio may be showing up in a few."

"Thank you, Goddess," Greg said, looking up.  He got back to work, knowing it was going to be a long, achy night.  "Jim, if you need to, you can leave," he offered, looking at him. "Just get me someone who's actually on tonight.  Please?"

"Sure, kid.  I've already called out there.  They're all out with the other ones.  They wanted to make sure it wasn't a cemetery."

"No, cemeteries are buried in neat little rows in coffins.  Besides, the last body had a rolex that was still working."  Brass snickered at that.  He saw Mac and Horatio appear off to the side.  "Hey, guys, got trowels and brushes?"

"Hell," Mac said, looking at the flags. "How many bodies per pit?"

"At least ten," Brass told him.  "Nick's on his way in, he's not cleared for field work.  It's my night off.  Everyone else has DB's in town.  They thought he might've been sent to an old cemetery."

"No, that's a body dump," Horatio agreed, taking some gloves from Danny's case and moving to help on the next pit.  "Officer, spread out to give me a bit of room to work please," he ordered.

"Sir, which city are you subbing from?" he asked quietly.

"Miami-Dade.  Mac is from New York.  He's Danny's boss."

"Thank you, sir.  We'll make note of who appeared out here."  Horatio looked at him.  "Like I care, sir.  I'm just happy I'm not being trapped out here with just one CSI, especially since he panicked at first."

"I don't blame him," Mac assured the kid, coming over to help Horatio.  "Jim, who's on for PD tonight?"

"All with Grissom and them.  DB in a cassino, a liquor store job.  We updated Grissom, he grunted."  Horatio sighed and nodded.  He heard an engine so he looked behind him.  "Nick!"  He waved him in, watching him jog in.  "Good.  Do what you can.  Let Don upload files if you've got a laptop with you."

"Fine with me," Don agreed, getting out of the hole, bagging his booties and gloves, then making sure he dusted himself off back into the spot he had been working.  "Greg?"  Greg took a few new pictures and handed over his camera.  "Laptop, Nick?"

"The Tahoe."  He handed over the keys.  "Guys, do long sweeps," Nick ordered.  "Greg, grid?"

"Pits, I'm numbering pits since they're so old.  We can grid later and if we find any fresher bodies."  He looked at him. "I've already sent off the military once."

"Good job.  Jim, I'll take over, go ahead and thanks for helping him."

"Not an issue.  I'll send out a detective too."

"I'll hand you the case files tomorrow?" Greg suggested impishly, grinning at him.

"Please don't.  I don't need the extra paperwork."  Don laughed at that so he walked off.  "Guys, be prepared that you might have to move the boundary back some.  Watch for the other CSI to come out here."  He ducked under the tape line and went back to his car, calling Warrick on the way in.  "Are you with Grissom?"  He grimaced.  "Poke him and tell him Greg's now got helpers from the NYPD and Miami since he's got about fifty, sixty bodies in the desert, all in burial pits together.  Oh, and Stokes."  He heard Warrick repeat that and heard Grissom's groan.  "Tell him he owes Mac, Danny, and Horatio his ass at the moment, but I'm heading home so send the detective you guys have out here.  Thanks."  He hung up and headed home.  He loved delegating in these situations.  Like Greg, he was hoping for mob hits instead of military ones.

***

Greg walked into the station very late the next morning, looking at the ME.  "You got all 108, right?" he asked tiredly.  He got a nod.  "Okay.  I'll be in tonight, normal time.  Whatever you have is good because you are the man.  I'll help take fingerprints or whatever then.  Just let me sleep, please."

"Go home and rest, Greg.  I'll have what I can by then."

"Bless you, man.  Let it be known we did ground radar but it could probably be gone over in the daylight.  Also, we didn't grid since none were really *new* bodies.  We did it on the pit system.  So if Grissom wants me to, it'll be tonight.  Have someone recharge the field lights if he wants that."  That got a smile. "I'm sorry I'm giving you a nightmare."  He walked off, heading for home as fast as he could apparate.  He shouldn't drive.  One of the replacement patrol guys had driven his Tahoe back, Nick was sleeping in the back seat.  The borrowed CSI had all went home and called off for at least the morning.  He was going to do the same.  He landed in his living room, swaying and looking at his wife.  He handed over his cellphone. "If it's Griss, I'll be in at the normal time.  If it's the press, you don't know me or speak English.  If it's Ecklie, threaten to take a strap to him again.  108 bodies."  He trudged up the stairs to take a shower and fall into bed.  He was exhausted and gritty from the dirt.

She watched him go, then looked at their house elves.  "Let him sleep."  She called Nick's phone, getting a sleepy guy.  "Are you home?"  She smiled.  "Good."  She hung up and went to check on the kids. They were still asleep.  They were on their schedule at the moment so it was okay for now.  They'd let Greggy sleep.

***

Mac made it into his office late that afternoon, looking at Stella.  "108 bodies."  She winced.  "Greg was working alone when he found them.  Everyone else was busy."

"Busy my ass!  You drop shit to get to those!"

"They were all old, they had fresh bodies to gather first."  She snorted. "If I didn't tell you, you looked fantastic out there at the game, Stella.  Good job."  He leaned back and rubbed his eyes.  "Anything I have to know?"

"The Chief said that he loves how you volunteered since you knew the crew out there."

"Good on me.  Tell him we need a bigger budget to get tech stuff fixed.  Even if you have to flash him or something."  He found the CD he had her pick up, and tossed it at her. "How Horatio did it and what he uses.  I want it, I want it badly, and I want it this month, even if we have to hire him strippers."

"As long as I don't have to be one of them," she agreed, heading to look it over.  She was impressed at the lab plans and the technology he had listed, plus the grant giving institutions.  Maybe they could upgrade to some newer stuff to replace some of the really ancient stuff.  They still had some non-electric microscopes in some of the back labs.  Even a few labs would be nice.  She looked up as Danny dragged in.  "Danny!"  He backtracked and looked at her, giving her a bleary look. "Did you get any sleep?"

"Yeah, few hours," he complained.  "108 bodies.  Greg's going to need a cart to haul the files."  He trudged on, heading for the coffeepot.  The ballistics tech smirked at him.  "I was helping a friend in Vegas.  Don't even try.  We were digging body dump pits."

"Hopefully to uncover?"

"Yeah, but I could send some of his coworkers into one of them."   He found his mug and the pot was empty.  "Damn it."  The tech snickered and started a new pot.  "Strong, please."

"You got it, Danny."  He started it and put his cup under the spout to let him have the first fruits of the pot.

"Coffee, thank you," Mac pleaded as he came in, switching out Danny's cup for his when his was mostly full.  "Strong?"

"Yup, Sheldon strong."

"Thank you, you're a saint."  He fixed his cup when it was full and walked off again.  "Horatio gave us information on their tech stuff."

"Thanks."  He added some sugar to his and walked off, going back to his casework.  The trace tech gave him an odd look. "I'm too fuzzy to go out.  Give me stuff ta do."

She pushed over a whole stack.  "Here you go, probably no slide detail needed."

"Thanks."  He put his cup safely aside and got to work after one last sip. He'd come back to it in a few minutes.  When his head cleared up a bit more.

"Danny!" Don yelled.

"Busy!" he yelled back, making the tech laugh.  Don stormed in and he gave him a long stare, then snorted and drank some more coffee, making 'go on' motions.

"Someone broke into my locker."  He held up the picture he had found.  "Look familiar?"

"You only touch it there?"

"Yeah."  He carefully laid it down in front of him.  "I know my shit but there weren't any gloves and I'm not carrying a handkerchief.  It sild out and onto the floor."  He waved a hand.  "Please, do your magic shit."

Danny looked at the tech.  "Can you please get me stuff to do fingerprints?"  She nodded and left.  He pulled his wand and tested it.  "Probably pointless."  He put it away when she came back, taking the fingerprint powder and brush.  "Thanks."  He moved it off to the side, away from everything else so he wouldn't contaminate any other samples.  He came up with one fingerprint and grimaced.  "Not supposed to be possible," he said thoughtfully.  He lifted it and walked over to the computer to run it.  It came up with his name.  He looked at Don. "I didn't put it in there."

"I didn't think you did."  He crossed his arms, looking at the picture.  "Nothing else?"

"They could've lifted his and put it on gloves," the trace tech offered. "It's not that hard.  Some rubber cement to lift it and then superglue it to a glove.  We've seen a few of those since America's Most Wanted showed it one show."  She looked at them.  "What got you guys so tired?"

"A buddy of ours was in trouble and needed the help," Danny offered.  He yawned and checked the photo over.  "She's right, there's no detail spots, glove prints."  Don moved closer to look.  "Anything else?"

"No.  Can you come print my locker?"

"Of course."  He took the brush, a few collection strips, and the powder with him, letting Don get his coffee for him.  Mac came out and gave him an odd look.  "Pictures from yesterday ended up in Don's locker."

"Wonderful.  Normal or not?"

"Normal but it had my print on it," Danny said dryly.

"Gloves?"

"Oh yeah."  He waved the brush.  "Going to do his locker, just in case."

"Thank you."  He went to gather the picture and put it in his office in an evidence bag. It was a good shot of Don on his broom.

The tech looked at him.  "My daughter will be disappointed she missed out on a Harry Potter event.  I didn't even know Don was a fan."

Mac nodded.  "Closet fan.  He wanted to fly.  He drug Danny with him.  What's this stack?"

"Danny's.  He's too fuzzy to head into the field."

"It's quiet so far, that's fine."  He went back to his office, finding a business card on his desk.  "Who are you?" he muttered.  "Oh."  He called it.  "You're our new union rep?"  He leaned back and rubbed his face.  "No but a normal picture ended up in Flack's locker from the game yesterday.  We're not sure.  It had Messer's fingerprint on it but they were with me all night.  Thank you."  He hung up and sat up before he fell asleep again.  His phone rang and he kept himself from moaning.  "Taylor," he answered.  He listened then nodded.  "Well, yes, sir.  Oh, I don't know, their solve rate speaks for itself, sir.  Plus it would help us around here.  When we had that federal case recently, theirs were done twice as fast and everything was on the computer.  Which was much easier than ours, which included the old style boxes.  You know, if we could put everything on the computer system, you could even get rid of part of the storage system so it would pay for itself.  Sir, take a tour of their labs. They work smoother, faster, and easier than we do.  Well, there are grants," he noted patiently.

"We'd accept just having a few of the oldest labs changed out.  Sir, I spent most of last night helping a friend.  I'm tired enough to suggest bringing it to you with a stripper.  Yes, I'm serious.  Well...look at their stats, look at ours.  If we're nearly as good as they are with substandard and very old equipment in half the labs, what could we do with the equipment Miami has, sir?  Well, we are the top lab in the city.  We do have three labs that contain microscopes that are basically what got taken out of the high school ten years ago.  The computers are at least five years old in them.  We'd be more than happy to have just those updated.  Of course, sir.  Thank you, sir, and I'll get more sleep tonight.  Have a better day."  He hung up and kept himself from wishing him harm.  He hated politicians most of the time. Especially when they were standing in his way.  Danny walked past with his coffee cup dangling from a finger.  "Anything?" he called.

"Nope.  We checked with the possible sources and she said it wasn't her."  He shrugged and continued on.

Mac shook his head and put it back against the back of his chair, letting his mind drift. That's why Stella woke him up an hour later.  He blinked at the gentle shaking. "Sorry."

"Not a problem.  I answered a call for Danny from Greg.  Greg's moved Emilia and the kids to the castle, just in case.  They were all killed the same way, mostly around the same time.  He thinks that's why the military showed up.  He wanted us warned."

"Thanks."  He sat up and yawned, then let himself stretch.  "I do feel better now."

"Good because I just got sent paperwork for the grant stuff."  She handed it to him.  "Have fun with that."  She headed out again.  "Night shift is starting to pile in."

"Thank you."  He got up and took the paperwork home with him.  At least he could claim that time as work time.  He found Danny asleep in the locker room with his head against his locker.  It was kinda sweet, which wasn't something he usually thought about Danny so he knew he needed a long nap.  He slammed his locker closed, waking him up.  "Take a cab home."

"Too 'spensive."

"Take a cab home.  I am.  Neither of us are fit to drive."  Danny nodded at that and put his head forward again.  "Danny!"  He snapped awake and Mac looked around, then at him.  "Portkey home," he ordered quietly.  Danny nodded and created one out of himself, taking himself home the easy way.  Mac looked around then sent himself off as well.

Sheldon walked in, frowning since he had been told Mac was still in here. "Mac?"  No answer.  His locker was shut and locked.  So someone had missed him coming out.  He went to email it to him. It wasn't earth shattering but he had a suspect now that he could find tomorrow since they worked days.  He grabbed his stuff and headed down to the morgue.  "Sid, drink?" he called from the doorway.

"Please.  It's been a very strange day."

"Be thankful you're not in Las Vegas.  Danny's friend Greg uncovered a 108 body body dump."  The ME moaned at that.  Sheldon nodded. "Exactly.  He's a level one.  This may put him over if he can count them as separate cases."  He pointed.  "The usual bar?  I'm done if you are.  I'll even drive."

"The usual is fine but it'll take me a few minutes to clean up and finish this one. I'll meet you there in a half-hour, Sheldon."  That got a grin and a nod and the younger ME left.  Sid shook his head and got back to work, smiling at the body.  "I'm sure you had a few dates with your coworkers as well, my dear."

Dinner Dates

Speed sat down next to Tony, stealing half his lunch with a frown.  "We need a better way to contact each other.  Your phone's broken and Danny's still unconscious from helping Sanders last night."  He nodded at Gibbs before taking a bite.  "I don't know how we'd do it though."

"The Banes have this tattoo thingy," Tony offered quietly.  He ate a bite of his half his sandwich.  "My phone's not broken."  He pulled it out to look at, checking the ringer.  "Boss, try my phone please?"  He finished getting his coffee and called him, getting the 'this phone is not in range' message.  "Hell."  He tried the 'hit any button' thing that would get him to a representative if he had forgotten to pay his bill.  Nothing.  "I have no idea what's wrong with it," he admitted, stuffing it back in his pocket.

Speed held out a hand so Tony handed it over.  Speed looked it over then held it up, showing the shiny silver thing sticking out of it.  "Phones die the same as people do when you shoot them."  He handed it back.  "I thought mine falling off my belt at a-hundred-ten miles an hour was bad."

"It is," Gibbs assured him.  He took the phone to look at it.  "When did that happen?"

"Not sure, Boss.  I haven't been shot at in a while."  Speed gave him a look.  "Sorry!"

"We need better communication."  He looked at Gibbs.  "Did you hear anything about the case in Vegas Sanders pulled?"

"Emilia called McGee who briefed me this morning when I came in.  How many bodies?"

"108," Tony said dryly.  "Any new information?"

"Mostly single tap to the head, small caliber," Speed offered.  "Horatio said he'd take off early tonight and do paperwork all day.  Danny went home and crashed, probably with Don on the couch."  Tony nodded at that.  "Plus, it would help us if and when one of us got into trouble again."

"I'm in trouble about once a month," Tony told him.  "I wouldn't want you guys to freak out."

Speed snorted.  "Horatio walks into buildings knowing the sniper loves him and wants him.  He still plays with bombs."  Tony winced at that.  "Eric wanted to throttle him after the last one."  He looked at Gibbs.  "Would you mind if we did that?"

"It's not my body.  As long as it doesn't interfere with work or anything I can't really complain."

Speed nodded.  "Good.  I'll call Emilia to ask how they did theirs.  Maybe we can get into Dumass' library."

"This weekend is their training time," Tony offered smugly.  "Danny can get us in."  Speed smirked at that.  "Maybe we can get a book list."  Speed moaned.  "Danny told me he's got a library bigger than the local ones in most cities."

"Good.  He probably needs it with what he gets into."  He gave him a nudge and took another bite of his half his sandwich.  "Alexx said she'd call if I got called out."

"Good.  I'm still doing paperwork."

"Yeah, we have some of that too.  Then we send it to Horatio to vex him."  Gibbs nodded at that.  "Just think, Tony, some day the three of us will be in charge of labs or teams."

Gibbs spluttered and moaned, getting up to grab some paper towels.  "He'll probably leave before then."

"No I won't.  I haven't left yet. Normally I would've left before you came over that night to face me down."

"So you're saying I'm special?"

"Very special, boss," Tony teased.  "So special I'm going to make you a happy guy later."

"Over your dead body."

"Awwww, you wound me, Gibbs."

"No, that'll be the next time we go into the field, DiNozzo.  Quit playing around and make him eat.  He's skinnier than you are."  He cleaned up his mess, got more coffee, and went back to his desk.

Speed looked at Tony.  "Lana?"

"Nah, Sydney's present?"

"I liked that one.  It's classic," Speed agreed.  "But twist it some, make it unique."

"Good point."  Tony finished his lunch and took the rest of Speed's sandwich to eat as well.  "I can smell the fish on you."  He grinned and cleaned up his mess, going off to arrange stuff.

Speed giggled and headed back to his lab and to call Emilia.  She gave him a book list and it was a good thing. She assured him they could get them all in Dumass' library, some even in multiple languages.

***

Tony snuck in to check on Danny, picking up an old pewter vase off the bookshelf.  "Danny?" he called quietly. He got a grunt.  "I'm taking the ugly vase."  That got a flipped hand.  "Make sure we go with you this weekend so we can raid the library."  He popped home, going to finish arranging stuff.  He got there in time to answer the door and smile at the woman standing there.  "Hi."  He nodded her inside.  "You were briefed?"

"I was."  She took the flowers she had been carrying once he put them into the ugly, pistol shaped vase.  "I take it the Marine I'm having dinner with tonight is a tough guy?"

"Very, and very stressed.  If he asks who hired you, my name is Speed."  She smiled at that. "Just dinner, though I doubt he'd ask."  He paid her and she nodded, taking the flowers back to the car.  Then he went to put his next layer of plan into effect.  He paused for a minute, Kate would've loved and helped this plan, but he knew she was watching over his shoulder to make sure he didn't mess it up.  He took off the illusion earring and set it aside as he typed.

***

Gibbs opened his door, staring for a moment at the woman standing there.  "Lost?"

"No, Gunny, I was sent to feed you dinner and then disappear."  She handed him the flowers and picked up the picnic basket again, taking it back to the kitchen. "Give me two minutes to set up dinner."

"I didn't...."

"He said to tell you Speed hired me if you asked."

"Dark haired guy?  Tall?  Skinny? Scruffy?"

"No, blond guy with glasses, sir."

"Danny?"

"He said Speed."  She smiled as she set out the good plates and glasses.  "Now, I'm not here to do anything but eat and talk with you, Gunny.  He was very clear that you're not that sort of man but you needed a good dinner and stimulating conversation is always welcome."  She gave him a sly grin.  "Besides, he said you probably haven't talked to a book nerd in a while and enjoyed it."  She finished setting out the dinner Speed had ordered for him, hearing him moan.  "He said it was something you liked but didn't indulge in often enough. If you don't spoil yourself now and then, you get bogged down in the mundanities and the bad things, therefore you're getting spoiled tonight.  I'm also authorized to work on your neck and shoulders if you'd like, or to listen to you talk about your plans for your boat.  By the way, can I see the boat?  He said it's fantastic even though it's not complete yet."

"Later," he said, moving in and putting the flowers off to the side on the counter. "Your idea?"

"He handed me the vase," she admitted, helping him into his seat and then sitting down once she had taken off her cloak.  He blinked at her dress and she smiled.  "This is spoiling myself, Gunny."

"Jethro, please."

"Jethro then.  My name's Amanda."  She poured him some wine and handed him the carving blades.  "Whenever you're ready, Jethro.  So, are you a philosophy, history, or a science sort?"

"History."  He carved up some of the meat, handing her a few pieces, then taking some for himself.  "Military and not."

"I love ancient history but I work in one of the local Civil War museums as a clerk while I finish my Masters in History."  He nodded, taking a bite.  "We've got a fantastic collection of artifacts that've been dug up from Bull Run.  Including some letter cases that had some letters still in them.  In pretty bad condition but still there.  We've also recently put together a Union Guns exhibit."  She passed him over a ticket that she pulled out of her bra.  "For you, Jethro."  He smiled at that and she ate, moaning a bit.  "I did an excellent job."

"You did," he agreed, sipping the wine.  The ticket went next to the flowers.  "He hired you to have dinner with me?"

"His reason went along the lines of dinner with a pretty woman can lift even the most morose spirits when it's full of good food, good conversation, and lack of stress."  She blushed a bit.  "He pays very well by the way."

"I'll thank him tomorrow."  He smiled and dished up some more stuffing. "You did very good with the food."  His phone rang and he groaned, grabbing it.  "Gibbs."  He listened.  "No, director, I have a date in for dinner.   I'll go over that with you tomorrow."  He hung up and turned it off.  "I can be out of touch for a few hours.  DiNozzo can answer any calls."  She smiled and nodded, eating a bite.  He ate a bite and thought of a new subject.  "Which project are you working on?"

"Mostly I catalog artifacts.  My boss got mean earlier, I was doing a few toenails that were dug up, but I love dealing with the guns.  Some of the soldiers used their off hours to carve decorations and inscriptions into theirs.  It shows the personality of the soldier, not just the uniform and the duty.  I don't think we see enough of that really.  When you think about an army force, you think of a unit of men, usually, unless you're like some feminist friends of mine, but you don't think of the individual men.  Most people see them as faceless and the same guy copied."  He nodded, eating another bite.  "I like to show how they were each there for their own reason.  Some for less charitable reasons than others.  One of the letters we've found had a kill count and he sounded fairly happy with it."  He nodded again. "But I suppose you get people like that in every war."

"You do," he agreed quietly.  "I've seen people like that in the same unit and they often got into trouble and were caught."  She smiled and nodded at that.  "Are you doing all the guns side-by-side?"

"Where we found full skeletons, and these weren't buried in graves, they were shallowly buried and unmarked, we gave the body a proper burial and the uniform and weapons were kept in some cases.  I've been putting the uniforms back together, full kits to show what they carried.  Today I spent the day arranging a Southern uniform from a Texan troop.  His gun had some amazing carvings.  He used a very thin, sharp blade to carve the Lord's Prayer down the line to the sight of his rifle.  I gave that one special highlighting.  The director thought it was melodramatic but I thought it deserved special note since he took so long doing that.  He died with his last word half-done.  It took me almost a week to clean the dirt and debris off it."

"I investigate crimes against Navy and Marine personnel.  I do about the same thing with evidence collection."  He took another sip of his wine. "Have you ever thought about doing that?"

"Yes, but I'd hate to be rushed.  I like to uncover the truth about the artifacts and share it.  Not have to process and move on.  I'm the sort who'll go back to pieces I felt a connection with repeatedly to clean and dust them off."  He smiled and nodded, digging in again.  "But enough about my work.  You're an agent?"  He nodded, chewing slowly.  "I bet that's exciting.  More exciting that dusty back rooms and filing cabinets."

"It's a bad day when it's exciting," he offered.  "I like the non-exciting days, like today, except for the paperwork."

She giggled and nodded, sipping her wine and swallowing.  "I can agree with that.  I've got tons of forms to fill out for each artifact I clean up.  Insurance estimates, cataloging forms, pictures, all that stuff."  She blushed and ate another bite.  "We had one naughty thing recently," she offered sheepishly.  "I almost had to hand it off.  It was an ancient musket pistol and it had naked girls on it," she shared.

He smiled. You couldn't fake that sort of innocence.  It was almost...cute, but he never used that word.  "Many men have fought and died over those," he pointed out.

"I know, but it's one thing to see it on the tv or a film, it's another to see it and have to scrape dirt and gunk out of the carving.  He was very thorough.  She even had *nipples*," she hissed, blushing harder.

"Sounds like a desperate guy with too much time on his hands."  She giggled and nodded.  "Did your director enjoy it?"

"It's kept in the back room since someone might object a bit.  We're in a fairly conservative part of the state of Virginia."  She smiled at him.  "So, you're building a boat?  Like one of the submarines or a pleasure vessel?"

"Pleasure vessel. I don't have the skills to make an iron-side."  She giggled and nodded.  "No, I don't."

"I'm sure you could if you wanted to.  Besides, bending metal can be very cathartic.  I've had to bend back a few cutlasses and it did wear out any foul mood I might've had at the time."

"I get plenty of that beating my team into submission and perfect behavior."

She gave him a chiding look.  "That's why you're tense and stiff, Jethro."  He coughed and ate another bite, making her giggle.  "I didn't mean that way. I don't take you for one of those people who enjoy *that*," she offered in a tease.  "My last boyfriend was but he's in Afghanistan at the moment."

"How long has he been deployed?"

"Six months.  We broke up about a week before he got his letter.  We weren't really compatible.  He wanted to move faster than just dating. I pointed out I'm only twenty- seven and I don't need to move faster than that.  He even wanted to grope on the first date.  I'd have to be knocked off my heels for that.  My mother raised me to be a polite lady and to only accept a kiss, and to whollop any guy who tried to go further until I was ready.  He thought we should've been living together after a month of dating.  I'm not that sort of girl though."

"It's rare that men like that succeed," Jethro assured her gently, smiling at her.  She nodded at that.  "You're not dating now?"

"Oh, no.  There's a nice guy at work but he's gay and I'm definitely not his sort.  For some reason any time one of my friends try to set me up it's with a girl, and I keep telling them I'm straight.  They said I need to try it out.  I've got some pushy friends."

"At least they're not doing it to harm you."

"No, and some of the women they set me up with have been very sweet women, some very shy ones.  It's just not my thing.  I like how men smell."  She blushed a bit again.

"How did you get into this job?"

"Oh, I'm on for meals and dinner dates only," she assured him.  "My boss said that's up to me and she knows I'm not going further.  I've been complained about even, but oh well."  She poured herself a half-glass of wine.  "I do this job because I get to meet some very nice people.  Some slimy people, but mostly nice people who're tired of being alone for a night and work too hard.  I talk with a lot of guys who've never taken the time to seriously date and get to know a woman.  I've had two who've sent me cards saying I encouraged them to date."  He smiled at that, taking some more meat for himself.  She held up her plate and he handed her another slice too.  "Thank you, Jethro."

"Not a problem.  Is your mother still alive?"

"Very, and she swears every time she hears about my job, but it's some extra money since my real job isn't that plentiful for income potential.  She thinks one of the guys I have dinner with will get pushy."

"They could," he agreed calmly.

"Yes, but that's why I have pepper spray on me at all times."  She smiled sweetly.  "Which I'm sure you won't have to deal with."

"I should hope not.  I'm not the sort of guy to demand stuff, Amanda."  She smiled at that and cut up her new piece of meat to eat a bite.  He dug back in too.  It was a good dinner. The microwave went off and he looked at it.  "Sorry, I planned for rice tonight."  She giggled and kicked him under the table, shaking her head.  "I know, but it was a long day of paperwork.  Even if it was electronic so I didn't get papercuts again."

She smiled.  "I got one of those but that was fine.  The love of the job counteracts the occasional papercut or bad day when things get exciting."  He nodded, eating a bite.  "How long were you a Marine?"

"Nineteen years.  I'm in the Reserves."

"Thank you."

He nodded. "Not a problem."  She smiled at that.  "I've been working with NCIS for a few years now."

"I think I heard someone swear about you a few months back."  She considered it, then nodded.  "I did.  There was a general that took me out to dinner and the opera because his wife was ill and he hated having to go alone.  He swore about you over dinner. Used some very impolite speech as well."

He shrugged.  "A lot of people who end up on my bad side or in my way swear impolitely about me.  You should hear some FBI agents do it."  She giggled and swatted him on the hand.  "Really.  I'm proud that I vex them that way."

"It does get the blood pumping," she agreed happily.  "I think that's why I yank my director's chain."

He chuckled.  "Me too.  Then again, my former trainee is now my boss."

"Oooh, you poor baby."  She patted him on the hand.  "Did she take the time to learn from you?"

"She was a good field agent."

"Hmm.  Which means she's now political and abhorrent of the former job she did?"   He nodded.  "You poor thing."  She patted him on the hand again. "It'll be okay.  People like that don't often last.  They step on the wrong toes and try to tapdance when they should apologize.  Then again, sometimes you want to tapdance because the owner of the toes deserve it."

"She's the former," he agreed, smiling at her.  "What did he tell you about me?"

"About the boat.  That you work too hard and too many hours.  That at times you believe you're superhuman and can do everything at once, then you get angry at yourself because you can't. That sometimes they have to let you down because they're human and your expectations are very high for your team.  That for some reason you scare a lot of people into near wetting themselves.  That you're a Gunny Sergeant in the Marines."  She shrugged. "Not much."

"He didn't give you a primer?"  She shook her head. "You read people very well."

She smiled at him.  "Even I have to do the fundraising suckup now and then."  He chuckled and she nodded.  "I do.  I have one of those tomorrow for our expansion.  I'm dreading it. Those men paw me more than some of the slimy sleazes I've been out with."

"Bring the pepper spray."

"I can't.  It could get our funding cut.  I was told to be nice, act nice, and be polite, but not to let them touch me unless I wanted them. One man kept trying to pat me on the butt in front of his wife so I had to manufacture an accident and hurry off to help, giving her a very unhappy look as I escaped.  She slapped him and stomped off."

"Did your boss mind?"

"Yes, which was when I pulled up the security footage showing he had been pawing me.  She said the next one, my job is the first to suffer from the budget cuts.  That's the way it is in even the bigger museums so if I complain about it, I'll get blacklisted."

"Possibly," he agreed. He finished up and smiled at her.  "Want to look at the boat when you're done?"

"Please."  She finished up and walked off with him after packing away the dishes but leaving him the leftovers. That way he could have a snack or lunch.  She squealed when she saw it, hopping down the last few steps to run a hand over the side in appreciation.  "She's a beautiful girl, Jethro.  When she's fully grown and done, she'll be splendid."

"I hope so."  He ran a hand over it and smiled at her. "This is how I usually wear out stress."

"Yes, but sometimes you need to interact with people who aren't criminals and aren't hiding stuff from you.  Otherwise you start thinking the worst about everyone."  She patted him on the cheek.  "I think you should let me work on your neck, and then I'll let you get back to work on her.  Maybe some day you'll take me out on a sail."  She sat him down a stool and got to work on his shoulders and neck, making him moan and relax against her hands. "You're a very strong man, Jethro, but even God had to take a day off his duties now and then," she offered quietly as she finished up.  "That was a quote."  She kissed him on the cheek.  "You rest and have a nice night, Jethro. Maybe I'll see you at my museum."  He gave her a gentle, nice kiss and she blushed, smiling at him. "Thank you."  She went back up there to gather up the basket of dishes and headed home.

He rolled his neck, it felt good and he was relaxed. He looked at his boat, then decided to go out for the night.  Maybe a movie or a calm club that played quiet music.  He saw the car watching his house and waved as he got into his car, heading out for a night off.  It had been a thoughtful gift, but he'd kick DiNozzo's ass in the morning.  That last quote was all him and only he knew about the expectations he had for his team.

***

Danny woke up and it was dark.  He groaned, rubbing over his face as he flipped onto his back.  Someone tapped on his door again so he got up to answer it, finding his neighbor there. "What's wrong?" he asked quietly.  He had no idea what time it was.

"I can't get the bathroom door open and Tommy's in there, can I trouble you to kick it in or something?"

"Sure.  Let me put on real pants." She smiled and headed next door while he put on a pair of sweats and shoes. He followed her over, leaving his door unlocked, and took the screwdriver to pop out the hinges.  He took the door out of the way and looked at the little boy who was sitting on the toilet, giving him a sheepish look.  "Remember, your Ma panics when you disappear, Tommy."  He handed her back the screwdriver. "I'll put one of those sliding doors on later this weekend."  She smiled and kissed him on the cheek, hurrying in to help her son.  He locked her knob lock before he left, heading back to his apartment. He found his landlord in there.  "Tom locked himself in the bathroom again."

"I'm sure the door'll be back in place when she moves out."  He looked at him, then pointed at the open doorway.  "What's that?"

"Nothing."

"It's not nothing, Messer.  You've got a few extra rooms that shouldn't exist."   He moved closer.  "It's not like you pay for them."  Danny crossed his arms over his chest.  "I want to know what that is."

"Or?  I do have a lease saying I can redecorate as long as it's tasteful and back to a move-in condition when I leave."

"Do you think this is?" he demanded.  Danny nodded.  "You're moving and you're leaving it."

"I doubt it."  The landlord sneered at him. "Not like you can make me."

"Oh, I can.  I can have you arrested for taking over the next apartment."

"It's occupied.  I heard her playing her flute this morning."  He glared at him. "Go check if you don't believe me."

"You may be a cop," he sneered.

Danny stepped closer, making him back up.  "Get out of my place.  You have no right to come in here without warning or a problem going on."

"There is a problem, your neighbors have been complaining about your perks and your friends."

"We've been fairly quiet and it's not like I'm getting perks."

"You either pay me double your current rent or...."

"Try it.  A lease means you can't do that."  He gaped.  "Yeah, the benefits of being a cop."  He stared at him.  "Don't worry, I'll be gone within the month.  It'll be the exactly the same way it was when I moved, trash and all."  He pointed.  "Now, get out.  Before I call my coworkers about you breaking in."  He stomped off and Danny glared after him.  He went into his bedroom to find the day's paper and start looking for a new apartment.  He found a few nearby and it was a good thing.  Fortunately he had tomorrow off to go look.

***

Don walked into Mac's office.  "Danny's moving."

"Why?"

"His landlord broke into his apartment and caught that door open.  Threatened to tell us that he killed the neighbor and took over her apartment without paying for it."

Mac shook his head.  "He find somewhere?"

"Yeah.  He called right after he signed a lease.  It's a bit closer to here.  About two stops.  Rent controlled too."  Mac smiled at that.  "It'll be fine."  He glanced around then looked at him.  "My spell works when the door's open."

"Some people are immune and I've had problems with his landlord before.  They own a few buildings out that way."

"Oh.  Okay.  So, we on for training this weekend?"

"No, I'll be here, Don.  You guys have fun at the castle.  I heard Speed and Tony are coming with you guys?"

"Yeah, they want to talk about Tipsy's tattoo and that stuff."  Mac nodded at that.  "Can we bring you back anything?"

"No, I'll be fine.  Thanks anyway."  That got a small smirk.  "Any other good news?"

"Tony decided to make Gibbs a happy guy for one night.  Hired an escort to have dinner with him, and only dinner, got him flowers, had good coffee waiting on him when he came in the next morning so he could make some. Made him feel like a pampered princess for a few hours."

"Gibbs could use it.  He was fairly uptight and tense."

Don snorted. "Ya think?  Any new word from Greg?"

"Most of the bodies were homicides.  They got ID's on most of them through missing persons and the like."  He looked at him.  "None like us that he can tell," he offered quietly.  Don smiled and nodded at that.  "So we're good with that.  Grissom sent me copies of the paperwork he had to fill out since we went to help.  He also sent a card thanking us and asked that we make Greg calm down.  He was using a handtruck to cart the case files down the hall and he was growling at someone who came up and tried to claim the scene.  Someone Military."

"Shit happens.  Think he could get raised up to a level two for it?"

Mac shook his head.  "Usually it's counted by case, not by body.  He could try to blackmail Grissom for it to count as multiple cases," he offered.  Don smirked at that and shook his head. "I'd use the fact that he left him out there as it were it me.  I'd never do that to Danny."

"Yeah, well, I'm sure he assumed Catherine and Sarah went when they got back."  He shrugged.  "So, anything for me?"

"No.  I'm waiting on test results."

"Okay.  Yell my way."  He walked off, going to find Stella and ask her the same question about another case they had going together.  She smiled and handed him a folder. "Presents?"

"Hardly.  Tests on the vomit's components.  Champagne and seafood."

"Okay, nice dinner out," he offered, reading it over.  "Very nice dinner out.  Can we use this to track where they could've eaten?"

"Not really.  I looked it up with the restaurant association.  They said over two hundred within the city offer that brand on the menu.  That doesn't count off the menu requests or them eating at his or his date's house."

"Damn.  Okay.  I'll take what I can."  He walked off thinking about it, his mind focused on the case.  That's why he had to look up and flinched toward his gun when he heard the pop of someone coming in.  "Shit!"  He hurried over, catching Danny before he could fall over.  "What happened?" he demanded.

He blinked at him.  "Thug brats.  Park," he moaned, then passed out.

"Someone get someone!" he yelled, making others come running.  Sheldon pushed through to check him over.  "Mac?"  Mac came over.  "Check him?  He said something about thug brats and the park."

"The same ones that tried you two?" Stella asked.  She had been told about that.  He nodded.  "Splinched?" she asked.

Mac came over to check him.  "Anything seeming to be missing?" he asked quietly.  Sheldon shook his head. "You sure?"

"Very."  He looked at him. "He apparated," he hissed.  The paramedics came over so he made Mac move.  "He got attacked and came in here."  No one would ask why he was on the second floor before he collapsed, yet.  Sheldon made sure to hand Don Danny's wand then shook his head.  "He'll be fine."

"What happened?"

"Small stab wound in his side.  Some beating it looked like.  He should be fine."

"I'm going to follow," Stella said, hurrying out to her car.

"Go," Mac told Don, getting a nod and the folder being handed over before he took off at a jog to catch up to her.  "Sheldon?"

"I don't know, Mac.  I know he'll be fine.  We'll have to wait until he wakes up."

Someone coughed and the ballistics tech waved a hand.  "He just ...appeared how?"

"Don't ask," Mac told him.  Sheldon let out a small moan.

"Mac, I love your military mindset, but we're civilians.  We will ask, we will kick up a stink until we get a reasonable explanation.  We'll do it very loudly until we get something that sounds reasonable.  At least three of us saw him just appear. Now, we can do this in the hallway or...."  He waved a hand at the breakroom. "Your choice.   Really."

"Go in there and wait on me," he ordered, looking at Sheldon.  "I've got to make a call, make sure they know to call me when he wakes."  He got a nod and Sheldon herded them in there.  Mac went to talk to their union rep, see what he wanted to do.  As he walked he heard one of the techs say something about 'it was just like those Harry Potter books' and groaned.  This was bad.  Very bad.

***

Danny woke up and saw Stella beside him.  "Damn it."

"You popped into the station," Don said from the other side.  Danny looked at him, hissing as he turned his neck.  "The nurse will be in here within a minute.  Who was it?  The brats from the park?"  Danny swallowed and nodded.  "Why?"

"Team.  Wanted me off."  He moaned and held his head.  "Wand?"

"Sheldon hid it.  I've got it," Don assured him.  Danny nodded and closed his eyes again.  "Let me get the nurse."

"Get me drugs," he said, shifting and holding his side. "Please."

"Sure."  He stuck his head out the door.  "He's awake.  He's in pain too."  One of the nurses came over, coming in to check him over.  Along with another officer. "I've got it."

"Who attacked him?" he asked, pulling out his Internal Affairs ID.

"Some thug kids in the park that tried us before," Don told him.  "They were raised on how he turned traitor by leaving."  Danny moaned at that and the nurse said something gently, making him nod.  She added something to his IV then left them alone.  "He'll be fine.  It had nothing to do with a case."

"Fine.  I had to make sure."

"Of course you do," Stella agreed. "Now, you've seen.  Go."

"Fine."  He backed out, letting them shut the door.

"I want a healer, not docs," Danny moaned.  "They always screw something up."  He forced himself to sit up.  "Gotta love demerol."  He looked at Stella.  "Call the new rep and see where the healers are.  Please?  Before they damage my wrist more."

"Was it hurt?"  He flinched as he moved it.  "Wrenched?"  He nodded.  "Okay."  She called Mac on the cellphone Tony had shielded for her.  "He wants a healer, Mac.  Do we have one?"  She smiled at him.  "Sure, I'll do that.  Yeah, he backed up Don's theory.  Punk brats in the park who didn't want him on the PD team.  Thanks."  She hung up and looked at Don.  "They'll be in within an hour."

"Good."  He looked at Danny.  "Mac had ta do some tapdancing."

"Sorry.  I had ta go.  Too young for me to fight back without getting into trouble."  He yawned.  "Wake me when they get here."  Don nodded.  "Thanks. Did I give you the new address?"  Don nodded.  "Decent.  The door's sealed against anyone being able to open it.  You can still pop in, but not walk in."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"Why were you in the park?" Stella asked.

"Tony called, said he wanted ta meet."

"I doubt it was him."  She stroked over his hair.  "You rest for a few."  He nodded, hissing again.  "Just lay there and let it work."

Don walked out of the room, going to a cellphone safe area.  He knew the rules and that Tony had done something to hers specially so it wouldn't interfere.  He walked onto the smoking ledge and dialed Tony's phone, and not getting an answer, Speed's.  "Danny's fine."  He listened to the cautious 'why wouldn't he be'.  "Because someone he thought was Tony called to have him meet him in the park.  He got beaten and a bit stabbed.  We're waiting on the healer now.  They've got him on some pain killers when he woke up."  He glanced behind him since there were nurses moving around.  "Yeah, he's fine. He asked for one already and Mac's arranged it.  Yeah, though it's going to be a pain moving him since he's sealed the door.  Thanks."  He hung up and took a few deep breaths.  The kids had been school age.  He could go to the school about this but he wasn't sure what they'd help him do.  Right now he wanted to kick their asses.  He went back inside, going to follow the guy no one seemed to see wearing robes.  He caught the door before it could be closed and leaned on it, over the window.  "Go ahead."

"Thank you."  He smiled at him. "I've seen your sister.  She had a small gash on her chin the other day from sliding down her stairs."

"She'd better hope like hell it was from that reason," he noted dryly.  "They wrenched his neck and his wrist, doc."

"That's fine.  Do we know why?"

"They don't want him to play on the inter-borough teams," Stella told him. "He said it was some thug brats from the school."

"There's so few of those," he noted dryly, coming over to check Danny over.  "You should be fine."  He healed the wound on his side and checked his wrist and neck, adding some energy to the healing his body was doing.  He pulled back to take a broader look, then nodded.  "No practice for two weeks and no using that wrist or your neck," he offered quietly.  Danny gave him a long stare.  "What?"

"I'm moving this weekend then redoing the spells on my apartment."

"I'd shrink everything very small then, Mr. Messer.  Let your friends help you as well."  He patted him on the head.  "Now, do you need a loli?"  Danny frowned so he grinned back.  "I always ask the first time I see new patients."

"Anything you can do about the old wrist injury?" Don asked.

The doctor looked at his other wrist, feeling it and bending it.  "Perhaps.  I wouldn't do it until after his other wrist is healed though.  I don't want to leave him without a hand."  Someone tapped on the door.  "Let them in if they should be here."  He made notes on Danny's chart that he carried, then something on the other chart to note himself as the physician in charge of his care.  He looked at him, blinking.  "Who're you?"

"Speedle, Miami."  He walked over, looking at him.  "What the fuck, Danny?"

"School aged thugs.  Couldn't hit back," he complained weakly.

"Bet me!"  He frowned at him.  "You're so getting fussed over, Messer.  Get over it."  Danny whimpered.  "Can he go home yet?"

"I'd like him to stay overnight, just in case.  His neck was knocked out of alignment so I'd like to see if it could settle itself back in.  If it doesn't resettle by the morning, I'll let a DO pop it for him."  Danny nodded at that.  "For now, let him rest.  The painkillers are more than appropriate and he'll be fine."  He walked out, going to talk to one of the nurses, smiling since she suddenly realized he was there.  He handed back the chart they kept.  "I'm his physician.  If his neck doesn't settle by tonight, mark him for an early DO consult to do it and his back. He'll be fine."  She nodded, checking the chart before putting it away.  "Let his friends troop in and out for now.  He's an officer and you know how tight they are."  She smiled and nodded.  "Thank you, dear."  He walked off, becoming invisible to them again.

Speed glared at Danny.  "Why are you moving?"

"Landlord."

"Landlord....." he prompted.

"Walked in, saw the extra doorway.  Threatened ta say I killed the neighbor and stole her place.  Not true, but otherwise he was going to double or triple my rent."

Speed sighed as he smoothed down Danny's hair.  "Just behave for now, Danny.  Rest and let it go.  Tony's phone was shot, it's not working.  I'll pop around on him, then we'll work on the training stuff this weekend."  Danny shook his head.  "It'll only take us a night to move you, Danny.  Get over it."  He looked at Don.  "You up for helping?"

"It's practice and I could use the practice."

"Good. We'll guide you this weekend with the others."  He looked at Danny again.  "Please quit being hurt?"

"Not like I planned it," he complained.  "It's my day off."

"Fine.  Just try."  He looked at the doorway, then disappeared.  He stomped up to Horatio's office.  "Some little thug bastards in the local academy beat the crap out of Danny because he's on the PD's team.  He'll be fine but I'll be with him all weekend, there helping him move and then training at Dumass's castle."

"That's fine, Speed. You have the weekend off," he reminded him.  He looked at his nephew.  "You remember him."

"I do, I'm not sure how it happened that he's walking and talking though."

"Long story, kid.  Ask your mom."  He grinned at him.  "Need me to go to a scene?"

"No, go back to the lab. We'll deal with this later."  Speed nodded, going to do that.  He looked at his nephew.  "I agree, you should ask your mother."

"I'm not sure I want to talk to her."  He sat forward, looking at his uncle.  "Should I be mad that Madison exists?"

"Be mad at the source, Ray.  Not her.  She had no desire to come into being that way," he said calmly.  Ray nodded at that.  "Has she had that talk with you yet?"

"No," he snorted.  "She's avoiding it."

"Then I'll talk with her and we'll have that talk this weekend.  It could calm down that anger.  But definitely do not take this out on Madison.  She doesn't deserve it nor does she need it."

"How is she?"

"Doing well enough.  Have you called her recently?"  He shook his head.  "We'll do that this weekend then, Ray.  I know she probably doesn't understand why you quit calling."  He looked over as Ray's mother walked in his door and shut it.  "He wanted to talk about Madison."

"I don't want them in contact."

Ray stood up, looking at his mother.  "It's not her fault Dad fucked around on you," he said plainly.

"Raymond," Horatio warned.  "You will respect your mother and myself."

"Sorry."  He looked at her again.  "It's not her fault. She's six.  She's sick.  She has no idea what this is about.  Yeah, I'm mad at all you for this, but not her.  Not really.  Sometimes I get confused about that."

"You're mad at me...."

"It's irrational, mother, I know you had nothing to do with him getting high and going out to sleep around.  But I'm fifteen.  I'm still working through all that stuff.  The same as I'm smart enough to realize that they didn't plan to have her, but the drugs probably made them be less than careful about birth control."  She gave him a shocked look. "Mother, there's girls in my school who have kids," he pointed out gently.  "By the way, can Uncle Horatio have that talk with me this weekend since you've refused to?"

"Fine," she agreed, swallowing.  "You're not ready to date yet."

"Mother, being honest, how many teenagers see sex and dating as a matching couple?"  She went pale.  "I'd like the information *before* I try it and Uncle Horatio has offered.  I'm going to let him tell me everything I need to know so I don't have to try it yet."

"You won't be trying it yet, son," she said firmly.

"Mom, some day I'm going to be dating and having sex.  I'm not three anymore.  I'm not Madison's age. I wish I was, it was easier and nicer then, things were comfortable and warm, but I'm not.  I grew up.  The world moved on.  Some year I'll be giving you grandchildren."

"No you won't."

"I didn't say some year soon, mother.  I said some year."

"No you won't."

He sighed and looked at his uncle.  "This is what I get when I try to talk about this stuff."  He looked at her again.  "He also referred the question about how Speed's up and running around back to you since it's a difficult and long story."

"I have no idea, son. All I've heard are rumors."  They both looked at Horatio, who shrugged.  "You know?"

"I do, I'm not comfortable talking about it."

"How?"  She moved closer. "I was there when we buried him, Horatio.  I saw his body."

He looked at his nephew.  "Go con Calleigh into buying you a soda."  He nodded, going to do that.  He shut the door and returned to look at her again.  "There's things that you don't  know about, Yelina.  A few things.  This had to do with that stuff."

"What stuff?" she demanded.

"Calm down."  He moved closer.  He took a deep breath and figured out how to break it to her. "You know that sometimes the world is wider than we think, correct?"  She nodded, pursing her lips.  "You remember meeting Mr. Harris a few years back?"

"Unfortunately."

"This was something like what he dealt with.  Only a force for good."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, and he's had himself rebaptized," he said quietly.  She nodded, relaxing at that.  "It thought we needed him back so it brought him back.  Without asking his permission or anyone else's.  It used Alexx to do so.  That's why he's still upset with her.  They're working on it."

"Fine," she agreed quietly.  "I don't want Ray exposed to that."

"Yelina, he goes to school with people who know about it.  You and I both know about it."

"Yes, but I don't talk about it," she snapped. "Or those little freaks who run around imitating the Harry Potter books."

He smirked.  "Well, this would border on that world," he admitted.  She glared at him.  "The same as there's schools for people like them in this country."  She glared at him.  "As Ray very well knew, Yelina."

"He wasn't...."

"No, he wasn't.  Someone we knew was.  We were very close to them when they got their letter."

Ray slammed the door shut and looked at him.  "Letters.  That's an interesting topic, huh, mom?"  He stared at her.  She blanched and he raised an eyebrow, looking at his uncle.  "Am I too old to go?"

"Possibly.  Why?"  Ray walked over and opened his desk drawer, pulling out his wand and cast the simple levitating spell, making his mother break out sobbing.  Then he looked at his uncle again, handing it to him.  "I see.  You've been reading the books?"

"Yeah, and I remember the letter."  He looked at his mother again, then his uncle.  "You know about this stuff."

"I do.  I'll see if there's a school down here," he agreed calmly.  "It will set you apart from your friends."

"I can make other friends.  Also, does Suzie know?"  He shook his head.  "Is Madison one of us?"

"There is no us!" Yelina said, standing up again, glaring at her son.  "You're not going!"

"Yelina, if his magic isn't freed the normal way, it can kill him," Horatio told her.  She gaped at him.  "It's been prove that it can lead to a higher rate of cancer and suicide.  Neither of us want that.  If there's no school locally, I'll gladly tutor him.  I know some who're being tutored because they were missed."  She stomped off, slamming the office door hard enough to crack it.  He swallowed.  "I'll call Speed, he'll know whether or not there's a school around here."

"So they did like book four on him?"

"No, there's more than one form of magic, Ray.  Have you seen the stupid vampire show?"  He nodded.  "Something from that spectrum raised him."

"Okay."  He shrugged.  "As long as he's back, you're happier."  He headed down to the lab, sticking his head in.  "Speed, can I borrow you for a minute for a serious question?"

Speed looked at Eric, then nodded him inside.  "Close the door, Ray.  What's up?"

"I just freaked my mother out by levitating Uncle Horatio's coffee cup."

"With his wand or without?" Speed asked calmly.

"With.  I got a letter but Mom freaked.   Like screamed and slammed the door hard enough to crack it freaked.  Like she'll probably try to forbid me to see him.  Is there a school locally?"

"Texas.  Not a great school.  New York has one but it's got problems.  California's got one stretched out like the UC system.  Chicago's presently fighting against the military."  He leaned on the table.  "By the way, if anyone in a uniform or who identifies themselves as military comes near you, scream and panic.  They're trying to get some of us to work for them.  The only exception is Gibbs, who works with Tony, got it?"  He nodded at that, looking very serious.  "Andromeda, the one in California, is pretty nice.  It's a very hippie place though.  Chicago's having problems.  I know Greg sent his sponsored kid to Canada when the military tried to grab her there."  He considered it.  "I'll see if anyplace new has cropped up recently."  Ray grinned at that.  "Your mother just stomped past.  Go hide.  We didn't see you."  He swished his wand.  "You've got ten minutes of not being noticed."  He nodded and fled the lab, heading back to the office.  He looked at Eric.  "Looks like I'm going to be at home for a few minutes before going to check on Danny."

"Is he okay?"

"Danny?  Yeah, he'll be fine.  Some little thug brats in the park took him on but they were undeaged so he couldn't fight back.  It sucks but it happens."  He shrugged and got back to work, thinking hard about where he'd send the kid.  He was already two years, at least, behind.  He'd talk to Greg and Dawn later that weekend about him.

Yelina came to the door of the lab. "Was my son in here?"

"I didn't see him," Eric offered, smiling at her.  "Are you all right?  You look a bit flushed."

"I'm fine."  She glared at Speed.  "Stay away from him."

"If he comes to me with a question, I'll try to refer him back to H, but sometimes you can't go to family about stuff.  It makes you uncomfortable talking about some stuff with the people who used to diaper you.  I will let you know if that situation comes up."  She glared and moved closer.  "Don't try, Yelina."

"Or what?  You'll float me?"

He leaned closer.  "What makes you think I can't do whatever I want?" he offered calmly, staring into her eyes.  "If he comes to me for that stuff instead of his uncle, it is my sworn duty to help him.  Because if we don't, he can die. Remember, this stuff is emotional and he's a teenager."  She gasped.  "Not saying it will happen but it could.  Easily.  It has in the past.  That's how we usually find people we miss for school."  She stomped off.  He calmed himself and looked at Eric.  "I'm pissed now."

"Works for me.  So, his first time....."

"Will be really loud and might have fireworks.  I've seen a few who did."  He got smirked at.  "Not mine.  Tony and Danny made us all go to a college party.  Danny and I shared the bed with our girls and Tony had his against the wall."

"How old were you?"

"Sixteen.  It was the first year we were allowed out without a chaperone. New York was too dangerous to let us out alone.  Horatio's class made sure we couldn't get out before then.  They had a few kids who ran away and one who got killed."

"Wow.  Where did they run away to?"

"A strip club," Horatio said from the doorway.  "Are there any?"

"As far as I know, Texas.  But he's already missed two years so I'm not sure they'd take him.  I'll check tonight through the school."

"Thank you."  He grimaced up the hall then at him.  "I ended up taking it from her before she screamed at everyone about it."

"Danny ended up apparating into the middle of the second floor when he got hurt."

"Wonderful."  He walked off shaking his head.  "Ray, you and I will be talking with Speed tomorrow," he offered quietly.  That got a nod.  "Thank you.  Don't mention this again near her.  She's not taking it well."

"That's putting it mildly," he said, mimicking his uncle, earning a smile.

"Go home, eat.  Call later."  Ray nodded and headed off, taking his mother home. Horatio went to check on the open cases, finding Ryan frowning at his evidence.  "Problems?"  Ryan jumped and looked at him.  "You don't look pleased."

"No that's got to do with whatever it is you guys are hiding from me," he admitted.  "Not that I'm complaining but it's starting to worry me that I'm somehow involved and you're investigating me."

"It has nothing to do with a case," Horatio assured him. Ryan gave him a look.  "I promise, it's nothing to do with a case or you."

"Okay, that makes me feel better.  Thank you.  On this case," he sighed, waving a hand.  "It's not going anywhere.  I'm running into a lot of dead ends and even when I find a small opening it's shut on me within minutes."

"Why?"

"I don't know.  We found a small opening going toward this company locally," he offered, pointing at that printout.  "As soon as we pulled up any information about them, it was deleted.  We went back to the original listing and it was deleted by then too."

"Why?"

"That's what we can't figure out.  Not the A/V tech, not me, not anyone.  I'm almost expecting Feds to come in.  Have you been warned?"

"No, I haven't, though they don't like to warn us before they show up."  He looked at the information, then scowled.  "They're using mythical people?" he asked.

"No, she's a real person from LA.  I don't know if they based that character off her or not."  He tapped into the computer, getting her old license.  "That's Miss Rosenburg."

"Interesting."  He thought quickly.  "Can you get anything on her?"

"Nope.  I tried, I hit a computer wall of a different sort.  Tyler said it was a hacker."   He shrugged.  "Is she one?"

"That's something to look into.  I might know someone who could look into it out there."  He walked off thinking.  This was not a good idea.  He called Greg himself.  "Gregory, Horatio. I know it's early for you but we've just run into a block of Willow Rosenburg, from LA.  No, a company registered in her name is part of a crime committed down here.  They did it in her parking lot.  Every time Ryan goes anywhere, it gets blocked by someone federal or a hacker.  Could you?  Thank you, Greg.  Did you need any other help on that case?"  He smiled.  "You may if you want.  Calleigh could use another frustration.  Have you tried through the Federal database yet?  The one you have to send the bullet in to?"  He smiled at that.  "One out of 105 bullets won't compromise it, Greg. Make sure Grissom agrees.  Oh, Ryan wanted to know if you could get promoted after this one.  Maybe Grissom will count it as individual cases or a few since there are so many bodies."  He smiled at the assertion Greg was getting promoted since he was about to have a heart attack.

"We'll see you down here if you need a vacation.  Also, I meant to ask, and I know Speed is checking.  Are there any schools in this area?  No, my nephew."  He listened to the quiet words of advice.  "His mother would never allow it."  He nodded.  "Thank you, Greg.  Be careful.  They sound like they're playing for keeps and that could include you.  You as well."  He hung up and went to talk to Speed.  "Greg said Grissom can't prove they were all killed at the same time so he may get to count them as individual cases."  Speed smiled at that.  "He also said he can send you the file on the local schools.  He didn't look at any of the smaller ones however."

"That might be the way to go anyway, Horatio.  Individual attention and all that."  He looked at him.  "How many are there?"

"Not enough. New York was begging for money to build a new dorm in the complex. Andromeda is supposed to be very pretty but it's also very far away."  He walked off, going to find Ryan.  "Greg said he and Grissom are in negotiations about how many cases this counts as, and also that he knows someone who knows someone who probably knows Willow.  He's passing it back so you can get whatever you want.  Though he did say that she's not the homicidal sort. More of the upsetting sort."  Ryan nodded at that.  "Hopefully within a day we'll know more about her and possibly that company."

"That would be nice.  What's Andromeda?"

"A private school Ray was thinking about."

"Oh.  Wow.  Well, it'll help him get into a good college so he'll be able to do whatever he wants," he offered.  "He should take the school's curriculum to the local colleges, or the one he wants to end up at, to make sure they meet guidelines.  I had a buddy who went for a year and had to make up an extra year of high school because they wouldn't count four of his courses."

"Well noted, Mr. Wolfe, thank you."  He smirked at him.  "Is there any way this isn't related?"

"I don't know."  He held up a crime scene photo, which made Horatio take it to look at it closer.  "I'd say someone knew about the owner's name and was enacting something from that stupid vampire show."

"It could very well be," he admitted, handing it back.  "Have you talked to anyone in the local pagan network?"

"No.  I wouldn't even know where to start with that.  I know a few random herb shops but I don't know if I could trust the information."

Alex Dumass leaned in the doorway.  "What's up, Horatio?"

"You're not wearing a badge," Ryan said, slowly inching his hand toward his gun.

"Move it further, little boy, watch me leave you frustrated with this case until it gives you an aneurism."  He moved in closer.  "I know Willow.  I grew up with Willow."

"This, Mr. Wolfe, is the basis for the character of Xander Harris, the real one."

"Holy shit," he said, staring at him.  "How did you get in here?"

Alex gave him his most shit-eating grin. "Magic."  Horatio handed him the best picture he had.  "Druid, early Druid so they've got access to some of the older scrolls written down just after the Romans conquered.  Some families wrote down their knowledge so it would keep in the family, even when they had to go underground."  He frowned and pulled over a magnifying/light fixture, looking at the marking.  "Shot before they could finish it," he said thoughtfully, frowning a bit.  "If I could see the symbols closer I could almost tell you what they were doing."  Ryan gave him the blown up one the A/V tech had done for him.  "Thanks."  He looked then at him.  "Oath breaker."

He bit his bottom lip then looked at Horatio.  "He's trying to shut up an oath breaker.  He was calling on the Green Man, the Hunter's God, to claim her to shut her up."  He pointed at a few marks, getting a nod.  "I'm not that familiar with this version of magic, but I'm not sure he got it totally right.  I don't think you call on Him to stop oath breakers.  So he might've known some but not read it all maybe, or could've only translated some of it?  The books might be in his family maybe.  I'm not sure."  He handed it back to Ryan, looking at him.  "As far as I know there's a small herb shop down in Little Havana, run by a Priestess of Ishtar.  She's creepy and she's gonna remind you of someone from the Adam's Family, but she knows her shit.  Take that down there and she could, possibly, identify exactly what he was doing and who he was if you don't already know that.  She's one that those who're seriously into the craft buy herbs from."

Eric leaned in. "I heard Greg saying you were going to Iraq."

"I was, but Draco got injured so I had to bring him home. Ron's restocking the weapons before we go back.  We're going to be gone for at least another month."  That got a nod from Speed.  "Why?"

"Tony and I are going with them.  We're looking into the tattoo idea."

Alex nodded.  "Special Charms collection between the two floors.  Blue drawer of the card catalog, locked with my signet," he said, handing it over. "Sev can open it for you since Draco should be in bed.  He'll be visiting to check on him."

"Thank you."  He looked him over.  "Are you all right?"

"Pissed. Someone decided Draco was a bad guy and tried to shoot him."  He rolled his eyes.  "Fortunately the guys who did it are quite sorry."  Horatio tipped his head at that. "Sorry.  Not soldiers at least.  Had that happen at one other spot.  Anything else I can help with...."

"That's Ryan Wolfe, he replaced me when I died," Speed told him.

Alex looked at him.  "Having nightmares?"  He got a nod.  He walked over and wrote down a phone number.  "Others have been there, including her.  Talk to the blonde one," he said quietly.

"Thank you."  Alex nodded.  "Should I pass on messages?"

"I expected Don to be further ahead by now and using those things as presents so his mother wouldn't whine so much about grandkids."

"They've been pretty busy, Alex," Speed offered. "We all have.  You're the most fun we've had around here in days."

"I'd bring you home with me but it'd kill Draco, kinda literally, if I brought you home and put you between us.  So feel comfort in the fact that I'd bend you over in a heartbeat and make you see whichever God or Goddess you decided to invoke in thanks."  He smirked at him, then at Eric.  "You're just as adorable, but a bit too good boy for my tastes, sorry, sweetie."  Speed snickered, leaning on the doorway.  "Tell Danny Emilia's going to beat his ass if he gets hurt again this year, she is the scary woman of the Banes and our badass, and to let Dawn sulk with the ice cream if you guys free her. Also, see if Don can get Keelian out of the catacombs.  He can free whatever he wants to nest with but I don't want him in my storage area."  He winked.  "I'm off, yet again, to get into more hair-raising and swear- inducing trouble.  But hey, I'm making Molly grey."  He winked and left, disappearing once he rounded a corner.

"Who was that?" Eric asked, looking at Speed.

"Alexander Harris."

"From the show with the vampires?"  Speed nodded.  "Does Angel really exist?"

"I'll have to ask Dawn.  It's possible since they based it off him."  He shrugged. "At least you have a good source, Ryan.  I know where the herb shop is so I'll take you down there tomorrow.  She's not in today.  It's a holy day."

"Okay," he said weakly.  "I just met a tv character?  A very gay tv character?"  Speed nodded, beaming at him.  "How?"

"Xander is a man of many mysteries, including how he's slept with more than his fair share of the world's population," Horatio noted dryly.  "That boy slept with a different person each night since he started having sex, until he got married."  He smirked at Eric.  "He's sorry if you're freaked out.  He usually is.  He told me the same thing."

Eric scratched the back of his head and shrugged. "It's nice that he thinks I'm cute and knows I'm not his type and that I'd never touch him."  Ryan gave him a horrified look. "I like my women, Ryan.  I have no problem being told I'm cute."

"Okay.  Not what I was giggling about.  The image of Horatio being you and being that nice, sweet guy you pretend to be with the ladies."

Horatio looked at him. "I'm often nice and sweet, Mr. Wolfe, at least to *my* ladies."

"Not saying...."

"He's teasing, Wolfe," Speed assured him.  "Calm down.  It was kinda funny that he thinks Horatio is the innocent and cute sort."  He smirked at his boss.  "You?"  He burst out in new giggles.

"So, Speed, Ishtar, Vishnu, Set, Rayden?  Got a god of choice to call out for when he gets to you?" Eric teased.

"His mate would get sick if he cheated on him so it'll never happen," he promised.  "Besides, I thought we'd never talk religion in the office.  Like politics, it makes people mad at you."

"I don't care who you scream out to in the middle of sex," Eric said with a smug look.

"Boys," Horatio warned. "Let's help Ryan with his case.  Shall we?"

"I know the herbalist too.  Marisol goes to her for some pain reducing tea."  That got a nod.  "It's a holy day?" he asked Speed, who nodded.  "Since when?"

"Equinox, Eric," he sighed.  "I know we don't have many seasons down here, but others do celebrate the changing of them."

"Oh."  He shrugged.  "I don't even pretend to understand that stuff."

"I can probably find you a good book if you're interested," Speed offered.

"We could use one in the lab for reference purposes," Calleigh said from behind them.  "Who was the scary guy that made Tripp huff?"

"Alex," Speed said with a grin for her.  "We've got a company run by one Willow Rosenburg.  He knew her."

"From the vampire show?" she asked, looking confused. "Does that mean somewhere there's a vampire named Angel who does way too much stuff to his hair?"

"Possibly," Speed said dryly, coming in to help.  "Here," he said, finding a picture.  "Bring this one and the one he was looking at, Ryan.  It's got great views of the symbols."

"How do you know about this stuff?"

"Report in school.  I had to rationalize their version of their faith with the historical viewpoints."

"Oh.  My school didn't do anything on that."

"Mine made fun of them and drove two kids who weren't Catholic off," Eric admitted.

"Please, honey, I had some early goth kids in mine," Calleigh assured him, coming in to look at them.  "I've only seen Voodun and that's not that."

"No, it's Druid.  Alex identified it," Speed admitted.  "It's not his area though.  He's a knowledge source but not on the specifics like this. Mythology is more his thing, especially about artifacts used or given."

"Ooh.  He ever find any?  Is he like Indiana Jones?"

"Alex is somewhere between Strife, God of Mischief, and Indy, yeah," Speed admitted.

Horatio smirked at him.  "Everyone in his job is dedicated to Loki, Speed, get it right," he teased.

"Figures.  They do nothing but get into trouble and make others bitch, whine, and complain."

"And have sex," Ryan reminded him.  "You said yourself he gets more than he should."

"His black book is as thick as the Miami-Dade phone book, Wolfe."  Ryan whimpered.  "That was before he got married but his husband is slightly a nympho so therefore he doesn't need it anymore."

"He's married to a guy?" Calleigh asked.  Speed nodded.  "Is he bi or just gay?"

"Very bi.  Alex's motto should've been 'I like holes'.  He likes to blow holes in things, likes to play in holes in the ground, and some that aren't...."

"Kids," Horatio said again.

"Sorry, H.  Truth but sorry."

"Alex was here a few years back looking for one of the artifacts, that's how we met him," Horatio told her.

"He's got the sort of life that even a movie of it would be too far-fetched.  There's days when his friends just sit down with popcorn and watch him work.  Also, he fences.  He's a very skilled swordsman."

"I'm guessing he needs it to defend himself now and then," Eric said dryly.  He smiled at Frank Tripp as he came in.  "What's up, Frank?"

"Was that the little bastard Harris?" he demanded.  Horatio nodded.  "Why?"

"Mr. Wolfe's case was a homicide at a business owned by one Willow Rosenburg, Frank. On top of a Druid working circle."  Frank blinked at that.  "He came in as a favor and flirted with Speed and Eric."

"Better them than me this time!"

"See, told ya so," Speed told Eric, who just grinned.  "Hey, Frank, he said he'd bend Eric over but he was too much a good, sweet, and nice boy."

Frank snorted. "Delko?  He must've needed glasses."  He looked at Horatio again. "Didn't he say the same thing about you?"

"Indeed he did, Frank, but in my case he was correct," Horatio teased.  Frank snickered and shook his head, walking off.  "Mr. Wolfe, keep me informed please."

"Yes, Horatio."  Ryan waited until Horatio had walked off. "That was the real Xander Harris?"  Speed nodded. "You met him then?"

"No but I've met him since then.  He's helping a friend of mine with something in his area of expertise."  He shrugged and answered his phone.  "Speedle."  He groaned and held his head.  "Don, calm down.  What happened?"  He wanted so much to laugh.  "Calm down, head to Danny's house, Don.  Now."  He hung up and burst out laughing, leaning on the table.  "Oh, damn."

"Share!" Eric ordered.  "What did Don do?"

"He got so worried and fussed, he's a girl now," he snickered, walking off to tell Horatio that.  "Boss, can I have ten minutes to help Don?"  Horatio raised an eyebrow so he burst out in more giggles.  "He worried so much he had a small accident.  He's a girl."

"Go," Horatio said, shaking his head.  That was probably very cute.

What's Not To Love?

Don hung up and whimpered, looking down at himself.  "What did I do?"

"Magic is emotional," Danny reminded him through his snickers, holding his side.  "Head to my place, Don."  He nodded and apparated off, letting Danny howl in laughter, which brought the nurses.  He waved them off, swatting at one who was trying to help him.  "Don, cute," he gasped when Stella came in.  "'Splosion.  Girl!"  He burst out in another peal of laughter.

"Please tell me he didn't do what I think he did."  He nodded, snickering harder. "Oh, hell, I've got to see this."  She disappeared, heading for the stairwell since no one used them.  She apparated off, landing behind Don.  "At least you're a cute girl," she said, bursting out in her own laughs.

"Keep it up, help me bra shop, Bonasera."  He sat down and pouted, arms crossed over the very small tits he had.  "I didn't even make myself a very good girly girl either."  Tony showed up with Alex not far behind him.  "I worried and I fussed and then I realized I sounded like a girl," he said with a pout.

"Danny makes many people worry and fuss like a girl," Tony assured him.  "Stand up, let's see what you've done."  Don sighed and stood up, holding his arms out.

Alex looked him over. "Well, you're cute enough that I'd sleep with you, but I am married."  Don blushed at that, giving him a horrified look.  "I also expected you to be further along with what I assigned you, Don."

"I got stuck and then we got more bodies."

"Fine.  Unstick whatever you have to so Keelian can have his own nest at Hogwarts."

"Can we go see the school?" Tony asked, beaming at him.

"Someone's got to pick up Dawnie.  Philip won't let her wander around by herself."  Speed showed up, still laughing.  "It is cute.  He gave himself little baby titties."

Speed burst out in new laughs, leaning on Stella.  "You're cute, Don."  He and Tony pulled their wands but Alex waved a hand and walked Don into the library to work with him on his spell unraveling skills.  He came out a normal man, after checking.  "Better," he agreed.  He looked at Alex.  "You thought Horatio was a sweet and gentle boy?"

"In bed," he shot back with a smirk.  "Okay, Ron and I are heading off again in the morning.  After Dawn gets some nookie tonight at school.  Anything else I can help you two with?"

"How do they let us borrow books?"

"Greg or Philip can, or Sev."  That got some grins from both wizards. "Stella, I need you to work on your transfiguration this weekend. You're falling behind."  She nodded at that. "Don, you and Danny work with Draco on potions stuff to take his mind off the fact that he's not coming back with me.  On Sunday, work on charms and creatures."  They both nodded at that.  "Good."

"If you give us a syllabus, we'll work with them," Tony promised.

"Yeah, Horatio's nephew just broke out in skills today," Speed offered.  Tony looked at him.  "Seriously.  He had to obliviate his sister-in-law because she was screeching and threatened me to stay away from him."

"Damn," Tony said.  "If I was just starting out I'd want someone like you with me."  Speed shrugged.  "Alex, we can take over their training if we have to.  We're pretty well back to caught up fully.  That'll leave the specialist stuff for Don with you and the others."

"Sure.  However it works for you guys.  Go in together, but Danny can invite you in if you get stuck.  Don, work on that stuff, just in case.  Got me here?"  Don nodded. "Good.  Arens was injured too so expect the big, blond guy who hits on everyone to show up claiming to be bored and try to work with you.  He's very good at sensing."  That got another nod.  "Good boy."  He patted him on the cheek.  "Danny is?"

"Hospital," Speed told him.  Tony opened his mouth.  "Some little punk bastards in the park got him.  Too young for him to fight back, Tony.  He's fine.  The healer's seen him, his wrist was bruised but not broken or anything.  A slight stab and some other bruises."

"Which was why I was fussing and worrying," Don added.

"Don't worry, Speed's the worst at getting into trouble," Tony assured him.  "But you're good at looking out for our buddy for us.  That's why we'll turn you just as evil as us."  He grinned sweetly. "Plus, hey, we can hand you girls that we don't want to date."

"I haven't dated recently," Speed admitted dryly.  "You're the one with the black book like the phone book."

"Did that not come back as fully as the rest of you?" Tony teased.  "Is it limp, Speed?"

Speed punched him. "NO!  Did you want to get down and check?"

Tony smirked.  "Gibbs threatened to spank me."

"If you blew me?"

"No, if I misbehaved. I think he'd count that."

"Only if he wanted me instead," Speed shot back.

"While that's a really hot image and I can see you two writhing against each other easily, topic at hand please?" Stella ordered.

"Awww, hear that, she thinks you'd be hot under me," Tony teased.

"Actually, I can see him riding you or you begging for mercy since he's got you tied down to the bed, Tony, but still, we've got a different topic at hand.  Don, moving stuff?"

"The moving stuff can be done this Thursday," Speed assured her.

"I can get it off, maybe," Tony agreed. "How bad is his wrist?"

"Wrenched, nothing else," Don offered. "They wanted him off the team so they got his good one."

"The little thug bastards were who?" Speed asked.  Alex produced a current yearbook.  "Do you often hide books up your ass?"

"Yes, I've got to leave some room in my packs for clothes and food; besides, I top most of the time so Draco doesn't mind.  It doesn't get in the way of me making him beg for mercy or anything so he's all good with whatever I store up there."

Stella blushed at that.  "I did not need that mental picture, Alex!"  She reached over to pinch him. "Quit!"

Alex gave her an evil smirk.  "But, Stella, he's very pretty when he's begging.  I think about him begging a lot.  It's how I like to imagine him whenever I have to call over the tattoo.  Everyone wants someone like Draco to be under them: sweaty, needy, and begging for mercy.  Don't you?"

"I'd rather find a guy who wanted me that way and gave backrubs, plus fixed shit."

"You know, Harry's still free," Don offered with a grin.  "Plus a bunch of the other Banes, like Blair.  You two could share hair stuff since you're both so curly."  She pinched him, making him yelp and dance out of reach laughing.  "Sorry.  Hey, what about Nick?"

"No!"

"Eric wanted me to ask if Angel is real," Speed told Alex.  Who nodded. "How real was the show?"

"Buffy's idea of a joke," he complained bitterly.  "She used Giles' journals as a script device.  Angel was not a happy vampire with a soul by any means.  It freaked him out almost as much as when Lovegood claimed her stallion and her mule."

"Yeah, was meaning to ask about Luna and her thing for Rayne and Wesley," Don noted dryly. "Are we sure it's a good idea?"

"You'd rather have her pouting and corrupting others?" Alex asked.  A new body appeared and they looked at him. "Professor Armwrench.  What do I owe the pleasure of you hunting me down for this time?"

"Your little sister is the most evil bitch," he growled, moving closer.  "Apparently it's not bad enough that she tempts Ginny.  It's not bad enough that the three of them shoot me dirty images all day long, even though I don't have a current outlet for that lust, but now she's protecting the one who put Apple back into heat!"

"Damn it.  Um, I can't help Ginny anymore, Prof.  It nearly killed Draco."  Armwrench gave him a worried look. "The family curse is monogamy."

"Damn it.  All right, do we know anyone else?"

"Her horse is in heat so she is?" Tony asked.

"Ginny's a valkyrie," Professor Armwrench said dryly, glancing at him. "She is legal and very pretty.  Hopefully the potion won't last more than a few hours."

"Why is she protecting the person who dosed Apple?"

"She wants her for herself.  The young girl in question was going to dose Hagrid but someone was tracking the potion she made so she had to dump it in the horse's water trough," he said grimly, glaring at her. "Now I've got a horny valkyrie in desperate need and Dawn's rutting with Ronald again."

"We're going back tomorrow," Alex said quietly.  "Someone tried to kill Draco and Arens."   The teacher stiffened.  "Bring Ginny here, at the very least we can do something, even though I can't."

"Would the magical sex toys I got given help?" Stella asked.

"Bloody hell yes, but she's already worn one out," Armwrench complained.  "She's fully in heat.  Alex, please."

"I can't.  It nearly killed Draco.  I'm not losing him."

"Fine."

"How long will it last?" Don asked.

"Two, three hours tops."

"Just sex?  Contraceptive already applied and all that?"

"She's already taken it, she's already caused an orgy in my classroom, which Lovegood happily gave instructions and help to."

"Then bring her here and I'll take her home," Don agreed patiently.  "As long as she doesn't try to cling."

"Thank you!"  He hugged him and summoned Ginny, releasing her from her body bind.  "Not Alex, you nearly set off Draco's family curse."  She nodded, looking around greedily.  "Whoever here wants you, dear."

"We can do that," Tony and Speed agreed, taking her and Don with them back to his house. He did call Horatio to warn him what was going on but he simply laughed until the mare showed up in his office.

"It takes three people to wear someone in heat out?" Stella asked.

"Two sometimes," Alex offered.  "It's an intense need."  He walked closer and whispered something, touching his wand to her forehead.  She shivered and clamped down, pressing her lips together.  "That's about half of what Ginny's got going, Stella," he offered quietly.  "Because of her vows, this is the only time she can have any."

"Damn.  I'm glad it's not me."

"Me as well.  Alex, I need a new plaything."

"Arens is pouting because the pretty young things don't want him anymore. He's got an arm and upper chest injury so be nice to my former partner."  He grinned and left, going to let his priest worship him in the most primal way possible.  "Sorry, Loki teaches sex ed at Hogwarts."  She blinked at that and he smirked, winking back.  "It's a very well kept secret but that's how he finds us."  He stepped back and waved a wand, packing everything.  "All you have to do is move it wherever he's going as long as he's got the new spells set up."

"I think we'll be doing them for him.  His hiding spell sucked," she complained.  "Thank you, Alex.  Now I need those toys."

"Take Mac.  He looks like he could use some stress relief."

"Grieving spouse."

Alex nodded. "Been there, done that. One of the reasons why I whored my way around the world.  Call me if you need my help."  He disappeared.

Stella looked around, making sure the apartment was sealed before taking off for her house and her fun box of toys that moved themselves.

***

Don strolled in to pick up Danny, smirking at him.  "Hi."

"Please get me out of here?" he pleaded.

He held up the paperwork.  "Sign, put back on the clothes, and we can go."  Danny hugged him and signed everything, then went into the bathroom to change.  The nurse came in with a wheelchair but he could put up with it for now. This time.  Don got him down and outside, smiling at the nurse.  "I called a cab before I came in, they're a bit backed up."

"That's fine.  Leave the chair here and it'll be taken inside by the next nurse out here. Have a nice life, boys, and I hope I don't have you again on my unit."  She went back inside, smiling and happy.

Don led Danny off to the side, where they were more shaded by some trees.  It looked like he was being thoughtful and getting his buddy out of the sun, but instead he handed him the portkey.  "We've got to cue the wards on your new place to you," he offered quietly, activating it. They landed and he let Danny look around.  "Helping Ginny out last night made us want to wear out some energy and they said I needed practice anyway," he offered, leading Danny past the public front room and into the real apartment, which included the kitchen.  Sure, the other door existed too but no one would question this one.

Danny looked around in awe, then at him.  "When?"

"Last night.  Ginny's horse got dosed with something called Pixie Lust Potion?"  Danny whimpered.  "Speed, Tony, and I took her to Tony's place ta help her out with that problem.  We got all hyped up on energy and decided to do this for you.  Even though the landlord did have to correct us about where we were moving stuff into there for a minute."   He poked him.  "You gave me the wrong apartment number."

"Sorry."  He walked into his bedroom, finding the bed expanded and covered in nice sheets.  "I see Tony did the bedroom."

"Yup.   Speed did the library and I got the lounge and the spare bedroom."  He grinned at his buddy.  "So now we won't have to sleep on that couch of yours."

"I like my couch."

"So do I, but this way I won't roll off it again."  He gave his head a shove with a smirk.  "Then Speed and Stella went food shopping so you have some again."  Danny snickered at that.  "Speed's at work, Tony's on a case, and Stella's got today on. I took the day off."

"You didn't have to."

"Yes I did.  I'm the one who put the wards up so I've got to introduce you to them."  He pulled him back into his bedroom.  "I centered them back here so there was less chance of someone outside the apartment undoing them.  Also, I soundproofed in here but not the other rooms.  That way the neighbors could tell when you were in here."  He sat down with him on the floor, taking his hand to hold.  "You've done this before?"

"Not in a while.  I haven't needed protection wards on my apartment before now."

"You should've had 'em anyway," Don said firmly. "You see way too much trouble and had it coming for you too."   He took his hand and focused his magic, just like Tony had told him to, letting Danny do the same.  Their magics touched and he shivered, but let it into him and focused on the wards.  It hummed around him, tasting and testing them both.  "This is his home," he whispered.  "You're to protect him for me."  The wards wrapped around them, then gently moved back into the walls, content with this new person they knew was theirs.

"Wow," Danny breathed, looking at him.  "That was intense."

"It was," Don agreed, grinning at him.  "Tony made me get naked to do them too."

"Not usually necessary."

"I know that now."  He grinned at his buddy.  "How's your wrist feel?"

"Still a bit stiff.  I'm back ta doing the stretches and stuff carefully."

"Good.  Don't hurt it again."  He gave him another head nudge.  "So, what's for lunch?"

"You think I can cook?" he snorted.

"Stella got you already-prepared stuff."

"Good!"  He got up and helped Don up.  "Thanks."

"You're welcome.  You worry us when shit like this happens."  He smirked at him.  "Plus, no one can see the door into the extra rooms, Messer.  We made sure of it.  Speed did put on an EMS exemption because he thought it might be needed.  You worry him a lot."

"He gets into more trouble than I do," he said with a slight frown.

"Yeah, but he gets into work related trouble. You get into living related trouble.  Work related trouble can get you dead, living related trouble will get you dead."  He opened the freezer, pointing at the already prepared meats and vegetables he could do in the microwave, plus some microwave meals.  "Your cabinets are full of those too.  Apparently she knows what you like to eat."  He smirked at him.  "So, pick out something so I can."

"Sure."  He pulled out a meal with chicken and corn, putting it in the oven like the directions stated.  Don's went next to his and they went back to exploring the rooms.  "You guys unpacked?"

"We did the spell in reverse.  You'll have to go back to the old place to make sure we didn't leave anything and to unseal it.  We kept it sealed against the landlord and left the rooms up so you'll have to end that spell too."

"Sure, I can do that tonight," he agreed happily.  He looked around then at his watch.  "Make that now.  Be right back.  Watch dinner."  He apparated the ten blocks back to his old place, going to find his hidden spots, some of which had little notes saying Stella had found them for him.  He did find some things he had managed to keep hidden, but that was good since some of that was the stuff from his fiance.  He boxed all that up, doing a turn through the bathroom and the kitchen, then the spare rooms.  Everything but a chair was gone in there.  He pulled the chair out and put the boxes on top of it.  The front room was bare but he found a CD case he had been missing.  It had apparently been under the entertainment center.  That went on top of the boxes and he did another turn, finding Alex staring at a spot in his bedroom.  "Did I miss one?"

"Three," he offered, opening them for him.  He looked at him.  "You okay?"  Danny nodded.  "Good."  He held up something.  "You took it off?"

"No, they took it off me.  Hospitals.  I had forgotten I was wearing it."  He put it back on his neck and let Alex rebless it with a few quiet words.  "Sorry."

"No, we've got exemptions for that and we're being held up going back at the moment.  Someone's hiding in our library."  He shrugged. "I'm going to fix that in a few minutes really."  He looked Danny over then into his eyes. "Danny, you do know that your clones want to let Don join your special group, right?"  That got a nod.  "And that the Banes would love to have you all?"

"I wouldn't mind both," he admitted.

"Tipsy does the same thing.  She's got ours and the one for her boys."  He shrugged.  "We wouldn't care according to the Prof.  Also, expect him this weekend.  He's threatened to throw a pop quiz on Don and Stella."  He grimaced a bit.  "Did you tell the Vinese I had adopted you?"

"No."  He shook his head.  "I didn't mention it to anyone, Alex.  She heard you adopted me?"

"Well, by giving you that pendant and dagger I did mark you as being adopted into the clan," he admitted.  "That woman has a network like you wouldn't believe.  She wrote me and asked if I had formally adopted you or if this was to aid in the training so I thought I'd make sure how you wanted me to answer.  You'll be asked for your decision on the Bane initiation this weekend so we'll talk then.  Think about it, Danny.  I won't even make you take my name but you can't date any of the aunts."

"Your aunts are scary," Danny said firmly, making Alex beam and nod.  "Especially your sister Katya."

"Just think, she's the nice one in the family. Mel's stuffy and proper, plus demonic."  Danny grinned at that.  "Oh," he said, holding up a small bronze key.  "That was also sent to me.  Your local vault?"

"Thank you.  I've already got that key," he said, looking at the number.  "What's this one?"  He looked up but Alex was gone.  "I wanna know how he does that."  He stuck it into his pocket and got back to work robbing his hidden areas.  His lunch was probably cold by the time he got done but that was fine, that's what microwaves were for.  Everything was gathered in a small pile and he looked around, then gathered the magic in his hands, undoing the knot holding it together.  The extra rooms faded out at his tugging, flowing back into him.  Then he unsealed the doors.  Don appeared and marked a circle on the floor with sugar and then pulled his wand and cast something onto it.  Everything in the circle, including them, the boxes, and the chair, went with them.  Danny went back to check, just in case, finding the new key laying there.  He picked it up and apparated back, sticking it his pocket when he landed.  It clinked against the other one.  He pulled them both out to look at the numbers. A new one tinkled onto the floor beside him.  "What the fuck?" he called, looking up.  A note came with the last one.

Don picked them up and glanced at the note.  "Family assets."  He handed over the note as well.  "Lunch is on the table, Danny."

"Sure."  He walked over to grab it and then back to his favorite couch to sit and eat, staring at the tv.  Don followed. "You already ate?"

"Of course.  You remember to unseal the door?"  Danny nodded since he was chewing.  "Good."  He sat down beside him.  "We can hit the bank if you want.  I have no idea where the bank is."

"Same place the shopping area is.  It's that marble building at the end.  Goblins like marble, it's imposing."  He smirked at him.  "You just want to go back to the quidditch shop."

"Well, yeah," he offered.  "Coach called, wanted you to call him."

"Sure."  He picked up his cell and dialed, putting it between his chin and his shoulder so he could continue eating.  "You wanted a call?" he asked before taking another bite.  "Yup," he mumbled.  He chewed, listening to him yell.  "They were underage," he said once he swallowed. "If I had hurt 'em, I'd be in more trouble.  Plus probably more injured since there were five of them.  Give 'em two years and next time I'll kick their asses."  He ate another bite while he huffed and complained.  "At least it's only bruised," he offered through his current mouthful of food.  "Better me eating than in the toilet, right?" he joked, then he ate another bite.  "Sure.  I'll be there if possible."  He hung up and tossed it down again.  "I'm still going to be at the game."

"Of course you are.  You can be our cheerleader this time."  Danny glared at him.  "I won't make you carry a sign with my name," he offered with a goofy grin.  Danny held up his fork in a menacing way.  "Fine, you can yell and stomp without the short skirt too."

"Thanks, really."  He went back to his dinner.  Someone pounded on the door so he got up to get it.  It was his place after all.  He found the landlord on the other side, giving him a clueless look.  "What's wrong?"

"Is that music yours?"

Danny shook his head. "I've got the tv on, s'not me."  He listened and pointed up the hall.  "That way.  Probably the place on the corner."

"Thanks."  He stomped that way.  "You all moved in?"

"Yup.  My friends did it while I was in the hospital."  His landlord gave him an odd look.  "Some thugs tried ta get me back."

"I guess it happens.  Call me if you've got problems, Danny."  He pounded on that door and the music that came out when it was opened nearly blew him across the hall.  "Turn that shit down!"

Danny closed his door, heading back in there.  "Thank you to whoever did the directional soundproofing."

"Not a problem," Don said happily.  "Speed taught Stella when she started to have a headache in rhythm with the rap music."  Danny grinned at that.  "Then he threatened to take her out dancing."  He shrugged and handed Danny his lunch.  "You forgot the totally dry brownie."

"S'okay, you can have it."  He flopped down and went back to flipping stations. "Why isn't there anything on during the day?"

"Because most people work during it so they don't have to put on good crap."  He looked at him. "Alex brought a yearbook with him.  I identified the kids in the park for him and he's went to see the Headmistress with Tony, who got a bit pissed with her.  One of the boys cracked under his Gibbs-like glare of death so they know who did it and they're in heavy detention but she said she couldn't expel them for that.  Tony pointed out you kids could've had your wands broken for it but she said times have changed and they couldn't do that anymore.  Wizards were too valuable to do that."

"That sounds like the military issue that hit Chicago has ours," Danny said thoughtfully.

"That's what Alex said.  He *assured* her that if they came here like they did Chicago he was going to be on that assault team too."   He grinned at him.  "Apparently she got briefed so she left it there and said the kids are given offers when they graduate."

"So if they're total fuckups they're allowed to go out and breed more but the rest are recruited?"

"Tony was assured that they're not forced, just suggested at heavily.  That many of their students went onto college instead.  Tony called Mac in to talk to those kids who've gotten offers about what they'd be doing.  He's doing that this afternoon and then he'll be coming over with Stella for a drink to christen this new place."  Someone tapped on the door, much more gently this time.  "It's Grand Central in here today," he complained.

Danny smirked and got up, smiling at the young woman standing there.  "Hi."

"Hi.  My mom said I should introduce myself to you. I'm Hannah.  I live above you to the left of your place," she said, pointing.  "Mom's the building's official welcome wagon but she's at the doctor's."

"Thank you.  I'm Danny.  We're working on getting everything set up today."  She beamed at that.  "Also, let your Ma know I'm with the PD as a criminalist, okay?"  She nodded.  "So if I see the druggie in the hallway again, I might have ta bring him in."

"Sure," she agreed with a giggle. "Thank you, Danny.  I'll tell my mother you're very nice and sweet and see if she'll invite you up some day soon for a good meal."  She smiled so brightly she got dimples then headed off for the stairs.

Danny looked around the hallway, spotting an older, cranky looking woman staring at him.  "Hi.  Just moved in."

"Her mother's going to hit on you," she said bitterly.

"I'm taken," he offered with a grin.  "I'm also good if you need small stuff done, ma'am.  My last place had a mother next door with a kid who kept locking himself in rooms."  She smirked at that.  "If you need me, I'm here."  He smiled and closed his door, looking at Don, then at Stella since she had just appeared. "Bad day at work?"  He looked at the lock.  "You're early."

"We got a bomb threat.  We need you guys back there."

"Coming," Don agreed, coming out of the back area.  "Danny, you going in that?"  He shook his head, going to change into work clothes.  Well, jeans and a nice shirt since it was his day off. He came out clipping on his badge and gun, making her smile. "Might as well just in case."  He found his shoes where they should be, his buddies knew him very well, and slid into them then followed her down to Don's car.  Don locked the door behind him, then handed him his keys. "Yours."

"Thanks."  They went into his pocket and his wand and dagger were checked to make sure they were still in their hidden spot. Don walked around to drive and Stella took the backseat.  Which means Danny got to turn down the radio.  "Any random bomb threat?"

"Mac's evil because he hired women to do the work so therefore he must purge and cleanse the building of the taint of women," Stella reported.  "That way our evidence and officers aren't tainted and can understand God while doing His work."

Danny snorted. "Okay, so religious nut," he agreed. "We had any in on a case?"

"Two.  Someone's went to retrieve them.  One's in Rikers.  The other was just as suspect.  I questioned the one in custody but we can't be sure it was him or not.  The other could've seen me when I was working."

"Why you?"

"He mentioned curly-haired she-demons who tempted men to impure thoughts and actions.  His letter was ten pages long."

"Well, we knew you were demonic at times, Stella," Danny teased, shooting her a grin.

She smirked back.  "Thank you.  That's the nicest compliment I've gotten in days, Danny."

"Welcome."  Don pulled up in front of the station and they got out, going to check in.  "You called in all off-duty personnel?" he asked Mac.

"I had to."  He looked at him.  "Are you fit for duty?"

"I'm a bit sore.  I probably won't be carrying shit of the next day or so."

"Fine.  Don, read the letter please.  Both cases had you as part of it and you were mentioned."

"Wonderful."  He glanced through the letter, skipping over the flowery phrases about God's love for men until he came to his part.  "So, what, I inspired him to lust and he thought lust with Stella was wrong?"

"He probably saw you smiling at her and decided she had taken you from your role as his object of fixation," Mac offered.  "He hates that she's keeping you het, Don."

"Not my fault I'm this way," he complained, going back to his reading.  "Ahh.  He hates Danny for taking his rightful spot.  Hey, he compared me to a saint."

"You cleaned my old bathroom, I'd call that saintly," Danny teased.

"No that was Speed.  He said he's picking up on Ryan's OCD."  He went back to reading, shaking his head.  "Wonderful.  So where'm I meeting him?"

"The park, an hour."  Mac looked at him.  "He may still be in custody but we're not sure yet.  We're waiting on them to arrive."

"That's easy, have Don standing there and watch their reactions," Stella offered.

"Both were pretty closed off," Danny said, taking the letter to glance over.  He giggled.  "Man, did Sheldon read this yet?"

"Yes.  He took a deep breath and said it wasn't unreasonable for psychotic and delusional people to have fantasies like that, even about him.  Then he walked off to help the SWAT team with whatever they needed."  Danny snickered as he kept reading.  "It's not funny."

"It is.  That's Tony," he said, pointing at a line.  Mac groaned.   "So it had ta be the one day Tony was up here about that case."

"Which means it's the guy not in custody," Stella decided.  Mac nodded at that.  "The other was on Riker's by then."

"True, he was," Mac agreed.  "Well, that narrows it down but we'll talk to him just in case.  Tony has popped up a few times."

"Yeah, but into my place," Danny pointed out.

"No, that one time he popped up to talk to you about something," Don reminded him.  "We were in the labs though."

"Still, the other guy was only in here once," Stella pointed out.  "It should be a quick talk with him."  A van pulled up.  "Looks like the Riker's Express."  She walked out there to meet the guy, getting sneered at but he stared at Don when he walked up. Maybe she was wrong?  The other guy got drug in and he gave Don a longing look as well.  "Find them a seat and park them," she ordered.  They were drug off by uniformed officers and handcuffed to metal stools in the command center.  She gave Don a look.  "They both like you."

"What's not to like really?" he taunted back with a smirk.  He was turned just enough so they could see his expression.

"No!  The heathen she-demon may not have him!" the guy from Rikers screamed, trying to get up.  "Get away from him, you foul bitch of hell!"

"Oh, shuddup!" Danny yelled back.  He looked at the other guy.  "You got input?"

"She hath tainted him," he said weakly.  "We could hope to fix him but it may not be enough."

"Shut up!" the first guy yelled at him, trying to get to him.  "We will succeed, he will be saved!"

"Uh-huh," Danny said, nodding once and looking at Mac.  "When's your talk with those kids?"

"An hour."

"Go, we've got this," he assured him with an evil smirk.  Mac nodded and left them in command, with Stella in charge.  He looked at them, then around at the officers, getting mostly understanding looks and a grin from Don.  He moved closer.  "Guys, what makes you think he needs saved from her?  That he hasn't already been saved and she's not just our toy?  After all, strong men can have both toys and real mates," he said.  They glared at him so he smirked. It was a very Speed-like smirk.  "Really.  Only the weakest of the weak have to lock themselves away from the women."  The second guy started to cry so he focused on the first.  "Now, someone wrote us a very nice, long letter about how fine Flack's ass is.  Was it you or him?  Or maybe you've got some friends who want to put him in the center of the circle and worship him since that's what he deserves?"  He swallowed and nodded. "If you tell me, I'll give you thirty seconds ta say your peace ta him.  Your choice."

"We of our Church of Holiness have seen him for who he truly is, the reincarnation of our Patron Saint.  We would do anything to protect him, even shed our mortal lives to join his righteous group of followers so that he may lead us to the higher levels of understanding."

"Okay.  Is the bomb there or here?"

"Here," the second man whimpered, trying back away from Stella.  "Please, call off the demon."

"Stella," Danny ordered.  "Please."  She backed off, weight canted off to one side, arms crossed over her chest, sneering at him.  "Thank you."  He looked at him.  "Where is it?"

"Where women do congregate to consult in their unholy plans to taint and ruin men," he whispered.

"The ladies room?" Danny offered. He nodded, hanging his head.  "Wrong time of the month for them to be congregating very much, dear.  Stella, please."  She went to pass on that information.  "Now, where can we find these others who wanna worship Flack's tight ass and really tight abs?"  He swallowed, giving him a helpless look.  "All I want is the bomber.  Flack might wanna know more though.  I'll tell him where the rest are."  Then he smirked.  "Of course, I'm gonna have ta make sure they know who's got his back."

"Brother Florence," he said quietly.  "She had given up the ways of the woman to be holy, like us," he whispered.  "Please treat him well."

"I will.  Where can I find 'im?"

"Brother Florence and the others should be in lunchtime prayers," the first said, hanging his head.  "At our temple."

"Which would be where?" Don asked, moving forward.  "I definitely wanna meet the guys who want me that much and think I'm a saint."

He looked at him and swallowed, noticing how small and helpless he felt next to him. "You are not just a Saint, you are our Father," he said, realizing it.

"Then tell me where the bad ones are so I can spank 'em on the ass for planting bombs.  That ain't right and you know it."

They both nodded, hanging their heads and divulging where the temple was.

"Thank you.  We'll go there now."  Danny looked at Flack.  "C'mon, Dad."

"Bite me, Messer."  He went to get them some backup from the SWAT guys, and only the guys since he explained what was going on, making a few smirk.  He and Danny hitched a ride with them, putting on their vests.  "Danny, you're waiting, you can do the evidence stuff once we've got them."

"Yeah, sure.  Not a problem."  He looked at him.  "You sure you don't wanna go in first, make sure they don't bow down to you or nothin'?" he teased.

"That might work best," the team leader offered.

Don glared at him. "I'm not using their delusions against 'em."

"It'd be easier and everyone would gather around you.  That way you could tell 'em they're wrong," Danny offered.  "Before you get more fans like that."  They shared a look and Don shuddered.  "Come on, you'll enjoy being worshiped, Flack."

"Bite me, Messer."  When they got there, he did walk in first, gun in his hand just in case.  "Yo!" he called, and everyone stared at him.  "I need ta see Brother Florence right now."  They stared in awe, looking up at him since they were on their knees.  "I mean right tha  hell now.  As in this very second."

"I..I am he, Great One," a higher-pitched voice offered quietly, and a figure in a robe moved forward, kneeling in front of him.  "What can I do for you?"

"You can put your hands behind your back for making a bomb and planting it.  The rest of you too."  They wailed.  "Shuddup!"  They stopped.  "Thank you!"  He glared around.  "Any kids or pets around here we should worry about?"

"The nursery keeper was not involved," an older man said firmly, standing up.  "He is not involved in any of this."

"S'fine.  We just need ta know where they are," Danny said from behind him.  The old man whimpered.  "Got me here?"  He nodded and pointed, bowing at him.  "Thanks.  Guys?  Clear."  They came rushing in and got everyone in handcuffs.  "We've got a nursery keeper with kids and they're insistent he didn't have a thing ta do with it," he ordered calmly.

"That's fine," one of the SWAT guys agreed.  "We have to clear the building.  Which way are they so we can be careful?"  Danny pointed.  "Thanks."  They headed to clear the rest of the building.

The old man stopped beside Danny, ignoring the pulling on his bound arm.  "You are his Protector," he said quietly.  "He is our Father and our Saint.  Protect him well."

"I always do."  He stared into his eyes.  "You still did wrong planting that bomb."

"She is demonic."

"No, she's a good lady who takes scum off the streets.  Don appreciates that she's got his back now and then."

He sighed and nodded. "Then she is one who is switching over and we should have realized that."  He let himself be led off, leading a prayer for their souls to be guarded while their lives were tested.

Danny called Stella.  "We've got a nursery keeper and kids here, but I could use some help. It's an old church."  He hung up and looked at Don.  "So, dad."

"Messer," he warned, looking stressed.

Danny walked over and clapped him on the back.  "Could be worse.  They could've found a way to make some of the kids really yours."  He patted him again and got to work looking for evidence.  He found a pamphlet on Don and burst out laughing as he read it, bringing a few of the guys over.  "Um, Don, man, I didn't know you had a birthmark."  Don stormed over and took the pamphlet, groaning when he saw that. "Got any psycho exes, Don?"

"Not that badly!"  He walked off with it.  There was a whole stack, he could complain to the others with that one.  He looked it over.  On the back was a hymn to his eyes and lips.  He was never going to live this down once it got around the station.

"Hey, Flack, what's this about your wand being eleven inches?" one of the guys teased.

Don flinched, then turned to look at him.  "Someone mismeasured, it's much bigger. You wanna find out like they do?" he retaliated.  The guys all laughed at that and headed out carrying stuff Danny had already bagged up.  "Um, Danny...."

"Hints of it but hiding it," he offered.  "Maybe it's whoever gave you the picture, Flack.  Which means it'd have to be a cop in the precinct as well."  He looked around then at him.  "Find the office."  Don nodded and went to do that.  Sheldon came in and looked around, then up at the velvet painting of Don, bursting out giggling.  "Nah, you should see the pamphlet and hymnal," he offered, holding up the thin book.  "The pamphlet is to recruit.  The hymnal is for the real ones, even those who were demonic and switched over to be more male, like they now think Stella is."

Sheldon burst out in giggles, leaning on a pew to hold himself up.

"Not funny!" Don yelled from the back room.

"Oh, it so is.  Just wait until Tony and Speed hear," Danny yelled back.  "And Horatio!"

"I'll kill you, Messer.  I know enough to know how to hide your body."

"I'm sure you think you do," Sheldon taunted, smirking as he came out.  He noticed the pamphlet and took it to look over, then burst out giggling again.  "Oh, man, they've got holy relics from the last incarnation of their saint."

"Oh, shit," Danny said, going to hunt those down.  You had to treat holy relics in a certain way or the psychos who believed they were holy got upset and started a riot.  He did call to update Mac that it was safer now and what was going on, telling him about the pamphlet and that stuff, which made him chuckle just a bit, then clamp down on it.  He hung up when he found the inner sanctum, moaning at the relics floating in jars of formaldehyde.   Well, someone in DNA was going to have fun getting samples from the preserved balls.  "Don't come in," he ordered when he heard the door creak open.

"Why not?" Don asked.

"You'll have nightmares."

"I'll have 'em anyway."  He walked in and stopped, then shuddered and turned around to walk out.  "Never mind. Don't make me look at those again please."  He walked back into the main room. "Sheldon, Danny found the relics.  You'll need something to transport jars."

"Jars?"  He followed the pointed finger, finding Danny.  "Oh, jars," he said, wincing a bit.  "Wonder where the bodies are."

"Buried appropriately so the spirit could pass on," Danny said, pointing at a small plaque.  "We need to do a real estate search on them."  They shared a look and got the ME down there to gather the relics for them.  They didn't wanna touch the jars.

***

Tony appeared behind Don the next night, hugging him.  "Do you still have yours?" he teased.

"I can hurt you."

"I'm sure you can, Daddy."

Speed appeared, shaking his head.  "Lay off the poor guy.  At least they liked him enough to admit transexual females."  Tony pouted at him.  "Really.  He's gotta be creeped out, Tony."

"That's why I'm making him laugh about it. Less nightmares that way."  He grinned at Danny.  "Didn't they find a use for you too, Danny?" he cooed.  "Are you upset?"

"Hell yes, they thought I was his protector and servant," he pouted.  "Not even a good one, I was his concubine and bodyslave sort."

"I'd offer you a position as mine but I know how you are about ball licking and taking it," Tony teased.  "Speed?"

"Been years since I played that way," he admitted.

"Did something damage you before you died?" Tony demanded.  "You used to have more women than I did.  Suddenly I find out you're no longer dating?  Were you having little blue pill troubles or just stress making it not work troubles?"

"I got plenty, Tony, I just didn't have the energy to date.  We had a few tough months before I died."

"Fine, if you say so.  Maybe Danny and I should call for a bonding moment?"

"Only if you want to be able to lick your own balls," Speed countered, smirking at him. "I doubt we can find three clean prostitutes at the same time and take them to a hotel."

"I was talking the other sort but if you insist, I can and have," Tony offered dryly.  Don gaped at him.  He shrugged.  "Sometimes it comes in handy when my women are busy or on the rag."  He looked at Speed again. "You're starting to scare me, you know that, right?"

"I don't know why.  You're the over-sexed brat of the group.  You always had more sex than me, I just dated more women."

"You're more celibate than Marvelina was, Speed.  That worries us," Danny offered.  "You're not exactly acting like yourself.  You weren't for the six months before then either."  Speed glared at him.  "Just saying," he offered, backing up a few steps.  "If there was somethin' going on, you could've come to us and we would've helped you work through whatever trauma it was."

"Sometimes guys just gotta take a break," Don reminded them.  Tony gave him a look like he had just spouted heresy.  "We do.  Even I've had dry spells.  And you, no laughing about the gay cult who wanted to cut off my balls."

Speed looked at him.  "Huh? All I got was a group of people interested in your ass who didn't like women."

"I left you a message about that," Danny offered dryly.

Speed pulled out his phone and dialed into his voicemail, listening to it. Then he looked at Tony, putting his phone back in his pocket.  "He's worse than you."  He shook his head.  "He's right, guys, we all have dry spells.  I got sucked into every single magic case down there for a bit.  I didn't have to sleep right either."

"No wonder you're so skinny!" Danny complained.

"Pot, kettle," Tony said firmly, glaring at him, then at Don.  "Do you not make him eat?"

"He eats, he bounces it off.  It's Sheldon who forgets ta eat."

"Fine.  Then I guess I'm making dinner," Tony said, glaring at his buddies.  "You two talk to Don about his gay cult of people who wanted to use his seed as food."  He headed into the kitchen to look around.  "Why is everything already prepared?" he called pitifully.

"Stella thinks I don't eat right," Danny called.  He shrugged. "I live on takeout."

"Me too," Speed agreed, leading them to the couch.  "So, gay cult, Don?"

"With hymns to his magnificence," Danny agreed dryly. "They had the prior incarnations of their saints buried and kept their balls in jars in the back altar area.  There was a seventy page book of prayers and hymns to him, plus pamphlets.  One of their members spotted him on a scene and transferred in to learn from his wonderfulness, and that's how they got a picture of him on a broom and how they knew about his wand being eleven inches, and all that stuff."

Speed snickered.  "Oh, man.  Is he going to expose that stuff?"

"No, his lawyer called for a psych consult already.  Said he was including the Harry Potter books into his delusion."  Don smirked at him.  "Does anyone else get these?"

"You'd have to ask Alex.  I know I haven't," Speed offered.  "Just some people who wanted me *really* badly."  Danny hugged him.  "It was exhaustion."

"I'm sure it was."  He let him go.  "I worry about you too, Speed.  You're not the same guy you were.  You're more cranky and stuff."  He stroked his cheek.  "I'll let you have the spare room if you need it.  Just something quick to get it outta your system?" he offered when Speed shook his head.  "I'm sure it works."

"I'm not."  He looked down at himself then at him.  "It's not quite as friendly as it was before."

"That's mental state.  It worked plenty well when we had Ginny.  You nudged me with it a few times," Don assured him.  Danny grinned at him.  "It took all three of us to wear her out.  Then I came back here to wear out some energy while they cleaned up."

"Shower quicky," Tony said as he joined them.  He handed over plates and went back to get the other two, coming in to sit behind Speed.  "You really should get over that already."  He ate a bite.  "I did the same thing after I crashed during the Y Pestis thing.  They brought me back twice before I signed the DNR order."  Danny glared at him. "Nothing you could do about it and I was damned if I was going to be stuck on a machine, Danny."  He ate another bite and looked at Speed again.  "It's time to start putting it in a little box marked 'kinda death' and leave it there except for the bad times when you nearly go back."  He gave him a shoulder nudge.  "We love you enough to keep you here."

"How did you come back and stay?" Speed asked.  "I tried to get up but no one was letting anyone not on your team or family in."

"I tried but Kate said we couldn't come down," Danny offered.  "That's why we got together and called.  He looked at Speed.  "Tell me you dated after that."  Speed stuffed his mouth full.  He took his plate, looking at him.  "The reality hit you, didn't it?"  He nodded, taking his plate back so he could eat. "Damn it. I knew something was up and you wouldn't share."

"The non-gun cleaning thing has been fixed, right?" Tony pressed.  Speed moaned and nodded, eating another bite.  "Let me see it."

"It's in my locker."

Tony put down his plate and headed down there, landing in Horatio's office.  "Do you know what caused his radical change of behavior?"

"I do.  It was when you got sick.  I noticed it then but he refused to talk about it, Tony.  Why?"

"He didn't clean his gun, Horatio.  Right after the reality sunk in about the mortality of the job."  Horatio moaned.  "Can I get into his locker?  I'll be making sure he cleans it tonight one way or another."

"Go ahead.  I'm sure you know his combination?"

"If not, I can break it."  He headed for the locker area, going to find his gun.  Someone gave him an odd look. "Speed sent me so we could clean his gun together."

"Oh."  The person nodded once and frowned, going to talk to Horatio.  "Who was that guy?"

"Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo.  One of Speed's best friends," he said, looking at her.  "He's going to make sure he cleans his gun."

"Good."  She nodded.  "Hasn't he since he's been back?"

"I'm not sure but I'm sure I'll be told in the morning."  He heard someone shout and moaned, getting up to look.  "Frank, leave Tony alone."

"He's got Speed's weapon."

"He's going to be helping him clean it, Frank.  Speed's off visiting him."

"Oh.  Is that where he's going this weekend?"  Horatio nodded. "That's fine then.  How did he get down here?"

"I'm special."  He gave him a dirty look and took the weapon back.  "Didn't you know all feds were special people, Detective Tripp?"  He grinned at him.  "Just looking out for Speed."  He walked off, disappearing once he got inside the elevator and was alone.  He landed back at Danny's and sat down, unloading the gun.  He checked it and then glared at Speed.  "It's been two weeks."

"My gun stuff's in the closet somewhere," Danny admitted.

Don swatted him.  "You haven't been cleaning yours either probably.  Where is it?"

"Locker."  Don growled and got up, going to solve that problem.  He came out of the men's bathroom on the third floor and headed down there to grab it from Danny's locker, he had gotten into it for him before.  He found Mac in there.  "We're cleaning guns tonight with Tony."

"Please tell me his was clean," he said quietly.  Don looked then shook his head.  Mac held out a hand so he let him see it.  "Damn it!"

"I'll talk to him tonight, Mac.  Anytime you do, you yell at the guy for not being a thug."  He took the clip and holster with him, glancing around before disappearing.  He handed it to Tony when he got back.  "Just as bad and Mac's about to yell, Danny."  He sat down and went back to his dinner.  "You did good fixing this, Tony."

"Thanks, Don.  Should I check yours?"

"I cleaned mine last week."  He ate another bite before pulling his off and handing it over.  Tony checked, then smiled and reloaded it, handing it back.  "Did you see the gun cleaning stuff?"

"No, I didn't when I packed his closet.  I saw some ugly clothes but no gun cleaning kit."  He got up to summon it, not getting one.  "Daniel?" he called patiently.

"I thought I had one."

"You thought wrong."  He headed for home, finding Gibbs and Abby in there. "Um....."

She smirked at him.  "Your wand sticks out in the outfit you were wearing yesterday."

"I got called because she forgot to divert the alarm," Gibbs offered.

"Good, where's my gun cleaning kit?"  It was found by Abby and handed over.  "Thanks."  He disappeared, heading back there.  He'd decide what to do about her later in the week.  He put it down on the table, watching the two CSI's reactions.  "It will be empty by the time I go home.  Then we will all clean our guns every single weekend.  Are we understood?  If I have to answer another desperate 'I've been shot' call I'm going to be hellishly pissed."  They both shrank away from him.  "Good.  Now, eat!  You're both too skinny."

"Yes, Tony," Speed complained, eating again.

"You're better than my mother at that," Don praised, grinning at him.  "Good job."

"Good. You get to make sure Danny's proficient this year. I'll do Speed's."  That got a nod of agreement and Tony got back to eating, thinking about the associated traumas he knew caused this problem.  "It'll be fine, guys.  We'll work it out this weekend, but you're still cops and you've still got to be able to use them and use them well to protect yourselves.  I don't think I could handle you two dying again."  He stuffed his mouth and looked at them.  Danny nodded and went back to eating, Speed staring at his plate.

"Again?" Don asked. "I knew about Speed, but Danny almost or did die?"

"Twice.  Sonny's fault," Tony said firmly.  "Too bad he's dead."

"We gave him pain, misfortune, and misery before he died," Danny offered.

"Doesn't mean I don't regret not getting to torture him over you."

"Point."  He ducked his head and finished his dinner.  This was the nice part about having old friends like Tony and Speed.  They knew about this stuff and only held it over his head when necessary.  "So, Don, thinking about joining some of your new friends in faith?"

"Messer, remember, they can bring you back," Don shot back, glaring at him. "No one's touched me that way yet, won't be starting today."

"Pity, you are well built, Don," Tony offered with a lecherous grin.  "Anytime you're ready, just ask."

"Yeah, sure.  Maybe after a bad game or something."  That got a grin from Speed.  "You too?"

"Once or twice.  Unfortunately I'm the only bottom of the three of us."  He ate a bite.  "Danny won't, he's got trust issues, and Tony's too alpha to bend over and take it."

"I have since then."

"Was blackmail involved?" Danny asked dryly.  "Or your job?"

"My job the first few times, but I have besides then."

"Then you're a stronger guy than I am," Danny assured him happily. "Don't share that."

"I won't, but it's not too bad.  Kinda nice at times."  He finished his dinner.  "Abby just caught me popping in and out.  She was breaking into my place."

"Happy happy joy joy," Speed said sarcastically.

The others laughed.  That was more like Speed's usual self.

Bonds of Brotherhood.

Tony looked up as the portkey landed, whistling.  "Now this screams money.  Think I can take a picture to make my director jealous?"

"No," Dawn said patiently.  "She might try to find us."  She took his arm to walk him up to the castle. "I'll be helping you guys study this weekend so I can forget my whole family is in mortal peril."  She pushed open the front door.  "We're here!" she bellowed as she walked Tony in.

"I felt!" Draco complained.  He stepped out of the library.  "The heathen brats are locked in the ballroom with a house elf and a stack of books."  He looked at the newcomers.  "And you are?"

"Ease off, Draco," Stella ordered, kissing him on the cheek.  "That's Tony and Speed; Danny's oldest friends.  They're here to use the library and help us."  Don walked in and shut the door.  "Still no stuff from the Marine?"

"No, I left him handling Abby," Tony joked.

"Ours, not yours," Danny said sarcastically.  "Let me guess, they're having a drink to complain about slutboy there?"

"Damn, I hope not since Horatio was going to pop up for a drink," Speed complained.

"Ah but there's a plan in place for the three bosses to retreat to one city while we get another," Don joked.  "I heard Horatio joking about moving back to New York and giving us Miami so we could become bikini gluttons."

"Gibbs said I can't leave him and join Speed or you guys," Tony complained. "He's suddenly jealous and possessive."

"If you leave, he's stuck with Ziva and McGee," Speed reminded him.  "Plus a new trainee."  Tony shoved him.  "He would.  Then Abby would have to break in a new playmate."

"She's still traumatizing Ziva."  Tony looked at Draco.  "Alex said we could train Stella and Don while researching some stuff.  But you get to do potions."

"Of course I do," he snorted, grinning just a bit.  "Greg's still breaking his hole open over his dead bodies.  Me!"  A house elf appeared.  "Make sure they have rooms."  He looked at them.  "Watch out for Arens.  He's sulking again."  Dawn giggled.  "Your idiot is fine.  They wanted me because I'm blond and pretty. They thought I'd be a good hostage.  They only had me for four hours before Alex destroyed them for taking me.  No one but you wants Weasley.  Library's this way.  Stella, Dawnie, go find the little pest."

Don opened the front door of the castle.  "Keelian, Dawn and Stella are here and want you to pounce!   If you don't come dive past their breasts, I'm not allowed to unlock anything for your nest at the school!"  The dragon ran in, pouncing Stella, making her squeal as he wiggled up her back, under her hair, over her shoulder, then down her shirt.

"Gee, make me feel unloved," Dawn complained.

"As long as it doesn't try it with me," Emilia yelled.

"Do NOT let those beasts pounce me," Draco ordered.  "They knocked me down earlier."

"Apparently they thought you were missing having a sore ass," Speed offered dryly.  Draco gave him a stunned look.  "Alex said his favorite mental image was you begging."

"Shit, you're the ones he told me about."  He headed for the library again. "Booknerds this way."

"Ooh, more books?" Dawn asked, moving Stella's shirt to steal the dragon, who purred and nuzzled.  "I should pout that you chose her first."

Stella pushed down her shirt.

"So, Stell, do you have to wear something that's built like a bridge since you didn't jiggle just now?" Don teased.

"Do you think a set this nice stands up on its own at my age?" she retorted, heading for the library.

"Some of us wouldn't care," Tony teased.

She pinched him on the butt.  "I don't date guys who've slept with enough women to be in the triple digits."

"I'm still in the doubles."  She gave him a look.  "High double digits, but still two."  He followed her.

Speed shook his head as he followed.  "Smack him, he's used to it from his boss."

Danny and Don shared a look, then followed behind the slut parade.  Don looked at the stack of unshelved books, whimpering.  "We need more space.  Please don't make me shelve."

"No, we're having someone come in to put in more room.  I found a whole cavern of other books.  I am *so* pissed at my nerdly mate.  One of these days I'm going to lock him out of here."  He sat down with a sulky pout.  "The builders are coming tomorrow to add on another mini tower."  He looked at the dragon.  "You, behave or I'm going to let the kids have you."  The dragon growled and sniffed Speed and Tony before going down Emilia's shirt, making her shriek and grab his tail.

"Whoa!" Dawn yelled, coming over to get the dragon out.  "Don't hurt him.  Stomachs growl like he does and tails are delicate organs."

"I don't care!"

"Then wear a turtleneck, Emilia.  You knew he was like this before."  She sat down, stroking him to calm him down, then let him down her shirt instead.

"She's right, cousin.  You listened to the other brat in their coven of insanity complain about that same problem," Draco said with a touch of smugness.  "You told her the same thing."

"Fine."  She went to change, calling Greg over their tattoo to complain.  She was tired of being safe anyway.  She heard him shoot a threat at Draco about the beast; that chest was his and only he and their nursing children could touch it.  Draco's anser of 'I didn't know you were trying the treatment that Hufflepuff girl worked out so the twins could have more heirs; tell me how it goes' was enough to get a round of moans from the other Banes.  She introduced the topic of initiating the new ones and their friends.  Tipsy's call for a general meeting at her house in Sweden was well-accepted by most everyone - Greg had to call off thanks to all those bodies.  One of them with contacts in the better spots offered to get a decently comprehensive history on them for their consideration.  That broke up the sudden meeting, allowing her to finish changing.

***

Tony found Speed and Danny right where he expected them to be - on their brooms talking in the dim moonlight.  He mounted his broom so he could join them.  He saw the unhappy looks and doled out hugs.  "What nightmares got us this time?" he asked.

"Danny had a shooting; mine are the usual," Speed offered quietly, looking around.  "Everyone else asleep?"

"Everyone but Joxer.  She's sitting outside Don's room to make sure the dragon doesn't escape her."  They all grinned.  Emilia and Tipsy's kids were the coolest little brats any of them had ever seen.  Tony looked at Speed.  "Are yours about the shooting or something else?"

"More about hearing how I failed, again."  He shrugged a bit.  "I know I disappointed them.  Plus you two."

"We were only disappointed that we didn't hear anything about the first incident," Danny assured him.  "You guys heard it when my life hit the crapper. We expected you to come to us for comfort when yours did."

"I was on my way up when I got called back," Speed admitted.

"That was still months after it happened," Tony complained. "You quit coming to us, Tim.  I know I felt like you didn't want me around."

"You guys quit coming down when your lives sucked," Speed complained.  "Danny didn't come to me after Sonny outed him to Mac.  You I saw when you got caught."  He glared at Tony.  "I never saw you for happy stuff."

"You would've but you kept claiming you were busy.  Even when I called you hardly ever called back."

"Guys, enough," Danny ordered.  "We've all let our jobs get out of hand.  Tony's always on call, even on his days off.  Mine's so fucked I nearly quit because I had ta prove myself over and over again.  Speed was the only one handling magic cases in Miami.  We all need to move to one department."

"I like Horatio," Speed admitted.

"I'd die for Gibbs," Tony agreed.

"I remember feeling that way," Danny said bitterly.  "Maybe a real inter-agency case?"

"Those are pretty rare."  Tony shifted on his broom, leaning forward.  "I'd love to see us all work together," he decided.  "I don't know how though."

"Either of you guys got an open spot?" Danny asked.

"Not in my office," Tony said quietly.

"Are you sure it's that bad?" Speed asked.  Danny nodded.  "Well, you could move to the State Police labs.  I know ours needs techs."

"Our office has Abby and that's it," Tony told them.

"She runs everything?" Speed asked.  Tony nodded.  "How?"

"Lots and lots of caffeine," Tony said with a small grin.  "She drinks caf-pows."  Danny moaned at that.  "Five, six, seven a day.  On a mild day three."  Speed whimpered. He nodded.  "Exactly.  That's how it happens around our office.  Gibbs lets us be ourselves."  He flew a bit closer to Danny. "Are you *sure* he doesn't trust you?"

"I don't work with him, he's got a new tech coming in to mentor."  Tony shrugged, he'd been there before.  "I'm off the promotion grid, Tony.  I have been since Sonny unofficially.  Officially since the shooting."  Tony gave him another hug.  "I don't feel like I'm trusted.  I'd love to work for a boss who appreciates me again.  There for a bit I knew I was at fault for fucking up everything I touched.  Just like how I fell because I wasn't paying attention."

"The bludger came up underneath you, Danny.  There was no way you could've seen it," Speed reminded him.

"So?"

"Danny, you couldn't do anything to prevent the fall except landed differently and probably died if you had landed on your head.  You were way too high up."

"Yeah, but it's still happening again.  All the shit that drove us apart."

"It's not," Tony said, looking at him.  He ran his wand over him.  "You're not under a curse I can find," he said thoughtfully.  Danny glared at him and he looked into his eyes.  "You really believe that.  Oh, shit."  He pulled him onto his broom to hold him. "It's not like that, Danny.  I swear it's not.  The fall was an *accident*.  The same as the shooting was.  The thing with Sonny was a bad thing but did Mac honestly think you were going to tell him about that hellish time in your life?"  Danny nodded.

"Reality is a good thing," Speed said as he floated closer, making sure Danny's broom stayed in the air for him.  "Horatio asked if there was anything in my past that could impact my job, I said yes and that I refused to talk about it unless it became pertinent."

"I told Mac no."

"Okay, so a lie," Tony admitted patiently.  "A protective one."

"I honestly thought Sonny wouldn't come back," he sighed, rubbing over his face.  "Then he did."

"It happens, Danny.  Want us to talk to Mac?"  Danny shook his head quickly.  "I'll ask Horatio if we've got an opening coming up but I don't think we do."

"I can do Trace stuff.  I'm very good at it.  Plus most of the Chem stuff."

"I'll tell him that."  He leaned over to give them a hug.  "We're so fucked up.  We've found our careers and then it goes to hell on us."

"Yours was a hell of your own making but you're right," Tony admitted.  Speed glared at him.  "I sat you down and taught you how to clean your gun, Speed.  Twice.  You didn't.  Mental blocks or whatever.  You didn't."

"Stop it!" Danny snapped.  "Neither of us like ours," he said, looking back at Tony.  "I've conveniently forgotten mine on occasion.  We both hate the damn things, Tony.  We're not comfortable with them."

"I know that," he said more gently.  "I realize both of you hate your guns.  We've got to work on that.  It's to save your lives, or Don's life, or Stella's life, or even Horatio's.  Though I don't see him as having a problem with it," he admitted.  Speed shook his head.  "We'll work on it with you two."  He looked at Speed.  "I'm sorry, I was channeling Kate for a few minutes."

"S'okay.  Don't do it again."

"Thank you."  Danny relaxed again, slowly but he did relax.  "We need to spend some time together, just us three, before we bring Don in. We need to be that tight again before we add anything else."

"So we do that one spell," Speed offered quietly.  Tony looked at him, raising an eyebrow.  "It helped the last time we got into a fight, mostly about Sonny."

"Why is it that it keeps leading back to me?"

"No, this time it's my fault," Speed assured him.  "The hell in your life is from Sonny, the hell in the group is my fault."

"Your only fault was not cleaning your gun.  You're not comfortable with them and it doesn't surprise me," Danny assured him.  "Not like I like to look at mine."

Speed nodded at that, floating closer again.  "Maybe the spell will help us that much again."

"Maybe," Tony agreed calmly.  "Even if it did make me schitzo for a few weeks afterward."

"Naw, that was our stunning personalities taking over shoulder angel duties," Danny teased.  Tony poked him.  "Hey!  Let me back on my own broom if you're going to abuse me."

Tony nuzzled his neck.  "You ever get that depressed and come to me to tie you down again and I will abuse you for real," he said in his ear.  Danny nodded.  "Come to me before then, Danny.  Don't wait that long.  No matter the reason."

"I was working hellish hours trying to prove myself again."

"You shouldn't have to.  Mac should've known after the Sonny thing that you weren't going to be comfortable with a gun," Speed told him.

"Mac never asked," Don said as he joined them.  "Mac assumed.  Sonny said he used ta run with Danny and that was that."  He looked at Danny.  "You're still thinking about leaving?"  Danny nodded.  "Any idea where?"

"Somewhere Mac isn't?"

"Point.  Miami?"

"If Horatio's got an open spot. You'd be more than welcome to come with me, Don."

"Dad would flip."  He ran a hand through his messy hair and looked at the nose sticking out of his shirt.  "What?"  The dragon huffed.  "No, we're flying on my broom and you can't steer."  He looked at them again.  "You guys okay again?"  They all nodded so he stared at them.  "The truth?"

"There's some distance but we can cover it," Speed assured him.   "All we need is a quiet spot for the next few hours.  Somewhere we won't be interrupted."

"Sounds like the caverns to me," Don offered. "Or the attic."  He pointed at the crenelations on top of the castle.  "There's a small room up there.  Alex said he uses it for spells that require no one and nothing come near him while he's working on it.  Even the ghosts can't get in there."  That got a trio of grins.  "I can play guard or we can go into the caverns so I can work on what Keelian wants to borrow."

"How big is that room?  We'd have to lay down," Tony told him.

"Maybe not that big.  We can check."  They flew that way, Danny's broom following Speed's.  "He comfy, Danny?"

"Shut up, Don."

"Sorry."  He looked at Speed, who shrugged a bit.  "He okay?" he asked quietly.

"Depends on the definition."  They landed and Don opened the lock spell, letting them inside.  "This is perfect.  Just enough room."  They leaned their brooms outside the room and got down onto the floor, each of them casting the spell quietly over themselves once Don had shut the door and was outside. Their minds joined and they settled in for a long chat to fix things.

***

Don looked up as Draco floated up to where he was waiting the next morning.  "They're doing some spell to work stuff out between them."

"I felt."  He landed beside him, laying a hand on the door.  "The Banes have a similar one."  He handed him a book.  "For them.  Most of the group agreed they needed to settle themselves together again comfortably before you five joined us."  He looked at the dragon.  "Hello, pest."  The dragon steamed at him.  "We do have to find him nesting materials.  He's old enough to want some now."

"You're not allowed in the caverns, Alex said you should be in bed," Don reminded him.  "I'm going to let you wander as long as you sit most of the time, but not out there, Draco.  There's too much stuff out there that could eat you since you're weakened by the attack."  Draco glared at him.  "Alex said to watch out for you.  That's what I'm doing."

"I'd better work, we're having some of the Banes over today to help with the cataloging while you guys do some random studying and working on things."  Don nodded at that.  "Arens just showed up to hit on Harry again."

Don grinned.  "I liked Arens, even if he did say I was too old for him."

"Arens likes pretty young things."  The door cracked open and Don handed the book to Danny, who frowned and went back inside to read it with the others.  "I'll have food and Stella sent up, Don.  Then you and Stella are getting potions this afternoon from David Hodges and Greg.  He's bringing him to help."  He smirked a bit, crossing his arms over his chest.  "How are you doing otherwise?"

"A bit of leaking now and then," he admitted quietly, looking up at him.  "If I had a girlfriend of my own it'd probably help but I don't."

"It happens to the best of us.  Even I had dry spots before Alex."  He shrugged and grabbed his broom, looking at the dragon.  "Want to go inside where it's warmer?"  It moved forward, climbing up his legs and into his shirt with a sigh of pleasure.  "I'll send Stella up.  Work on the caverns later so I can send half that crap off if it's nothing.  We'll need to make room.  Alex has found an ancient hellmouth and he's going to do a rapid cleaning of it."  He took his broom back to the front door, letting Keelian down into Emilia's arms and then inside.  He landed and looked at his cousin.  "They were doing a bonding charm."

"Good!  They could use it.  Someone needs to talk to their bosses."  She walked him inside, taking him to the library.  "The builders are here."  She pointed at the workmen waiting around.  "Tell them what you want."

Draco pointed at a wall that had bookcases and one window.  "Take that one out, add another tower structure like this there.  Just like this one."  That got a nod and they went to expand the space that way, turning that wall into half the hallway leading to the new tower.  They all watched as the tower was put up, then he called the aunts.  "Okay, send them back, dear.  I'll get Don to bring up the stuff from the catacombs."  He signed off the communication floo, sending a quiet message up to Don to do that.  He and Harry both went to do that.  He looked at the book nerds.  "Does that room get its own card catalog?  This one is stretched too far."

"Please," Philip agreed, going to find an old one at the school.  He knew they had a few he could steal and charm.

"Make sure some of the shelves can hold scrolls," Methos ordered the workmen.

"That's an insert, Professor," one of them said respectfully, pointing at the hallway bookshelf.  It had a shelf of scrolls that were being held on a special, notched-out platform.  "He said he's got a few others of those."

"That's fine then."  He winced when he heard the thump of books.  "Fireplace?"

"Already in," the boss assured him.  "We're doing the stretching spells now, if you guys would clear out?"  Everyone ran to let him do that.  By the time he got done crafting the spells, Alex could find another six billion books before this tower would run out of room.  He came back to find boxes everywhere waiting on them.  "It's all set, all but the fireplace wall and furniture, Mr. Dumass."  Draco handed over a draw slip and he smiled.  "Thank you, sir.  We adore your husband when he's in a book-finding mood.  Let us know if the other house needs anything."  He tipped his hat at the ladies and left.

Draco clapped his hands.  "Okay.  Let's do this before Alex sends more crap back from Iraq and the library."  They all hauled boxes in there, finding Don and Harry were already doing that.

"How big is that catacomb?" Tipsy complained.

"There's another hundred or so boxes," Don admitted with a small smirk.  "Stuff collected over the years by the other curse breakers in the family according to Alex.  Some's even from Arens."

"Reading doesn't get me laid by pretty little boys," Arens complained.  "Of course I gave all the books to Alex.  He's the only one I know who can use the 'read anything good recently' line and make it work for him."

Philip returned with the card catalog, putting it in an open spot.  He found the stack of cards and muggle pens, handing them out too. "Should we wait?"

"Anything that has a card will shelve itself," Draco offered.  "It takes an hour, so brekkie?"  They all nodded and headed that way, pulling the book nerds with them once they had new books.

***

Speed finished his research on the bonding and uniting tattoos the Banes did, looking at his cohorts.  "We can do this but we need new tattoos, doesn't have to be the same, just mean something to us."

"A broom and a sword?" Danny offered.  "Crossed?"

"Broom and a gun.  Speed's the only one who can fence," Tony reminded him.

"I don't want a gun," Danny complained, looking at him.

Tony slugged him on the arm.  He pulled out his wand and sketched something in the air, letting them look at it. "That's what I had in mind.  We can make it as small or as large as we want.  Would we have to touch it, Speed?"

"Depends on how the charms were laid."  He shifted the image around, crossing the wand and broom under the gun's barrel.  "There, how's that?  Our past together with our present leaning on it?"  Danny looked unsure.  "It can be a tiny gun in your case, to show how small you are," he teased.  Danny hit him on the arm.  "Sorry," he said, rubbing that spot.  "Where would we get them?"

"Arm?" Danny shrugged.  "About where we hit each other?"  That got a nod.  He looked at it.  It was pretty and artistic.  "Will we have to touch it?" he asked.  Speed gave him a long stare.  "Are we planning on leaving that layer between us?" he refined.

"No," Speed said, shaking his head.  "We're tight enough between us we won't need to.  Now, if we add Don and/or Stella, we might have to leave theirs a bit looser. Up to them really."

"I'd like to stay tighter," Don offered as he came in.  "Where would it go?"

"Anywhere you want.  Ours is going on our arms," Speed offered.  "I was thinking about a band of them personally, it'd look almost tribal."

Tony smirked at him.  "I'd have to get a tiny one due to the undercover stuff."

"You can cover it with makeup," Danny reminded him.  "Mine's going on the opposite side of my last one."  That got a nod.  "I figure Stella'd be one for her back maybe, or a butt cheek's always an option."

"Thigh's a good spot," Speed offered.  "Outer side, inner would hurt."

"He speaks from attempted experience," Tony assured him with a bright grin.  "How's the library going?"

"It's up and they're filling it.  Harry and I finished moving all the boxes a bit ago.  I'm supposed to be pulling you guys down for lessons since you're supposed to help us today."

"Do you want in, Don?" Speed asked.  "We need someone to watch our little angel there."

"Angel?" Don snorted.

"You have no idea," Tony assured him.  "If you agree, we'll show you later."  Don nodded.  "You're sure?  Like tattoos, we're really hard to get rid of once you get us under your skin."

"I'm sure.  You guys need some sanity now and then," he offered with a smirk.  Tony nodded at that and Speed snorted.

"That's my job, Don."

"Then who gives it to you?" he countered.

"Well....  Horatio anymore.  Sometimes Eric, but that's a scary thought."

"Are we admitting Horatio?" Tony asked.

"I don't know," Speed offered.  "I wouldn't mind offering it to Greg but I'm not sure about Horatio."  Someone tapped on the door and it opened.  "Sorry."

Harry walked in.  "I'm getting away from all the book nerds."  He sat down, looking at the book, then at them.  "Hodges is here with Greg so you've got to reappear for potions homework but nothing says you can't sneak out after dinner since everyone's going to be reading."

"Aiden?" Tony asked.  Danny hesitated.  Speed shook his head.  "Not yet or not at all?"

"Not yet," Speed told him. "I'd like to think about that one as well."

"Nothing says you can't layer them so you three, or four, are tighter, and the rest weaker.  The core of the Banes are tighter than anything.  Tipsy, Emilia, Philip, and Methos are so tightly together they hear every message," Harry told them.  "We've still got to get you down there before Greg has a moment of princess problems."  He stood up and the others followed, flying down to the front door so they could walk in.  The book was shrunken and put into Speed's pocket.  "Here we are, Greg."

Greg looked and smirked.  "Good morning, precious students."  Then he cackled.  "Lab, now."  Danny sighed and drug Don that way.  He did suck at potions and hated to learn them.  He looked at Tony and Speed.  "You two as well."

"We let Danny do ours," Speed assured him happily.  "So, if we form our own inner group as well, would that be something you'd think about?"

"Think about," he promised.  "Maybe not too hard except to be a voice of reason."

"We were thinking Horatio for that," Tony admitted.  Speed hit him on the arm, making him wince. "Ow!" he whined.

"Come on," David called.  "If I'm cutting my sleep short tonight to do this one here, then I've got the right to be cranky."

"No tea in the lab," Greg called, walking them to the lab.  "We're doing pain killers and other practical things.  Good stuff to know."  He pushed them in and went to tell the house elves to make them a snack for their break.  Then he came back and locked them in once Stella came back.  That way nothing he taught could get out and no one would realize he was teaching the five from New York a prank potion that would make Horatio a yeti on Monday morning.

***

Speed opened the castle door, making Draco give him a harsh look.  "We're working on our bonding."

"I figured you were.  You worried the house elf and the dragon," he said, handing it to Don since Keelian liked him so much.  "Try to make him worry less. He'll start shedding again and I hate stepping on dragon scales.  I always get cut."  He headed for the kitchen. "Use the room up there again if you want.  Use the brazier for heat as well.  Stella, you'll be helping me tomorrow while Don goes over the caverns with the little beast for his nest."

"Yes, Draco."  She looked at the guys, smiling at them.  "Now?"

"Now," Tony agreed, smiling at the dragon.  "Want to go up with us?"  It purred.  "Okay."  They all headed up there, going to crowd into the small room and do the spells in private.  Stella moaned as hers was done by rubbing the oil they had made earlier into it.  Wizarding tattoos were healed as soon a they were done, no scabbing, but the oil sank into the ink and set the spell for them.  The book had a few ways of doing the spell and they had chosen this way earlier during their potions lesson.  Don's was done next, his was on his lower back, just under his waistband.  He moaned as the warmth filled him.  Tony did Speed's.  Danny did Tony's, and they both did his.  Danny needed more contact with them, they had decided that last night since he and Tony were in their ideal jobs.  Then the charms that linked them were cast.  Stella shivered and Tony held her until she got control.  Don's made him moan and tense up for a minute before making himself relax.

"Calm down," Speed offered quietly, stroking his back.  Don nodded that he was fine and they cast theirs at the same time, making the three of them, the core group, so tight they could hear thoughts if they didn't block it out somewhat.  Danny grabbed his head for a minute but Speed only closed his eyes, enjoying the link for now.  Tony smiled and leaned over to hug Danny, then let Don have him.  He and Speed shared a look and pounced the two new members to do the bonding spell with them.

Danny woke up last and looked at his friends.  "That was mean."

"It was," Speed agreed happily.  "But you need us more, Danny.  At least until you work shit out with Mac or move departments to join us."  He stroked down his cheek.  "You good?"  That got a nod and Danny sat up.  "Good.  Then I'm hungry and I so want sex.  Tony, don't you think of anything else?"

"That might be me, I'm dateless again," Don said dryly, looking at Tony, then at Speed.  "I take castoffs as long as they're nice."

"Ask Maggie to set you up with her sister," Danny offered.  "She's a nice witch, fairly low powered but she'll drool because you play quidditch and you're cute enough.  It'd be religious for her."

"Sure.  Thanks, Messer."  He gave him a head shove with a grin.  "Stella?"

"Fine.  Getting used to it.  It's like a new shirt I'm breaking in."  She wiggled a bit and slowly got comfortable with it.  Finally she nodded.  "I like this.  Now, what happens if you're in trouble?"

"You'll probably realize something is wrong," Danny told her.

Speed nodded.  "You might even feel a bit paranoid if we do.  You shouldn't feel the standard nightmares or anything but if we're in trouble you should know."

"Let's not try that feature out yet though, okay?" Don requested.  Tony nodded at that.  "Thank you.  So, food?  Finding women?  Or in Stella's case a guy?"

Tony lit his wand to look at his watch.  "It's four in the morning, Don.  Food would be a kitchen raid."

"Fortunately you and I can cook," Stella told him, standing up and heading out into the night.  The dragon grumbled but Don banished him back into the house, making everyone grin.  "Flying?" she suggested.

"I'm up for a good midnight fly," Speed agreed.  "Harder to get caught anyway."

"The ring of rocks marks the boundaries," Don told them all.  Stella smirked at him.  "Hey, I had ta help Alex upload more protections while you guys were gone."  He grabbed his broom and took off.  He looked at his new adoptive family, because that's basically what they were.  "We need a seeker, and another chaser," he taunted.

"Draco can play on ours," Danny promised, smirking at him.

"So we need another chaser?" Stella teased.  Everyone nodded.  "Is Speed still any good?" she asked him.

"Yeah," he assured her, smirking back.  "I've kept in practice, unlike Tony and limp and whining boy there."

"I haven't whined in years!" Danny protested, throwing a mild hex at him. "Nor am I limp, unlike you."

"Hey!" Speed complained. "I work just fine, thank you.  You wanna find out?"

"You offering to turn over for me?" Danny taunted back.  Speed blushed.  "Thought not."  He looked at Stella.  "Horatio used ta play keeper but he might be able to switch, if not Speed can now and then."  She beamed at that.  "Are you proposing a fun match?"

"Maybe," she agreed coyly.  "It'd be pretty neat."  Someone floated up near them.  "Hey, Draco, if we get to play a fun match, will you play our seeker?"

"I will," he said, smiling at her.  She grinned back.  "You're still short a chaser."  Speed gave him a long stare.  "Ron is the ultimate quidditch fanboy.  He went back through the yearly school rankings and statistics in Quidditch Quarterly to find you lot."  He looked at Tony.  "You could've went pro."

"I could've but I wanted to do the college thing.  Where I got hurt."

"Good point."  He shrugged. "I was told I was only reserve seeker good, but then again I have Alex to worry about."  He looked at Don, who shrugged.  "He should've called."

"Time difference, Draco.  He said he'd call at dawn and it's nearly that now."  Draco nodded.  "We should make sure everyone's still got their old skills."  Danny smirked at him.  "Sue me, I like quidditch.  I play in my off hours in case you hadn't realized, Mr. Messer."

"I had actually.  I'm still not supposed hurting my wrists for another two weeks and I didn't bring my gloves."

"Damn it," Don muttered.  "But we can taunt Speed with the quaffle and cheer on Stella and Tony."

"We can," Draco agreed, pulling his wand to summon a quaffle from their set. He had to move a bit to catch it but then sent it at Tony, who looked it over, then sent it casually at Stella. "We're going to be exhausted tomorrow," he noted as he watched those two try to get shots past Speed.  Danny flew over to draw glowing circles in the air for targets.  Then he got out of the way.  He knew how Tony played.  The guy had bodychecked keepers more than once during a game.

Don gaped at them.  "Damn," he said in awe.  "Stella, play more like him," he yelled.  She flipped him off and went to make another attempt.  Speed was better than their PD team's keeper.  She finally got one past him and Tony got his first one right after that, nailing him on the back of the head since he threw from behind the goals. "Foul!" Don shouted.  Tony smirked at him and waved.  Then he crowded Stella to take the quaffle from her.  She kicked at him but he managed to get it from her eventually.

"That was a foul!" Draco called, smiling at the silliness of those two fighting over the odd- shaped ball.  "Pass!"

"I hear that enough from our coach," Stella called back. She threw it at Tony, who caught it and sent it through the middle hoop.  She looped back to catch it on the other side and zipped around in a fast spiral, throwing at when she spun around one last time.  It bounced off Speed's arm but Tony caught it and got it underhand through the opposite one.

"She's good," Danny agreed, smiling as they watched.

"She can be better," Draco admitted, watching her play.  "She's broom mad but she doesn't understand her broom yet.  "She needs more time up on it."  Don nodded that he needed that too.  He looked at Danny, who shrugged.  "You get plenty of time on your game broom?"

"I do but someone wanked the flying spell on it."  Draco moaned. "I meant to bring it to see if QQS can fix it."

"It can be," George said as he joined them, looking at the game.  "No bludgers?"

"No goals," Danny offered, looking at him and grinning.  "Besides, we're short a chaser for a full team."

"We've got six among the Banes."

"Yes, but if we play you, how do we know they won't help you," Danny teased, smirking at him.

"Well, most of us are honest."  He grinned.  "Our wife was one actually.  Greg might tease but we'd hate to lose the trio of Greg, Philip, and Nick.  Those three play together very well."  He watched as Speed threw the ball.  "Why is he a keeper?"

"Because we always had a lot of chaser candidates but never enough keepers, especially not good ones," Danny offered with a small shrug.  He sent that thought at Speed, who chuckled and flipped them off then dove to catch the quaffle and throw it at Stella, who passed it off.  "I forgot he could switch that well," Danny mused.  "What time is it back on the coast?"

"Ten or so," Don admitted, checking his watch.  "No, eight hours.  Noon, almost one."

Danny pulled out his cell, calling Mac's house.  "Is Horatio in?"   He smiled as the phone was handed over.  "We're playing a fun game against the Banes later.  We're short a keeper since Speed can play chaser.  You in?"  He looked at George.  "When, where?"

"School or here.  We've played both spots.  We'd have to see if Dawn knows if there's a game this weekend."  He called Dawn over her new tattoo, getting sleepy complaints.  She smiled and said it was free except for practices.  "We're free unless there's a practice.  Which may be Hufflepuff.  We can see if we can play there."  He smirked as Philip answered they could, he could reschedule the practices since there wasn't a game for another two weeks.  "Philip said it's fine."

Danny put the phone back to his ear.  "Ten, eleven, George?"

"Eleven.  Dawn's tired.  She's about our only keeper since Ron's on the dig."

"Eleven our time and it's nearly five, Horatio.  That good for you?"  He grinned.  "Thanks, man.  Looking forward to it.  Well, unless you want to switch to chaser?"  He grinned again.  "Most keepers don't.  Thanks, man."  He hung up. "We're on."  He looked at Don.  "Go get my wrist guards.  You're faster and you hid 'em on me."  He smirked and took off with his broom.  He came back a few minutes later and tossed them over.  "Thank you."  He slid into them, rubbing his wrists.  "Okay, we should probably get some sleep."

"Maybe," Stella called as she flew closer. "What's up?"

"Speed's your third chaser when we're playing the Banes team later at the school."  She gaped so he smirked.  "Horatio can play keeper."

"Cool."  She smiled at them.  "We should probably try to sleep."  Everyone nodded but she blew it off to fly some more with Tony so they could talk.  Speed cackled in delight at the knowledge he was going to play chaser.

"You know, I forgot Speed got kicked out a game while playing chaser for being too mean to the other team," Danny said once George had left them alone.  Don snickered at that.  "Bed!  Now!" he called.  He looked at Draco.  "You especially.  Harry's got a game so I'm not sure who they're fielding."

"Emilia."  He flew back to the castle, going back to his big, lonely bed.  He found Dawn in there and gave her an odd look.  "What's wrong?"

"Just cuddles, Draco.  I need a hug and a hug cannot break your monogamy curse."  He shrugged and laid down next to her, holding her close.  "Thank you."

***

Horatio landed where told, looking at the forest.  "Interesting."  He walked up the pathway, following the cheering he could hear.  He put on his sunglasses when he came out of the woods, finding the pitch easily.  He smirked a bit.  "So this is Hogwarts."  He walked up there, broom over his shoulder.  Someone he knew nodded him at a changing room so he went in there, finding everyone getting ready.  "Sorry I'm late.  Had to fix the twigs."

"Not an issue.  We've got a half hour," Stella assured him happily.  "They don't separate out the girls over here.  They only have a sheet hung up."  Horatio smirked at that.  "Need anything special?  I've got liniment, the tape, that stuff."

"No, I've got wrist guards."  He looked at Danny.  "Aren't yours injured?"

"Only one and a bit of pain is good for a guy," he offered with a bright grin.  "I've played with worse.  I played one game with broken ribs."  He stood up to pull on his undershirt, then his uniform shirt.  "We can change the color of anything you wanna wear, Horatio."

"Thank you."  He looked at Speed. "There's how many of us in the city?"

"A few in South Beach, a herbologist.  Nothing really spectacular."  He stood up to pull on his shirt, but Horatio stopped him, touching the scar.  "Reminder."  That got a nod. "You okay?"

"I'm good. I've had all day to rest."  He put down his broom and moved to change, sliding into a pair of comfortable pants and a t-shirt, which Danny changed for him.  He pulled out his old school uniform, making everyone in there smile.  "Yes, I was in the same house."  He slid it on, reaching back to undo the pin holding the back together.  It let loose, letting him stretch and warm up.  "Better."

Danny finished up and hitched his wrist guards.  Horatio put on his gloves.  Don tossed over a bat, making Danny catch it.  "Never said I was a keeper," he said at Stella's chuckle.  "We ready?"

"We are," Speed agreed, sliding into his own sunglasses.  He looked at Horatio, who smirked.  "Sue me, we'll be facing into the sun.  It's still weaker here than it is in Miami.  You realize how much color the sun bleaches in daily life when you get to a weaker sun area like here."   He slid into his old robe, then had Danny fit it better.  Tony's too.  He looked at Stella.  "You done yet?"  She nodded, sliding into her robe over her sleeveless t- shirt.  "Bold statement."

"Yay.  I figure they'll be watching my tits."  She shrugged and tied the robe closed just below her breasts.  "Draco?"  Draco looked over at her, looking very calm.  "Ready?"  He nodded, getting up to put on his shoes and over-robe, then grabbed his broom.  "Wow, Nimbus 2001."

"My father bought the whole team one," Draco offered smugly.

"My old broom is still being ridden now and then," Danny shrugged.  Horatio looked at him.  "After I fell I sold my former game broom to an up and coming player.  It's been kept in the house since then and passed down.  The little punk bastards said it's still symbolically ridden at least once a year and kept locked up safely other than that."

"I heard about Blackie."  He walked out, taking his spot next to Draco, in proper formation.  He looked at him.  "Will you be okay?"

"I'm fine.  I've already told Alex we're playing and that I was blocking him out."  He smirked a bit. "My cousin thinks she's got an advantage because she's been a veela longer."  Horatio smirked back.  He watched the other team mount up.  "Hmm.  Both Weasleys.  Dawn. Philip, Nick, and Greg.  Standard team.  They lean to the right for throwing.  Philip's their third when they play because he's less aggressive."  Horatio nodded at that information.  "Greg's got a severe distance issue.  He'll throw and Nick'll catch it then throw for him."

"Thank you."  He smirked as they flew out, taking his position for the tossup.  The ref surprised him.  He'd never met anyone like Madam Hooch before.  The quaffle was tossed up after the warning that she wanted a fair game, though he doubted she got many of them, and he sped off to his spot since the other team had possession.  He took up his normal position, watching the interaction. Danny and Don were brutal but the Weasleys were still fresh and doing all right.  He blocked a shot and threw it at Speed, who took off with it and headed back to their keeper.  Dawn was all right, she managed to smack the ball off course but Stella got it and got the first one past her.  Philip caught it on the other side and spun it at Greg, who flew off with it tucked under his arm.

Horatio watched him, his whole focus on the little ball he had to keep away from his area.  They passed and Nick tried to throw but Tony fouled him and got it back.  Madam Hooch blew her whistle and they gathered for a penalty throw.  Which he blocked.  Barely.  Greg did have an arm on him close-up.  They went back to it and he realized why Speed played keeper most of the time.  This is where his evil streak and playful nature met.  "Shit," he said in awe when they double-teamed on Dawn.  He and Stella made a formidable team.  Dawn blocked the next few shots.  Her team finally got the ball back when Stella couldn't intercept one shot.  They came back at him and he smirked at Nick.  They switched tactics but he was still focused on the ball.  Greg threw it at him and he managed to block that one.  He threw it at Tony but Nick caught it and tried again.  He did fake him out and Horatio growled at that one let through.  It would be nearly the last.

Draco spotted the snitch a few hours later.  He zipped off, spiraling through the bludgers and chasers to get it, Emilia right behind him.  He caught it and held it up, getting a blown whistle as Horatio blocked another shot.  He smirked at Potter when he saw him in the stands, waving it a bit.  Then he tossed it at the ref, smirking at her.  He nodded politely at the other seeker.  "Nice try, cousin."

"You as well."  She smirked back.  "I see you can still fly.  Too bad you don't do it more often."

"You have Potter."

"He's playing pro.  We can use you more often."  Draco pointed at his team.  "Damn it."  He smirked at that.  "Brat."  He nodded, going over to congratulate his team.  She flew back to her team.  "He won't change to play with us."

"If we need to play as a whole group, we're taking their team," Fred Weasley complained, working his sore shoulder.  "They're better than Bear is when he teases us."  His twin nodded, his jaw was locked after a hit to his neck.  "Hospital wing?"

Danny landed, taking off his wrist guard to work on his sore wrists.  "Gotta get these back into shape," he said when Speed landed beside him to look them over.  Madam Pomfrey came over to look at him.  "Old injury and a new bruise," he offered, letting her see them.  He had a bruise on his back but it'd be fine later with a warm soak.  She healed them and he moaned in relief.  "Oh, that's good."  He worked them and she smiled.  "Hold on, you fixed the old injury!"  He threw his arms around her.  "You're a fucking saint!  I love you!"  He pulled back and kissed her hard and deep.  "I'm promoting you for sainthood."  He walked off, going to pounce Tony.  "She fixed them both!"  Tony whooped and jumped over to spin him around.

Madam Pomfrey put her hat back in place and went to check the others. It had been a very long time since she had been kissed like that.  Not since Alex Dumass had kissed her last year really.  It must be an American thing.

"If I kiss you that way would you make my twin's jaw unclench?" Fred asked.

"If you try to kiss me that way, I shall paddle you," she informed him stiffly.

"Guys, she fixed my wrist.  I protect her with my last breath!" Danny called.

She looked at him, smiling a bit.  "It was a curse."  Everyone stopped.  "Really."

Danny paused.  Alex had only groped his wrist, not checked for magic.

"That's it!  Someone's decursing the school!" Tony yelled. "Don!"  He looked over and nodded.  "Please, man!"

"I'll bring Arens home with me if I can."  Arens smirked at him.  "You and Harry then?"

"That would be fine," he agreed. "Maybe I could...recruit."  Everyone who knew him just smiled at his allusion to getting laid by someone barely legal and pretty of the male persuasion.

Horatio landed beside Stella.  "That was fun."

"It was."  She hugged him.  "Nice job, Horatio.  Very nicely done."  He gave her a squeeze.  "We need more games together.  It's stress relieving of a good variety."

"It is," he agreed, pushing some of her hair back behind her ear.  "We should celebrate."  Everyone nodded and they took him back to the castle to pack their things and head home.  Don had an extra day off but that was all right. He had brought Keelian and his chest of semi-cursed jewels up for his new nest.  Hagrid had cried that his baby was growing up so fast.

They found their way to the wizarding bar Danny liked, making the bartender whimper.  "We won our fun game!" Danny called.  "Good beer, not the swill," he called.

"Sure," he called weakly. That many cops together was probably a bad thing.  He sent a waitress over since they were mostly guys.  Don flirted with her but no one else got any play.  That's when he knew it was going to be a long night.  He pulled out the case of the 'good stuff' Danny's father had once given him as a tip.  He sent that over as well.  It got sent back.  None of them were looking for tequila.  Another cop came in and he handed him the bottle of scotch, a tray of glasses and sent beers over with the waitress.  He knew Messer would make it clear with him before he left if they didn't have any more credit.  One little pretty boy came over and he smiled.  "Yes, sir?"

"Wine?  Good wine?"  He put down three galleons and he moaned, taking them and going to open one of the good bottles for him.  Draco sniffed it and looked at him.  "We're not usually that sort of bar, sir.  Best we've got."  He handed over the bottle.

"Thank you."  Draco went back to sit back down and share his wine with whoever wanted some.

Danny grinned at Mac.  "Creamed 'em.  Horatio let nearly *nothing* get past him."

"Congratulations," he said, smiling at Horatio.  "Good to get out and play?"

"Very," he agreed, clinking glasses with him.  "What time is it?"

"About ten locally."

"That's fine.  As long as I get in by nine."  He took his shot and sipped his beer, looking at the label then at Danny.  "How did you find the only place that serves real Irish ale?"

"Oh, long depressing story," he admitted.

"Been his favorite since they kicked his dad our one year," Tony assured him.  He grinned at Mac.  "You should've come over to watch."

"I had to help Sheldon with something," he admitted.

"Pity."  He took his shot and smirked at Speed.  "Good thing I filed for tomorrow off as well."  Speed nodded at that, smirking back.  "Think Gibbs would count a quidditch win as a good reason to come in with a hangover?"  Everyone at the table shook their heads. "Me either.  Thought I'd check though."

Mac watched over the team of misfits, shaking his head at the happy people around them.  It was definitely not the place he would've pictured Danny hanging at.  He kept himself from looking around to see if anyone was wanted, making Horatio smirk when he caught him. "Habit."

"I know."  He poured him another shot.  "Portkeys were made for quidditch wins."  Everyone chuckled at that and nodded.

***

Don found himself going back with Danny, who was stumbling around drunk, well both of them really were, but that was okay with him.  He had won his second match in quidditch with his second team.  He loved both teams but this team was tighter and he loved this team.  He looked at Danny, grinning at him.  "I love our team."

"Me too."  Danny flopped down on his bed, looking at him.  "You handcuffing yourself ta me again?" he asked, taking off his glasses and putting them aside.  Then he carefully did the stripping charm. He winced when he got the last word wrong and it became a hair stripping charm.  "Ow."  He got it right the second time and did it to Don, who giggled at him.  "It happens.  Get used ta it."  He wiggled under the covers, holding up an edge.  "If you're crashing in here, get in here.  'M cold."  Don climbed in and stole a kiss, still grinning.  "You're gonna hate yourself in the morning."

"No I won't."

"Yeah you will."  Don leaned over more slowly this time and took another one, slower and more heated this time.  Danny moaned and pulled him physically closer. Don whimpered when their bodies touched.  Danny teased and stroked him while they kissed, making Don twitch and moan, shifting to get it where he wanted it.  "Whaddya want, Donny?" he asked quietly.

"You, me.  S'good."

"You sure?"  Don nodded, moving down to taste his throat.  "Be careful what you wish for," he said before flipping them over.  He found his wand again, using a lubricating charm.  Then he found the actual bottle of lube when he realized Don was virgin tight.  He slowly spread him open, making him hiss and moan underneath him.  "You still sure?" he asked when all he got were pleading noises.  Don nodded so he slicked himself up and slid in, making Don howl.  "Relax," he soothed, stroking his back.  "Just relax.  Give it a few."  Don pushed back and Danny smirked.  "Have it your way."  He started slowly but built up into a pounding, hard, ball-snapping rhythm that made Don howl in pleasure and clutch the pillows to have something to hold onto.  Danny reached down to tease him but Don was already doing that.  He leaned down to nip and lick the back of his neck.  Don came a few minutes later with a moan and tightened his whole body.  Danny came not long afterward, laying down so he wouldn't collapse on top of Don's body.

"You know, you could cuddle," Don complained, his voice hoarse.  "You did just pop me."

Danny pulled him closer. "I'm not a cuddler, but I'll use you as a body pillow."  He laid on top of his chest, getting comfortable.

Don looked at him.  "Why do girls like you since you don't cuddle?"

"I give great oral sex."

"Ah.  Understandable then."  He waited until he heard the snore then wiggled around until he was the one being held. That was the right way after your cherry was popped in his mind.  He let himself drift off, slowly tasting the bond among his friends to make sure they had gotten home all right.  Stella's mind was one blaze of pleasure.  Apparently Horatio had gotten her to some home, maybe not hers but it was good enough.  Draco wasn't part of it but he hoped he was cuddling Dawn or someone.  Tony and Speed had fallen in bed together too.  They felt very sated.  So either some woman was very happy or they had made it good between them.  He checked on the 'Danny' feeling part of the bond, feeling him slightly awake.  He snuggled in and got comfortable, letting himself fully drift off now.  It was good to have a second family that loved him.

Danny looked at Don, then shook his head and decided maybe he could cuddle him this one time.  He'd leave him limp and panting before he went to work in the morning.  He drifted back again, letting his mind slow down to a dormant state. Don was worth breaking his 'no sex at work' rules.  He wouldn't go odd if things went bad.

Training Grounds

Tony walked into work Tuesday morning and looked at Gibbs, then smirked broadly.  "We won against the teacher's group."

"Congratulations. You hung over?"

"Just slightly.  Not half as bad as yesterday morning.  Oh, but Don fixed my old school's issues."  He smirked.  "Boss, got a few for the conference room?"

"Wait until everyone's supposed to be in, DiNozzo.  Is it that important?"

"Depends on your definition."

"To me?"

"Depends on your definition," he repeated.  Gibbs gave him a long stare so Tony smirked back.  He heard the heels clicking before he saw her but he knew the director was coming.  "So, boss, did I miss anything?  Should I start pulling up anything for you?"

"We didn't have weekend call and no new case yesterday.  I did let McGee look over one of your old ones."  Tony nodded at that, sitting down to fire up his computer.

"Agent DiNozzo, welcome back," the director said, looking at him. "Did you have a nice day off?"

"I did.  I spent the weekend reconnecting with some very dear friends and playing a very good game of sports, which our team won.  I also got to know a bit more about some of their coworkers so I feel more comfortable checking on them if I don't hear from them for more than two weeks."  He looked at her, hiding his smirk.  Danny had just woken up to a pouncing by Don, it was fairly cute.  He gave them a nudge out of his direct brain and blinked at her.  Then at Gibbs.  "What?"

"You're smiling," he offered.

"Memory.  Just after the game, at the celebration.  Danny and Don got together to try to outdo each other."

Gibbs nodded at that.  "They okay?"

"Yeah, it was cute."  He grinned, then smirked at Stan as she came in.  "Morning."

"Good, you're back, it'll be less quiet."  She smirked at him.  "Good times?"

"Very, and a great game."

"Congrats."  She walked around the director to her desk.  "Gibbs, do we have a case yet?"

"Not yet, Standa."  He looked at the director. "It is the purpose of vacation to come back smiling and happy."

"It is."  She glanced at Tony then at Gibbs.  "You're next up for a case?"  He nodded.  "Good."  She walked off, heading back to her office.

Tony looked at Gibbs, who pointed at the elevator.  "Standa, you too."  She nodded, following them to the elevator.  "First, less heels."

"I thought so too but the email I got said heels," she complained, taking them off.

"They're not practical in the field.  You dress like we might have to hike a few miles," Gibbs told her.  She beamed and hugged him.  "You're welcome.  Get off.  DiNozzo?"  He pulled up his shirt sleeve.  "That's a tattoo."

"No, that's like a Bane marking.  It links..."  He pulled his wand and sealed the elevator from spying, including Alex's spell against spy gear.  "Sorry, paranoid.  It links Danny, Speed, Don, myself, Stella, and we're talking about adding Horatio."  Gibbs just nodded at that.  "As far as I know, as far as we could determine, if I'm in *that* much danger, they'll feel it and can probably track me using it."  Gibbs nodded again, looking a bit more pleased. "We can communicate and we can share jokes through it.  It's like they're the voices in the back of my head now."

"That's damn cool," Stan agreed.

Tony beamed and nodded.  "It is."  He looked at his boss.  "We've each got one.  It's fully healed. I can cover it with makeup or an illusion if I need to for the job, boss.  I don't have to touch it to communicate, so the grinning this morning was actually Don pouncing Danny for some."

"That's fine," he agreed casually.  "Not that I need information like that about Danny...."  He trailed off when Tony moaned.  "What?"

Tony held up a finger and sent something at Don specifically, calming him down.  Don sent back his acknowledgment and let Danny top him again.  He shook it off and pushed them out of the way. "It does hold up for emotional moments.  Danny almost had a fight with Don about who tops."  He looked at Gibbs again.  "I'm blocking them out but they're still like a hum in the back of my head."

"If you space out for more than a minute I'll expect it to be something like that and smack you harder if we're in the middle of something."

"Thanks, boss.  I knew you'd understand but I wanted to brief you before you noticed something strange."

"Thank you.  Now, Abby?"

"Obliviate?"

Gibbs snorted.  "She said someone's tried."

"She could be like me and know due to life's circumstances," Stan offered sheepishly.  "Blair told me by accident once.  He thought I had been hinting about it."

"Abby's got some power but I think she's a nature path witch," Tony offered.  "Like Darth Rosenburg.  Oh, and she's involved in a case in Miami."  They shared a look and he nodded.  "Exactly."  He looked at Gibbs. "We can explain it that way.  I know she's dabbled."

"Works for me.  I told her what I can."

Tony nodded.  "Then she can come to me as long as she keeps it absolutely quiet.  Even around the office."

"I've made that clear.  Not even teasing.  Does Ducky know?"

"Danny said that Sheldon knew because of his sister but he's seen wands in autopsy before.  So it's possible that most ME's realize its around."

"I haven't wanted to ask."

Tony smirked a bit at that. "Not that I blame you, boss.  See what he thinks about the Harry Potter books and the Vampire show."

"That's real?" Stan asked.

"Yeah, Alex Dumass is Xander Harris.  That's where he went when he was deaged.  Dawn's older sister is Buffy."

"Man!" Stan complained.  "So it works?"  Tony nodded.  "Decent.  Can I go change, boss?"

"Go."  He flipped back on the elevator.  "Leave up the spells, DiNozzo."  That got a nod and they dropped Stan off down at the gym then went back to their desks.  He found the director waiting on them.  "We get called out?"

"No.  I was wondering what he was briefing you on."

"Something that happened this weekend that may relate back to a case. He wanted me to know just in case.  It's what good agent does when something may become important."  He sat down and looked at Tony.  "Do I have all your paperwork?"

"I sent it to you before I left, Gibbs."  He sat down to make sure, finding an email with one.  "Never mind.  What was wrong with that one?"

"You spelled the last name wrong all the way through.  It's IE, not EI."

Tony nodded and opened that email, then the file, doing a search and replace, then sending it back.  "There ya go, boss."  He smiled at McGee as he came in.  "How was your Monday, Probie?"

"Boring.  No funny noises.  No paper balls.  No paper airplanes.  No odd sites being sent to me."  He smirked at him.  "How was your weekend?"

"Good.  We even played against the teaching group's team and we won against them."

"Congratulations," Ziva said as she joined them.  "Gibbs, I got a strange message for you," she said, handing over the folded paper.  "I translated it since I know you don't speak or read Hebrew."

"Thank you."  He looked at it, then nodded. "DiNozzo, your friend is fine but they've finished with that one and they're moving to a new spot?"

"He found a spot like his former hometown and went to check on it, boss.  Still part of the job."

"That's fine."  He balled it up and sent it over.  Tony read it then ripped it into pieces before dropping it in the trash.  "He okay?"

"I'm sure he will be."

"What hometown was he in?" the Director asked.

"Sunnydale, ma'am."  She stared at him.  "Yes, it's a real town."

"I caught that stupid show once," she sneered.

"The person who wrote it was one of his classmates.  He's in Iraq right now on assignment and found a town just like his old one."

"I see.  Is he military?"

"No."  He looked at Ziva.  "Someone in the Mossad called?"  She nodded.  "Why?"

"I don't know.  I didn't understand either.  He also said to tell Gibbs he was very amused by Alex and Ron."

"Everyone is amused by Alex and Ron," he assured her with a grin.  "Alex is the only one I know who can make the stereotypical drama queen gay guy shriek in fear and run the other way by being even worse than he is at times.  Alex can be a princess when he wants.  Then there's times when he can out-macho Gibbs.  All that on top of being a knowledge whore and a book fiend.  His personal library now takes up two towers at his very old home."

"Towers?"

"Ancient family home," McGee told her.  Tony looked at him and he grinned.  "Abby said so."

"Abby and I are going to have a talk then.  I want to know what she knows about Alex."  He watched McGee's eyes, seeing him flinch.  "Probie, we should get lunch."

"I brought mine."

Gibbs' phone rang and he answered it.  "Gibbs."  He wrote down the information.  "Thank you."  He hung up.  "Our idiot smugglers hit again."  He glanced at his team.  "Officer David with me.  Tony, McGee, get the truck."  They headed out together and Tony would tell him how McGee knew about magic.

Tony pulled out in the truck, then hexed McGee's body to stillness.  "So, Probie."

"Shit."  He tried to turn his head. "I'll spill!"  Tony unfroze his head.  "I didn't know you were."

"You are?"

"I trained in Chicago."  He looked at him.  "I don't carry my wand, Tony."

"You gave it up?"

"Almost fully.  I like electronics and magic doesn't respond that well."

"Wonderful.  You get to tell Gibbs and we're watching Abby because she caught me apparating home last weekend."

"Sure," he agreed weakly.  "Gibbs is a wizard?"

"Exhusband of one."

"Ewww."  Tony sped up, flipping on the lights to break the speed limit.  "Ziva?"

"Worked with one once.  Why didn't you say anything after you saw the quidditch pictures?"

"I couldn't get you alone.  You were always heading off to play with your buddy Speed or Danny."

"Speed's in Miami.  Danny's in New York.  Part of my group."  That got a quick nod.  He unfroze him.  "I don't mind being the only practicing wizard on the team but you will stay in practice to at least defend yourself, McGee.  The military wants us badly at the moment to work for them.  They took over your old school."

"I heard," he agreed quietly. "The director?"

"Bitch."

"Not that, Tony.  I knew that already."  Tony shot him a grin and took a corner at high speed.  "Are we going to make it before Gibbs?"

"Maybe."  He tapped his fingers a few times and then drove down an alley, turning the truck into a portkey since they were going to another area farther out.  He came out of an alley on the other side, making McGee squeak.  "You will stay in practice for defensive lessons, McGee.  Am I understood?"

"Yes, Tony.  Are you being hunted?"

"They don't know me and they won't get me."

"You switched because of that?"  Tony nodded, pulling up outside the base and flashing his ID.

"Sir, second building by the mess, sir."

"Thank you.  Special Agent Gibbs is driving our company car.  Give him the same directions."  He headed that way, glancing at McGee.  "Calm down.  I can get you a refresher set."

"I can go back over my old textbooks," he agreed.  "Are there any good potions people around here?  I used to take this really good one for my headaches and they're starting to come back."

"Vegas has a number of them.  Including the Wizard of Blood."

"Wow.  I heard he was an alchemist."  Tony nodded.  "Is he some really old guy?"

"Sanders?  No."  McGee gaped as Tony parked and got out. "Coming?" he called.  McGee hurried after him.  "Staff Sergeant," he said, flashing his credentials.  "Gibbs got stuck in traffic because our siren is louder.  What'd we have?"

"Sudden shipments that have no paperwork and no reason to be here, Special Agent DiNozzo.  We checked one after having it scanned.  Drugs."

"Okay.  Any paperwork?  McGee, work on that angle until Gibbs gets here.  It'd be computerized."  That got a nod and one of the clerks took him to look them over.  Tony went to take pictures of the contraband and the boxes.  "Are these all of them?"

"We moved them together when we found them, Agent DiNozzo."

"Just DiNozzo is fine," he offered with a smile.  "You've checked every other box?"

"No, sir.  We're doing an inventory right now and the drug dogs are in here as well."

"Good job.  Thank you.  Go wait on Gibbs.  Tell him I'm taking down information and where McGee would be."  That got a nod and Tony settled in to carefully take pictures and count the haul.  He backed up when one exploded.  "Crap."  He walked out shaking his head at Gibbs.  "One of the bags was loose, boss.  I was doing the count when it opened on my hand."  He got into the back of the truck, peeling off his gloves and taking out some sterile water to rinse his hands off.  When Ziva came over, he nodded at the box of trash bags.  "Pick one up, take it in there to carefully contain the spilling one.  We'll empty the box into it.  Put on full decontam gear, including a mask."  She nodded, getting that out to go back in there.  He finished rinsing off and dried his hands off on some papertowels, bagging those with his gloves.  Then he put on more gear, handing Gibbs a mask. "Safety precautions, boss.  It's still cocaine."

"Are you sure?"

"What got on me was.  I was breathing in when the tape broke under my hand."  He gave him a look.  "No drug tests this week, okay?"  He went back to work, shaking his head at his stupidity.  "Ziva, get the next box, *carefully* break the seal without compromising the label, and start the photos then count."   She nodded, moving over to do that while he babied the open container into the trash bag, then used a spare evidence brush to coax more inside.  Then he checked the next one before moving it out to count it, going back to his mental count.  When he got to the bottom he tipped the box into the trashbag and handed it to Gibbs, packing them carefully into plastic bin Ziva had brought in with her after marking them with a blue sticker. "Tag that one blue, boss."

"Did."  He put that one in its own bag and into the back of the truck.  He waved an MP closer.  "Watch that for us.  It's drug evidence."  That got a nod and he stood guard.  Gibbs called McGee.  "Anything?"  He listened to him babbling.  "How many from the same spot?"  He nodded once.  "Good work.  Print it, check for anything else hinky then come back here."  He hung up and went to talk to the ordinance supervisor.  "Eighteen boxes from the same company."

"Boss, this one's got some grease spread inside," Tony called, sniffing his gloves.  "Bacon on this one."

"Okay, we'll check the list to see where the other boxes are.  These were spread around, Agent Gibbs."

"Who did that?"

"I'm trying to figure that out, but the probable person isn't here today.  I've sent Shore Police to pick them up so I could ask and then hand them to you if need be.  I hope I didn't step on any toes."

"Not yet.  I'll let you know if you."  He went back to gathering evidence.  "Tony, how many boxes?"

"Six," he said loudly.

"DiNozzo."  Tony blinked at him.  "What's the chances some of that got into your system?"  Tony giggled.  "Go wait in the truck, DiNozzo."  That got a nod and he trotted that way, taking off his gear to bag.  He called Ducky.  "When we get back, check DiNozzo over.  We're counting drug evidence and one broke in his hand, Ducky.  Thank you."  He hung up and got back to work.  "Officer David, more carefully than that.  They packed these full to make use of all the space.  If you break one open you can be exposed the same way."

"Yes, Gibbs."  She went more carefully.  "Should I peel the tape up?"

"That can destroy any fingerprints when the cardboard rips," he ordered.  She nodded and got back to work.  "Use an exacto blade, that way you don't go too far."

"Yes, Gibbs."  She got one out of the kit and used it instead of her bootknife.

Gibbs phone rang and he answered it.  "Gibbs."  He listened.  "No, one of them had weak tape and when he picked it up, it broke.  Some got on his hands and he may have inhaled a trace amount.  Oh no you're not."  He hung up and looked toward the van, then at McGee as he came in, motioning him closer. "Give him the list, let him check these and get the others. Check on Tony then gear up and join us.  Bring more stickers and another box."  That got a nod and McGee hurried to do that.  He watched him go, thinking hard.  Then he called Abby.  "I'm going to need a sealed spot, Abby.  We've got at least six shipping boxes, standard sizes, of drugs.  Cocaine.  One burst on Tony.  He's fine.  Sleeping it off in the truck."  He listened.  "I know.  Have Ducky dissuade her if possible.  Thank you."  He listened to her.  "Good enough.  I want to have a talk with you and Ducky later anyway, Abby.  Plan on it."  He hung up and got back to work once McGee was back.  "Is he still giggling?"

"Yup, talking to his arm."  He got into the next box, carefully cutting it open.  He glanced at Gibbs who nodded.  "Thank you, boss.  What're we tagging this one?"

"We've used blue, purple, and red.  Go to yellow for that box."  McGee nodded and started to take pictures and then tag and count the packages.  He noticed something sticking out under his decontamination gear.  "Be careful."

"I'm trying, boss."  He glanced at him, noticing where he was staring.   "A bad feeling, boss."

"Does that mean you've got a clue?"

"I'm sincerely out of practice since my days in highschool," he said quietly.  That got a nod.  "Tony said we're having a team lunch later?"

"We are," he agreed.  He looked at Ziva.  "You can duck out if you want."  She nodded, accepting that.  "It'll be us, Ducky, and Abby about the other case we've got open."

"I'll miss then since I doubt I can help with anything. I can put the time to better use searching records on this one."

"That's a good idea, Ziva."  He looked at McGee, who was frozen.  "What?"  McGee motioned him closer.  He looked.  "Bomb!" he yelled.  Ziva got up and took what evidence she could with her.  Someone came running.  "McGee, you have to stay still," he ordered.  He looked at the staff sergeant, who shrugged.  "Your scanner didn't pick it up?"

"No, Special Agent Gibbs.  We used a density scanner."  He rubbed his face.  "Someone get us a portable x-ray and get the rest of those boxes in the clear but outside."  A few more MP's came running.

"Carefully," the guy bending over McGee's box ordered.  "As levelly as possible."  That got a nod and they carried it outside, putting them in the grass.  He finished looking at it, then clipped a wire.  "We're clear on this one, sir."  He lifted it out carefully.  "I need a box!"  One was kicked in.  Gibbs got it and brought it over.  "Thank you."  He put it in there then looked at the bottom of the box.  "That's the trip.  They expected it to be opened other end up, like the sign says. The fact he opened it that side up means he was pretty safe."  They carried the bomb out, going to analyze it for their later report.

"McGee, take five and come back."   He nodded, getting up and running outside.  Gibbs went to check the other boxes.  "Open from the wrong side," he ordered.  "That's how that one was taped."

"We're scanning for electronics right now," someone offered quietly, moving down the line.  He tapped one.  "This one's got one too."  That one was moved off.  "The rest are dense and no hint of electronics or metal."  That got a nod and Gibbs got back to it while they searched the rest of the warehouse.  McGee came back.

"You all right?"

"Fine, boss.  Just needed a bathroom break."  He came over to look at the boxes.  "The rest of mine?"

"Code it, put it in the truck, McGee.  These are cleared."  That got a nod and he went to get back to work.  Gibbs checked on Tony, who was babbling at Danny.  "Let him work, DiNozzo," he ordered quietly.  Tony pouted but let him go after a quiet 'bye'.  His phone rang a minute later.  "Gibbs.  No, he's fine, Speedle.  Drug packet opened under his hand.  Yeah, basically.  He's fine, just out of it.  I'll have Ducky check him in a few."  He hung up and got back to work.

***

Danny looked up as Mac walked into the lab he was working in, nodding at him.  "Give me ten."  The sample was taken from him.  "I need ta do that unless you're firing me, Mac."

"No, I'm not firing you, Danny."  He closed the doors and the blinds.  "I think we should talk.  Someone's noticed some things and gotten on my ass about it."

"Not that I've asked."

"Yes, well, even Stella's jumped me about it, Danny."  He gave him a very neutral look.  "Do you trust me?"

"I don't trust anyone."

"I see."   He moved closer and Danny backed off slightly. "I have no intention of hurting you."

"I've heard that before."  He sat down and looked at him.  "Why?  What did they chew you a new one about?"

"Horatio said I've ruined our working relationship beyond repair.  Greg happened to agree with him when I called to talk to him about something else and it came out."

"I never asked 'em to talk to ya, Mac."

"I know.  You wouldn't. You'd come face me down, right?"  Danny nodded.  "Then why haven't you?"

"To be honest, I'm thinking about transferring down ta Miami to be with Speed.  At least then I'd have a boss who trusted me."

"I do."

"Bull."  He tipped his chin up some.  "When Sonny told you, did you ask?"  Mac shook his head.  "Wouldn't you have asked Stella?"

Mac thought about that then nodded.  "I would have, but I've known Stella for a very long time."

"You've known me for years, longer than you have Doc.  That told me all I needed to know, and then you tried to keep me in trouble with IAB."

"I was trying to protect you."

"By making me look more guilty?"

Mac shook his head.  "You look guilty when you rush in.  No one volunteers."

"I didn't.  I couldn't stand the hounding so I went.  Not like you were doing anything."  Mac sighed.  "So, no. I trust you on the job, Mac.  As a person, no."

"I should have asked, Danny, not assumed.  You've got me fair and square on that one.  The same as I should have been more supportive after the shooting."

"Yeah, well, don't help now, Mac.  Anything else?  I'm kinda busy."

"I want to make it right, Danny.  I don't want to lose you."

"Someone get onto you about the team again?"

"No. *I* don't want to lose you.   You're a very good CSI.  You're one hell of a coworker.  I don't want to lose you."

"Yeah, well, I'm still thinking.  You nearly lost me the day after the shooting.  I was dialing Speed when I realized it would make me look really guilty if they found out I was thinking about transferring departments."

Mac nodded. "I understand. I want to work this out, Danny."  He moved closer again, seeing the unease.  "You're not usually this jumpy."

"I've had this closeness stuff pushed back at me once today already."

"Sorry."  He moved back again.  "I want us to work this out.  I want us able to work together again and I want you to be able to trust me."

"Like I said, on the job I do.  You're a stand up guy there."

"We were closer before, Danny.  We were friends."

"No, friends stick up for you, no matter how much you fuck up, Mac.  Speed and Tony stood up for me even when I couldn't get away from Sonny.  Even after you'd seen I didn't have the tattoo, even after you saw my father's files, you still didn't trust me because you tried to hide that sheet from the IAB chick.  Even though you saw it said I witnessed things. Not did them, witnessed."  Someone tapped on the door.  "Give him a few."  He looked at him again.  Someone knocked again.  "Quit!"  The knocking stopped.  "What do you want me to do, Mac, clap you on the back and hand you a balloon because someone made you see you were an asshole ta me?  I'm not the sort to do that.  I'm not exactly the cuddly and soft sort.  You want soft, you go find Sheldon or someone.  Not Stella.  But Sheldon's nice and probably gives good hugs."  He walked over and opened the door, finding Sheldon standing there.  "Still working on it.  He interrupted."

"That's fine.  The father's downstairs.  I'm going to interrogation with him and Flack."

"Give me ten.  I'll bring it down."  Sheldon nodded and hurried off.  Danny got back to work, studying the slides he was working on.  He found something that made him frown and bring it over to the mass spec machine to run it.  He got the result and smirked, nodding.  "That's what I thought."  He brought the remains of the slide back to look at it again.  "Yeah, that makes more sense."  He printed off the view and gathered both things, putting the slide back into the evidence case before he did anything else.  He moved past Mac, heading down to interrogation.  He found which one they were in, then tapped on the door, handing it to Flack.  "Two samples on the same slide.  Mass spec Sheldon needs," he said quietly.  He passed on the information over the bond, getting a nod.  "Have fun."  He walked off, heading back to do his next slide. He found Mac still in here.  "No new cases?"

"Not yet."  He crossed his arms over his chest.  "You never told anyone about this."

"No.  Why would I?  I'm not the sort to whine about the unfairness of life.  Life sucks all around and sometimes it's lightened by some blinding lights that leave an afterglow until your eyes adjust."  Mac frowned at that.  "Sorry, life philosophy.  Used ta be pinned on the inside of my bed."

"Next case, we're working together."

"Fat chance.  You're on with Stella again and then the new kid."

"You're helping me with the new kid, same as you did with Lindsey."  Danny quirked an eyebrow.  "You did good with her.  It was her personality that was wrong."  He moved closer again.  "You do good here, Danny.  I didn't mean to make it appear that I don't trust you."

"You don't.  You haven't since that whole Tanglewood case started and you got a hint I might know.  Of course you used it, but still."  Mac opened his mouth.  "I'm not talking about this here."

"We can go to my office."

"Which makes it look even more like you're gonna fire me.  I can almost guarantee it's going to start around again."  Mac shook his head.  "Yeah, it will.  You locked us in here."  Mac's face tightened.  "I don't talk about personal shit for a reason, Taylor.  Especially not at work.  The same as I don't date at work."  He pulled over his next sample.  "Anything else or can it wait until later?"

"It can wait until after work and then we're going to talk."

"If you say so."

"I do.  By the way, you're on the promotion grid."

"Nice ta know."

"You were only off for a few weeks."

"If you say so."

"Danny."  Danny looked at him.  "You have been."

"Again, if you say so.  This is work.  Work is not this discussion and you're keeping me from working efficiently.  Now, you mind?"  Mac walked off.  Danny shut the door and took a deep breaths and then got back to work.  He did send a dirty, nasty thought at Speed for making Horatio jump on Mac about that, but he got back that he hadn't.  So apparently Horatio was a very good person to have watching those around him for faults.  He'd have to remember that.

***

Abby got a phone call, making her a happy girl.  "Lab," she answered since it was an inside line.  "No, they're in the field.  Do we know what it is? Sure."  She hung up and headed for the elevator, going down to the front desk.  "What's up?" she asked, smiling at the nice looking young man standing there.  He wasn't very tall, maybe her height, but he was stocky and muscled. There was something familiar about him, and the sense that he wasn't as young as he appeared.

He smiled at her, his green eyes showing some seriousness, his dark hair messy like it hadn't seen a comb in a while.  "I was told to give this to Tony but he's apparently in the field.  My contacts said you'd be just as good, at least until he gets back."

"Abby," the guard said, nodding at him.  "He's... you gotta check his ID."

She looked Harry over, seeing the wand in his waistband, then took his ID to look at when the guy handed it over with a grin.  "Tony said he met you over breakfast one morning."  She handed it back to the security guys.  "That's actually his name."  That got a flabbergasted look.  "Tony said he was even carrying around a miniature broom the last time to make fun of it when people gaped."

"When I'm out and about I only have my wand," Harry teased.  He could like this girl.

She beamed at him.  "That's always a good idea."  The guards blushed.  "He clear?"  They nodded. "Okay, Harry, let's go to the lab and I'll see if it's something I should call Gibbs about, because he's the A-number-one grump this morning.  They were out of his flavor of coffee."  She took the fabric-wrapped package he held out, glancing inside as she led their way back to the elevator.  "Who sent this?"  They stepped on once the doors opened, him letting her go first.

"Alex Dumass is my grandfather.  He's still on assignment in Iraq.  He said it had to go to Tony and only to Tony when it was sent.  I got it by owl this morning."  He looked at her.  "I don't usually shrink my broom."

"It was a good reason, Harry."  She looked at him, moving his hair.  "Huh.  I knew about Tony."  She shrugged and they headed into her lab.  "Mind music?"

"I prefer music.  Modern's fine.  Alex has truly widened my appreciation of music.  He listens to techno and house."

"One should always listen to House," she joked.

He smirked.  "The one on the tv or the music style?  The one on tv reminds me of Alex when you interrupt him while he's working, which I try very hard not to do because then I get the shite jobs."  She giggled at that, punching him on the arm.  He grinned back.  "Go ahead and look.  I didn't.  He said it was important Tony get it as soon as I got it."

"Okay."  She sat the package on the desk, looking at the note.  "What language is this in?"

Harry looked.  "I can't tell if it's Arabic or Hebrew.  Sorry, not the one I'm studying."  She shrugged and put it aside, going to the pictures.  Harry whistled.  "Well, it's a pretty framing but a horrible subject."  He took that one to look through. He also unfroze it, and it made him ill.  "I think they're keeping those people."

"They could be, yeah."  She dialed the phone.  "Me, Gibbs.  No, we just had a package dropped for Tony from Iraq.  You've gotta see it, boss.  No, the delivery guy and I are looking at them now.  Thanks.  Yeah, important like first thing when you come back important.  Thanks."  She hung up and took that one back, putting the package back together again.  Then she pulled out that one.  "The faces are too far away, they're kinda blurry.  Can I digitize this?"

"I'm not sure," he admitted.  "I can stick it on whatever moment you want," he offered, moving closer again.  "I have no idea how magical photographs work with computers."  He smiled at her.  "We'd have to try."

"We will once he gets here."  The door opened and she blinked at the director.  "I just got this package for Tony and Gibbs, ma'am.  This is the delivery guy, Harry."

"Hello."  She looked at one of the still frozen photographs, frowning.  "Where was that taken?"

"Iraq. He's on assignment there," Harry said, making sure his voice sounded as cultured as possible.  She looked at him.  "He sent them to me so I could make sure they got to Tony."

"I see."  She looked at the next one.  "Not totally incriminating."  She saw the note and looked it over, then picked up the bundle. "I should...."

"I think not.  Alex said it only goes to Tony or his boss," Harry said.

"This is our director," Abby said helpfully, giving him a look.

"Then I'm sure Gibbs would be more than happy to brief her if it turns out to be something.  Don't want to cause a panic, now do we?" he asked with his most charming smile.  She blinked at him.  "Really, we can handle this with Gibbs' help since I'm about the only one who knows where they are right now."  He took them back then put the note with it.  "Thank you for offering to take some of the burden off your team's shoulders, ma'am, that does show that you're a very effectual boss, rather like Alex is."  On his worst days by the look in her eyes.  Another man came in and he nodded cordially, getting one in return.  "Abby, is there a way to sort those by timeline order?  I think he's got the date on the back and I'm not sure if they're in the right order or not.  Alex said Ron packed them and Ron rather stuffs things into the package usually."

"Sure, Harry."  She smiled at Ducky.  "Ducky, this is Harry.  His grandfather, Alex Dumass, is on assignment in Iraq and sent Tony some photos to check for him."

"I see."  He smiled at Harry.

Harry shook his hand.  "Always nice to meet someone from the homeland abroad, Ducky.  Plus she's much prettier than the whiny ponce I'm staying with."  Abby looked at him.  "Draco, Alex's consort.  Pouting, sulky, blond wraith who moves around the house spreading despair because his husband is working and he couldn't go back after being injured.  Really depressing first thing in the morning when he wakes up pouting."

She blinked at him.  "You guys lead a much more interesting life than I do."  She got to work scanning in one of the frozen pictures.

Harry smiled at the director, another winning one that made most people go gooey in the head.  "It was nice to meet you."

"Are you military personnel?" she asked.

"No but I've rather been in a lot of battles in my time.  More than any sane, normal person should've been.  Lead some, followed in some.  Destroyed some lives.  Now I'm helping with a group that rescues artifacts and natural treasures from areas that would destroy them, that way they can be preserved and handed back once wars and the bad times are over."

"You...do what?" she asked.

"Places like Iraq have many historical and natural treasures.  When they're threatened, my group goes in to remove them to safer locations in Europe until the strife is done and then we hand them back when the area is stable and they want them back.  In the meantime we get to study them but they do go back when asked for."  She stared at that.  "Alex is training me but unfortunately it's the on-season for my team and I've got to train there as well while our adopted little sister is still in school."

"Oh," she said weakly.  "I've never heard of your group.  What's your grandfather's name?"

"Dumass.  Alexander Dumass.  Two 's's.  The author was a sideline to our lineage.  Tony's done some work with us in the past, that's why Alex felt comfortable sending him this one."

"I see.  That's fine then.  Tell Gibbs I want to know if this is anything," she ordered as she walked off.

Harry pulled his wand.  "Oblivius."  She paused then kept going.  He smiled at Ducky.  "You knew my grandfather?"

"He had to identify a body I got sent once," he said quietly, picking up a photo that had fallen to the floor.  "Who are you really?"

"Harry Potter, grandson of Alexander Dumass, cursebreaker and quidditch player," he said with a smile, shaking his hand again.  "Tony's helping us train some wizards who were missed."

"Ah, the time in Scotland."  Harry nodded.  "Where is Dumass castle?"

"Very top of the land mass."  He grinned at him.  "Pretty well hidden as well."

"It figures it'd have to be, Harry."  He looked at the one that had fallen.  "That one doesn't seem to want to be looked at."

"That usually means it needs attention."  He picked it up and uncharmed it, then handed it over and walked off.  "I'm not fond of that sort of thing and I won't stand for it around me.  Alex must've taken the pictures so someone could do something."

Abby nodded, putting that one face down.  "Probably."  She got back to work.  "It's not even picking up an image," she complained a minute later, pouting.

"Love, Draco does that so much better.  There's nothing more pouty than a consort veela who's mate is in another country for at least a month more."  She gave him a startled look and he nodded.  "Yes, that Draco.  Whiny ponce turned blond, pouty, sulky wraith around our library."  He came back and looked at the picture.  "There's one type of digital camera that can pick up a vampire's image but I'm not sure which or why," he admitted, touching his arm to call Alex and get that information and tell him what had happened so far.  He looked at Ducky.  "He said hello."  He went back to it, nodding a few times.  "Yes, Alex," he muttered. He let go of his tattoo and looked at her.  "The digital imaging of a Minolta, a fairly non-known about model," he offered, creating a picture of it in the air.  "That's got some sort of digital filter that we know can catch vampires."

"Wow."  She looked at him.  "Then Angel's real?"

"Another pouty ponce," he agreed dryly.  "Dawn's extended family.  Drives her insane now and then complaining about Wesley and Luna."  He scratched the back of his neck.  "He said it's the 225?"

She got online and searched it out, then smiled and found a shop nearby.  "We can get one and take it apart to see."  She smiled at Ducky.  "So, he had to identify a body?"

Ducky nodded.  "It had been sent to me from the jungles when I was working in Asia."

Harry nodded. "Alex is one of the few who goes after those who're Lost."  He gave him a sad smile.  "He's one of the best so he can get the bodies back for their families.  The field is a dangerous one, but fulfilling if it calls to you.  It does to me but right now I'm also playing my sport so I can't go full time."

"Hold on," Abby said, holding up both forefingers.  "Dawn.  As in Summers?"  Harry smiled and pulled out a picture to show her.  "That is damn cool.  Ducky, look, it's Xander."

"That's Alex.  He got stuck there when he was deaged."  He shrugged and grinned.  "Buffy made the show."

"I remember Miss Summers," Ducky said with a smile. "She's grown into a beautiful woman."  He handed it back, smiling at the questioning look.  "I met her mother once."  Harry nodded at that, putting the picture back. "How is her mother doing?"

"Unfortunately we lost her to brain cancer a few years back.  Buffy's been turned but she's loving it and living with Angel at the moment.  She claims it's a much easier beauty regimen.  Then again she's the one I learned why women had one those from.  She was fairly scary when she did it.  Thankfully she said she doesn't have to apply the various potions and masques.  Being undead agrees with her."  Ducky smiled at that.  "Dawn's in her fourth year at the moment."

"Wonderful," Abby agreed happily.  He nodded at that.  "How is she doing?"

"She and Ron are constantly snogging.  They're engaged.  Fairly nauseating if you're not in the mood for cute and cuddly.  Which I'm not most mornings since I'm rather unattached at the moment."  He groaned and grabbed his arm, hissing back at Methos.  Who yelled at Alex instead.  "Sorry, Dawn just got her butt suspended to her tower for a week.  She bit the professor."

"Why?" Abby asked.

"He attacked her and her dog.  So she bit him."  He shrugged. "She claims she was doing what her sister would've.  Made Philip laugh but Methos is really not pleased with her at the moment.  So Sev's probably rolling around."  She gave him an odd look.  "He's one of my uncles, dear.  Dawn taunts him to lighten up."  She giggled at that.  "Exactly.  Her and her dog Midnight."  She giggled harder, leaning on his shoulder.  He gave her a gentle smile.  "She's a wonderful girl but now and then, especially when she's with Ginny and Luna, she's troublesome and a bit of a brat.  I have no idea why she went after the Runes teacher or he went after her.  I'd ask but Alex is presently yelling at her and we're all hearing it."  He stiffened then nodded.  "There's two more packages coming.  Tony and Gibbs are to come to the castle this weekend if they think it's something and we can set up a two-way mirror to let them watch," he told her, patting her on the back while she calmed down, smiling at the man who came in.  "You must be Gibbs.  Tony's spoken of you."  He shook his hand.

"Gibbs, this is Harry Potter."  Gibbs gave him an amused look so he lifted up his hair to show the scar, getting a raised eyebrow.  "Yes, he's real."  She smirked at him then pinched him hard.  "You guys told me Tony was a nature path person like me!"

"Sorry, Abby, but they do have to keep some secrets."

"Doesn't seem that way at times," Harry said dryly.  "Everyone at Greg's work knows."  He shrugged and pointed at the pictures. "I can uncharm the lot for you to look at but I had to remove this encounter from someone claiming to be your boss.  She wanted to confiscate it and I didn't think she should.  I assured her you would report it to her if she needed to know."  Then he grinned.  "I don't like people who try to interrupt."

"I don't blame you, Harry."  He looked at the unfrozen two then nodded.  "This is definitely something.  Can we get closer shots of the people's faces, Abby?"

"There's one hope with a digital filter in this one camera," she told him.  "Since it can pick up vampires it may be able to pick up these images.  Otherwise it won't pick up at all, Gibbs."  She looked at him, blinking a few times.  "He said he can freeze anything I need in a certain spot.  Oooh, that's an idea," she said, turning back around to get back to work on that one.  "Unfreeze that Harry, please?"  He did and she typed in faster, then 'ha'd' and gave them a triumphant look.  "I can *record* it!" she said proudly.

"Abby, love, for that, want some ice cream?" Harry asked.  "You're bloody amazing, woman."  She gave him a startled look and he gave her an honest one.  "You are.  You're smarter than any woman I've ever met and you're not the sort to take yourself seriously.  I'll even pay since brilliance like you shouldn't be made to struggle with lesser concepts like tips."

She blinked a few more times, then smiled.  "I'd love to go for ice cream, Harry.  Thank you."  She smiled.  "Usually I date older guys but you're okay."  She smiled at Gibbs.  "He said Ron might've just stuck them into the package, but then again it might be in order.  I can record all them and see what goes together."  He nodded, handing that one back.  "It'll take me a few hours."  She smiled at Harry, then at Gibbs.  "He said we've got two more packages coming and you could go with Tony this weekend, they could set up a two-way mirror from the castle."

"I wouldn't mind."  He looked at Harry.  "You had better be nice to her."

"Of course.  I'm not some lech!  I'm a very nice boy, even being sired by the great manwhore Dumass."  Gibbs stared at him.  "He did sleep around a lot."

"Putting it mildly," Tony said as he came in.  "Boss, he's got phonebook sized black books arranged by year.  About two years to a book, except for some really busy years."

"He was healing and bored during those.  That's when he slept with my grandmother.  I'm actually his on both sides.  He's my great-uncle on my father's.  Didn't realize who my grandmother was in the least."  Abby giggled at that.  "Not too close a relation at least."  Gibbs cracked a smirk so he smirked back. "Yes, I'm a nice boy.  I would never harm Abby.  Usually I'm one of those boys who's shy and blushing but she's very comfortable to be around.  Even more comfortable than 'Mione."

"She is," Tony agreed.  He came over to look.  "That's a bad thing."  He looked at Harry.  "He sent it to me?"

"Yup.  You were the only one he knew that could figure out where it was supposed to go."

"Gibbs."  He pointed at him.  "Then he'll go jump on someone with it once it's in digital form.  Where are they right now?"

"The oldest Hellmouth he's ever found.  It's not really leaking or radiating, just enough to cover up a whole host of shit that needs removed before it eats someone.  Like Ron, because then I'd have two pouting, whiny people around me."  Tony smirked at him.  "Dawn just got in-tower suspension for a week.  She bit the Runes teacher for coming after her and Midnight.  So only one pouting person this weekend."

"Draco's doing what's natural, Harry," Tony assured him.

"Doesn't mean I have to like his wraith-like self."

"True.  You could make him play on his broom."

"He refuses to fly with me.  Claims a coach said he wasn't good enough so he'll only fly with you lot for fun games now.  He'll take my spot if there's a Bane game but other than that he won't."  He shrugged.  "I'm at my wits end with dealing with him.  I'll let Stella snap him out of it this weekend since it's a training weekend."

"Get Taylor there too," Gibbs ordered.

"All right, I can do that."  He looked at him.  "Any other orders?"  He shook his head.  He smiled at Abby.  "Tonight, my beautiful one, or this weekend?"

"This weekend, I wanted to see Diagon."

"If that's what you want."  He snuck a kiss to her cheek and blushed, then popped off from right there.

"Abby, he's a very sweet, shy little boy," Tony warned.  "Do not hurt him or Alex will skin you and use your baby fat for skin cream.  Got it?"  She nodded, looking very serious.  "Good!  I mean it!"

She pinched him.  "You made me believe you were a witch like me."

"Sorry!"  He shrugged.  "I'm not supposed to tell everyone."   He looked at Ducky who smirked.

"I've met Mr. Dumass when he was gathering a former coworker."

"He does a lot of that unfortunately.  It's a dangerous field."  He uncharmed the rest of the pictures.  "There you go."  She smiled and gave him a hug then shooed them all out.  He walked out with Gibbs.  "It's a great old castle, boss.  Very calming and relaxing.  I'll make sure they've got coffee too."  That got a smirk and a head smack.  "What was that for!"

"For threatening Abby."

He stopped the elevator, looking at him.  "Harry is one of those boys who can't talk around women.  His first time meeting Stella he froze and babbled for the first hour.  Harry has *no* idea what to do with a woman, beside what Ron's told him he does with Dawnie.  He's one of those nice little boys that never got any play and women have *scared* him.  When it came out that he wasn't dating because he was shy, the *entire* female population of his school ran after him to hunt him down and lock him somewhere so they could mob him.  Twice.  To him, women are a foreign, strange creature that's barely been studied and he thinks might be poisonous.  Abby is very worldly at times.  She could easily hurt him and have no idea she did it.  So yes, I want her to be careful, boss.  Harry's strong but he's damn fragile emotionally now and then."

"I read the first book."

"Good.  It was right."  Gibbs groaned. "Harry sued the author because it was right."  That got a nod.  "So, Abby has to be careful. Not overly careful and she should have some fun, they'd make a very interesting couple.  That's the first time I haven't seen Harry stammer at a female.  He even does it at the quidditch shop when they stare in awe at him.  Which he hates."

"I don't blame the kid.  Who wouldn't."  He turned on the elevator again.  "Where's this hellmouth?"

"I'll have to look it up, boss.  Hold on."  He called Speed, who told him.  He looked at him again. "Just over the border."  He took the map of the area and pointed.  "There.  So they're probably camped right outside it.  There's caves here, I'd camp there but that's just me."

"No, that's strategically sound as well."  He looked at the map, then at him.  "Is this castle shielded like the school?"

"Even from satellites we think.  Alex has been beefing it up."

"Interesting.  I wonder if you can quantify that for us," he said as they got off, him studying the map again.  "We can find out which unit's up that way easily enough."  He ran into McGee's back.  "Do you have anything yet?"

"Yes, boss.  Petty Officer Jorkson was found dead in his apartment last night by local PD.  Their coroner is going to call Ducky and hand it over to him."

"It, McGee?"

"The body, boss.  Also any evidence.  The detective I talked to said that it looked like an OD, cocaine was found all around the apartment."

"He probably got a bag like the one that got me," Tony sighed, sitting behind his desk and rubbing his eyes.

"Go see Ducky," Gibbs ordered.

"I'm down."

"Now."

"Fine."  He got up and trudged down to the morgue.  "You've got to check me out."

"Well, you are cute," Palmer, the autopsy assistant teased with a smile.

"Did you get into the drugs, Mr. Palmer?" Ducky asked, staring him down.  He shrunk a bit and walked off.  "I thought not.  Apparently it's a playful day," he shared. "Sit."

"Yes, Ducky," Tony sighed, hopping up to let him look him over.  "I wasn't wearing a mask since it was wrapped bundles, but one broke.  I may have inhaled some and I know some got on my skin but I rinsed off as soon as I could."

"Good boy, Anthony."  He checked him over to make sure he was fine.  "Are you down?"

"Fully.  Coke never lasts long."  Ducky gave him a long look.  "An undercover, Ducky.  Not from use."

"I see."  He nodded. "You're fit, but you may have a headache."

"Actually, I've got the munchies."  He headed for the break room next, leaving on the chuckles of their ME.

***

Danny opened his door at the knock, grimacing at Mac.  "What?" he asked, not letting him in.

"You said we'd talk after work and then you left."  He forced his way in, shutting the door behind him.  "So let's talk."

"Let's not."

"Danny, we need to talk."

"Whoa, let me disappear," Flack ordered from the kitchen. He came out with a bowl.  "Be back later, Danny?"  That got a nod.  "Sorry, game on the WWN."  He disappeared, heading home with his dinner.

Danny sat down and looked at his boss.  "Go ahead, talk."

"Danny."  He glared at him.  "I meant *us* talking."  He sat down across from him, then got up and took off his jacket before sitting down again.  "We need to fix this."

"Why?"

"Because you're angry and it's going to lead to my being shot."

"I'd never shoot you."

"That's not what I meant and you know it."  He stared at him, then nodded once, moving to a closer seat, which made Danny shift away.  "I'm not trying to crowd you."

"Yeah you are."

"Most people don't find me that threatening without a weapon in my hands."

"I'm not most people and I've seen you with weapons."  His eyes crossed.  "Tony said you have to come with us this weekend.  Something Alex sent Gibbs."

"Fine.  I can do that. Why didn't you tell me about Sonny when we started to suspect him?"

"Was I involved on that case?"  Mac shook his head. "Then I only heard rumors and I did tip you off.  I gave you an idea."

"Okay, a subtle clue.  I should've asked how you knew."  Danny nodded.  "Would you have told me?"

"That my old man made me try to join 'em.  Nothing else."

"Which would've alleviated doubt when it was cast.  You're right, none of us caught the clue that we should've asked.  None of us did.  You're not mad at Stella for that though."

"Stella didn't take a stand one way or the other after the shooting. You did.  You chose the lab."

"I had to protect the lab and if you had listened to me...."

"They were driving me nuts and you weren't helping any.  Your way of doing it made me look more guilty and I'll be damned if I want any more of that than I already get from my last name."  Mac's face fell.  "You know what?  The committee for the Academy took *four weeks* to look at my application because of my last name.  Every last one of them called me to make sure I knew this meant I couldn't have contact with my family ever again.  One of them was damn honest about that fact. He warned me I'd have suspicion and distrust from nearly every cop on the force until I proved myself.  Then I did, and then shit happened.  I was on my way back outta the pit when the shooting happened and back down I went, deeper since it was clear my unit didn't support me."  He got up and started to pace.  "Not only did I get it for shooting the cop, and then because my shot was off, which they claim was my guilty conscience replaying a moment when I was a bad guy, then I got it worse because apparently all you guys but Flack weren't behind me.  He stood up for me and that eased it some, letting me have a ladder again.  I'm about at the point where I can start to see a lightening in the gloom when you lock us in the office today, Mac.  So when I went out this afternoon it's like the hole got dug deeper around me.  Now I can't touch the sides either."  He glared at him.

"I didn't mean to give them more ammunition, Danny."  He stood up to make him stop moving and look at him, weathering the glare.  "I didn't.  You didn't give me a choice when you ignored my orders.  It would've been better if you had, cleaner coming out the other side."

"I was already back down in the pit because of my name, Mac.  They'd never believe me and your way was digging the hole deeper and piling it around the top edge of it.  Even Hillborne said that."  Mac slumped and let him go.  "So, no, the only way out of this hole is to work for what I had before, what I busted my ass for, or to change departments."

"You're still thinking about it?" he asked quietly.

"Gee, ya think!" he shouted, glaring more hotly now.  Mac sat down.  "Why should I stay?  Stella doesn't trust me in the field."

"She said that's because you're a bad shot."  Danny glared at him again and he quieted down.  He stood up and looked at him.  "I can help you, Danny.  I want to help you.  Would working more cases with me help?"

He shrugged.  "I don't know.  You ask the others, see what they think," he said, heading into the kitchen and coming out with a beer.  He took a calming drink.  "By the way, putting Monroe with me made everyone wonder if she had the same problems I do."

"No, she was untrained and needed guidance.  I thought you were the best one for the job most of the time.  I trained you and we trained her together."  Danny shrugged.  "All right."  He moved closer.  "I'm not worried about the others and what they think."

"You would be if you couldn't get backup."

Mac paused at that.  "Someone's been leaving you alone at scenes?"

"Not totally. Usually I get one very bored officer who's more interested in protecting Sheldon."  Mac groaned.  "You can't change that.  You'll never change that."

"I've seen it before and I should've guessed."  He looked at him.  "I want to make this right."

"Good luck.  If not, next opening Horatio has I'm going to the sunny beaches of Miami and Speed making me dinner at least once a week."  He took another drink and sat down again.

"I understand.  I have an idea.  Will you work with me?"  Danny shrugged.  "Yes, no?"

"Yeah I can work with you.  Haven't I?"

"You have.  You've been very professional, Danny.  Want more cases with Flack?"

"Might be nice."

"You two okay on the job?"

"Hasn't interfered yet," he said firmly.  "I'm not the sort to let it, Mac."

"Good.  I wasn't too sure about him."

"Didn't when he and Aiden were having their stress relief thing."  He took another drink, staring him down.  "Quaffle's in your possession, Mac."

"I understand."  He picked up his coat. "I'll work on it, Danny.  I do trust you. Even if I have to announce that at a staff meeting, I will."

"Can I work cases alone again?"

"Of course."

"Major ones?"

"Fine."  Danny nodded at that.  "You still want Flack?"

"He's still got a leaking problem now and then."

"I noticed."  He grimaced.  "I'll talk with Stella tonight. I think she's stayed out of it because she knew what was going to happen."

"Probably.  She's been around and seen it."  Mac nodded.  "We done?"  Mac nodded.  "Then we good?"

"We're good," he agreed, relaxing some.  Danny nodded and he left, going to talk to Stella.  He found her outside on her stoop when he pulled up, getting out to look at her. "Date?"

"Not dressed like this."  She looked at her tanktop then at him.  "What's up?"

"Danny."  He came up and sat beside her.  "We're making it seem like we don't trust him," he said quietly.

"I've been quietly moving closer again.  It's about the only way."

"It's not.  How many times was he left alone at scenes?"  She looked at him then shrugged.  "You knew?"

"I chewed someone a new one for it."

"It's going to get him hurt."

"Mac, there's almost no hope of him crawling out after the shooting.  Most guys who end up doing something like that either quit, transfer, or die.  The ones who stay end up bitter old guys who should've quit or transferred.  As much as I like Danny and like working with him, it's an impossible task."

"Others have done it."

"Others being decorated veteran cops. Cops like Flack's dad.  If it had been Flack, his father would have shunned him."  She looked at him.  "I know that look."

"He's back on the promotion grid."

"Does he know this?"

"He has been since things died down but he didn't until I told him this morning."  She nodded once.  "We're a team, Stella.  We stand up for each other."

"I have been when we work together."  She looked at him.  "He'll get more cases alone?" Mac nodded.  "Has anyone made sure he can use his gun?"

"Tony made sure it was cleaned a few weeks back."  She moaned.  "That's a deeper problem."

She nodded.  "Most kids that leave families like his do it because they know they can't live the lifestyle.  To do a one-eighty and become everything they don't stand for means they hurt him."

"They did.  His file said that," he agreed quietly.  "How subtle do we make this?"

"Work a case with him.  Did you realize how many odd looks Lindsey got because she was being worked on by him?"  He shook his head.  "She was.  They couldn't be sure if she was from a similar background or she was that hopeless."

"No, I trust Danny to train someone right.  That's why I gave him Sheldon so often."

"Which got noticed," she admitted. "Sheldon's generally well liked and he's made a lot of the guys calm down about Danny.  The same as Flack did. So now he's back to the point after Sonny but before the shooting.  There's light ahead of him and he can see that it exists."  He nodded.  "More cases alone, more cases with you, and more cases with Sheldon, Mac.  If you announce it to everyone then they'll think he's blackmailing you.  Remember, we're a suspicious group of people if we're good in our jobs."

"Actions instead of words."  He relaxed, she had firmed his course of action in his mind.  "We're all going to the castle this weekend.  Apparently Alex found something and sent it to Gibbs so I was told I had to go too."

"You're on this weekend."

"I can take two days off."  He looked at her.  "Send me a portkey really late Friday night."  She nodded. "Is there going to be another fun game?"

"I don't know.  Maybe Horatio will come up just to come up.  He might as well be part of the group."   He smirked at that.  "He is.  He's watching Speed for Danny and Tony. The same way Don is watching Danny for Speed and Tony."

"Then who watches over Tony?"

"Gibbs."  He chuckled at that.  "If you were a dark lord wannabe would you wanna face down Gibbs?  Tony thinks he might be able to repel a killing curse just by glare alone."

"I'd hate to see it tested," he said dryly.  "But he might."  He patted her on the knee.  "Thanks."

"Welcome.  Let him play it, he's been here before, Mac.  He came in having to do it." He nodded.  "He yell at you?"

"Pacing and yelling.  Could've been worse.  Stiff, angry, non-moving Danny is always worse."  She nodded, she'd seen it once.  "Are he and Flack...."  She nodded.  "Is that why he's been so jumpy today?"

"Danny's got some issues about people getting into certain positions around him.  He's not the sort to cuddle or be held really.  Not comfortable with it.  Flack tried that this morning and it didn't work very well.  He got him calmed down afterward."

"Did someone hurt him?"

She looked at him.  "I have no idea and even if they did, he's never going to admit to it, tell anyone, or let anyone even try to talk to him about it.  Not even Tony and Speed.  They know enough to know he's like that.  Speed said he's got trust issues."

"I would too."  He stood up.  "Thanks."

"Anytime."   She watched him drive off then told Danny she had backed up his plan.  It was the only way, but she did say that Mac asked why he was so anti-touchy today.  He sent back a snort and left it there.  She pushed them out of her head again and went back inside.  Her place was a mess, she hadn't wanted Mac to see it like that.  She called Tony and Speed about finding a way to link Mac in without *linking* him in.

***

Gibbs looked up when they landed, blinking at the castle.  "Dual towers?" he asked, pointing.

"The library, boss.  They just put the outer one on a few weekends ago."

"Nicely done."  He walked off with Tony and McGee, plus Abby.  Ducky couldn't get away.  He heard another pop and tensed, turning to find Stella, Danny, and Don.  "Taylor?" he asked dryly.

"Tonight. He's on today," Stella offered, hugging Tony.  "Hi."

He grinned.  "Hello yourself, beautiful.  Are we playing this weekend?"

"If so, get Horatio up here.  We can all make Draco quit sulking together."

"Harry called him the pouty, sulky blond wraith," Abby offered.  She waved.  "Hi, I'm Abby."  They all smiled.  "I figured out how to digitize wizarding photos."

"Good job!" Danny praised, clapping her on the back.  "You're a nature path witch, huh?"  She nodded.  "That's cool."  He walked her up to the castle.  "Don't be surprised at the house elves."  The door opened and Draco glared at him.  "She digitized the stuff Alex sent Tony."

"How?"

"We recorded it like a quick film," she offered, holding out a hand. "I'm Abby.  I work with Tony and I'm a nature path witch."

He limply shook her hand.  "Wonderful.  Don't turn out like Rosenburg."

Danny snorted.  "I doubt she's evil, Draco," he noted.  "Probably more like Tara."  That got a faint smile.  "Maybe she can come up so Abby's not totally bored while they lesson?"

"Perhaps.  She's bored."  He let them inside.  "Tea, library, now," he called.

"Abby!" Harry called, racing down the stairs, hugging her.  "Hi."  She beamed and bounced a bit.  "Come on, I'll show you to the library."  He walked her off, chatting about what she had managed to figure out about wizarding photos.

Draco looked at Danny, who looked stunned.  "Then I guess I'm not wrong in my assumption," he said dryly.  "Alex and the aunts will be pleased."  He looked at the others, then at Tony.  "And this is?"

"Gibbs.  The one the stuff he sent to me ended up with.  My boss."

"I've heard you speak of him," he admitted, shaking his hand.  "Library, children.  And you of course, Stella."  She kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you."

"You're pouting," she said once everyone else had walked on, giving him a slightly pouty look.  He frowned.  "That's not much better."

"I need to have Alex closer, Stella.  It keeps me sane and in balance."

"Maybe he'll be able to get a break soon, Draco.  Isn't the bond helping?"

"Slightly but I'm used to getting it at least twice a day and Weasley hardly ever leaves his side at the moment.  It's safer that way."

"Well, maybe it'll be solved sooner.  How long did it take him to clear out Sunnydale?"

"Two weeks with all our help plus some guarding by Buffy."  She gave him a look.  "I know, but it's nearly halfway. Then they had to stop because of what he found."  He walked her into the library, watching Abby and Harry bound around about the books and the portraits.  He shook his head as he sat down, pouring out tea. "Gibbs?"

"Please."  He got handed a pre-filled cup, earning a smile. "Thanks, kid."

"I'm not that young."  He handed Tony his cup.  "Fortunately the guest quarters are ready," he said, staring him down.  He got a sweet smile instead.  "Fine.  Some warning next time?"

"I tried to floo, no one answered."  Draco moaned and shook his head, pouring other cups.  "Abby, Harry, tea?"

"I'm good," Harry called.

"Real English tea?" Abby asked, bouncing back.

"With cream and sugar if you want," Draco assured her, giving her a faint smile.  It was hard not to when she looked like she had a child's innocence in a grown up body.  He fixed her one.  "Which do you like, Abby?"

"Cream please."  He added a bit and handed it over.  "Thank you, Draco.  I'm glad the books got you at least a little bit wrong."  She took a sip and looked then at him.  "What sort of cream is that?"

"Unicorn," Tony told her with a bright grin.  "Alex's family raises them."

"There's about half the herd at the other house at the moment," Harry offered, smiling at her.  "We can watch them after ice cream?"  She squealed and gave him a one-armed hug, then went back to browsing the books. "Draco, can I introduce her to Tara?"

"Of course.  Tara's feeling relatively bored at the moment as well.  She's with Wesley."  Harry nodded and drew her into the other library to call Tara over the floo Luna had set up in their house. He shook his head. "The aunts will be pleased."  Danny chuckled at that.  "They will be.  They despaired of Harry ever finding a nice girl and of the rest of us knowing any.  Then they met Stella and decided nice girls were a bit overrated."  Stella blushed at that.  "Tell them no more firmly, Stella.  Please.  I'm not ready for heirs yet."  She nodded at that, taking another drink.  He checked and got Danny his. "Where's the cohort?"

"Nagging Horatio," Danny told him.  "Are we practicing this weekend?"  Draco gave him a genuine, happy smile.  "Don and I could use some anyway."  Don nodded at that. They had both had to miss practice thanks to a fresh body.  "We've got a game next weekend if you wanted to come, guys."

"I can bring Gibbs," Tony agreed, looking at him. "You'll like quidditch, boss. It's fast, active, and there's a slight chance of you getting hit with a bludger."  He smiled. "A very small chance."

"The inter-borough league plays indoors and there's nets up," Stella told him.  "That way you don't get hit and we can't run into you when Danny knocks another player off his broom again."  Tony chuckled at that.

"Danny, you gotta teach me that corkscrew shot you used," Don ordered, grinning at him. "Please?"

"Sure, we'll do that during practice."  Don beamed at him and sipped his tea.  "So, great one, what's on this weekend?"

"Alex is setting up a mirror tomorrow morning.  Tonight you will be helping the students with Herbology, I'll be helping with another potions lesson, and then we'll go over Transfiguration Sunday."  That got a mass of nods.  "And of course those who aren't in practice are more than welcome to join in," he said, looking at McGee.  "Do you even still have your wand? Your powers are extremely backed up."

"Oops." He pulled out his wand.  "Luminos."  It lit up.  "Nox."  It went out.  He looked at Draco, who shook his head.  "Any better?"

"Not hardly.  I'm surprised you aren't sick with as backed up as you are."  He took another sip then added some more tea to his cup.  "Anyone want any more?"  They all shook their heads.  "Me!"  The house elf popped in.  "Make sure the usual rooms are ready and find rooms for everyone else."  She nodded, disappearing again.  Speed drug Horatio in.  "They're planning a practice session tomorrow.  Tea?"

"Please," Horatio agreed, taking his cup.  He looked at the cream.  "Clotted?"

"Unicorn."  Horatio accepted it and the sugar, then sat down to drink, looking around.  "Yes, he's backed up."

"I've been there.  I got pneumonia thanks to it," he admitted.

"We can help him fix that," Speed agreed, sitting between Tony and Stella.  "Harry at practice?"

"With Abby talking to Tara."  Speed grinned at that.  "The aunts will be quite pleased."  That got a choke from Horatio.  "He's very shy.  The girls at school hunted him down and traumatized him a few times our last year."  That got some chuckles.  "Seriously, they locked him in one of the girls' dorms in Slytherin with the bondage-clad and mutilated dolls in his image, paintings and stories along the same vane, and a shrine to him. I still say it's the shrine that traumatized him."  He rolled his eyes.

Harry came back to the hallway. "Do quit, Draco.  I'm not the princess you are."

"Of course not, you didn't marry Alex."  He sneered at him. "Or else you'd have the family tiara in your room."  Harry snorted and walked off.  "Primadonna."

"I heard that," Harry called.

"Boys!" Speed called.  "Alex would spank you both!"

"Sorry," Harry called.  "Even though he might like that."

"I haven't yet.  I don't need physical violence to get me hot, Potter."

"Kids," Tony warned.

"I don't."  Danny glared and he quieted down.  "Sorry.  It's uncouth and unworthy of me."  He took another sip.  "Are you sure you don't want any tea, Tim?"

"I hate tea."  He shrugged and looked at McGee.  "You, me, Harry, Abby, outside.  Now."  He finished his tea and got up.  "Tonight?"

"Herbology, potions, transfiguration on Sunday."  That got some nods.  Speed walked Tim out after calling out to Harry.   He looked at Danny, then Don and Stella.  "The plants you're working on today are out by the ship."  They grinned and headed that way with Danny and Tony. He looked at Gibbs.  "I'll have a house elf show you to your room.  Then you can wander around for a while."

"Thank you.  I know it's an imposition."

"Alex wouldn't have sent for you if it wasn't important. Even if you did find out about Tony."  He stood up.  "Me?"  She reappeared.  "Show him to his room?"  She nodded and walked him off, taking him and his cup of coffee, which she refilled for him.  He looked up.  "You do vex me, husband," he said quietly.  Then he called him to tell him Gibbs was there and Taylor was coming later that day.  He didn't get an immediate answer but Ron called a minute later saying they were fine.  "Mother fucker."  He tapped into the wider function of the bond, finding Alex unconscious.  Ron claimed it was a rockfall, which he could sense the dust.  That they were fine.  He let him go and went to the potions lab, sending him the emergency bag of healing potions.  Ron sent back a hearty 'thank you, kiss you later for this' and signed off after saying they'd be free by tonight but the mirror was on automatic.  He sighed and went to find the others, finding Speed and Harry going over hexes to wear him out.  "There was a rockfall."

"You need to go?"

"Alex is unconscious.  I sent the healing potions. I'm not sure yet.  He said the mirror's on automatic.  It should load to the one in his study."  Speed nodded. "If not, the one in our bedroom.  It's happened in the past."  He looked around then sighed.  "I should go check."  He walked off, going to call Arens and get his opinion.  "Arens."  His head popped into the floo, smiling at him.  "Bad news.  Rockfall.  I sent healing potions.  Alex is unconscious. I should go, right?"

"You should stay. You're still weak, Draco.  He's on a hellmouth and that could taint you.  If Ron's all right he can get them free, and if there's military there, they'll help."

"He found them doing stuff.  I'm not sure they didn't cause it."

"Yes, but you landing there won't make much of a difference and it could hurt things," he cautioned.  "If they catch sight of you, it'd be a bad thing.  Especially if you pulled the partially trained ones with you."  He looked behind him and disappeared, then came back. "The goblins know.  They said we're not going."

"Bet me."  He clicked it off and called Philip, getting a grumpy headmaster.  "I'm taking Dawn and Harry to help Alex and Ron.  Deal with it," he muttered, then went to their room to change. It wasn't often he did the official curse breaking stuff, but he was just as trained as Harry and Ron, and practiced just as much as Ron did.  He came out pulling on his jacket.  "Bettor!"  She appeared.  "Take care of the house and the guests.  I'll be back tonight. Alex is in danger."  She nodded, going to do that. He jogged down the stairs, walking outside.  Harry took one look at him and swallowed, summoning his jacket.  "Rockfall.  The goblins are refusing to let Arens go.  Pick up Dawn, meet me at Diagon.  I need to pick up something for him."  Harry nodded, rushing off to do that.  "Keep going," he ordered.  "They need the training.  We'll be back before tomorrow with any luck.  The mirror is on automatic and should go to the study, if not, check my bedroom."  He headed for the apparation point, heading off to Diagon to pick up what he needed.  After a quick stop at the shadowy little store in the back of Knockturn, he joined the other two, making the portkey for inside the cave.  It was less risk of being found out.

***

Speed jogged out to where the others were.  "Alex got pinned by a rockfall.  Harry and Draco went off with Dawn to help. They'll be back tonight."  Tony nodded and Danny looked at him.  "He'd have collapsed if Alex was in real trouble."

"True.  The mirror?"

"He said it's on automatic."

"Good."  Tony considered it.  "Okay, we'll continue with lessons tonight and tomorrow we'll do what we can if they're not back."

"Arens?" Stella asked.

"He told Harry the goblins said he couldn't go."

"Then it's probably too dangerous.  Goblins would never leave one of their own out there," Danny said, standing up.  He unwound the tentacle around his chest.  "Cute, plant."  He looked at him again.  "They'll be fine.  Alex trained them.  Arens said that Ron's as well trained as he was his fifth year in the field.  It's just that Alex is expanding his areas now."  That got a nod. "So we're still good?"

"We're still fine."  He looked behind him.  "Depending on the house elves."

"Me!" Tony called.  She appeared, looking scared.  "Did Draco leave any other orders for us?"

"For Better to take care of guests, Tony sir."  She smiled at him weakly.  "Master Alex is all right?"  They all nodded. "Good.  Me tell the others.  Tony sir want dinner soon?"

"Not until the usual time," Danny ordered.  She beamed and nodded.  "Make sure Gibbs has plenty of coffee and we'll get a snack between this and Potions."  That got another nod and she disappeared to reassure the other house elves, including the ones at the manor.  He looked at the skeptical students.  "I can run a potions lesson and if I can't I'm sure I can ask Tipsy.  Horatio might even be good at them."  He looked at Speed.  "Go unplug McGee with Horatio's help."  That got a nod and he headed off.  "We're going to quit killing the plants, Don."

"Sorry, it's trying to eat me!"

"Of course it is, it tries to eat bunny rabbits," Stella teased.  "Since you're so fluffy and cute it's confused."

He glared at her. "Take that back!"  She giggled and shook her head.  "I'm not fluffy!"  He pounced her.  "I'm not!"

"Get off me, you're heavy!" she complained.  Then she shrieked because he found her ticklish spots.  "Get off!"

"No!  Take it back!"

"Kids!" Tony yelled. They glared at him and went back to it.  "Go ahead, Danny."

"I'm telling Mac," Danny told them.  "And taking pictures."

"Hey, I'll get plenty of kudos and back slaps for bein' on top of Stella," Don taunted, smirking at her. "You're the one who'll get hell."  She tried to knee him but he smirked and pinned her down.  "That's the advantage of chasing bad guys every day."  She wiggled but he went back to tickling her, making her shriek in outrage.

Danny walked over and leaned down, whispering in Don's ear.  He got off with a blush.  "Thank you.  Back to work, kids. Play tomorrow."  He saw Horatio watching and nodded him over.  "You can help."

"Thank you."  He helped Stella up, dusting her off.  "Are you all right?"

"Yes, even though he weighs a ton!" she complained, frowning at Flack. "What did he say?"

Don blushed and shook his head.  "Nothing."  He went back to the Flack-eating bush, zapping it good with a freezing charm.  "Ha!"

"I take it we're killing plants today?" Horatio asked, looking amused.

"Just Don's," Tony assured him brightly.  "Speed did the same thing when his tried to eat him.  Pissed the teacher off to no end because he got the *whole* greenhouse."

"He spent the rest of that month and most of the next planting new samples of everything," Danny agreed dryly. "Try impedimentia, not the one you used to give Tony icy balls, Don."

"I thought you said Speed did that, Danny," he said, shooting a glare at him.

"We did," Don agreed.  Then he took off running.

"Get back here!" Tony shouted, chasing after him.  "You can't hide like the dragon did!"

"I hope not, it's still really weird not having the dragon trying to go down my shirt."  Horatio looked at her.  "Keelian's favorite spot is stomachs.  Mine, Dawn's. Emilia's but she grabbed him by the tail so he hates her now.  Ginny's."

Danny smirked at her and nodded.  "He's a bit like that.  Baby dragons can be that way."  He smirked at her. "I'm surprised he isn't here stealing more for his nest."

"Don freed a good chest of gems for him," she complained.

Horatio shook his head. "Keeping a dragon is illegal."

"He's the school's.  He just adopted this really amusing group of insanity."  He cracked a smile at that.  "He did, he adopted Ron when he couldn't eat him."

"I heard."

"Get back here!" Tony shouted.  "I'll get you for that!"  They were heading for the ship now.  "Don't think you being a curse breaker will help your ass!"

"DiNozzo!" Gibbs yelled.

"He gave me icy balls, boss.  He deserves it!" he yelled as he continued after Don.

Danny and Speed looked at each other, considering helping either of them.  Danny shifted Tony closer to him.  Speed made Don featherlight.

"Bastards!" Don yelled.  He jumped up and onto the ship, then went to hide inside it.  "Holy shit!"

Tony stopped and looked at it.  "Do I want to know?"

"Probably not!"  He threw something at his head then uncast the charm on himself so he'd quit hitting the ceiling.

"Holy shit!" Tony said in awe.  The others came over.  He held up the gold coin.  "Doubloon."

Horatio took it to look over.  "It's authentic."  He looked at the ship.  "Was Alex a pirate?"

"No, but one of his uncles was," a female voice offered.  They turned to look at the woman.  "Hi.  Sorry, I'm Aunt Cordy.  Where are the boys?  Alex is in trouble?"

"Going after Alex and Ron," Danny assured her.  "We're up for some training time and to help with a problem he found over there."

"I had wondered about the muggles," she admitted, looking at Gibbs.  "Are you a nature path witch as well?"  He shook his head quickly.  "Pity, you do have the strength of will to make it work.  Don?"  He came back out.  "Dear, that old thing is riddled with traps and falling apart.  This summer you can help the others take SCUBA lessons to clean up the other ship that's already sank, but please don't get stunned or anything.  Oh, and watch out for the skeleton, dear," she said, pointing behind him.

He turned.  "Severus!"  The head came off and it collapsed.  "Can I clean it up, Aunt Cordy?"

She smiled. "Alex keeps saying he's going to but he hasn't yet.  I suppose there's no real harm in it.  Just don't get too badly banged up.  Now, will Alex need anything?"

"Draco said it was a rockfall," Speed offered as he joined them.  She nodded, accepting that.  "He went with Dawn and Harry to help and bring some potions."

"That's good, I'll trust Draco to bring our baby boy home."  She patted him on the cheek, then smiled at Abby.  "You're adorable!"  She pinched her on the cheek.  "I'll send over some cookies, Don."

"Yes, Aunt Cordy.  Thank you."  She smiled and walked off.  "Guys, have fun with the eating plants."  He ducked back inside, his curious nature coming out. He could feel so many things that he wanted to figure out now.  Alex had warned him about this part of curse breaking but he considered it fun since he wasn't doing it full time.

Danny shook his head.  "We'll pull him out for dinner.  Stella, plants."  She sighed, taking Horatio and Tony that way, making Speed snicker.  "Speed, he clear?"

"Yup, and showering.  What is that?"

"Pirate ship apparently," Danny said with a shrug.  "It's hooked Don."  He walked off with him and Gibbs.  "You can come watch if you want."

"Sure.  McGee's getting changed by now."

"He can come help too," Speed assured him.  "You too, Abby."  She beamed.  "That's one subject that you could really use on your path."  She nodded.  "Are you and Tara meeting up?"

"Tomorrow morning while you guys go over the feed from Iraq and then to watch practice."  She beamed at him.  "She seems very nice and sweet."

"She is," Danny agreed.  "Tara's a sweetheart."  He pointed at the frozen plant. "Go ahead and warm that up, Abby.  I know you can."  She nodded and quietly cast a small heating charm, beaming at him.  "Very well done.  Now watch out, it wanted to eat Flack."

"These like boys more than girls to eat.  Of course it did."

"That's why I destroyed a whole greenhouse full of plants," Speed agreed dryly, staying well away from them.

Horatio smirked at him.  "They refused to go over them in my year.  We had almost no girls."  Speed smirked at him. "That was the year Salem had open enrollment."  Tony snickered at that.  "You remember that?"

"My father wanted to send me but my mother refused the reassignment potion."  Stella looked at him.  "Salem is a girls only school.  It's a good one, but it's still girls only."  He looked at Danny.  "Why didn't Greg send Lindsey there?"

"He said something about elitist snobs.  She's doing really well in Canada."

"That's a wonderful school," Horatio agreed.  He looked at Stella.  "What book set are you using?"  She pulled them out and unshrunk them so he could look them over. "There's only a local tutor in the area.  There's a small school in the Keys but it teaches more nature path ways than Ray's comfortable with and his mother would quickly realize what was going on when he had to disappear every day."

"You tried easing up on it again?" Speed asked.

"She got hysterical again."  He looked at her.  "Can we check to see if she's one?"

"Failed nature path," Danny told him. "She tried and it didn't work."  He shrugged.  "We can tutor Ray, Horatio.  Not like we have a ministry to enforce equivalencies."

"There's actually a Ministry?" Gibbs asked.  Everyone nodded.  "Why don't we have one?"

"Salem tried after the Revolutionary War, but there weren't enough of us," Tony told him.  "They tried every decade for almost a century but the Civil War stopped them for a bit.  After that, we were too far flung and higher wizards were carving out areas of their own to hold and lord over.  If there's anything too serious, we go to Canada or Mexico."

"Canada's still under Britain's and Mexico's is seriously uptight," Speed continued.  "Mexico makes communism look fluffy by how tough they are on their witches.  Especially the witches.  They've taken the old-line Catholic leanings a bit far among that community.  They don't even have voting rights in the wizarding community down there."

Danny nodded. "The overlord system works okay in spots that have one.  Most of the time these days they're voted in.  Las Vegas has one of the coolest of them all.  He's pretty much 'you can handle that' and only handles the big stuff.  New York's is tied to the military and a bastard to deal with.  Los Angeles' girl is perpetually tired because they've got the hellmouth nearby and she's got to keep hiding that.  I'm sure Angel's helping her with that now and then.  Seattle's is pretty laid back too but you get a bunch of techie witches and wizards up there.  Mostly muggle born who try to combine the two for better gaming systems and stuff."  Stella smiled at that, she had seen one of those.  "Makes Doom much more realistic when you're sucked into the game, which is why I don't play."  Tony snickered at that. "I don't need it," he reminded him dryly. "I get enough doom every day at work.  Horatio, do you guys have one?"

"We mostly have retired wizards and witches.  They only cause problems when they feel like reliving their youth.  Then it's things like leaking."

"Which means every single magic case came to me because I'm the one they identified after a homicide," Speed assured them all.  "There's only one other guy in the PD that I know about.  He just moved to Narco to watch that side.  He lets me know when we've got a really strong shield over a drug drop."

"Which we can call Gringotts and have them send someone to shatter it," Horatio agreed.  "I got Alex to do a few for me over the years."  That got some smiles. "Usually it's the injured or bored people."  He shifted, looking at the plant coming near him, pulling his wand.  "Don't even think about it, plant."  The plant backed off. "Good plant."  Everyone snickered.

"And I thought you were imposing, boss," Tony snickered.

Stella looked at him.  "He is.  Abby thinks he could stop a killing curse with a glare."

"He probably could," Tony agreed happily.  "If we ever have to find out, someone's going to die."  Abby nodded at that.

"Call if you need evil thoughts," Danny reminded him.

"Or help," Speed offered.

"Thanks, guys.  I love you!"  He hugged them both, then Stella but she pinched him.  "Ow!"

"No groping, Tony, I'm not one of your harem of easy nights."

"Sorry!"  He rubbed his arm.  "Meany," he said with a pout.  She gave him a look and he grinned.  "Please?"

"No.  I'm not in the mood to be groped after you guys let Don tickle me."  She poked him.  "Get back to work before you get eaten."  He got back to work, slipping her a sideways grin.  She shook her head. "Sorry, Tony, I only like guys who appreciate me for more than my nice boobs and hot ass.  You don't respect me for my mind yet.  When you do I'll let you flirt.  Until then, flirt with Danny."

Tony smiled at him.  "I can do that."

"Unless you're planning on ending up on your back tonight, I'd quit," Danny said with a fond grin for him.  Tony shrugged and kissed him, but Danny squeezed his ass so he let go. "I need that tongue, thank you.  See me after dinner, Tony."

"Yes, dear."

"Damn, that's hot," Stella offered.

"It was worse back in the dorms when we were teenagers," Speed assured her, smiling sweetly. "Tony and Danny had most of the upper years begging after them.  I had my chosen few because I'm a bit more picky than Tony."  Danny snorted at that.  "I am."  He glared at him, then smiled at Stella again.  "The school's official policy was 'better to bugger than to knock someone up, end up suddenly married, and you're both kicked out of school'.  It was written into the handbook for students."  She gaped.  He nodded.  "Yeah.  Can't get a guy pregnant."

"Draco said a Hufflepuff figured out how," Danny teased him.  "When Tipsy first got pregnant and announced it, it somehow came out that the twins were pregnant.  When they corrected it, she figured out how to do it and offered the process to Tipsy."  Speed and Tony both gaped.  Horatio and Gibbs both chuckled.  "Exactly.  So they might wanna change that one soon."

"I can't imagine a school handling that calmly," Stella said, shaking her head.  "Besides, how many guys would do that?"

"Draco," Speed offered.

"Harry would if his girl couldn't," Tony agreed.

"Alex might to freak people out," Danny offered, cracking everyone up.  They could almost see a broody, pregnant Alex Dumass.

"Well, Draco did nag him about cleaning up the store caverns after the game," Horatio offered dryly.

"Aunt Cordy and the others want heirs," Stella agreed.  "Better him than me or Catherine."  Horatio looked at her. "I'm not ready for kids yet."  He nodded, understanding that.  She heard a pop and looked around.  "Something just appeared."

Don walked up the hill carrying something.  "That place is full of crap," he offered happily, his hair singed.  "Sorry, had to get this away from the miniature whale that tried to toast me."  He put it down and went back.

"A fire breathing whale?" Tony asked, looking at Danny.  "Huh?"

"Extinct, wizard-created crossover with a water dragon, looks like a whale, breathes fire, impervious skin, but it's bright purple."  They all nodded.  "So either it's a zombie in the trap or that's the last one."  He hurried after Don.  "If it's living it's supposedly extinct!" he called.

"No they're not! There's a whole bunch of them in the hold of the ship!"  He came back up onto deck.  "Momma and babies."  He grinned at him.  "I'm pretty sure they're alive, the one I fished out struggled to breathe until I put it back."  Danny sighed and nodded.  "Should we call Sev?"

"Can he get onto the ship safely?"

Don shook his head.  "Give me a few more hours."  He got back to work, whistling.

Danny trudged back to the castle and to the communication floo.  "Severus Snape, Hogwarts."  His head spun into the grate, looking unpleased.  "Don just found the old wreck of a pirate ship and he's working on it.  He found some of those fire breathing whales."  Snape blinked at him.  "A whole colony.  He said it'd be a few more hours before the ship was safe to walk onto, but...."  He shrugged.  "We figured you'd wanna know."

"I'll be there momentarily," he agreed.  His head disappeared.  He went to gather the necessary capturing materials then called Charley Weasley.  "Do you deal with the fire breathing whales if they're found alive?"  He looked amused.  "They found some at Dumass Castle in an old pirate ship."  Charley burst out laughing, waving a hand and nodding.  "Then come here tonight please."  He signed off and headed there.  Only his father.  Truly, only a very powerful curse breaker could bring back an abomination like that one and make people laugh with it.  Danny met him and walked him down there.  Don came out and helped him up onto the ship then down to where they were congregating.  "They are," he said.  Danny nodded, staring.  "We'll need to capture some for proof."

"Get some of the water too," Danny said, going down to fill up the fishtank with some of the water and a few of the babies.  The colony got really pissed so he found the female and put it back.  They were still pissed so he put the others back and got two of the older, slow ones.  They struggled but that was all right.  The others were crowding around the young.  He handed them to Snape with a small grin.  "Have fun with the Ministry."

"I doubt I'll be heading there.  They're usually ineffective."  He headed off with the fishtank of proof, going back to make Philip deal with this.  After all, Alex was a Bane. He put the tank on his headmaster's desk and smirked, then walked off.

"Holy Mother of God," Philip said, getting up to get one of his goldfish to put in there with them.  They snapped it up.  He called Methos and Charley, who came running to help.  "Snape brought 'em," he offered.

"They were at Alex's castle," Charley said, dipping in more meat.  They snapped it up and stared at him, one huffing smoke.  "Sure, greedy."  He tossed in more until one piece sank.  "I think they're full for now."

Methos touched one and it flinched but didn't steam him.  "Friendly too."  He looked at Charley.  "This means they're not extinct and Alex will never allow anyone up there to remove more of them."

"How were they found?"  Philip shrugged.  "Snape would know?"

"Possibly."  He pointed at the floo, letting him use it.  "Call someone official while you're at it."  He reached in to stroke the other one.  "Tiny scales."

"Well, they are part dragon," Methos agreed. "Keelian?"

"Not yet."  He opened a window.  "Bring Keelian up for a minute, Hagrid!"  He got a wave and a smile.  He closed the window and sat back down again.  "I wonder if they'd like the lake."  Methos gave him a look.  "We've got other carnivorous beings in there."

"Yes, because of Hagrid.  They should go into their own pond before they throw that one into ecological decay."  The door opened and Hagrid carried the baby dragon in.  It wiggled down and hissed at the cage.  "They're your cousins," Methos said firmly. "Be nicer."  The dragon got up onto the desk, staring at them. One of them stared back and huffed out some smoke.  Keelian smoked back and the whales moved away.

"They're ad'rble," Hagrid said, reaching in to pet 'em.  "I thought they all died."

"Alex found a few," Philip said.  Charley stood up.  "We good?"

"We can set them up a pond up here, Hagrid. We'll have to make sure to get the water the same as they've had up there, but it shouldn't be too hard.  We can even get bits and pieces of the old ship up there."  He smiled at the dragon. "How are you, Keelian?"  The dragon huffed him, the purred and leaned against his hand.  "Yeah, I take care of you lot."

"Alex lent him some nesting materials," Philip said proudly.  "He refused to come back to the school without some."  Charley smiled at that.

"He's got a nice burrow out near the unicorn," Hagrid agreed happily.  "You can come see, Charley.  Ginny's out there making sure it's safe now since she's in detention again."

"What'd she do this time?" he sighed.

"Fighting with another girl who wanted to ride her horse," Philip offered.  Methos moaned.  "It's not her fault the girl couldn't understand that Apple can only be ridden by a Valkyrie.  She did go too far in suggesting she try out to become one."  They all smirked at that.  "She did."

"She did," Methos agreed.  "I only gave her the day.  Did Miss Summers break suspension?"  Philip nodded.  "Are we punishing her further?"

"For going to save Alex's life?"

"When you put it that way," he complained.  Philip smirked at him.  "Fine.  What happened? I wasn't listening."

"Rockfall."  Methos nodded.  "Right on the older hellmouth he found. With some military activity he wasn't sure about nearby."  Methos moaned.  "Harry, Draco, and Dawn all went.  I got told they picked up some new explosives and bullets in Knockturn as well."

"Wonderful.  Thank you for the warning.  Should I prepare Poppy for the worst?"

"Nah, Draco'll fuss him ta death," Charley assured him.  "Consort Veelas are like that.  They get pouty when they're away from their mate and then they fuss when they come back."

"So Harry will be the sane one then?" Methos asked.  Charley and Philip considered that then nodded that it was probably true.  "The world may end then."  The door crashed open and Don walked in carrying something. "More of them?"

"No, hellishly heavy books on the ship."  He put them down and they squished.  "Greg said to bring them here since Philip's such a good book fixer."  Philip smiled at that.  "There's six more of these in the entry.  The floating charm wore out.  One's seriously wet."

"I'll work on 'em for Alex," he promised with a smile.  "Anything else of note?"

"Doubloons," he said, tossing over one.  "Um, a few crates of jewelry.  Anything in the hold is underwater and I don't know how to dive yet."  He shrugged. "That'll be this summer probably."  Philip nodded. "I'll do a check for anything that's got spells running out and take it out but otherwise there was only clothes."  He grinned and headed out.  "Thanks, Philip."

"Welcome," he called after him. " Hagrid, would you mind?"

"Not't'all," he agreed happily, going to heft those upstairs for him.  Then he went to pick out a spot for his new pond.  Another few boxes appeared and he grinned. Then one last one leaking water appeared so he let it drain, hearing something struggling.  He hurried it up there and emptied it into the fishtank, letting the little one free.  "There you go," he said, giving it a fond pat.  "It was in here, Philip."  He handed that one over and went back to make sure nothing else appeared.

Philip looked at the very wet scroll. "It's the deed to Dumass Castle.  It looks like there was a card bet going on and it was the wager."  He carefully unrolled it and blinked.  "Alex's forefather lost."

Methos touched his tattoo to call Alex, who said they had won it back ten years later.  He relaxed then Alex told him about the whales, getting an 'I know' back.  Alex said they'd be home tomorrow with the rest of the city's contents.  He let it go. "They're fine.  He'll be back tomorrow with everything else.  They won it back ten years later.  Apparently his aunt won it back after flogging that uncle."  Philip smiled and rolled it up.  "He said there's another copy of the full scroll in the library somewhere.  He had no idea that Draco was expanding again."

"It needed it," Philip assured him.

"Alex's library at the manor?"

"No, the one at the castle," Methos said, looking at him.  "Two towers now and a floor's worth of books."  Charley gaped.  "He likes library jobs."  Charley shook his head.   "It's good for research."

"I bet.  Well at least those wizards you guys are training are in good hands."  He walked the tank outside to help Hagrid set up the pond.

Philip and Methos shared a look and got into the books.  Another squishy wooden box appeared with a note about the trap next to them busting the charm keeping the water out.  A few more appeared then nothing else, except a note saying Don was done.  They smirked and got to work.  There were always amusing things to find at Dumass' house.

"Sex manuals, what a shock," Methos said when he opened his box.

Philip giggled and nodded, getting into his, stacking the books on the floor so he could do drying charms on them.

***

Alex was helped into the house, hearing the quiet.  "Must be really late."  He smiled at his mate.  "Bath then bed?"

"Bath, then sex, then bed," Draco ordered, leading him that way.

"I agree," Dawn told Ron, taking him up to their room.  Harry shook his head behind him, going to his own room.  "Thank you, guys."

"Welcome."

Don came out of his room to look at them. "Alex, when I busted the trap on the old larder it broke some of the charms on the nearby crates and chests.  I sent them to Philip since the first handful were books."

"That's fine, Don.  Thank you."  He smiled at him.  "We're sorry if Draco keeps you guys up."

"Not a problem."  He smirked at Draco. "You look happier."

"I will be shortly, once he's had a bath."  He walked him that way.

Ron smirked at him.  "That empty cavern? Not anymore."  Don beamed at that.  "Lots and lots of shiny stuff and other stuff too."  He let Dawn help him off.  "We're sorry if we keep you up too."  He closed their bedroom door once they were inside.  "Bath?"

"Bathing then bath sex," she agreed, herding him that way, doing the stripping charm as they walked.

Don went back to bed, smiling happily. It was only minutes before Draco was shrieking like a siren in heat, then Dawn and Ron's room was rocking with moans.  Gibbs and Tony both came out of their rooms, soon joined by Mac and Horatio.  "They're back.  The loud, squeaky one is Draco.  The moaning deeper ones are Ron."   He smiled and went back to his room, closing the door gently.

"I've never been that loud in my life," Tony said with awe.  Gibbs smacked him just for the sheer pleasure of it.  "Hey!"  He glared at him but he and Mac had went back to their room.  Tony sighed and went back to his.  "Kate would've loved this," he told himself.

Stella came out into the hall.  "Permission to do something since you guys are worse than a porno tape?" she bellowed.

"Granted!" Dawn called back, then she squealed.  "Thank you!"

Stella laughed and went back to her room.  She found Horatio in his doorway and smirked at him.  "They are that bad."

"They are," he agreed, pulling her closer to kiss her and pull her inside.  "Are we still on for practice tomorrow?"

"As long as we can pull Don away from the shiny stuff."  He nodded, kicking the door closed behind him. They both ignored the growling outside the door.  It was probably the dragon.

***

Tony and Speed snuck over to Mac's room at dawn, waking the cranky Marine up, getting glared at.  "You need in on the bond," Speed said quietly, sitting beside his feet on the left, Tony taking his right side.  "We can do that, but it'll be like Stan's gender spell."

"It'll link you in, but not too tightly.  You won't be as close to us as we are to each other," Tony agreed. "We think Danny could use an extra anchor now and then."

"You have Stella."

"Mac, you haven't seen it but when Danny draws shit, he draws A-level trouble.  Not curse breaker level trouble, but A-level, higher trouble.  The last time it was attracted to him, we ended up saving him from a group that wanted to sacrifice him to their Demonic Lord," Speed said quietly.  He shifted closer.  "It happens about every other year.  Year before last was when the case with Sonny came in, right?"  Mac nodded.  "Have you... were you watching Danny?"  He slowly shook his head.  "You should've been."

"I ended up strapping him down after that to make sure nothing else could come for him," Tony said softly.  "I still managed to fight off the attack but it wasn't something that I did easily.  It fed off his misery and it hunted him down.  Fortunately Gibbs accepted my explanation of tripping while I was running.  I was in sorry shape."

"The point is, it's about time again," Speed offered.  "We have to have someone there who can handle it until us, or Alex can get there.  Don and Stella are great, but they're still only a quarter of the way trained at best.  Even if we linked Horatio and Alex in, Don would still have to practice what he got from them.  The same as he does from us."

"We can already feel it building around him," Tony assured him when Mac sighed.  "There's always a slow build and then something snaps."

"The shooting?"

"Wasn't it," Tony assured him.  "I checked to make sure he was on the same schedule."

"Is he cursed?"

"His father cast it when he refused to be like him.  He was shunning some of the violence stuff even when he was really young.  His father realized he'd have to bend him farther because of that.  This meant that Danny had to learn how to defend himself."

"There's a reason why Danny was one of the best in Defense in school," Tony said sadly.  "He came in with the skills to pass up a year but the teacher wouldn't let him and made him help the rest of us.  He thought it was pureblood teaching customs, they always hyped their kids farther before they went to school.  Instead, it was Danny having to study.  Prestons kept that up until his third year, when our school's unicorn went into a blood rage after being tainted by one of the other kids.  From there it went to a minor fall from very high up and Danny having cracked his neck vertebrae."

"While he was in the hospital, a banshee showed up to try to claim him," Speed added.  "We found out then why Danny was so good at this stuff.  She heralds another one coming.  I've felt her watching but nothing concrete has happened yet."

"Did she show up last time?"

Tony nodded.  "It was hell trying to take her on too.  She and the dementor were enough to nearly kill me and I had to call for help.  Fortunately there were a few other wizards in the city."

"His father's said he'll either join the family or he'll be plagued.  The Vinese can't force him to end it and I'm having a quiet word with Alex when this stuff starts this time.  It'll be soon.  Just a sudden snapping sensation.  It'll slowly build and then he'll snap and she'll come back.  He knows it's coming."

Mac nodded.  "For that reason alone I'll accept it, as long as I can shield him out most of the time.  I don't want to hear you five plotting my demise."

"Not an issue," Tony agreed, opening the small test tube he had been carrying.  "Hold still.  I've got to insert this.  It's pure silver."  He used his wand to open a small hole in Mac's shoulder, then tapped the small blade of silver into it.  "I chipped it earlier off the mass we used for Stan's transformation spells," he offered as he healed his shoulder.  "Now, concentrate.  Can you hear me?"  He thought at him and Mac nodded.  "Can you block us out?"

"Yeah, it's like a veil between us."  He rubbed across his forehead.  "How soon?"

"There's no set date for it to start, just when things come to a head.  He'll realize it, you'll start to see the panic again.  The anger will come back.  He'll be very tense and probably pull his wand on someone when he feels it start to build.  When it snaps, he'll try to run."

"It's not always a bad idea," Tony agreed.  "The closer to his home he is, the harder it gets.  We've seen some very bad years until he moved to Queens.  Only three of them have made him run.  So if he doesn't show up one morning, it's a bad one.  Expect the worst."

Speed nodded. "I almost thought my dying was going to set off the last one but it was too soon."

"He only got depressed," Tony told him.  He looked at Mac again.  "Danny's fragile at times but he'll never admit it, show it, or let it have him."  He stood up.  "With that said, you call us when he snaps, Mac.  Immediately.  We both have leave time to take and Horatio knows that something happens now and then.  Speed's had to leave suddenly in the past to help him."

"Danny will beat it or die with his wand in his hand," Speed offered as he stood up.   "We're researching to see if we can break it.  I've already prompted Don toward Blood Curses.  He doesn't understand why yet."

"Those two are really close.  If it happens that they get together, watch out for that being the snapping point," Tony cautioned.  They left him alone, heading back to their rooms.

Mac laid back down, thinking about the last time this had happened.  Danny had been ready to run and hadn't because the shooting had happened.  He had seen the signs of flight in him if he was honest with himself.  He'd have to watch him more closely without setting off his paranoia.  He'd talk to Alex about it in the morning.  He let himself drift back to sleep, he still had an hour before he needed to be up.

Planning

Horatio walked into the kitchen the next morning.  "Morning, Alex."

"Morning, Horatio."  He grinned at him. "I heard the kids had begged and pleaded for you to play keeper against the other Banes.  Good job."  He smirked a bit.  "I'll need Don for about an hour after breakfast, then you can have most of them for however long you want.  Afterward I'll expect Danny to run an exercise on casting while flying.  I'll only need Gibbs and Taylor for the mirror stuff."

"That's fine."  He sat down and a plate was handed to him.  "Thank you."

"Me says you eat," she said firmly, staring at him.   "Flying takes much food."  She stomped off.

"She's mad, I only wanted toast," Alex offered.  Horatio cracked a smile at that.  "Anyone else up yet?"

"I heard Tony's shower going.  Gibbs and Taylor should be long up by now."  That got another nod.  "Danny ran them through a second year potion after they worked with the Don-eating plants and they all died."  Alex let a small smirk out.   "Your aunt showed up."

"Which one?"  He shrugged.  "Flexy, which aunt was here?"

"Aunt Cordy was here to check up on naughty Alex," she said, giving him a harsh glare.  "Alex worries his elfs."

"It's not like I planned to be hit with a rockfall!"  She scowled and a few others got into it.  "Did you guys all wake up cranky this morning?"  They all nodded.  "Damn.  Sorry.  We'll still have to get the last few shipments later, so I'll need Don's help with that, then we're back for a while."  That got another nod and they went back to work.  He rolled his eyes.  "I'm sorry Draco and I kept you up."

"Squeaky, squealy one did," the little elf in the corner said.  Alex looked at her and she blushed, ducking her head.  "Parley was kept up squeaky, squealy one," she assured him.

"That was still probably Draco, Parley.  Don't you usually work at the other house?"  She nodded fiercely. "Then why are you here and where's Bettor?"

"Bettor and Misses marry, Aunt Cordy switch him there and send me from Jamaica."  She smiled at him.  "Alex not mind?"

"No, I don't mind."  She nodded at that.  "If you've got questions, ask Me how I like things in this house or Draco."  She nodded again.  "Good girl, Parley."  She beamed.  "Go make sure everyone's getting up.  Especially Don, Draco, Harry, Ron, and Dawn."  She disappeared and he went back to his breakfast.  "We have a small vacation house down there.  She used to be the only elf down there."

"Aunt Cordy is being sending Fluffer," Me noted, handing him more toast.  "Alex ate his own food too much, is much too skinny."  She went back to work making breakfast for everyone else.  "Is Danny sir liking scrambled or fried?"

"I don't know, ask him," Alex ordered. She disappeared then came back to go back to cooking.

"It's got to be nice coming home to a hot meal every night," Horatio said quietly.

Alex nodded. "It can be.  Now and then they play 'what's in the cupboard that we can scare Draco with' but it's nice most of the time.  Especially when you've just spent the last month in the field.  Those night, I end up eating in the bathtub." Horatio nodded at that.  "Sand really does get everywhere when you're in the desert."  He ate another bite, nodding at Don when he came in.  "Eat fast, we've got to pick up the rest of the stuff I pulled out."  Don nodded, sitting down to do that.  "The others are up and getting ready?"

"Master Draco is being saying he not getting out of bed yet," Parley offered, reappearing.  "Master Draco is being tired after Master Alex made him sane. Master Draco is being saying to be safe and Master Draco will see him at lunch."

"That's fine," Alex agreed, smiling at her.  "The others?"

"All but one in rooms and getting up.  That one is being outside."  Alex nodded.  "Master Alex wants Parley to dust libraries?"

"Go ahead if you want to."  She beamed and pulled a feather duster out of her dress, going to do that. He looked at the other junior curse breakers as they came in.  "Libraries?" he asked Harry.

"Your old one ran out of room, Alex.  Of course Draco added on."  Alex groaned.  "It's very tastefully done.  It's a small joining hallway and then another tower."  He sat down to eat.  "Why did we have to get up so early?"

"Because we've got to heft the last of those boxes back here."  Everyone groaned.  "Then Dawn should go back to her suspension."  She looked at him and shrugged.  "Why did you bite the Runes teacher?"

"I corrected him on something, we got into a screaming match, I produced the book the goblins are making me learn from.  He kicked at Midnight, I bit him on the arm."

"Fine," he agreed, shaking his head.  "I can only bitch about that one."  She smiled. "You've been doing the portkey spell, right?"

"Yup, I even found out how to do it inside the school to send naughty notes to Luna at night."

"Good job, tell Philip before the end of the year."

"Yes, Alex."  She smiled and accepted her plate.  "Thank you, Me.  Very nicely done."  Me smiled and got plates for the rest of them as well.  Don grunted and held out his plate, getting seconds.  She waited until he had put it down to swat him.  "Manners."

He finished chewing and swallowing.  "Thanks, Me.  I was going to, my mouth was full."   He glared at her and she sneered back.  "I've seen worse, Dawnie."

"Children, way too early for this," Alex said firmly. "Or else I'm spanking all your asses."

"I was being good," Ron complained.

"You and Harry have deserved it and gotten missed before," he noted patiently.  "Harry, when we get back, help Draco go over the family heirloom books to see what's still missing."

"Draco's been seeking for us," Horatio told him.

Alex smiled.  "Thank you.  He missed playing."  Horatio nodded at that.  "That's fine, they can do that after practice then."  He shrugged and finished his breakfast, leaning back.  Me looked at him and he shook his head.  "I'm good until lunch.  Make a nice, big lunch."

"Yes, Master Alex sir.  Beef, chicken, quail, deer, or moo?"

"What's the difference between beef and moo?" Dawn asked, looking a bit confused.

"Moo is hamburger," Harry told her.  "No matter what it's made of, it's moo."

"Oh!"  She nodded, digging back in.  "I had wondered about that."

"Remember that beef and veggies dish with the noodles?"  They all nodded, that had been a good dinner.  "Make that for lunch, make sure we've got bread for those who like the gravy sauce you guys put with it, make the gravy on the side since Stella and Don are watching their waists, and make something soothing and puddingy for dessert."  They squealed and got to work.  "Then make a real dinner tonight."  That got another squeal and they ran around to check the cabinets, making a list and sending someone out for groceries.

"I'm going to be fat," Don complained.

"It makes them happy to spoil us," Alex reminded him patiently.  Don nodded, he did like that stuff.  He looked up, noticing the owl coming toward the house. "Mail."  The door was opened and he held up a hand, letting the owl land on it.  He saw the black letter and moaned, taking it.  "Thank you."  It flew off, heading back outside.  He looked it over, then opened it, frowning at what was inside.  "Damn it!  I'll be right back."  He got up and headed upstairs.  "Draco?"  Draco sniffed and raised his head.  He held up the letter. It got snatched and Draco moaned.  "What was your mother doing that would create a 'missing and probably dead' letter?"

"I don't know," he admitted, sitting up to reread it.  "It said she was on her way to the house in America for some reason.  She would've portkeyed.  Maybe it malfunctioned and dropped her off?"  He looked at him.  "I'll check later, Alex."  He stole a kiss.  "I'll be up in time for practice and think about it while I fly."  Alex looked at him. "Fine, I'll do it now so I'm not distracted so I won't fall."  He got up with a moan and headed into his dressing area to clean up and put on clothes for the day.

Alex headed back down the stairs.  "Guys, Draco's mom is missing.  The bank sent him a notice."  Harry moaned.  "Black letter.  They don't know anything yet but he's checking.  So make sure he doesn't crash during practice.  You guys ready?"  The curse breakers all nodded and ceded the table to the others.  "Good, let's go finish the cleaning up."

"Hey, Alex, I wondered something," Don offered as they came out. "If we're caught, is someone going to yell?"

"Probably more about taking the treasure they think they've earned than not," he admitted.  "The actual owners of that crap have been dead for centuries and even the local desert tribe who might be able to claim kinship agreed it was mostly dangerous stuff."  Ron gave him a sideways look.  "Yes, I talked to them."

"I knew you had but I didn't know what was said."

"They said much of that was worrying and they wanted certain things to stay, things that were native to the area that they guarded.  I found those that night and put them in the blue house first."

"Oops, I think I moved that stuff," Ron admitted, going to check and send it back if he had.  "Meet you there!" he called. "I did get that vase!"  He disappeared with it and the small statue, landing inside the house.  "Sorry, got this stuff by accident.  Did I get anything else?  I'll pop home and get it."  They all stared at him so he put those down. "Accident.  Really."

One of the younger men cleared his throat.  "There was a ruby necklace."  Ron nodded and concentrated, summoning it.  It was held up.  "That's the one.  Thank you."

"Sorry about that.  Alex told me to port anything unmarked on this side of the town home and I got this stuff too.  It was stored in a cavern overnight but it wasn't damaged, hopefully.  We're here to finish the cleaning and there's military people coming soon."  They all nodded at that, getting up and heading out.  Ron popped down to the remaining cavern.  "We didn't mark a few of those things."

"Oops."  He shrugged.  "Are they back?"  He nodded.  "Okay, there's this, then there's the trap infested hell of the other room.  Clean this one out first, using portkey spells."  They did that and soon it was cleared out, all but one box.  He went to look at it, noticing he had marked it as directly to the culturally sensitive bank vaults.  He sent that one himself and then looked at the other room, biting his lip.  "Okay, we're going to go this way.  Dawn, you and Harry take the first layer, Ron you back them up because it's like a cork."  They nodded. "That'll wear you two out and then Ron and Don will take the shield down while I cover and get the rest."  He felt someone behind him and looked, nodding at the ghost standing there.  "Hi."

"Who are you?"

"Alexander Dumass, Gringotts."  He turned to fully look at him. "I was reraised on the Boca hellmouth."  That got a smirk.  "Not my fault or idea."

"I can see your taint.  You may pass.  Only those with a taint may pass."

"Yeah but it's the getting back out that I'm worried about."

"There is that.  That is the source of the opening."

"I realize that.  Thank you."  The ghost faded out.  "Tell the others I sent the culturally sensitive stuff to the bank so they can haunt them."

"That's mean," Dawn complained.  "The goblins hate dealing with ghosts."

"Sometimes they've got to," he pointed out. "Okay, we ready?"  Everyone moved into position and the first cork was popped, then the one behind it, then Don and Ron got the shield.  Alex got the evil coming out contained and then compressed back into the opening.  He got it closed but he was sweating by the time he was done.  That allowed him to go in and turn off the traps, only getting stung by one of them and that was over his boot.  He found a single necklace and picked it up, looking at it.  "Oh, shit.  Dawn, school, now."  She disappeared and went running up until she was in the office and safe.  He looked at the others.  "Out!  Home!  Ron, no doing another turn around the caverns."  That got a nod and they left together.

He concentrated, taking this to Egypt's bank.  The goblins gave him a panicked look when the sirens screamed around the bank when the unholy nasty was felt inside the bank building.  "I need it contained," he shouted.  "The hellmouth there was open!"  A few other curse breakers came running and Bill brought a containment box, letting him drop it inside carefully and arrange it as it should lay.  Just in case it decided to fight being twisted.  It was shut and the alarms stopped.  He sighed.  "I was on the Dregan hellmouth.  That was in front of the slightly open hellmouth."  Someone wrote that down.

"Dregan is cleaned out but there's a problem with the military that I've already reported to a wizard I know who works with them.  They're working on it from the castle."  He held his head since he was dizzy. Bill moved forward and he waved a hand.  "I'm fine.  Scorpion to the boot.  Minor poisoning."  He looked at them.  "That was the only thing I saw in front of the hellmouth.  There were some things left because the local desert tribe protects them.  They're mostly marked, all but about three things as Ron found out.  They're back in their possession.  Do not touch them."  They made another note.  "I swore and vowed we would leave them alone."  They all groaned. "They're the keepers of the enhanced statues and a shrine.  I don't touch holy shit and in this case it's the tribe's purpose.  I made that vow easily."

"As you should have," the goblin walking over agreed. "Are you all right, Breaker Dumass?"

"A bit dizzy.  The Dregan hellmouth was still very strong in that room."  That got a nod. "I'm heading home.  It's cleaned as far as I could tell.  We'll do another turn once the military's gone, just in case."  That got more nods.  "Tell Gruinth I'm off duty for a week.  Draco's wraith-like at the moment."  He held his head and concentrated really hard, using the camp moving spell to get himself home.  That got him past the wards since only he and his trainees used it and the wards knew that.  He collapsed in the middle of the library floor, looking at Harry.  "Can you get me the scorpion anti-venom?"  He took off his boot to look at the mark on his calf. "I need thicker boots."  Harry went running off for that, bringing it back.  "Thanks."  He slugged it down and laid down right there, looking back at the hallway.  "Why didn't he put that on the other side of the study?"

"This way all the books are together," Ron reminded him, leaning down to look at him.  "You're severely magiced, Alex.  Go clear yourself out before you set off the books."  He helped him up and outside, watching as he drained all the magic out of his body, collapsing so he could recharge from the native magic.  Alex gave them a goofy grin so it was all good by the time he was done.

Draco walked out with his broom over his shoulder.  "Tell me you didn't just close a hellmouth," he said bitterly.  Alex waved a hand.  "Yes, hello to you too, idiot."  Alex pouted so he kissed him, then walked off shaking his head.  "Let my idiot sleep there, he'll be fine."

"Thanks, Draco," Ron called, looking down at him.  "Me, can you bring him a blanket? He's got to recharge."  Alex disappeared from that spot, and he felt the warning in the caverns go off but that was okay.  It'd be like one of those pressure chambers Bill told him about that you went into when you surfaced too fast from diving.  He went back into the library.  "Don, they're running a practice," he said, taking the current project from him.  Don got up and ran upstairs to get his broom and gloves, then out the window from in there.  He shook his head.  Don could be very good when Alex got finished with him.  He sat down, going over what Don had been doing, smiling as he got the puzzle box unlocked.  Harry stunned it and took it from him, heading to take it to the containment chamber they had set up.

Horatio smirked at Draco.  "I thought we were going to play."

"We might.  It depends on who's up later."  He floated up next to him.  "I'm sure Alex collapsing from being stung will bring others to fuss, which means we'll get a game going by this afternoon."

"We can't use the school's pitch, Philip said Ravenclaw and Gryffindor are playing," Danny offered, looking at Don as he flew over. "Did you get lost again?" he taunted.  Don nodded, smirking at him.  "What was it this time?"

"Metal puzzle box."  He smiled at Horatio.  "Where's Stella?"

"Bathroom.  Speed and Tony?"

"Getting changed," Danny assured him. "Tony spilled his orange juice when Gibbs told Abby she had done excellent."  That got some laughs from Horatio, and a head shake.  "So they'll be right out too."

"Who gets to tell Speed he's too evil?" Draco asked.  Everyone stared at him.  "He is."

"He is, but it's a fun evil," Danny agreed with a grin.  "Dawnie got plenty of backrubs after the last game."

Draco shook his head. "It is a *fun* game, not a real, pro game."

"Point," everyone agreed.  They shrugged.  He'd calm down within a few weeks.  Probably.  Tony and Speed flew out, Stella behind them.

Draco went down to get the balls and open them.  "One bludger or two?" he called.

"One!"

One was released, he released the snitch and then brought the quaffle back up.  "There you go.  Someone trace rings in the air."  Don did that and they went to their spots, practicing to make Stella more evil as a chaser and on some strategy stuff.  Draco smirked as he flew around, ducking the occasional bludger Danny sent at him. It was nice.  He zipped after the snitch, finding it just over the boundaries of the valley but that was okay.  No one lived on that side within seeing distance.  He brought it back, holding it up.  Horatio whistled and brought an end to practice.  Don got one last hit of the bludger, sending it into the ground, then they landed to take care of the balls, going to clean up and see how Gibbs and Taylor had done this morning.

Abby bounced over, hugging everyone.  "That is so much cooler than it is on the movies!"  She beamed and ran inside to tell Harry that.

"Movies?" Draco asked, looking at the muggle-living members.

"They made the first book into a movie," Stella admitted.

"Shit, Potter's going to freak."   He shifted himself in there, giving Abby a glare.  "Potter, calm down."

"Why?" he asked cautiously, looking up.

"That quidditch stuff is so much cooler than the movies," Abby said happily, hugging him.  "I bet you look so hot on your broom."

"Movies?" he asked weakly.

"It's playing right now."  She stroked his head.  "It's all right.  The kid they got does look like you, kinda."  He blinked at her.  "I know," she sighed, hugging him.  "It'll be okay and you can watch it with me.  They skipped some of the stuff in the book."  He shook his head.  "I'm sorry I made you pout."

He stole a kiss and blushed.  "That's recompense enough for it."  She beamed. "Did you want to go out this afternoon or tomorrow?"

"Are you going to be busy?"

"It's not anything I won't get up and do when I can't sleep."  She cooed and Draco walked out with Ron right behind him.  He smiled at her.  "Ice cream for lunch or dinner, Abby?"

"Lunch."  He beamed and they headed up to change so he could take her to Diagon and show her around, then feed her ice cream before they went to look at the unicorns at the other house.

Upstairs, Draco called the other Banes to let them know the whole other team was up again this weekend, but that the school's pitch was taken.  Philip laughed at that and said they could play later in the afternoon, when the sun would be more forgiving.  "YES!  We're playing this afternoon!" he called out the window.  That got a round of very evil smirks.

***

Gibbs walked into work Monday morning with the tapes they had made of the mirror's contents.  Abby had set it up to tape but not show the mirror itself.  She had even edited it.  He found someone standing in front of his desk.  "Jen."

"Jethro.  What's that?"

"Proof that some people over there are basically taking slaves and selling them."  Her face tightened.   "I've already passed on a copy as well."  He handed her that copy.  "Yours, Madam Director."  He sat down and put his coffee cup in its usual spot.  "Anything happen while we were gone?"

"Not yet."  She glared at him.  "One of our satellites caught something interesting."  She put a picture down in front of him, Draco catching a snitch.  "Would you like to explain that?  No one else can."

"No."  He looked at her.  She put down another picture and he looked at it.  Harry flying around, but it was very ghostly.  He shrugged and looked at her again.  "CGI, like in the movies?"

"Off a spy satellite?" she demanded.  Tony walked in.  "Agent DiNozzo," she said, stomping over in front of him.  "How do you explain these?" she asked, holding up the pictures.

"I don't, ma'am.  Nor should I."  He shrugged. "Why would I know?"

"You were there.  That is the young man who security said came up to see Abby Scuito the other day, which prompted all of you to investigate an incidence in Iraq, yet you didn't file any travel vouchers."

"Why would we, ma'am?  We got it off video conferencing at an undisclosed location for security reasons."  She looked stunned.  "Not like we're going to announce that ten people in one unit are taking civilians hostage and using them as slaves."  She backed up.  "Therefore we went somewhere undisclosed, talked to them over video conferencing, taped some of what they sent us via live feed, and then handed it to the appropriate people last night."

"I see."  She stared him in the eyes.  "I can tell you're lying."

"No, I'm not."  He shrugged. "Lying would be saying that your hair is spiky and lively today, ma'am.  See, big difference."

"Agent...."

He held up a finger.  "We were told a hacker got into that satellite last night," he told her, staring into her eyes.  "They ghosted images somehow over a few of the more harmless scans thanks to that movie that's out."  She grimaced.  "Is that not Draco Malfoy in that one?"  She looked, then nodded.  "And is the other not Harry Potter?"

"It's that young man who came up to hand over something you were sent."

"Well, yes, but actually his name is Potter.  That's the kid from the film however."  She stomped off.  He called Speed to warn him and then Danny got involved.  Mac told him it was covered, all they had to do was cove their own asses.  He passed on the story he had used and it got mass agreement.  He rolled his eyes and called Alex's cellphone.  "Strengthen the shields," he said quietly.  "There's satellite piccies of a Draco Malfoy looking person near your house.  Along with one of someone who looks a lot like the guy who played Potter in the movie.  Yeah, hackers ghosted them over the image.  One of them looks very ghostly.  Thanks."  He hung up and called Greg.  "Talk to Alex," he ordered, then hung up.  "Not the first one.  A few months back, Alex said they got another satellite that showed Greg going into something that looked like Diagon."

"Wonderful," Gibbs said quietly.  "How are the hackers doing this?"

"I'm not sure. Maybe that new digital filter?"  He shrugged and sat down, turning on his computer.  "We'll have to see if we can fix it, boss."

"Thank you.  Nice job."  Tony smiled.  "I meant at the game."

"I know. I looked hot while I was playing."  He smirked at McGee as he came in.  "Director's on the rag," he offered quietly.  McGee groaned.  "How would hackers ghost an image of Draco catching a snitch or Harry flying around over satellite scans?"

McGee looked at him.  "What?"  Tony summoned the pictures and handed them to him.  "Holy shit."  He nodded and looked at him. "I can help Alex figure out how to block it and he can spread it around."  That got a nod.  "Thank you, Tony."

"Not my doing.  At least they didn't catch the game," he said tiredly.  "We're wondering how the hackers might've ghosted the images from the movie over the satellite's images."

McGee smirked.  "It's nearly impossible but if you can break into the feed and buffer it long enough it's hard but not impossible."  He sat down, getting to work to find out which satellites had taken the photos.

"Call Greg about the last one.  Someone did it before and made it look like he and his wife were disappearing into something they sculpted to look like Diagon."

"Sure.  Gotta love the HP fans," McGee agreed.  "Especially the technopagans who're using it like a joke."  He shook his head and added that search string in as well.  It ended up classified but his boss got the feed to him when he emailed that to him.  It was a matter of personal security.

***

Alex looked at the goblins later that day, then put down three pictures that had been sent to him by Gibbs.  "We've got anti-satellite wards on the castle," he noted.  "The muggles in America are moving further ahead.  We need to call a research council."

"That's a bit drastic...."  He looked at the second one. "Inside the castle's wards?"  Alex nodded. "Your's are stronger than Hogwarts'."

"Yup, and guess what, they think that's just a wreck.  We don't have that shield over the house nor do I want to try to put it on again.  I've got a muggle-born with extensive computer experience already thinking about how to block it and why it happened but we're going to have to intercede in Seattle's domain."

"I'll call the goblins out there, see if we can get an appointment."

"Good, because back before the purge they got pictures of Greg and everyone going into Diagon."  The goblin swore in human as it walked off, showing its extreme emotional stress.  Alex sat down and waited.  The goblin came back a minute later.  "We in?"

"We are, they agreed.  They said there's a new digital filter that's been causing a great number of problems."

"I knew about the Minolta filter that could catch vampires."  The goblin gave him an alarmed look. "You forget where I regrew."

"I had."  He nodded. "All right.  Take all this information to that branch, they've called in their overlord."

"Thank you.  I'll take my technogeek with me.  Give me thirty more than the port takes."  He took the photos back and headed to get McGee.  He looked up at the outside of the NCIS building and sighed, heading inside, giving them his most winning smile.  "Hi, I need to see Agent McGee?  On Gibbs' team?" he requested politely.

"About what, sir?"

"A friend said he's working on a satellite hacking issue and I think I know who he needs to talk to.  I've set up a meeting for him to attend with me."  She called up there and McGee came jogging down the steps a few minutes later. "Got a few hours?"

"Yup, and I've got it on DVD."  He led him outside and away from the grounds, heading for his car.  "We can move from inside there, right?"

"Yup.  Not a problem.  We're heading to technopagan land, Seattle."  McGee gave him a look.  "I learned long ago, you bring this to the bank, they get you meetings if it's important enough."  He smirked at him.  "It pays to be their lackey at times."

"How much are you getting for your last job?"

"Haven't figured out what I'm sending them yet.  They're still cranky that I'm not clearing out the storage vaults.  See, really old guys in my job are like dragons.  We collect stuff."  McGee laughed.  "Especially if we're really strong."  McGee opened his car doors and let them in, then he took his hand and made the pictures into a portkey, taking them to the bank's waiting area.

"That's neat," McGee admitted, sinking into the soft leather couch.

"I try.  Most of the time.  Draco hates it when I do that and he lands on his ass."  The goblin walking over to them gave them an odd look.  "Dumass and McGee to see the overlord?  London's branch sent us."

"This way," he ordered.  "You're a bit later than we had hoped."

"I had to stop and pick him up. I told them thirty minutes longer than the portkey would take."  He walked into the office, nodding at the woman behind the desk. "Overlord."

"Curse breaker."

"Dumass."  She sat up at that.  "The castle's wards were hit by satellite and seen through. The only reason they haven't gotten Hogwarts is they don't think anything's that way."  He laid down the images. "Harry's was inside mine and I've got anti-satellite wards on the castle."

"Hell."

"It's not the first.  We had a ping a few years back, before the purge started that caught some people going into Diagon.  They've set up a warning since then, but it was still caught," McGee offered, handing over that DVD.  "I'm Tim McGee, NCIS.  I work with Tony DiNozzo, trained in Chicago, ma'am."

"Thank you, Timothy."  She ran it on her laptop, frowning a bit.  "Well, that doesn't make me happy.  Penn knows?"

"Yeah, the X-Files Fed knows and showed him as far as I know," Alex assured her.  "Greg was shown them first.  He explained it off.  Then again, they're not supposed to be snooping on Great Britain."

"No, we're not."  Tim looked at him.  "It's a mapping satellite.  Part of the GPS system that's mapping the globe as close to inch-by-inch as possible."

"Which means they'll get the other schools since Hogwarts seems like a wreck.  Are they using the new Minolta filter?"

"Abby told me about that.  I couldn't find that information.  It was custom designed in a lab at MIT, but that's all I had time to find out this morning."  He looked at the overlord again.  "Most of our team was there when that was taken."

"At least they're only getting air-bound ones so far.  Draco was clearly just past the boundaries, but there's no muggles on that side."

"Damn it."  She looked at him.  "Minolta filter?"

"Minolta's come up with a filter that can film vampires."

"They're real?"

He gave her a look.  "Yes, the vampire show is real.  I'm actually Xander Harris. That's were I grew up the second time."  She pouted.  "Don't.  Please.  I get enough of that from Dawn."

"Which?" Tim asked.

"Both really but Dawnie is the worst.  Can you imagine giving field orders?  Don, Ron, Dawnie, and Harry.  Plus Draco."  He chuckled at that.

"What is Mr. Potter doing about the film?"

"He sued the author, not much he can do but pout," Alex offered. He shrugged. "We've checked.  We can't sue in muggle courts.  He sued her in a wizarding one.  She had already sold the rights and we can't sue the studio since they're muggle."  She nodded, accepting that, going back to the images on the DVD.  "We need a research council."

"I'll gladly help with it," Tim promised.  "I'm a hacker myself."  She smiled at that.  "For the good of the job, ma'am, not generally.  Oh, Alex, ran into your buddy the other day."

"Willow?" He nodded.  "She's supposed to be in protective custody of the Legacy."

"They exist too?" she asked. They both nodded.  "Since when?"

"Since they split off from the Watchers Council," he offered, shrugging a bit.  "I don't know the exact date.  I know current and former members however."

"Oh."  She pouted a bit more.  "We can call a research council starting tonight," she said, looking at him.  "Can you attend to brief everyone?"  Alex and Tim both nodded. "You're sure?"

"Unless I've got a new case coming in, yeah," Tim promised. "Then I can do it by cellphone as long as I can have a few quiet minutes in the truck.  My boss knows since he was married to one of us back in the past."

"She didn't erase his memories?"

"She wanted the alimony and to make him miserable."

"Oh."  She nodded. "Understood."  She sighed and turned off the images, looking at them again.  "All right, you're right, this is important.  We'll have to convene a full research council meeting tonight.  No one will be happy."

"I'm not happy," Alex assured her.

"We told my director it was hackers ghosting an image from the movie over a satellite feed," Tim told her.

"That's nearly impossible to do," she noted.

"She doesn't have a clue about that stuff."  That got a faint smile.  "My coworker, Tony, thought it up.  It seemed plausible on the surface and you could loop one for a minute if you had everything already prepared to cut and paste."

"True."  She nodded. "All right, I'll convene a research council tonight.  Just these?"

"The Minolta filter," Alex offered.  "It may be that they're using it, if not, we need to find out how to stop that one too.  It can take pictures of the school."  He looked at him.  "Tell him about Abby's work."

"He found some stuff going on in Iraq that had to be stopped, ma'am, and sent some wizarding photos as proof since Gibbs knew.  That way he would know where and who to watch.  My team's lab tech, who is a nature path person, figured out how to turn them into MPEG films."  She sat down again, staring in horror.  He nodded.  "It's like recording from a movie showing, like how they get the movies before they're out and spread them online."

"Holy Goddess," she moaned.

"She's dating Harry and Abby'd never use it against us," Alex noted. The goblin behind them coughed. "It was necessary, I uncovered a slave trade operation."

"I heard.  It was necessary.  Is she a practicing witch?"  Tim nodded.  "Nature path?"

"Just like Tara Maclay," Alex assured him.  The goblin smirked and nodded. "She's a nice lady and she's dating Harry.  The aunts are very pleased."

"Your aunts scare dragons, it's a good sign."  He looked at her.  "You may use our conference center if you need to."

"Thank you. I think we might.  Either that or take over an arena."  She stood up again.  "Thank you, boys.  We've been watching technology for a while now but we had no hint of some of this.  We've got to get someone in Japan to watch them more closely."

"Japan has its own Ministry," Alex pointed out.  "Or ask the Goblins to ask them.  That's how I got the meeting with you."

"Not a bad idea," the goblin admitted. "I'll send a missive to our branches over there to intercede."  She nodded, heading out.  He looked at them.  "That was dangerous, Curse breaker Dumass."

"Had to happen to stop them.  They're not using the pictures as proof, but it was enough to get the right people into the right spots.  We did a two-way mirror and they taped it off that."

"Tony told the director they taped it off a live feed from an undisclosed location," McGee offered.  He leaned against the desk.  "We're all intense on covering this up.  I'm working at NCIS in DC.  I haven't been keeping in practice until Tony found out I was one and made me."  Alex nodded at that.  "It's not what we had planned but the proof was needed for wizarding courts as well as muggle and military ones."

"Plus, they already knew something was up.  There was a prior satellite capture of people going into Diagon a few years back.  There's the purge that's still going on.  We should've called one five years ago.  I asked to have one called then when imaging systems started to pick up a radiation signature off the photos."

"We heard and we warned."

"Yes, and now they're moving ahead of our charms.  Now it's necessary.  We need to keep it ongoing, not just when there's an emergency.  How many little sisters of witches have figured out how to tape their sister's photos from school onto their laptops?"

"Point.  I concede the point.  We should keep it ongoing.  Thank you, Curse breaker Dumass.  How was the Dregan hellmouth?"

"Open.  I had to confine something in Cairo's branch because it was right in front of the open portal."  He shivered at that.  "Yeah, the sirens screaming around me were a clue."  They shared a look.  "Other than that, it was fairly profitable.  I did leave the tribal guardians some things that they were guarding and doing an excellent job at hiding.  I had them make that note in Cairo and I did vow."

"I understand.  That is only correct."  He let them out of the room.  "He needs to go back to DC?"  Tim nodded.  "We can send you to that branch, which is near your office, Wizard McGee."

"Thank you.  I have no idea where your bank branch is there.  I've stayed mostly out of the life."  That got a nod. "I'm not really comfortable with it. I'm much more a techno person."

"As many muggles are," he agreed.  He sent him through the special floo to that bank branch, then it'd be a short walk back to work for him.  He looked at Dumass. "That was still dangerous."

"Yay.  Necessary danger is still necessary.  Not like I could kidnap some generals without them realizing magic existed and make them not put up a fuss when I stuck them there to watch it.  They were taking locals and using them as slaves."  The goblin shivered.  "We have an obligation to stop that.  We always have.  Humans are not a commodity.  Plus, I only gave it to people who could reasonably know.  A nature path witch, someone who was an ex-husband of one of us.  People who already had a clue."

"Good point.  Well done as well.  Head home. You look tired."

"Scorpion got me," he admitted.  "Way many traps around that hellmouth but I left them off in case we need to go back in and close it again."  He disappeared, taking his camp moving spell back to the London bank, filling in the hole he had taken the last time.  "Okay.  One last thing," he told his boss. "Draco's mother?"

"Was portkeying to her house in the Hamptons, in the US.  She disappeared and never landed."

"Possibly hijacked?"

"That can't be done."

"Voldemort did to Nick."  He straightened up at that.  "You can ask him."

"I shall.  Thank you."  He looked him over. "You look tired, go home."

"Yes, dear."  He blew a kiss and headed home, going to take a nap in his study since it was quiet in there.

***

Danny walked into work, smiling at Sheldon.  "You look content and happy," Sheldon teased.

"Great food, good times, and laughing at Alex being a nut all weekend," he agreed happily.  "We were horribly spoiled by Alex's staff.  It made them happy to overfeed us.  Don said he had to roll home last night."  Sheldon grinned at that.  "How was your weekend?"

"Quiet.  Except for the Chief, who came to see Mac this morning."  He pointed at the office.  "He was yelling a minute ago."

"Happy happy joy joy," he said dryly, heading that way after signing in.  He leaned in the door.  "Mac, I've got some pain killers in my locker if you need some."

"No thanks, I already took some."  He looked at him. "Come in, shut the door."  Danny raised an eyebrow but did that.  "The guy who's in the top spot is retiring," he said quietly. "The Chief is in a blind panic that we're all going to go uncontrolled."  Danny flinched and shook his head.  "Exactly.  The overlord is having us meet tonight.  I'm not sure how bad it's going to be."

"It'll be pretty bad.  He's former military but he's loyal.  He's the sort they could call him up tonight and he'd be on the next plane asking who he got ta whack this time."  Mac nodded at that, smirking just a bit.  "He's already tried to push the purge as a good thing."

"Okay.  Get ready to head into the field.  I want you to work with Sheldon today on the next case that comes up.  Be very careful."

"Sure, boss."  He headed out, smirking and looking happy as he went to grab a case and get Sheldon his.  "We're on for next case."

"Oooh, fun."  He grinned at him. "What's up?"

"Retiring person up the chain is causing some cramps.  We'll be fine, just a warning to watch our back tonight at the union meeting."

Sheldon nodded at that.  "Have fun with that."

"Oooh, yeah. Great fun."  He shook his head.  "Not."  He saw Don come over. "You got one for us?"

"Do I ever.  I just got called and am heading out so I thought I'd stop and offer you two a ride," he said with a smirk.

"Which means we should get coveralls, huh?"  Don nodded.  "Crap."

"Yes, it will be.  Up to your hips, boys.  Sewer outflow pipe."

"I'll get the hip waders, you get the coveralls, and I'll stop in the morgue to get the masks with filters," Sheldon promised.  "Flack?"

"Please.  Thank you."  He grinned sweetly as they headed off.  Stella gave him an odd look as she walked by.  "Sewer outflow pipe."

"Glad it's not me.  Last time I had to cut my hair.  Have fun with that, Flack."

"Yeah, sure I will," he said, shaking his head.  "Not in this lifetime."  Danny came back with his gear, Sheldon a minute later with his since they were kept together.  "We ready?"  Danny handed him a spare coverall and Sheldon the extra hip waders.  "Thanks, guys.  My dry cleaner will appreciate you greatly."  He led them out to the car.

"Sorry!" Mac called.  "Better you than me," he muttered.  One of the nearby techs gave him an odd look.  "Sewer pipe body."

"Ewww."

"Better him than me," Mac joked.

She nodded.  "Or Stella.  She had to cut her hair the last time."  She walked off shaking her head.  Well, things were mostly back to normal. Mac had made Danny grin and he was cracking jokes.  So the tension between the two was over with.  That little bit got shared around with where the newest body was from. Once it got to the morgue, special precautions were taken, including extra air freshening tablets laid out.

***

Don looked up at the mansion they were supposed to go to.  There was no gate.  "How in the fuck," he muttered.  He looked at Danny, who nodded and walked him over to a hidden one, letting them in.  "You know we're really late, right?"

"So?  At least we made it."  He walked them up to the door.  "Work sucks," he told the guard.

"Which department are you two with?"

"Homicide."

"CSI."

"You're Taylor's boy."  He let them in and showed them where to go.  "A few more stragglers, boss."

"That's fine.  What kept you two?" he asked across the crowded room.

"Bodies, what else?" Danny asked dryly.  "You ever try ta haul one out from under an unlit bridge in the park at night?"  That got a quick head shake.  "We did."  He looked at Mac.  "Suicide, she got caught in her rope when she climbed down and ended up inside the beams thanks to the wind.  Security camera nearby confirmed."

"Thank you.  The one this morning?"

"Fuck if we know, Hammerback can't even clean the body off yet," Don complained.  "It's still in decontam since it came up radiated."

"Let me know when you find something. Any ID found?"

"Yeah, glowing pink.  Once it's cleared up, we'll go for it."

"Good."  He clapped him on the back and pulled them both over since he was in a group with most of their quidditch team. "They were training with Alex this weekend," he said proudly. "Another fun game against Alex's other friends."

"Which we won because we're meaner," Don said happily.  "Danny taught me that corkscrew move, coach."

"Good!  Not that it's not too mean for the local league, but good."

Stella snorted.  "We've been playing me, Tony, and Speed as chasers with Horatio our keeper."  He moaned at that and Danny beamed and nodded.  "He's really good.  He's got a lot of focus and it all plants squarely on the quaffle."

"It's what makes him a good CSI," Mac agreed, looking at Danny.  "You have that now and then when you're obsessed."

"It happens more often than you think," he taunted. "You don't spend a lot of time watching my ass work, Mac."

"Point.  I don't tend to watch asses, Danny."  He sipped his drink.  "Anything from the others?"

"McGee's headed over now for the tech research council.  Seems some satellite or another caught pictures of Harry flying inside the wards at Dumass castle.  It also caught Draco just outside them.  So they're going to go over that, the one that got a hit with people going into Diagon, and then the new Minolta filter.  Oh, did Abby tell you?  She figured out how to capture wizarding photos as digital video."

"Damn," the overlord said behind them.  "Who's this Abby?  One of us?"

"A nature path that works with a few of us in DC," Don offered.  "She's a sweet girl. It was for a case.  A curse breaker found a small slavery issue in Iraq and sent them back."  He moaned.  "The actual pictures weren't used, she downloaded and put them together into one seamless video, then they taped a two-way mirror showing for the proof that would be given over to the Pentagon."

"Mostly civilian workers," Don offered. "Two military guys in the same unit and support staff.  From what Tony said, Gibbs called their commander.  Who had them detained, where they got the hell beaten out of them by the rest'a their unit.  Tony's one of us, Gibbs was married to one of us.  The goblins agreed it was a necessary risk and only those who already had a clue realized it."

"Oh."  He shook his head.  "I still wouldn't allow that in my city."

Danny stared him down.  "Really?  Since when have you lorded over curse breakers?"  He backed off at that.  "The goblins said it was fine."

"Yes, Mr. Messer."  He backed off and walked the other way.  "We've got most of us here, we should get this meeting underway," he announced.  Everyone faced him.  "As you know, Deputy Chief Maxim is retiring."  That got a few hoots.  He glared at that section.  "You probably deserved the attention."  He faced the main group again.  "As such, this means that there will be no wizard in the higher levels."

"Mags, isn't Donatella up in the CoD's office?" Don yelled.

"Yeah, she's his assistant, Don.  We've got a witch as an assistant in the Chief of Detective's office in Manhattan."  Their union rep smiled at that.  "We can route anything paperwork through her most likely."

"You can," Donatella offered, waving from her spot on a windowsill.  "His niece is a working nature path witch so he's got a clue.  If we need to, I can give him more of one."  She looked at the overlord.  "Then again, we've got four or five supervisors.  What we really need is someone in IAB. Internal Affairs gives us most of the issues we've got, except for time off for training stuff."  She looked at Flack.  "You good?"

"Better.  I don't leak half as often."  She smiled at that. "Alex was very helpful."  He looked at their overlord. "I second her suggestion.  We need someone in Infernal Idiots."  That got some snickers.  "They came down on us because we had ta hide a wizarding photo once."

Mac nodded at that.  "That was about a year ago, but we've had a few of those."  He sipped his drink.  "So we need to get together to spread some out.  We've got the major areas covered in all the boroughs, but almost none in the unit near the school or the shopping area."

"Only two guys in the park near the wizarding area," Danny offered.  Everyone stared at him and he waved.  "Yes, they left me."  That got some shudders.  "Thank you, now we know why.  Kinda proved I'm not like the old man, huh?"

"Danny, calm down," Mac ordered, clapping him on the back.  "You're good with me."  Danny smirked at him.  He looked around again. "We should do that.  Also, is anyone in Long Island?"  No one said anything.  "Anyone?"  Nothing.  "Then we should get someone out there since we've got a major coven who has been known to call things up by accident."

"Don't remind me," Danny moaned, holding his head. "By the way, is the guy who hyped the Fyarl demon still in jail?"  Mac nodded.  "We sure?"  He nodded. "'Cause I got sent a warning he was buying stuff today."

"I'll check on it in the morning," Mac promised.  He looked around.  "I know we're clumping around our safe areas, but we've got to have some spreading in some areas."

"Especially around the shopping area and the school," Danny agreed.  "How many of us got brought home by cops in the old days?"  He raised his hand and a few others did too.

Don laughed. "Horatio told us half his year went to the strip club and got brought back," he told them.  More hands went up, including a few female hands.  "We don't have anyone near there.  How are we handling that?"

"The school calls whoever's got union rep at the time," their current union rep admitted.  "You're right, I would like someone to transfer there.  I know it's a patrol only unit but it's fairly quiet most of the time."

"It's either this or the next time something happens in our Garden Street area, the curse breakers are going to have to solve it again, which means more people needing a healer," Don agreed.  "I had ta help the last time."  That got a few moans.

"I'd be more than willing to transfer but my boss won't let me," one female offered.  "I'm about to obliviate him anyway since he keeps hitting on me."

"Bring the paperwork to me, I'll get it through," Donatella assured her.  "Put on there why so we know."  She shook her head. "Just put down that you're moving because you feel uncomfortable in the precinct.  That's the standard reason when you don't want to make a complaint.  He'll accept it."  She smiled at that.  "Anyone else, that's what he wants to see if it's a problem that you're not reporting."  That got a mass nod.  "That still leaves an understaffed precinct.  Some of those weekends are going to be tough and I know we've all obliviated some of those officers all ta hell and back."  Danny nodded at that.  "You did?"

"Yeah, one of them wandered in while tracking some kids while we were shopping.  I stunned him, checked his ID, saw where he was from, and sent him home without more than the thought he had forgotten to pick up some new milk."  She smiled at that.  "Least I could do since I was there and the others were giving him horrified looks for coming in."

"We could use a gatekeeper like they have in Diagon," an older detective pointed out.

"No room for it," Danny reminded him.  "I'd love a gatekeeper.  Even just a bookstore, a fast food place, anything."

"There's not enough room between the gates and the second garden exit," Mac agreed.  "We need the garden space though, and if it's made private we'll have problems getting in unless we all move onto that block and make it private for residents."

"The whole block is marked clear for muggles," Don told him.  That got a moan.  "So yeah, we've got that problem, or can we move the entrance?  Create a new one someplace that one of us own?"

"I have no idea how you'd do that," the overlord admitted, smiling at him.  "Can anyone find a good research library?"  Mac's whole team nodded.  "Where?"

"I'm training with Dumass," Don told him.  "Since the school missed me and all."  That got some gapes.

"Me too," Stella agreed.  "He took that complaint to the bank and the Vinese I believe."  Danny nodded.  "They intentionally missed a lot of folks."  Some people moaned.  "So we're training with Dumass and his buddies, he's got a huge library; I'll see if we can find it in there or in the goblin library, Don?"  He nodded, he could do that.  "It might take a few weeks."

"I would appreciate that," the overlord admitted.

"Also, a tech research committee meeting was called tonight," Don offered. "There's a satellite that got pictures past Dumass Castle's wards."  That got louder moans.  "If any of you guys are techno geeks, that's the place to head to right now."  That got some nods.

"I've got a friend who works at MIT, I'll see if they're willing to help," one female in the corner offered.  "Who was caught?"

"Potter, flying around.  Draco just outside the boundaries as well," Don told her.

"Plus there was one of people going into Diagon a few years back," Danny offered. "Not to mention the Minolta filter issue."  They all stared at him. "Dumass, in his regrowth life as Xander Harris, found out the hard way that they could film vampires on that hellmouth with a certain brand of Minolta digital camera because it's got a special filter."  Some people slumped and some money changed hands. "We have it on good authority Angel is real and is a whiny ponce, just like Spike claims."

"Aiden says he's a pain in the ass ta work with too," Don agreed.

"Angel?" someone asked.

"No, Spike."  That got some laughs.  "She's teaching in Chicago.  He came with Sirius and Remus."  He shrugged.  "He's constantly hitting on her."

"He's got good taste," someone called. Then they laughed with a few of their buddies.

"I'll tell her you said so," Stella promised, staring him down.  He shrank back into the wall.  "Also, someone who's a nature path figured out how to put wizarding photos onto the computer as digital film."

"Yeah, my sister figured that out last year but I made her stop," one woman admitted.  "Where does she work?"

"NCIS.  DC," Danny offered. "With Tony."  She smirked back.  "McGee works there and he's briefing the tech council tonight.  So, we've got to get stuff moving.  Any one else willing to shift?"  No one said anything.  "Okay, then how're we gonna deal with the next huge demon in the park?  Or mysterious appearances of creatures?"  No one said anything.  "We might as well figure it out now, people.  We're on the front lines of that shit, even if the larger community likes ta ignore us."

"He's right.  Most of us were caught without our wands when the demon blew up in the park," the union rep admitted.  "Where was yours?"

"Home, safely stored in my sock drawer.  I'm kinda glad Alex was over here for some reason.  The local school was throwing 'finites' and stunners at it."  Some people slumped.  "We've got to assign people to handle those things. I carry mine all the time now."

"Ditto," Don agreed.

"Mine's in my desk," Mac offered.

"Mine might stay in my locker once I'm finished catching up," Stella admitted. "I can't carry it without it showing."

"Inside of your jacket, Stell," Danny ordered.  "Quick draw holster like Greg's got.  Then we'll deal with the skimpy clothes months after that."  She nodded, accepting that.

"I'm out in Harlem and nothing happens but I've usually got mine with me," one guy offered, shrugging a bit.  "You can call and see if I can help."

"We have a city defense council," the overlord noted.  "That really needs to go in front of them, Mr. Messer."

"Yeah, well, that's nice, but half of them are in Miami at the moment."  He gave him a look. "Besides, then they'd dump it on us.  I want us to be prepared beyond and above that.  It's what we do anyway and we'd be called there first."

"Have we worked out who we're calling in other boroughs for crime scenes that have one of us dead or participating?" Don asked Mac.  Who shook his head.  "Then what happens?"

"I get called, hopefully, by a local officer and then I handle it," the union rep admitted.  "Mac, I could use some help with that. You obliviate better."  He nodded, accepting that.  "Thank you.  Usually we stick to our own."

"Yeah, but that multiple a few weeks back ended up being a duel that went wrong.  She was defending her boyfriend from the man-stealing idiot."  That got a mass groan.  "The others were collateral.  Thank God Sheldon got it instead of someone like Lindsey."

"I would've reassigned it as soon as I saw the wand," Mac promised.

"Hawkes knows?" Donatella asked.  Everyone in their group nodded. "How?"

"His sister, like I did before I got tapped," Don told her.  "Can we recruit them?" he asked the union rep. "There's gotta be more of them than us.  At least give them a number to call if something like this happens?"

"I'm thinking about that.  I do carry a pager that can do text messages.  I can pass that onto whoever gets the job after the next vote."  That got a mass nod.  "I'm trying, guys."

"You're doin' good," Danny assured him.  "This is just stuff that should've been brought up before but we're playing catch up.  We thought we had the time."  Everyone nodded at that.  "Can we agree?  Those of us who have siblings that can know, we give them his pager if they run across something that could be magical in nature? Or have them call us so we can check?"  That got mostly nods.

"That'll ease it some.  I know at least one other guy near the shopping area had a sister who went.  He was telling some girl he pulled over for being an annoying bitch and shrieking at the top of her lungs about her new cauldron that he had one when I walked past 'em," Don admitted.

"That would at least double the watching force," their union rep agreed happily.  "Thank you, guys.  I like you guys. You guys handle stuff in-house and you make my life easier."

"The defense council needs your pager number as well," the overlord ordered.  He handed over a business card, then put a stack down in front of every one.  "Thank you.  Why wasn't this brought to us before?"

"We thought you guys had it," Danny noted. "Plus, I know someone did," he said, staring him down.  "For some reason, they seem to have left the city."  He sipped his drink.  The man shivered.  "Anyone got any new information on the purge?"

"It's not a purge!" their overlord shouted.  "They're not being put to death!  They're being put to work!  They need us in the ranks!"

"I did my time," Mac noted calmly.  "The military lifestyle is not for everyone.  You can't put a group of free-thinking, artistic people into the military and expect them to do more than die emotionally and creatively.  Too many of us are like that.  Yes, the military could use more of us, but there's already people who were working on that before it became a critical desire to own all of us and they started attacking schools."

"That's a lie," he hissed.

"No it's not.  I know the kid who had to be rescued from the one in Chicago," Don told him.  "The same as Alex and his buddies had ta get her out of there and she's in Canada now.  Hell, they didn't even have wands from the report I saw."

"They didn't," Mac agreed. "I called a few of my former classmates who've went back to teach.  They were basically a military school and your senior year you got a wand, when they taught you all the spells you'd need to know in the military."  He stared the guy down, making him back off.  "Unfortunately some of the same people have seen some of the same signs starting here.  They're not forced, but they're heavily encouraged."

"Which sucks," Danny noted.  "Makes kids feel guilty for wanting a life of their own."  He looked at the others. "Do we have anyone overlooking the school?"

"They've got a board," Donatella noted.  "I've talked with them a few times over my daughter being pressured.  They said it's federal law."

"Only if they get federal funds," Don assured her.  "That's the way that law was written."  She smiled at him.  "You can quote me and the papers."

"Oh, I have.  They've scared them into agreeing."  She shrugged a bit.  "I don't know what to do about that.  We don't even have an equivalency."

"No but we do know what should be taught.  What do we do when we find late teens who're magical but suppressed?"

"We tutor them to the point where they're skilled enough to survive in the wizarding world and talk to them about their options," another man offered.  "Why?"

"We've been missing tons of people," Danny told him.  "We found a fifteen-year-old in Miami a few weeks back.  The academy's rolls were light by about ten percent."  That got him some horrified looks. "They intentionally missed anyone from a lower class neighborhood.  Even the blooded ones in some cases."

"How do you know?" the overlord sneered.

"Easy, Gringotts investigated on the urging of a few curse breakers.  Including the one that got missed," he said, pointing at Don.  "We're all damn lucky Flack here didn't blow us up at times."  Don nodded at that.  "So sorry, but they missed a lot of people."

"They couldn't afford to go," he sneered.

"So!" Danny shouted, moving forward.  "It doesn't matter if they can *afford* it or not. That's why those of us with the higher money and family status contribute more tuition."

"They still can't afford to send half of those children for free!" he snapped.

"Ya know what?" Don offered calmly.  "If you don't, then there's a higher incidence of cancer and suicide.  I doubt any of us wanted our families vulnerable and I doubt your buddies in the military would consider that a good loss of manpower."  He backed up.  "Isn't he voted in?"

"He is," Donatella agreed.  "That'll change."  That got some agreement murmurs.  "Anything else?"  No one said anything.  "Messer, you done being the highest ranking pureblood in the room?"

"No, not yet."  He pulled his wand.  "I challenge you to a duel."  The man shrank away from him. "You don't even carry your wand, do you?" he sneered.  "You're so far out of practice it's not funny."  He stepped closer.  "You can't defend yourself and there's no way you should be counted as one of us.  You're a weak and pathetic puppet to your masters and I'll be *damned* if you're getting those kids."

"Danny, back down," Mac ordered.  Danny shot him a glare.  "They won't get the local school.  Their little project is already failing .  They can't train them to follow orders.  I've asked around about it.  They'll end up failing except for the ten percent of us who want a military life.  Just as it was."  He moved closer.  "They won't end up hurting the kids."

"What about the ones they've already got?" Danny asked. "Are they going to be let go?  Or is someone like Greg gonna find another dump?"

"It won't happen.  They'll let them go."  He moved closer. "Let him go."

"He's hurting kids."

"Yes, but he'll get his," he said calmly.  "Remember that.  There's always a higher power."  Danny nodded and backed down.  He looked at the overlord. "I'd run."  He stomped off.  "We done?"  They all nodded and got one last drink, taking them with them.  He looked at Danny.  "No one's going to kill those kids."

"Some day that could be my kids, Mac.  It's already Horatio's nephew.  It could've been any of them."

"You're right.  Now it'll be stopped.  We've already moved to stop it.  Just give us more time to work on it.  We're doing it, but it's slow."  Danny nodded.  "Now, need a ride home?"

"Please, I came with Don."

"Sure."  He walked out with him, taking him out to his car.  He found Don and Stella out there.  "Are we gathering?"

"Please, I could use a beer after being leered at," Stella agreed.  She looked at them.  "Does Danny have the nicer house?"  Everyone nodded. "Why is that?"

"I don't have the need or energy to do mine," Mac offered.

"I only gave myself another three rooms," Don told him. "I didn't need more."

"I thought about giving myself a palace but then I'd have to clean it," Stella told him.

"I thought about getting a house elf," Danny told her.  "If you do and I do, you can borrow 'em."

"How does one get a house elf?  Are they hatched?" Don asked.

"Three ways: adoption agency, homeless shelter, or direct placement like inheritance or them showing up on your doorstep asking if you need 'em."

"There's a house elf shelter?" Stella asked.  Danny nodded, leaning against the side of the car.

"They have ta have somewhere to put the ones that get clothes," Don pointed out.  "They can't all live under bridges."

"True, and it's the most pitiful place. They give you these big eyes," Danny said, shivering.  "They all give you this pitiful look and you feel so pathetic for not taking them all home with you."

"I'll remember that and bring backup," Don said, shaking his head.

"Greg had to bring Hodges," Danny told him.  "He went for one, came home with two and one for Penn."

"Okay, I'll bring a lot of backup if I go to the shelter."  He looked at them.  "Danny's?"  They all nodded.  "Meet you back there."  He got in and Stella got in with him, earning a grin. "Much prettier than the guy I brought with me."

"Of course I am, but Danny's hair was so tousled and cute this morning.  Have fun messing it up?"  He blushed as he started the car.  "We don't mind, Don.  It's all good.  You're making Danny a happy guy."

"Yeah, but he still won't let me do a lot of stuff."

"Speed and Tony both said he's got a lot of trust issues," she pointed out gently.  He nodded, pulling out to take them to Danny's house since Mac had already left.  "I'm not sure Danny could ever let anyone behind him."

"Me either, but I'd still like some reciprocation, ya know?"

"Very well," she agreed.

"How's Horatio?"

"He's very firm about being on top and in control.  But I'm pretty good about taking some control now and then.  He's not letting me yet."

"It'll come," he advised.

"I know, but I'm not the patient sort."  He grinned when they paused at a red light.  "I know, big shock."

"Not really.  Some women do like to lay there and take it. You two serious?"  She shook her head.  He moved on, turning the corner.

"You're heading to the old place."

He groaned and turned around, going back in the right direction.

***

By the time they were done that night, everyone was severely drunk. The Suddenly Sober charm had been taught to them but no one wanted to apparate home with a hangover.  So they all piled into Danny's bed, making him pout.  He had to climb over Stella to get an outer edge but she didn't seem to care too much.  When they woke up however, Don found out that Danny had shifted during the night.  Now he was between him and Stella, allowing Don to hold him while Danny slept on her chest.  Mac was holding her from behind.  Don looked over, finding Mac awake.  He gave him a tired looking smile and snuggled in tighter against Danny's back.

"We don't mind," he offered quietly. "You make him happy."

"Thanks, Mac.  Means a lot to me."  He stroked Danny's stomach when his breathing changed, allowing him to drift back off.  "You and her?"  He shook his head.  "Ya think that might be a mistake?"

"No.  We have to work together. I can't mess that up."  Stella shifted and he squeezed her, making her go back to sleep as well. "Besides, she's got Horatio."

"That's a stress relief thing."  He looked down at Danny. "It's just us.  I've got you. You're safe."  Danny opened his eyes to glare at him.  He nodded at the pillow, making Danny shift back with a moan.  "You're okay," he offered quietly, letting him go when Danny wiggled.  Danny got up and headed to the bathroom, going to start his day.  "Sorry."

"Not a problem."  He closed the bathroom door quietly, not wanting to wake Stella.

Don stayed where he was. "You two are all-but married at work anyway, Mac."  Stella let out a small moan and pushed her hair back.  "Hey, did Danny wake you when he fled?"

"No, him swearing at himself did," she admitted sleepily.  "Go stop him, Don. He's mad at himself."  He nodded and slid out to do that.  She looked back at Mac.  "You cuddle very well."  He gave her a squeeze and let go.  "Horatio and I are stress relief, Mac, nothing further.  He said he'd gladly hand me over to you the other day."

"Stella, I...."

She smacked him upside the head like Gibbs had shown her.  "Shut up, Mac.  She'd kick your ass for pouting this way. You know she would."  She closed her eyes and put the arm back over her, going back to sleep now that the noisy people were out of her head.  "I need better shields," she complained before succumbing.

Mac smiled and sniffed her hair, thinking about what she had said.  His wife, Claire, had been his life before she died.  Now he was putting things back together again.  He had begun to date casually but didn't allow anything to get serious.  He saw Danny come out of the bathroom.  "You okay?"

"I'm fine.  Want food?"  Mac shrugged and tried to move but Stella sank her nails into his arm. "Never mind.  When you're ready, there'll be coffee."  He went to do that, finding what he wanted for breakfast. Don joined him a few minutes later.  "I'm good."

"No, you're fantastic, but I'm hunting the darker god of lust at the moment."  Danny snickered at that.  "I am.  You make it strong?"

"No, I made it my usual."

"Damn."  He poured a cup anyway and added some milk, then drank slowly.  Then he went back for seconds. "You're eating hot pockets for breakfast?"

"It's food, it works."

Don groaned and kissed him on the cheek. "You're strange at times."  He got into the freezer to get his own food, putting it in the microwave once Danny's were done. "They're cute together."

"They are," he agreed.  "It'd be good for Mac."

"It would be."  He looked at him.  "We should probably talk about the serious stuff too ya know."

"I know.  I'm avoiding it."

"I figured as much.  That's why you were swearing at Speed this morning after he asked if she was comfy."  He took another drink, looking at him.  "If you're good, I'm good," he told him.  Danny shrugged at that, eating another bite.  "Even if you wanted to be more or less causal I'm good."

"I'm good with where we are," he assured him, eating another bite and looking at him.  Flack stared at him for a minute then nodded.  "We done with the touchy-feely talk?"  Don nodded.  "Good."  He poured some coffee into a clean cup and went to deliver it to his bed, where Stella was snoring pretty loudly, but her nails had drawn blood on Mac's arm.  Mac was allowed to shift because she laid on his stomach instead, allowing him to have almost every cop's morning habit.  "Who's on today?"

"You, me, Sheldon, new kid."  He sipped.  "Stella and Don are off."

"Cool.  Let me get some clothes."  He went to find something in the closet.

"Wear the blue ones," Mac said quietly. Danny gave him an odd look.  "You seem happier when you're in them."

"It's silk."

"It's a Thursday.  We won't be that busy today."

"Point."  He pulled that out and a black shirt, then went to change in the bathroom once he had underwear and socks.  He came out adjusting his collar, then strapped his wand onto his back waistband, then his gun and badge. "See you there."

"Sure. Be careful on the subway."  Danny nodded and headed out, gathering his jacket and shoes, plus his keys, by the doorway.  Then he headed out with a smirk at Don.

"You had ta make him wear that outfit?" Don complained, coming in with the coffee pot to refill Mac's cup.  "Everyone'll stare at his ass all day, Mac."

"You get used to it," Stella complained.  "It's my day off.  Quit."  She thumped her head down and shifted her hair out of the way, going back to sleep.

Mac and Don shared a smile.  You had to obey Stella when she was in a mood, or else she'd make your life miserable later on that same day. It was a rule they all lived by. Mac let Don trade places with him since he had today off and Mac didn't, going home to change and head into work an hour late. He could make it up later.  He usually stayed late doing paperwork on Thursdays anyway.  He got there and found Danny already out on a scene with Sheldon, and the new kid bouncing up and down waiting on him. "Eager?" he asked.  The kid nodded.  "Calm down.  You can't bounce on a scene, Scotty."  He went to get his kit, just in case it was a call soon.  It only took them a half an hour and then the new boy was bouncing up the hallway with the paper and they were off as well.

***

Don went home, finding a package waiting on him.  "What are you?" he asked, picking it up.  It was warm.  He frowned and pulled out his pocket knife to slit it open at the side, in the cooler spot.  It got upended onto the table, and out rolled an egg.  "Okay."  He searched, finding a note.  "Please protect little Beufort for me, I can't do it myself.  Don't worry, he'll be harmless and cuddly as long as you're good to him and he'll protect your things like they're his."  He looked at the large egg, realizing what it was by the size alone.  The defense textbook had pictures of dragons eggs.  He went to get it and brought it back, reading over that section.  "Okay, I can do that."

He thumped it like it said, hearing and feeling something shift.  "You'll be out soon and the heating charm should be enough to keep you warm."  He closed it and went to get what Hagrid had done in the books when he had hatched Norbert.  He thought about calling someone but who would believe someone sent *him* a dragon's egg?  He found a small box for the egg and put it next to the radiator, turning it on to keep the air around it warm too.  "I'll be right back, little Beufort.  I need to get you some brandy and meat."  He grabbed his wallet and headed for the nearest grocery store, hoping they had both.  He considered the bottles of brandy, going for the good stuff.  He wasn't sure it mattered but he didn't want to feed his pet the nasty, mildew tasting stuff.  The meat was a harder decision.  "Cow, pig, or chicken?"  The butcher looked at him, giving him a curious look.  "I'm feeding a new pet, I was advised to give it raw meat for the first few days.  Any ideas?"

"Cow's a pretty safe choice."   He pointed at a cut.  "I can cube that up for you if you want."

"Small cubes please," he agreed, handing over the package he liked.  He thought about Keelian and how much he ate, then added another three.  "Just to be safe."  If not, he was sure he could turn it into a stew or something.  He checked out and headed home, going to check on his new friend.  It was still warm and toasty so he had time to marinate the meat in the brandy.  He thought about calling Alex to get a dragon guide but he wasn't sure he'd get in trouble with it.  After all, the US didn't have a Ministry to say you couldn't keep dragons and Greg said that one of the potions guys out in Vegas had one for ingredients....

Hide and Seek

Danny frowned, going over to see who was knocking.  He found someone he vaguely recognized on the other side.  "You are?"

"Canadian Ministry, Wizard Messer, may I?"  Danny let him in, closing the door behind him.  "The town's overlord sent me to you about this, sir."  Danny shrugged. "You're the top pureblood in the city."

"No, there's a Cimrus member around here somewhere."

"She's on vacation with the other two."  Danny grimaced.  "We've had someone illegally shipping dragons into this unprotected and undeclared territory."  He whimpered.  "Exactly.  I figure it's some rogue potions person."

"No, Greg Sanders said they're mostly in Vegas."

"I'll talk with their overlord soon then."  He smiled at him.  "Have you heard anything about dragons?"

"No but almost no one says stuff like that to me.  Our overlord's a piece'a work but he's also a moron.  He's got really close ties to the military and their purge is good to him."  He shuddered.  "Exactly.  He even stuck up for the school missing kids."  That got a heated look. "Ask the goblins.  They've been working on that issue.  I'm helping train two who were missed."  He considered it.  "I heard Miami had some illegal shipments of dragons.  I can call down there."

"Please."

Danny nodded.  "Give me a few.  We've got a marking."

"Like the Banes?"

"Yeah, they're helping us train the others."  He grinned.  "Speedle's down there."  He sat down again and called Speed, telling him what was going on.  He felt Don's 'eep' and then his sudden non-presence.  That was interesting.  Speed said to give him a few.  "He's got to ask his boss who was doing it.  Give him five."

"Of course."  He sat down, getting comfortable.  "Have you seen the one at Hogwarts?"

"Keelian? Yeah.  Alex Dumass is the one helping us train since one'a the missed ones is a natural curse breaker.  He's the beater I play with inter-borough.  Keelian loves him and Stella's shirt."  That got a smile.  "Dragon breast-dives all the time."

"That young they often do if they're hand raised.  Is he nesting?"

"Alex just recently had ta let him steal some stuff from his stores so he'd quit trying to claim a cavern of stuff."  He smiled at that.  "Don freed a whole chest of stuff for him."

"Wonderful. It sounds like Keelian's in very good hands."

Danny blinked, calling Don.  He got a 'not home' mental message.  He poked the message and Don yelped, and he could tell it was out loud.  So he repeated it.  Tony groaned when Don admitted he had been sent an egg through the mail.  Danny moaned and looked at him.  "We do have one certain sighting.  The natural curse breaker got mailed one."  A letter and package appeared in front of him, the package having been the portkey.  He looked at it and snickered, handing it over.  "In childish printing no less."

"He's definitely a curse breaker," he moaned shaking his head. "Surely he can't imagine he could keep the baby dragon in the middle of the city?"

"I have no idea what Don's thinking at the moment.  He's locked me out again."

"Any word yet from Speedle?"

"Not yet.  He's still talking to his boss and moaning at Don's stupidity."

***

Speed went walking calmly up the hall, pushing Horatio into the evidence locker.  "The Canadian Ministry just came up to Danny to talk about some smuggled dragons," he said quietly.   Horatio moaned, shaking his head.  "Apparently he's the highest pureblood in town with some others on vacation and after the problems with their overlord the other day they decided to go that route.  Now, with that said...."  He trailed off, hearing Danny prodding Don.  He heard Don's confession and moaned, turning to smack his head into a wall.  "Someone mailed Don a dragon's egg."

"Keeping a dragon is illegal."

"This is a curse breaker thing, Horatio.  Like Keelian adopting Ron was."  Horatio gave him a look.  "Seriously.  Only a curse breaker could get adopted by a dragon or have one mailed to him.  Don's sent the letter to Danny at least.  But they need to know anything you've found about that smuggling operation."

"I can gather what notes I've got at home and send them to Danny tonight."  He walked out shaking his head.  "I thought Alex was bad," he muttered as he walked.

***

Tony heard Don's eep and then Danny's prodding and groaned.  His boss looked at him.  "Boss, can I have ten to nark on someone?"

"One of us?"

"No, someone just mailed Don a pet dragon," he muttered as he walked past him.  He pulled out his cellphone and called Alex's cellphone.  "Dumass, DiNozzo.  Someone just mailed your new apprentice a dragon's egg."   He listened to the spluttering.  "Were you taking a drink?  You should've known better."  He heard the complaint about hoping the tea didn't soak into the priceless scroll.  "You can clean it, Alex. You have in the past.  There's a rep from the Canadians with Danny about some smuggling things.  Yeah, you might wanna do that.  I'm sure Don can use the same wisdom you gave Ron."  He heard the 'I laughed my ass off' and sighed. "Alex, remember where Don lives. It's not like the others in his building will put up with the little smoking and flaming beast.  Bring Keelian then.  I don't care!"  He hung up and walked back, walking right up to Gibbs.  "Smack me please to make sure I don't go pet the new pet of the group?"

Gibbs smacked him.  "They're probably illegal."

"No governing body over that in the US, boss."  Gibbs groaned at that.  "Someone literally *mailed* him an egg with a heating charm," he muttered, heading back to work.  Tim McGee looked at him.  "Don just proved he's one of the best curse breakers ever."

"He tripped into a hole and found buried Nazi treasure?"  That was the historical precedent set by the best curse breaker in the history books.

"No, someone mailed him a big gold egg."  McGee's mouth fell open.  "A big, warm, gold egg, Probie."  McGee whimpered at that.  "And he's thinking about keeping it in the middle of New York City!" he finished, his teeth clamped together.

McGee burst out laughing.  "You almost had me going there, Tony.  Good one!"

"Not joking," Tony said dryly, shaking his head.  "Wish I was.  That's why I sicced Alex on his six."

Tim laughed.  "Oh, damn, that's still funny.  How would he take care of one of those in the city?  They're dangerous!"

"He's a curse breaker, McGee.  This just proved it beyond a shadow of a doubt."

Gibbs smacked McGee.  "Back to work.  You can gossip later."

"Yes, boss," they agreed.

Gibbs shook his head. He had liked Keelian.  He had good taste in women and had been a very nice lap cuddler while he read.

***

Alex hung up and looked back at Ron.  "Don just broke your record," he told him and Charley.  They both glared at him.  "Don got one *mailed* to him.  Complete with 'please take care of me' letter.  It's a small ridgeback from what Danny thinks."  Charley moaned, shaking his head.  "Exactly!  So he's now broken Ron's old record of being adopted.  Plus he's thinking about keeping it!  Long live the USA and their lack of enforcement!"

"We should check on the poor little thing," Charley said, getting up.

"Bring Keelian.  He'd know immediately if it was sick."

"Point."  He scooped the dragon off his sister's lap and hauled Ron up. "Let's go."  They headed for Danny's via the camp moving spell, Ron being delicate enough not to take the carpet as well.  They landed behind the couch and Danny waved, handing over the note, which had been tuned to Don's place.  "Thanks."  They disappeared again and he landed, looking at the shivering thing.  "It's cold, Don."

Don cast another heating charm.  "I don't know why.  I've got six of them layered on and around him."

"Her."  He came over and Keelian sniffed, then sneezed and nuzzled the dragon, getting into the nest with her.  She snuggled against him.  Charley settled in front of them to look her over. "Warm the meat first."  Don nodded, going to warm it in the microwave.  He brought out the steaming bowl and Charley held up a piece, getting a vicious beak nearly taking off his fingers for it.  "You're hungry."

"She just hatched.  She's already had about a pound."

"I can see the bulge."  He fed her a few more pieces, then watched as Keelian cooed over her.  "She's not steaming?"  He pried open her mouth, getting a weak bit of steam. "Ah, you're a weak one.  It's probably better you're not alone yet."  He fed her another piece.  "Eat more, get warmer."  Keelian steamed around her, making her snuggle against him again and drift off to sleep.  He looked at Don, shaking his head.  "You can't keep her, Don."

"Why not! You said yourself she's weak.  She'd never live in the wild.  She'd be eaten immediately even if there was a spot for newly hatched ones."  He pouted at him.  "She's adorable. I wanted to name her after my Ma, who's a fierce dragon in her own right."

Charley smiled at that.  "Who's down from the Canadians?"

"Not a clue. They're with Danny."  He looked at Ron.  "Hi."  He gave him a slight grin.  "She got mailed to me."

"I heard.  You broke my record for ridiculous shit happening to us, Don.  Proves you're meant to be a great one."  He clapped him on the back when his brother gave him a dirty look.  "It is!  Hell, I'm surprised Armwrench hasn't shown up to mark him yet."  Charley shook his head and went back to his exam.  He called Danny's house. "It's us, it's safe.  She's napping.  Charley said she's a pretty weak steamer."  He hung up and they both appeared.  "Keelian likes her."

"She's his sort of dragon," Charley agreed.  "He might think it's his sibling.  Which means he'll try to eat her tail later."  Keelian hissed at him.  "You guys do that!"  Keelian hissed again so he withdrew.  "Fine.  You can fuss for a few more."  He stood up and looked at the Ministry person.  "Charley Weasley, Romanian Preserve," he said, shaking his hand.

"Florette, Canadian Ministry, Prevention of Cruelty to Animals."  Horatio landed and handed over the information he had.  "Thank you.  Which city is this from?"

"Miami."  He looked at the baby dragon, then at Don.  "That would be illegal."

"Charley said she's weak," he defended.

"It still won't be good for her to be raised in the city, Don.  She needs room to roam and explore.  Things she can pounce and eat besides you and the neighbor's cat."  He looked down, having the feeling of being stared at, finding Keelian glaring at him.  "You live in a safe spot."

"I don't see why Hagrid would turn this one away," Charley offered.  "I can call Philip."

"Already done, he's asking Hagrid right now," Ron admitted.  "Alex wants to see her too, Don."  He looked at Florette.  "Any idea where the egg came from?"

He nodded.  "The preserve in Canada is overflowing and a few have nested outside the boundaries.  We don't much care.  It's surrounded by native tribes who respect the animals.  I'm hoping one of the eggs was found by whoever mailed it.  The real question is why it was mailed to him."

"Maybe they're a wizard associated with Gringotts?" Danny offered. "His name was just put into the newest edition of their Contact Book."

"Perhaps.  I noticed the address was to him personally.  Do you know any Canadians?"

"No.  Was it near the school?"  He looked then nodded.  "I know someone who's got a sponsored kid up there but I doubt Lindsey would do that."

"The penmanship was too childish for a school age child," Florette noted, looking over as someone new appeared, along with a very large man.  "Hagrid."  He smiled.  "This is Keelian's new friend apparently."

"Awww, she's a darlin' bit'a fluff," he cooed, picking her up to cuddle her.  She steamed at him, blinking hard.  "It's all right there, baby.  I'm a nice one. I take care'a Keelian, the one who's climbing up ta cuddle ya again." Keelian climbed up and laid on top of her.  "That's nice'a ya, Keelian.  Thank ya."  He stroked her stomach, making her belch.  "Sounds like you've got a backed up belly there, little missy."  He sat down to work on that with Charley, who got her steaming and warming within minutes.  "There, that's nicer, in'it?"

"Very much so, thank you," Don agreed.  "The note said to call her Beufort.  I'm thinking that's a boy's name though."

"Ya think?" Danny asked sarcastically.  Don glared at him.  "You can't keep a dragon in the city, Don.  She could burn down the building while you were at work."

Alex leaned over, looking at the baby dragon, then at Keelian, who huffed at him. "I won't hurt her, Keelian.  We're trying to see where she should go."  Keelian steamed at the Ministry officer.  "Go pout at him, maybe he'll let Hagrid keep her."  Keelian wiggled over and up that one, staring in his face once he was perched on his shoulder, just staring into his eyes.

"If your headmaster and Ministry agree," he said finally.  "Is she your mate, Keelian?"  The baby dragon steamed lightly.  "All right then.  Let's contact your Ministry?"

Ron touched his arm, telling that to Philip, who brought Alex's second portkey with him and the Ministry person.  "I love this job," he said happily, grinning at Alex.  "Keelian's found a true love to share his nest with.  Someone got worse luck with them than I did by being adopted in the middle of the muggle marketplace."  Keelian climbed up his leg, making him wince and grab him to hold.  "Don't claw me or else I won't feed you any more pudding."  The British Ministry person gave him a dirty look.  "It was blood pudding!"  He looked down at him.  "I love you, but it was odd that you adopted me, Keelian.  Most dragons wouldn't have.  They would have run screaming from my hair that morning."  Keelian snorted.  "No, I still love you. I can't imagine what my life would be like without you diving down my girl's shirt now and then."  Keelian's tail swished and Ron petted him gently.  "I love you. You're very wanted now that we know you.  I hope the eggs you have far in the future are watched over by some of our family then." Keelian seemed happier about that.  "Just no collecting a harem, huh?  I'd never hear the end of it, baby boy."  He stroked over his stomach, getting loud purrs.  "Good boy dragon."  The new one mewled so he plucked her up by the neck and put her next to him, petting her too.  "Hello to you too, Beufort."  He looked at Hagrid.  "We've got to rename her."

Hagrid nodded.  "Beaua?"

"That works," the British Ministry person agreed, sighing at the sight of Keelian wrapping himself around the smaller dragon.  "He's adopted her, hasn't he?"

"I think he thinks she's going to be his nestmate instead of sibling," Charley admitted quietly. "He got mailed her, Terry."

"Curse breakers," she muttered.  "Why must you upset the natural order?"

"Hey, not me," Alex said fondly.  "I haven't had a troll try to take me as a mate in *years*."  Horatio gave him an odd look.  "I had to raid a nest where it was being used as a trap. It fixated since I freed it.  The big, huge mountain troll loved me."

"I will never let a curse breaker work underneath me," he muttered.

Danny looked at him. "Speed's got the instincts for one," he offered happily.  His head rocked with the swat that Tony gave as he and Gibbs appeared.  "Hi, meet Beaua."

Gibbs walked over, looking at the dragon.  It gave him a curious stare right back.  "You're very small."  He dipped into the bowl of meat, giving her a piece.  Keelian hummed and opened his mouth too. "Spoiled," he teased, feeding him some too.  He fed a few more and relinquished his spot to Horatio, who shook his head but kept feeding her.  "They're cute."

"They are, that's why people try to keep them."

"Just like alligators," Horatio agreed.  The dragon huffed at him.  "You're a lizard too. They're non-steaming cousins."  He fed her another piece and Keelian wrapped his tail around his wrist.  "Let go, I need that hand."  He fed him a piece, getting his hand free.  "Thank you."  He relinquished his spot back to Gibbs, who was having a lot of fun playing with the babies.

"Aww, boss, you look so good," Tony teased.  Horatio swatted him.  "Hey, only he gets to do that!"

"He's busy."

Gibbs smirked at him.  "After a while it becomes addictive.  Go ahead and do it to Speed now and then.  It's very stress relieving when they do stupid stuff."

"You know, I could quit and go play pro," Tony reminded him.  Gibbs glared so the dragons glared.  "Hey!"  They growled too, just like the boss was.  "No fair.  They're mimicking you!"  He went to pout with Don, who gave him a pitiful look.  "You can visit her all the time.  After all, I'm sure Keelian will drag her home to find her own nest some day soon."

"Maybe but she's so sweet."

"Ow!" Gibbs yelped.  "Damn it, she burned me."

"Yeah, very sweet," Tony agreed dryly.  Don glared at him.  "For a dragon."  Gibbs came in to get some ice.  "He was just saying how sweet she was."

"She is, for a dragon. That's probably normal."  He stuck the piece of ice on his hand and Tony pulled his wand, fixing it. "Thank you."  He tossed the ice into the sink.  "You all right, Flack?"

"I'm fine.  Just pouting."

"I understand.  Keelian's one of those creatures that makes you want to spoil the little monster."  He tensed as he felt claws climbing up his thigh, glaring at the baby dragon.  "Should you be in here?"

"Beaua," Don said, plucking her off to hold her.  She steamed and snuggled into his arms, purring.  "Yeah, I love ya too, you little snot."  She seemed to smirk at him.  "You wanna go live with Keelian?"  Her tail swished and he scratched her stomach, making her a happy dragon. "How did Keelian get so friendly?"

"Dawn started out raising him," Alex said as he walked in, looking at the dragon.  "She'll adore you.  She's been pouting about not having more girls around her."  Beaua steamed at him but settled down when he petted her.  "You're a good girl.  You'll be fine at the school.  You'll have a unicorn to cuddle with and a flying horse.  You'll like Apple, she'll let you fly with her and Ginny most likely.  You'll be fine. You can even help Keelian and Don make a nest for you two."  She huffed and shifted, letting them scratch her easier. "Good girl."  Philip and the Ministry people came in.  "We set?"

"We're set," the British ministry person offered.  She looked at the dragon.  "You'll love the school.  Keelian?"  She squealed as something hit her back, then slid over her shoulder and down her shirt, but he popped his head back up, looking disgusted.  "Sorry, little fella, but not all of us can wear push up bras and have big hooters.  Deal with it, move on. You can go snuggle in Summer's bust soon enough."

"He likes stomachs that grumble," Don told her.

She gave them all a look.  "Don't shit me, Curse Breaker Flack.  He likes hooters.  Most of 'em do."  She plucked the dragon out and held him up.  "You gonna come home with her?  Let Dawn have her for a bit?"  He leapt over and snuggled down on his friend's body, smoking into her nose.  "Good."  She took them both, snuggling them into her.  "Good boy."  She looked at the headmaster.  "By your leave?"

"Should we pop in on Greg since he's got some there?"

"No, we need to get together to set up a new one," she pointed out.  Florette nodded.  "We're so overcrowded it's ridiculous."  She stroked the stomachs.  "Come on, let's head home."  She took the portkey from Philip's hand, heading off.

Philip nodded politely.  "Thanks for the small spot of excitement. Always a fun bit."  He smirked at Don.  "Try to behave.  Don't do it again."  He disappeared.

Alex looked at him.  "He says that because four out of seven of those that came after me adopted me for being so cute and hot."  He smirked.  "You on this weekend?"  Don nodded, grimacing a bit.  "Game?"  Don nodded again.  "You'll figure it out."

"My boss hates my sport thing, as I call it.  Not like I can tell her I'm playing quidditch."  Alex beamed at that.  "Danny's on too."

"Crap. Well, someone will figure that out."

"Yeah, the same as we'll figure out who to put in the overlord's place since he likes the purge and thought it was a good idea to miss us all."  Alex growled.  "Yeah, basically."

"Curse Breaker Dumass, can you fill us in on that situation?" Florette asked.

"Oh, fully.  I reported it to my boss and they've been doing the research.  Come with me, I'll introduce you."

"Tell Gruinth I said hi and to watch out for that stupid biting vase."

Alex grunted and nodded.  "Yeah, got Harry earlier and Draco laughed his ass off."  He disappeared with her.

Gibbs walked out shaking his head.  "At least the dragon was nice, Don.  It didn't try to eat you."  He looked at Tony.  "Shall we?  Since we've got paperwork to do?"  Tony blushed and nodded, hanging his head.  "Thank you."  He took hold of his arm and they disappeared, landing in the elevator, with Ducky and the Director.  "Shit."

Tony pulled his wand, pointing it at her. "Obliviate."  She went limp, then passed out.  "Hmm, might've made it a bit too strong."  Ducky smacked him this time, but on the arm.  "Ow!  Sorry!"  He hit the button for their floor.  "Do we have a cause of death?"

"Natural causes. I found an enormous embolism in his brain.  Stroke."

"Cool.  Better that than a hard blow to the head."  Ducky gave him a look.  "I'd rather die of a stroke than a blow to the head."

"Had too many of those, DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked as the elevator doors opened. "Let's drag her into the hallway, Ducky."  He helped by getting her feet while Tony walked off.  "She had better remember her name."

"I don't think I got that in-depth, boss.  Sorry."  He sat down to go over his report, weathering the look from McGee.  "We landed in the elevator with Ducky and the Director," he mouthed.  McGee moaned and shook his head, sighing a bit.  "They're trying to bring her back around."  He went to help.  Tony typed up his report.  McGee came back and plucked something off his shirt, holding it up.  "Flack got mailed a dragon egg," he said with a grin, glancing around.  "We also got to see Keelian again."

"Kate would've loved that dragon," he said with a small smirk.

"She would've laughed her butt off," he agreed happily.  Gibbs gave them a look.  "Kate would've laughed about Keelian and his antics until he tried it on her."

He paused and thought about it, then nodded. "She would've.  Probably would've given Dawn and Ginny funny looks for letting him do it too."  They both nodded.  "She's fine.  She remembers what days it is."

"Didn't mean to get her that hard, boss."

"Do not do it again, DiNozzo."  Tony nodded, going back to his typing.  He sat down to do his own, looking at McGee.  "What are you doing?"

"Waiting to hear what they named the new one."

"Beaua.  Whoever sent it to Don sent a note naming the egg Beufort, but it was a girl."  McGee smiled at that.  "Keelian adopted her and they went home together to be pampered and spoiled by Dawnie."  He smiled at that and went back to work, plucking a scale off Gibbs' shirt as well.  "Store those."

"Tupperware?"

"No moisture.  They can mildew."

"Sure.  Who're we giving them to?"

"Sanders."

"How do we know him?" he asked.  Tony smirked at him.  "How?"

"Remember that blond guy with Emilia?"  He nodded slowly, their kids had climbed all over him to make him read to them.  "That's Sanders. He works out west."  McGee shook his head and came over to pluck more off them and put them into a bag.  "No moisture," he repeated.

"I'll seal them when I get home since I've got one of those vacuum machines."

"Thanks."  He checked over his report then emailed it to his boss.  "Anything else, boss?"

Gibbs read it over, then glared at him.  "Let's try to ignore the phone call?"  Tony frowned and went back over it, then took that part out and resent it.  "Thank you, DiNozzo.  Head home.  McGee?"

"Already done, boss, just have to send it."  He sent it over, looking at him, getting a nod.  "Am I excused?"  That got a second nod.  "Night, boss.  Sleep well."  He hurried off with the scales.

The director came over holding her head. "Jethro, do you have anything in your desk?  Ducky's disappeared from his office."  He bent over to get into his bottom drawer, exposing a scale in his hair.  She frowned and plucked it out, making him look at her as he tossed over the bottle of aspirin.  "Gray hair that was sticking up."  She walked off, going to take something for her headache.  Then she'd get someone in another agency to see what that thing was.  It looked like some sort of scale.  Something was going on with her people that she didn't know about and she did not like it.  She would know and soon, or else.

***

Speed landed beside Danny's bed, earning a grunt.  Tony landed on the other side, earning a flipped finger.  They laid down on either side of him.  "Danny," Speed said softly.  Danny glared at him.  "We wanna talk."

"'Bout?"

"Your trust issues."  Tony snuggled against his front.  Danny wiggled closer to lay on him, then Speed laid against his back.  Danny stiffened.  "Danny, you trust us," he reminded him quietly, letting Speed stroke his back.  "You've trusted us since our third month of school when we helped you in that duel."  Danny nodded, making himself relax again. "Why are you so uptight about that?"

"I don't like people behind me."

"You never used to mind us curling up like this," Speed said quietly, wrapping an arm around his waist. "We spent a lot of nights in Tony's bed in this same position. You never minded us."

"Times change."

"Yeah, but this isn't times change. This is something happened and you never let us know."

Speed shook his head. "This happened back in school, Tony."  Danny stiffened again.  He cuddled up again.  "The only thing I'm wondering is if it was Sonny or post Sonny."  Danny shook his head.  "No?"

"No."  He lifted his head, turning to look at the head over his shoulder, then at Tony.  "I'm fine."

"You're not fine.  You're hurting others, including us," Tony said quietly.  He gave him a squeeze.  "Was this something you should've gotten counseling about?"  Danny shook his head, putting it back down.  "Are you sure?"

"Did Don complain?"

"No, Stella said you were so panicked this morning that you ran and swore at yourself for moving to cuddle in the middle of the night.  Then you yelled at me," Speed reminded him gently.  "You worried us."  Danny shook his head. "You did, Danny.  Even Tony's alpha stance has eased a bit. You're still stiff, even when it's just us.  Even with the guys you trust enough to let into your deepest thoughts."  He nuzzled his neck.  "You're not the only one with issues here, but if you ruin the best thing that ever came into your life, you'll kick yourself forever."  Danny sighed and nodded.  "Now, can you relax?"  Danny went limp under him.  "Good boy.  Think it can keep going if we touch you?"  Danny nodded.  "What if we brought Don?"

"I don't know."  The bed dipped and he looked back.  "How long have you been there?"

"Few seconds.  When you agreed you could relax."  He took Tony's other side.  "They're tryin' ta help, Danny, but I'm not gonna be pushy."  Danny kissed him, shutting him up.  "You sure?"

"Only seems fair.  They were there the other time."  Don grinned and moved closer, pulling him over to his side of Tony to treat him to his best attempt at a backrub.  Which was pretty good if he did say so himself.

"I want one of those some day," Tony complained.  Speed flipped him over and got to work on his back. "Thank you.  I got a Gibbs-glare because I ended up having to obliviate the Director."   Speed snorted.  "We landed in the elevator with her."

Don smirked at him.  "You're just a hedonist anyway, Tony," he taunted.

"True, so very true.  Unfortunately I have to work for a living."

"You'd be bored," Danny noted dryly.  He rolled his neck and Don moved up to do that. "You're spoiling me rotten."

"Next time, I'll take you in the closet in the lab," he whispered.  Danny tensed up.  "Make you howl in pleasure like you did me the last time?"  Danny shook his head. "No?"

"No.  I work way too hard to keep my credibility to blow it on a quickie at work.  If it happens, it'll be in the car somewhere no one will care."

"Sure," Don agreed happily, moving the oil down to tease his lower back.

"Don, I'm okay with this."

"Shut up."

"Second time ever, Don."

"Bet me," Tony snorted. Danny looked at him.  "Seriously?"  Danny nodded.   "Who!"

"Quidditch coach."

"Why?" Don demanded.

"Blackmail," Speed admitted.  "He blackmailed him and Tony, claimed they had used illegal charms during practice on their brooms.  I thought we both topped him."

"We didn't charm the brooms but I had wondered," Danny admitted quietly.  "I'm just not the sort of guy to let most anyone behind me.  I'm too cautious."

Don leaned down to kiss the back of his neck.  "I know that, Danny.  You've always been like that.  I told my sister I was thinking about taking you to dinner some night and she warned me I'd end up on my back and begging since you'd never do anything else."  He moved back to tease him.  "You sure?"

"Don, in me," he said patiently.  "Now."

Don smirked.  "I don't think I like that hint of command," he teased, moving down to tease his balls with his oily fingers.  Danny moaned and shifted some, his face tightening up.  "Can I be in charge for a bit?"  Danny nodded.  "You sure?"

"You wanna be smacked?"

"No."  He poured out a bit more oil, teasing the small pucker.  He handed it over to Speed, who handed over an opened condom.  "Thanks.  Forgot about that."  He got to work playing with him, teasing and touching him.  Danny moaned as he switched to two fingers.  "You're still tighter than I am back here."

"You eat more cheese than I do," Danny growled.

"Funny.  I can stop."

"I'll pounce you," Danny warned.  Don slid the condom down himself and oiled himself up, then laid down beside him. "You seriously want me to pounce you?"  Don nodded.  "Fine, your choice, Flack."  He pounced, making him regret it because he was going to drive him insane.  His teeth, his tongue, his fingers.  By the time he was finally ready to let Don have what he had wanted, Don was incoherent enough to not be able to speak his name.  He did moan Danny's name when he slid down him, but other than that he just held on and let him do whatever he wanted.  "Thought you wanted to be in control."

"I'm good," he panted, flipping them over and then making Danny turn over, diving back into him to take him on his hands and knees, making him grab the headboard with a swear as he slammed into him.  "You good?" he teased, whispering in his ear.  "Or you gonna give up and plead now, Messer?"  Danny moaned and Don went harder and faster, hands on Danny's hips pulling him back to meet each thrust.  He heard a moan and looked at Speed, who was now on his back.  "What?"  He slammed in again, harder this time.  Danny howled.  "He's fine.  You need help, Tony?  He doesn't look brainless yet."

"I like him able to beg," Tony assured him, reaching over to pinch Danny's butt.

"Hey!  Mine!"  He swatted that spot and Danny came, making him smirk.  "Won't save you."  He kept going until he was done, making Danny pant and collapse under him.  Don slid out slowly, taking off the condom and tossing it into the trash, then holding Danny.

"Don't cuddle," Danny panted.

"Yeah, well, I do, and you're a body pillow.  The same as I was once."  He got comfortable on him, watching Speed and Tony finish up.  "They're hot."

"Very," Danny agreed, reaching over to twist Tony's nipple, which made him swear and get off.  Speed laughed but Tony fisted his cock for him, making him finally come as well.  "Very hot, boys.  Thank you."

"Always happy to make you happy," Speed said tiredly, kissing him.  "Now sleep. We've all got to work in the morning."

"Yeah, with my luck, I'll be crawling in that stupid sewer pipe again," Danny said bitterly.

"Nope.  You won't have ta," Don promised. "I know all and I see all.  It was natural causes."

"Hammerback finally got him unglowy enough ta tell?"

"Yup.  Had a heart attack.  The glowing radiation was another problem and we reported it to the EPA, who joked and said it came from Jersey.  They're looking into it for us, so they get to crawl around the outflow pipe."

"Shit, I just thought of something," Tony moaned a second later.  Everyone stared at him. "Our old hideout."  Danny moaned.  "Danny?"

"Not since graduation.  It hurt too much and I couldn't climb with my wrist."

"I was at Columbia and I didn't think about it either.  It hurt too much that we had drifted apart," Speed agreed.

"Where is this place?" Don asked.

"An abandoned pipe system down under the subway," Speed told him, looking over.  "It's sealed magically so no one can get down there."

"Part of it was excavated in a tunnel renovation," Danny said thoughtfully.  "That could've exposed it ta the homeless."

"I doubt it.  We resealed the door when we left for graduation," Tony pointed out.  He looked at him.  "We've got to go down there, Danny.  We left tons of shit down there."  Danny groaned.  "We should go tonight so no one sees us."

"Can we apparate?"

"No," Danny said, shaking his head.  "Something could've changed.  We could end up in Mongolia."

"No, that was Ron," Speed assured him dryly, making Don pinch him.  "He did!"

"Hey, I ended up in Africa," Tony said dryly.  "Somehow.  When I came to my senses, I was dancing around a fire in body paint and a grass skirt, having been possessed by the spirits as I came over to heal the ill men of the tribe.  Plus two or three women."  He rubbed a hand over his face.  "We need to go."

"We do, but it's nearly two in the morning," Don complained.  "How would we get down there?"

"Secret tunnels under the school and the gardens for one of them," Speed told him.  Danny groaned as he climbed out of bed, heading for the bathroom and then his closet.  "You're still very well built, Danny."

"I'd better not be the only one getting dressed," he said firmly.

Don stood up, stretching upward.  "I left some jeans here, can I borrow a t-shirt?"  Danny tossed him one.  "Thanks."  He went to find his jeans, finding them in the bottom of the closet.  "If we're serious, can I have a drawer?"  Danny gave him a look. "For those sudden attacks of sex that mean I can't make it home?"

"I'll let you hang a few suits and borrow half a drawer," Danny agreed quietly.  Don gave him his most brilliant, happy smile.  "Welcome."  He sat down with a hiss to pull on his sneakers.  Then he got up to take something for that ache.  He came back to find Speed and Tony bumming clothes and then transfiguring them so they'd fit.  After all, Tony was pretty tall and Speed was heavier than Danny was.  "All right, we apparate into the gardens, then sneak down into the barrier."

"There's a guard now," Tony reminded him.

"And?  We're checking out rumors of a secret wizard's hiding spot.  Don's a curse breaker, it'll make sense."  They apparated there, making the guard tense and pull his wand.  "Hold up."  The guard relaxed when he pulled his badge.  "There's a secret entrance around here?"

"Yeah, we've known about that area," he admitted, opening one.  "That one?  The witches are using it for love spells."

"No, not that one," Speed said, opening theirs.  "Ours."  He smiled.  "We left stuff down there.  We're going to pick it up."

"Should I call someone if you get eaten?"

"I can take out any traps, Patrick," Don said cockily. "Besides, they built 'em."  He shrugged and followed the guys down, closing the entrance behind him. "Luminos."  His wand lit and they headed down the marble stairs.  "Who created this?"

"The same person who created the shopping area," Tony said quietly. "They were originally going to put it underground."  They paused in front of the marble gateway, then had to pull Don off.  "Not now."

"Yes, now!  There's open magic in there!"

"Not now," Speed repeated.  "It's warded."

"No it's not."

"Yeah, it traditionally is," Danny told him.

"No, it's not.  There's a passive ward, an alarm, but nothing else and there's open magic back in there.  Summoning magic."

"We'll get it on the way out," Speed assured him.  Don nodded, agreeing to that.  "Thank you."

"Welcome."  They headed further down, past another gateway.  "Wow.  That feels like Knockturn."

"That was our version and there's another path down there behind the quidditch and book stores," Tony offered quietly.  They went further down, ending up at a dead end.  The three original crew spread out and pulled their wands.

"Severus," they cast at the wall to the left of the stairs.  It opened and they slid inside, Danny pulling Don behind him.  Once in there, the door closed.

"Ignius," Speed cast, lighting the small line of gas that led to a few lamps along the walls.  "This way.  Main cavern or the reading room, Tony?"

"We need to clean all of it, then our private stash," he admitted, heading back that way.  "Don, ward the entrance?  I can feel someone searching."

Don turned around and warded the entrance, then jogged to catch up, looking at the underground rooms.  "Wow. You guys did good work."

"It was Horatio's year.  It got passed down but the year after us refused to listen and so did the years after them," Danny said sadly.  "They said it was wrong and they'd get into trouble."

"This was an inter-house refuge," Speed agreed quietly, looking around.  He cast the cleaning charm, cleaning all the dust off it.  "We'll have to find a member of our house and initiate them into the wards.  It's too necessary now."  They went to clean up what they needed to, taking old notes, some books, leaving the majority of the library there.  Danny ran his hand over one book.  "Go ahead, Danny."

"The future years might need it," he offered quietly. "It's got the log."  He looked at them.

"It's your yearbook," Tony pointed out.  "It's yours.  The log can be copied."  He gave him a quick kiss.  "Go open the private cavern so we can go down."  Danny nodded, going to do that, the book in his arms.  He looked at Don.  "It'll be fine.  That's probably the last evidence of Daphne that exists."

"He found a bunch'a her stuff in his old closet," Don said quietly.  "Clothes, an emergency fund, pictures."

"Good, I'm glad I slipped those boxes in," Speed agreed. "I hated that his father did that."  He walked Don on, taking him down to their private area.  "We carved this room out ourselves," he offered, opening the bronze door.  "We found that thing somewhere."

"I stole it outta Sonny's house," Danny offered with a wicked smirk.  Tony smirked back and Speed just moaned and shook his head.  "Not like he could track it."  He opened the second door and they walked into their study room, going to clean it out.  By the time they were done, they had backpacks full of books and other stuff.  Tony picked up a sword and handed it to Danny, who grinned and put it onto his back with a sticking charm.  They headed down further, going into one last room.  There they knelt at the altar and sent up a silent prayer to the Goddess and got an answer of who to tell.  "Not like I like them," he complained.

"Yeah, but it'll take strength," Speed reminded him.

"Especially since it'll be kids like them who'll have to push the purge back," Tony agreed.

"Besides, we were all punks, we grew up okay," Don reminded him.

"Point."  They got up and put everything back, cleaning it off and ready for use.  "Blessed be and all that."  He walked out, leading the way.  At the doorway he let Don undo it, finding two goblins standing there with one of their targets.  "Interesting."

"This place is?" one goblin demanded.

"An inter-house refuge," Speed said firmly, blocking his path. "A place to study and get to know your fellow wizards as they are."  He looked at the kid with him. "It's went empty for years because no one wanted to listen.  Will you?"  He nodded, and Speed let him in.

Don looked at the goblins.  "Sorry."  He closed the door and sealed it again.

Speed sat down with the kid, talking to him, explaining the rules and rituals that were to be done in here.  The kid sneered at a few.

"The longer it's held in peace, the stronger it becomes as a refuge," Tony assured him quietly.

"Your years need it more than we did," Danny agreed.  "We had curses and disco and shit to escape from. You guys have the military."  The kid stared at him.  "We're working on it but it's slow.  This is for all houses.  This place is kept in peace, in harmony, and in blood if you must to protect it.  The same as we do.  Do you understand?"

"I do."  He stood up, looking at him. "You were here?"

"With others.  In our year, there were death eaters," he said quietly.  "The first coming of Voldemort touched even over here, kid.  Some of my own family turned on each other over their kids and spouses."  He shivered at that.  "Apparently I lost my fiance over it.  My father wiped my memory clean of her."  The kid nodded, looking down.  "Now, you and your buddies were shown to us.  There's a library with helpful books.  It was started in Caine's third year by the juniors.  They built this one as a refuge from the house wars they had going on.  Can you use it and keep it as it needs to be kept?"

"I can and will.  Those in my gang will help me.  We're inter-house."

"We were shown you," Speed agreed, standing up.  "Use it well.  Call us if you need us."  They each handed over a card.  "Don't be afraid to call on the prior years, kid.  None of us like the purge and we have friends who defended the academy in Chicago."  That got an awed look. "Don's training with Dumass."

"Also known as Xander Harris," Don agreed.  "That's where he regrew."

"Then I'll keep it safe.  We'll bring in the juniors later this year."  He nodded at them. "The goblins are pissed.  They felt someone down here."

"Yeah, well, the first gateway held power.  Someone was summoning something," Don admitted.

"Crap.  No wonder," he sighed.  "All right."  He led the way out, letting Speed whisper in his ear how to find the doorway if it shifted and what opened it, what you thought when you cast the severing charm that opened it. He nodded and they opened the door, finding a curse breaker and a few more goblins.  "This is the Academy's refuge for inter-house affairs.  Sorry."  He walked out and the others followed.

Don cast the charm over the door, getting the kid's attention.  He got a smirk and a wink, then the kid skipped off.  Don looked at the curse breaker.  "What's going on upstairs with the summoning charms?"

"They're strengthening a wall around the vault tunnels."

"With demons?"  The curse breaker looked stunned.  "C'mere."  He led him back to the proper doorway, letting him feel that energy.  "That's what nearly made me stop.  Not the earth moving I can barely sense. Earth skills aren't my thing."

"Which one are you?"

"Flack.  I was missed but Dumass is working with me."

"Crap, you're the fourth apprentice," he sighed.  Don nodded.  "Super shit.  Okay."  He pushed open the gates and walked in.  "Behind me, Don.  Do not attack."

"Of course.  Should we try ta call Luna Lovegood or anything?"  The curse breaker gave him an odd look.  "She's dating a former Watcher and a higher demon."

"Watchers exist?"

"Yeah, Buffy's a blonde twit now and then too.  Angel sulks a lot.  Dumass was Harris when he regrew."

"Super sucking shit," he muttered, shaking his head. "Only Dumass."

"Hey, he got mailed a dragon's egg," Tony offered from the doorway.  He pointed.  "The second building, Don."  They nodded, heading that way, finding someone half-eaten and his casting ended.

"Huh.  Looks like something I don't have ta deal with.  Hey, Danny, do you guys have ta deal with half-eaten guys?"

"No," he called back.  "There's still demons, I can see imps."  They came out and went to deal with them and the demonic menace.

***

Alex straightened up when his cell rang, bending over to grab it off his desk.  "Dumass," he said patiently, listening to Mac worry. "I have no idea.  Have Stella do the marking thing.  That's what we Banes do when we can't find or reach someone.  Underground in New York?"  He thought hard. "The old shopping area probably.  The one they decided was too risky.  It's been a haven for idiots summoning demons for years. It's as close as you guys get to a hellmouth and it's probably too far down to get a signal."  He smirked.  "That's why you use the bond.  Are they conscious?"  He nodded once.  "Then they're fine.  Sure."  He hung up and used the charm he had to reach Don, no matter what was going on.  He did it on all his apprentices just in case they got into trouble.  He still had Bill's and the one he did for Arens.  He sent him a heated bitch slap and got back a whine and that it was done with but they were eating at the moment.  Alex told him who was worrying and heard him tell Danny that, so they all sent at Mac and Stella to calm them down.  Alex sent back a 'be more careful' then hung up and went back to his book.  "I remember being that young," he complained, shaking his head.  "Drove everyone nuts for years."  He turned the page and got back to reading.

***

Danny looked at the others.  "Since we're being suspended for the day, think we should head to the other area?"  They both smirked.  "Don?"

"Mac's being mean," he pouted.

"It means we can make the game."

"Then I'm all for a suspension," he agreed, standing up and putting away his dinner.  "Where's this one?"

"My home area."  They all got up and put back on their packs, heading over to the subway.  There was a hidden entrance to the nearest tunnel, which quickly got them onto a platform.  They got on and headed off, going out to Staten Island.  It wasn't a long trip but it was nice enough.  Tony napped on Speed's shoulder since the rush hour crowd was gone.  Danny held his head as Stella started to bellow.  He pointed out he was fine. "Yo, Speed, Tony?  Call your bosses?"

"Shit," Speed complained, dialing his boss.  "Sorry, boss, cleaning out the refuge and showing some of the new kids where it was, then helping handle a small demonic insurgence in the old shopping area."  He hung up as Horatio was taking a breath to yell.  He dialed Gibbs, repeating that and hung up when he started to yell.  He didn't need to take a breath first.

"Smooth, I like that," Don taunted, smirking at him.  "Been a while since I was on Staten Island and outside that one house."  Danny smirked at him.  "What can I say?  I'm from Yonkers.  Not like we mixed much, Danny."

"Point."  He smirked back.  "But it was fun teasing you uptight little white boys."

"Yeah," he snorted. "In your dreams, Messer."

"Up yours, Flack," he taunted back.

"Boys, trying to sleep, don't make me channel Gibbs or Ziva," Tony demanded.

"If you do, can I get a grope in?" Speed asked.  "She's cute, but too uptight for me."

"Sure.  If I grow breasts, you can grope."  He looked at the smirking faces.  "Remember, we can't do that on me ever again or I'll get stuck."  They put away their wands and got off at the next stop.  "Good boys."  He followed Danny up and out of the turnstiles.  Danny put in a card for most of them and Don paid his own way with his card.  "I miss real subways.  DC's is nice but cozy.  It meshes well with the bus line, but there's not a lot of range at times."

Speed looked at him. "At least you have one!  We've got busses."  He followed Danny outside and grimaced. "Bad air.  Bad."

"It's not quite thick enough ta sit up and beg," Danny offered.  "Yet."  They headed off for their destination, which looked a hell of a lot like a sanitation department check point for the sewers.  They walked in, letting Don have his grimace.  Then they walked in the door they had hidden, and down the spiral stairs.

"Guys, how much longer?" Don called five minutes later.  "I'm starting to get sick."

"Go slower," Tony ordered. He pulled out his phone, knowing it'd have static.  "I'm fine, boss," he said loudly.  "Huh?  Staticky!"  He hung up like he had lost the signal.  "Ooops."  He put it back into his pocket and continued down.  "One year we ended up having a water leak in here during a really bad winter and we sledded down.  At least until Speed ran into the wall one too many times and broke his ribs and arm."

"Not my fault the water ended in a wall instead of the bottom of the stairs."

"I'm still dizzy and nauseous," Don complained a few minutes later.

"Only a third of the way down, Don," Speed said patiently.

"If I volunteer to make ice, can we slide?"

"You'll get more sick," Tony assured him.

"Are we going down to the mythical screw that holds up Manhattan?" Don demanded.

"No," Danny said patiently.  "Halfway.  That's where I slammed Tony's head into the wall for being so drunk he tried ta grope me and kiss my ass," he offered, pointing at a dent.

"I thought that was further down," Speed complained.

"Yeah, we've only been going for five minutes," Tony agreed. He grinned back at Don.  "Lower down there's also a few missing steps we have to climb over.  That'll cure the dizziness really quickly."

"Like I said, I'll create ice," Don offered dryly. Speed just gave him a look. "Fine.  How long is this trek normally?"

"Half an hour," Danny offered. "Twenty if we run once we finish the stairs."  He came to the first broken spot and lifted his wand.  "Wingardium leviosa."  He floated Tony, Speed, and Don over it, then looked at Tony, who floated him. Then Tony got everyone at the next one and Speed got him. Don got the last set, which he prayed that it was, and Danny got him.  "Okay, head west," Danny ordered, pointing.  "Walk two-thirds of the way back to Manhattan."  Don groaned.  "Joke, sorry."

"Not far off," Tony agreed, helping Don walk that way.  "At least you're not dizzy anymore."

"No, I'm not.  I need food after this."

"We left stuff there," Tony assured him.  "Even twinkies."

"You know they change those things out every two weeks, right?  So said the food channel."

"Yeah, but they rotate stores with them," Speed assured him with a shit-eating grin.  His phone rang.  "Damn, that's magic enhancing that signal."  Tony gave him a look so he handed it over.  "I called your boss, you can answer it."

"Hello?" Tony asked hesitantly.  "No, I haven't killed your trace tech and taken his phone, Horatio."  His head rocked. "How did you do that?" he whined.  Horatio growled at him.  "Here," he said, handing it to Speed.  "Both our bosses.  I heard Gibbs growling in the background."

Speed checked the number. "They're at your work, no wonder."  He put the phone up to his ear.  "We're cleaning out the other spot, Horatio.  Um, somewhere under Staten Island?"

Danny looked at him then up. "That's probably the train line overtop of us since it's rattling rhythmically."

"Danny said we're under the train line.  Didn't they have a cave in?" Speed asked.  Danny shook his head.  "Are you sure? I'm sensing a blockage."  His head rocked.  "Okay, how did you do that, Horatio?"  He heard the growl. "I can't.  It's got anti-apparation wards.  Yeah, well, when we're done there's a shorter, one way path out."  He listened to the complaint.  "We were, and then we stopped the demons trying to take over the city, saving a curse breaker's life when he nearly got eaten....   Yeah, we have Don with us.  Why?"  Don snickered, shaking his head. "He said it's not his fault.   Oh, Alex told Mac that's been like a hellmouth?  Well, it's closed.  No, we're cleaning out our clubhouse and moving it somewhere more accessible.  Like Danny's place.  Mostly because I don't think Don's got a storage cavern set up yet."

"I've got one at the castle for things I find but I doubt Draco wouldn't complain and that's an awfully long way to hike for meetings on a weeknight," Don offered just loudly enough to be heard. Danny shushed him.  "Sorry!"

"Thin marble," he admitted, moving them further down.  There was a small rock fall but it was easily cleared up and transfigured into a pretty statue.  They went on, finding the ending door open.  "Crap."  He walked in and looked around.  "Someone gave us porn, guys!"

"Just in the outer room," Tony reminded him. "This was only the foyer."

"Only you could call this hole we hid in a foyer," Danny said dryly, smirking at him.

"Boys, it was an entryway," Speed said patiently.  Danny's head rocked, then Tony 's again.  "Gibbs said if you're not back there within an hour, he's firing you.  Oh, and Horatio said neither of you can work in Miami, Vegas, and Mac won't hire you either, Tony."

"If Gibbs fires me for making sure our stuff is safe, I'm going to give all his exes the combination to the safe in the office," he said loudly.  "The one with his medical and financial records in it."

"That's mean," Speed said dryly, staring at him.  "Even Horatio said that was cruel."

"Hey, it's necessary!  Do you remember what we left down here?"  Speed nodded. "Like our game brooms?"  Speed winced.  "Besides, I left all my wizarding cards down here."  They walked up to the entry to their room and he turned, finding a muggle worker standing there.  "Hi.  Your porn?"  He nodded looking amused. "Pity.  Obliviate."   He banished him off, heading up the stairs.  He landed on the other side of the door and then opened their hidden door.

Speed turned around and flicked his wand, casting the packing charm.  Everything was put into the boxes the guy had brought down over however long he had access to it.  "Don, shrink those.  We've got a trunk in here if I remember right."  Don nodded, going to do that while they all got to work on their main area.  Speed ended up hanging up on Horatio when it started to static up inside the room's wards.  "Why is that?  I heard Greg say Canada doesn't have that problem."

"Too much magical life energy.  Hogwarts has it because of all the paintings that cover everywhere," Don offered as he came back. One box was floating behind him.  "Shrunk 'em then put them in here and shrunk it."

"Works for me," Tony admitted, pointing at the trunk.  "In there."  He went into the back room, finding their old bachelor pad.  "Goddess, I have memories of that bed," he said fondly.

"Yeah, me too," Danny sighed, leaning on his arm.  "I've got a spare room."

"Not the same."

"We can change the rooms around.  Layer this one overtop of that one."  Tony smiled and nodded, finding the book that would have that charm in it in the trunk. The whole room around them shifted, then they found the doorway out.  "Shall we?" Danny asked with a grin.  They headed up and out, going up a mere twelve steps to walk out the same building.  Don gaped.  "We always needed a quicker exit when someone was looking for us."  He led the way around the corner, glancing around before they apparated back to Danny's apartment.  Everything got settled within a few minutes and Tony sighed happily as he laid down on their former spot to get it on with each other and their girlfriends.

Don looked at Speed. "What's so special about that bed?"

"That's where we used to bring dates and each other when we needed comforting fooling around. Danny, the extra porn?"

"Library.  With the other stuff inside the blue cabinet.  Mark the boxes." Speed nodded, going to do that. He looked back at Don.  "We were as tight as brothers, and nearly as lecherous as some identical twins can be together."

"Hey, I heard what you guy's thought about back then.  That was where you took what's- her-name in the blue dress, right, Speed?"  Speed grinned and nodded. "What happened to her?"

"She's married to your quidditch coach.  I heard she did a renewing virginity charm on herself for it.  Didn't want to disappoint him or something.  Not that I minded. I was serious and she wasn't as serious."  He turned around to go back to marking boxes and unpacking.

Tony came in to give him a hug.  "That was the first pain, then the next one sent you running to Miami," he agreed quietly.  "If you had told us, we'd have been there."

Speed nodded.  "I know.  You had your own problems and Danny was still struggling to get free of his family. I didn't want to impose."

Danny smacked him, hard.   "Between us, it's not an imposition, even during a case.  Capice?"  He nodded, hugging him.  "Good boy!"  He looked behind him as Horatio popped in.  "We're getting there. Let us finish putting stuff up.  Tony, brooms?"  Tony nodded and went to unpack the trunk, pulling out their special brooms for when they wanted to be really evil.  Which were charmed of course. Just anti-wear and polishing but that was more than enough.

"Is that... a Red Comet?" Horatio asked, running his hand over the handle.  Tony beamed and nodded.  "Tell me you rode that."

"Through my fifth year. Then Dad got me a Vega. Danny somehow got Blackie.  Speed rode his for another year then came in with a Vega of his own." Horatio moaned, touching the others. "Blackie's still at the school."

Danny pulled out his first broom, stroking over it. "This was my first broom, Don."  He came over to run a hand over.  "It corners like nothing seen."  He smiled at him. "I'll show you during practice."  Don grinned at that.  "Sorry, Horatio.  Some muggle was using the entry of our former clubhouse.  But hey, we got plenty of Jug's magazines out of it."

"A few Hustlers.  A few Hustler Comics," Speed agreed, finishing his marking.  "A few sad and disturbing things that I incinerated."  He looked at his boss and grinned.  "Toss me mine."  Tony tossed him his, letting him look it over.  "Yes, precious, I have you again," he soothed, stroking over it.  Don moaned and came over to help him.  "These brooms are so classic, they're myths.  The only six known in existence are our three, Dumass has one in his collection, and two more in collector's hands."

Tony looked at Danny.  "Should I ask how you made that money for the emergency, liquor, and broom fund?"

"Nothing illegal.  I updated a charm and won a prize.  Remember Princeton's wizarding college usta put out that charm competition?"  Tony nodded at that.  "One year it was a potion and defense one.  I had the best working update.  Most of the rest were theoretical, which was fine, but mine was actually proven and working.  I proved it in front of them.  It netted me funds.  I could've went there but then my father would've tried to interrupt my education again."

"So you're in the books?" Don asked.  "Where?"  Danny pulled down one, flipping through it until he came to his section, then he handed it over with a smirk. "Whoa, I saw Alex use this."

"He does, and he uses one of the other theoretical ones.  He told me Methos is still teaching it as the gold standard even though there's a new theory and way."  He smirked at Horatio.  "Alex has more though."

"Alex made spells?" Speed asked.

"The Suddenly Sober charm was his," Horatio told him.

"So were about a hundred things in the Big Book of Dark Pranks.  The twins read that to Tipsy when she was in labor," Don said proudly.   "Plus he's got some really boring books on curse breaking from his first life and long ago.  He said he was so pompous it makes him nap now."

"Wow," Tony said.  "I thought that book was a myth!"

"Nope," Don said, walking over to pull their copy down. "He gave us a copy."  Tony snatched it and sat down to read it, bursting out in giggles every few pages.

"Any of those end up in the group, we're lynching you," Danny said firmly. "I mean it."

"Yes, dear, but can I drive McGee mad?"  Horatio swatted him.  "Hey! You don't look like Gibbs! Only he gets to give me love taps!"

"I so dare you to call them that to his face," Don taunted.  "In front of witnesses."

Tony smirked.  "Close enough?"

"Good enough for me, but share."  He and Tony shook hands.

Tony snapped the book closed and disappeared with a salute, landing in the corner of Abby's lab, making her squeak and jump.  "Sorry, we had to clean some stuff out."

"Gibbs is SO pissed at you," she warned.

He smirked.  "Yay."  He headed up there, book under his arm.

"You're late," Gibbs growled, glaring at him.

"Sorry, boss, unavoidable.  The demons in the marble-halled shopping center stopped us."  Gibbs quirked up an eyebrow, pausing what he was doing to look at him.  "Seriously.  Ask Stella, she felt us fighting."  He shrugged and put his book down, walking over.  "Then we had to clean out our other storage cavern before someone walked into it, like they did the entryway.  But I got plenty of new porn from it since he had stuff stashed down there."   Gibbs stood up, staring him down.  "Sorry, some of the stuff we had hidden is now mythical.  Including some sports equipment that only has six remaining copies of."   His hand twitched, he could see it.  He grinned his best shit-eating grin.  "I promise we'll do the last one on our day off, boss."  Smack!  "Aww, you do love me!"  He hugged him. "I love you too, boss."

"Were you exposed to something harmful and deadly?" McGee asked, staring at him in awe.

"No, just in a good mood. My black Vega gear was down there."  McGee moaned.  "I used it all the time in games."  He winked and looked at his boss again.  "As well as some books, some clothes, my former wand that got broken," he muttered.  "My former black book which could cause a lot of hurt feelings.  Some sanitation or tunnel guy who was living in our space. We'll clean out the other one on our next day off if Don and Danny don't since Horatio went to pick up Speed."  He got smacked again.  "You know, I know it's true love now, but did you give Horatio permission to take your place behind me, boss?"  He got another smack. "Keep it up, watch me get another concussion, boss."  Then he smiled sweetly.

Gibbs hit him again.  "I'm trying to make your brain work right again, DiNozzo.  What did you do?"  Tony just smiled.  "Now!"

"Boss?"  He looked around the office, then at him.  "Elevator?"

"Now," he growled, following him. He saw McGee sneaking over to the desk and went back to get the book Tony had dropped, then glared at him.  "What is this?"

"Alex let Danny copy it, he's got at least a hundred entries in there."  He smiled. "You can put it back down, boss."  It was carried with him and they got onto the elevator, where he got smacked again.  "I love you too, boss. After how many smacks do I get a ring?"

"Are you high?" he demanded.

"No, just playful."

"You were doing what?"

"Well, first we had sex and showed Danny he liked to be under Don, and then we went to clean out the former refuge some older kids in the school set up for those who believe in inter-house cooperation.  We initiated a new member of the current year as well.  Then we went to help a curse breaker take down the New York equivalent of a summoning circle and hellmouth.  We had to leave the half-eaten person in there for the goblins.  After we got done with that fight, we had a snack, decided our other storage area probably wasn't safe so we went to Staten Island and went down the really long marble staircase until we were under the subway, then down the long marble hall, where we found an idiot taking our foyer to our clubhouse.  We cleaned out all the porn he had stashed then we cleaned out our clubhouse, transferring it up to Danny's pad.  Do you love me so little that you'd willingly share me with Horatio, boss?  Only you get to smack me, you know that, right?  Anyone else does it ever again and I get to hit them back."  He grinned again.  "You never answered.  How many smacks does it take to get a ring?"

"Did you take something?"  Tony shook his head, still smiling. "Feeling a headache?"

"I didn't until you told Horatio that you were sharing me."  He got smacked again. "That's it, next time either spank me or find a better way to get me to work better."

"Go home.  Sleep whatever this is off.  Do not bring this book back," he ordered, handing it to him.  "Disappear now since I don't trust you to drive.  When you come back in the morning, have Ducky look you over to make sure you're straight and figure out what did this to you, DiNozzo."

"Well, Don did taunt me to say you loved me.  Other than that, I've just had a really happy morning, boss."

"DiNozzo.  Home.  Now," he ordered.

"Yes, boss."  He disappeared and the elevator started moving again.  Gibbs got off and headed back to his desk. "Tony was apparently exposed to something, he's not sure what yet.  He's going home to sleep it off."

"Boss, was that the Big Book of Dark Pranks he had on his desk?" McGee asked.  Gibbs glared at him.  "Because I'm going to be the target and I'd like to register a complaint the first time things start disappearing on me.  Or my food turns to worms as I'm eating it. Or anything else that's in there.  Please?"

"I told him to keep it out of the office, McGee."

"So!  It doesn't mean he won't use it on us."

"I'll tell him he can't use it on team or key personnel.  Better?" he asked facetiously.

"If I gave you a hug, would you not slug me?"  Gibbs glared at him. "Sorry, Gibbs."  He ducked his head and got back to work.

"Perhaps whatever's wrong with Tony is spreading," Ziva offered cheerfully.  "Where did he say he was?"

"New York's hellmouth and then Staten Island."

She frowned a bit.  "How would he have gotten to New York since midnight?"

Tim looked at her.  "That's why they're called hallucinations, Ziva."

"Good point.  Any idea what hit him?"

"Not a clue.  I'm hoping it's not lethal since I sent him home."

"Boss, his car's still in the garage, I just got an IM from him asking me to please make sure his windows were up since his dry cleaning was in there."

"I'm not stupid enough to let him drive, McGee," he said harshly.

"Didn't think you were, boss, just noting the obvious."  He got back to work and sent him a report.  "There you go, boss. The last one I owed you off the last case.  Let me know if I need to make corrections."  He ducked his head down and wrote an email to Tony, getting back the same story he had told Gibbs, plus information on where things were.  Gibbs came over, looming over him.  "Problems on my report boss?"

"Spyware, McGee," he said quietly.  The email was printed off, deleted, and then his trashbox was deleted as well.  He looked it over, raising an eyebrow.  "Really?"  McGee nodded.  "Is that somewhere real?"

"It is, boss.  I remember in my history class they wanted to put an underground shopping area there. With the advent of the subway it was considered a bad idea and now a lot of people have taken residence there to use it for their own purposes. It's been used for that purpose more than a few times.  He wasn't joking.  Well, except maybe the loving you part."

"You think he was joking?"

"We...well, no, boss.  We all know Tony loves you but I'm not sure he loves you in that special way that Tony was joking about.  If so, I heartily support you if you return his feelings and end up doing Alex and Draco stuff.  Just as long as he doesn't use that book on me," he complained quietly.

"What book?" the director asked from behind him.  "Where is Agent DiNozzo?"

"He's been exposed to something that made him hallucinate.  He came in talking about hellmouths and Staten Island when he got here. We can't be sure what it was so I sent him home," Gibbs told her.

"He also said Gibbs obviously loved him with the way he hit him, joked about getting a ring after so many hits, and complained that he was sharing him with someone else who had hit him on Gibbs' orders," Ziva offered.

"We should do a drug screen, just in case," the director ordered.

"Most likely, ma'am, he was out at a club last night and got exposed by someone who wanted to kidnap him again," McGee offered.  She gave him an arch look.  "It, um, wouldn't be the first time someone wanted to take Tony away from Gibbs, ma'am.  They seem to like to do that to him.  I think this would be number six and counting since I've been here."  Gibbs gave him a look and he shut up.

"DiNozzo has been slipped drugs in his drink at a club before," Gibbs agreed, going with the lie.  He was sure it had probably happened sometime in Tony's wild past.  "He's usually pretty good about sleeping it off and letting us know when it happens.  I'd say whoever had him, they gave him too much and he just now woke up.  That was his way of letting us know he had been drugged.  Why else would he have been talking about hellmouths and Staten Island, Jen?"

"I see.  How many times has this happened since he started?"

"Seven times, no, eight, that he's been the target to get me.  Maybe four of those he got drugged during.  A few kidnaping attempts, one that wanted to kill him to make my team weaker."

"We always took it that it proved we were being effective, ma'am.  Even Kate, when she was alive, joked about the random attempts on Tony's life."

Gibbs nodded.  "She did joke about it a lot," he agreed dryly, looking at him again.  "That report was in gobbledy gook.  Fix it."  McGee got up, going to check his computer to see what was wrong, then came back to his computer to fix it.  McGee looked at him.  "What's the problem?"

"The spyware is in conflict with the email program again. It's changing the text encoding to encrypted and it's not showing how to unencrypt it.  To fix it, I'd have to remove the spyware."

"It's on there for a reason, Agent McGee. Like that email he sent you."

"Tony's been exposed to worse," he said dryly, smiling at her.  "At least he's not in isolation and nearly dead this time."  She backed off at that.  "Sorry, ma'am, but if this conflict continues, we'll have to print things out again and make him waste paper."

"You may not remove it."

"Can I turn it off so I can send him that report?"  She shook her head.  "That's fine, Director.  Boss, I'll work on how to unencrypt it."  He got to work, opening the file in another window.  He printed off his rough draft and handed it over.  "There you go, boss."

"McGee!  Spell checker!" he ordered, handing it back.

"I forgot.  Won't happen again, boss."  He got to work spell checking and then grammar checked it.  Then he printed it again, wincing at the extra page.  "I deleted that," he complained. He checked the printer's settings.  "Great, we're on the 'waste a sheet' setting again.  Ziva, did you fiddle with your printer setting or the printer again?"

"No, Tim, I did not."  He came over to look, making her glare.  "I didn't."

"You did.  That button there, if you check it, it prints out an extra page because it thinks you've got a title sheet."  He unclicked it and went back to his computer, getting back to work.  The director stomped off.  He waited until she was long gone.  "Boss, permission?"

"Shut the crap down," he agreed quietly.  Tim smiled and did that.  Then he sent his report again. "Better, thank you."  He signed off on it and sent it upstairs, shaking his head at that dramatic display.  "That's why email at work is bad, McGee."

"I know, boss, that's why I bring my laptop to work with me for my lunch hour," he agreed.  "Has anyone told Abby that it's on here?"  He got back to work.  They'd need the encryption key some day anyway.  He broke it and smiled.  "Got it, boss."  He downloaded it and went to install it on all the machines on their team, then went back to turn his back on.  "Sending a test message, Ziva."  He sent one off and she smiled.

"Perfectly readable, even in a nice font."

"Thanks."  He looked at his boss.  "You should have a little button once you restart your computer.  If you check it, it uses the key, boss," he offered quietly.

"Agent McGee," she called from the walkway.  "I could've sworn I told you not to do that."

"I had to reload it, ma'am, to make sure it took the encryption key.  If I hadn't, we'd all be stuck with something that's a cross between ASCII symbols and Cyrillic alphabet type.  I turned it off long enough to reload it, then fix a bug my key had, then restarted it. It's back on now, ma'am.  I've sent a test email and if my teammates would restart their systems, it would integrate fully and keep us from being non-productive with reports to your office and other necessary parties."  He looked at her.  "It was rather necessary, ma'am."  He looked at Gibbs.  "You can send her a copy of my report if you want, just to show how useful it is, boss.  I don't mind."

He nodded and did that. "Go check your email, Madam Director."  She huffed off.  He checked his email.  "On is using it it says?"  McGee nodded.  "Thank you, McGee."

"Just trying to help, boss. 'Cause I hate that stuff."  He smiled at him. "It's not like it blocks porn or anything.  As a matter of fact it accepts porn, even kiddie and disgusting porn, but it blocks things like health sites that talk about breast cancer."  He growled at that.  "It also blocks sites for research purposes, like some encyclopedias."  He called Abby's lab.  "I've got an encryption key for the spyware vs email prize fight."  He hung up and looked at him again.  "Boss, we really should take this off.  There's better out there."

The director came back down, glaring at McGee.  "Why have you not spread this cure?"

"It's not my job to do so, ma'am.  It's your job to tell Tech Support that there's an issue and that I've got a solution for this particular problem.  Then they're supposed to call me and ask; I give them the encryption key and make note that the spyware installed happens to not block porn but blocks health research sites and encyclopedias."  Her face turned puce.  "I can show you if you want, ma'am." He typed in an address.  "That's a pretty mild, standard one that I've seen on several computers around here."  He let it load and showed her.  Then he changed addresses to a breast cancer research site, and the 'blocked' message came up.  "That's a research site on breast cancer.  We have two agents who have it and had their research time after hours blocked until someone from Tech Support took pity on them and got them access so they could do some research on their possibility for a cure."  He looked at her.  "There's much better out there and I've sent that recommendation, along with several others about some of the not-perfect software and probable fixes, to Tech Support over the last year."

"Have they answered?"

"I get a lot of 'I know, but someone higher up ordered it to be that way' letters, ma'am.  Apparently someone gave us the software free as a trial version so we use it."  Her face turned redder. "I'd be more than happy to add my hacking skills to Tech Support's list, Director.  That way we can figure out what would work most efficiently and with the least amount of cost to our budget.  Because it will come in handy to have things that work every time."

"My word processor keeps dying," Ziva agreed. "I keep getting the blue screen of coma."

"Death, Ziva, death."

"It's more a coma.  It's alive but not functioning."

"It is, but it's stuck.  Using that analogy it's more like the Rainman of blue screens."  She nodded, getting that reference.  He looked at the director again.  "I know that Agent Gibbs' problem with his PDA is often the synching software that Tech Support makes him use.  The same as I know our phones are supposedly linked and won't thanks to that same trial software; since the trial ran out so we're unable to synch at all now."  She moaned and stomped off again.  "If you tell them, I'll gladly help, Director."  He relaxed, shaking his head.  "Not that they don't know what's needed," he muttered.  "She's blocking them from buying the stuff we need thanks to the budget."  Gibbs nodded at that.  "Is it that tight?"

"Not really.  I've seen worse years," Gibbs noted. He shook his head. "Take the spyware off my computer, McGee.  Not like I look at porn."  He came over to do that, letting Gibbs have his seat.  "Thank you."

"Welcome, boss."  He went back to his seat, knowing she was monitoring him.  He got an email from tech support not five minutes later and smiled.  "They sent a sigh, boss."  He sent back the explanation of what had happened and then the encryption key, explaining how it worked.  They sent back an 'I knew it'd do that when she decided to snoop on someone's computer'.  He grinned.  "She was logged into my system.  That's what caused that."

"Wonderful."  He looked at his watch.  "Lunch, crew.  Now."  They got up and followed him out, McGee calling Abby, who called Ducky, and they went to the usual place when they wanted to talk and eat.

***

Danny, Speed, and Tony all sat down to have dinner together later that night, smiling at what they had gotten up to during the day.  An owl flew in the open fire escape window and landed next to Tony, hooting softly.  "Hello, Perch.  Thank you."  He took the small envelope, letting her have some of his meat.  She swallowed some then went to perch outside for a bit.  He opened it and smiled.  "Hey, my Evil Bastard Membership card finally arrived!  It's about time!"

"Draco would be the Director of that society," Speed agreed dryly. "What's the note say?"

Tony cleared his throat. "Your bosses have been complaining to Alex about your behavior the last few days, citing him as a bad and amoral influence on your personalities.  Please quit frustrating Alex.  He tends to take it out on my tender, hot bottom.  Then again, never mind.  Go ahead and frustrate them some more please.  I rather like it when he's frustrated and needs a break.  Just be careful, remember the bosses are ganging up on you as well."  He smirked.  "Awww."

"You know, with Mac, Horatio, and Gibbs working together against us, that's some pretty fierce stubborn people," Danny noted patiently, thinking about it.  "Horatio was tops in his last three years in Charms, and second highest the two years before that."  They both looked at him.  "I looked him up in the school records.  They're online now."  He ate a bite of dinner.  "Mac's back to doing basically what he did in the service, obliviates and rescue things, plus whatever he's been refreshing with, which seems to be transfiguration. Add in Gibbs, who's stubborn enough to make wandless stuff work without realizing it?"

"Hmm," Speed agreed, swallowing quickly. "I'm sensing the subtle tread of 'obliviations coming'.  Tony?"

"They can't.  Obliviating us from each other won't work with bond.  Besides, if they did, Danny would go back to the thug bastard he was at eleven, almost twelve.  Speed, you'd go back to the pouty, sulky boy who'd already hit puberty when you started school at twelve, and I'd be the spoiled, rich, pubescent brat with a breast infatuation again."  They stared at each other and a wicked smirk started with Speed.

"Oh, that's mean," Danny offered.  "Don and Stella would know."

"It would conceivably put up a wall between us," Tony pointed out.

"Hmm," Speed hummed, considering it.  "Don's more tied in.  We might end up cluing him in."  He looked at Danny, who shrugged.  Then at Tony, who shrugged as well.  "Tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow," they agreed.  And that was all that needed said.

The Sulky Prince...ess

Tony walked into work the next morning, giving everyone an appraising look before he regally took his seat, starting his computer with a negligent stab of his finger.  McGee looked over at him, frowning a bit.  "What?" he demanded.

"You're ten minutes late.  Gibbs is already here.  I'd duck."

"Why?"  He looked at his morning messages, leaning back and getting comfortable while he read them.  He was every bit the spoiled DiNozzo prince that he had always been.  It was the perfect cover for today's warning.  He looked at Gibbs as he came in, giving him an arched eyebrow look, then he got back to reading his morning messages.

"Why were you late, DiNozzo?"

"Traffic was abominable," he said blandly, typing in a reply for a few of them.  He watched as two women walked past his desk, staring at their chests.

"DiNozzo!" Gibbs snapped.  Tony gave him another very bland look.  "Elevator, now."

Tony stood up, smoothing out his clothes.  "I hope this won't take long."  Gibbs looked stunned.  "Well, I do suppose you want me to work today, or was I mistaken about your intentions for wanting me here on time?" he asked dryly, staring him down, his head tipped back just slightly.  Gibbs grabbed his arm and led him to the elevator, stranding them between floors within seconds.  "Was there a problem?  Not even *I* can control the traffic in Washington."

"What has gotten into you?" he demanded.

Tony shrugged. "I'm the same as I was before."

Gibbs stared at him.  "I doubt that. Did a hex misfire into you or something?" he demanded.  Tony shook his head.  He swatted him.  "This isn't your normal self, DiNozzo."

"It's who I was before."  He smirked a bit and turned back on the elevator.  "What case am I working on today, Gibbs?"

"Just get to work," he growled, watching him walk off.  He let the doors close and turned it off again, calling Horatio.  "I have no idea what's going on but Tony's acting funny.  He stared openly at the secretaries walking past the desk, then mouthed off.  No more than normal.  Is anything wrong with Speedle since I know they were together last night for dinner?"  He sighed and shook his head.  "If you're sure."  He hung up and restarted it, which opened the doors, showing the director standing there.  "Needed something?"

"DiNozzo stared at me."

"He did that earlier.  I'm not sure if it's in reaction to yesterday or not, yet."

"Maybe you should send him home, Jethro.  Again."  She glared back at him, then at her subordinate.  "If this continues too much longer, you may have to find his replacement."

"No I won't.  He thinks he's acting normally."  He walked past her but she caught his arm and got them both back into the elevator. "Is something else wrong?"

"Why did you have a lizard-like scale on you the other day and what type was it?  You had just been at a scene and it wasn't mentioned in the reports."

"It was a natural death, Director.  I shouldn't have to mention finding random scales if there's no cause to look.  It probably dropped off some shedding skin in a tree."

"That big and it'd have to be in the rainforest.  It didn't come from any known type of snake, Jethro."

"It could've come from earlier in the day. I do know some people are trying to breed a new breed of snakes.  We did run into one of them earlier in the day."

"I see."  She frowned, looking at him.  "I don't believe you."

"That's not my fault."

"I want an answer!" she demanded.

"I gave you one."

"You're hiding something."  The power suddenly came back on and the door opened, showing Tony there.  "Would you like to answer about the reptile scale that was found on him?"

"No.  I'm sure he gave a perfectly reasonable explanation," he told her simply, looking at Gibbs.  "We've got a case, injured cadet at Bethesda, wandered in gasping and bleeding with what appears to be a sword cut on his side."  He stabbed the button for the garage.  "McGee's getting the truck and he's promised not to let David drive."

"Thank you."  He got off, following Tony as he walked off.  "Cases call," he said, heading after him.  "DiNozzo, I drive, get in."  He climbed into the passenger's seat while Gibbs got in to drive, starting the car and backing out. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

"Nothing.  I'm the same guy I was.  Are you sure you're not imagining something?"

"I'm not.  You're acting like some rich boy again."

"Well, technically I am one of those," he reminded him sarcastically.

"You were disowned."

Tony snorted.  "My father's ready to die, I'm the last in the family, if he keeps me disowned, I'm having him killed and redoing his will."  Gibbs stopped the car suddenly and glared at him.  "It's only fair.  I put up with him and his ideas on the family name for years."

"Now I know you're not right.  What ever happened to 'I don't care if get left anything or not?" he demanded.

"Some of that's already mine.  I've got a trust that he's been holding away from me from my grandparents.  It's mine by law but I haven't pushed it yet.  I will be getting it or else I'm going to make his afterlife a living hell," he said firmly, staring back at him.  "Now, shouldn't we be heading to the hospital?"

"Headache, dizziness, anything that could point to a concussion?" he asked.  Tony shook his head.  Gibbs smacked him extra hard this time.  "Whoever you're channeling, stop it," he ordered, taking off again.

Tony just mentally smirked.  His boss wanted the old him, pre Tony/Speed/Danny trio him, now he was getting his wish.

***

Tony looked at the cadet.  "How stupid are you?" he asked intolerantly.  Gibbs gave him a harsh look.  "You and your Marine buddy were playing with swords, specifically the one that goes with his dress uniform, and you don't put the blade guard on it?  You don't try to block it?  You stand there and let him slip a three-inch wide blade into your side, then you have a beer, drive here, and limp in playing the wounded hero?"

"DiNozzo," Gibbs warned.

"It has to be said, boss."  He stared at the cadet.  "His name?  That way we can make sure he's alive and embarrassed in front of his unit for using his honorary sword?"

The cadet swallowed.  "If I tell you, you'll get him into trouble?"

"You're both in trouble," Tony assured him.  "I can go through and test all the Marine blades in the surrounding area if I have to."  The cadet blushed.  "His name?"

"Phipps," he said, hanging his head.  "I thought we were just playing, I didn't think he'd really take a real swing at me," he defended.  "I came here to get treated instead of going back to base because he's running and hiding."

"As he should be," Gibbs agreed, glaring at him.  "Midshipmen, go ahead and stitch the little idiot, call his commander to tell him what happened."  She nodded, going to get someone to stitch the injury.  "You'd better hope for only going on Report for this, cadet."  He walked out, Tony following him.  "That was a bit harsh, don't you think?" he demanded quietly.

"No, I think he's an idiot, I told him the truth," Tony told him honestly.  "How do you not move when someone's swinging a sword at your ribcage or not try to block it if you've got your own, even if you don't have a clue what to do with it.  I'm sure even McGee would do that."

"He hopefully would," he agreed, staring at him.  He found the boy's commander in the waiting area and nodded at him.  "You'll want to sit down."

"He's dead?"

"No, he's stupid, terminally stupid," Tony told him.  "Like use him instead of the robots to find the land mines stupid."  The commander glared at him.  "He and his buddy in the Marines were using a couple of dress swords to joust.  He didn't even try to block or move."  The commander gaped.  "He's being cleaned up.  Also, the nurse ran a check on the substance on his hands under the blood.  Mustard and lubricant."  The commander's face tightened.  "Not saying anything but someone needs to have a talk with the boy for his table manners."

"Oh, we'll be talking," he promised.  "Thank you, Agents.  Can I see him?"  Gibbs nodded.  "He'll be on Report for a very long time and he'll be in misery if there was lube for some reason other than an oily hinge."

"It could've been a female Marine," Gibbs noted.

"I don't care!  I don't care if he's buggering the entire fleet, you don't disrespect the other uniforms that way, you wash your hands, especially when you have nasty stuff on it, and you sure as hell learn to defend yourself properly."  He walked that way, going to yell at his cadet.

Gibbs took Tony's notepad, going to call Abby.  "Find me a Marine named Phipps, around twenty-four or so.  He was a friend of our cadet.  They were playing with his sword."  He hung up and looked at Tony.  "Car."  Tony headed that way, looking calm, cool, and collected.  He climbed in.  "You don't break news that way!  You do not tell a commander to use his cadet as a land mine finder!  You do not disrespect someone in uniform that way!"

"He'd be dropping out within the month," Tony told him, shifting to look at him.  "His grades are abysmal, he's already on AP his first semester for his midterms.  He hates the uniform, doesn't respect it, and sure as hell doesn't respect the others. I wouldn't be surprised if this was a desperate plea to get him expelled for injury instead of his grades.  Unless that commander makes him his personal project, he'll be a failed cadet and I'm sure his family would hate that as much as mine would have.  Now he'll get the in-depth attention he needs if he's going to be a good seaman.  He'll get a hell of a lot of attention from the commander to make sure he doesn't have any other semi-suicidal issues, and he'll be straightened out if the commander thinks he can make it.  I'm sure he's seen more than enough to see if the kid has what it takes and either go along with his release or mold him."

"You're justifying yourself?" he demanded. "You just manipulated that commander into taking control of the boy's life!"

"Of course I did, Gibbs.  If he's going to be a seaman, he'll need it.  As I said, the commander will know while he's on report.  He'll be studying him to make sure.  Hence my indelicate comments," he said firmly.  "I'm sure the commander understood that."

"I doubt it," he growled.  His phone rang.  "What?"  He listened.  "Thank you."  He hung up and started the car.  "I don't know what got into you, Tony, but I don't like this version of you.  I don't care why, but you had better straighten up by the time we get to the base."

"Yes, boss."

"Good."  He backed out, then hit drive and sped off, his normal speed.  "The director was thinking about putting a sexual harassment charge in your file," he growled a few minutes later.  "She caught you leering."

"Sorry she caught me, boss, but sexual harassment means I've got a position of power.  I don't.  Nor can I truly make the office an untenable and sexually charged atmosphere.  Well, I could but that would be beyond the boundaries of amorality."  He shifted some, buckling up when Gibbs sped around a corner. "If it'd make her feel better, I'll gladly apologize in writing or in person for staring at her push-up bra.  By the way, she's going to be cranky later, it's the wrong size and already pinching her by the way she was standing.  Also, the thong was probably a bad idea under those pants since you can tell."  Gibbs slammed on the brakes and looked at him.  "Only the truth.  She's going to be in a foul, bad fitting clothes mood later.  We've seen them before.  That green shirt bunched up on her shoulders and made her cranky that afternoon as well."

"When we get back to the office, Ducky is going to look you over," he ordered quietly.  "Then you and I are going to have a long talk in the gym, DiNozzo.  Am I understood?"

"Clearly, but you're also causing a break in the traffic patterns and someone else's boss will be pissed because they're late."  Gibbs growled and put the car in gear, heading off again.

***

Tony walked into Ducky's lab.  "Get this, the cadet was playing with his Marine buddy's sword and didn't duck."

"Trying to get out of being a cadet?"

"Probably.  I told his commander he should use him to find land mines.  He'll be watching him and with some proper care he'll mold him if there's anything there."  Ducky gave him a long stare.  "Gibbs sent me down to have you check me over.  He thinks I've had a radical personality shift."

"I heard about yesterday," he admitted, staring him down.  "On the table, Anthony."  Tony hopped up and swung his legs, staring him down.  He fidgeted a bit at the returned staring.  "I see.  Yesterday was a dare?"  Tony smirked and nodded.  "Which one?"

"Don dared me to call his swats love taps."

"How many times did he hit you?"

"At least ten.  I lost count then.  By then I had a splitting headache."

"I'd imagine so," he agreed, pulling out his bag of living people supplies to find his stethoscope so he could look him over.  "Any remaining headache?  Dizziness perhaps?"

"Nothing that would indicate a concussion or a radical hex."

"Let me decide that, shall we?"  He noticed Abby coming in and smiled at her.  "Give me a few minutes, Abigail.  Jethro wanted him checked over after yesterday."

"That's because he was a bad boy all day," she told him dryly.  Tony smirked at her, then ran a very appreciative look over her, making her blush.  "Tony!"

"You look very good in that outfit, Abby.  Very tiny and elfish."

She blushed harder.  "Thank you, I think.  That was a compliment, right?"  He nodded, smirking at her.  She saw the look in his eyes.  "I'll let Ducky finish.  Meet you beside your coupe, Ducky?"  He nodded, smiling at her.  She fled.

"That was not nice, Anthony."

"Every woman should feel appreciated."

"Yes, but you made her feel sleazy, not appreciated."  He smacked him on the shoulder, not sure he didn't have a head injury.  "Are you sure you're not dizzy, have a headache, or nausea?"

"I'm quite sure I don't have a concussion, Ducky.  I promise."

"Then why are you acting like a teenager?" he demanded, staring at him.

Tony stared back.  "Am I?"

"Are you perhaps one of the others?  I read those dreadful books and polyjuice sounds interesting."

"Tastes like crap but no, I'm fully myself, Ducky.  Just as I was before."

"Before what?" he asked, catching on.

"I'm the Tony Gibbs wants."  He slid off the table.  "Fit for duty?"

"Go ahead," he agreed.  "Try to tone down the leering, Anthony," he ordered quietly.  Tony gave him a very courtly bow and left.  Ducky cleaned up the table and put his equipment away again.   He considered cluing Jethro in but Tony was obviously proving a point.

***

Tony sat down at his desk.  "Ducky said I'm perfectly normal for being myself and I apologized to the Director since I ran into her in the hallway, boss.  Anything else you want besides my report?"  He got to work on that, using every bit of slang he knew.  Speed hadn't been the only hip little teenager in their year. He finished with a flourish and sent it over, spinning his chair around.  He idly wondered how late the local theme park was open.  At least until his head was rocked by a hard slap.  "Sorry, spaced out there for a minute, boss."  He looked at him, looking *very* attentive.  "New case?"

"No.  Your report," he said, handing over the copy he had printed out.  "Do you notice anything odd about it, Tony?"

Tony read it, then looked at him.  "I misspelled something."  He went back to it and Gibbs grabbed his shoulder, squeezing hard.  "Ow," he ground out.  Gibbs did know pressure points very well.

"Gym, DiNozzo.  It's the day to spar."  He walked off, expecting him to follow.

Tony sighed and got up to follow him, expecting to get his ass kicked.  Then again he spent some time on his ass at that age for real too.  He walked into the locker room, changing quickly into his sweats and a clean t-shirt, then got out his boxing gloves.  He looked at his wand then decided that would be going a bit too far.  That wasn't really fair to immobilize him, and he had tried to play fair at that age.  Try anyway.  He walked out pulling on his gloves once his locker was sealed again, magically as well.  He saw his boss waiting on him and climbed into the ring to join him, clapping his gloves together. "Whenever you're ready, boss."  Gibbs watched him for a second then moved over, taking a swing at him.  Tony ducked and hit him, then danced out of range, staring him down.  Gibbs attacked again, and again Tony defended then moved away.

"You're avoiding hits."

"It hurts. Sue me, I'm human, most of the time."  He attacked this time, doing stuff he hadn't done since he was younger and Danny had taught him better.

"What the hell!" Gibbs demanded, doing a hip throw to put him on his back.  He stared down at him.  "What is wrong with you?" he demanded quietly.  Tony just stared up at him, one arm going up to cushion his head.  "This isn't a fashion shoot."

"Thankfully.  I'm not exactly my best in these sweats," he shot back, smirking at him.  "I'm still the same guy I was, Gibbs."

"The sudden moves?"

"Danny."

"Uh-huh."  He hauled him up, looking at him.  "Danny has too much street in his background to let you get away with that bullshit move, DiNozzo.  It's clear where his roots lie."  He looked him over, staring into his eyes, seeing the amusement.  "You having fun?"  The amusement started a thought in the back of his head, letting him put together some clues.  The little bastard was doing this on purpose for some reason.  He only needed to know why so he could cure this issue.  Because if this princess came back again he'd have to kick his ass for real.

"A lot actually.  You're not as pretty as those I usually stare at, I tend to like my objects of attention to be a bit more stacked than you are, but you'll do."

"I'll do?" he demanded.

Tony nodded.  "You're handsome in a very rugged way.   You're well built.  You're very wiry in your strength instead of being ropy or body builder hard.  You're use hard instead of gym hard and your body shows it very well.  Of course you don't dress to show it, boss, but you are.  You're also not playing up to your eyes."  He shrugged and backed off.  "I make no secret of who I am."

"You're not Tony."

"I am Tony.  Have you seen me taking hourly drinks?"

"You could do what you did to Stan," he hissed.

"You wanna strip search me and run a metal detector over me?" he countered.  "Go right ahead, but fair warning, I'm ticklish in certain areas."  He continued to stare him down.  He hadn't backed down from a challenge in two decades and he was having way too much fun proving to Gibbs he didn't want what he thought he did.  "Think the theme park will be open after work?  I haven't had fun in a while."

"You go to the theme park?"

"Of course I do!  Doesn't everyone?"  He shrugged and waved him on.  "Come on, you wanted to spar."

"I want to figure out what's wrong with you," he said coolly, still staring at him. "Ducky said you're fit for duty?"  Tony nodded. "I should call him."

"Go ahead.  He'll tell you I gave Abby a compliment and that he didn't find any reason to suspect a head injury after yesterday."

"You brought that on yourself," he reminded him, walking out of the ring.  "Stay."

"I'm not a dog!"  He looked around, then checked the cameras, muttering the obscuring spell before changing down to his pure black cat form.  He padded off, heading to listen in on the conversation.

"Ducky, me.  DiNozzo was fit for duty?   You're sure it's him?"  He listened to the proof he had found.  "That can't be replicated somehow?"  He grimaced, looking around.  He could feel someone watching him. No one was in there so he checked the cameras.  One had been moved.  "You didn't find anything?  No, he's still acting oddly.  He tried a new move on me and claimed Messer taught him it.  No, total bs.  Messer's too street to let that go."  He nodded once, looking around again.  He even looked up again.  "Have Abby get into the security system and see where the camera in the dressing room in the gym points."  He hung up and stood up, looking around again.  He knew which direction it was coming from.  He had no idea what it was though.  He got up on a bench to look in the shadowed corner, finding a small camera.   He pulled it down and yanked the wire until it broke off from someone's locker.  He'd report that later.  He walked out, not finding Tony anywhere.  "DiNozzo, quit playing!" he called.

Tony walked out behind him.  "I was in the stall, boss.  Thought we were taking a break."  He headed back to the ring, putting his gloves back on.  "You want to go again?"  He smiled.  "This is more fun than reports."

Gibbs stared him down.  "Before what?" he asked finally.

Tony just smirked at him.  "Wish granted," he said, then he pulled out the wand he had retrieved and disappeared.  He landed in Abby's lab, looking around before heading back to his desk.  He froze the cameras and other spy gear in the elevator so he could change his clothes on the way back, but unfroze it when he got off, strolling over to his desk.

"I like that outfit, Tony," McGee offered, smiling at him.  "Gibbs said to sit your ass down.  Now.  That was a direct quote."  Tony sat down and put his feet up, going back to his internet surfing since his report was done.  "He also said to fix the report and 'before when' was asked."  He got up and walked over, picking up Tony's report, then at him.  He burst out in giggles.  "He asked for that," he agreed.  "Please, please, don't use the book on me?"

"I hadn't planned on it," he said, staring him down.  Then he smirked evilly.  "Be prepared for anything," he hissed.  "Isn't that his motto?"  He printed off a new version with the old slang he used to use, handing it to him with a smirk.  "There ya go, mini-boss.  Put it on his desk for me since you're up?"

McGee did that, then went back to his desk to hide and watch.

Tony tipped his head back.  "Pertra!  Gibbs found your spy cam!" he called.  "Pity about the wire!"

"Damn it!"

"Next time don't have it pointing at his locker!"  He went back to his typing.  He was IM'ing Calleigh about a new ballistics test he had read about.  Gibbs came off the elevator.  "Boss, new ballistics testing equipment just came out.  I saw the article and I'm talking to Horatio's expert about it.  It's pretty neat.  They've got one.  Abby will probably be pouting soon, and you know how good she is at it."  He smirked at him and then got back to work.

Gibbs took the keyboard and typed in a message then closed the window on him, staring at Tony.  "What wish?"

Tony smirked at him. "You're smarter than that, boss."

"DiNozzo."

Tony stared him down still smirking.  His princely side was in full force now.  "Boss, have you ever thought about hiring a secretary part time for the unit?  It'd give McGee someone to flirt with."

"I'd never do it," McGee offered.  He squeaked at the glare Gibbs sent his way. "Not that someone to file would be a bad thing, but we can keep up with it.  As a matter of fact, let me go find some to do."  He got up and hurried off.

Gibbs glared at Tony, who just smirked back.  "She could make coffee for you so you're calmer.  Even get the good stuff.  She could help with the filing and check reports for grammar and spelling without making you deal with it.  That would leave you to sign stuff.  Plus, if the Director heard about it, she'd probably implant someone she liked and you could train in the future."

"DiNozzo," he said quietly. "What is going on?"

"I already told you, Gibbs."  He was still smirking, just a bit more evilly now.  No one had ever accused him of being a *nice* prince in his youth.  He had been the king of pranks in his year.

"Give me your wand."

"Hell no."

"Now."

"I don't give up my wand or my sidearm."

"You will."

"No, I won't be.  You can fire me first."

"Is that what you want?"

"No."  He continued to stare him back, letting him see deep into his eyes, the stuff he usually shielded from him.  "Anything else, boss?  The elevator's about to stop on this floor."  Gibbs straightened up, still staring him down. "I fixed the report as ordered.  McGee put it on your desk."  Ziva came off the elevator.  "You missed a case."

"It was unfortunately necessary," she told him, nodding at Gibbs and handing over her excuse.  "From the Director."  She glanced at Tony, then at him. "She's wondering what's going on," she said quietly.  He nodded.  She sat down and turned on her computer.  "What are we doing today?"

"Well, you also missed sparring day," Tony told her.  "Gibbs and I went a few rounds in the gym."

"Elevator, DiNozzo."  He handed over the note she had given him.  Tony looked at it and snorted then balled it up and set it on fire, then swished his wand in that direction, making her food turn into worms while she was eating.  He gave him an evil look.  "What was that?"

"Part of the greater plan, boss.  Why?"  Then he smiled sweetly.  "Did you know she asked if I had MPD?"

"No, but I'm starting to wonder myself," he admitted. "Elevator."  He got up and headed that way, his wand back in the holster.  He looked at Ziva.  "Hold it down, call me if we get a case, find where McGee is hiding."  He walked that way, letting Tony quit holding the door open for him.  He flipped the switch once they were between the first floor and the garage.  No one would be able to hear from either side and no one should be near either side. "What the hell is going on!" he demanded.

"Wish granted, boss.  You wanted me to be my old self."

"I wanted the less flighty agent I had before the convention, not this princess of evil you've got going now!"

"Ooooh, that's gonna cost you, boss.  Princess of Evil?  Is that the best you can do?  Even Danny got more creative than that.  Hell, he called me a Willy Wonka on LSD flavored chocolate a few times.  Couldn't come up with a better one?"  Gibbs glared at him so he leaned in the corner. "I'm the same guy I was before, Gibbs."

"No, my agent is a lot less unstable.  He didn't take days off for no reason."

"I had a good reason.  We had things we needed to clean up."

"You also have days off."

"No I don't.  We're always on call."  Gibbs looked like he had been slapped.  "When was the last time we had a day off?" he demanded.  "Outside of what we did at Alex's, because that wasn't a weekend off for either of us."

"Point," he ground out.  He counted back, it had been months.  The last time they had an active spell, it had been nearly as bad.  "Do you need a few days off, DiNozzo?"

"No, I think you do."  He stared him down.  "I'm the same guy I was before."

"Before when?"  Tony just stared at him.  "Before you met Danny and Speed?"  Tony nodded, smirking now that he had gotten it.  "I wanted the agent I had before you three got so intense again."

"I was miserable, Gibbs.  They were my sanity.  Multiple times.  I'm the one who tied Danny down when shit got too bad after Speed died.  I'm the guy who held him when his fiance died.  We're so tight, even before the bond, that there should've been no separating us.  Yet, something did.  College.  Now that we've fixed that tragedy it'll never happen again.  So either get used to the real me, the happy, sated, content me with the backup and support I need and crave, or don't, Gibbs."  He stood up straighter again.  "This is me.  Playful nature and all.  Kate saw plenty of it, boss.  Maybe you never paid attention, but she saw plenty of it.  I played plenty in the office.  It's been a while, since before she died, but I did used to play all the time.  This is me.  I'm not changing who I am to suit you."  He saw the struck look again.  "Or don't you remember Kate complaining because I was playing?"

"I do," he agreed quietly.  "Were they there for you then?"

"Danny was.  Speed was dead by then."

"I'm sorry."  He leaned against his wall. "I remember you being playful but you never skived off duty like you have since they came back into your life.  You never took an unannounced day off."

"We needed that stuff cleaned, boss.  The one was a shelter for those in the school who were working at inter-house cooperation, which they'll need to survive the purge.  The others were our personal storage and play areas.  Where we left part of ourselves.  If someone had found those, they could've used them against us.  There was enough residue in there of our lives to make sure that someone could've tracked us and used it against us.  Plus, Speed and Danny needed their old lives back.  Danny's about to go through hell again.  It happens about every other year.  Speed needed reminded of his old life so he can heal and move on.  Plus he needed his bike back.  His former one got sold by his mother after his death."  Gibbs nodded at that, letting him explain.  "Plus, I wanted my old life back.  Now that I don't have to hide who I am every day of my life, I don't have to act like I'm undercover all the time, I get to be myself and I wanted my things.  I wanted my brooms. I wanted my wizarding cards.  I've got a complete set for eight years running.  Hell, I've got stuff in my apartment that you've never seen and never will that's part of me because I couldn't let you know.  Sorry, but I'm sick and tired of hiding who I am!  I'm in my thirties and it's not making me happy.  This is me, Gibbs.  Yeah, I'm a bit of a prince now and then.  Welcome to my life.  You'd be one too.  It doesn't keep me from doing my job.  Yes, I've grown more tact than I had at twelve.  Not much but some."

"You'd better have more than you showed this morning."

"I explained my comments to the commander.  I'd have done the same thing, just not in front of you before."

"Maybe, but you'd still have found a better way to express it than 'use him to find land mines'."

"Not really."  He looked him over, then into his eyes.  "This is me, Gibbs.  All me.  Danny's still got uptight and thug tendencies.  I play pranks.  Bad ones at times, and I'm an annoying bastard at others.  Kate saw plenty of that and so did McGee."  McGee popped in.  "What?"

"Director," he panted.  "She was going through your desk, Tony."  He looked at him.  "I went to the bathroom.  She was looking for drugs supposedly."

"She doesn't have a clue about this stuff," Gibbs noted quietly.

"Yeah, but she's sure he's using, boss.  She told Ziva that. I was in the next row over, in those unused cubicles under the stairs.  She told Ziva you're using drugs and that you're going to be fired if she finds any."

"No drugs in my desk," Tony admitted.  "Plus the cocaine's no longer in my system, not really.  It's been long enough to weed it out.  She can drug test me," he offered, shrugging a bit.  He flipped the switch, looking at McGee.  "Accept who I am."

"Sure.  You always played with Kate.  I'm happy to have it back."  The door opened and he hit the button for their floor.  "I'll back you up in whatever you do."

"She might find a Playboy," Tony admitted, considering it. "One of the more tasteful ones.  I go for artistic instead of brutal nudity."  He shrugged as they got off.  "Boss?"

"We're good," he promised quietly.  He led the way back into their row.  "Director, needing an antacid?"

"Doing a search for drugs," she said, glaring at Tony.  "I know you're on some."

"No I'm not.  You can have me tested if you want."  He shrugged and crossed his arms.  "Also, you need a warrant for that. The Supreme Court said so.  You don't have probable cause."  His Playboy was put down.  "Yeah, and?  Airplane reading."  He shrugged again.   "I'm a guy, I like looking at the more tasteful and artistically nude ones instead of blatant, brutal nudity.  Be thankful I'm not like Pertra who likes to look at pussy cams."  She gave him a horrified look.  "At work since your spyware doesn't work very well."  He glanced at Ziva. "Didn't you catch him at that again?"  She nodded, grimacing.  "Was it the pierced one?"  She shuddered and nodded. "Yeah, I've caught that one a few times while I was filing.  Boss, we really have to get his seat switched away from the filing cabinets.  Please?  It's disturbing."

"It is," he agreed. "I've told him to turn the shit off more than once."  He looked at the director.  "Do you have a warrant?"  She glared at him. "That is the law, Military and not, Director.  He has offered to take a drug test.  It's been long enough, statistically, that a urine test wouldn't pop for the accidental cocaine exposure he got on that smuggling case.  I'll give him the time off if you want to have someone called to administer one today."

"I will be."  She slammed Tony's drawers.  "Then you'll be gone."

Tony looked at her.  "For what, Director?  Herbal tea?  Decent food with my friends?"  He sneered, stepping closer. "If you've got proof, present it."

"You're a blight."

"Yet I've got one of the better records in this whole agency.  My records are *impeccable*."  She backed off a step.  "I think you're jealous because you're doubting something.  What, did you think I was hitting on Gibbs?  I may think he's cute in some outfits, but *really*.  Do you have anything showing that we're dating or doing anything inappropriate?"  She stomped off.  "I'll be here, at my desk, when you're ready to pop me for the test, Director," he called.  Then he pointed his wand at her and muttered a curse, making her trip once she was in full view of the floor.  She glared back at him and he sat down, blatantly putting his feet up on the desk.  He looked at Gibbs.  "Tell me no."

"No.  You can't hurt her," he ordered quietly.

"How would he?" Ziva asked.

Tony looked at her.  "Did you think this was the first place I went undercover, Ziva?"  She nodded. "Then you never did a thorough background on my employment history.  Isn't that against your training?"

"Gibbs said it wasn't necessary.  That he had one."

"He did undercover work at two of his other jobs," Gibbs told her.  "He's got friends who got out of New York's underground community as well."

"Yeah, too bad Sonny's dead.  I could blackmail him into shit out the ass," Tony agreed dryly.  Gibbs raised an eyebrow.  "Someone had to stop him from going after Danny somehow."

"Point."  Two agents came in.  "DiNozzo."

"Me?" he asked them.  They nodded.  He stood up.  "Let's go.  I had a soda for lunch anyway."  He walked off with them.  "I've got to admit to an accidental cocaine exposure a while back.  Unfortunately the tape wasn't sealed as well as it should've been and the package broke open while I was doing a count.  I came down within an hour and it should be out, but you might find a trace of that."  They nodded, marking that on the form.  "Gibbs can give you a report on what happened if you need it for proof."  He walked into the bathroom.  "Drug test going on.  Clear out!  Director's back in her office!"  Everyone ran out, going back to their desks.  He smirked at them.  "She hates me.  She thinks I'm taking her spot with Gibbs.  She wants his cock badly."  He unzipped his pants and pulled out his dick.  "Cup?"  One was unscrewed and handed over.  "Full-full, half full, partially full?"

"At least to the line, Agent DiNozzo."  He watched him fill it, then took it back and capped it, putting it into the sealed container, which Tony signed once his hands were cleaned off.  He initialed it as well.  "Thank you for not being belligerent."

"No reason to.  She's the jealous one who went through my desk."  He dried off his hands.  "Need hair or anything else for a secondary test?"  They shook their heads and walked out, going down to the lab to run it, making Abby wait in the morgue for them.  He walked back to his desk and sat down again, smirking at his boss.  "I admitted to the case and said you could give them a report on it."  He waved it.  "Thanks, boss."

"I know you're not using, DiNozzo.  Thinking back, you were worse than this with Kate at times."  McGee nodded at that. "You done now?"

"Mac's the only one who hasn't figured it out yet.  Don's got an idea but not about why.  You can't tell him. It's to prove that you guys didn't want what you thought you did."

"Fine.  I can agree to that.  How is Speed dealing?"

"Better.  He's back into a more comfortable spot he can work from, but...."  He smirked at something coming from Speed, swearing mentally about Ryan.  "Ah.  Wolfe is very good, boss.  If we ever get another opening, we want Wolfe."  He smirked at him. "He figured out everything, including Danny and them," he said quietly, barely not mouthing it.  "He's a chaos person.  He just proved it to Speed."  Gibbs smirked at that. "Seriously, boss.  If you need someone, you want Wolfe.  He's good according to Speed, but his nature's not all that friendly some of the time."

"I'll keep that in mind. How is Standa doing?"

"Just fine.  She'll be back tomorrow from that visit home to her ex and from the trial."  Gibbs shuddered, that had to be one strange conversation.  "Stella's not bad, not that good either."  He winked as the agents came back. "Did I pop?"

"The test for cocaine came out barely registering."  Gibbs handed over the report.  "Blood work that day?"

"After we got back.  There was a bomb.  We let him sleep it off in the truck. It's included.  Ducky's got the official results."

"Thank you, Agent Gibbs."  He nodded, pointing at the number.  "That is consistent."  He went to get that report, leaving his partner there until he came back. "The blood work report backs him up on that.  At that rate of dispersal, his body's working very well."  He looked at Gibbs.  "No other hints of anything, except the one that usually picks up the flu."

"I was exposed to the plague a few years back," Tony told him casually.  "Would that count?"  That got a horrified look and a nod.  "Someone sent me Y Pestis."

"I'm very sorry, Agent DiNozzo, but at least you could come back to work."  They walked off, going to tell the director.  She stormed out, making them air it in front of everyone.  "Madam Director, the only test that came up positive was the one for cocaine and it was noted that he did have an accidental exposure to it on a recent case.  By the blood work reports, it is at a reasonable level for that exposure.  A follow up test would be advisable in another week to give it time to fully work its way out of his system.  His test did contain some alcohol but not a chronic level.  More of 'I had beers with the game last night' level that the statistical majority of people pop positive with."  She glared at him and he continued.  "His other tests were completely clear with the exception of the one that registers the flu and with his exposure to Y Pestis a few years back that will always pop positive.  So, if you wish we can restest him in a week.  If not, he's totally clear."  He handed over the reports together.  "That's a copy of the report on the accidental exposure and a copy of the bloodwork report from his medical file the ME keeps on him."

"I see.  Nothing else?"

"No, Director," the other man said.  "I ran two separate tests.  The second one didn't even pop for cocaine.  It's almost fully out of his system."

"Agent DiNozzo."

"Director, if you continue to discuss my private life in a public forum like this, I'm suing," he noted calmly, his voice just loud enough to be heard.  She glared.  He dialed his phone, getting his attorney.  "Get here, now."  He hung up, staring her down.

"DiNozzo," Gibbs warned.

"No, this is wrong, Gibbs.  She's discussing my private life, my drug tests, which are supposed to be eyes-only, and my work record in public.  That is against the law."  He looked at him. "I don't care."  Someone came off the elevator and he nodded at him.  "Thank you for coming across the street."

"Not a problem, Tony.  What's up?"

"She made the agents who just popped me for a drug test discuss it up there," he noted, nodding at it.  "Including the case that got me an accidental exposure, my exposure to Y Pestis, and other things about my private life."

"Wonderful," he agreed with a feral smile.  "There's a suit against her already by three other agents."  He walked up there.  "Ma'am, I'm Mr.  Howell Halliburton, Attorney."  He pulled something out of his jacket and handed it to her.  "That's your notice of being served with a command to appear in court in regards to a class action suit against you for doing similar things as what you just did to my newest addition.  Do have a nicer day, Director."  He walked off. "By the way, that is backed by the Senate, ma'am."  He nodded politely at Tony.  "This burns that favor," he whispered as he walked past him.

"Done," Tony agreed.  They shared a smirk and he walked off.  Tony looked up at her.  "Is there any other part of my life you'd like to discuss, Director?"  He looked at Gibbs.  "You can give her all the ammunition she wants."

"I'm not like that.  If I have a problem with you, I take it up in private."

"In my office," she bellowed.

"Not without my lawyer or my boss," he shot back, glaring at her.  "On the advice of Counsel."  She stomped off.  He looked at Gibbs again.  "I will go through with it.  Ziva, I'm very sorry, they probably cited you."  She nodded, she knew that.  "You knew?"

"I spent the morning being debriefed by him and a senator.  She went outside the guidelines to appoint me to the team without the team leader's permission."  She looked at Gibbs.  "The senator said it was up to you if I stayed."

"You're staying."  She smiled at him.  "Until you screw up."

"Thank you, Gibbs.  I do try not to."  He nodded at that.  "I did mention why I was appointed as well.  That whole mess is being looked into, but your part was being called reasonable by the senator and he's on the intelligence committee."  Gibbs smirked at that.  "They knew you wouldn't give it up and no one expected you to listen to anyone advising you to stand down. He congratulated you on fixing it."  She stood up.  "I'm going to see if Abby has anything for me on my cold case yet.  She was doing a new DNA sweep."  She walked off, going to do that.  She saw a mouse and glared, trying to stomp on it.  "Mouse!"

"Leave it," Tony yelped.  "It's a pet!"  She grimaced but quit trying to stomp it to death.  "Thank you!"  She took the stairs, shuddering a bit.  He glared at the mouse.  "McGee!"  He ran under his desk and came out in human form.  "Thank you!"

"Sorry, boss.  Hiding."  He sat down and got back to work.

"Can you do that?" Gibbs asked Tony, who only smirked at him.  "You'll show me."

"Some day."

"Tonight."

"Some day."

"Tonight, DiNozzo.  Or else."

"If I must."  He stretched and grinned at him.  "You almost caught me earlier, boss."  He winked and got up, going to talk to Ducky.  "Heading to see Ducky and get a story."

"Fine."  He glared at his retreating form.

"That won't work with me," Tony called, smiling and waving from the elevator.  "Don's little shirt-diving friends are scarier than you are at this moment."  The elevator came and he stepped on, smirking as the doors closed.

"I didn't consider Keelian very scary," McGee said thoughtfully.  "What other one is there?"

"Someone mailed him an egg," Gibbs muttered, shaking his head.  "Get back to work, McGee."  He found the report and looked at it, then picked up a red pen and started circling things, printing very large over the thing 'fix these or else I'm suspending you to your desk for the next month'.   Desk duty drove Tony insane.

***

Gibbs stopped Tony's hand from closing his apartment door, walking inside and closing it behind him.  Tony gave him a smirk. "I said you'd be showing me."

"Must I?"  Gibbs nodded.  "Would you pet me?"

"Depends on what you become.  If you become slimy, no."  Tony smirked and changed down, smirking at him from his kitty cat form.  "I knew that smirk would transfer somehow."  He picked the cat up and scratched his ears.  "Your eyes stayed too."  He flipped him over, working on his stomach.  "Remember who's the true tom of this team, DiNozzo.  Even if you're not fixed, I'm still top tomcat."  Tony purred and swished his tail, then scratched him and jumped down, changing back.  "Feel better?"

"You messed up my stomach fur.  I'll have to bathe it down later," he complained.

"Have Don pet you," he complained, scowling mildly at him.  "We gonna have any more problems with you?"

"Depends on you, boss."   He leaned against the back of his couch. "Are we good?"

"We're fine now that I understand.  As long as you don't pull more stupid shit this year."  Tony smirked at that.  "Anything else you'll need to clean out?"

"I hope not.  Though, Danny's bi-yearly issues usually give us only a little bit of warning.  See, his dad knew he'd never be a true thug since he didn't like violence like the rest of the family so he cursed him to be tested every few years to bring out the violent streak.  The last time I had the sudden 'tripping while running' problem for four days?  That was the last one.  It's about to happen again."

"Can't you get Dumass to remove that?"

"No. I'm not sure it can be removed by anyone but his father, who won't.  He hates him, Gibbs.  He turned his back on his entire family and not even the Vinese can make him quit."

"Who?"

"The oldest, most powerful female graduate of the Venetian school.  She's appointed when the last one dies.  Any of the old pureblood, Italian families has to listen to her.  She's actually my godmother."  Gibbs blinked at that.  "She loves my father like a son, boss.  No hope of getting her on my side about my inheritance."

"What you said this morning....."

"The truth.  He's got stuff he's holding away from me.  She didn't agree to me getting it back yet.  Said I'm too immature."

"You definitely were today," he noted dryly.  "What would make her change her mind?"

"A marriage of some sort.  Preferably into a better family.  Which won't happen.  I hate the other girls in my social circle.  Plus most of them are already married.  Purebloods tend to marry young and try to breed a better society."

"Can she keep it from you after he dies?"

"She can try but if she does, I can and will take her to the Wizard's Court in the Italian Ministry.  Danny's father tried to get her judgement annulled about their exile and return home.  The Ministry Court found it to be valid.  They do on most things. So unless she dies, I'm pretty much screwed at the moment."  He slid over the back of the couch and stretched out.  "What're we gonna do about her, boss?"

"I'm not sure yet," he admitted, walking over to sit in the recliner.  "I'm not sure what we can do."

"All I know is that she takes these jealous bitch moments about you and anyone who might come near you.  It's getting distracting.  She's trying to run your life for you."

"She's tried to make suggestions on the boat too," he admitted.  "I have no idea what to do about her or who they'd appoint after her."

"DD Hartret."

"Who?"

"Deputy Director Hartret would be the likely choice.  He's handling all the other offices but ours and the overseas ones.  He's not a bad guy from what I've heard, but he's also not very supportive.  He's a real hand's-off sort.  Unless it's a crisis, he's not there."  Gibbs nodded.  "Before you ask, I did know about the suit and that they were mentioning Ziva.  I figured if you wanted to, you could protect her.  If not, she'd be moved to another team that had the first opening.  The director terrorized a few of the people in HR, one of the secretarial pool, and another female agent.  She's been interfering in her team's work as well.  She's in the German office I think."

"Good to know."  He stood up.  "We'll do whatever we have to do," he offered.  "For now, just endure, make sure everything's book perfect, and hold onto the secrets.  You and McGee both."

"Boss, he's not going to do anything that stupid in the office again.  Ziva wears scary shoes."

"She's scarier when she's got bloody bandages on her feet."  He walked off, heading home.  He found Ducky waiting on him.  "What's up?" he asked as he got out of his car.

"I got told right before I left that I'm transferring to the other coast.  The Northwest office."

"You can't move your mother like that."

"I know.  So does she.  That was her intention."

"Join the suit, Ducky, or pull strings."  He moved closer.  "You heard what she tried to do to Tony earlier."

"I did, is Anthony all right?"

"Pissed.  He's suing her based on how she made the agents discuss the drug test on the catwalk by MTAC."  Ducky groaned, shaking his head. "Three female staff members were already going there, Ducky.  Join in.  You've got a valid reason and I doubt you requested a transfer."

"She claims I did, that she's got paperwork."

"Go to the SecNav," Gibbs ordered quietly.  "Present the problems, the suit, and all of it.  Tony thinks she's jealous."

"She is.  It's rather apparent, Jethro.  Also, she's inside."

"Bet me," Jethro said firmly, heading up to open the door.  "I didn't invite anyone over tonight!  Leave, now!"  He left the door open and walked back there.  "Go to him, now," Gibbs ordered quietly.  Ducky nodded and got into his car, driving off.  His boss came onto the porch.  "What are you doing in my house?"

"I came over to talk to you."

"I don't wanna hear it.  Get off my porch, go home, Director."

"No."

"You're trespassing."

"What're you going to do, Jethro, shoot me?"

He pulled out his phone and dialed the local police department's dispatch office.  "This is Special Agent Gibbs.  I'm reporting a trespasser in my home.  Come get her before I take her up on her order to shoot her."  He hung up and stared at her.  She sneered back, crossing her arms over her chest. He moved closer.  "You won't win."

"They won't arrest me."

"They will.  I can and will press charges."  Two marked police cars drove up and stopped.  "Evening, boys."  He pointed. "My trespassing boss.  I'm filing harassment charges against her tomorrow and she came to try to talk me out of it."  She looked stunned.  "It was pretty clear, Jen.  Have fun with that."  They walked past her and walked her off.  "Anyone else in here?"

"Me, I was hiding," Abby said as she peeked out. "I was under the boat."

"You're always welcome, Abby. You know that."  He walked up onto the porch, waving.  "Thanks, guys.  I will press charges if necessary."  They smiled at that and waved back, heading off with her.

She walked down to stand beside him.  "I'd hate to be her when the SecNav hears about this and the lawsuit.  Think they'll make her a figurehead and appoint a deputy director?"

"Tony said we've already got one."

"Yeah, but he doesn't handle the international stuff. He said it's too much work."  She looked up at him. "You're really thinking about filing a sexual harassment suit?"  He nodded.  "You think it'd stand up?"

"If it helps, I will.  We may've had a past relationship but that's it.  That was over long ago."  He walked her inside, shutting the door behind them.  "Why did Ducky drop you off?"

"So I could keep you calm while Ducky ranted.  Did you send him to the SecNav?"  He nodded.  "Oooh, hate to be him then and *really* hate to be her when he's done with Ducky."

Gibbs nodded, making her grin and hug him.  "Thanks, Abs.  Want dinner?"

"Please.  So tell me about this date."

"Date?"

"The historian.  The one you went to the museum to see."

He grinned at her. "Believe it or not, DiNozzo hired her to fix me dinner and give me a shoulder rub, nothing further. She's still very young, working on her Masters in Ancient History, but she was very nice.  She just put up a Civil War weapons exhibit."  She squealed at that.  "I'll take you this weekend if we're clear."  She beamed and nodded, bouncing a bit.  His phone rang.  "That was fast.  Ducky doesn't usually drive that fast."  He answered it. "Gibbs."  He listened.  "He told me you figured it out.  Yeah, a few hours ago.  Can Speed change shape like Tony can?"  He listened to Horatio hum and ask him that, getting a quiet 'no comment' in the background.  "Ask him what he is?  Tony's a pure black cat."

"That might cause problems with the little McGee mouse," Abby said, hopping up to sit on the counter. She swung her feet a bit and he swatted her.  "I won't dent the cabinets with my heels."

"I'm going to be putting food there, Abby, I don't want you sitting on it."  She sighed and hopped down, shaking her head.  He cleaned off the counter with the dish cloth.  "What is he?"  He laughed at the 'he won't tell me' Horatio answered with.  "I'm told we're not allowed to tell Mac, that they were proving a point.  No, I got Princess of Evil Tony.  Imagine what Mac got," he snorted.  Horatio laughed loudly at that.  "Yeah, Messer was a jock and a part-time thug.  What was Tim when he was twelve?  Yeah, it was from before they met and got tight with each other.  Ooh, brooding, hip, tit staring.  Figures.  Not much has changed on either of them then.  I guess Danny's the only one who really changed."  He smirked.  "You too.  Yeah, next time we can, just pop by to get me.  No, we're having problems with the director.  Apparently she's jealous.  She's trying to have Ducky transferred.  She popped Tony for a drug test.  Oh, heard about Wolfe.  Next opening I get I was advised to come recruiting."

"Timmy's picture of the team showed him being a hottie," Abby told him, looking very serious.  "But for some reason I like Harry, even though I usually date older guys, Gibbs."

"Sorry, Horatio, but he could date Ziva.  Or Tony's got more cast-offs than you think Delko has. Tony said he figured it all out.  How long did it take him?"  He nodded.  "Not bad.   How's he on cases?"  He smirked at the 'friends don't poach' comment.  "Come on, you can't tell me you've never poached from another department."  He smirked at his 'of course I have'.  "So, I may be down to poach Wolfe.  With a bit of training under myself and DiNozzo, he might make a good field agent.  Don't warn him, just keep me informed of how good he is.  Sure, this weekend's fine probably.  We're not on weekend call.  Pending how the lawsuit against the Director goes, I might have all weekend off.  No, I came home and found her in my house with Abby hiding, Horatio.  After today, I had her arrested for trespassing."  He smirked at his comment of 'not very politically correct, Jethro'.  "I don't play politics, Horatio.  I'm a fairly straightforward guy."

"That's why he pisses off so many other agencies," Abby called, smirking at him.  "They hear it's him and turn over jurisdiction immediately so they don't have to deal with us."

"Works for me, less headaches having to explain myself to people who refuse to understand simple, straightforward, uncomplicated plans."  He listened to Horatio laugh.  "After the way she did Tony and now Ducky, there's no way I'm standing behind my former trainee.  Yeah, sure.  I'll let you know.  Later."  He hung up.  "They just got a test result back on a murdered child case."

"Poor guys," she offered, pouting a bit.  "I hope they get him and then someone lets the cells know what he did."

"Someone always does, Abby," he promised, looking in his freezer.  "Cow or chicken?"

"Chicken."  She came over to pull out the bag of chicken quarters and then a baking dish, getting them ready to be put in the oven.  "Simple and easy."

"It is.  Thank you."  He got out drinks and helped her fix dinner.  "I wonder what Danny is."

"I don't know.  It's based on who you are, deep down.  I wonder if an animagus can change to a different form if they've had a radical personality change."  Gibbs looked at her.  "I am."

"You're wondering what Harry is," he snorted, taking the dish from her and putting it into the oven, then turning it on.

"No, he's a hawk."  She beamed.  "He showed me and I got to scratch his neck ruff."  She hopped up onto the counter again.  "Can we pet the Tony cat?"

"He let me until I pointed out I was the top tomcat on the team."  She giggled at that.  The door slammed and he looked that way.  "What's wrong, DiNozzo?"

"I just got a call from Ducky.  SecNav's pissed, boss.  He wanted you warned.  He's coming over later."

"Not the first time.  Then again, I did have her arrested for trespassing."

"He didn't mention that," Tony said hesitantly.  "I'll change Abby and we'll hide in the stairway so you won't get hurt if he tries something."

"That's fine.  Staying for dinner?"

"Already ate, but thanks anyway."

"Meow Mix?" Abby asked, smirking at him.

"No, eww!  Tuna."  He smirked back.  "I'm a purebred cat, thank you. Dry is for alley cats."

"Make sure I don't have to have you fixed," Gibbs ordered dryly.

"There had better not be baby DiNozzo's unless someone took some from the sperm bank!  I mastered the three contraceptive charms in my third year, thank you."

She giggled and hugged him around the neck, pulling him over to kiss him on the cheek.  "Do hormonal methods work with you guys?"  He beamed and nodded. "Just asking in case it comes up."

"It does and Harry's still a virgin, Abby.  He's been hunted by women but never wooed or courted.  Remember, if you treat him wrong, Ron and Alex will make your life a living hell and then Dawnie will finish you off."  She smiled and nodded.  He kissed her on the forehead.  "Good girl."  He heard a knock and moved her out of sight, pulling his wand to change her into a small black dog.  Then he changed down, giving her tail a nudge with his cold, wet nose so they could hide on the stairs so Gibbs could answer the door.

Gibbs shook his head.  "Don't do that, she'll like it."  He walked out, opening it.  "Sir."

"Gibbs."  The Secretary of the Navy walked in, closing the door behind him.  "What the fucking hell happened, Jethro?"

"Apparently she got jealous, sir.  It started a few weeks back when I had a date.  I saw a car lurking outside my house that night.  Earlier today she came down on DiNozzo for being playful and looking at her fairly obvious push-up bra."  His boss gave him a long stare.  "Even teenagers don't stand up like that, sir.  I'm cooking, come back to the kitchen so you can sit."  He walked him back there so he could check on the chicken.  "After I talked to DiNozzo in the gym and got him straightened out, she had him popped for a drug test.  He had an accidental exposure during a drug count a few weeks back when a package opened under his hand.  We had everything to back him up so they called it clean.  When I got home, I found her standing in here and Ducky waiting on me.  I had the cops come get her so I didn't have to deal with her.  DiNozzo and I both think she's jealous of the young lady who made me dinner."

"Made you dinner?" he asked, looking amused.

"DiNozzo found her for me.  That's all we did, all she wanted to do and all I wanted to do.  Then I went to see her Civil War rifle exhibit."

"I know her.  Pretty young redhead?"  Gibbs nodded. "I've seen her on the arm of a few generals who wanted to have a pretty young woman on their arm.  That's all she does?  Dinner?"

"That's all she does.  She's a very upright and proper young woman.  Said she carries mace for those who want more of her than her conversation.  She's a great conversationalist and I've asked her out to a real dinner without the payment since then.  She's fascinating to hear talk about her exhibits.  We talked for nearly an hour about the rifles that night."

"Well.  That's a good thing, Jethro," he agreed happily.  "Seriously thinking about dating her for real?"

"I'm not sure.  I'm taking it very cautiously.  It's not like I'm going to rush into a fourth marriage."

"Good point.  After the last one I wouldn't either."  He looked around then back at him.  "Okay, who is it?" he called.  The cat came back and sat at his feet, staring at him.  He looked down.  "DiNozzo.  Those eyes are very identifying.  Do you wear contacts when you go undercover?"  Tony changed back, giving him an odd look.  "I was Horatio's mentor, kid.  What's going on?"

"She's a jealous bitch, sir, to put it bluntly."   He pointed his wand and Abby squealed. "Sorry."  He made her clothes reappear.  "We'll stay in here until you're redressed."  He looked at their boss again.  "After she had me tested, she made the agents tell her the results on the catwalk.  Including my exposure to the plague and about the accidental exposure. I knew about the suit and I told the lawyer I'd join today.  I can't allow anyone to get into my privacy that way."

"Okay, I agree with that.  That was wrong."  He sat down, looking at him. "Jethro, your dinner's burning."  He went to rescue the brown chicken.  "Can we resolve this without it?"

"That depends, sir.  Have you talked to the other three claimants?  Who, by the way, are all redheads?"  He groaned. "Ziva was also mentioned and she said her debriefing today came with the lawyer and a senator."

"I heard.  I got the transcripts."  He looked at him.  "If I can guarantee your security and I can guarantee she can't do it again?"

"Make her a figurehead?  Put the DD you already have in charge."

"We'll need two.  It really is too much work."

"Morrow handled it," Jethro offered, handing Abby a plate when she came in.  "Want some, sir?"

"No, that's all right.  I was eating when Ducky stormed in and threw his fit.  He agreed with your idea, DiNozzo.  The only person we could put in would be a bit more stand- uppish.  Hartret doesn't want to appear to meddle and doesn't want to let anyone think he's playing favorites.  He takes it a bit too far.  I seriously wish Morrow were still with us. I knew he had your back."

"So ask his recommendation, sir," Abby pointed out gently.  "Who else would know what was needed?"

"You can turn down any nomination of my name immediately," Gibbs assured him.  "I'd rather be staked out on an anthill in midsummer in Saudi."

"Again?" Tony teased.  Gibbs glared at him.  "Sorry, boss.  Would that be an again?"

"No."   He ate a bite.  "You sure you don't want any, sir?"

"I'm certain.  Seeing Ducky that huffy and upset turned me off food for a while."

"That's fine."  He ate another bite.  "I could get behind the plan, the other agents would get behind it because it'd mean she'd have to leave us alone, and the daily running would go to someone who wanted to do more than paperwork and work on terrorism."

"That is what we're being told to work on."

"Sir, I've got plenty of cases without terrorist cells.  Someone's got to do the normal cases as well.  That's what we do.  The CIA and FBI deal with terrorist cells.  We deal with dead Sailors and Marines.  We deal with those who're doing other things wrong.  We don't deal with terrorist cells unless they're involved.  Hell, let her run that part.  She's good at it."

"You should know, you trained her."  He got up to get himself some water.  "What about Officer David?"

"She's doing okay.  Still some friction there."

"She needs driving lessons," Tony said firmly.   "I've never met anyone who made me fear for my life more than you did, boss, but she needs driving lessons.  She taught herself how to drive."  Gibbs moaned at that.  "Please.  Before she gets one of us killed in a car crash.  Remember the case with the kidnaped woman?  She did sixty through the mall parking garage and expected me to identify cars. Please!  Have *someone* teach her, boss!  Even defensive driving!  I'm not sure she's got an American license."

"She doesn't.  She's using her Israeli one," Abby said before taking another bite.  "She does need it, Gibbs.  Even McGee's come in pale, shaking, and puking."

"I didn't need that image."

"Ducky's had to give me medicine for nausea too," Tony admitted.  The SecNav smiled at that.  "Really.  She's got nothing on the defensive driving coaches at the academy, sir.  The problem is that she does it all the time."

"I'll have her sent to be checked out," Gibbs relented.

"Think we can get Fornell to do it, boss?" Tony asked with a bright smirk.

"Princess of Evil is back," Abby quipped. "Only took you a few hours, Tony."

"Abby, please," Gibbs moaned.  The SecNav laughed at that.  "He was having a playful day earlier."

"I heard.  Something about lack of tact?"

"This way, his commander can watch him, mentor him if he's got any chance of making it in the Navy, and if not, he can figure out how to weed him out.  The kid didn't duck when his friend swung his ceremonial sword at him, sir.  I'd call it a way to get out of the Academy without disappointing his family."

"Possibly true.  The commander did want my opinion and I told him to watch him.  He could overcome stupidity with training if the kid had it in him.  If not, well, he had a reason to kick him out."

"See, told you so," Tony told Gibbs.

"It was still blunter than you should've been, DiNozzo.  Tact is a good thing sometimes.  Even I have to use it now and then."

"I do most of the time."

"You do most of the time," Abby agreed.

"Thankfully," Gibbs agreed, staring at him.  He looked at their boss again.  "I'll gladly drop mine if you get her out of my face, sir."

"I will be, Jethro."  He stood up and put his glass in the sink.  "You'll see me within a few days."  He clapped Tony on the back.  "Try to hide it better.  The worms was interesting."

"Alex Dumass let one of my friends copy his copy of The Big Book of Dark Pranks."  The SecNav moaned.  Tony smirked evilly.  "I'm just warming up, sir."

"I'll have her put on as a figurehead to save her sanity," he told him.  He walked out shaking his head.  He wondered how Jethro put up with the insanity on his team.  He was closing the door when he heard the head smack and Tony's complaint.  Ah, that's how he did it.

***

Tony appeared at Speed's that night...

The Sulky Boy

Horatio looked up as Speed walked in, noticing the look on his face.  "Have a bad dinner last night?" he asked dryly.

"No, why?"  He gave him a long stare, then watched Calleigh walk past with interest before heading back to change clothes.

Horatio watched him go.  Something was wrong.  His phone rang.  "Caine."  He listened to Gibbs' complaint.  "Speed just got here and he's more sulky than usual but not out of the range of a bad day.  I'll watch and make sure."  He hung up, going to track his tech down.  He found him and Eric comparing bar sex stories in the locker room.  "Boys.  Not at work."

Speed gave him a look. "Isn't that part of being a guy, Horatio?  Comparing conquests?"

"Not all of us have conquests," he reminded him.

Eric looked at him.  "Somehow I doubt that, H," he teased, grinning at him.  "Besides, he said he's in a good mood."

Horatio hummed, shaking his head. "Eric, next case is yours since you're open.  Speed, where are you in your last one?"

"Up to my nads in tape lifted samples."  Eric looked at him for that expression.  "I am!  You guys brought me a body with so much shit on them it's not funny."

"Okay, now I'm starting to see something odd," Eric admitted, closing his locker door.  "Did you have a bad night?"  Speed shook his head.  "Are you sure?"

"Yeah, Danny and Tony were great fun.  Don came over to spend the night with us and it was good.  Why?"  He stared at Yelina as she came in.

"Eric," Horatio said smoothly.  "Go."  He nodded and left, taking Yelina with him once she had dropped off her jacket.  "Speed."  He moved closer.  "What is the problem today?"

"Nothing. I'm the same guy I was before."

Horatio considered that then shook his head. "You're not.  You're definitely not."  He heard someone else come in, watching as he evaluated Frank then seemingly dismissed him.  "Speed, talk to me."

"What's up?" Frank asked, coming over to help if he could.

"Nothing.  He's in a bad mood and won't say why," Horatio told him.

"Really, guys, I'm in a great mood," he promised, smirking at them.  He grabbed his lab coat.  "Off to deal with the nad-high pile of trace stuff while you two old guys conspire."  He walked out shaking his head and laughing.

"Old guys?" Frank asked.  "What?  Is he twelve?"

Horatio looked at him, then stiffened and took a deep breath.  "Thank you, Frank."  He went to chase him down.  "Speedle!" he said from the doorway of the lab, making him jump since he had music on in there. "Too loud and annoying.  Turn it down."

"Sorry, dad!"  He turned it down and got back to work.  His remote had a plastic cover on it.

Horatio stepped back to observe and figure out if this was a problem or a game.  He went back to his office since he could see inside the lab, putting on his sunglasses.  He had 'telling' spells on them to show anything magical.  He saw a bright flash of magic and groaned.  "Ray!" he called.  His nephew waved but stopped in to talk to Speed, who looked perfectly normal to him.  He took off his sunglasses, watching those two joke.  That definitely wasn't normal.

His nephew came in a few minutes later, smiling and happy.  "When did Speed learn how to play video games?  We were trading levels on the newest hot one."  Horatio looked at him.  "What?"

"Something's wrong with him," he said quietly.

"Yeah, he's suddenly hip, cool, and brooding, which girls seem to like."  He shrugged. "Wish I was."  He looked at his uncle.  "I need lessons, badly.  I made the toaster bark this morning."

"We'll get your wand this weekend and start then."  Ray beamed at him.  "We'll have to take a quick trip to Diagon for it. The only wandmaker in the States got burned last year."  He cleared his throat when he saw Yelina coming.  "So, you think he's fine to work?"

"I think the brooding sexuality thing is very hot right now.  You see it a lot on all the male models, who barely get past pouting.  He's taking it farther and I'm glad my wannabe girlfriend isn't here or she'd take him over me."  He grinned at his mother.  "Speed's suddenly a lot hipper.  We're talking video games."

"I see."  She smiled at him.  "What happened to him?"

"I don't know.  He came in acting like today was one of his bad days, but he's claiming he's happy."  He looked down there, watching him dance to the music, opening the door to hear the noise.  "Speed!  Once more and it's gone!" he yelled.  He could see a few other techs glaring at his lab.  It got turned down and he went back inside.  "Sorry."

"Not a problem.  That's some seriously nice music," Ray admitted.  "I listen to it at home.  That Tony guy said his tech, Abby, listens to it and that Greg listens to it too."  He shrugged.  "Maybe Greg helped him be hip today."  He grinned at his mother. "What's up?"

"I was wondering why you came in."

"To beg Uncle Horatio to drop me off later so I could replace the toaster I ruined earlier."  She grimaced.  "It's my fault my eggo leaked and caused it to smoke and hiss.  Therefore I should replace it."  She nodded.  "I figured you'd be busy all day."  He shrugged.  "I'm being nice, mom."

"Fine, son.  Thank you for being so considerate."  She walked off, smiling that her son was showing some maturity.

Horatio looked at him.  "Why did it bark?" he asked quietly.

"I was wanting a dog," he hissed, moving closer.  "I was pouting about wanting a dog while making a toaster pastry."  He shrugged. "It barked and hopped around but she was leaving so I dropped it onto the floor and stomped it into submission.  So can I get dropped off later?"  He nodded. "Thank you.  Any day this weekend?"

"I'm off Friday and Saturday."

"Thank you, Uncle Horatio."  He gave him a hug and disappeared.  "I'm going to hand Tim my earphones and I-Pod!"  He went in there, handing it to him.  "Here, Speed, ten thousand songs, all in that genre."  He grinned. "That way Uncle Horatio can't throw a hissy."

"Thanks, dude.  I'll hand it back later."

"Not an issue.  We should trade music."

"I ripped off Greg's collection last night.  Copied most of it."  Ray grinned at that.  "We'll see what I can let you copy."

"Decent, thanks."   He headed to the break room to get a snack.  He was a teenager, he was always hungry.

***

Horatio looked at Speed as he took a break for lunch. He was sitting the wrong way in his chair and eating Cheetos.  He walked in there, taking the earbuds off him.  "We should talk."

"About?" he asked, his mouth still partially full.

Horatio sat across from him. "About this sudden return of adolescent behavior."

"I'm the same guy I was, H.  Must be a perception problem."  He ate another cheeto and licked his fingers off once he had swallowed. He grinned at Alexx when she came in.  "Hi."

"Speedy."  She gave him a gentle hug.  They were just starting to rebuild their relationship.  "Eat more than that, sugar."

"I'm fine.  It's just a snack until dinner tonight.  Tony's cooking."  She nodded, getting a new bottle of water and walking back out. He looked at Horatio.  "I'm perfectly happy and fine, H.  I have no idea why you're worried."

"First you take off for an unexpected vacation day to clean out some old storehouses, then you come in the next day staring at women, acting my nephew's age, and claiming you're normal.  You expect people to not pay attention to it, but even Natalia has noticed it, Speed.  Did something happen yesterday or last night?  Some hex I didn't find when I checked?"

"No."  He ate another cheeto and got up to get a Mountain Dew.  "Want one?"

"No, thank you.  It's Gibbs that has caffeine poisoning."

"Suit yourself."  He got him a bottle of water instead and sat back down to go back to his lunch.  He was having a lot of fun with this.  "You checked me out?"  Frank was outside the door watching them so he waved.  "Want one?" he asked, holding up the bag.

"I didn't know you ate that disgusting stuff."  He walked off shaking his head.

"Polyjuice?"

"I'm still me, Horatio.  This is who I am."

"No, this isn't you, Speedle."  He stood up.  "Go work in my office."  That way he could be contained if it was something wrong with him.  He shrugged and brought his chips that way with his soda.   Horatio watched him walk, bopping off to his nephew's I-Pod.  Something was definitely off with him.   He had never figured Speed for an Iron Maiden fan.  He had never seen one of their CD's in his collection when the team had gone over for dinner.  He hadn't had any idea Speed even liked metal music.  Something was definitely wrong.  He went to check his lab for anything that might be wrong, but he knew it had something to do with yesterday.  Fortunately he was very good at his job.  From the calls that had been passed back and forth from DC and New York, he wasn't the only one either.

***

Speed walked onto his scene an hour after lunch, looking around.  "This is so not cool," he noted dryly, putting down his case so he could put on booties and gloves.  He put on his sunglasses and pulled out his camera first.  "Do we have a path cleared?" he called.  Horatio nodded, pointing at it.  "Thank you."  He walked that way, going to look around.  "What happened?"

"Someone said they saw dogs attacking him," he said quietly, looking at him.  "Then someone grabbed their leashes, praised them, and pulled them away."

"Joy."  He took pictures, starting with the body and working his way around them. "Attack dog breed?"

"Dobermans."  He watched him work.  He was still working efficiently, none of his knowledge had faded.

"Quit staring at my ass, H."

"I'm not."

Speed smirked back at him.  "You sure about that?"  He got back to work, finding a leaf that wasn't native to anything around them. He put a ruler beside it for a photo, then bagged it.  "Cyprus leaf."

Horatio looked around.  "There's some across the street but the wind isn't blowing this way," he noted.  He carefully stepped back, going to question the people watching with Eric.  Eric gave him a look.  "He's finding trace."

"That's what he does best," he agreed.  "Speed, bike?"

"My old one.  It was in our old storage area and we freed it late last night."

"Looked good."

"It needs polished again.  I didn't have time last night."  He snapped another picture.  "Horatio, I just found a revolver.  Thirty-eight."  He bagged it.  Horatio frowned and came over to take it.  "Maybe they weren't attacking a living person?"

"No, one witness said they saw the dogs bring him down," Horatio admitted quietly.  The gun was locked in his hummer.  It had to be from another case so he wasn't going to take any chances on it being stolen.  He came back with the body haulers, pointing at the body.  "If he's done, go ahead.  The ME?"

"Is tied up with another three cases, sir.  She said she'd do it back at the lab in this case since the other two were children and the third had multiple bodies."  Speed looked up at that.  "She didn't say where, sir.  I know the blonde you work with is at one, Wolfe is at the other."

Eric pulled out his phone, calling one of them.  "Calleigh, need help?  We've got the three of us here."  He listened and nodded.  "Thanks."  He hung up.  "Speed, they need you with Wolfe.  Horatio, Calleigh's cleared the first and heading to the multiple bodies, she could use you."  He nodded and they left, going to do that.  Eric finished up what he was doing and went to take over what Speed had been doing.  He nodded for the haulers to get the body out of his way and they bagged it, moving it off.  "Thanks, guys.  Mark it as mine for her."  That got a nod and they headed off while he worked on the area under the former body.

***

Speed walked down the hall bopping to a new I-Pod.  Horatio looked at him.  "I took ten to get my own and had Yelina's handed back for Ray."

"Thank you.  What's on yours?"  Speed smirked.  "Speed?"

"The stuff I got off Greggy last night."  He headed back to his lab.  In truth he had gotten it earlier and sent it to Greg, who downloaded it off his home computer.  Greg was loving this experiment and he was thinking about trying it himself, but Grissom would've sent him home immediately if he went sulky and pouty.  "Oh, Greggy's got all but three identified and out of the morgue.  Those three, two are no results in any database, one's got one but the parents refused to identify or hand over dental records."  He shrugged.  "He's still working on who."

"Thank you for the update."  He watched him go off.  Something was very odd about Speed and he wasn't sure what or why. Something about this was still bothering him.  Unfortunately, Miami had been having a bad day so he didn't have the time to think about it while he processed his own evidence.  That one phrase kept running through his head though.  'I'm who I was before'.   Before what was still bothering him.

***

Horatio took a break late that afternoon, finding Speed drinking another soda.  When he wanted caffeine, he went for coffee, not sodas.  Sodas was his nephew and a few other very young techs.  That's when it hit him.  He walked into the trace lab, nodding Eric out, getting a nod in response.  "Before you graduated or before you attended?" he asked.

"You said you wanted me back to the guy I was before we three got together."

"I said again at the end of that phrase and it was only to make you quit playing so often."

Speed looked at him.  "Wish granted, Horatio."

Horatio flinched.  "So this is a teenage you?"  Speed nodded.  "First year?"  Speed smirked at that.  "I did not want you doing this."

"Proving the point."  He watched the tech walk past.  "I never appreciated the view the last time I was here."

"If you keep appreciating it, she's going to make a formal complaint."

"Damn.  I'll apologize."  He shrugged and got back to work.  "Anything else, Horatio?"

"Are you going to come back to normal?"

"Why? I'm having fun."  He smirked at him, his brown eyes locking into Horatio's blue ones.  "Did you get what you wanted?"

"No.  I want our Speed back.  The one from before you died.  Not the one from before you joined us."

"Yeah, well, I did die, H.  Did you really expect not to have some differences?"  Horatio shook his head, moving cautiously closer. "Besides, I am that guy."

"You're not.  You're not as grounded.  You're not as sarcastic.  Not that I mind that difference, but you're not. You're also not as focused as you were, Speed."  He took another step closer.  "You know you can talk to me as well, correct?"  He nodded.  "Maybe you should consider talking about this stuff.  It's not uncommon after going through a major trauma to need to talk to someone."

Speed snickered.  "You act like it was me shooting someone, H.  I'm happy with the guy I am.  If you're not, then I'm sorry.  I am."  Horatio inclined his head slightly at that.  "Sarcasm is now spread among more people, that's all."

"That's fine.  Just remember you can come to me as well, Speed.  The same as you can help me with Ray's training if you wanted," he offered quietly.  "That's up to you."

"I'll make sure you get the right set of books.  The ones Danny's using with them aren't bad, but there's a better one.  Philip recommended that one.  Or you could use the actual textbooks."

"I could," he agreed.  "Most of that was miscellaneous stuff you can look up.  I'd rather he have the firm foundation and spend his last few years of training finding out where his interests lie."

"Good idea.  I'll go with you two."

"We're going Friday.  You're working."

"I forgot.  Okay.  I'll hand you my set.  They're in my trunk that I brought down last night. It'll give him a firm enough foundation and then reference tomes should finish that off."  Horatio nodded.  "His wand?"

"Then."

"Good idea.  He's leaking in case you hadn't realized.  He made a few samples float this morning because he was tense and uptight."

"He made the toaster bark."

"Interesting.  Yelina's outside."  He pulled over a piece of paper.  "One of the child ones.  Found drowned at home, no one supposedly at home.  Fingerprints on the knob were smudged but the ones on top were hers."  He handed it over.  "Alex did that, it's in DNA now."

Horatio looked and let out a small sigh.  "She came home to clean up and hide the evidence?"  Speed nodded.  "Are we sure?"

"Pretty much.  That makes it accidental but I want the person who hurt her."

"Agreed.  Tell me when you get them."  He handed it back.  "What about the earlier samples?"

"I got them about half done but I left them on your desk when you made me do paperwork.  I prioritized."

"Try to get back to them today, Speed."  He got a nod so he turned and opened the door.  "Yelina. It looks like his was an accident."

"Good.  Ryan is outside holding his head."

"These cases are always hard."

She nodded, walking him off to the break room since it was empty.  She shut the door and looked at him.  "I went home for lunch."  He nodded.  "My son was in there making things float, Horatio.  I know he's not doing a science project so don't try to give me the same excuse he used."

He stared at her.  "Ray is carrying on a family tradition, Yelina.  At least one child in each generation has certain skills."

"Magic?" she hissed.  He nodded.  "His father?"

"Me," he admitted quietly, moving closer.  "I was lucky enough to be found at the proper age.  He said you turned his chance down."  He undid his memory spell, making her gasp and hold her head.  "You got a bit hysterical last time."  She glared at him.  "I'm going to end up training him. The only local school is in the Keys and it's nice, but more toward the nature paths than not; they like to teach integration and Ray's not much of a wiccan."  She continued to glare.  "You were screaming about it in the station, Yelina.  You almost sent your son away.  What did you want me to do?"

"Shelter him and give me time to calm down!" she snapped.

"You have it now.  I'm starting his training this weekend."

"Horatio....!"

"No," he said coldly.  "He'll either attend a school, which means boarding him out of state, or I'm training him, Yelina.  Those are our options.  If he ignores this, it could kill him at a later date."  She slumped.  "Now, I blocked it because you became hysterical.  I didn't want to, Yelina, but I had to.  You hurt him to the point where he lost his temper and nearly blew up the office.  Thankfully I have dampening crystals in there."  She hung her head, nodding.  "You can watch if you want.  When I was doing the spell I found out you had tried to practice a native path of magic in the past and couldn't make it work."

She glared at him.  "I don't want you to do it."

"Then the other option is sending him out of the state to board him, with the additional problem that the military is looking for young men and women like him," he said quietly, moving closer.  "They're trying to conscript those like us to work for them."  She gave him a heated look.  "Last year they tried to take on an academy in Chicago.  They were defeated and driven out of the school.  They're trying in New York, which was where I trained.  People are working on that one at the moment," he assured her.  "Right now, his choices are the one in the Keys, which will bore him, Texas, California, Canada, or England.  Or me."

"You," she ground out.  "I still don't like this."

"The first time you yell at him for being born this way, he'll become my son," he assured her.  "He's already stressed enough over this.  That's why your toaster broke this morning."

"I heard him stomping on it."

"He leaked magic and it barked."

She groaned, holding her head for a moment.  "Take him with you tonight.  I want time to think."

"That's fine.  He knew this day would come and he's already agreed, Yelina.  I'll call him and tell him he's coming over tonight and possibly tomorrow.  This Friday we're going to pick up some necessary equipment.  We'll have to do a bit of traveling for it but I can arrange that quietly as well.  It will be kept quiet."

She looked at him. "Speedle?"

"You asked about that before."

"I did, I want the truth."

"That was the truth.  Alexx brought him back using something in the nature path ways.  She used Eric to help her.  That's why he was so sick and missing that Sunday."  She nodded, accepting that. "Eric's still feeling guilty but that's normal.  Speed's still healing over it as well."

"Is he one of you?"  He shrugged. "You didn't ask?"

"It's not up to me to answer that question, nor about anyone else," he pointed out.  "We're a secretive community for a reason, Yelina."  She nodded.  "Thank you."

"Eric?"

"Isn't. That's why he got so ill."

"Oh."  She slumped and nodded.  "Let me think, Horatio."

"That would be fine.  What I'll be doing is giving him the foundations, the basics everyone should know.  Then we'll get him some reference tomes so he can look up additional spells and things if needed."  She nodded at that.  "It'll still take him until he's eighteen."

"You're sure?"

"Yes.  They started us at twelve over here, and eleven in Europe."

"Those stupid books," she sneered.

"He hates those books," he said dryly.  He smirked at her surprise.  "He works with Xander."  She walked off swearing, slamming all the doors in her way.   He called Ray.  "She knows, Ray.  Come over tonight.  Gather what you need for a night off.  She's gone down to swearing now.  Be careful.  No, she didn't like your explanation.  It was reasonable to me," he promised at the hesitant question.  "Just be careful."  He hung up and went to talk to Speed. "I had to remove it."  Ryan looked at him.  "Speed?"

"I heard.  She okay?"

"Swearing.  He may well end up with me.  I gave her the other options and the truth about the military."

Speed looked at him.  "It's being worked on.  Mac thinks it'll be stopped within a year."

"Should I leave?" Ryan asked.

"No," Horatio told him.  "Thank you, Speed."  He walked off again.

Ryan looked at him.  "Does this have something to do with how you got brought back?"  He nodded.  "Okay.  Should I just avoid both of you so I don't accidentally hear something that can get me taken in the middle of the night?"

"Ryan, if I wanted you to totally disavow any knowledge, I'd have already taken it from you," he assured him dryly, staring him down.

Ryan smirked at him.  "First the case with Rosenburg, and when I checked on the case that had the Harris guy I ran into a locked file.  Not that it was hard to get around that, but the reason for it was fairly ...odd.  Then you come back."  He closed the door and looked at him again.  "Let me guess, you're one of the people who can make certain ...skills work?  There's some truth in either the Harry Potter or the Artemis Fowl books and you can do whatever grain of truth there is.  So either you were resurrected, or you were in hiding due to your skills saving you."

"They didn't save me."  He looked at the younger officer, suddenly realizing why Horatio had hired him.

"So you were brought back."  He looked at him.  "Alexx did it, with Eric's help since he was absent that day.  He looked like hell the next few days so he was somehow involved."

"Against his will," he agreed quietly, wondering how far he'd take this.  The kid had good instincts, but his personality sucked rocks at times.

"So Alexx used him.  Calleigh was off that day and she was a target of anger so I'm guessing she knew about it.  Maybe took you in while you were healing or whatever.  I'm also going to guess the friends that Eric looked surprised to hear about, Tony and Danny, weren't around a lot before.  Possibly older friends that came back, possibly new ones who're helping you through this.  Today was all an act since Horatio's been on your case," he said with a small smirk.  "You make a very good teenager.  Ray was very impressed with your hipness levels."  He moved closer.  "Also, you glow very lightly in very faint light.  That's why you don't go into the AV lab when he's processing film, whatever the glow is would probably be picked up and somehow show on the negatives."

Speed leaned his hip against the table, looking at him, this was getting stronger and stronger in evidence.  The kid had been watching him.  He started to mentally swear, telling Tony it was all right when he checked on him.  "Also, whatever this power is, I'm not the only one who doesn't know," Ryan continued.  "Calleigh doesn't know that about you.  Horatio knows.  Alexx doesn't know you use it, she just wanted you back.  Otherwise she wouldn't have used something off that stupid vampire show to bring you back.  Oh, and one last thing.  Horatio and you share whatever secret this is.  He glows stronger in the wrong light and he's got something on his sunglasses that let him see others with the skills.  That's probably why he's been watching Marisol so often."

"Actually, he likes her, Ryan," Speed offered dryly.  "Anything else you wanna toss out?"

"Yeah, Danny's got people around him who know. You've mentioned Stella and Don, who work with Danny.  Plus Mac a few times.  Which leads me to think back to the case in New York a few years back.  Everyone said Horatio found his match in that lab with Detective Mac Taylor and his second, Detective Stella Bonasera.  I saw a Danny mentioned in the case notes as well.  So he's in New York.  Tony was obviously DiNozzo, who came down from NCIS.  I've heard you mention his boss fondly, when no one else seems to like the man.  As well as you knowing that Harris guy by another name.  Horatio called him Xander.  You called him Alex.  Let's not forget the mentions of Scotland you and Horatio let out now and then when you think you're alone, which means I'm usually in the room and you've overlooked me again.  So, I'm guessing the Harry Potter books since the other was set in Ireland.  Though I could see you being one of the Little People for some reason."

"Distant past in my family."  He smirked at him.  "So, you think I'm a what?"

"I think you're a good friend of Mr. Potter's and that you've talked a few times about Harry and Ron.  Plus Dawn Summers was mentioned."  Speed arched an eyebrow up.  "You've also got new calluses on your hands from gripping something in your palms a lot.  I'm guessing you play quidditch?"  Speed gave a negligent shrug.  "Also, I know you're a wizard.  Your wand was on you earlier.  I saw it when your jacket opened."  Speed opened his mouth.  "That was my final clue."

"My magic was weak, that's why I died," he said quietly.  "No, Alexx hasn't realized yet I'm that sort of wizard.  I've kept it from her."  Ryan nodded at that.  "That doesn't mean I can let you keep this information."

"Small problem with that, Speed."  He snapped his fingers and the blinds fell.  "Moron."

"You're a nature path," he said, smirking at him.  He nodded.  "You knew about us?"

"Hell no!"  He sneered.  "We all used to sneer at the books."

"So does Harry."

"Uh-huh.  So, how is flying your way?"

"Fast, fun, blood pumping."

"Chaser?"

"Now, I usually played keeper in school, New York."

"Interesting."  He moved closer.  "Alexx is a what sort?" he asked quietly.  Someone tapped on the door.  "In a minute.  We're going over sensitive information on this case."

"Let me in," Eric demanded.

"In a minute!" he snapped, glaring at the door.  Eric walked off, you could see his shadow walking away.  He looked at Speed again.  "Alexx is a what?"

"Mine, she still doesn't know."  He didn't look away from that gaze.  "You're not a nature path.  You're a chaos person," he said wisely.  "You let it out around me, I'm going to smack you down so far you're going to wish I had made you a flobber worm."

"Unlike Rosenburg, I admit what I am and I'm more careful.  Also, unlike some of us, I tend to use it for good.  A bit of chaos tends to unravel things faster, especially gangs and drug rings."

"Good.  Then I don't have to worry about watching you like I do most of the others."  He sneered at him and moved closer.  "You will admit this to Horatio, Wolfe.  I'm sick and damn tired of being the only one around here who does the magic-related cases."

"Agreed.  Then again, he's sadly out of practice."

"Not anymore," Horatio said from the doorway.

Ryan looked at him. "No, around the same time he started to mention Alex, a different Alex than ours, you started to carry yours again."  He turned to look at him.  "I'm a neutral living chaos person," he said quietly.

"I had wondered why no one trusted you on sight."  He closed the door, looking at him.  "You use it to untangle knots that're keeping cases open?"  He nodded. "Not for your own gain?"

"Why do I need more than I've got, Horatio?  I'm working my way to where I want to be.  I'm in good standing.  I do use it as a shield now and then.  Sometimes there's a conflict about which I'm using at that time in some dangerous situations.  It's not like I use it usually.  Marisol is Wiccan.  She's been glowing a lot recently with healing spells."

"She's sick," he agreed, moving closer.  "How long have you known about me?"

"Since the first minute I walked into your office, boss.  The dampening crystal on your windowsill gave it away.  It was made by one of us."  Horatio nodded at that.  "I figured you were hiding the easiest of all ways, forgetting you had ever learned."

"I was.  Now it's not possible."

"That's fine.  If you need me, I'm there for that stuff."

"I'll remember that. You cannot say a word about any of this."

"Fine, but you've got to keep it better.  You guys keep overlooking me when I'm in the room, even when I'm not shielding myself. You've done it a few times with Eric as well."

"So you knew about Rosenburg?"

"Yes, slightly.  There's rumors that the show got some things right.  Does Ethan exist?"  They both nodded.  He had called Alex for his help with something the last Sunday they had been up there.  "Cool.  A bit more hardcore than I am.  More often than not, I'm doing minor stuff to wear it out so I don't leak.  Can't you guys do that?"

"I was building energy for the shields I've been weaving around Eric and Calleigh," Speed told him.

Ryan looked at him and shook his head. "That's not even your sort!  You doing it means it'll have holes because you don't feel the magic.  You guys use it, but it's part of your blood.  We weave it because we *feel* it in our hands and how it's spreading.  For that, I'll exchange favors.  I want to learn how to fly."

"I can see that happening," Speed agreed.

"Good.  Just against magic?"

"That and hopefully to keep them out of a bit of danger."

"Danger is our lives.  It'd take them out of the job," Ryan reminded him.  Speed sighed and slumped a bit, nodding.  "I'll see what I can do.  I've done one on Ray recently because he's got a hellishly bright leaking problem.  Does his mother know?"

"Now," Horatio admitted.

"That's fine.  If you need help there, I'm good at knocking people out as I walk past them."  He put back up the blinds, finding Eric leaning against the wall. "We're done."   He pointed at the table. "I'm sorry, this one is going to haunt me tonight."

"Then do a prayer for her afterlife to be easier, safer, and better," Horatio told him.

Ryan nodded.  "I have in the past, I can do it again."  Speed nodded.  "Do we have a DNA sample yet?"

"We do.  It was a match in the system.  Eric was getting the name," Speed said.  "Eric!"  He walked in with the report.  "Name?"

"Principal Enrique Toblas.  Suspected but never convicted.  Came down from Atlanta, where he was suspected in four different molesting cases."  He looked at Ryan.  "What did you do to me?"

"Made you walk off for four minutes so we could talk."  He looked at him, then grinned.  "Sorry."

"How?"  Ryan looked at Horatio.  "No, you look at me, Wolfe."  He closed the door.  "Someone seal that."  Horatio did that and Eric glared at him.  "You too?"

"Of course, Eric."

"Hell."  He looked at Ryan.  "Are you like Speed?"

"No, I'm a more neutral version of Ethan Rayne from that show.  I use it to unravel problematic groups now and then for cases, but mostly in other ways.  By the way, your sister needs to add more power to her healing spells.  They're getting weaker and it's giving her less time."

"That happens."

"It doesn't have to."  He wrote down a name and handed it over.  "One like me who heals."

"You guys heal?" he snorted.

"Yes, chaos is a natural power, Eric.  It's just as natural as what she's doing.  It's also growing with the discordance in the world.  Some day, they'll have to take refuge areas and preserve them.  Cities create ours."  Eric slumped and nodded.  "Ask her, she's helped others.  At the very least, it'll give her more time."

"Thank you.  Anything else you wanna admit to?"

"Yeah, I'm working on a spell for Speed to make sure no one but us can affect you ever again.  You're too damn easy to work on."  He shrugged. "You and Calleigh both."

"Thank you.  Anything further?"  Ryan shook his head.  "So we can put all this behind us, you're never going to do that to me again, or I'm going to kick your ass, and we can get back to work again, right?"

Ryan nodded. "Yeah, we can get back to work."

"Eric, he figured it all out.  He's got the skills.  He even figured out how you got used to bring me back.  He said at first he was torn between those books and the Artie Fowl books."

"Yeah, you'd make such a good LEPRecon elf," he taunted back with a smirk.

"Distant past, long distant past."  He shrugged. "It's why I'm so pretty."

"And so evil on a broom," Horatio muttered.  "Mr. Wolfe, you and Eric go get this principal and bring him back here.  We want to talk with him, now."  They nodded and left.  Horatio looked at Speed once they were gone.  "Everything?"

"And then some.  He wasn't sure which side Alexx was on.  He said she didn't know I was since she used that way instead of ours.  He knew about you.  He got the photo thing too."  Horatio sighed and nodded.  "If he's right, then we've got to figure out how strong he is.  I'm not doing those cases alone."

"I agree, you're not doing those cases," Horatio agreed.  "We've got someone else.  I've found a few more sources and they're doing them.  We're on as research helpers now and then."

"Agreed.  Thank you."

"No, thank you.  Everything?"

"Everything.  Down to who was there and that Calleigh was shielding me while I woke up," he said quietly.  "It's that touch of chaos in him that's driving Eric's nuts.  They're diametrically opposed.  He's good at what he does."

"That's fine.  I'll let you work with him more often, Speed.  Are you done playing?"

"I was done playing earlier."

"You're still listening to the I-Pod.  You're not Greg."

"No, but some music does make it go by faster," he pointed out.  "Especially on the bad days.  A day with two dead kids is a bad day."

"Agreed. Do what you can before you head home, Speed."  He walked out, going to talk with his nephew, who he could feel was coming in.  Then suddenly his magical signature muted.  He walked out to find him and Ryan talking.  Then Ray nodded and it was fully muted.  "Thank you," he said quietly.

"Saving my sanity.  You guys leaking gives me a headache," he muttered as he walked off.

Horatio led his nephew inside and up to his office.  "Put your bag at my place?"

"Yup, already."  He went to his mother's desk, taking his I-Pod back.  "I've got enough stuff at Uncle Horatio's to last me through the weekend, mom.  Let me know."  He walked off again, sticking the buds in his ears.  He gave his uncle a smile.  "Go work.  I heard it was a bad day."  He nodded and went to help Speed in the lab.  Ray went up to the office to lay down and read books.  He had found the Artemis Fowl series and was laughing at the little elf that was the female lead character.  She was spunky and his sort of girl!

***

They gathered back together for dinner....

The Thug.

Danny strolled in, nodding at the receptionist, smirking at her as he headed back to the locker room.  On the way he stopped to get a Mountain Dew and a candy bar, something he hadn't indulged in for quite a while.  He nodded at Stella and grunted, walking off eating.

"Was that Danny?" she asked, looking at him.  His jeans weren't exactly tight, but they were well fitted.  His shirt was less than professional being a t-shirt with the sleeves pushed up, and his manner was...off.  Somehow.  She got her own snack and went to find Mac.  "Did something happen to Danny last night?"

"No, why?"  She motioned him out, letting him watch Danny as he came out of the locker room.  "Danny?"  He looked over at them, eating another bite of the candy bar.  "Have a fight with Speed and them?"

"No, why?"  He finished his candybar and tossed it in the trash, he had never liked littering.  He popped the soda and strolled over, taking a few slower drinks to get used to it again.  "Where am I today?"  He looked Mac in the eye, just a hint of a sneer coming off as arrogance.  "Field, Sheldon, Scotty?" he asked when he didn't get an answer.

"My office," he said, watching how he moved.  That was not how Danny usually walked.  That over-confident swagger was not his Danny.  He mentally slapped himself for that thought, but it was true.  He walked in and sat down, looking at him.  "Are you sure you're all right?  Usually you dress...better.  You don't usually go for the cold caffeine hype either."

"I'm good.  Why?"  He took a larger gulp then tossed the bottle since it was empty.  "Two points and not even my sport of choice," he said smugly, smirking at him.  "Who you want me with today, Mac?" he asked, that touch of over-confidence coming out again.

"Stella.  I want you to work with Stella.  I'll let Sheldon help Scotty and I later."  He shrugged and went to tell her that. He watched him walk off, knowing something was off, but not what.  He called Gibbs and Horatio, putting them together in a conference.  "Why does Danny make me want to slap the smug little smirk off his face?" he asked quietly.  He listened to Gibbs' complaint about 'Princess Tony' and his breast staring issues today.  Then Horatio with his suddenly uber-hip, sulky, pouting Speedle.  "Hold on.  Stella!"  She came in and shut the door.  "Pouting Speed, Princess Tony, and Danny acting like you should smack him.  Why is that familiar?"

"Them before they met each other?  The bond, um, well, showed some of that."  She shrugged.  "I'm guessing he had a really good night.  He's allowed to be cocky and badass now and then, Mac.  Even you pull it now and then. It's a guy thing.  Besides, Tony is a princess some days.  Speed does pout.  You guys are worried about nothing."  She walked off shaking her head.  Danny was working on his wrists.  "Sore?"

He shrugged it off and looked up at her.  "Nothing I can't handle," he said, his accent a bit thicker at the moment.  He gave her that same smirk.  "He still fussing with the other bosses?"  She nodded. "Pity."  He stood up.  "We gotta call yet?"

"Not yet."  She went to make sure they were listed to be called together, then they went to work on some tests that could be run around the labs for other cases.

Don stopped in the lab doorway, watching Danny as he worked.  His stance was wrong, his feet were more spread out than normal. Usually Danny had a pretty firm, feet closer together but casually tense stance.  Now he was more 'come get me punk' standing and it was bothering him for some reason.  Danny looked back at him and smirked, then got back to work.  "We having another dirty case? You don't usually wear jeans, Messer."  Or pocket t-shirts, and was that a pack of cigarettes in his front pocket when he turned to look at him?  "You took back up the habit?"

"Stress.  Happens now and then that I want one."

"I'd let you bum off mine.  It's a horrible thing to waste most of pack."

"Maybe I'll let you bum," he said cockily, then turned around to get back to work.  He heard Speed and Eric's bantering in the lab about girls again and the music in the background.  "That's not what I need ta hear, Speed," he muttered, shutting him out.  He shook himself free of his buddies and got back to work, preparing the slide.  His phone went off.  "Fuck."  He answered it.  "Messer.  Nope, I just got a slide prepped, Stella.  Give me ten?  Sure."  He hung up and pushed up his glasses so he could examine it.  He smirked and made a note, then slid the slide and the sample back into the envelope, resealing and signing it.  He pulled off his coat and hung it up.  "Duty and that shit," he told Flack as he slid past him, smirking hotly at him as he strolled off, all asshole swagger and hype.

Don watched him go, sending him a thought.  Tony answered him but something felt off in his answer.  He licked his lips and went out to have a smoke while he thought.  He had heard all of their memories and this was sparking something off badly.

***

"What was this?  Night of the Living Dead?  He dies there, gets up, walks thirty feet, dies again, gets up, goes another thirty feet, then dies again?" Danny demanded, taking pictures.

"Maybe he had a friend who was trying to help him," Stella suggested, glaring at him.  "Could've been trying to get him out of the way and get him to help?"

Danny took a whiff of the body and made a face, backing off.  "Smells like a brewery."  He took more pictures of the body, capturing the very large hole in his chest.  "Drunk bein' walked home but he got shot?" he countered. "Maybe he passed out.  Someone moved 'im, dropped him outta their way.  Another one did it?"

"Could be," she agreed.  "You can get some pretty annoying people doing things like that."  She got to work doing an impression of the new cement footprint someone had left.  The body haulers got there.  "You done?"

"Almost."  He took a few more pictures, then got down to pluck something off his vic's shirt, putting it into a small envelope.  He found another few and bagged them too.  Then he sealed it and laid a ruler down beside the mark that looked like a bike tire tread on his shirt, taking pictures of it.  He waved them over.  "Mark him as we'll gather trace there for Hammerback."  They nodded and got to work sliding the bag around the victim's body.

They got him bagged by wiggling him but they moaned when they tried to lift him.  "We could use some help," one pleaded.

"Yeah, he's a bit heavy looking," Danny agreed, coming over to heft the top half while they got the feet and middle.  Even he had to wince at the weight.  "Lardass," he muttered under his breath.  The haulers smiled at him and he shrugged.  "Personal opinion and all that."

"We see more and more like this," one agreed.  They rolled the body off while Danny got to work where the body had been.

"Found grass," he reported, taking a picture of it.  "Lawn grass, not sidewalk grass."  He picked it up with some tweezers and it went into a separate bag.  She got done and came over to help.  "You hear about that guy who weighed about half a ton they had ta lift out the other day?"

"I did.  He's still in the hospital getting help.   The only thing I wonder is if it was a disease, like his thyroid, or if he ate himself that big."  She took a picture of something, then looked at him.  "That yours?"  He looked at the shoeprint, then checked the bottom of his sneaker, shaking his head.  "Thank you."  She took another picture, just in case, and they got to work cleaning up this scene.

Danny got in to drive, smirking at her.  "S'only fair. You drove on the way up."  She grimaced but put the samples in the back, gathering the last few things to stow, then she got in to ride back.  He drove quickly, more Gibbs-like than not, which made her grab the 'oh shit' bar a few times.  He only smirked and kept going.  Once they got back he helped her carry stuff inside.  Of course, they were stopped by the guy with the gun in the entryway, but that was just his luck.  "Yo, fishie, you mind?  We gotta put this down so we can process a dead guy."  The guy glared at him.  "What?  You think that gun's gonna make your rep?"  He handed the stuff to Stella and moved closer. "Poor little fishie, swimming upstream into shark country."  The man started to sweat.  "What's wrong, fishie?  You nervous?  Could be all those guns pointed at you weren't what you expected?   But then again, you're not too bright anyway, walking into a police station ta pull a hostage thing."  He moved closer. "Put it down, fishie.  Before you die," he sneered.

"You can't make me!"

"Yeah, I can."  He punched him in the nose, making the guy howl and fall down cradling it.  "Put it down!" he ordered.  "Now, fishie, or else I'm takin' out your nuts next!"  The gun was dropped. "On yer knees, free hand behind your head.  The other can keep pinchin' the nose shut so I don't have ta clean up blood."  He waved a hand and someone came over to handcuff him. "Get the little goldfish outta my sight.  I'm sure someone on the cellblock'll love his tail."  He gathered up his half of the packages and walked off with Stella.  "DB was Night of the Living Dead, got up and walked, Mac."

Mac stared at him as he slowly put up his weapon.  "Danny!" he yelled finally.  It took him a moment or two, or possibly four or five, to process that Danny had punched a suspect in the nose while taunting him.

"He's in autopsy searching for trace," someone called back.

Mac stormed down there.  "What were you thinking!" he demanded.

"Distract, confine, and get my rocks off while making his life a living hell.  Why?" he asked with that same cocky smirk.  He saw Mac's hand twitch.  "You okay, Mac?  You look like you're gonna have a stroke or somethin'.  Best place for it really, but you're still pretty red in the face. Maybe you should sit down and do paperwork for a bit."  Mac growled and stomped off.  He smirked at the ME.  "Little fishie was holding them hostage.  I walked up, made fun'a him, popped him one in the nose, then they arrested him."

"Please don't taunt the boss into dying today, Danny.  I don't need Stella taking over today."  Danny shrugged and got back to work.  "What did the scene look like?"

"Like he got up, moved thirty feet, died again, did it twice more. Night of the Living Dead."  He grinned and got back to work.  He was having a lot of fun with this.  He sent that story to the others, making Tony burst out swearing at him for being so stupid, sending back yells like 'don't you carry a gun' and things.  He told 'em all to shut up and kept going. This was really fun.  He could keep going until someone clued Mac in since he was totally clueless.  Showed he didn't pay any attention to him anymore, but he could take that blow.

"Messer, I swear ta God!" Flack yelled as he walked in.  "What the fuck were you thinking!"

"Distract, confine, and get my rocks off while making his life a living hell."  He smirked at him.  "It was fun, he didn't get ta shoot anyone, and I don't have ta fill out the forms for drawing my gun!  Ease off, Flack.  I had it."

"I don't care!  You carry a gun for a reason!  Cops do not do that shit!"

"Detective," the ME complained mildly. "Please modulate your tone and language."

"No!  He popped a perp holding some techs hostage in the nose!  I should yell!  He was dumb!"

"The little fishie was scared stupid.  He got what he deserved and he's alive to be humiliated for the rest'a his life for it," Danny shot back, giving him a faint sneer.  "His own fault for walkin' in here with a damn revolver anyway!"

Don looked at him.  "I don't like this you," he hissed.  "Whatever you're fucking well doing, fucking stop it."  He stomped off.

"He's not a happy person.  I'll send him a hotdog and a candy bar later."  He shrugged and got back to work, making the ME give him a very worried look.  "It's Flack, he'll blow off and come back later when he's more reasonable ta try ta chew me a new one again."

"Have you been feeling all right, Danny?" Hammerback asked gently.  "Headaches, dizziness?  Nausea perhaps?  Signs of a concussion?"

Danny grinned but shook his head.  "Nope, not been hit in the head in a while.  That's Tony.  Hard things like his head.  A lot.  Though I did hear Ducky asked him the same questions earlier."  He smirked and bagged another grass sample. "This guy was either in the park or on a lawn before he wandered off.  He's covered in grass.  What's his back like?"

"I haven't rolled him yet," he admitted, watching him work.  "If you want, you can help with that."

"Sure, had ta help lift him," he agreed dryly.

"Are you sure you haven't been hit in the head recently?  Did the perp upstairs perhaps try to hit you back?"  Danny gave him a cocky smirk and shook his head.  "Stella hasn't hit you or anything?"

"No blows ta the head in quite a while, Doc.  Last one who hit me was Sheldon and it was a few weeks ago."  The doors slammed open and he turned, glaring at the older man standing there.  "Chief Hillborne," he sneered.  "Can't find anything worthwhile ta do?"  He looked at the ME again.  "Anytime now, Doc?"

"Let's roll him now.  I'll strip him once he's rolled."  He moved another table over so they could flip him onto it then shift him back.  "Ready, one, two, three, lift," he ordered quietly, taking the top half.  Danny grunted but it was accomplished, then they moved him back onto the table.  "I'd say you were right about the grass," he offered, getting a comb.  "You do the lift off his shirt and I'll do his hair?"

"S'fine," Danny agreed.  He glanced at the silent officer that was the pain in his hemorrhoid creme.  "You enjoying the dead body smell?"  He went to the drawer they kept the spare tape lifts and pulled out a few to lift it off the clothes.  Open, press, pat, lift, move to get more.

"You struck a suspect," he said as he came over. "That is a violation, Messer."

"Ya know what?  I hurt him less than tacklin' him would've," he noted dryly.  "He wasn't in custody at that time so striking him was fine since he was creating a public hazard to everyone's health.  Plus I saved five pages of paperwork."  He sneered at him again, closing that tape lift by feel.  "So blow it out your ass and get outta my face."  He took a step back, shocked.  "Now.  I'm busy.  You wanna crucify me, go get Mac on your side."  He stomped off, huffing hard.  "Puke sucking bastard."

"Not very politically smart," Hammberback warned quietly.

"Not like I'll get any higher anyway," he shot back, staring at him. "You can't tell me they'll let me run the lab some day."

"Perhaps."

"No maybe about it, Doc.  The shooting was enough ta hold me back, so's my name.  Never was an option in this city."  He opened the next one and got to work.

"Then why did you stay?"

"I love this city," he said quietly.  "I grew up here, I went ta school here, I did way too much shit in this city to leave it for a petty thing like my name."  They shared a look.  "I considered it," he admitted honestly.  "Still do on the bad days.  Probably won't happen.  The only places I'd work don't have an opening."  He got back to work, concentrating on what he was doing.  He saw a bulge in his pocket and pulled it out, looking at the papers.  "Huh.  Menus.  Sports bars."  He put that into a bag as well.  One more tape lift got the rest of the grass and the combings from his hair were sealed as well.  "You wanna cut it off or strip him?"

"Stripping is the preferred method."  He got to work stripping him with Danny's help holding body parts.  Even he had to flinch away from the very nasty underwear.  "I believe he had bowel problems."

"Either that or he shit himself while drunk," Danny said in disgust.  "Eww.  I've seen nasty shit, but that's foul.  Is that a worm?"  The ME nodded so he walked off shaking his head, taking the samples with him. "Have fun, Doc, let me or Stella know please."  He went to see if he could figure out what sort of grass it was.  It could lead to a primary crime scene, or at least where he had been.  He heard it when Horatio got it.  By the time he was done seeing if they had all the same sort of grass, Gibbs had it.  Mac was still ignoring it.

Don, however, had come back and was glaring at him.  "You could've died," he said at the mental shove from Danny to go away.  "He could've shot you for makin' fun of him. You could've died."

Danny turned to look at him.  "His safety was still on."

"You sure? You're not that good with guns, Danny.  Mac said it wasn't."

"Looked like it to me.  Besides, less paperwork, no need ta see IAB about drawing my gun or havin' ta shoot him.  It was gentler than he'd have gotten if someone had tackled him, he wasn't in custody."  The printer spit out a report so he walked over to get it.  "He's not permanently injured. Feel lucky I only got him that hard that once.  I could've done something harder."

Don walked further in, then walked back and closed the door before coming back, standing directly in front of him.  "I don't like this you," he said quietly.  "I get the point of the exercise.  Stella figured it out earlier.  I liked the semi-happy guy you were before and the really happy guy you've been since you got 'em back in your life.  I want my Danny back, not this thug, little punk bitch you've become suddenly.  Should I get you a baseball too, Danny?" he asked at the amused look.

"Could get me a broom.  I did play both sports."

"Fine."  He stepped just an inch closer, basically shifting his weight.  "I know it sucks. I know Mac chewed you a new one.  I was there and got my ass chewed too, but fuck if this isn't going too far and screwing with my head too."  Danny stared into his eyes.  "I want the normal Danny back.  The nice guy I can shoot hoops with."

"We can shoot hoops tonight.  Dinner's not until nine since Speed's got swing today."

"Should I ask if I can come?"

Danny smirked at him.  "Ya know what?  I'd answer that but I wasn't quite at that point at this age.  The others were but was just starting out."  Don smirked back.  "But yeah, you can come.  Anytime you want."  Don snorted and shook his head, looking down.  "I know what you mean but I've gotta prove the point, Don."

"He'll never get it, Danny.  Never.  Stella *told* him and he didn't get it."  He clapped him on the arm.  "Act out there.  Not in here."  He walked out, going to check on his last case's test results.

Danny smirked as he got back to comparing the reference samples to the map of what was planted where in the city.  He came up with three possible areas and frowned.  One was pretty big, a whole neighborhood had planted the same grass as part of their homeowner's association rules.  "Damn," he muttered, trying to narrow it down by length.  He mentally crossed off the association but checked where the menus had come from. It was out that way.  The grass was too long for most lawns.  So maybe someone was breaking the rules by not cutting often enough?  He heard someone come in and sneered at Hillborne again. "What?"

"What are you doing?"

"Trying to figure out where my vic was before he died.  That way we can figure out what happened," he said, clearly talking down to him.  "See, he had *grass* on him.  Lawn grass, not sidewalk grass.  That means he was near a lawn or a few select gardens in the city."  He got back to work, seeing if he could search by length.  He stared at the computer for a minute.  "The reason I punched him was so I wouldn't have ta talk to you ever again, Hillborne, get the clue and scram."  He hit himself on the head, looking up the number for City Maintenance.  "Hey, this is Detective Messer, CSI.  Need ta know when a few gardens had last been cut, and about how long their grass would be.  Yeah, I know but I've narrowed it down.  Um, Centennial?  Yeah that one."  He made a note of that on the report from the printer.  "Okay, Sheba?"  He nodded and wrote that note.  "Every week?  Thanks."  He looked at the screen. "Any idea about the Homeowners Associations out toward Astoria?  Yeah, that one."  He smirked and wrote that note down as well.  "Thanks, man.  Means a lot ta me."   He hung up.  "Ha!"  He took his report and his notes with him, along with a tapelift sheet.  "Stella!" he bellowed.  She came out of her lab, meeting him in the hallway.  "Lardass there was probably by this area," he said, showing her the report. "With as long as this grass is, and their last cutting dates, those two parks couldn't have grass this long and that's the only places noted in the city that used it."

"You called him what?" she asked.

"He was."

"Danny, not very respectful," she said firmly, glaring at him, lips pressed tightly together.

"Sorry!  He was, but okay.  Our obese victim that Hammerback had ta ask for help ta move was probably in this estate area somewhere.  The menus came from nearby, on this street," he said, pointing at the note.  "The Maintenance guys said they're always behind on cutting their grass and there's a few empty lots out that way.  Lots of higher grass.  Therefore our portly gentleman body was probably out there. We should go look."

"So I take it you don't have an ID yet?" Mac asked as he walked up to them.  "Let's try to use a better phrase than rotund, Danny."

"Mac, the guy weighs at least twice what I do," he said dryly.  "Hammerback couldn't even roll him.  It took three of us ta lift him onto the gurney at the scene.  Besides, I didn't use rotund."

"Then the proper term is obese or overweight," he said calmly.  "Not rotund or anything else."

"I still didn't use rotund but fine, our obese victim, which I used earlier," he said, shooting him a look, "had five menus in his back pocket, all for sports bars in the same area.  Since he smelled like a brewery and had a major accident long before death occurred, it's fairly safe ta assume he was at one of them earlier in the evening until he left since Hammerback said time of death was probably about five this morning.  How people walked over him for four hours I'm not sure, but they did."

"That would explain the 'getting up and moving' marks," Stella pointed out.  "Like we said earlier, drunk friend.  The blood at each drop point was less.  Dropping the body down would make more blood come out."

Danny nodded.  "Also, saw marks on his arm.  Got pictures of it.  Looked like a dog bite."

"So maybe one of our feral strays decided he was dinner for a week," Stella agreed.  Mac gave her a dirty look. "The victim weighed at least one-eighty over me, Mac.  When they had trouble earlier, I couldn't even risk trying without throwing my back out."

Danny called down to the morgue.  "How much did he weigh?"  He smirked at her.  "Industrial scale said he weighed 398, 394 the second time to make sure it was correct."

"Yeah, then well over double me," she agreed.  Mac gave her a look.  "He was."

"Mac, he's gonna have ta sit in cold storage.  He won't fit in the drawers," Danny assured him.  He walked into fingerprints.  "Got an ID on our vic this morning?"

"Which one?" the tech asked.

"Big guy."

"Oh, yeah, the fatass."  She found it and handed it over.  "Immigration."  He looked a bit stunned.  "He was a Brit.  Maybe he's the source of the Dursleys in that book."

"Maybe," he agreed, looking at the name.  "Huh.  Thanks."  He walked out, going to hand it to Stella while he pulled out his cell.  "Yo, Alex, me," he said walking off for privacy.  "Need you to come ID a body.  Big, fat guy.  No, younger fat guy I think.  Yeah, by that name by the records.  Thanks.  Please.  Here at work, man.  Need a location?  That's fine."  He hung up and walked back to where Stella was.  "I called Alex to ID him."

"Thanks.  He was still shot."

"He was probably going off on someone."  He shrugged.  "If he is who I think he is, he was probably going off on someone.  We should ask around that neighborhood and see if we can get their records from INS to get an address."

"I'll pull up driver's licences under that name," she offered, going to do that.

Danny walked outside, going to light up and have one.  He leaned against the side of the building, taking long, slow drags off his cigarette.  Harry appeared and looked up at him, grimacing. "You okay, kid?"

"No.  They left the country because of the books.  Alex had someone at the bank watch them for him."  He moved closer.  "That's a nasty habit."

"Yeah, well, it's calming."  He shrugged.  He put it out and blew out his last one, coughing just a bit.  "C'mon, we'll head inside."  Harry nodded, following him in.  "Were we cleaning the caverns?  You're all dirty."

"Actually, he caught me rolling around beating the shit outta Ron again," he said dryly, smiling at Stella, pausing to give her a hug.  "From the redheaded blight."

"What did Ron do this time?" she teased, stroking a spot of dirt off his cheek.

"Being Ron when he hasn't had sex in weeks."  He shrugged.   "He turned into Draco without the pureblood insults again."

"Ah.  Sneak Dawn out."

"Can't.  She's on full suspension at the moment.  One of the girls teasingly sent an imp at her and she went off on her.  She went screaming for her life to her mother, who's in Mysteries, who went to Philip, who ended up suspending both girls for two weeks.  Fortunately Dawn's ahead."  He shrugged and headed off with Danny.  "The rest of them alive?"

"We're not sure yet."

"Thanks."  He followed Danny down there.  "Think I could pop in on Abby?"

"Yeah, but don't go smelling like cigarettes unless you can explain it was me."  He opened the door and the ME looked up.  "Relative of the big one."

"Ah.  Welcome to my morgue.  I'm sorry."

"I'm not," Harry told him. "If it's him, he made my life a living hell until I got rescued from his house."  He shrugged and walked over, looking at the face.  "Yup, that Dudley.  Pity.  How'd he die?"

"It took three bullets but he died by gunshot wound to the chest."  Harry looked at him.  "The first two didn't hit vital areas."

"Couldn't sink in past all the fat?"  The ME nodded. "Figures.  Oh, well.  Yup, that's him, Danny."

"Anyone else who'd want ta kill him?" Danny asked.

"Anyone who talked with him probably.  He might've found a girl but I doubt it."  He shrugged.  "With my uncle's penchant for pissing off everyone not him, it could've been anyone.  He hated everyone.  The only good people in his book were middle class or better traditional white families."  He shrugged slowly.  "Have fun with that."

"Thanks.  Got an address on them?"  Harry pulled out the file folder and handed it over.  "Alex?"

"The bank was still watching them.  Probably still is."

"Hmm.  Thanks, Harry."

"That was updated as of when Alex called.  They sent it over."  He waved a hand.  "Lead me back out so I can pop around to see Abby?"

"Of course."  He grinned as he walked him out.  "So what did Ron do?"

"Used that ice charm on my balls while I was flying.  Anything that makes Draco cackle that way is a bad thing in my book.  So I had him down and was rearranging his intestines when Alex came out and took my heavy arse off him."  He held open the door.  "You doing okay?  You look a bit...different today."  Danny just smirked.  "Ah, it's a day like that.  Gotcha."  He felt his tattoo go off and sighed.  "Alex is calling me home.  Damn it."

"Call her later tonight, Harry.  See if you can pop around for coffee and a date this weekend if you're not busy."  Harry beamed.  "Think walk in the park or something sweet."  Harry blushed a bit but nodded.  "Then figure out how to get a computer to work so you can email her."  He clapped him on the back and pointed at the door.  "Go have fun with Alex.  Tell him I said hi."

"Sure."  He headed off, going to find a dark corner to apparate from.  He found Don out there.  "What is it with you guys and vile habits?" he teased.  "First Danny and now you."

"He yours?"

"Dudley.  Pity but he probably pissed off half the world."  He shrugged and grabbed his arm.  "Alex is not a happy camper.  The girl who was tormenting Dawn just pulled a major demon into the school and it's trying to eat Philip.  Gotta go."  He looked around and started the camp moving spell since it'd get him past Hogwart's wards.

Don shook his head, looking at Danny as he came out with the file.  "What's that?"

"The bank was watching them for Alex."  He found the entry for last night, then called Stella.  "I'm outside, the bank was watchin' 'em for Alex.  It was Dudley."  He hung up and went back to reading.  "Last reported sighting was eleven, he went into one of the sports bars he had the menu for.  They said there was a big soccer match on late last night."

"Makes sense.  That's their sport over there."

"True."  Danny looked at him.  "Gives us a place ta start anyway."  Stella came over.  "He went to one of the bars last night, they think it was the soccer match."  He handed it over, his thumb marking the spot until she could take it.  He pulled out one of his own and lit it.  Don took his pack and slid it into his pocket.  "Hey!"

"Not like you' ll use it, Messer.  It's only fair, you owe me ten bucks for lunch anyway."  He grinned.  "Wish I had caught this one with you.  Instead I got stripper with painted on naughty words that made Monroe frown at their crudity."

"She refused someone's special job?"

"Appears so."  He finished his cigarette and put it out. "Have fun with that."

"Wonderful fun," Danny agreed dryly.  "You too.  Gonna have ta do after hours research?"

"If I do, I'll call," he promised with a smirk, heading inside.  "Monroe!"  She came out of the labs.  "We were gonna go interview her boss?  It's nearly time."

"Let me finish this last test."  She went back into her lab shaking her head.  She'd kill to change cases with Danny at the moment.

Danny looked at Stella.  "Remember, they shouldn't remember their nephew."

"Gives us a point to start," she agreed, finishing the file.  "You nearly done polluting the air more?"  He finished his cigarette and stamped it out, then headed inside for his jacket and soda.  She looked at it, then at him. "Having heard Speed and Tony earlier," she started dryly.  He smirked at her and sipped it.  "You having fun?"  He nodded.  "Fine.  It had better not keep going."  He jingled the keys. "I'm driving."

"We're heading uptown."

"Never mind, you drive."  She walked after him, taking both files with her.

***

Danny called Alex on the way back.  "Memory charm on 'em broke with the book," he reported to his voicemail.  "Petunia's sobbing heavily that her Dudders was killed by a horrible immigrant of some sort.  New York's dirty and filled with filthy people who don't bathe and eat their own shit for dinner.  Pointed out to her she was one of them, she stomped off.  Her husband's not much better.  Call me later tonight."  He hung up.  "Voicemail. Must still be dealing with the demon."

"Joy."  She finished making her notes.  "I'd almost like to switch cases with Monroe at the moment."

"She probably feels the same."  He looked at her.  "You think he's still confused?"

"Yeah, I know he's still confused."  Danny smirked. "Please don't amp it up?"

"Tough."  He parked and got out, heading to get another candybar.

"Oh, no!" Flack yelled. "No more chocolate, you little bastard!"  He walked over and took the candybar from Danny's hand.  "No!  I'm not letting you be that distracting!"  He walked off eating it.

Danny waited until he was gone and got another one.  He ate it on the way back to his lab, finding Mac in there.  "Hey."  He finished it and tossed the wrapper, then cleaned off his hands before coming over.  "Looks like our morbidly obese person was the sort ta piss off everyone.  He went out for a soccer match last night.  That started at midnight, would've ended around two or three.  Could've been anyone in the bar with him.  They're not exactly a tolerant family."

"Was the son the same way?"

"Stopped in at the bar, he was talking about the 'wop' on one team being the reason they couldn't score."

"Good.  The bartender say anything else?"

"Yeah, he kicked him out for shittin' himself.  So probably one of the other guys at the bar."  Mac nodded at that.  "Doc told Harry that it took three shots, two didn't get far enough into his lard.  And yes, I'm talking lard in this case.  His tit's are bigger'n Stella's, Mac."

"It's still not respectful."

"Not like I'd have respected him in life.  Told the family someone already ID'd him.  Charm came off thanks to the books."  Mac grimaced.  "Harry was down until something tried to eat Philip."  He shrugged and laid out the evidence.   "Not much ta go on, most of the clients were immigrants who came for the soccer match.  He made a list for Stella and we'll be gathering them tomorrow once all the other stuff is done.  She went ta check on Monroe's case with her since she'd probably end up in the strip club for a bit."

"Lindsey can handle that."

"She'd be handing out cards for the place that helps hookers, Mac.  We both know that.  Probably pissed most of 'em off by now.  She has some problems with women cases like that."

"She can handle it."

"No, he's right, I'd hand out the cards," Lindsey agreed from the doorway.  "They refused to talk to me, Mac.  Can I do a case change with Stella?  Give me a bigot being shot any day over strippers.  Please."

"We don't pick the victims," Mac said firmly.

"Yeah, well, all I can see is a lot of strippers are also hookers."

"Stereotyping," Danny said firmly.  "Not all.  Some.  A good minority.  More of 'em are druggies than pros."

"Yeah, I saw a few of those.  This wasn't the most high class spot."  She walked in. "The girl on the stage was glassy eyed and even Flack didn't look for more than a second.  I'm sorry, Mac, but I'm having real trouble with this one.  I can handle rape cases.  I can handle kid cases.  I can't handle stripper and hooker cases.  I just can't."

Danny shrugged a bit.  "Welcome to New York, Monroe.  We've got the world's biggest legal and illegal sex trade.  Some places it's legal and nearly anything goes, here it's about what you find in the darker alleys."  He smirked just a bit.  "Hell, I had a case with a necrophile a few years back."  She turned green.  "Had the guys who ate the shit ta get hard.  Had the guys who wouldn't give up their fisting while I was interviewing them about the OD in the next room."  She ran out, hand over her mouth.  "She'll get tougher."

"She'll have to.  No case switching."  He walked off, going to check on her.  He found Stella coming out of the bathroom.  "Danny got a bit graphic about some of the cases he's worked on."

"Yeah, I remember that fisting case," she admitted. "They wouldn't let me in to work the body.  Said they'd let any male officer in but a female wasn't allowed.  Did you have fun with that?"

"No."  He walked off shaking his head.

She smirked and went in to talk to Lindsey.  "Trade ya?"

"Mac said no," Danny called as he walked past the door.  "She need a sprite?"

"Please!" Stella called back.  "The fisting case was at a hardcore club.  They wouldn't even let me in to work the body.  Said any male could go, but not me.  Mac and Danny got it since they were trying to be helpful and reasonable, just not allow me in.  It was pretty gross.  Sheldon was the ME then and he said he'd never seen someone that wide."  Lindsey got sick again.  "Or with that sort of marking on his back."  Another retch.  Danny tapped then handed in a soda.  "Thanks."  She took it and he walked off, drinking another soda.

"Messer!" Flack yelled.  "Enough with the Mountain Dew!"

"Oh, bite me!" he yelled back.  "Right here!"

Stella could only imagine that had come with a butt slap and it made her grin.  Danny was getting a bit too hyped on chocolate and caffeine today.  He'd be horrible later.  She sent that message to Speed, who moaned, but said to endure.  She pointed out Mac would never realize it.  He said he'd work to have him clued in.

***

Mac came out of his office at that undignified bit of shouting, glaring at both of them.  "Flack, Messer, my office!"  They walked that way, Danny having his soda stolen and thrown out.  He followed, glaring at their backs.  He slammed his door, walking around to face them.  "This is not a playground!  You do not say things like that!  You don't yell like that, Flack.  That's the second time today!"

"He's horrible!"

"I noticed."  He glared at Danny.  "I don't know what the hell is going on...."

"You wanted what?" he asked calmly.  Mac gave him a horrified look.  "Wish granted, Mac.  Very granted."  He smirked and strolled off.  "Flack, Monroe wants ta trade.  She's getting sick."

"Pity.  Why?"

"Peterman case."

"Eww."  He shook his head.  "I'd accept it being changed around."  He looked at Mac. "You said you wanted the Danny from before, how do you like what you got?"  He walked out.

Mac stared at the walls, then went to find Danny.  "Danny."  He closed the lab door.

"Don't you dare."

"Fine." Mac left it cracked open a bit so no new rumors about Danny being fired would start.  "Better?"  Danny nodded. "I didn't want this you.  I wanted the you who was steady and dependable.  The one from before you three got so heavily back together.  The one I could call at three in the morning and you'd be there."

Danny looked at him.  "What crack were you smoking when you thought that?"  Mac looked stunned.  "Ya know, for the most part, I've got the most stable, changeless *outward* personality of any of us.  Tony was always a princess and a prankster but he toned it down a lot.  Speed was always broody and hip, on the tip of all the new stuff, but he changed a lot in college.  I really didn't.  Yeah, I was more playful, but I didn't really change that way."  Now his personality core, the base of who he was really, that had changed but not the outward stuff he showed to the rest of the world.

"You have, Danny, and today's been a strain."  He moved closer.  "You took off without warning."

"Sorry.  We were underground.  I wasn't even aware of what time it was when we got finished in the old shopping area.  And hey, no crazed people trying to make things take over the world today."

"Fine. I can see that point. Fortunately Horatio is very good at communication charms."

"He's pretty good in all charms actually," Danny noted. "Tops in his class."  He smirked at him.  "It was necessary.  Besides, not like I've had a day off."

"The weekends...."

"Aren't exactly time off, Mac.  For any of us."   His face fell and he nodded.  "Now, you can either accept me as I am, which means happy and finally supported by people who like me, or don't.  They are the support I need if you want me ta stay here.  If not, I'll pack up and move to Horatio's country."

"No, I want you to stay.  I need you here."

"Could've fooled me."

"Danny...."

"No.  You wanted me to be the same guy and I'm not.  Congratulate me, I'm not miserable."  Mac stared at him.  "It's good ta have someone who's got my back.  Flack had it but even he's got his boundaries.  Tony took on Sonny for me more than a few times.  Had fun doin' it too.  We'd go through hell for each other, Mac, and I'm happy I finally got 'em back full time in my life.  I needed that.  They were right, I needed them to be closer. Now, you can either accept a happy me or not."

"I'd rather have you happy instead of miserable, but some of the issues recently have got to stop, Danny.  Your temper's picked up."

"No it hasn't."

"You hit that suspect today.  You nearly hit one the other day."

"You nearly hit him the other day," he shot back.

"I did," he agreed, thinking about it.  "Today it was letting it out, and it was a better plan than really hurting him or shooting him.  You've shown a lot more willingness to have a life outside the lab as well."

"I consider that a good thing.  I've finally got a reason ta go home that's not some transitory girlfriend who I won't remember in a month."

"Which is also good for you."  He looked at him.  "You're right.  Your work has been excellent but you haven't had a day off to just enjoy things and relax.  Alex's is relaxing but not that much for you. You're basically working two jobs every weekend.  We all are."  He nodded.  "You still should've told me before you went down there."

"It was two or three in the morning."

"Leave a voicemail."

"You keep your phone on.  No way was I gonna wake you up for that."

"Call the office voicemail, Danny.  I do check it every morning when I come in."  Danny nodded that he could do that.  "Now, are you calm enough to work a case?  You've had four Mountain Dews and three candy bars.  I don't want you bouncing."

"I'm good and it's nearly time for me ta split anyway."

Stella leaned in.  "Are we making you tired of life?"

"No.  Just needed a day off now and then."

"I understand.  So do I.  By the way, Mac, it's tomorrow, I'm going to the spa.  Call me and die."  He smiled at that.  "Seriously."

"Yes, Stella.  I'll remember that.  Lindsey all right?"

"No, still puking.  Flack got a call saying the girl was part of the twenty percent who sell it after work and sometimes during, and that she had been working in a sex club.  She didn't get to hear what sort before she ran off again."  She walked in. "I'll gladly let her deal with the Dursleys.  They pissed the hell outta me."  He nodded at that.  "I can handle strippers."

"Fine, you two switch with her.  Danny, no scaring the strippers."

"Why would I?  I appreciate strippers very much.  I'm hopin' some day Stella's gotta dress like one so I can get a peek."

"Fat chance," she shot back.  She smirked at him. "Pervert."

"Like I'm the only one," he snorted.

"No, not hardly."  Flack tapped and walked in, taking Danny's newest soda to drink.  "Problems?"

"Dursleys are here.  Hammberback said the vic was already ID'd by family.  He went off on Harry.  I calmly put them into a room and said that yes, some of us were in real jobs, and that yes, one of them in the station had called him since they knew him.  He pegged you and demanded you get taken off the case.  Mac, he's down in interrogation three with the sound turned off and jammed."

"Thank you."  He headed that way, mentally sighing.  Sometimes he did create the worst problems with himself.  This thing with Danny was all his fault.  He wasn't sure why he was causing them either.  He never had staff problems like this in the Marines.  He opened the door and walked in.  "I'm Detective Mac Taylor, I run this lab," he announced, closing the door.  "You have a problem with the investigator assigned to your son's case?"

"I want him removed!" the mother said shrilly.

"Him?  Detective Messer?"

"Yes!  I've heard of him!  That other one is clearly not our sort!  I will not have someone like *them*," she sneered, "anywhere near my son's case.  They'd cover up for their sort.  One's like that mutant brat we were forced to put up with and the other's clearly of *immigrant* stock."

He looked at them.  "No, he won't, and what makes you so sure it wasn't in retaliation for your family's violent viewpoints toward your nephew?"  They both backed away from him.  "I was briefed.  It's a supervisor's job to know these things about their people."  Which he realized he didn't know about Danny.  He didn't know him half as well as he did Lindsey or Stella, or even Sheldon. "He's been assigned because he was free for a new case when your son was discovered, and upon finding out who he was, he did make sure nothing of that sort had happened to him.  He has, however, discussed handing it to another CSI since your viewpoints are so violent and it's not the department's policy to force someone to work on a case where their lives would be in danger from the witnesses.  Like I wouldn't send an African-American officer into a Klan meeting, I won't send him directly to a case like this."

They both looked horrified.  "As your viewpoints do count on that level, I do have another open CSI since this does appear to be a case where your son was shot for his viewpoint on other races."  He called up there.  "Sheldon, bring Lindsey to three.  I'm doing a case switch."  He hung up.  "They'll be right here.  Give me a minute to brief them."  He walked out, closing the door behind himself.  Sheldon and Lindsey came down.  "Danny's case has a very ...opinionated family's son, Sheldon, and it may make you uncomfortable."  They shared a look.  "Extremely uncomfortable.  They demanded Danny and Stella be removed for not being their sort."

"I've had worse."  He took the folder and looked it over, then nodded.  "I saw him.  I had to help Hammerback move him."  He walked in, looking at them.  "I'm Detective Hawkes, CSI and ME."  They looked stunned at that.  He stared them down.  "Your son's case is now my case.  Now, let's talk about what he would've said at the bar last night."  He sat down and pointed.  "If you would."

"You're...." the father started.

He looked at him.  "A Harvard graduate, yes.  A doctor.  I chose to go into the field.  I've got one of the best solve rates in this borough.  Do you want to find your son's killer?  I can do that.  Monroe?"  She came in.  "This is Detective Monroe.  She's my partner on this case."

The mother looked at her.  "You have children I'm sure."

She shook her head.  "No I don't.  I don't need children while I'm working in the field.  It's dangerous to them."  She picked up the folder.  "The detectives from earlier said your son was at a sports bar, watching a soccer game.  Which teams would've been playing, do you know?"  They both shook their heads.  "Hmm."  She flipped a page.  "The bartender didn't say either.  When questioned the bartender did say that the game's discussion had gotten heated a few times when your son made some indelicate comments about some players' nationalities."  She looked at them.  "Do we know which ones?  Or even which nationalities?"  They both looked stunned.  "It works faster and easier if you cooperate with us," she pointed out.

"You're qualified?" Mrs. Dursley said.

Monroe nodded.  "I'm fully qualified and have solved quite a few murders in my time.  I'm up to about thirty this year alone."  They sat down and she looked at Sheldon.  Then at them.  "Now, let's get down to this.  Was your son dating?"   They shook their heads.  "All right."  She sat down to make notes.

"Was he routinely found at any other sports bars?" Sheldon asked.  The father sneered at him.  "You get me or you don't get anyone," he told him honestly.  "You've already pissed off Taylor.  That's your quota for life."  He snorted.  "Your choice.  We can dig into yours and your son's past to find everything we need. We can find every single person he'd ever slept with, had a beer with, had a civil and uncivil conversation with, about his three arrests for being a bigoted Klan member, all that.  Not a problem on our end.  It's usually less biased and friendly than the parent's view."

"He had his eye on a little girl who lived on our block," the father said stiffly.  "From a good family."

"Name?" he asked, tapping his pen a few times.

"Sissy," Petunia told him calmly.  She looked at her husband.  "He said he went to Harvard.  That's the American equivalent of Oxford or Cambridge, dear."  He unstiffened some.  "He must have some intelligence."  He looked at her.  She shivered and wrung her handkerchief some more.  "I'm not so sure it wasn't those violent little fairies up the street.  One of them was always laughing at my son."

Sheldon pulled out the other folder he had been given by Danny.  "Someone was watching your family for your nephew."  He flipped to it.  "Yes, I see he pissed them off a few times by sneering at them and they shot back about his weight.  I'll ask but this report says they were out of town for the last week."  He closed it and put it under his pad, looking at them.  "No, I'm not one of them."  They quit sneering half as much. "It doesn't list any contact with any neighbors recently, only that he went out for the soccer match last night.  He doesn't support a particular team that would keep him out that late?"

"He's doing computer work," his mother told him.  "Plus going to school.  He's got very odd hours at the moment."

"What sort of computer work?  Was he a hacker?" Lindsey asked.

"No son of mine would ever do anything like that," Vernon said firmly.

"Just asking, sir. It could become relevant."  She looked at Sheldon then at them.  "All right, so he went to the pub down on Thirtieth."  They looked stunned.  "Not his usual hangout?  It had a well-used menu in his back pocket."

"No," his mother said weakly.  "The wrong sort went there all the time.  Our poor son was ill," she told him.  "He'd recently lost a lot of weight.  Nearly eighty pounds."

"During the autopsy, we did find out that he had a rather pernicious case of intestinal parasites," Sheldon admitted.  "The ME who performed it thought it had been going on for a few months."  She burst out crying.  He looked at the father.  "That wasn't his usual hangout?"

"No, the wrong sort go there.  We'd never have agreed to let him go if we had known.  Sully's isn't our sort of place."

"I see.  He also had menus for three other places," Lindsey said putting the list in front of him.  "That's a list of your son's pocket contents.  Does anything look out of place?"

He looked then slowly shook his head.  "He shouldn't have been at any of those places."  He looked at her.  "They were well worn?"

"Folded and refolded by the wear on the edges," she agreed.

"Oh."  He looked at his wife.  "Maybe he was defying us?"

"He must have been," she agreed, wiping off her cheeks.  "He wasn't a bad boy.  He never was.  No matter how those horrible books lied!"

"Books?" Lindsey asked.

"We're the family they based those horrible Potter books on," he sneered.

"Oh, I see."  She nodded once and let it drop.  Sheldon made another note and she looked in her folder again.  "All right.  He was wearing this outfit," she said, showing the front view picture of him.  "He had also had a large quantity to drink by the blood work."

"Our son didn't drink."

"His blood alcohol was .28," Lindsey told them.  "Legal limit is .05 for driving.  He was fairly well drunk.  That's bordering on ill sort of drunk, sir.  The blood work doesn't lie."

"Before you ask, his weight wouldn't have done anything but raised his tolerance before being drunk," Sheldon told them.  "At his death weight of 394, he could have roughly consumed double what Monroe or I could have to get to that point.  You said your son wasn't a heavy drinker?"  They shook their heads.  "How often did he go out for soccer matches?"

"Now and then, when he got homesick," Petunia said quietly. She looked at the outfit. "He went out wearing a windbreaker."

Lindsey frowned and looked at her report. "It was left at the bar.  We picked it up as evidence from there so it'll be with his personal effects once we've solved the case," she assured them.  That got a nod.

"Our son will have high priority?" Vernon ordered coolly.

"All victims are high priority, no matter where they came from," Lindsey told him.  "Everyone's case gets treated the same way.  The evidence is looked at and a killer is found if at all possible.  No one gets special or diminished treatment in this lab, no matter who they are."  He opened his mouth.  "No one.  Not the mayor's daughter, not the President's daughter if she died.  In death, we're all equal."  He closed his mouth with an audible snap of his teeth meeting.  Someone tapped on the door. "Occupied!"  Mac stepped in.  "It looks like it would've happened after the bar.  Probably someone he got into an argument with."

"Good.  The bartender said a few more patrons from last night have shown up and this result just came back," he said, handing over the sheet.  "Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, would you like to be driven home?  I can have an officer take you when they're done with their questions."

"Our son will have a higher priority than some junkie on the street, correct?" Petunia demanded.

"Everyone is equal in our eyes, Mrs. Dursley.  They've got families as well, and they usually want answers too.  We'll work your son's case with as much compassion and dignity as we can, and as fast as we can, but we don't prioritize cases except by length of time."  She slumped. "We're all equal in death."  He looked at Sheldon.  "Danny said he needed that one back."  That file was handed over.  "Thank you."  He looked at them.  "Should I contact any further members of your family for questioning?  Was he close to any of them?"

"No, we don't associate with the other members of her family," Vernon said firmly.  "When can we have his body?"

"Usually we release bodies about four days after autopsy, that way we have time to get back all the test results and to make sure there's no additional tests we need to perform," Sheldon told him.  That got a stiff nod.  "I do have the number for the local grief counseling center if you want it," he said more gently.  "They can help you make arrangements."

"No, thank you."  He stood up.  "Are we done?  I'd like to take my wife home."

"Of course.  Can we reach you at home or were you going to take your son home for burial?  In case we have any other questions about his usual habits?" Lindsey asked quietly.

"We'll be taking him home, but it'll only be a short trip.  I would hope it didn't take that long to find whoever did it," Petunia said, shaking her hand.  Then hesitantly shaking Sheldon's.  "Thank you."  She walked out, her husband right behind her. She waited until she was out of sight before wiping her hand off.

Mac looked at Sheldon.  "Sorry."

"Not a problem.  I've seen worse at school."  He stood up and closed his notes, looking at Lindsey.  "Want to hit the bar?"

"Please.  Then can we hit a real bar?"  He nodded, walking out with them.  "I can see how they got the portrayals for that book.  I've heard others saying things about it."

"You didn't read them?  They're fairly interesting, even for someone my age."

She shook her head. "Not my thing.  I don't read fantasy.  I'm a bit too realistic."

He looked at her.  "So you couldn't work the stripper case?"

She shook her head.  "I can't get my mind around it.  Then Danny had to give me the horrible mental image of a fisting case."

"Yeah, I did ME duties on that one.  It was the widest I'd ever seen anyone opened up."  She turned green.  "Sorry."

"Just don't, and drive slowly?"

"Of course."  He smiled at her.  "Get a soda and some crackers.  Doctor's orders."  She nodded, diverging to do that.  He ran into Flack outside.  "Harry grew up a lot better than those people," he said quietly.  Flack nodded, he had heard who it was.  "Should you warn Alex about the funeral?  They're going to bury him over there."

"Already called and left a message since I was listening. They're still dealing with the thing trying to eat the school."  He looked at Monroe.  "Sorry we made you sick."

"Not your fault.  I've got a sensitive mind about some things.  Strippers are one of them."  She swallowed her soda.  "What're you doing tonight?"

"Going with Danny to question some of the other dancers before dinner."

"You can eat after that?"

"Yeah, his buddy Speed cooks really well."  He grinned.  "I don't ever miss it when Speed cooks."  She smiled at that.  "Have fun, really."

"Thanks.  Violent bigots are just my thing."  She walked off, following Sheldon.  "Are you sure you're all right?"

"I've seen worse people.  One of the guys I went to medical school with was a true Klan member.  He switched to the Aryan Nation movement since the Klan was going soft, his words.  He ended up being expelled for trying to get some of the non-white people in the class expelled by lying about us cheating and things.  We were getting ready to lynch him, we thought it appropriate."  She grimaced.  "I've seen worse than them.  Anything they can dish out, I can point at my Harvard degree and then point out that their son is doing secretarial typing from home."  He smirked as he opened the door.  "Danny found out."

"Who was having them watched?" she asked as she got in.

"They've got a relative who's in the artifact recovery business.  Some of his associates are looking them over for him to make sure they don't cause him any trouble.  It's going through the bank he usually works with."

"Any chance it was him?"

"Nope.  Alex isn't violent like that."

"Danny, Stella, and Flack's friend Alex?"  He nodded.  "Oh.  Interesting.  Small world."

"Like Mac says, everything is connected."  He started the car and took off, heading for the sports bar.

***

Danny landed in Speed's living room, looking toward the kitchen.  "I told Don he could come, that all right?" he called.

"Sure, how much longer is he going to be?" Tony called.

"Ten minutes.  He had to change clothes."  He walked that way, watching the two cooking- capable members of his crew work.  "Who tipped Mac off?" he asked.

"Horatio."  Tony smirked at him. "I'm suing my agency unless someone applies a muzzle to my director."

"Congratulations.  The jealous bitch deserves it," Speed assured him happily.  Tony smirked at him. Don landed and came in to give them all hugs.  "Good day?"

"Strippers.  Bad strippers, but still strippers."

"Yeah, get this, Stella and I caught Dudley Dursley's body."  They gave him stereo stares of disbelief.  He grinned and nodded.  "Somehow they twigged Stella and demanded it be reassigned.  Sheldon and Monroe got it so we got the dead stripper case instead."

"Magic related?"

Danny smirked and shook his head.  "Pissed off the wrong sort at the bar after a soccer match on tv."  Speed groaned and rolled his eyes, getting back to his stir frying noodles.  "Harry identified him and they went off on that, that's when they demanded to have it reassigned.  Mac was not a happy camper.  Sheldon told them they had already used up their quota of pissing off Mac for their lifetimes."

"How big was he?" Tony asked.  "I know the books hinted at them being enormous."

"394," Flack told him.

"Nearly killed my back helping the ME move him," Danny agreed.

"Man, and I thought the Marine we had with the suddenly crappy thyroid who died while trying to control his weight was bad," Tony complained.  Danny nodded at that, grinning.  "Is Sheldon okay with that assignment?"

"Yeah," Flack agreed with a grin.  "They gave him odd looks so he said he was a CSI and an ME.  Said he graduated from Harvard.  His wife pointed out that was like Oxford where they came from.  She even deigned to shake his hand."

"Plus I got to make Monroe puke with some of the sex-related cases we had," Danny said proudly.

Tony's phone rang and he groaned.  "DiNozzo," he answered. "It'll take me a few, Boss, I'm with Speed, but what's up?"  He listened.  "Sure.  Be right there."  He hung up.  "What is it with stripper cases?  They had one when shift was about to end, I've got a dead cadet doing an open pole night who died from a gunshot wound, then you guys got yours."

"Naked, painted on, and working in a sex club," Flack agreed.

Speed handed him a bowl. "Have fun.  I want that back."  Tony nodded, taking it back to the office with him. He grinned at them.  "Food?"  They came over to get their own bowls of dinner, taking them out to eat at the table.  "I heard what you said to Mac.  You get through to him?"  Danny nodded. "Good.  You look really tough in that t-shirt, Danny."

Flack looked him over, then nodded.  "He does, he punched a suspect in the nose."  Speed snorted, choking for a moment.  "He had a gun on some of the techs.  Danny walked up to him calling him a fishie and punched him in the nose."

"I remember hearing about it," Speed agreed dryly.  "Eric gave me a look when I moaned and Ryan just smirked.  By the way, somehow he can tap into the bond when he's within ten feet of me.  Did I tell you he figured everything out and that he's a natural chaos person?"

"You did.  That's the one thing the bond cuts, is casual daytime conversation," Danny pointed out, slurping up a bite.

"Please let that counteract the candy and soda," Flack prayed.  Speed smirked at him. "Five Mountain Dews and three candybars."  Speed shuddered.  "Yeah, exactly.  I ended up taking one of the candy bars away from him and eating it myself."

Speed snickered at that, dropping his fork.  "He used to do that before finals.  Tony and I used to go and take them from him and then confiscate his stash.  Every time we'd see him eating the second one, we went to raid his dresser and bed.  Then we gave them all back at the end of the year, right before he went home."  Danny gave him a manic grin.  "After the second time, his mother called to tell us to keep them next time."  Danny cackled at that. "That year, Tony's dad sent him ten pounds of Swiss chocolate for Christmas."

Don cackled at that, shivering at the horror of Danny on real, good chocolate.  "Even my father called me an evil bastard," Danny remembered fondly.  "I don't think he meant it in a good way either."   His phone rang.  "Messer."  He listened, the nodded.  "Thank you for telling me.  Is the next one going to uphold her decision about my family?  No, let me tell DiNozzo.  I know, but let me tell him.  We're buddies.  Thank you."  He hung up.  "The Vinese died."

"They coming back?" Don asked.  He shook his head.  "You sure?"

"Yeah, she said that the ruling stands."  He ate another bite, then called Tony.  "Sit."  He listened to him quip.  "The Vinese just died.  They appointed your Great Aunt Arteste."  He ate another bite.  "Yeah, I can do that."  He hung up and called Mac.  "Bit of protocol.  Where are you?"  He nodded at that.  "Since you're in the wizarding bar, hand over the phone."  He waited. "It's Messer.  Please announce there's a new Vinese.  Yeah, thanks.  Hand him back his phone.  Unfortunately I've gotta go to her funeral. It's protocol since she decided something for me within the last five years.  Thanks, Mac.  Few days probably.  It'll be Tony and me. Sure, thanks."  He hung up.  "Gotta hate the protocol shit."

"Yeah, me too," Speed sighed.  "Thankfully I'm only a half a pureblood."  Don frowned at him.  "My father's side of the family.  My mother was a lot like your sister, including her mouth."  He ate another bite.  "More in the kitchen, guys, since Tony isn't here to suck it down."  They got up to get seconds.  "When's the funeral?"

"Two days."  Don looked at him.  "We don't traditionally embalm."

"Oh.  Okay."  He shrugged and left some in the bottom. "We left you some, Speed."

"Thanks."  He came in to get it then they went back to the table with beers.  "She must've been about Dumbledore's age," he said thoughtfully.

"Hundred and thirty," Danny told him.

"Close enough.  He still going?"

"Teaching at the wizard's college at Oxford," Danny offered. He pulled out his cell and called Draco's this time, getting a cranky spouse.  "Tell your mate there to listen to his and that the Vinese died.  Thanks, Draco.  Yeah, it got handed to Sheldon and Lindsey.  No, she came back last week on a crossover and hasn't left yet.  We're not sure why.  Yeah, Tony and I have to go over.  He was her godmother.  Yeah, that protocol shit.  Thanks.  Have him tell us what time and all that.  Thanks, man."  He hung up.  "They killed the demon trying to eat Philip."  Speed's fork paused midway to his mouth, giving him a long stare.  "Some girl decided to pick on Dawnie by sending an imp at her.  Dawn beat her ass.  Philip had to suspend both girls to their towers, Ravenclaw for the other twat of course, and she got pissed and summoned one ta eat him.  Alex and Harry had ta go help him survive it since he's not Super Priestman anymore."

Speed's fork dropped back into his bowl and he wiped off his mouth, taking a sip of beer.  "Someone summoned a demon inside Hogwarts?"  Danny nodded and Don smirked and nodded.  "How?  We couldn't do that."

"Not the first time," Danny pointed out with a smirk.  "They didn't put that shield on."

"Luna gets Ethan in all the time," Don added.  "Not that Snape doesn't complain about her Ethan snuggly, but she calls him to come to her a lot.  Was it a Philip sorta demon and a Higher Court or an Alex and Sunnydale sort of demon?"

"Draco said Sunnydale sort of demon.  Big and bad but not able to warp magic or anything."  His phone rang and he answered it.  "Yeah?"  He smiled at the voice on the other end.  "Sure, Stella, we'll come help you drink later.  No, we're both having dinner with Speed.  Tim, she says hi and it's a bad night.   Someone broke into her place and wrote disgusting shit all over it."

"Case related?"

"Team.  Bad losers."  He shrugged. "Sure, Stella, give us a half hour?"  He grinned.  "Be there and I'll buy you a round."  He hung up.  "Mac said her place is a crime scene so he sent her out to have a beer and fume in public."  He finished up and hugged Speed.  "Wanna come?"

"No thanks.  I've got to dig out my books for Ray.  His mother knows again. She's at the swearing level."  He grinned.  "Have fun pouring Stella into bed later," he teased.

"Always.  She's a good drinkin' buddy," Flack agreed, taking his and Danny's bowl into the kitchen to rinse out and put in the dishwasher.  He came back and hugged him.  "You sure?"

"I'm sure.  Go see if you can get her to dance and tape it. I could use seeing something pretty like that."  He smirked and winked, then took Danny back to his place, then to the alley beside the bar.  He got less lost that way.

***

Mac felt something tugging on his little bit of the bond and let the shield between them drop, feeling what was going on.  Danny, Don, and Stella were really drunk, but they were also...groping.  He moaned and shifted on his bed.  They were hot, surrounding her, making her nearly pass out from the pleasure before they did more than touch her.  She was very sensitive and it had been too long according to her mind.  He tried to put the shield back up but it was stuck down.  He felt like a peeping tom pervert but he couldn't get it to go back up.  He felt his body tense, trying very hard to put it back up.  He felt Don smack him in the head for it too.  That's when he groaned and pulled the covers over his head.

***

Don looked over from his pleasing Stella with his fingers for now.  "We let him come in?"

"Speed and Tony," she panted, arching up and muttering a very loud swear into Danny's mouth on her nipple.  "Implanted."

"Oh, okay.  Can we shut him out?"

Danny smirked at him. "Not like Speed and Tony aren't whacking off too," he teased.  Don shivered and kissed her.

"I need more, guys!" she demanded, flipping Don onto his back and taking what she wanted.

"Have whatever you want," he teased, sitting up to play with her breasts himself.  Danny slid up behind her and she moaned as one hand came around to tease her clit.  "I can do this part."

"Toss me the lube?"  She looked at him and he kissed her gently.  "It'll be fantastic."  He got the lube and a condom from Don, then got to work preparing her.  She moaned into Don's chest, leaning down to bury her face in it while he worked her over.  Then he slid in and she came, making him chuckle.  "Told you so."  They synched up, then Danny winked at Don and changed, hesitating just a second too long inside.  She was writhing between them, panting and muttering, moaning into Don's chest.  "Next time, he gets back here," he assured her. "It'll be tight and hot."  She clutched his arm and his finger came back to help her get off one last time while they did.  Don swore when she tightened around him and Danny could feel his cock jerking through the thin wall between them.  He kept going, making her whimper and moan, just holding on for now. "Let it go, Stell.  Just let it go for me."  She came and he went with her, letting himself rest against her back for a minute.  Then he gently pulled out, tossing the condom into the trash.  He laid down beside Don and pulled her between them, letting Don cuddle her since she liked to cuddle.

She looked back at him.  "You don't cuddle after great sex?"

"No, but he'll use you as a body pillow," Don assured her, letting Danny have her back for that while he held her.  He grinned at her.  "He didn't even hold me after he popped me."

"That was mean."

"I'm not the cuddlesome sort."

She flipped over and put him between them, holding him.  "I am.  Deal with it."

Don laughed, holding him as well. "I could get to like this, Stella."  Danny looked at him.  "Now and then, when we agreed?"  Danny shrugged and so did she.  "Good.  Now, about the peeping Mac that needs ta get off?"

Stella sent Mac some very dirty thoughts, feeling him finally give in and pleasure himself. She felt him go over and drifted off to the feeling of his afterglow. It was nice.

Don waited until she was asleep to whisper in Danny's ear.  "You think he wanted what you had?" he teased.  Danny shivered.  "I know he wants what I'm holding, but you think he wanted it all?"  Danny nodded.  "You thinkin' what I am?"

"Hard not to," he admitted.  "Speed is too."  Don chuckled, making him shiver. "It's probably not a good idea."

"Yeah, well, it'll be the hardest chase ever," he agreed.  He moved closer, resting his cock in the crack of Danny's ass.  "For in the morning."

"In the morning, you're howling and riding my cock, not the other way around," he assured him.

"We'll see, Messser.   Maybe I'll hand Stella a toy and we'll both have you for breakfast."

"Some of us don't have tomorrow off, like you and me," Danny reminded him blandly.  Stella had tomorrow off so she could clean up her place if Mac let her have it back.  Don rubbed against his backside.  "I thought I was the incorrigible one."

"Not hardly.  Holding you like this is getting me more than ready to have you now."  He nipped him on the back of the neck.  "I'll accept you licking me clean."  Danny groaned and turned over to kiss him, letting him rub against his front.  "No, either I get your mouth or your ass, Danny.  Nothing else'll do tonight."  Danny moaned, kissing him again.  "Choose now."  He shot him a dirty thought, a picture from the other night.  Stella moaned at that and moved over to kiss them both.  "Didn't mean ta wake ya, Stella."

"Not an issue."  She licked up Danny's back, then bit him hard. "Let him have you, Danny?  Let me watch?  I'll tease you all you want."  Danny tightened up and she smiled, teasing his neck.  "Just like you had me.  It's only fair.  You've had Don plenty of times I bet."  He nodded, moaning at the wicked spots her fingers were creating.  "Then let him have you and me."  He let out a deeper moan.  "Please?"

"Please," Don agreed.  Danny let him shift him back over and grab the lube and condoms, then got to work on him.  "He barely lets anyone touch him there," he told her.  She kissed him and one hand teased his cock.  "You two look so hot," he assured them, sliding inside once he could.  Danny moaned and tightened down.  "Relax, just me, Danny."  He nibbled on his ear, a known weak spot he liked to exploit.  He liked to talk dirty during sex.  "Look at you, taking it up the ass," he teased.  "Letting her have your hard, leaking cock."  Danny moaned and shifted his hips, meeting his next thrust.  "Good boy. Take it all, Danny, let us wring you out and dry you up.  Let it all go."  He nipped his earlobe again, then licked up the side of his neck.  "Think you wanna aim it for her breasts?" he whispered.  "Or ask for her mouth?  Think she'd do it for you?"  Danny whimpered and tensed up again.  "I've got you."

He pushed in harder this time, letting himself go just a bit stronger with him. Danny could take it and would love it.  He was sure of it.  Stella smirked at him and went down to tease him with a good blowjob.  Don moaned. "Now that's hot."  He got back to work driving Danny insane, which wasn't hard to do.  "Come for me," he ordered, getting close himself.  "I wanna see you come, Danny."  His answer was a balls-tightening surge of lust from him and then he came.  Don let himself go over.  Then Danny pulled her up and buried his face between her thighs, making her shriek in pleasure.  "Reciprocation is good," he agreed, kissing Stella. "Let him have it, Stella.  He wants to taste it."  She wiggled for a few more minutes but Danny had it well in...tongue so she came on it.  She panted and let them surround her again.

"Damn, I love you guys.  Kinky sex is wonderful," she said finally.

Danny chuckled.  "This wasn't kinky, Stella. We'll tie him down next time, then we'll have kinky sex."  She smiled at that.

"I should worry about the thoughts you two are having about me being helpless and tied down with a cock ring on," Don teased. "But I'm too tired."  Of course, someone pounded on his door.  "What?" he called, getting up to answer it.  He found his father on the other side, looking at the clock on his VCR.  "Dad, It's two.  Is someone dead?"  He let him inside.

"No, son.  I needed to see you. Someone told me some stuff earlier today."  He looked at him.  "Clothes?"

"Dad, I had a lot of beer earlier.  Can't this wait?"

"I heard, son.  I heard a lot about the beer and you coworkers.  Are you sleeping with them?"

"Presently we'll all collapsed on the bed together since we're all pretty drunk," Don admitted.  "Stella had her place broken into earlier.  Why?  What's it matter?"

"Son, they said you're gay."

"Well, technically I guess I'm bi, but so?"  His father looked stunned. "Not like you care who I sleep with anyway, dad.  Now, like I said, I'm still pretty well lit."

"You smell and look like sex, son."

"Dad, it's two in the morning and I never said a word when you came home smelling like Margaret."

"People are noticing," he said, pushing his son a bit.  "That you're so tight you're able to read his mind."

"No, that's magical."

His father gave him a horrified look.  "You did what?"

"I got my ass some backup who understands me.  No mater what, they're at my back, dad, just because I'm me."

Stella came out, handing Don his robe, she was in her nightgown they had picked up for her.  "What's going on?"

"Someone told Dad we're really close and that I'm now gay."

"You weren't when you were in me earlier."  She looked at him. "It's really late and we're all just drunk enough to pass out.  Can't this wait?  He's got to work tomorrow."

"He'll be in for hell tomorrow."

"I doubt it considering everyone knows we're buddies at work."

"Son, you nagged your very male coworker and took his food from him, only getting a smirk for it."

"Yeah?  Not the first time."  He looked at her.  "He smirked at me for it?"  She nodded.  "Had another one?"  She smirked and nodded, hugging him.  "I was trying to spare you guys the agony of too-hyper Danny."

"Admit it, you needed the sugar rush before you went back to the strip club," she teased.

"Well, yeah, low blood sugar would be terrible during that," he agreed happily.

"Son!" his father snapped.

"What!"  He glared at him.  "Dad, it's *two* in the morning.  Go home!  Go cuddle Ma and all that.  Tell anyone who asks you saw me playfully groping a woman."  He kissed Stella and grabbed her ass, earning a slap for it. "See?"  He walked her back to the bedroom and slammed the door.  "Lock it behind you, dad."  He got them unclothed then back in bed, cuddling up to Danny's free side.  He heard his father leave with a door slam and sighed, gong to lock the door then come back.

***

Down in Washington an hour earlier, Stan walked onto the scene.  "Kelly, dear," Ducky called, beaming at her.  "It's nice to have you back.  How was your trip?"

"Very strange but my ex liked me like this more for some reason.  Guess I know why she wasn't always happy with me."  Tony gave him a look so she grinned at him. "Hey, Tony.  Where's Gibbs?"

"Talking with the manager in the office."  He motioned her closer.  "Ziva answered but she's stuck in traffic."

"Traffic's not heavy," she noted, looking at the dead cadet.  "Pity, she was cute.  What happened?"

"Came off the pole with her top off and someone shot her."  He grinned at her.  "Start the sketch since McGee isn't here yet?"  She nodded, moving to do that.  "Thanks.  Boss, Standa's here," he called.

"Thank you."  He came to the doorway. "How was traffic?"

"Fairly light.  It's good enough."  He smiled at him.  "McGee?"

"Helping with the tech issue. I didn't call him in," Gibbs admitted.  Tony gave him an odd look.  "He called back and said he was leaving, told me what was going on when I asked.  I told him to fix that, it's more important."  He came out.  "Manager said she registered for the prize under the name 'silky' and left it at that.  She didn't mention she was dating.  No ring on her hand."

"ID says she's a senior at a Marine-affiliated academy," Tony offered, handing it over.  "Local cops handed it over readily," Tony told Kelly.  "Too many tonight."  She nodded, understanding that.  She'd have fallen by the wayside in their caseload.  "ID says she's eighteen."

"Which means she's just old enough to do this stuff," Stan pointed out dryly.  She stood up and looked at the body.  "I need more practice with this stuff, Gibbs."  He handed it over.  "Close?"

Gibbs looked and nodded.  "Close enough this time. DiNozzo, get some wider angled shots."  He nodded, stepping back to do that.  "I'm going to route Ziva to the office to get started on a background for her.  Ducky, time of death?"

"Oh, not even an hour," he promised.  "It does look like the gunshot wound did kill her.  To the right lung so it wasn't too slowly done."  He stood up.  "I'll take her back to the office, Jethro, and tell you exactly how long it took her to die."  That got a nod.  "Anthony?"

"One more, Ducky, move?"  He nodded, stepping over the pool of blood.  He took another picture, then a second one, moving forward. "What's that?" he asked, pointing at something in the blood.

"It looks like a silver stud of some sort," Ducky admitted, picking it up with a q-tip swab.  "Liquid not solid."  He capped it.  "I'm sure Abigail can find out readily enough."  He smiled at him.  "Do you see any more?"

"I'll wait until you get the body out of here to look."  He nodded, accepting that.  He and his assistant bagged the body and took it out to the coroner's van, then they left.

Gibbs hung up and came over to look.  "Body paint?"

"Maybe," Tony admitted.  "Danny had one of those earlier."  Kelly looked at him.  "Dead stripper, naked, painted, in an alleyway. Monroe and Sheldon caught it but ended up switching due to parental pressure on Danny's case."  He looked at his boss.  "Harry's cousin."

"Pity.  Was he as big a bastard as the books said?"

"394 when he died, and he had worms."  He shrugged.  "As for the bullying, not sure yet."  He moaned and tensed up, blocking them back out, but it was hard.  "Damn it."

"You okay?" Gibbs asked quietly.

"Don, Stella, Danny, and Mac's just now joining in," he ground out.  "Taking five, boss."  He headed to ease that pain.  It was the only way to get his shield to go back up. He came back a few minutes later, clean and presentable again.  "I'll work on that tonight. I had been about to ask him about their case to compare it."  Gibbs nodded at that.  "Won't happen again, boss."

"See that it doesn't," he agreed, looking at him.  "Not like I wouldn't have done the same," he said quietly.  He walked over to look at the pool of blood.  "Find any other silver stuff?"

"A bit," she offered, pointing at some.  "I need some gloves and a few swabs to pick it up."  Gibbs got her some from the gear box Tony had with him.  "Thanks.  Sorry I wasn't fully prepared, boss."

"Don't apologize, it shows a weakness," he ordered patiently.  She nodded, smiling at him and scooping up some of the silver liquid. "DiNozzo, go do the tape."

"Yes, boss."  He went to get the tape and watch it on the home system, pulling up a picture of the person who had shot her.  "Boss, had a uniform!  Marine!" he called.  He came in to watch so Tony rewound it by a few seconds.  "Watch."  He let it play at half-speed.

"I know him from somewhere."

"It's the idiot with the sword, boss."

"The one who owned it?"  Tony nodded.  "Good.  Get him, bring him in.  Keep going."  He started the tape again at normal speed, watching as the shot went off, then people ran off, while a few went to help her.  "Hmm, doctors?"

"One was a male nurse, one was a paramedic, one was a cop.  Who called it in."  He pointed at him.  "Him.  I took his statement and have his card if we need him."  He kept it going.  "Our Marine has mysteriously vanished."  He looked at him.  "Isn't he probably on report?"  Gibbs nodded firmly at that.   "Then how did he get off base?"  He stood up.  "Want me to hunt and gather?"

"Now.  Want Standa?"

"Sure."  He walked out there.  "Let the boss do that, we've got a suspect that I had to deal with earlier."  She looked at him.  "Idiot with a sword who cut his friend on purpose."

"Sadistic?"

"Possibly.  Seemed like a confused egghead to me.  We'll see though."  She got up and bagged her gloves, then looked at herself.  "I came in with Gibbs, you drive?"  She nodded so he let her lead the way out to her car. Once inside he looked at her.  "You get the message about the director?"

"I did.  I'm keeping low on this one."  She started the car.  "Stella really liked me like this."

"Maybe she's bi."  The bond kicked in again and he moaned.  "Damn it!  I need to block them better."

She smirked at him. "The trio?"

"Don just slid home into Danny's body and Stella's giving him the blow of his life."  He shifted his hips out some.  "I can ignore this."

She looked around then pulled onto the highway, which was pretty deserted.  "How long before we get to the base?"

"Twenty minutes."  He closed his eyes.  "I'm not going to take care of it, Stan."  She reached over a hand to tease him.  "Stan!"

"Shut up, Tony.  You've given me a few helping hands since we met and you made me think dirty quidditch thoughts about brooms."  He laughed at that.  "Don't tell me you joked about that."

"All the time.  Danny used to sleep with his broom right under his bed so no one could touch it.  We joked about him riding his broom many days."  He moaned and shifted his hips out.  "If we get narked on, Gibbs will have my ass."

"You'd like that though," she teased.  He moaned and came at that. "Thankfully I keep condoms in here and put one on you," she said, smiling at him.  He pulled it off and dropped into a crumpled paper bag on the floor.  "Good boy."  She smiled and kept going.  "Better?"

"Much.   I've got to get better shields."   She nodded, giving him a smug look.  "Next exit.  There's construction on the other side and you're down to one lane for both ways and a stoplight."

"Good, you navigate."  She pulled off that exit and headed where he pointed.  "Think Speed got hit as hard?"

"With Ray Jr. over there," he agreed dryly.  "He had to excuse himself with a mumbled 'fucking bond' and went to hide in the bathroom.  Horatio came over just now. Speed's excuse was 'Stella's really hot when she's playing with Danny and Don'.   Ray Jr. wanted to know when he gets to be part of that.  Horatio told him never, Speed said to tell you."

She grinned at him as they pulled up to the front gate.  "Tell him I'm looking forward to the next time you guys take me out."  She pulled out her credentials.  "We're here looking for a witness to a shooting."

"Who, Agent Standa?" the Marine asked politely.

Tony leaned forward.  "The idiot with the sword earlier," Tony said dryly.  The Marine groaned.  "Shot another one too we think.  So if you know where he would be, you can call and have someone watch the entrance for us."

"Already done, sir.  He was caught sneaking back onto Base," he reported. "The brig, Agent DiNozzo."

"Thank you kindly.  Back three blocks and to the right?"  The Marine nodded and signed them in, then waved the gate to be opened by the guard still in the shack.  "Have a better night."  That got a smile and a salute.  They headed off and Stan silently counted.  "That's a one way, Stan."  She nodded and went up another block, then went right.  She parked and he got out, checking his appearance.  He didn't look like he had blown off in the car or in the strip club.  He walked inside, smiling sweetly at the MP's in there.  "Stupid bastard is?"

"Cell, sir.  What did he do?"

"We think he shot a cadet doing an open pole night," Stan said from behind him.  "Hi, Agent Standa."  She shook his hand.  "I'm new to the team."

The MP smiled at the pretty young woman. "I understand, ma'am.  Cadet as in Academy?"

"Senior at an associated military school," Tony told him.  "By the name of Melissa Marhuff?"

"His call was to someone named Mrs. Marhuff," the MP noted, finding that sheet and pulling it over.  "Lasted two minutes.  I'll see if it was taped or not, Agent DiNozzo.  This way please."  He walked them back there, pointing in the cell.  He looked at the other people.  "Leave the pretty woman alone or you're plucking the grass with your fingers tomorrow to mow!" he ordered at the first leer.  "She's one of Gibbs' people."

Tony looked at one person. "You remember Kate?  She makes her look sweet and nice," he sneered.  The guy backed off.  He had tangled with their team in the past.  "Why is he back here?"

"Trial at JAG and they're full," the MP admitted bitterly.  "Pity.  I'd have chained him to the flagpole."  He opened the cell they needed.  "You taking him?"

"Oh, yeah.  Well, let me call Gibbs first."  He called him. "Boss, he was arrested sneaking back onto the base.  You want him there or here?  He's already in the brig so read his Article 31 rights."  He smirked then nodded, hanging up. "Boss is on his way," he reported.  "Bring him to an interrogation room?"  The MP nodded, taking their suspect out and to one of them.  Then he went to get the tape of that call, coming back a minute later and motioning them out of the room.  "Stan?"  She nodded, following him out.

"What's up?"

"The tape of that call isn't pretty, Agent Standa.   It's very unpretty.  He bragged."

"I'm there, let me listen.  I've heard worse.  I worked in Chicago."  He moaned and nodded, leading her to a desk so she could listen to it.  She waved the boss over when he came in, letting him listen to it.  Then she stood up and walked in there, looking at their idiot. "You bragged to her family that you killed the girl because she was trying out her body.  That she was a godless whore.  Now, what was the thought behind that?"  The Marine sneered and she leaned down to get next to his ear.  "You can tell me, princess, or you can tell Tony there, and he's from the Old Ways, aren't you, Agent DiNozzo?"

"I am," he agreed smugly, nodding at their boss as he walked in.  "Of course, he doesn't *have* to tell us since the tape will say everything for him.  He won't even have to justify himself.  Not like there's a reason anyway.  He's a worthless waste of his mother's time."

"My mother was a saint!  None of those women I killed could live up to her!" he shouted, standing up, his chest heaving.  "They can't!  She judged them and found them wanting!"  He glared at Stan.  "You're no better than the other whores."

She pinched him on the cheek. "Aren't you so cute," she cooed, sneering at him.  "I'm gay, I'm ten thousand times better than any woman you've ever met."  He backed away from her and she followed. "What's wrong, princess?  Are you scared of the women?  Scared of how they make you feel?  Did mommy tell you it was dirty and naughty?" she sneered.  He whimpered.  "Now, you think your mother would approve?"

"I'm following in her good works," he whimpered. "Get her away from me, please!" he begged.  "She's the devil!  My mother said so!"

"Out," Gibbs ordered quietly.  She backed off and strolled out.  The MP followed.

Stan smiled at him. "Knew he's break."  He grinned back.  "Sometimes you gotta prompt a bit and push others."  He blushed a bit.  "Good boy.  You have fun with him tonight."  She called Ziva.  "It's me.  I'm here at the base with Gibbs.  The idiot with the sword from earlier is what Tony called him.  Yeah, that guy.  Find out his past, his mother's name, how many people she and he would've killed. He said he was following in her good footpath and she found them all wanting.  Also said I was the devil.  Thanks."  She hung up and winked, walking back in there. "Boss, Ziva's having the body exhumed so we can all sneer at her too.  Said his mother's dead.  Died three years ago.  He's from my neck of the woods.  They flagged his file when she died, she was suspected in killing at least three women."  The son sneered at her.  She strolled back over. "How many was it, princess?  Ten, twenty?  Because you know they're gonna make you a girl in prison, you might wanna tell us where they're gonna bury you with them.  Or maybe we'll bury you with mommy when they make you the bitch of the block." she sneered at him. "You not gonna say anything?"

"You'll never find them."

"Actually, we will.  See, the other agent who works with us, she's Mossad.  They can find *anything* on someone's background.  She can find out the disease your momma got playing with her girlfriends. She can find your momma's inadequate cup size since you don't go for the busty ones."

"I'm wondering if the sword this morning was him branching out to guys as well as girls, as in he's bi, or if that was his male lover and he's trying to get rid of him."

"We did find lube on his hands," Gibbs agreed dryly.  He was enjoying this show.  Stan had a very smooth, threatening style.

"I'd never touch another man that way!  It's evil!  Only the One Father can do that to us!  His current incarnation is still alive and he only touches us after we join him and the worthy are shown the portal!"

"Oh, don't tell me you're part of that cult to Don Flack's image," Tony sneered.  The man gaped at him.  "Honey, I was having dinner earlier with Don and Danny Messer.  I was teasing Don all to hell about getting hard at the strip club he had to question girls at."  He burst out crying.  "Then again, Danny took him home after getting him drunk," he admitted.

"We knew he would protect him," he said, kneeling down and starting to chant a prayer to Don's esteemed image.

"Eww," Stan said, walking off working her fingers in her ears.  "Ewwwwwww!"  She called Don's phone, getting him.  "We found another cult member.  Eww!"  She hung up.

The MP handed her a cup of coffee.  "Cult?"

She nodded, leading him back to the computer to pull up the site Tony had told her about through google.  She pointed.  "We know him, he's a detective in New York. Great guy, very fun ta hang with, but God, he's got pretty eyes."  The MP blushed at that.  "They have a hymn book to him."  He smirked at that.  "Let's see if we can pull some of it up."  She found that section and pulled a few things up, including the latest news on the court cases.  Then she brought those to Gibbs. "From the Cult of Don-ness."

"Thanks."  He looked at the recent news, handing it to Tony.  Then he laughed at the song.  "What do you sing this song to his eyes and hips to?"

"Onward Christian Soldiers," Tony said with a smirk. "Danny kept a copy of their recruiting pamphlet when they busted the main cult for trying to bomb the police station."

The suspect whimpered. "It's a test, only a test," he whispered over and over.  Someone knocked and Don stomped in.  He burst out crying.  "Thank you for saving me!"  He crawled over and hugged his leg.

Don glared down at him. "You had me woken up.  You tortured women.  I like women sometimes.  Women are nice, they're squishy in the right spots.  They have babies."  He drew back and Don continued to glare.  "You disappoint me horribly by taking out the pretty, horny girls."  He burst out crying again. "That guy this morning, he one'a mine too?  I'm weeding out the stupidity among the flock," he ordered at Tony's prompting.  He nodded, sniffling.  "Thank you.  Anyone else?"  Tony handed over a pen and paper.  "Write it out so I can check on them, girl."  He nodded, hanging his head and writing on the floor.  "Good girl.  Now, confess and I might let you reincarnate and try again when you're killed in prison for killing the pretty girls."  He walked over to kneel in front of Gibbs, confessing into his knees.  Fortunately the MP had a tape recorder handy.  Don smiled at Stan, kissing her on the cheek. "You're my best recruit yet, dear."  He smirked at Tony and winked.  "Saturday, game?"

"I'm there if I'm not on Gibbs' six for a case."

"Good."  He strolled off, heading back home.

The suspect looked up at her. "You're one who's given it up and come to us," he said in awe. "I should have realized.  Very few are worthy to surround themselves with his mantle of maleness."

"Yeah, well, that's because you're doing stupid stuff in the name of the Father.  So get over it, you're not worthy yet."  He nodded, going back to his confession.  She shared a look with Tony, then the MP.  "I'm hoping that doesn't count against him."

"Shouldn't.  JAG will let him cut a deal."

"Good.  The girl there could use it."  She tapped a foot.  "Keep going.  Everything, back as far as you can go on your mother too!"  He nodded, going on with that as well.  It was good.

***

Don stomped in the next morning, giving Mac a long stare. "Not have a good night?"

Mac gave him his version of the Glare of Death.  "No, I didn't.  Did you?"

"Yeah, up until that cult showed up on a military base and Tony and Stan needed my help ta make someone confess to hurting women."  Mac groaned walking off shaking his head.  "Have fun, Mac.  Have more coffee and chocolate.  It'll be okay."  He went to his locker, going to put up his jacket in case he needed it later.  He found Danny in there.  "Tony found more of my cult.  Gibbs laughed at the hymns too."

"Oh, I don't know, I'm starting to see why they'd sing 'em to you," he teased.  "Which one did he get?"

"The one about my hips and eyes that makes me sound like Shakira."  He shuddered.  "Eww."

"You're definitely not her," he agreed, closing his locker and walking off laughing evilly.

Don groaned and rested his head against his locker. "Why did I have to be as bad as Alex is?"  He called Alex.  "Do you have a cult to you too?  Really?" he asked hopefully.  "Can we compare sometime soon?  I've got a game Saturday.  Thanks, man."  He hung up and walked out, reassured that not only Harry and Alex, but Arens had one to them as well.  It was a nice, comforting thought. Even if Arens was full of girls who wanted him to change back to them.

My Cult Is Fun.

Don hung up his phone, groaning a bit as he sank back into his desk chair.  Then he got up and went to talk with someone more reasonable.  "Mac?" he called as he walked past the receptionist.

"Chem," she called after him.

He smiled and waved, the headed up to the next floor to track him.  He taps then walks in, seeing Stella there.  "I need advice."

"On a case?"

"Sort of.  My cult is getting out of hand.  Gibbs found a chapter in DC that had about ten members and some of their kids."  Mac gave him an incredulous look.  "You and Danny didn't tell him?" he asked Stella.

"We did, he didn't listen.  His cult was the one trying to blow up the women's bathrooms, Mac."  That got a small moan.  "What are they doing now?"

"Tony found one of the guys down there hurting a lot of women, and another worshiper.  I wanna discourage 'em.  I don't know how."

"Talk to them," she offered.  "Be serious and let them know you'd never want anything that used your image that hurt women."

"I tried that, they didn't think I was me.  They're on the hunt for a rogue member."  He grimaced, leaning against the table.  "I don't know how ta stop 'em.  I'm almost desperate enough to talk ta Hillborne to see if he's got any evil ideas."

"If you open a dialogue, they could get mad when their delusions are broken; they could end up coming after you, Don," Mac offered.  "You can't be held responsible."

"But I am, Mac.  My father's holding me responsible.  IAB and Hillborne have been giving me dirty looks about it. Someone else tried ta tease me. Mirsck said to hold on, that it happened to guys like me sometimes.  Alex said he's got three or four to him, but I can't put up with this.  Not with them hurting women and with kids around there."

"Open up a dialogue, give them proof it's you, but do not meet them in person," Mac ordered.  "I'll talk to Hillborne and say that you're trying to discourage them. I don't have any suggestions about how you'd contact them."

"They've got a webpage and a bulletin board on it," Stella told him.  "Danny found it.  He showed Stan."  She smirked at him.  "He's also got a password for it."  Don nodded, going to find him.  "This could get really messy."

"I'll call him right now," he offered, going to his office to do that.  He dialed the phone with the hand he took the glove off of.  "Hillborne, Taylor.  No, something else.   You know about the cult to Don Flack Jr.?"  He smirked.  "That one.  They're finding more who're hurting people.  I've suggested that he talk to them to discourage such behavior and to turn those members in, especially since they're raising kids among themselves.  I don't care that they're gay.  I care that one of them found by NCIS was a serial killer killing young women.  He's not the first.  They're the same group that tried to bomb the station.  That's why I advised him to use a non-meeting method of contacting them.  Of course, I'll have them print off transcripts for you.  They sent Danny Messer a password since they think he's his guardian.  I have no idea.  I'm not up to date on that situation. You'd have to ask Messer, and I'd ask politely with the mood he's been in.  He's likely to walk off laughing."  He hung up and went back to work.  "Danny, print off any and all transcripts," he ordered from the doorway on his way past.  "Hillborne said so."

"Yeah, I'll do that, Mac."  He waited until he was long gone.  "Hillborne can blow me.  He'd do it poorly but he can blow me."  Don snickered.  "Mac, I'm taking off to do that," he called.  They were only up the hall.

"Fine," Stella called.  "Thank you for the warning."

Danny led Don back to his desk, going to fire up the computer and get to work on it.  He found the site he had bookmarked, his password automatically put in for him.  He logged them on, pointing at a spare chair.  "Pull it over."  Don did so, sitting beside him.  "How do you wanna do this?  Commands from on high?  Trying ta reason with 'em?  I wouldn't suggest playing to their delusions."

Don considered it.  "I'd rather make them see reason.  Someone could disobey if I ordered it and I'm not really comfortable with that."

"Okay."  Danny logged onto the bulletin board.  Someone immediately asked him how he dared to use the name of the Protector of the Father.  He pointed out it was him and Flack, they were at work.  That they needed to talk to the higher ups about some things that had been bothering Don.  A few more people logged on.  One asked him to prove it was him.  Danny typed in what they were wearing and told them to ask their hidden mole in the station since they were at work at the moment.  A few minutes later someone wrote and said that they were at Danny's desk typing into the bulletin board, that they were wearing those outfits, and it was them.  That got them accepted.  Danny looked at him.  "Start off with the DC situation?"

"Start off small," Don ordered, leaning on the desk to stare at his typing.  "You do that faster than I do."

"They'd expect me to announce shit for you," Danny reminded him as he typed. "It's come to Don's attention through some friends in DC, that some of you have been doing horrible things to others in his name.  He loathes this.  Don has stood for punishing those who needed to be punished, but these ones are going after innocents, specifically women," he muttered as he typed. He ran out of room and sent that.  A few of them sent back outraged icons. He snorted.  "Don appreciates women and their role in men's lives. Mothers, mentors, caregivers, those who soothe hurts and help you learn. Don's got a sister he adores, but they do pick on each other as only siblings can.  This is really irking him."

"I'd say," he complained.  He took the keyboard and typed in slowly but carefully.  "Guys, I hate that some of you are hurting women.  It's making the rest of you look bad and it's teaching the kids in the groups bad things.  I HATE people who hurt others for no good reason.  Them being female is not a good reason."

Danny took the keyboard back and sent that.  "Me again," he muttered as he typed.  "Don's so torn up about this, he's asked others how to help those of you who're not doing the evil things.  He's even thought about asking the assholes in IAB if he could meet you guys without getting into trouble to stop those of you who're doing this stuff.  He'd do almost anything to get you guys doing the bad stuff ta stop it."  He sent that, reading the responses.  "No, not all women are worthy to switch over to the faith.  The problem is that those who won't switch are the ones who'll become mothers.  The ones who'll be teachers and nurses.  They're the ones who stitch us up after we're hurt and hold us when we've had a bad day."  Someone sent back that Stella seemed to be able to do that.  "Yeah, well, she's a special case and they all knew she was one of them, but she couldn't stitch them up and she couldn't comfort them after all the worst cases.

"If they knew me at all, they'd know I respect nearly everyone except those who hurt others for shits and giggles," Don pointed out bitterly. "Hell, I was even nice ta the strippers on the last case."

"You were."  He typed that quote in verbatim, putting it in quotes.  Someone typed in that the rest would stay unenlightened.  Danny responded that 'that was fine, you can always preach to them, but making them hurt for not believing wasn't the right way to get people to believe.  It led people away from the truth'.

Don took the keyboard back.  "I'm sorry, I can't let them hurt others.  It's wrong and against the law.  I hate people who hurt others for no good reasons.  I hunt them down and put them into cells.  Those who I've caught doing it are in jail.  They're being the girls on their cellblocks.  I can't stand letting this situation go on.  It's giving me a bad name along with the rest of the officers.  People are thinking I'm telling you guys to do this, and I don't want it to happen.  You can treat them like unknowing heathens.  You can treat them like they're beneath you if you must, though I don't like that idea either. I like it when we respect women, all women, even the prostitutes and strippers, until they prove they're bad guys.  They've got kids too.  They provide comfort to those lonely sorts who crave it."  He hit send and kept going.  "I want us to respect others.  Like the Buddhists do.  I cannot accept women being treated like that with good conscious.  If it continues, I'll have to lump everyone in with them because you let them continue on that horrible path.  You'll all end up in jail.  I don't want that."  He hit send, letting them respond.

Danny took the keyboard back.  "Listen, if you need help ousting them, send us information on them and we'll pass it onto those who can stop them for you. We don't want attention brought to you guys, but they've got to be stopped."

Don read the note about Kelly Standa.  "She's one of us," he agreed. Danny nodded and typed that in.  That Tony was initiating her. That all their best of best friends, those who truly understood who and what Don was and stood for had females who were changing over to help them deal with those around them who didn't understand.  Someone asked if   they could trust those four or five to help them stop the members going wrong.  "Yes!" Danny agreed.  "Hell yes!"  He sent thoughts at Speed and Tony, getting nods back.  "Yes, that would be fine. They've agreed.  You can send them the wrong members and information to have them stopped if you have to.  They'd keep it as quiet as they could, and they know that all of the members aren't like that, though they did like to tease Don about having a religion based on his ideas and eyes.  That if they didn't think they had one locally to send it to them and they'd find someone out in that area who could do these things quietly."

Someone asked for someone on the West Coast.  "Sandburg, Ellison, Banks," Don said quietly.  Danny typed that in, saying if they couldn't handle it for being too far away, they'd know who to send it to.  Also to send it to Sanders or Brass in Vegas.  To send it to Vecchio in Chicago.  To send it to anyone on Gibbs' team at NCIS for any military members who were harming others like that.  To send it to Horatio, Speed, Eric, or Ryan in Miami.  Calleigh would help but she might not fully understand yet.  Speed was going slowly with her training and transformation in some areas.  To send it to Tony for anything in Philadelphia because he used to work there and had contacts there.  They could either advise or send it on quietly for those areas that weren't mentioned.

"Please stop them," Don typed in.  "I can't take that.  Not only how it's making me look like I support such actions, but also how it's hurting others.  Other officers and families were being torn up because of this plan."  He sent that and leaned back.  "Print that?"  Danny hit the print button, getting a 'no printing allowed.  Don took the keyboard back.  "I have to print it, guys.  Hillborne said so.  Or he said he's going to take my badge over this stuff."  An IM message window came up and a file was sent over.  He scanned it then downloaded it to print it.  He smiled.  "Is there anything else I can help you guys with?" he typed in.

"Wear the shirt that brings out your eyes," someone typed in.  "Please.  Looking on your radiance makes our loads lighter for that time."

"Which one?" Don asked.  "I always try to look my best."

Danny took the keyboard back.  "The one he wears with the blue striped tie, the one with the solid blue tie, or the one with the silver and red tie?"

"The silver and red tie one," Don read, shrugging.  "Okay, I can do that tomorrow if necessary.  Where is it?"

"My place," Danny admitted.  "It's in my closet since he picked up his dry cleaning the other day and brought it over when he came to dinner. I'll nag him into it tomorrow."  He looked at the next message.  "Okay, which one?"  He frowned at the answer.  "What silver one?  The only silver one I have is silk and it's my second favorite shirt.  No way I'm endangering it on a dirty, nasty, bloody crime scene."  Someone asked what his favorite shirt was.  "My black silk one."

"You have a black silk shirt?" Don asked him, giving him an odd look.  Danny smirked and nodded. "I've never seen you wear it."

"Not like I'm gonna wear it *here*, Flack.  With the shit I get into?  Not a chance in hell.  I wear it clubbing and on dates."  He shrugged and typed in he'd do that if they could guarantee he'd have an easy day and no cases where he'd get it nasty or dirty.  If so, someone was going to be cleaning it or replacing it.  That got a few moans and agreement.  "Silver or black?"  A short fight started and they finally decided they loved him in the silver one but they wanted to see what the black one looked like.  "Like I said, you make damn sure I don't have a case tomorrow to get nasty on and I'll wear it."  They agreed.  "Good.  Then I'll wear the black one tomorrow and the silver one the day after."  He smirked.  "And my new seafoam green one the day after that, deal?"  That got a few more moans and agreement.  "You know, Tony's been wanting to dress Don," he typed in, smirking evilly. "Someone should advise him on that."  Then he logged off.  The rest of the transcript was sent over and he printed that after scanning it.  He handed it to Don, who collated then got up, walking off shaking his head.  "What?" he called after him.

"I should warn Tony that you're getting him sent clothing ideas.  Gibbs won't be amused."

"With the hellish case they caught coming in today, he might be."  Don looked at him.  "Meat grinder.  Head first."

"Eww."  Don walked off shuddering.   He handed the transcripts to Mac.  "There ya go, for the moron.  They've agreed to help us stop those who're hurting women."

"Thank you, Don.  I know you hate the idea of them worshiping you, but you're doing the best you can."

"Arens has one to him.  It's all girls who want him to turn straight and make them his harem so they can have baby curse breakers."  Stella snickered at that, bending down to laugh.  She loved to pick on Arens about his habit of debauching tight little young men and making them gay.  "Seriously!  Alex said so.  He said he's had four.  Arens runs from his but Alex teases his since they're all impure and naughty for his pleasure and to gain enlightenment."  He smirked as he walked off, feeling better now.

Mac glanced through the sheets.  "Do I know Ellison, Sandburg, and Banks?"

"Sandburg as in Blair?" Stella prompted.  "You met him at the convention, Mac.  Ellison's his buddy and Banks is their boss."

"Oh, okay."  He shrugged, going on with his reading. "Danny's got a silver silk shirt?"

"He's worn it once.  He looked really hot.  It made his eyes sparkle a very icy blue."  She smiled at him.

"They're making him wear it as long as they can promise him no nasty cases that day, or else they pay for cleaning or a replacement."  He looked at the last line.  "I should warn Gibbs," he muttered.

"Don't.  They've had a meat grinder case today.  It'll make him laugh."

"Sure.  If you say so."

***

Gibbs glared at Tony as his email notification went off.  "If that's one of your bimbos," he started.

"No, it's from Don's faithful.  They've giving me ideas on how to dress Don apparently," he offered, scanning the message.  He sent a heated thought at Danny, getting a wicked, evil cackle back. "We might get sent some information on any other military personnel in the cult who're hurting women.  Don's asked them to please quit, to please respect women, and to let us help them stop them."  He looked at his boss, who looked slightly amused.  "Like the sword idiot, boss."

"I remember, unfortunately.  I had thoughts I didn't want that night, DiNozzo."

"Better than the ones I had about Taylor kicking himself for his shields dropping," he muttered.  Gibbs smirked at him.  "Yeah, he did too."  He shrugged and another one came in.  "Huh, a color palette.  Someone's very artistic and has a very good eye.  They're right, I should take Don shopping."  He got back to work, printing off the next one, getting up and handing it over to his boss.  "Rangers, boss."  He went back to his seat.

"I got one in the Air Force, boss," McGee offered, printing it off and handing it over.  He went back to his computer, giving Tony a sideways look.  "What cult?"

"There's a cult that believes Don Flack Jr. is the reincarnation of their Father and Saint," Tony said, smiling at him.  Ziva gave him an odd look.  "You've probably never met Don.  Don's a nice guy.  Oh, Kelly, one of them gave me suggestions on books to help you become one of the women who've switched over to Don's form of enlightenment."  She smirked at that, shaking her head.  "They'll be surprised some day soon."

"Hopefully."  She looked at her email then handed over one.  "Another two Marines, Gibbs, same base."

He groaned and gathered the information together, paperclipping it.  "I'll take it to JAG later today.  Any others, add it to the pile."  He put it in front of his monitor.  Then he got back to work.  "Any ID on the fingerprints yet, DiNozzo?"

"Yeah, boss, didn't Abby call you?"  He walked over the sheet.  "That's our guy.  We're doing background checks now since he wasn't supposed to be anywhere near there."  He walked off, going to make more coffee.  When it was done, he brought out the pot and refilled his cup, then gave him a look.  "Time for a brain refill, boss?  You sound tired."  He walked the pot back there, then went back to his seat.

"Not funny," Gibbs growled.

"Oh, come on, boss, he'd look cute in a waitress' apron," McGee teased.

"More work, less nasty fantasies I didn't want to hear anyway!" he said firmly.  "Now, people."  They got back to work, handing him what they had. "Thank you!" he snapped. He did sip the coffee.  He was a bit tired.  Their case had called them out at four in the morning and it was nearly 1600 hours.  Tony's email beeped again and he sighed, saving that message.  "More clothes?"

"With pictures."  He rolled his eyes and sent one to Don, making him choke and splutter, and Speed too.  "Good."

***

Speed turned away to cough, walking away from the scene he and Eric were working.

"What's wrong?" Eric called.

"Someone wants to dress Don in a gold lamme toga."

"That's tacky," Eric agreed.  His phone beeped, sending him an email notification.  He browsed the information it provided.  "Why are we getting notifications of people who're killing women in Tampa?"

"Don's cult."

Eric gaped at him. "He's got a *cult*?"  Speed nodded. "Why!"

"It's all men, they think he's the reincarnation of their Father and Patron Saint," he said sarcastically, coming back.  "He demanded earlier that they quit harboring any members who hurt others, especially those who hurt women since they're very anti-woman on the best of days."

Eric moaned and shook his head.  "Women are *nice*."

"They are, but some of these guys think that women have to give up being women and change into men to be considered worthy of enlightenment.  So some of them have started killing those unworthy.  It bothered Don; he and Danny told them to pass on the information to those of us in the know who could handle it and could deal with this quietly.  Which would be us.  Forward it to Horatio."

Eric did that from his phone, still shaking his head.  "I'd never give up women for religion.  Never, ever give up women."

"They'd all pout at you if you tried," Speed agreed.  Eric glared at him.  Speed's phone beeped so he answered it. "Speedle."  He listened then smirked.  "But Horatio, it's part of Don's cult."  He hung up on the growl. "Horatio's having an evil bastard day."  His phone beeped with an email notification.  "Hey, now they're working on Don's wardrobe."  He sent back a message that he liked Don's suits.  To send those to Tony and Danny.  That maybe it would please Don if more of them dressed like him or at least had his fashion sense since what he'd seen of the robes they wore, they looked like they were Dumbledore from the HP books.  Then he got back to work.  Dead bodies needed to be dealt with in a timely manner, even if he was rolling around on the floor mentally.

***

Stella looked over as the daytime receptionist for the CSI department walked up to where she was eating lunch.  "Problems?" she asked before eating another bite of her salad.

"I've got someone on hold who wanted to know who Don's tailor and suit shop are," she said quietly.  "I'm not sure what to tell them."

She held up a finger and yelled at Don over their bond, getting an answer and a question about him getting a present.  She sent back a 'no, the receptionist wanted to know' and cut him off again.  She wrote down the names and handed it over. The woman smiled and hurried back to her desk to pass that on.

Don leaned in the room.  "The receptionist wanted to know?"  She nodded, eating a bite of her salad and chewing slowly.  "Why?"

"Someone called and asked."

He groaned and yelled at the rest of the group, hearing Speed laughing his ass off.  He chewed him out, walking off pouting.  Sheldon gave him a pitiful look.  "Speed suggested my cult start dressing like me."

He patted him on the back. "It can only class up some precincts, Don.  Remember that."   He nodded, still pouting.  "At least you'll know who some of the members are.  Plus your tailor and suit shop will love you a lot.  They might even give you a discount."  Don whimpered and walked off, looking more miserable now.  "Sorry!  Trying to help!"  He walked off to tell that one to Danny and Mac since they were working together.  "Guys?"  They looked at him and Danny smiled.  "His cult wants to start dressing like him."

Danny burst out laughing, leaning back on his stool but holding onto the table.  "I wondered why Donny was swearing at Speed."

"I tried to give him a few good points of that situation but he's pouting now."

"If they could see it, they'd all come hug him," Danny giggled.  "Oh, Gods, I should take a picture of it sometime and post it on the bulletin board."

"Too late!" Stella called as she walked past the door.  "I saw one of them doing it.  I was right about him being one!"

Danny let out another peal of laughter at that.  "Now they need it when he's playful and doing the kissy face."

Mac shook his head. "More work, less giggling, Danny, before someone suggests you take a drug test," he said fondly, getting back to work. "Try to cushion him if and when it happens, Sheldon.  A few've went to talk to his parents to ask them about how he grew up and who he dated as a teenager.  They wanted baby pictures for the webpage too."  Danny ran for the bathroom at that, still laughing.

"THEY DID WHAT!" Don shrieked.

"Ooops.  Sheldon, close and lock the door on your way out, okay?"

Sheldon nodded, doing that for him.  It was a small favor and that way he could find a quiet corner and laugh his ass off.  "Hopefully Danny made it to the bathroom in time."  He took the back hallways, going down to the tunnels under the morgue to hide and laugh.  He found Hammerback down there.  "Don's cult," he gasped as he broke out laughing.

"I've heard."  He gave him an amused look.  "What have they done now?  A new hymn?"

Sheldon gasped a deep breath.  "Want to dress like him, asked his parents about baby pictures and his past dates and stuff."  He burst out in new laughs.  "Took a picture of him pouting," he managed to get out.

Sid Hammerback shook his head, letting out a few chuckles of his own.  "That is rather cute. Hopefully this doesn't make him paranoid."

"No, won't," he promised, waving a hand.  "He'll sic Stella on 'em."

Sid smiled at that.  He adored Stella.  She could definitely take on that cult of women- haters and make them see the light.

***

Don landed at the castle, pouting the whole way inside.

"You look like someone ate your dog," Ron told him.  Don snorted and went to the study, sitting down on Alex's lap to get a hug; Alex would understand and not egg the others on or push his cult into further worship of him.  Ron came to the door.  "What happened, Don?"

"His cult," Alex told him.

"Glad I don't have one of those yet."  He walked off shaking his head.  "Harry, Don's in," he called.

Alex patted him on the back.  "It'll be okay."

"Danny suggested they send clothing ideas to Tony.  Speed suggested they start dressing like me.  They've asked my parents about who I used ta date and for baby pictures."

"It sounds like you won't be killed by them anytime soon," he offered, stroking his back.  Draco came to the door. "His cult is bothering him."

"Having one would bother me," he admitted, coming in and pulling Don off his mate's lap.  "What did they do now?"

"Asked my parents about my childhood and for pictures.  They want to dress me and dress like me."  Draco smirked at that.  "It's not funny!" he complained.  He sat down, looking at him. "It's not!"

"It is," he assured him, kissing him on the head. "Pout if it makes you feel better, but get off my mate's lap."  Don got off Alex, curling up on the couch in the office. "Since you're here, you can advise Harry on that computer nastiness so he can woo his girlfriend."

"I'm not the person to ask about that stuff.  That would be McGee or Ryan Wolfe or maybe Speed. I barely use mine at work."

Horatio slammed the door open.  "Alex, we've got three curse breakers running artifacts stuffed with drugs and the bank won't help. They're refusing to turn them over.  We've got them in muggle custody but they've got helpers."

"They'll probably cite legal reasons and that it could expose us, Horatio.  Do you have a list?"  He nodded. "Then we can charm them to non-disclosure.  Let me call Gruinth while you help Don with his cult issues."

"Cult issues?" Horatio asked, looking at him.  "I got information on some serial killer earlier."

Don groaned.  "The cult to me, Horatio.  I made them turn over anyone who was hurting others, that it was wrong and I couldn't and wouldn't stand it."  He gave him a pitiful look. "Now they want to dress like me and want to help Tony dress me.  They've asked my parents for childhood memories and pictures."

"Suck it up, Flack, you're a curse breaker.  It happens to you guys like that," Horatio said dryly.

"At least they're not hunting you down as a living sacrifice," Draco offered.  "They've done that to a few others in past.  Arens' cult wanted to sew his arse shut so he couldn't take it up the bum anymore."  Don whimpered at that.  "They like you being gay, be proud!"

Alex shook his head, looking at the goblin.  "Horatio needs an intervention with the local branch."

"We've heard. It's too dangerous."

"It's not if you non-disclosure them," he offered.

"We can do that readily and will be but the man they're working for could try to topple the bank.  He's got many political allies who would not think twice about helping the purge by attacking us and our underpinnings of modern society."

"Can we take him out?" Horatio asked as he came over.  The goblin shrugged. "Is he an American?"  The goblin nodded.  "Who?"  A file was sent over, bordered in red.  "Oh, damn."  He picked it up, looking through it.  "This is a Senator."  The goblin nodded. "He's involved in illegal activities?"

"Yes, but you can't prove it by legal means."

"Oh, I can," Horatio assured him.  "Can you do the non-disclosure charms on him and the others from a distance? I can take this to Gibbs tonight."

"Interesting ploy."

"They've got someone who's about to burn her political capitol anyway," Alex agreed.

"Can I go?" Harry called.  "I need to change some of my money to muggle money then figure out how to make a computer work here so I can chat with Abby."

"We have a computer lab at the London branch, Mr. Potter," the goblin assured him. Harry beamed at him.  "We can lend you the book of charms for that."  He looked at Horatio.  "How many do you have?"

"Three.  We can only keep them for 48 hours without charging them."

"Can you charge them in muggle courts?"

"Yes, they were shipping through our docks and were found.  The drugs were found, that's more than enough to arrest them."  The goblin nodded.  "I'm more worried about their accomplices.  There was a goblin with them.  Speedle saw one there."

"I'll figure that out for you.  Who do I talk to there?"

"DiNozzo," Alex told him.  "He's one of people helping my two students."

"Agreed.  Thank you."  His head disappeared.

"Thank you, Alex," Horatio told him.

"Not a problem, Horatio.  I don't like drugs.  I never have.  I'll be down there next week for a slight vacation and to check on Willow.  Draco wants a tan," he said with a grin.

"That's fine.  Don't cause me any additional work please."  He looked at Don, then at Harry.  "Harry, come.  We're going to NCIS.  You can get the charms book after you get McGee's input on a computer system."  He nodded, going to grab his jacket and the credit card that ran on muggle systems but led back to his Gringotts vault.  They walked out together, doing a portkey from the approved point.  They landed in the parking garage, where someone had set up a target and approved spot.  They walked around and to the front entrance, Horatio showing his badge.  "I need to see Gibbs and DiNozzo.  So does he," he ordered, signing them in.

"Of course, sir."  He looked at the name, then at Harry.  "I heard you were here before."  Harry grinned. "Should I call Abby?"  Harry blushed and shrugged a bit.

Horatio sighed and rolled his eyes. "That was a yes.  He's terminally shy."  The guard laughed and got them visitor passes, then let them into the elevator.  Horatio looked at him.  "Quit blushing, Harry.  She's a beautiful young woman who you adore.  Show and prove to her that you adore her as more than a sex object.  She'll like that."  Harry blushed again but nodded.  "Don't go overboard on the presents though.  It looks like you're pre- apologizing and making up for inadequacies."  The elevator landed and they walked out.  "Gibbs."  He looked over, frowning at him. He waved the folder.  "I just caught a case that's going to chew on your tail too."  He handed it over. "Drug smugglers.  Alex's coworkers.  He's helping where he can but they've got support issues behind them."

"I've never seen a red-label bank file," Tony said in awe, coming over.  "They're the worst of threats."

"They think if I arrest all my smugglers, that one'll take out the underpinnings and help the purge," Horatio said quietly.  "Your director however...."  He smirked at him.

"Ooh, and she could do that too," Tony agreed.  "Boss?"

"Sounds ideal for her," he agreed, looking at Horatio.  "Can I say where this came from?"

"A banking background check.  It was handed over when I checked their contacts.  They were smuggling them inside artifacts."

"I can do that," he agreed.  He looked at Harry, seeing him fidgeting.  "Abby's in her lab.  Go."  He hurried off.  Gibbs shook his head.  "He really is terminally shy, isn't he?"

"Of course he is, boss.  He once said he had no more idea of what to do with a woman than he did with an American football," McGee offered. He stood up.  "Should I take that up there so you don't look like you're asking for a favor?"  He and Ziva were the only ones not blacklisted at the moment by the Director's petty power plays.

"Take Horatio up there, McGee.  If I can help, I will, Horatio."

"Thank you.  Are you getting funny files on Don's cult?"  Gibbs patted the pile. "I've got one from Tampa so far."  He shrugged and walked off with the file, following McGee.

McGee smiled at the director's secretary.  "This is Lieutenant Caine, from Miami.  He runs their CSI labs and due to a drug case, he's come up on a problematic contact that he thinks she can help him with.  Does she have ten or fifteen minutes?"

"I'll check.  She was pacing a minute ago."  She called in there.  "Director, there's a Lieutenant Caine out here with Agent McGee.  They've come up with a problematic contact and were referred to you."  She opened the door and motioned them in so the secretary hung up, smiling at them.  "Will you need coffee, Lieutenant?"

"No thank you.  I'm about coffeed out for the day.  Thank you anyway," he said with a soft smile, following McGee in.  Director Sheppard closed the door.  "This isn't you area, ma'am, but I was advised to come to you with this by someone who would know."

"About what?"

"Earlier today, we had some artifact finders who were found to be smuggling cocaine inside the artifact shipments. Unfortunately they're being shielded by someone higher up, someone that can go through the FBI and make them make us let them go."  He handed over the file. "That was sent to me by a contact.  It was gotten from a banking background check by an exclusive bank."  She looked at him.  "He's backing them and covering their problems."

"I see."  She sat behind her desk, looking that over.  "It wouldn't be terribly hard to find that."

"Yes, but due to his position, he can make things difficult to say the least.  Not only for Miami and the rest of Florida's law enforcement officers, but also for anyone investigating him who wasn't able to cover their own hind ends," he said, sitting across from her.

"I'm going to go, ma'am," McGee said before walking out, closing the door behind her.

"What's going on?" the secretary hissed.

"A secret background file of someone covering for drug runners," he murmured, making her shiver.  "Yeah.  Too high for the FBI."  He shrugged and went back to his desk.  "They're talking, boss."

"Thank you, McGee. Abby said she's going to help Harry find a computer for his room.  You might get a call about that."

"Yes, sir.  I've got the book on that at home."  He called Abby's cellphone.  "Swing by my house and get the green, scaley looking book off my special shelf, Abby.  It's on computers and how to make them work in low tech areas like the castle.  It works better with some sorts of processors than not.  That's the updated version of what the banks use."  He smiled.  "You're welcome. I like Harry, Abby.  You know that.  He's a very nice guy."  He hung up and looked at his boss, then got up to hand in his report.  "That's all I've found so far, boss.  I'm still working on the encryption on his possible suicide note.  It's doubly encrypted and before that it was run through an online translator."

"Get it to me as fast as you can," he said tolerantly. "If it was a suicide, we can leave it with how he got into the meat grinder."

"I got that part, boss," DiNozzo offered, standing up and finding the remote to put it onto the screen.  "Assuming he was at home when he died, however he died, this is the security footage from his apartment complex.  Notice the Datsun?"  He sped forward. "That's someone carrying out the body.  I had Abby make sure it was him by enhancing the picture.  That was our dead sergeant.  So they carried him out, put him into the car," he said, moving it to that frame.  "Then they headed off.  I'm guessing they were either trying to take out the evidence or to make it seem like something other than a suicide.  Possibly for religious reasons.  Abby couldn't get a clear view of the plate, it was dirt-covered, but she did note that all the bumper stickers were religious in nature."

"Do we have any idea who drives the Datsun?" Gibbs demanded.

"Working on it, boss.  Like I said, the plates are dirt covered. There's no doorman.  I've called the neighbors to ask them about the Datsun when we found it on the tape.  No one remembers him having any friends, even two hours after we looked."

"Datsuns are really old cars," McGee offered. "Not very popular ones either.  How many of those would still be around, Tony?"

"I've got a query into the DMV, I'm waiting on that information now, Probie.  Good thought though.  That's not a particularly *good* car, not something collectors would keep.  I'm hoping for a very small number that we can cross-reference."

"How long before the DMV spits it out?"

"It's nearly six-boss.  That would depend on the computers not being down tonight. If so, it might be in the morning if the upgrade they've been promising for the last year goes up tonight like it's supposed to.  I'll resend it if I haven't heard anything by when I come in."

"Good work," he decided.  He stood up.  "Take a dinner break and come back here."  They nodded and headed out.  "Officer David?"  She looked at him.  "Do you have nothing?"

"On his background?  Just what I noted earlier, Gibbs.  He's very devout, a Baptist.  His schedule was arranged around his Church's.  I've got a call into the Minister but he's refusing to speak to me. I was about to head over there with a male, in case that's why they wouldn't speak with me."

"Might be a good idea," Tony offered from the elevator.  "We had a problem a few years back with some more hardcore ministers cooperating with female agents, boss.  It was in the same area as well."

"I remember.  Kate swore for weeks about it."  Tony nodded at that, stepping on when the elevator doors opened.  He looked at her again.  "Go over after dinner, at the very least get the Minister's name and see if anyone there can tell you anything about the victim.  If he's that devout, the gardener should be able to tell you something."  She nodded. "Do they have services tonight?"  She nodded more quickly.  "Good.  Time it to get there just before it's set to end so they can't disappear early."

"I was going to.  Should I take Tony or Tim?"

"Take McGee.  He comes off as non-threatening and can pass for any religion.  DiNozzo's name could harm him there."  She nodded, walking off. "Stan?"  She looked up, her eyes red. "You okay?"

"Allergies."  She handed over what she had. "My meds haven't kicked in yet. That's his financial records.  She's right, weekly eighty dollar tithes to the church until last week. Also a payment into this group, which I can't quite find the root of. It's a cover for something else.  Since there wasn't one last week, I'm almost thinking he's been kicked out.  If he committed suicide, that's probably why.  I have the feeling this company is the root cause.  I'm not sure why yet."

"Go eat, give your meds time to kick in."

"I can order in. I shouldn't drive like this."  She picked up her phone and called the pizza place she liked.  "Hey, it's Standa.  Usual please.  To work.  I'm burning late oil tonight.  Thanks."  She smiled and hung up, pulling up her wallet to put out money.  She put it in an envelope and wrote her name and who it went to on it.  Then she went to deliver it to reception.  "Dinner," she offered with a smile.

"I'll make sure the greedy guards don't eat too much this time," he promised with a smile.  "Meat grinder?"

"Gibbs would have my ass in a sling immediately if I shared anything," she reminded him with a small smirk.  "After we've got it."  He nodded, they all said that to him. "You ever think about going up?"

"I have but I can't hack all the physical requirements.  I've got a replacement hip."

"Poor baby."

"I did it to myself really, Standa.  I wrecked my bike going one-thirty on the highway.  It was a very pretty crash against the Camry who stopped suddenly."  She patted him on the face.  "Thanks.  I'll send it up when it gets here."  She smiled and walked off.  "Hey."  She turned to look at him.  "Is there any chance for any of us or are you a member of the DiNozzo appreciation society already?"

She smirked a little bit wickedly.  "I like Tony's hands, they're very good on my back when it's too tense, but Gwen's more my type, Bill."  He blushed at that. "I don't mean to give false hope."

"You don't. It's just that you're so sweet."  She blushed at that and ducked her head. "I'll send your dinner up."

"Thank you."  She got onto the elevator, smiling at Ducky.  "Going my way, Doc?"

"I'm afraid I'm heading for the garage, Kelly.  You?"

"My desk.  Something about that other place he had weekly payments to is bugging me."  She shrugged.  "Plus, I'm on my allergy meds and they suck ass."  She kissed him on the cheek. "Pass that onto your Ma and pet the puppies for me."  He chuckled and let her off the elevator, then went to the garage.  She went back to going through all the roots of that business.  Someone sent her an email and she sighed, printing it off and handing it to Gibbs since he was still up there too.  "One of yours," she told him, shrugging a bit.

Gibbs looked and nodded. "I knew him. It doesn't surprise me any.  Thank you."

"Not an issue.  Guys like that irk me ta no end and I wanna bust their nuts for 'em."  She slapped herself on the head.  "That's a brothel," she realized, going back to search it through the local PD's Vice department.  They sent back that it was and the information file they had on it.  "I'm right, that's a brothel, Gibbs."  She printed it out and brought it over.  "Funded by his damn church."

Gibbs nodded.  "We've had to deal with this church in the past.  That Minister made Kate swear for weeks."  They shared a look.  "Good work.  Call Ziva to make sure she knows."

"I'll call Tim in case she's driving."  She went to do that, weathering his amused look.  "Didn't you promise to have her given driving lessons?"

"I did."  He called over to the FBI Academy to arrange that.  "This is Gibbs, NCIS.  One of my agents is Mossad and it's been brought to my attention she may not have passed the American driving tests yet and she's shaky on defensive driving.  When can I send her to you?"  He smirked.  "Yes, for real.  I'm sure you've heard about her problems driving.  No, Standa's a very good driver.  She and McGee could probably use the defensive driving course, but that can happen sometime when we have time off.  She needs it sooner."  He nodded.  "Thank you.  I'll make sure she's there."  He hung up and made a note, sticking it on her desk.  "Thank you for reminding me."

"Gibbs, not to be crude, but is she good enough to make you lose focus?"  He looked at her. "You've had the 'I've got a great woman' grin all day, Gibbs.  I had it when I finally nailed Stella.  Is she worth losing your focus over?"

"It's only in the office."

"It is, but you nearly scared McGee.  Ducky gave you an amused look.  Tony smiled at your back earlier.  If she is, I'm happy for you, but you'd yell at us if we walked around like that all day."  They shared a look.  "If she's that special, don't hog her, introduce her to us so she worries about your six being covered and your sanity being dug out and ripped ta shreds.  Let Ducky tell her a few stories."

"I'm not sure we're that serious."

"You've got the goofy, guy in love grin, Gibbs. It's that serious."  She crossed her legs.  "I hope she keeps you happy, boss, but you'd be kicking Tony's ass if he grinned all day like that and forgot what we had told him a few hours earlier."

"I would," he agreed.  "I've got a date tomorrow and it's a special event."

"Good.  Let DiNozzo dress you. He's good at that.  That's why Don's cult want him to dress him."  She smirked at him.  "Invite her down for lunch or dinner sometime soon, boss.  Like the day we all take defensive driving refreshers."

"Agreed.  Thank you."

"Tony would tease.  McGee would stutter and Ziva doesn't understand the meaning of the smile.  I've been there before with Stella.  Still there with Stella to be honest."  He nodded at that. "Does it get easier when they leave?"

"No.  I still dream about the one who tried to cave my skull in with a golf club."

"Stella threw a frying pan and a potted plant at me, but missed.  She's a crap pitcher."  Gibbs laughed at that.  "Tony ever been in real love?"

Gibbs nodded.  "I think he was, that he's dating so much now searching for it.  Like taste testing a recipe until it tastes exactly the same as you had in the restaurant."  He shrugged and looked over the reports she sent him. "I remember that brothel very well.  They had some trannies last time.  I'm wonder if they kicked him due to gay leanings or if he found out there were some trannies and he stomped off feeling betrayed."

"If Tim could finish up on that note, we'd know," she pointed out.

"He's good but he's doing it as fast as he can," Gibbs pointed out.  "He's not God either."

"I know, but it seems like the computers should work faster than this."

"It does."  He got back to work compiling his reports to be filed.  It was definitely a suicide, they just had to figure out why.

***

Danny walked into work the next morning and Mac's coffee cup fell out of his hand.  "Danny," he said, blinking at him.  "Wow."

"Thanks, Mac.  Means a lot," he teased.  "You guys happier?"  Someone moaned and a shadow moved off.  He smirked at Adam, their DNA tech, who drooled.  "Now you know why I wear it on dates."  He looked at Mac.  "Am I in the field?"

"On as a last resort, working on your own."

"Has anyone told Lindsey she's supposed to be in Florida?"  Mac moaned and nodded.  "What did she say?"

"She transferred back."

"Oh.  Interesting."  He walked off, heading for the locker room.  Don walked in a few minutes later, pausing to look at him.  "That's why I wear it on dates," he quipped.

"Is that your 'I'm getting some tonight' shirt?" he asked, going to his own locker to put up his jacket.

"No, that's my purple or blue. This is the one I wear when I want to make a good impression."  He grinned and closed his locker, then reopened it and pulled out his gun and badge. "Can't forget that."  He headed back out, going to work in the lab.

Don moaned as he sat down on the bench, sending that picture to Tony and Speed.  He got a 'hold on, that's Danny' back and sent a 'yup' in return.  Then he changed his shirt to the one he was supposed to wear, and his tie as well, coming out in it.  The one they knew was a member paused to look at him. "Danny was wrong, it was in my locker. I couldn't walk in shirtless."

He smiled at him. "Thank you, Don.  You've made us very happy.  Plus, your Protector is very lucky."  He walked off, after taking a picture with is camera phone.  He included the text message of what had happened, getting mass cheers as it was spread around.  His one of Danny when he had walked in was now getting considered for inclusion in the hymnal and prayer book.  "May the Protector serve his Master well," he prayed.  "May he make him happy as he pleases him."  Sheldon gave him an odd look.  "The Protector has done what he promised."

"Got a picture?"  The picture of them both were shown.  "He does look good in that black shirt.  Thank you.  They're happy?"

"We're very content today.  The information we gave was enough?"

"As far as I know.  You might ask Don to make sure.  At the very least it'd give someone the opportunity to investigate them."  He nodded and walked on.  "Nice suit," he called, smiling at him.  "Very Flack-like."  He got a shy smile and the worshiper walked on, going back to work.

"It's a copy of my blue one," Flack said as he walked over.  "It is a nice suit."  He grinned at him. "Danny's wearing his 'stun 'em stupid' shirt instead of his 'getting lucky' shirt."

"Stella said she's seen the silver one."  He went to look for himself.

Stella walked in after him. "Okay, jacket off, Danny."  He sighed and took his jacket off, making her blink. The silk did sinful things against his pecs.  She looked at him again, noticing how the black brought out the lighter blond highlights in his hair and the deeper tones in his eyes.  "Wanna go out tonight?"

"We'll see what I'm up to then," he said with a smug little grin.  "You, me, and Flack?"

She nodded quickly. "Works for me."  She ran a hand over the short sleeve.  "That's good silk, thin but good quality."

"Should be for what I paid for it way back when."  She blinked.  "Yeah, it's more of the found stuff from my former wardrobe."  She moaned and walked off.  "Sorry!" he called.  He looked at Sheldon, who walked out muttering.  "To you too, sorry!"  He put back on his lab coat and got back to work, weathering the 'I want pictures' from Tony.  He sent back it was the same old black silk shirt Tony had helped him buy back after graduation.  Tony moaned and went to have some alone-time in the bathroom at work.

***

Speed looked at Eric since they were outside.  "I'm going to kill the others of us."

"Why? How are you hearing them?"

"Long story," he admitted.  His phone beeped and he got the picture of both of them.  He smirked and waved Eric over. "That's Don in case you didn't remember.  That's Danny," he said, flipping it.

"Whoa.  I need one of those."

"Ask Tony.  He found Danny that one, a silver one, and a purple one."

Eric whimpered. "When is he coming back?"

"Soon.  This weekend is all off time for him."  Eric beamed at that.  "You can ask but don't nag. He hasn't gotten a vacation recently."

"Sure.  Think he'd help me?"

"Don's cult wants him to take Don. I don't see why he wouldn't."  Ryan came over and looked at the picture, so he showed him both of them.  "The darker one is Don Flack."

"I can see why he's got a cult.  Those eyes are very showing."  He looked at the other one.  "I take it that's Danny?"  Speed and Eric both nodded.  "Wow.  I'm straight but I'd date him."  He walked inside, going to check in for the day.  "No Horatio yet?" he called.

"He'll be back soon," Speed offered. He called Tony, who promised he was already on his way back and had probably stopped to change.  "He spent last night on Tony's couch since the drug contact was in DC.  A senator."

"That's going to get messy."

"No, that's why he went to talk to Gibbs' boss.  She's got political capitol at the moment."  Horatio's hummer pulled up a few minutes later and he looked at him.  "You look like Tony dressed you."

"He did dress me."  He grimaced at them.  "Is everyone in?"

"But us.  Ryan just got in."  They followed him inside. "I checked on the smugglers.  They're still here."  They got into the elevator.  "It worked, they quit babbling," he offered quietly.  Horatio just nodded.  "Anything I should know?"

"Alex and Draco are coming to town for a few days to check on Rosenburg and so Draco can get a tan."

"Wonderful," Eric agreed.  "Have I met them?"

"Not Draco yet, but you've met Alex.  Xander."  Eric grinned at that.  "Him and his very blond little husband."  They walked off to Eric laughing.  "Who can be a drama queen if the mood strikes him right.  Fair warning."  They signed in and went to their lockers, then their labs.  Horatio went to have his smugglers pulled into an interrogation room, where he made them cry, hard.

Vacationing Pets

Alex landed on the front inside doorstep of the condo they were borrowing, smiling at the neat and tidy room in front of him.  He looked at Draco.  "Rented home sweet home, baby."  He stole a kiss and sent their bags into the bedroom.  "Only Horatio and Speed around to bother us with work."  He stole a second kiss and Draco moaned, leading him to the bedroom so he could have his infusion of sanity again.  "I like how you think.  Think you'll want to be on the beach later or did you want to see Willow with me?"

"I'll go with you so you don't get attacked."  He stripped his mate magically, then dropped his wand and slowly stripped down to nothing, making his mate purr. "You know, moon dark is while we're here," he teased.

"We won't be able to revel outside, but I don't see a problem with us doing it in here," he offered, then he pounced, driving Draco back onto the bed, tasting his sweetness and sweat.  Someone knocked on the door.  "That had better be a house elf."  He got up and headed that way, finding Speed on his doorstep. "Already?"

He handed over a sheet of paper. "From Ethan on Willow and what she's able to do now, her current address and the internet based business she runs, and the better restaurants and beaches.  There's no magically safe areas in the city.  No reveling outside.  They'll pop you for that and put you in different cells."  He saluted him then walked back to his bike.

"That's a classic," Alex said, smiling at the old Harley.

"I traded up to a faster racing style bike during college. I had a Ducati down here. My mother sold it on me.  So now I'm back to my original one."  He started and took off, heading to work. He got there and headed inside, right to Horatio's office.  "Alex and Draco are in. I told them about not reveling, gave them the good beaches and restaurants list, plus the information he'd need to check on his buddy.  They were already halfway to sex."

"Thank you, Speed."  He smiled at him.  "What are you driving? I saw the bike."

"That was my original one.  Back when I was still in school.  I changed to a racing bike in college.  It was in our third storehouse.  Danny's former car.  Tony's former car and my bike.  Plus our special running away packs."  He strolled off, heading to get back to work.

"Interesting."  Horatio sent the paper to his friend's locker.  It was where his beloved bike had ended up.  The new owner had wrecked recently, through no fault of anyone he knew, and might consider selling it back to him.   He heard Speed squeal and smiled.  "I missed that noise."  Speed ran in and hugged him.  "He's recently wrecked, I'd tell him you were a relative."

"Thank you, Horatio."  He walked off to call him immediately.  "Hi, you don't know me but you bought my cousin's bike after he died.  I was wondering if you'd think about selling it and how much.  Yellow Ducati?"  He smiled. "Really?  That's really low but I can manage that tonight.  Thank you, man.  Yeah, Tim taught me how to ride.  Sure, tonight after work so I can check it out?  Payday's this Thursday.  Thank you."  He hung up and went to dance around the locker room so no one would see him.  Ryan came in and he stopped, but he still got a smirk.  "Horatio found my bike."

"Congrats.  I never imagined you knowing how to Snoopy dance."  He grinned and got into his locker.  "Go back to it, happiness is too short."  Speed went back to it and Ryan got what he needed for this day.  "Any other good news?"

"Alex and Draco are in."  Ryan closed his locker door and looked at him.  "Xander and his very blond little husband, Draco Malfoy-Dumass.  Oh, don't call him Malfoy.  He hits really hard when you do."

"Thanks for the warning.  What is he?"

"A curse breaker."

"Ah!"  He walked out nodding, understanding that.  He had found a book on that stuff in the wizarding shopping area.  He didn't really associate any with the Wiccans and the other chaos people in town shopped in normal people areas for the most part. He did most of his at the mall, but he had needed a new working robe and there had been a very good sale there, plus he'd picked up a new blessed dagger.  Between that and a trip to the bookstore, he had been a happy boy for days.  He ran into Eric, grinning at him.  "Horatio found Speed's old bike."

"He's gotta be dancing around."  He grinned at him.  "You okay?  You seem tired recently."

"I'm fine.  I've helped a few of my friends find something."  He walked on, heading to his current case.

"Find what?"

"Their son."

"He okay?"

"Yeah, college aged, ran away," he shot back.  "Not an issue, just stupid."  He shrugged and continued walking.  He ran into Horatio in there.  "What's up?"

"Who was stupid?"

"A friend's kid.  He's college age and ran away because his mother smokes pot to touch the Great Spirit.  He's basically being really dumb and doing it on purpose to force a choice out of her.  He wants her to convert to his church."  He grimaced.  "I've been helping find him and slapping him upside the head until he's normal again."

"I thought you said you didn't have any contacts in that community," Horatio said, closing the door.

"I don't.  We don't hang together.  My people are all down on Raeford.  When I want or need to herb shop, I go to the grocery store."  Horatio smiled at that.  "Seriously.  I do.  I shop in the malls.  If I need candles, I've found some great sites online.  I've never shopped locally.  At least until Calleigh led me to the wizard's shopping area by accident during a case.  Then I got a new atheme and a new robe, plus some new books."

"Congratulations.  May I have a list of those sites for my nephew?"

"Sure, I'll pull 'em off tonight, Horatio.  I don't often deal with the other paths and things.  That's how I didn't know the Druid markings on that one case.  I'm a bit insulated with that stuff."

"I understand. I didn't recognize them either.  We each have our gifts."

"Mine seems to be to find stuff I can tease Speed with."

Horatio smiled at that.  "This sabbat, some of the local Wiccans are working on a healing spell for Eric's sister.  He wanted to know if you'd like to join."

"I wouldn't mind if it wouldn't bother them.  Some of them don't like to work with us."

"I understand and I'll pass that along to Marisol.  Thank you, Mr. Wolfe."

"Not an issue.  We've gotten a pretty hard rep over the years, but chaos is a natural power source.  It's part of the balance.  People don't like to think we can do anything but bad things with it."  He shrugged. "Did you give her that number?"  He nodded.  "I know she's probably got some books that have spells that take both sides.  You can give her my number too.  I don't mind. I'm done working on Eric's shield.  Calleigh's is nearly done.  Sabbat is Sunday, moon dark, right?"  He nodded.  "Then I can do that.  Not an issue.  At the very least, I'll play guard if they can't use me. I know some of the cops don't like to leave circles alone."

"Thank you.  As was I."  He smiled and walked off, finding Calleigh working in the lab.  He looked her over, noticing she looked tired.  "Calleigh?"

"I'm fine," she said without having to hear anything else.  "Just some nightmares."

"About John?"  She turned to look at him, nodding. "If you need a few days off, I can do that for you," he promised.  She shook her head.  "Are you sure?"

"I'm fine.  I'm taking the Ben and Jerry's cure at the moment."  He gave her a gentle smile for that.  "Thank you, Horatio."

"It's never a problem.  Remember, you can talk to me if you need it."  She nodded and he left, going to look over Eric's shield from his office so no one would say anything about his sunglasses indoors. It was fairly solid.  It joined in the middle of his back.  The joining area was a bit thinner but it was covered by the thickest part of his vest.  It didn't obscure him.  It did show that he had skills.  He tapped on the window and nodded Eric up, getting a nod and him jogging up there.  "Have you been having nightmares?"

"Now and then.  Why?  I'm not really tired or anything."

"Just wondering."

Eric closed the door.  "The shield thingy Wolfe was working on?"  He nodded.  "He's doing Calleigh's?"  He nodded again. "Then we'll do what we can.  Should I ask?"

"No.  It shouldn't be too much longer.  Just watch out for her.  The anniversary is soon as well."

"I hadn't realized that.  I'll take her any day, you know that."  He nodded.  "We next up?"

"Please."

Eric smiled and left again, going to tell Calleigh that.  She smiled at him and nodded.  He went into the lab Ryan was working in, leaning next to his ear.  "That shield thing is giving her nightmares?"

"A very few, they shouldn't be very specific, just foggy, shadowy things.  That's the anniversary and her doubts," he said quietly.  "She tried to date."  The door slammed and he looked at her.  "I'm weaving a shield around you.  The shadowy, foggy things with shapes, that's me.  The others are all you."

"You've got what Speed does?"

"Other side of the coin," he admitted dryly, smiling at her.  "As I found out since he's real, I'm like a more natural version of Ethan Rayne from that show, only I use it like a Wiccan would."

"Oh.  You can do that?"  He nodded.  "Can you teach?"  He shrugged.  "Is it hard?"

"Probably for you.  We tend to be darker sorts.  We feel the darker, discordant energies, Calleigh.  You'd probably touch the same pureness and light that Marisol does.  It tends to be split that way, and personality often tells.  Though, there's a few cheerleaders-on-crack sorts that I know who do the same thing I do."  He looked at Eric. "Have her ask that healer I sent her to about dual power spells.  I'll gladly help with whatever she needs me to."

"Thanks.  She's not sure that it could help.  The healer wasn't either."

"It's mostly power raising to slow it at this point, Eric.  Even if I can only guard, I will.  Especially this Sunday."  Eric smiled at that.  "That's an obligation of the power.  You help the others who have it. Even if you think they're happy little pod people who should be on drugs to become normal and a bit more depressed now and then."  Eric walked out chuckling. He looked at Calleigh.  "I'll be done in a few days."

"You think it was the dating?"

He patted her on the hand. "I know it was the dating.  It started after that. I felt it when I started working on it and your mind said it was the dating.   You're ready but your subconscious is going to send you guilt for a while.  Remember, he's the idiot who was obsessed and wanted you to join him in the darkness.  You may've been his light, but that didn't make you his reason.  It was his reason."  She nodded.  "That said, I'm still a natural person most of the time.  There's darker of us out there."  She nodded, going back to her lab.  "I'll be done in a few days."

"Thank you."  She went to get a soda and go outside for a few minutes to think.  She was learning a lot about her people these days.  First Speed and Alexx, now Ryan and Eric's sister.  What next, Horatio being one?  She took a drink and laughed that off.  As if someone like Horatio could be a wizard or a witch or whatever someone like Ryan called themselves.  She'd have to ask later.  She felt something move behind her and reached for her gun as she turned, finding a very redheaded guy standing there.  "You are?"

"A messenger of doom.  Harry needs to speak to Horatio.  Where might he be?" he said in a very cute British accent.

"Probably his office."

"Thank you, miss."  He walked inside, going to check in like he did at the Ministry.  "Hi, Ron Weasley to see Horatio Caine please?"

She just blinked at him.  "Excuse me?"

He sighed and pulled out his ID.  "The funny thing is, I know a bloke named Harry Potter."  She just blinked some more and he gave her his most disarming smile. "Please?  It's kinda important."

"Sure."  She paged Horatio, getting him almost immediately.  "Lieutenant, there's a redhead here named Ron Weasley to see you? Thank you, sir."  She hung up.  "He'll be right down.   You can wait by the windows if you want."

"Thanks, not used to the sun being quite so strong.  Not like that at home."  He strolled over there, looking outside until he felt Horatio coming over.  He handed over the note.  "Harry's trapped in something. I don't know what.  All I know is that he was panicking, kept babbling your name over and over, and said to give you that.  If it's about Abby, I'll help you kick his arse."

Horatio smiled slightly as he opened the letter.  "No, this is something different."  He frowned, rereading the curse on it.  Then he pulled out a pen and wrote a note, giving him a place to look.  "Look there, Ron, and don't let him near any of the artifacts.  He could set something nasty off."

"Sure. He's tied himself to the bed."  He looked at the note then groaned. "Not again.  That happened once before from Draco."  He slapped himself on the forehead.  "Hermy cured it last time," he complained. "Thank you."

"Not a problem."  He wrote his phone number on the back.  "Since I know cellphones work and getting here is tiring."

"Thanks, mate.  Greg said he couldn't help and no one else was up yet."  He shrugged and walked out, smiling at Calleigh again.  He stopped to smooth a piece of hair off her cheek, and the strand of magic back into her hair.  "There, such perfection shouldn't be ruined by a stray hair.  My girlfriend would pout if it was hers."  He smiled and headed into the shadows so he could head home. He was still going to beat Harry if this made them work against Alex's orders for them to take a break.  He landed and walked inside.  "Harry, you sodding pillock, it's what Draco did to you our last year," he called, slamming the door.  "Stay away from everything!"  He headed to find the book in the library.  Then to have Philip send it to him since it was apparently the one book they didn't have.  Which of course made sense since he needed it.  It came out of the floo with a bookmark already in place.  He sent back his thanks and settled in to read what they'd need to do.  This time.  Then he'd kick Harry's ass for having such a large target on it.

***

Danny walked in the next morning in the silver shirt and Mac just stared.  It did bring out his eyes very well, plus he was wearing his silver glasses this time.  "I like that," he admitted quietly.  Danny just smiled.  "How many more?"

"One day, I bought a new shirt and I promised I'd wear it."  He grinned at Stella as she came over, accepting the hug.  "What was that for?"

"Hillborne's looking for you."

"Thanks for the warning.  Why?"

"I'm not sure."  She looked him over then grinned.  "I like that one."

"Hey, I found *tons* of shit in my former school stuff that still fits.  I'm impressed with myself."  The IAB chief came out scowling.  "Like it?  I found it in my old school stuff."

"Interesting.  Where did you get it?"

"Tony DiNozzo, currently NCIS, formerly bestest school buddy.  Some little place downtown he drug me into.  Had some hippies and things.  I'll ask him if he remembers if you want."

"No, not necessary.  It's a bit too *upscale* for most officers."

"Yeah, well, I'm too tired ta do laundry recently," he shot back.  Hillborne sneered. "I am."  He shrugged and grinned at Sheldon again.  "He thinks I've got the energy ta do laundry."

"I don't know how you do since you pulled a twelve hour shift yesterday. I only pulled ten and collapsed on my couch thinking about dinner as an abstract idea."  He looked him over.  "They're going to be very happy with you."  Danny just beamed, a sweet smile.  "Flack?"

"New shirt.  Tony made him buy a new one."  He looked at the Chief of IAB again.  "What's up?"

"Some questions were asked about how you're living so high on the hog."

"Well, first of all, in my former stuff was my former running away stash.  Back when I had a fiance I was saving up for a ring and that stuff.  Secondly, since my family was banished they ended up leaving everything here.  I sold their house on 'em with the judge's permission.  That also left me the family money.  Thirdly, I turned all that shit over to you guys already.  You should talk to the person who was over that.  She went over every piece of information."

"Your ...school things?"

"Were in the closet at the house.  Not like I would've went back there ta get it," he sneered.  "After all, we all know I left the family because of their business."

"So I've heard."  He looked him over, then into his eyes.  "You and Don Flack....."

"Are very good friends.  We're handling his cult together at the moment.  I'm keeping him calmer when it starts ta freak him out."  Their local cult member came over.  "He does panic about you guys."

"We know.  We appreciate that he's still getting used to us."  He touched the sleeve.  "This is very nice, but I liked you in the purple one you were showing off last night."  He grinned shyly.  "Some of us wanted opinions on the suggestion that we should dress more like the Father.  Can you have him give us a few minutes?"

"Sure.  Not an issue.  You know he doesn't really mind the nicer of you guys."  That got another shy smile and he looked the kid over.  "He'd usually wear the purple tie with that, but I always thought that was more about his eyes.  On you that looks better this way."  He patted Sheldon down, finding his pen and notepad.  "Sorry, mine's in my locker."  He wrote out two names and phone numbers.  "That's Tony's toss-away cellphone that he's got for you guys. It's got voicemail.  The other is the very nice girl Don dated a few years back who got him that really hot black suit."  The man whimpered and nodded, taking that back.  "She's as gay as they come the last I heard."

"Thank you."  He bowed.  "Have a nice day, Protector."  He slipped off.

Danny handed Sheldon back his pen.  "There ya go.  Call me later, Don's working swing today," he called.

"Yes, sir."

Danny looked at Hillborne.  "They're not bad sort, just a few were thinkin' bad things."  He looked at Mac.  "Case?"

"Probably soon.  Do you have a jacket to go over that?"

"Of course.  If not, my CSI jacket's in my locker, like usual."  He walked off, going to get his stuff out of his locker.  "Thanks, Sheldon."

"Not a problem."  He looked at Mac.  "He's very understanding about some stuff."

"He grew up with it," he pointed out dryly.

"I'm not sure if I like him more in this one or the black one," Stella murmured.  Her phone beeped and she looked at the pictures she had been sent, smiling and showing Sheldon.  "His seafoam one and the purple one he mentioned."  He laughed and walked off shaking his head. "What?"

"Help him do laundry tonight, Stella, that way people quit giving him funny looks."

"If I must."  She looked at Mac, showing him.  "They like me."

"They do," he agreed happily.  "You're good with this stuff.  I still don't understand but you're good with it."  He walked off shaking his head, holding in his drool.  That purple one was very hot looking on him, as was the picture of him in just a tank top undershirt.

Hillborne stomped off.  He'd do a financial check of Messer's recently purchases, see if he could tell where the money was coming from. That way he could nail him.

***

Don walked up to their mole later that day, handing him a sheet of paper.  "The formula I dress by, adjust it so it looks good on you," he ordered, getting a bright, happy smile.  He looked at it. "I like that one.  I'd have worn my purple tie but that's because it makes my eyes pop out.  That way looks good on you."  He walked off smiling.  "Thanks for making Danny dress up too."

"You're welcome, sir."  He looked around then squealed like a little girl and texted his High Priest about what he had said, and about how he had earned a smile.  He saw Danny storming out and warned him of that as well.  "Is all not well?" he asked when he came back.

"No, not at all good.  Where's Don?"

"He went back toward the elevators."

"Thanks."  Danny jogged that way.  "Don!"  He turned and stopped.  "We've got an issue."  Don nodded, following him out to the SUV.  "Look up, Don."  Don looked up and groaned.  There was a dragon flying overhead.  "This so very muchly sucks.  Let's get you, since they seem to like you, to a more neutral and magic friendly place."  He started the engine and took off, taking him to the park.  The dragon followed.  "I wanna know what it is about you that draws dragons."

"Ron said he had the same thing and Arens said it happened to some of us.  Something about being a curse breaker and the skills we've got naturally that makes us smell nice to 'em.  He said Alex is always getting adopted by one or two whenever they run into 'em.  Anytime they've had to save Alex it was either a natural disaster or a dragon.  He spent the time uncursing their artifacts."  Danny cut across traffic, sliding into the gateway to the park, then back past the wards.  They got out and headed for the practice area, seeing some kids.  "Guys, clear out.  There's a dragon flying around."  They looked up and screamed, then fled.  "Thanks!"  He looked up, watching the dragon watch him.  "What?  I can't fly without a broom.  You'll have ta come down."  It landed, sniffing him.  Then Danny, then him.  He looked at it.  "Ron's book said you're a Rhodesian Ridgeback."

"It is, but it's still a steamer."

"Then I'll be pressed better," Don assured him.  "He won't hurt me."  He moved closer and the dragon grabbed him, pulling him against his chest so he could sniff him more.  "I'm okay.  You're a good boy dragon."  He patted him gently.  "You can let me go."  It hummed and settled in to hold him and nap.  "I'm not a teddybear."

"Hey, you're the one who cuddles," Danny teased, smirking at him.  Another car came over and someone came running.  He looked.  "Hey, Aiden.  It's the other curse breaker issue."

"You mean he's got a cult?"

"Of gay guys who think he's their Father."

"Ohhhhkay," she said, shaking her head.  "Um, teach, he's laying down for a nap," she called.  The current defense teacher at her school came over.  "I portkeyed us.  The local school is for shit.  Their defense teacher sucks."

"Ours was flaky," Danny reminded her.  He grinned.  "Danny Messer."

"Remus Lupin," he said quietly, shaking his hand.  "That one?"

"Don Flack Jr.  Curse breaker in training under Alex Dumass."

"Ah."  He walked over, tapping the dragon on the paw.  It looked at him.  "You cannot nest here," he ordered in his quiet accent.  "The city is bad for you.  There's no food available.  You won't be able to find a mate."

"Maybe it came in for some shopping," Aiden teased.  "Hi, Don."

"Hey, Aiden.  You should meet my cult."

She giggled.  "I'd love to."  She came over and the dragon steamed. "Hey, I love the guy like my brother.  Get over it."  She patted the dragon on the nose. "Can I search for loose scales?"  He shrugged but held Don tighter.  "I won't pull any, I promise."  She walked around it, using a hard sided brush to help him shed his current skin and take off any loose scales.  "He's obviously from a preserve," she noted.

"Yeah, he deals well with humans."  Danny moved closer.  "Are you really a people in disguise?"  The dragon looked at him, looking pitiful.  "Crap."  He pulled out his wand, running a check over him.  "Yeah, you've been like this for a while now."

"Found a tag," Aiden called.  "Canada's academy."

Don wiggled, tossing Danny his wallet.  "The guy from the Ministry's card is in there.  Florette."

Danny dug it out and called. "Hey, it's Messer in New York.  We've got a young male dragon who just hunted Don Flack down ta snuggle him.  Yeah, blue.  Responds visually to intelligent conversation around him.  Aiden Burns found you guy's academy's marking on him. No, he looks like he was changed.  Thanks."  He hung up and put Don's wallet into his front pocket.  "He'll be right down.  If he's changed, he knows what was going on.  We might be able ta help him."  He came back over to pet him. "It's all right.  We'll do what we can ta help you."  The dragon nodded, resting his chin on Don's lap again, one arm firmly around Don's waist.

"I'm still not a teddybear."

"You're definitely cuddly," Aiden teased.

"Yes, he is," Danny agreed.  She gave him an open-mouthed staring look. "What!"  She ducked her head with a blush, going back to work.  He worked his other side to see if he could find the knot holding the transformation.  "Hey, Aiden, come look."  She came over so he pointed at a few discolored scales.  "Is that scale rot?"

"No, that's signs that he was potioned."  She ran a hand over it, earning a shiver.  "It's all right.  We're trying ta help, baby."  He settled down again, letting her do whatever she wanted.  "Yeah, he's a changed one.  From human maybe, or unicorn. He was pure when he was changed."  She gave him a fond pat on the side.  "Hopefully we can undo it."  She got back to her gathering.  It wouldn't matter much for her purposes.

Danny kept going, finding the linking spot.  "There," he said, looking it over.  "Potion, spell.  DNA changer."  Aiden smiled at him.  "We've done it in the past.  The trio of us are pretty good at transformation spells."  He looked over as the Ministry person showed up.  "It's the DNA changing one."  He frowned and came back.  Danny summoned his book, handing it over.  "I want that back."

"Of course."  He flipped until he found it, then gaped in horror and awe.  "How!"

"We're good at that stuff," Danny said with a lopsided shrug.  He looked at him, then at Aiden.  "Hurry up.  He's only got a short time to change back."  She nodded, stepping back since her bag was full anyway.  "Big guy, you gotta let Donny there go.  'Kay?"   He sighed and let Remus hold Don for him.  "Thanks."  He concentrated, pulling the magic around him, then he released it with a quiet chant.  The dragon shimmered then slowly shrank, his body changing back into the small patch of human skin he still had.  Then he popped into unicorn shape.  Danny groaned and tried again, this time getting a shivering boy on the grass.  Danny was soaked with sweat and Aiden had to help him sit down.  "Thanks.  Check on him."

"Can I send this book back later?" Florette asked.

"As long as I get it back."

That got a nod and he walked over to see the young man.  "I'm Minister Florette.  I'm over Magical Creatures in the Canadian Ministry," he said gently.  The boy sobbed, clutching him.  "Shh, it's all right now.  We've figured out how it was done and reversed it.  Let's have you checked over and then we'll contact your family, young man."

"NO!"

Don walked over, making the kid look at him.  "Your family do this to you?"

"My older brother wanted my girlfriend.  He did it."  He hugged him.  "They said you'd know and help me.  One of the girls at the school said you were good."

"I am, we'll do what we can ta help you," Don promised, looking at Florette.

"With his brother doing it, his family will either disavow the brother or they're going to have a judgement against them."  He tipped the boy's face up.  "You saw the notice of the marriage?"  The boy nodded.  "Let's go back to the Ministry.  If your father should show up, I'll tell him what happened.  If he has any reaction other than a horrified one, you'll go home with me tonight if the healers let you go."  The boy nodded, letting them help him stand up.  "He did a unicorn first?"

"She changed me to try to save me," he said quietly.  He bowed to Danny.  "I thank you."

"Not an issue, kid.  What he did sucks, badly.  Kick his ass for me, 'kay?"  The boy nodded and let the Ministry official take him home.

Aiden got to work gathering any remaining shed scales with a gathering charm. "Aiden," Remus chided.  "You haven't seen them in a while."

"I know."  She smiled at Don.  "You look nice.  Danny looks good sweaty and sticky too."

"I need a shower and food," Danny agreed, flopping backwards.  "Pronto."

Don walked over, coming to help him stand up.  "I know you do.  We'll feed you as soon as we dress you after your shower.  Locker room?"

"Should since I'm still on."  He handed Don his wallet and then his own phone. "Here, you call."  He wobbled over to hug Aiden.  "Come to my place tonight?"

"If we're not missed.  Remus was looking for something recently."  She smiled at him.  "You mind?"

"Not in the least," he promised, smiling at them.  "Fortunately I now know how to drive."  She squealed and hugged him. "Thank you, dear. I'll report to the Headmaster."  He went to do that while she finished gathering things.

She patted Don on the cheek. "You fuss worse'n any boyfriend.  Keys?"  Danny handed over his keys.  "Addy?"  It was written out. "Thanks, guys."  They grinned and she got back to work while Don walked Danny back to the SUV and then back to the station.  This was the fun part of her life.

***

Don walked Danny in, seeing the worried look. "Situation was fixed, Danny's worn out," he offered to Sheldon.  "I'm taking him to shower and change.  Can you get him a candybar or something?"

"Sure."  He went to do that, glancing back at him.  It was clearly magical exhaustion.  He got him a snickers bar and went back, pulling out the book he had bought recently on magical maladies to check the treatment.  "Same as regular.  Sleep, eat, rest."  He closed it and put it back into his locker, getting an amused look from Don. "There's not always a healer around," he pointed out.  Mac stormed in with Stella behind him. "He's fine.  He wore himself out."

"Doing what?" Stella asked.

"Changing some poor kid back to human since he said his big brother changed him to a dragon to get his girl," Don complained.  Mac groaned and went to check on Danny. "He's fine."

"He needs to eat."  He came out with a shivering Danny wrapped in towels.  Sheldon handed over the candy bar.  "Thank you."

"Not a problem. He was dripping with sweat when he came in."

"DNA changing charm," Danny said patiently, eating the candy bar.  "I'll be fine, guys.  Really.  Thanks."  Don and Stella both snorted at that.  "Aiden's in."  That got a few smiles but Stella got into his locker.  "Not those. I can't bend in those," he ordered.  Well, semi- whined but mostly ordered.  She gave him a long stare.  "Not like I don't need new boxers too."

She smirked.  "Not really.  Only if you're *shy*."  She tossed the tight jeans over then got out his purple shirt, which was hanging in there.

"He'll look like he's on a date," Don pointed out.

"There's only a few hours of work left and he can have a lab," Mac offered quietly.  "Go ahead and finish up, Danny, then change.  You can have the trace lab if you want."  That got a nod and he finished up, then slid the pants on under the towels before standing up.  He looked in his locker.

"You don't need an undershirt, Messer," Don complained.

"I do so.  I don't need nipple hardness at work."  Stella gave him a gentle smack on the head so he sighed and put it on.  He did have an extra pair of socks in his gym bag, and his sneakers in there were good enough for the next few hours.  "We sure this is okay until I can head home?" he asked, looking at himself.  "I look like a clubber."

"You're fine, Danny," Mac assured him. "I'd never say anything after a day like today."  He clapped him on the back. "Write out a report for me on what happened so I can keep track of it.  All right?"  Danny nodded. "Good, then get a sandwich out of the machine, take five minutes, then go hang in the lab and try to get stuff done."  He walked out, keeping himself from thinking about how well the old jeans molded to his rear.  Or how the shirt skimmed over his muscles.

Sheldon smiled.  "They put in new ham sandwiches. I can go defend you one from the others."

"Thanks, doc.  Be right there."  He nodded and walked out.  Danny looked at them.  "Let me change these pants so they're not quite as tight."

"Leave 'em," Stella ordered, taking his wand and walking off.  "I'm enjoying the hell out of it, Danny."  She winked at him before walking out the door.

"Can't say as I mind the view either, but I'm a bit jealous," Don complained, pinching him on the ass.  "Try to behave."

"Hey, he came for you," Danny defended, closing his locker and stretching.  "Thanks, Don."

"Welcome.  It's the sorta guy my daddy raised me to be."  He walked him out and to the break room. "I should get back before my boss complains that I disappeared."  He headed back to work.

Danny sat down with the sandwich Sheldon handed him, left alone in the break room.  He took a bite, then nodded, it was fairly fresh by machine standards.  He ate another bite and nearly choked when Hillborne walked in.  "What?" he asked once he had swallowed.

"You went where with PD property?"

"The park ta handle something."  He ate another bite.  "Ask Mac."  He took a bigger bite and chewed, just staring at him.  Hillborne looked him over and he sneered once his mouth was clear.  "It was clean and in my locker.  I came back soaking with sweat. At least I didn't have to go home."  He finished up and cleaned up, then headed up to his lab to get to work.  Fortunately his lab coat obstructed the view of his ass.

Mac walked in and shut the door most of the way.  "Stella got sent the newest picture for the website," he said quietly.  "They got you walking away from Hillborne."  Danny moaned.  "It's not a bad picture."

"Mac....."

"I know, just endure.  What happened?"  Danny turned to look at him.  "Seriously."

"Big society wedding coming up in Canada's society people, right?"

"I've seen the local smug notices."

Danny nodded.  "The older brother turned the younger one into a dragon to get his girl."

"I see.  And he came here why?"

"Someone was saying how good and upright Don was," he said quietly.  "He came ta get help.  Oh, Aiden's heading for my place."

"Good.  Can I pop around?"  Danny nodded.  "Thank you.  You changed him back?"  Danny nodded.  "Good."  He walked off, noticing Hillborne was up the hall.  He pulled his wand, going to obliviate him.  It was the favorite sport of the union reps and he had been asked to help.  He erased the message on his blackberry that he had been sending to his boss, then erased everything about Danny from his mind.  Then he walked off, much happier with his day all of a sudden.

***

Alex looked up and smiled as his mate rejoined him on their blanket.  "Get enough dark time?"

"I have."  He laid down next to him, head on his shoulder, one hand on his stomach.  "Thank you for spoiling me, Alex."

"Not a problem, I like spoiling you," he promised, kissing him on the forehead.

"Awwww," a female voice said from behind him.  "He's so much cuter than Cordy and you were."

Alex looked back and grinned at Willow.  "Thanks.  Pull up some sand?"  She walked over to sit in front of him.  "How've you been?"

"Not bad. They've helped me see I was wrong."  He nodded.  She looked at Draco.  "Hi, Draco."

"Willow."  He stared at her. "They let you use it again?"

"I've still got some power. It's not like they can plug it totally."

"You're not going to do more evil things?" Draco asked.

"I try very hard not to."

"Then I don't have to worry about you and I can take a nap."  He closed his eyes and got comfortable, letting the warm sun lure him into a nap.

Alex smiled at the first soft snore.  "It's been a long few months," he offered.  "He got sick because we accidentally broke his family curse helping Ron's sister Ginny.  Then Ron and I got hit by a rockfall after he got injured on the job and sent home.  I thought I'd combine checking on you and spoiling him rotten."

"You spoil him very well," she noted, pointing at the ring.  "Family's?"  He nodded.  "How've you been?"

"Good.  I moved back to the other house.  The family has a hidden house that's always been more mine than the manor ever was.  It's got my library."

"You...have a library? You hated to read."

"No, I hated to be ordered to read, and I especially hated reading the shit we read in school, Willow.  I like to read.  I've got billions of books and scrolls."  She gaped at that and he nodded.  "Ask Nick if you're still in touch.  Remind him that the books return if he tries to keep them over a week without special permission as well."  She smiled at that and nodded.  Someone came over and flopped down next to him, making him look at him. "Mr. Wolfe I believe."

"Hi.  I was tracking her."  He looked at Willow.  "Your company's alarms are going off.  Someone tried to magic open the locks."  She blinked at that. "Some of us do use chaos like the Wiccan's do.  It's the flip side of the coin."

"I...."

"He's right. Not everyone's like Ethan.  Most of them are like him."  He nodded at Ryan, then looked at him.  "Need more help?"

"Not yet."  He stood up and helped her up.  "Let's make sure they didn't break anything.  I can feel the shields protecting the magical nullifying equipment again."  She nodded and gave him a look.  "Horatio said he'll be in town for a few days."

"Not another working vacation," Draco moaned.

"Nope.  Tonight, Wills?"

"Sure.  Where are you staying?"

"Petrov's old condo."

"Okay. I know where that is."  She smiled.  "The local Wiccans are doing a power raising this Sunday."

"We usually revel on the moon dark but I can guard," he promised.  She nodded.  "If we do revel, we'll try to channel it their way."

"Thank you."  She kissed him on the cheek and patted Draco on the head. "Don't make him have a pale spot, Draco.  I'll see you two tonight."  She walked off with Ryan.  "How did you track me?"

"Easy, you're glowing and polluting the magical roadmap again," he said, glancing at her.  "You need shields."

"Ethan's supposedly siphoning off me."

"Yes, but the hellmouth is hyping you," he noted as he let her into his hummer.  He walked around to get in and drive, taking her back to her shop.  "You glow.  I'm surprised Draco didn't say anything about needing sunglasses since he's kinda obviously a veela."

"Consort," she agreed, glancing at him.  "You can use Chaos like the Wiccans use earth energy?"

"It's just as natural.  There's always gotta be a balance," he reminded her patiently.  "You could do that as well."

"I hadn't even thought about it, Detective."

"Ryan."

"Ryan then."  She smiled at him.  "Got any reference works?"

He glanced at her and grinned.  "Like we write stuff down," he snorted. She giggled.  He pulled into her parking lot a few minutes later and she hopped out, running for the door.  He turned off the engine and followed, holding up his badge.  "It's her place."  The officer on the door let her in.  "Horatio?"  He looked up and he pointed at Willow, who was heading toward her office to turn stuff off.  In one case, the shields around a machine strengthened.  Then she came back.

Willow looked at the body from a safe distance, Ryan's hand on her arm to keep her from moving closer. "That's my secretary."  She looked at Horatio. "Any idea who did this?"

"Not yet," he admitted.  "Where were you?"

"I went to find Xander."  He nodded.  "I can pull the security footage for you.  I'm having it copied onto my laptop so I can burn it down.  Also her personnel record.  She was a nice girl."  She looked around, heading around where they were working by walking behind a few machines.  She tapped in a code and sighed. "They were after the patents.  They're gone. All the plans."  She looked back at him as he and Ryan came over. "She didn't have the combination to the safe.  No one else did. It was randomly chosen by computer.  It changed by mathematic algorithm every week. Every Sunday night I spend doing math problems to figure out what this week's code is."

"What was in there?"

"A new process for shielding processors from heat damage.  A few other things."  She glanced at Ryan, who nodded and looked around to make sure they were clear.  "I'm working with Gringotts at the moment to update how computers and magic work together," she said quietly.  He nodded, understanding that.   "You're not one of us.  I mean like me."

"I'm like Xander," he admitted.  "He's broken some shields for me in the past which were shielding drug dealers."

"Wow.  Xander's a busy little asshole.  I really should kick his tush tonight for being such an asshole."  She walked off shaking her head. "I'm heading back to the office.  Her boyfriend will be huffing and demanding he get his ring back soon. I was trying to talk her into leaving him for being a bastard to her."

"Thank you for the warning," Ryan called.  He looked at Horatio.  "Well, that explains some things I wondered about during the last case."

"Indeed."  They went back to process the body, meeting Alexx there.  "Alexx?"

"Single gunshot wound to the stomach, Horatio.  Poor baby bled out."  She stroked back her hair. "Small, older bruise on her forehead as well."

"Miss Rosenburg said that her boyfriend wasn't the nicest of sorts, that she was trying to get him to leave him," Ryan offered.  She smiled at him.  "She warned us he'd be looking for her ring soon."

"He'll have to wait, just like everyone else."  She looked at her hands.  "No defensive wounds. He probably didn't get close enough.  Where was the owner?"

"On the beach with Xander when I found her," Ryan admitted.  She gave him an odd look.  "Yeah, from my last case here. She's in her office."

"I'll get that information, Mr. Wolfe.  You start processing."  He nodded, getting out what he'd need to do that.

"Lenscap," Alexx warned.  He nodded and took it off, then got to work taking pictures of the body.  "What is going on?" she asked quietly, glancing around.

He stared at her.  "Ask Horatio."  He took another picture and moved on.

"Ryan."

"Ask Horatio."

"Fine, I will."  She stared at him, then got back to work.  She was still wary about him.  She saw him giving her a sideways look.  "What?" she asked patiently.

"Well, bra strap hanging out and your hair's coming down."  She reached up to fix them both.  Ryan looked up toward the office and muttered something, and suddenly the magic stopped.  Then he got back to work since it wouldn't warp his pictures any longer. His phone rang and he groaned, looking at the number. "Go fast, I'm working."  He listened, then groaned.  "Why?"  He moaned.  "Fine. Thank you."  He hung up and his phone got put away, and he got back to work yet again.

"Problems?" she asked.

"No, someone just gave me a pet."  She gave him an odd look.  "Really."  Horatio and Willow came back down. "Let me get this bruise on her ankle, then I'm done with her," he offered.

"That's from her boyfriend," Willow told him.  "She came in limping today and I had to help her ice it earlier.  Bastard's going to get my foot up his hiney."  He gave her a look and she shivered.  She knew that look.  "Um...."

"Dinner?  To go over her background and what they may have gotten out of your safe in a more secure location?"

"Xander."

"I can have an early dinner.  You can snack with them.  I doubt Xander eats real food unless Draco makes him."

"True.  He used to live on twinkies and coke."

"Don't remind me, please," Horatio complained.  "Are we done?"

"Yup," Ryan agreed, taking a picture of that. "Can we arrest the boyfriend for abuse?"

"I'll see if we can," Horatio offered.  Alexx waved in her body haulers and Horatio helped her off the floor. "I'll be there for post," he promised.

"Thank you, Horatio."  She patted him on the cheek, then looked at Ryan before looking at him.  "Come to dinner tonight?"

"I'm having dinner with my nephew, but you could come over later," he countered, smiling at her.  "After the kids are down."

"I'll pop around then," she promised with a smile. She walked out with the body, taking most of the extra officers with her.  That left one on the doorway since that was the only entrance to the building.

Ryan looked at her.  "The city's HP just handed you to me," he said quietly.  "They think you need training in what I do and how I do it.  They also think that you need someone to guard and watch over you in case someone else attacks you or this place.  They think that if something major happened, they don't want Xander to come in and blow up the city.  Therefore, consider me a really close friend."

She snorted.  "I heard the pet comment."

He grinned sweetly.  "Not like I'm going to explain it to her. I like keeping a low profile. That's why I told her to talk to Horatio."

"Thank you for that, Mr. Wolfe. That was appropriate.  Who made that order? I didn't realize we had an overlord."

Willow gaped at him.  "With a city like Miami of course we have someone who watches over us all.  Your kind don't?"

"We're mostly older.  Not every city has overlords, just the more high profile and more powerful ones."

"Oh.  Well."  She shrugged.  "We've got a pretty high concentration of people practicing so we've got a council.  I agree, I could use someone around to hang with and talk to now and then.  Nick and Alex in Frisco were really nice and helpful in getting me back to myself."  She glanced down then at him. "I accept but I want to learn stuff."

"Agreed.  First, let's work on shields.  Please.  You give me just as much of a headache as the other sort do when they're leaking."

"Sure."  She concentrated and her aura muted.

"Thank you."  He got back to work. "Any idea who'd want the plans?"

"A few people.  Then again, if she was killed by her boyfriend, the bank might've evacuated them just in case.  I can't get hold of anyone."

Ryan grimaced then called Speed.  "Can you get someone at that bank of yours to see if they took Willow Rosenburg's plans and patents or someone here stole them when her assistant was shot?  Yeah, here, but we've got an abusive boyfriend as well."  He smiled. "Thanks.  No, Horatio is with me, as is she.  Thank you."  He hung up. "He'll call and talk to someone."

"Thank you."  She smiled impishly.  "I'm building a new viral game.  I'll be in my office."  She headed off.

Ryan shook his head.  "Sorry, boss, I got given a pet," he said quietly.

"I heard you tell her that. It's not nice."

"As long as he gives belly scratches, I'm fine with it," she called.  "My girlfriend might not be, but I am."

Ryan smirked at that, shaking his head.  "Horatio, there's a footprint there," he said, handing him the camera.  "Can you get that one while I dig out a sheet?"  He nodded, taking the pictures for him, then taking the capture sheet to get it, going back to working the scene.

***

Draco rolled over later that night, pinning his mate to the bed.  "We will have a *normal*, non-working vacation some day soon, husband.  One way or another."

He grinned. "Find a way to get everyone vacation time together, dear.  We'll go wherever you want."  Draco smirked evilly.  "Seriously.  All of us."

"Five curse breakers together is a horrible blight on the world, husband."

"Not really.  I'll mute out everyone but Ron and Don - they equal me together.  Harry and Dawnie will keep Ron in check, and Danny, Stella, and Mac will keep Don in check.  You'll have my tail in check," he said, giving Draco's butt a squeeze.  "Just pick a place and arrange it.  All of us and the group.  Even Greg if you want."

"Hmm.  Hodges?  I like how he thinks, he reminds me of Severus.  For a muggle he's not bad and he's really more of a magical creature anymore."

"True.  He is counted as one."  He stole a quick kiss.  "Anywhere you want, Draco.  Talk to the others."  He stole a longer kiss and rolled Draco underneath him, pinning him to the bed with a wicked leer.  "You're so mine.  I hope you're ready."

"I lubed in the shower, just in case," he smarted off. "I know you like me slippery."  Alex moaned and slid into his mate's body, making him shiver and tense up.  "Oh, nice, Alex.  More?"

"Slowly tonight, Draco.  Very, very slowly." He took five full minutes to pull out, then another five to push back in, driving his poor veela insane.

***

Danny looked up as the owl hooted from his window ledge.  He got up to open the window, taking the letter.  "Thanks.  Need food?"  It hooted and flew off again.  He sat down to read it, then smirked. "I can't do that," he called.  "I don't have the leave time."  He put on his dark jacket and checked himself over, remembering to call Mac's phone to remind him.  "Funeral today.  Be in at noon or thereabout.  Watch out for Alex's mail."  Then he grabbed his wand and disappeared.  He found Tony there and stood next to him, getting a silent nod.  They were respectful, even if they were leaning against each other. At the end, Danny walked over to shake the new Vinese's hand.  "Thank you."  She smiled and patted his cheek. "Do you need to talk to me about my family?"

"They are staying, I agree with her ruling," she offered.  She glanced at her great-nephew, then back at him.  "You two are together?"

"Tony's one of my best friends," he offered quietly. "Has been since school.  That's all there is between us."

"Pity."  She smiled at him.  "Thank you, Daniel."  He nodded and walked back to wait for Tony, and she smiled at her great-nephew.  "Anthony."  She pulled him closer to whisper in his ear, getting a head shake.  "Why not?"

"Because you know what I'm looking for.  He sent her off. It's his own fault.  He doesn't like the man I am but I'm proud of myself.  I'm sorry if the rest of the family isn't but anymore, I'm about to change my name," he said quietly.

"There is no need for that."

"Tell my father that."

She looked at him. "Your trusts...."

"Are in his command at the moment."

"That is not right.  I will talk with him."

"Then I hope he doesn't lie this time."  He walked off, taking Danny with him.  "I hate my family," he complained as they landed in his place.  "I really, really hate my family."

"You and me both.  Thankfully mine wasn't there."  He patted him on the arm.  "Gotta head ta work.  Mac's expecting me about noon."  He grinned.  "Have fun with Gibbs today."

"He knew I was at the funeral.  You have fun with Mac."

"Oh, I will, and Alex wants us all ta take a vacation together."  He winked, then disappeared, landing in the closed bathroom upstairs.  He cast the 'ignore me' charm with a ten minute duration then walked out, going down to pop into the office. "I'm back."

"How was it?"

"Boring.  It was a funeral, Mac."  He noticed Hillborne in there and gave him an odd look.  "One of the judges who helped me with my family just died.  It was a moment of respect."  He looked at Mac again.  "I'm on for field?"  He nodded. "Thanks."  He went to sign in and get his things from his locker, sliding his gun on then his badge.

"Funny," Hillborne said, "I couldn't find any recent court cases with his name on them."

"The judge pressured them to leave the country," Mac admitted.  "Danny had enough information on them to have them taken to a grand jury.  He'd spent the last few months gathering it.  The judge told them they had a choice, leave or prison.  They left."  He shrugged.  "Why?"  His obliviate must not be as strong it used to be, they were always leaking these days.  Or maybe he worked with a lot of resistant people.

"How would a judge do that?"

"They had been blackmailed as well.  Before you ask, they were outside the city."  He picked up a pen.  "Anything else?"

"No.  Well, yes, but I'm still gathering proof."  Mac glared at him so he got up with a smirk.  "We'll see what happens."  He walked out, sneering at Danny.  "We'll see who stands up for your story, Messer."

"Up yours," he said, making him turn to sneer.  "Keep it up, man.  Watch me sue the fucking department over you."  He stomped off in a huff and Danny pulled his wand but Sheldon took it from him. "Hey!"

"No.  Not here, not now, not when you're this pissed," he ordered quietly.  "Later, when you've had time to plan and work it out.  Remember, he's got some benefit.  A tiny bit."  They shared a look and Sheldon gave back the wand.  "You're with me today."

"Sure."  They walked off together since Sheldon had a call.  "So, how was working with Monroe?"

"Interesting.  She's still got all her skills."

"Good."  He climbed in to drive.  "Where we headed?"

"Your block.  One of your neighbors."

"Damn."  He headed that way, he knew just where he was going this time.

Cures for Moodiness

NC-17

Don looked up as he heard the owl hooting, grimacing and looking around since he was at work.  The other detective he worked with who had a clue what he did in his spare time gave him a horrified look so he shrugged.  He got up and headed for the door.

"Flack!" the boss yelled.

"Going for a ten minute break, boss.  Give me a break."  He headed outside, lighting up as soon as he got out there, heading for the nearest alley.  The owl swooped down once he was alone, letting him take the note.  "No more coming to work," he ordered it.  It hooted and flew off.  He knew Draco's owl very well.  He unrolled the small note, grimacing at it.  Then he pulled out his phone since the message was 'call me, Alex'.  "Very descriptive," he complained when he got Draco.  "What?  No, it showed up at work," he complained.  "You know, where I work around normal people who don't use carrier owls?"  He listened to the complaint.  "Why would that matter to us?"  He groaned and banged his head against the wall.  "Send it to my place, not at work.  It's going to be a few hours before I get there but I'll call the others over tonight.  Sure, thanks.  No, like awfully a lot, Draco, really."  He hung up and finished smoking then went inside.  He stopped at Sal's desk, leaning down to whisper in his ear.  "Alex said hi and we've got a rogue curse breaker in town," he whispered.  That got a moan, then a slump of the older man's shoulders.  "He's asking us to handle it.  I need to know if you hear anything."

"Gotcha.  Not an issue."   He glanced around before waving a hand.  "Go. You've probably got a voicemail since your phone was going off."

"Thanks.  More work for those of us who don't get enough sleep."  He sat down and dialed into his voicemail, hearing Mac's 'what's going on now, I didn't get that'.  He erased it and sent it more clearly to the others, getting a mass moan from Danny and Stella, who were out on a case together.  Mac gave him a thoughtful hum but that was it.  So he noted he'd need to see them tonight and for someone to pick up dinner since he was going to be the latest of all of them.  Then he asked Mac's opinion about doing a bit of time warping so they'd have time to get all the stupid backed-up paperwork out of the way since the Chief had ordered them to get it done or lose their yearly budget and have the precinct closed.  Mac pointed out it'd be a very bad idea and if he did it, he'd have to explain why to their union rep.  Danny pointed out it might be the only way.  Stella said she couldn't help; she wasn't that far ahead in the books.  Don sent Tony an email, getting one back on where to look.  Then Speed sent one with the exact incantation and what he'd need.  He printed it off and grabbed it before anyone could see, looking at Sal.  Who groaned as he stood up.

"Last I knew, you had more paperwork than anyone," their boss said coldly.

"Hey, yell at the feds," he complained.  "They're the ones who took over that one case.  I'm going to call them from the john to make sure they're still sending it as ordered.  Pity about that, but yeah, not my fault.  As for the others."  He waved a hand at his finished stack.  "There ya go.  I was going to present it in another few files."  He and Sal walked off together.  He let him have the paper, then he jogged back to erase both those messages, shoving his boss blatantly out of the way.

"What's that?"

"Code.  Remember, I'm buddies with a fed."  He walked off again, going to the closed bathroom on the third floor.  Sal gave him an odd look.  "We wanna get it done on time?  Let's add another thirty minutes to each hour."

"We'll get in so much trouble for this, Don."

"You'd rather retire this year?" he offered.

"Well, no."  He pulled his wand and locked the door, putting up an anti-eavesdropping spell. Then he called what he needed from Danny's stash in the basement, setting everything up.  It'd usually take three casters but Don was stronger than he was.  Someone knocked on the door then apparated in, Mac.  "Good!"  He let him have the spell and got a nod, then they settled in to add the extra time until midnight.  That's all they could set it for.  Since everything had to be in by dawn, they'd be fine, hopefully.  When they were done, Mac cleaned up everything since he was less tired.  Sal splashed his face with water and headed back to his desk.  Don stopped to get a soda from the better CSI machines, but he too went back to it with a nod for Mac's help.

Mac shook his head.  "I'm not explaining this," he walked off muttering.  "No way in hell am I explaining this."  He went to make a note in his personal journal - the encrypted, written in Arabic, and put onto a secure online military-based server that Gibbs had shown him how to set up.  Then he saved it, reclosed it, and got back to work.  He had some paperwork he could use the extra time to do as well.

***

Don walked out of the precinct later that night, at nearly nine.  He had gotten his desk completely cleared off, he had even spray waxed it since it was dusty underneath some of his files.  Now he was going to go home and someone had better have ordered or cooked.  Danny was leaning against his car, earning a gentle smile.  "You're driving?"

"Your wrists are sore enough to need ice.  Of course I am."  He let him into the passenger side.  "Stella just ordered out.  We talked her out of sushi."

"Thank you."  Don slumped down, getting comfortable.  "Even with the extra time, I still barely got done."

"I know.  Mac's only just gotten finished too.  He's headed home to change and then he'll be over."  He started the car and took off, heading back to Don's place.  "Stella was working on her painting skills.  Your bedroom's now lavender."

"I'll get her later," Don promised, yawning a bit.  "Anything on that file?"

"Yeah, and you've met him.  He's just recently snapped and started doing bad shit like taking down shielded areas.  We're working on it but no one knows where he might be.  We might even have ta trap him and then bring him in."  He turned the corner onto Don's street, parking in front of his building in his specially magiced free spot that no one else ever seemed to see.  It was like car had a homing sense for that parking spot.  "How did you do that?"

"Alex said he used ta do it to his jeep too.  It returns it to its garage or safe resting spot."  He got out with a moan, heading to his apartment.  Of course, his phone was ringing. "If that's my boss, tell her to sign shit and ignore the typos on the last two."

"She said you missed one.  That Federal case."  He sent a thought at Tony and McGee yelped in the background, bringing it to her.  Stella listened, then nodded.  "That's what we thought, lieutenant.  Have a nicer night.  No, I know paperwork makes it seem like everything's stretching out.  It's dread."  She hung up.  Then she looked Don over.  "Go shower and change.  By then, food will be here."

"Love you," he murmured as he walked past her, heading for his shower.  He needed a hot shower.  It hadn't been a bad day but he was still tired from the spell and his arms ached from all the typing he had done.  He stood under the hot water until it ran out, then put an instant heating charm on the showerhead and got another thirty minutes of hot water.

"Food, Don.  No more shriveling or  be never unwrinkled," Danny ordered from the doorway.  "Once the spell snaps, you'll feel better."

"I hope so.  It wasn't a bad idea, but man I ache."  He got out and dried off, taking the sweats Danny had brought him.  He wandered back into the living room, flopping down and taking his plate.  "What's this?"

"Polynesian," she said with a grin.  "Fish and rice, Don.  Good for you."

"Thanks, Mom.  Alex said he always craves it when he's in town."  He took a bite then sipped his beer.  "Are we anywhere on this thing?"

"No, but the goblins and the school have reinforced the shields.  He took down one of the ones on the park.  The overlord sent his defense council to rehype it.  They think it might come down fully some day and of course it's over that bricked-off spot where they go to work city-wide spells.  We'll have to see how it goes."  She dug in and Danny changed plates with her.  "Hey!"

"You took my fish rolls."  He ate a bite and looked at Don, then at the clock.  "Mac must've fallen asleep."

Stella thought at him, getting a groan.  "No, the Chief is chewing him a new one."  She dug into the plate she had tried to exchange since Danny's dinner looked so much better than hers.  Danny smirked at her, letting her have a bite.  She wrinkled her nose.  "What is that?"

"Hot sauce."

She shook her head. "I'll stick with plain and tea-flavored sauces."

Don burped and patted his bare chest.  "'Scuse me."

"Not an issue," Danny assured him.  "At least some of those guys'll get ta go home sometime tonight."  He ate another bite.  "He's hard to find and no one's able to trap him.  Fortunately he's only as strong as Dawn is as a curse breaker so anyone with any sort of ability can get him.  The problem is getting near him."

"Then how do we do that?" Don asked, eating another bite.  He put his plate down and curled up a bit, his head was still hurting.

"That's why I told you it was a bad idea," Mac reminded him as he popped in.  Don glared at him.  "It was thoughtful."  He looked at the clock.  "It's only ten, Don. Do you want to go to bed and take this up tomorrow?"

"I shouldn't fall asleep until it's done with," Don said, yawning a bit.  "Then I'll sleep like the dead.  Are we going to trap him, and did we do the anti-eavesdropping charms again?"  Stella nodded. "Good. How?"

"I was thinking a bar job," Danny offered quietly, looking at him. "He's taken out two more minor apprentice curse breakers around the same area.  He'll definitely feel you if you go there.  We can bait a trap."

"Might work but I need to be less tired," Don said with another yawn.  "She better hope I can make it in tomorrow."

"We have the game tomorrow night," Stella reminded him.  Don moaned at that, a weak, tired sound.

"If you have to, you can play your alternate," Mac reminded him quietly.  Don shook his head.  "If you can't make it to shift, you can't play."

Danny looked at him.  "That's very highschool of you," he teased.  "I'll tell the coach you said that."  He looked at Don again, reaching over to take his hand, linking their magics together.  Don smiled at him.  "Better?"

"Much.  Thank you.  Now you'll be tired too though."

"Yeah, well, I'm actually off tomorrow.  All I've got to do is meet Tony to talk to a few of your high priests."  Don groaned and gave him a dirty look.  "They wanted to make sure some of their recent decisions aren't going to get you mad at 'em.  Nothing else."

"Do some shopping.  You could use some new pants since you found all those shirts," Stella teased.

He blushed.  "None of the pants fit."  He looked at Don.  "He's right though, we do have an alternate if you can't play and stay awake."

"So! We'll use her if I get called in or if I get hurt on the job.  Nothing else."  He made himself sit up.  "Now, how're we gonna get the guy into a trap?  You really think he'll come to try me if he knows me?"

"Who says he'll know it's you?" Danny pointed out.

"We can break illusion charms really easily.

"Don, we managed to fool things like Horatio's sunglasses for years on end," Danny assured him.  "Sonny still thought I had dark hair when he died."  They shared a look.  "We won't make you a girl."

"You're all heart," he taunted back.

"You could be a house elf," Stella teased.

He looked at her.   "Most of them are stronger than all the wizards alive today," he pointed out.  "Alex made us all learn some of it."

Danny looked at him.  "You and Alex shared some memories."

"I got into his pensieve with his permission.  I wanted to know what it was like when we were all riding horses and shit.  He let me see a lot of stuff and I watched him do a number of tombs and other jobs.  Did you realize one of his great aunts was the first curse breaker?"  They all shook their heads.  "She was.  She was all about saving some of the history from people like Napoleon.  That's where he gets his library fetish from."  All of them froze at the sudden swearing over the bond from Speed.  "Shit, I hope he doesn't need my help," Don moaned.

"Alex and Draco are down there," Danny reminded him.

"That's probably the cause of the swearing."  Stella listened then nodded. "Yup.  Someone wanted Draco and Willow went off on 'em.  Good for her!"

The three guys looked at her.  "In case you hadn't realized it, Willow's a bit dangerous," Mac pointed out patiently.  "She's had her magic stripped a number of times, Stella."

"I know.  So!  She's reforming now."  She smiled.  "He went to whine to Horatio. That's always a good idea.  Letting the boss handle the fallout."

"With an Argentinian drug lord?" Don asked her.  "Are you insane, woman?  Horatio will talk down to him and make another family organization pissed at him.  He's already got three mad at him and hunting the lab's people."

Danny looked at Mac.  "You ever do that to us, we're going to kick your ass, even if it takes all of us and Sheldon sedating you first."

"I try very hard to not piss them off before I put them away," he said drolly.

"Try harder," Danny ordered.

"Pot, kettle," Stella reminded him.  Danny glared.  "Seriously. You piss 'em off by existing."

"Hey!" Don said, breaking into the fight.  "Unless we're sleeping with Mac too, no fighting this way.  Even then, no fighting this way.  Handcuffs have many uses and can be charmed so you can't get out of 'em even with a wand.  Got me here?"  They all nodded, settling back into their respective seats.  "Thank you."  He glared at Danny, getting a look back.  "His second, he coming for you?"  Danny shook his head.  "You sure?"

"He wasn't there when they had me."

"You sure?" Don pressed.

"I haven't had a hint of it."

"Good.  Thank you.  Mac, any old enemies of yours coming?"  He shook his head.  "You sure?  No one that was a target back in the bad old days, nothing like that?"

"No," he admitted quietly.  "I wasn't on that sort of mission most of the time."

"Again, we sure?" Don pressed.  He nodded. "Good.  Stella, anything you want to admit to the group?"

"No.  I don't have anything like that.  Only those two."

"Okay, then we're good again?" Don ordered.  They all nodded. "Good."  He yawned again.  "How much longer?"

"An hour and a bit," Danny said calmly. "You could probably nap, I'll just link more firmly into you again."

Don looked at him.  "That'd be like we're married and sharing a mind.  Love you but I'm not ready for that yet."  He yawned again.  "Someone turn on some noise."  Stella turned on the tv.  "Good.  Thank you."  He sat there and watched it going on, slowly letting his mind drift.  He felt Danny reach over to take his hand and let his magic flow into him again. He could use another shot of awakeness.  Instead Danny let him drift off and took over control of the spell for him.  It was the sign of a true friend in his book - covering when you had to do stupid stuff for a good reason.

The other three shared a look and Mac got Danny closer since he was starting to drift off too.  It was going to be a short night as each of them linked in during the final hour of the spell.

***

Mac woke up, blinking at the weight on his lower half.  He frowned, blinking down at the blond head laying across his hip.  His first thought was 'he's going to kill himself for this' and the next was 'it's kinda nice' but he tried to censor that one.

Stella started to moan so he quit thinking so loud.  She gave him a bleary leer, then smirked.  "He's cuddly but only when he doesn't realize it."  She stretched then stood up.  "Coffee, then bath."  She stumbled toward the kitchen, going to find the coffee maker yet again.

Don let out a quiet hum, giving him a long stare.  "Interesting.  You comfy?"

"Can you help me move him?  Before he wakes up and freaks out?"

"Nope."  He stood up and nudged Danny, getting an instantly alert guy.  "That's why."  He headed into the kitchen, reaching around Stella's arm to grab the coffee and the filters.  "You need glasses."  He kissed her on the back of the neck.  "I'm showering."

"Sure."  She got to work on the sludge of the day, then wandered toward the sound of the heavenly spray to help him.  He was a good back scrubber.

Danny looked at Mac, who handed him his glasses.  "Sorry about that."

"I'm not.  I missed having someone sleep on me."  He shrugged and stood up.  "I should head home."

"Yeah, me too.  I gotta work today."  He stood up and yawned.

"No you don't," Mac complained.  "It's your day off."

"No it's not."

"Yes, it is."

"Nah, I traded."

"You said it was last night."

Danny frowned at him.  "Don't start that shit."  He looked around, then headed for home.

Mac frowned.  "Didn't Danny say today was his day off?" he called.

"Yes," Stella and Don called back.  She came out in only a towel, but more awake now.  "Why?"

"He swears he's on today."

"He went home to sleep in his own bed," Don offered as he came out.  He stretched, then winced.  "Fuck it, I've gotta play tonight."  He headed in to get coffee, then to get dressed.  "Which one should I wear today?"

"The black one.  Makes you look less tired on the bad days."

"Okay."  He pulled that one out and the shirt he usually wore with it but she came in and switched it out on him, patting him on the cheek. "Thanks, Stella."  He watched as she found an outfit of hers, frowning.  "When did you bring clothes over? I thought we only brought some to Danny's."

"I left an outfit each place, just in case. A girl's gotta be prepared, even if I could turn this towel into a dress."

"I'd like to see that," he teased.

"I bet you would."  She took it off and changed it into a bra and underwear instead.  "Better?"  She slid into them then the clothes, getting comfortable for a few more minutes.  "Ah, off to slave for the city."

"Bad day all around," Don agreed.  He buttoned his shirt, then tucked it in, sliding into his belt and gun, then his tie.  Finally his jacket, then his socks and shoes.  His wand went inside his jacket, his coffee cup was refilled in the kitchen.  They headed out together, her letting him drive this time.

Mac shook his head before heading home.  He had some thinking to do because that had felt way too comfortable this morning.

***

Greg called Don later that night.  "Help."

"What's wrong, Greg?"  He leaned back, frowning a bit.  "Greg?" he asked after a second.  "What's going on?" he asked.

"I can't concentrate.  I'm hearing things."  The sound of a swallow. "I'm talking to dead people."

Don hesitated for a moment.  "Okay. Just the ones there, the ones in the morgue, or just the associated ones hanging around?"

"Just the ones in the morgue.  I'd ask Alex but I can't get hold of him."

"Last I knew he was in Miami under arrest."

"For?" Greg drawled.

"From what I heard of the ranting, apparently two guys who were kinda obviously in a gang were picking on Draco for being blond and pretty.  Then one of their buddies comes up on them for liking Draco for being blond and pretty.  Alex defended his mate during the brawl.  One of them pressed charges, they're waiting for the ADA at the moment.  It's probably going to be first thing in the morning."

"Okay, can you help?"

"Depends on what sorta help you need.  If it's something I can do I'm there.  Well, technically I'm at work and Danny's got that 'you're gonna hate me' slouch going on as he walks this way, but I'm yours if I can help you, Greg."  Danny paused, looking at him.  He sent it to him.

Danny took the phone.  "Greg, what's your other area?"

"Divin.... oh, crap.  It hasn't happened before."

"It's been known to happen.  Take the night off, recenter, remove the stress, calm it down, then see if you can force it.  You know that.  If we can, we'll be done in a few hours.  That'll give you time for that."

"Grissom will never agree."

"Greg, tell him what you're going through.  Not like he can't claim you're having a really bad day."

"Okay.  Thank you.  Both of you?"

"If at all possible.  Probably with Stella since it runs in her family and she's gotta know about this stuff too since it'll probably pass on some decade.  'Kay?"

"Okay.  Thank you, guys."  He hung up.

Danny hung up the phone. "You're right, it's related to that.  You're also right that you're gonna hate me."  He handed over the file. "We've gotta get Gibbs up here."

"Crap."  He looked it over.  "You tell Mac yet?"

"Nope."  He concentrated, sending it to Stella, who was with him on a case.  He heard the swearing start and smirked.  "He knows now."  He concentrated on Tony, making him swear.  "Ha!  Made his day too."  He walked off smirking and happier now that he had made multiple people unhappy with today.

"I don't like it when you're in this mood," Don called after him.

"Yeah, yeah."  He smirked at him and practically skipped back to the lab.

***

Tony growled as he hung his head, then looked at his boss. "Incoming case from New York," he said quietly.  "Three brothers, one Army, one Marine, one SEAL.  All dead.  Not sure why yet.  Danny just messaged me."

Gibbs glared at him.  "Now?"

"Not like we get to pick the time, boss.  You want me to tell him it'll be at least tomorrow?"  Gibbs nodded so Tony sent that to the group at large, getting an agreement from Mac and Danny both since theirs was a kidnaping at the moment.  "Done, Danny's going to email us a soon as he uncovers his computer."

"Good. Anything else of note going on?"

"Yeah, this guy's shielded or in a shielded building," he said quietly.  "The tracking didn't work. That was always more Speed's thing than mine though.  He's got multiple ones, I've got one."

"Can you call him?" Gibbs asked impatiently.

"I did and I sent him a sample.  He's trying it between samples in the lab with Ryan."

"Fine.  Let me know the minute he gets something."

"Yes, boss.  I wish I could do more."  He got back to work, prompting Speed, who said the building was shielded.  Tony looked at him, then stood up.  "Boss, slight piece of information but not the one we need."  He looked at him so Tony nodded at the window, making Gibbs follow.  "If we can't find him another way, how do we explain it to people like lawyers?" he asked quietly.  "I'm all for finding her as quickly as we can but I can't risk the chance that my world will be exposed.  It's the cardinal rule we live with."

"That's dangerous," he agreed quietly, glancing around. "When we have it, we'll leave McGee here to track it backwards."  He walked over to talk to him, McGee looking up when he paused.  "We may have information coming from an informant we can't admit to in open court."

"I can track it back if you find her, boss.  Somehow."

"Thank you."  He went back to his seat, looking at Tony.  He knew they had to hide this stuff but sometimes it was too important to not do something the easiest way possible.  Someone came off the elevator and put a piece of paper in front of him, basically a map.  "This is?"

"He's on this block," Speed said quietly, looking at him. "It's shielded.  The whole block.  That's as close as I can get you.  I've tried everything and so has Ryan.  I do know she's in bad shape but still alive."

"Thank you."  He picked up the map, noticing the block's general coordinates were on it.  "Thank you a lot, Speed."

"Not an issue, but next vacation Alex takes, you guys take him."  He looked at McGee, who wasn't moving.  "You going?"

"No, I'm tracking back the source of your information to a method that can be admitted to if someone asks.  Since it's coming from a non-reputable, non-legal, non-admittable informant."

"Good man."  The rest of the team hurried out with Ducky in tow.  "Can't you guys please take Alex?"

"How many more days on his vacation?"

"Six, and we had a sudden parade today."  He walked off, leaving from the stairwell once he had frozen the cameras.

McGee smiled at that.  "Probably not the worst he's done," he muttered as he worked.  The director came down, looking confused.  "Ma'am, Gibbs got information through a friend who has a non-reputable source we can't admit to knowing.  They're going after the victim right now," he offered as he typed.  Tony had messaged him the block.  "I'm tracking it back to a source we can admit to."

"Thank you, Agent McGee.  Was someone else just here?"

"The friend of Tony's with the source's information."

"I see.  Can we cite him?"  He shook his head.  "Why not?"

He looked at her.  "Because his friend said he got it from a crystal ball."  She walked off shaking her head.  "It's legitimate information, but we can't admit to it.  He's deep in hiding and refuses to be exposed."

"As long as it's legitimate information I don't care what sort of crackpots you use.  Just save the victim."  She kept going, going to take something for her new headache.  She saw the security guards in the stairwell. "Problems?"

"The cameras quit broadcasting for about two minutes.  We're checking them now, ma'am."

"Good.  Let me know what's going on please."  That got a nod and she continued to the coffee pot and box of individual doses of tylenol. She was even nice enough to start a new pot for everyone because she was sure Gibbs would need one when he got back.

***

Gibbs walked into Danny's lab, looking at him.  "It's been a long day.  What do you have for us?"  Danny kicked out a stool so he sat with a half-held in sigh.  It was nearly eight at night.  He had been up since five.  It was going to be a long night.

"One SEAL, one Cadet at the Naval Academy, and his twin brother from West Point, all apparently on vacation here in the city, and all now dead at the same time."  He laid out the files and pictures.  "All shot, all within three feet of each other.  All shot with the same gun according to ballistics.  Hey, McGee, Ziva.  We weren't sure how to break it to the family, Mac said there's a protocol for that.  He said you'd tell the people where to go."  Gibbs nodded.  "Everything we've got is there, all the samples are being processed, their blood is all in tox screening just in case, and they were all down in hookerville."

Tony walked in, handing his boss a new cup of coffee.  "I stopped in to see Mac.  He's called the Academies so they can tell the parents, and the one's CO. He told them we were already on the way, we were waylaid by a kidnaping.  They're expecting one of us to call and update them within forty-eight hours, hopefully with it solved.  If not at least with new information."

"Agreed, good work so far.  Let's go over the forensics with him, DiNozzo.  McGee, Ziva, go get autopsy reports if they have them.  Do not badger the techs at this moment, they're all overworked here."  They nodded and left.  He looked at Danny.  "Crime scene photos?"

"We taped it for you since one was in uniform. That's how we knew he was a SEAL.  He had on the patch.  Monroe taped and I gathered evidence and took individual stills."  That got a nod and they broke up, Tony to look at the tape, Gibbs to look at the pictures and evidence they already had.

"Wallets and ID?" Tony asked.

"Not a one.  We got hits on fingerprints alone.  It might be a mugging, it's entirely possible in that section of town.  When they cleaned up Times Square, a lot of them went out here or further into the 'burbs."

"Were they at a strip joint?" Gibbs asked.

"Yup.  Bouncer from last night remembered 'em, got the stamp of a few on their hands.  I figure at least one was drunk by the time they were shot.  Again, that's hookerville."

"Okay.  We'll take it from here, Danny.  Thank you for your meticulous nature."

"Sure thing, Gibbs.  Scene'll be taped off for another day if you need ta go look.  That's all the owner could promise since it was right next to his door and you know drunks who're disappointed if the girls don't give out."

"I do," Tony agreed dryly.  "Very well."  Gibbs gave him a look.  "I was young once too, boss."

"Not like you're mentally adult now, DiNozzo."

"Boss, I'm fully an adult when I'm working.  Thank you anyway."  He saw Danny's smirk.  "What?" he demanded, going back to the tape.

"Alex got arrested for protecting Draco and Horatio got to threaten an Argentinian drug lord about Draco.  Apparently that stuff does rub off."  Tony snickered at that.  "Any word on Beaua or Keelian?"

"Not recently.  Isn't Don checking?"

"Now and then.  Oh, Greg called so we've got to hit his place tonight.  Sounds like he's got a sixth sense blocking up."  Tony shuddered.  "So I'm stealing Stella and going, probably with Don.  Wanna come with us?"

"No thanks.  Vegas is pretty but I'd get into trouble."

"You think, DiNozzo?" Gibbs noted dryly.  "Why would that be?"

"Gee, boss, I don't know, my uncanny streak of good luck at the two casinos run by people like us?  That wasn't a blessed event?" he suggested.

"You?  Cheating?"

"No, me playing slots and baccarat and me smarter than the average drunk gambler.  Me always bet on house."  He got back to work, shaking his head.

"He did, but he did it underaged so they kicked him out," Danny agreed happily, smiling at him.  "Think we should try it again?"

"No I don't.  I don't want to face down knee breakers again this year.  Thanks anyway though."

"Less playing, more work," Don complained as he walked in.  "I got given ten of my folders back and told to check for typos in the names."

"Why does she hate you this week?"

"Not a clue. Maybe it's the game or something.  Speaking of, you ready yet?  We've got to head in a half-hour.  You haven't even eaten lunch yet."

"Crap.  Go get Stella.  She might be on a scene."

"I called, she is, but they were nearly done.  Even then, they've got backups.  Go eat."

"I'll eat while I'm getting dressed.  It doesn't matter to me."  He got back to work.  "Come get me when it's time to leave."

"Fine."  He looked at the case files.  "New guy was working it, trainee detective.  Eight years on the streets so he's not totally clueless."

"Good to know.  Where is he?" Tony asked as he watched.  "That's not right," he said, pausing the tape.  "Danny?"  He looked so Tony pointed at the chalk on the sidewalk.  "What's that?"

"Came from them, not from us.  It was on the West Point cadet's hands too."  He found the information and handed it over. "That's what I got off the analyzer."  He looked at Don, who walked off again.  "Sorry about that but his boss was ordered to do all the back paperwork or else they were going to close the precinct," Danny said quietly.  "Don didn't have the most but he got it done by nine that night.  Some guys were still typing at dawn, even with help."

"We took turns for those days," Tony agreed fondly, smiling at him.  "I heard about the help he did."  He looked out the doorway.  "His boss?"

Danny looked and shook his head.  "Monroe."  He waved her in.  "This is Gibbs, and DiNozzo, NCIS.  They're here for our soldiers this morning."

"Anything I can do to help, let me know," she offered with a smile for them.

"Any leads on where they were before they were killed?" Gibbs asked blandly.

"Some.  They had been inside the strip club but the SEAL brother was trying to feel up a dancer who wasn't being obliging that night."  Danny gave her a look.  "She told me she does turn tricks sometimes.  That night she didn't feel like it."

"Good.  Glad to see you're not biasing it already," Tony noted patiently.  "Anywhere else?  Pool hall maybe? Some guys do use chalk on their hands when they play."

"I tracked them to three other strip clubs, the others they left voluntarily, apparently they wanted women with abnormal breast sizes and couldn't find them.  Before that, I haven't been able to track.  We're waiting on records from the credit card companies.  Since we don't have the cards we had to call to make general inquiries.  The financial background is still in the process of running at my desk.  I'm going to check on it before I go but Danny can show you where that is before he leaves it in your hands."

"I've got a game tonight," Danny said, bending back over the evidence they had.  "That's not pool chalk, Tony.  That's more gymnastics chalk."  They shared a look.  "I've never seen that in pool halls."

"Me either," he admitted.  "Where else would you use it?  Oh, Lindsey, second or third desk on the right?"

"Third."

"Thank you.  Leave it running and I'll have McGee finish it for you," Gibbs assured her.  "Anything else?"

"We're hoping the financial background tells us where they're staying.  None of the major chains are admitting they're staying there."

"I'm wondering why they all came together here," Tony admitted.

"Celebration, get together, something like that probably," Danny offered.  "Both are second year cadets so maybe they're celebrating them passing something hard or getting a rank promotion."

"Maybe," Gibbs agreed.  He made notes.  "One's West Point, the other's where?"

"Naval Academy.  They've got a sister between them who's Coast Guard, Mac called her earlier," Lindsey offered.  "He said he gave the academies and commander his office number so they could give it to the parents directly.  That you guys could be reached here until we knew.  Sister's on her way down, parents were just calling back when I checked in on him, they're probably heading in tonight or early tomorrow."

"As usual, you two can use my place," Danny offered.  "That'll leave you needing rooms for McGee and Ziva since I've only got the one room."

"We'll get a suite, that way we can work out of it," Gibbs promised, smirking at him.  "Nearly time for you to go."

"Yup, thanks."  He hung up his jacket and gathered everything together, handing it over. "Later."  He walked out, grabbing a sandwich from the break room on the way to his locker.  He nibbled while he put his gun and badge away, then everything else.  He changed into off-duty clothes and sneakers, then headed out, running into Don walking his way.  "Let's go."  Don smirked and walked out with him, taking him back to the arena.  Stella was already there, pacing badly.  They both grinned at her. "You okay?"

"I'm feeling antsy.  I just started and the cramps aren't helping my mood any," she complained.

Danny looked around, then obscured a dark corner, pushing her back into it.  He leaned against her, two fingers reaching down to find the magic spot while he whispered in her ear.  "We win this game by a whole lot tonight and I'll teach you how to turn it off for a week," he whispered.  "Then I'll do this," he promised, rubbing harder a few times, "while Don licks you until you beg.  Then Don'll get you ready and ride your ass until you plead and beg for more than my fingers to be in your front.  You, me, him, and anything you ever wanted, all bareback since we can do the anti-disease charm.  After you're limp, I'll take Don's pretty little ass and make him beg for your pleasure while I make him lick you clean again."  She moaned and tensed, then clutched his shoulders.  "All you gotta do is make us win, baby girl.  You think you can?"  She came, biting her lip.  He kissed her and smirked.  "Best cure for PMS ever invented," he promised.  "Go clean up, wait on us, and it's all yours."  She wobbled that way and Danny went to clean himself up, he could fly while hard.  He got into his clothes, his wrists were okay today so he was good on that end, and he went to grab his broom.  The coach whimpered when he saw it.  "Yeah, we raided our old clubhouse and the hidden spot.  I got both of mine.  All but Blackie."  He smirked and winked.  "Check it for me?"

The coach checked the spells, then handed it back.  "Remember, they're fellow officers, no being too evil on them," he ordered quietly.

"Unless they pick on me, not a problem," he assured him smugly.  "We should play the trainee's team again someone soon."

"If we had another backup beater, I'd offer us," he promised.  "Maybe the All City team.   You and Don can always refuse if you get nominated."  He waved a hand.  "Go float and get used to it again."

Danny mounted and hovered a bit, turning sharply, then doing a few rolls.  "We're good."  He saw Don's awed look.  "The Black Vega was a specialty run, it had a different flying spell, and no one's been able to copy it.  Our brooms are literally able to spin in midair.  Unlike the others.  That's why we all got Black Vegas and I got Blackie as well.  See, the only problem with the Vega line was the staff part is too thin.  I always feel like I'm gonna break the handle during a game."  He let Don mount and try it out.  "It's a great broom, but very delicate at times.  Not for seekers because of some of the moves they've got to pull."  Don landed and handed it back.  "I was hoping someone'd see me today and beg ta look at the spells."  He smirked at the coach and flew up to their launching platform.  Stella was up there, already scowling.  "What?"

"You're flying your Vega?" she shouted.

"Well, yeah.  I missed it and I wanted someone to ask ta see the spells on it."

"Fine."  She patted him on the face.  "Just don't hurt it.  It's a little thin on the handle."

"I know, that's the only thing I ever complained about on the Black Vega.  The White Vega and the Blue Vega are even tinier.  There's only one Blue Vega ever made, it was a specially tinted White one.  The White ones were seriously overpowered for game play.  We nicknamed 'em Hermes all the time.  They were great for couriers."

"Wow," Don said as he came up.  "Why was Horatio moaning over the old Red Comet that Tony had?"

"It's a great classic broom," he offered, grinning at him.  "It's very sturdy and banks well, but it's not a turner's broom.  Speed used ta switch with Tony all the time.  Keepers don't need to be able to spin, they need to make sudden rolls and altitude changes.  Speed got a broom for a chaser since that's what he originally played.  Tony's Red Comet is THE broom for keepers.  It's what the standard is set at.  Not too many today get above the standard."

"Pity.  Are brooms getting worse?"

"No, like cars, they're more mass produced these days.  My Vega was built by hand.  All the classic brooms we pulled out of storage were."  The coach came up, giving him a look.  "We stored our original brooms in our hidey hole."  That got a moan.  "Horatio made that same noise when he saw Tony's Red Comet."

"I know someone who would pay you to see the Vega, test the spells, and probably let you test the new one."

"Sure.  I'd like that," he agreed happily.  "Count me there."  He looked at the others as they came up, taking his spot and his bat from Don.  "Thanks."

"It was still in there.  Wrist guards?"

"Yeah."

"What were you flying the game you fell?"

"Blackie.  Vega's have thin handles and I didn't want to play it all the time.  I always felt like I was gonna snap it."  He shrugged and hitched his wrist guards down, then unhitched them and adjusted them, hitching them again.  "Padding bunches in these.  I may have ta go to Diagon to get new ones.  They've got some great ones."  He fussed with his knee and shin guards, then straightened up when the other team flew out.  Their curtains were opened so he mounted up and flew out, Don right behind him.  He let himself space, feeling the lightness of the air around him.  He was back in the good old days in his mind and the game wasn't much different.  He picked a bludger and followed it, switching off with Don whenever he needed to use him as a bumper to aim the bludger like a pinball going for a certain target.  He managed to get the other seeker down and then the keeper, but it was all good to him.  He was back in the comfortable mental place.

That's why he took off his wrist guards when they started to bother him again.  He'd put up with a sore wrist later. He even hit one wrong-handed, backhanding it basically.  It made him wince but it was okay.  He was still getting back into shape.  Their seeker caught the snitch, a foregone conclusion, and they all landed, Danny hitting the bludger coming for him into a capturing net, the other team's beater doing the same with the one coming for her, unfortunately the net behind him.  He rolled and came up smirking then used his broom to smack it back into the proper direction when he didn't quite hit the capturing field and came after him again.  This time it landed and he floated down, landing and smirking at her.  "Thanks for that.  Needed the head rush."

The ref looked at him and moaned.  "I remember those brooms."  She walked off shaking her head.

Danny walked Don back to the dressing room, smiling at the young woman who came bouncing up to them.  "Hi."

"Can I look at your broom?"

"That's her, Messer," the coach called.

"Sure, but I wanna test it if you make a new one."  She beamed and nodded quickly, walking him out of the way so she could see the spells.  "It's layered," he pointed out.  "See, this one's like one'a those spider things and then it wraps around the two other flying charms and the balance charm.  The strengthening and other stuff is up near the tip."  He pointed at those for her benefit.  "I just want one that's thicker.  I always feel like I'm gonna crack the handle again.  Which it looks like I did," he noted, casting the reparing charm on the few splinters.  She moaned and pulled out a camera with an odd attachment.  "Telling charms?"

"Yeah."  She smiled and got to work, looking at the photos.  "There's a charm underneath the balancing charm."

He looked then at the broom, nodding.  "You can just barely see it here," he noted, pointing at the spot where it was showing as a limited lime green glow.  She looked, casting a telling on it.  Then she squealed and hugged him.  "Thanks.  Remember, I wanna test."

"Of course!"  She ran off with her camera and her mental notes, going to charm a broom so he could test it.

Danny decided to head right home, broom and all.  He winked at the coach.  "There's probably another one besides that.  No idea what though."  He waved and headed off.  He landed and Stella gave him a long stare, then moaned, getting up to kiss him.  "We won, you did great, and you deserve a reward."

"Teach me those spells and let me practice them?"

"Of course.  We'll start with the one to hold off cycles and then move to the anti-disease and anti-conception, that way we don't have ta use a condom on you, and then go on from there," he promised, grinning at her.  "Come shower with me?"  She nodded, laying his broom carefully on the couch and dragging him that way.  "Now, can't be used all the time," he pointed out.  "A witch's fertility is bound with her magic."   She shrugged.  "That's why the pill isn't always that effective on us and it can make us feel really sick.  That's why the potion works better and one does take out all but two a year."  He stole another kiss.  "Which is always at solistices."  He got them stripped and into the shower, showing her the first one so it'd have time to work before the others were cast.

"Are you still going to use one on Don?" she asked, letting him scrub her back.

"They don't guard against UTI's, so probably unless he decides he likes enemas, yeah."  He shut off the water and grabbed towels, working her body over, then his, then got them both back into the bedroom.  "Now, practice," he offered with a smug smirk for her.

She cast them all, making sure nothing was going to interrupt this time.  "Don?" she asked.

"Be home soon.  He decided to stop and pick up some dinner and clothes."  He bent down to kiss her gently.

"Guys, we've still got to help Greg," Don called from the kitchen as he appeared.

"Crap."

"One more hour be okay?" she called.

"No, he's talking to dead people."

She groaned and pushed herself up.  "Later, right?"

"Of course," he promised, smiling at her.  "Go clean up, make sure it's totally stopped."  She nodded, going to do that while he got dressed.  He came out in jeans and a t-shirt since their kids would be all over them for hours on end. He kissed Don gently.  "You, me, Stella, some begging when we get back.  You in?" he asked with a cocky smirk.

He considered it for all of two seconds, then nodded.  "Sure, I'm good for that. It's a good reward for winning the game."  Stella came out and he grinned.  "Let me guess, there's a Midol spell?"

"Charm ta stop it.  Potions later and I can get someone to teach me it. I'm sure Emilia knows it."  She grabbed onto them.  "Food in the fridge."  Don finished putting the food in the fridge then she cast the moving spell, taking them to Greg's house.

Cassandra and her two brothers 'oooh'ed as they appeared.  "Stories!" the boys yelled in unison, rushing for them.

"Let them help your father first!" Emilia called from upstairs.  "Then you can pounce for stories."

"Aww, it's my favorite heathens," Danny teased, tweaking each nose.  "Where's your daddy?"  They all pointed at the pool.  "We'll read after he's okay."

"He tick?" Cassandra asked. "I call Uncle David to make a potion?"

"No, he's got a headache and we've got the cure on us," Danny promised, patting her on the head with a grin. "David can make him a potion later."  She beamed and the boys cooed at that thought.  "Good kids.  You stay here, we'll be right back."  He shot Emilia a smirk and walked the students outside to teach them the delicate and unsubtle art of divinations going haywire.  Because Greg had to be suppressing a vision due to not wanting to see it.  Once they got him unblocked again and taken notes on it for him, they could go back to their happy nighttime plans.

The Start of Something Bad.

Tony looked at the letter in his hand, then sighed and opened the small scroll, finding what he had expected when his father's owl had dropped it off.  He tossed it aside and finished getting ready for work, not that happy to have been found again.  He was generally happier when his family were far, far away from wherever he was.  He found his ID and headed out, having to come back for his wand and keys.  Then he remembered his car was at work, so he had to apparate anyway.  He scried the parking garage, finding it full of people.  So he sighed and headed for the target he had set inside the small park near the office, coming out of the handful of trees that made a nice makeout spot during lunch.  He headed through the front door, signing in with a smile.

"Didn't drive?"

"No, I left the car here last night.  I was in a hurry to get home and then head back out.  Less problems to leave it here and accept a ride."  He headed upstairs, finding his boss in there.  "Sorry, boss, didn't drive home last night," he offered for being about two minutes late.  A letter was tossed to him.  "What's this?"

"I have no idea, DiNozzo, it was delivered to me this morning with my coffee."

He looked at him so Tony opened it, looking inside.  "My father," he muttered.  "Going over my trust."  He went to call him, not that his father would accept it very well.  "Patrick, is Father in?" he asked calmly and quietly.  "Do I care?  I'm at work, Patrick.  Well, gee, he's keeping the funds left directly to me away from me.  What did he want me to do, live on the street?"  He listened.  "Tough.  He drove her off.  I'm not accepting anyone who's not the same as she was to me.  Have him deal with it.  Auntie did agree what he did was wrong."  He hung up and turned on his computer.  "If the overbearing idiot shows up, I'll have to take ten to punt him off the building, boss."

"Fine.  Your father?"  Tony nodded once.  "Is this going to cause a problem?"

"Should it, I'll make sure it's fixed."  He looked at him.  "That won't be an issue."  That got a smirk.  "It won't be."

"So, who was she?" Gibbs asked more quietly.

"Not going there, boss.  Drop it."  He typed in his password and got an error message.  He sighed and tried it again.  Then he called computer services.  "Why am I locked out of the system?"  He listened.  "No, I did not.  That's been over eight months."  He hung up and headed upstairs.  He found the Director waiting on him.  "Locking me out of the computer system only hurts my efficiency on my team," he said blandly.  "Which makes Gibbs look bad.  Not like I can't get someone else's password."

"As far as I know, your whole team is on suspension," she said with a catty, evil smirk.  "I could've sworn I put you all on administrative suspension last week."

"Uh-huh."  He opened the door.  "Hey, Boss?  Did you know you were suspended?" he called.  Gibbs came jogging up the stairs, so he let him inside.  "She said we're on admin suspension, which means unpaid."

"I know what it means," he agreed, glaring at the director.  "No, you never told us we were suspended, Director.  When and why did this happen?"

"There's been a number of irregularities about some cases.  There's also been a notice that Agent DiNozzo is making a lot of trips to somewhere that isn't his home.  That speaks to me of giving information to someone."

"Or it could just mean I'm visiting some friends," Tony said blandly.

"Really?  And that redhead last week you were having drinks with?"

"Bar pickup.  She said she was a secretary at one of the embassies.  We talked about soccer."  She glared at him.  "If you had been watching, you'd know that.  You'd also know that one of her friends from the Polish Embassy was at the next table with an FBI agent."  Her face hardened more.  "Boss?"

"Calm down.  I'm sure there's a *good* explanation for this harassment.  If not, we'll be going over her head."

"Tony, incoming," McGee called.

"Fuck."  He opened the door and stomped off.  "Take care of that, McGee.  We're on Admin Suspension for some reason."

"Why?"  Tony shrugged as he trotted down the stairs.  "Okay."  He walked into the office.  "Boss, I still have computer access."

"So it's not my full team.  Did you miss one on purpose?"

"He's being watched," she assured him.

"Ma'am, I'm a part of this team.  If they're suspended, I should be too," he pointed out.  "Unless you're thinking that it's just those two and their reason is personal."  She went red and opened her mouth.  He stared her down.  "Gibbs, I can get you a new password for today."  That got a nod.  "I'll talk with the people downstairs as well."

"Your whole team is under investigation," she sneered.

"Really?  Is that why Ziva's not in yet?" Gibbs said blandly.

"I don't like that insinuation."

"Yay."  He looked at McGee.  "Don't worry about it, stay and work if you can.  Try to clear some of the cold cases.  I could use the day off and DiNozzo's looking stressed."  He walked off, smirking hard at the FBI agents coming up.  "She get one of you guys for having a drink with a secretary?  Fornell," he said, finding him at the foot of the stairs.  "She called you in?"

"Who was DiNozzo having drinks with?  And where might he be?"

"He had a visitor show up.  I'd expect they're screaming on the roof."

"All right."

They headed for the elevator, taking it to the top floor and heading to the roof access stairs.  They found Tony and an older version of Tony standing there glaring at each other.  "Bad news, it's another power play and she involved Fornell."

"Not now, boss," he said firmly.

"You bow down to...."  He saw the wand appear and sneered.  "In front of normals?"

"Yeah, in front of muggles, father.  They already knew."  He raised his wand.  "This is not the appropriate place or time for this conversation."

"You will...."

"No, I will not.  I don't care if it's her.  You took her away from me and it changed her, hurt her greatly.  So jump off the roof, dad.  You're not going to make me marry and have little baby DiNozzo's for the family name."  He sneered.  "If you should try, I'll make sure I'm infertile forever.  After all, I do know that hex you designed."  His father backed up a step.  "Are we perfectly clear why you're going to leave me the fuck alone and I'm going to go to the Vinese?" he asked quietly, moving closer.  "What's mine is mine.  That's all I want, that's all I care about.  You and your ways are why I've nearly changed my name a number of times."

"You're disgracing it anyway."

"Do I care what you think?  I'm a good man who does a lot of good in this world.  With and without my wand.  If you don't like it, bugger off."

His father snorted. "Those boys of yours...."

"Make me happy and have kept me from attacking so far.  Right now Speed's chanting that patience is a good thing.  Danny's telling me to calm down and think then hex."  His father stepped further back, his eyes wide.  "Yeah, dad, your plot has now failed.  We're back together again.  We all work in the same field too."  His father glared.  "So bugger off. I don't care who she is.  Even if she were the perfect woman, I'd never touch her.  Not even with my wand."

"You will marry."

"No, I had someone I would've married, gladly, I was ready to take her to Vegas that night when you caught us.  Since no one's been that special to me, and I'm doubting anyone would ever be that special to me again, it's a moot point.  I'm not going to tie myself into some loveless marriage of convenience for your reputation.  I could care less about the family's reputation.  Remember, you're old and you'll die some day. I can always have my name changed and withdraw from the family line to get my inheritances back."

"Your aunt's said you must marry by the time you're thirty."

"My aunt's had a later clause saying that she saw what you did and if no one could be found that was that special to me again, that was annulled," he said coldly.  "Next time, read the whole thing, father, not just the parts that get you hard.  Anything else?  Because I know that leaves her daughter's and her sister's to me, not to mention your sister's."  His father's face tightened.  "Go away.  Now.   I'm not marrying upon your whims."

"You will or my aunt will stick up for me."

Tony swished a circle in the air, creating a spot of a mirror, then charmed it.  "Vinese, I bring this problem to you before I hex the hell out of my father for his arrogance since he showed up at my work."  She nodded, putting down her quill.  "My father is keeping things I inherited from me and is using it to try to force me to marry a girl of his choice, who I've probably never met.  Since my desire to not marry comes from the fact he forced the one I actually loved away from me when I was younger, I will not marry until I find someone who is special to me.  I don't care what he pulls out of his ass this time."

"Be more respectful," his father ordered coldly.

"Why?"  He sneered at him. "This is only a formality and we both know it, father."  His father gasped so he looked behind him, finding Mac standing there.  "Hey.  Why are you here?"

"Backing you up.  Danny was gripping the edge of the desk so hard it left finger dents."  He walked closer.  "I didn't think you needed the infamous Messer temper here."

"No, not really."  He glared at his father.  "This is the guy Danny works for.  Former Military, father."

The Vinese cleared her throat.  "Anthony, please calm down."

"No."  He looked at her. "He showed up here to force me to marry someone.  I'll be DAMNED if that's going to happen."

"Fine," she agreed calmly.  "What happened to your original one?"

"He hexed her unable to speak or think of me and sent her away.  Even if it were her, it's not the same as she was."

"I agree.  That was wrong, nephew."  He blanched. "He could have been talked around when he was younger if you had handled that more subtly."

"She was of an inferior bloodline!"

"She was a pureblood!" Tony shot back.  "She was more pure than we are!  So what if they were poor!"  His father glared at him.  "I never planned on not working anyway!  I was never going to follow you into the family business and I was never going to become your clone, father.  Get over it already!  You should've realized this when I was ten.  You said it often enough."  His father gasped so he looked back.  "Tim."

"Tony."  He walked closer. "You good?"

"No.  I'm fairly pissed.  Mac had to come so Danny wouldn't kill him for me."

"Well, you two did make that pact," Speed reminded him dryly.  He waved at the Vinese.  "Do you realize how much this has hurt Tony?  How my parents had to hold him and keep him after she got sent away?  How he only went home to pack and then when forced another time since then?"

"I had heard.  His father said he was being childish."

Tony glared at her.  "I was on my way out the door to marry her that night.  That's not childish."

"Very well.  What is his is his," she said firmly, glaring at his father. "Unless they have clauses he has violated."

"One had one," he sneered back.  "We are family."

"I have no family, I'm the Vinese, nephew.  I must rule the same for every family associated under my authority.  Bring me that one so I may look it over."  He nodded, knowing he couldn't get around her.  She looked at Speed.  "You were said to be deceased?"

"One of my coworkers," he said blandly.  "Not like I asked."

"You were checked?"

"By Danny personally."

"I see."  She raised her wand, then looked him over.  "I see you weren't tainted.  You still have no legal standing in this or any other court."

"The goblins seemed to think I was real enough."

She tapped her fingers.  "That is legal precedent, Timothy."

"I've already started that petition.  After all, not like I asked for it."

"Very well.  How long have you been returned?"

"A few months."

She rubbed her forehead.  "You do not have to make this so difficult. I could help."

"I doubt it.  The goblin council has already agreed to my return."  She nodded, smirking just a bit.  "Even though New York didn't teach us some of what it should have, it did teach us that."

"Very well.  I'll keep on file that the goblins noted your return and accepted you back as an intelligent being capable of interaction and not watching."  She looked at Tony.  "I do wish you would marry."

"Yeah, well, you had your chance, you didn't stop him when he did it."  He cut the connection and glared at his father.  "Tonight, father.  I'm going to be at home apparently.  Anything else?"  He apparated off with a louder than normal crack of displaced air.  He looked at Speed, then hugged him. "Thank you."

"Not an issue."  He patted him on the back.  "I needed to pick Gibbs' brain anyway."  He walked over and pulled out a photo.  "What's wrong with this uniform?  We know he took something but no one down there knows what.  He's a retired Marine, a Sergeant Major if it helps."

Tony looked at Mac, who shrugged. "You okay?"

"Giddy, relieved, and Danny's swearing in joy but I think he's in the basement."  Mac smirked at that.  "I'm fine, Mac.  Thank you."  He shook his hand.  "Next time, I'll let you hex him for me."

"Sure.  Can we work on why my obliviates aren't as strong?"

"Sure, get Fornell and I'll check."

"Okay."  He pointed his wand at Fornell.  Gibbs moved out of the way with Speed.  "Obliviate."

Tony went to check, then nodded.  "Not enough power behind it, Mac.  You're going for light and fluffy."  He walked back and patted him on the arm.  "Remember, you've got to have that 'steel box' mentality about that stuff."

"I thought I had."

"Maybe you're just tired."  He shrugged.  "Here, watch."  He spun and pointed at Fornell.  "Obliviate."  Mac went over to check.  "See the differences in mine and yours?"

"You're younger?" Speed suggested.

"Experience should make it stronger.  He's gotten more light and fluffy since his days in the Corps."

Mac mock-glared at him.  "Take that back."

"I'd consider that an insult too," Gibbs agreed dryly, smirking at him. "Now take it off him.  It never worked the first time.  He came up to me a few weeks back and asked about her wand."

Tony and Mac both removed theirs.  "Thank you," Fornell complained.  "Why did yours work?"

"Because I didn't want you nibbling on my ass, Fornell.  I get enough of that already."  He walked over, looking at the picture.  "Mac, isn't that a ribbon out of place or something?"

He came over to look and nodded, pointing at a section.  "That's out of order.  One's missing.  You wouldn't have that one without one in front of it."

Gibbs looked closer, then nodded.  "Possibly.  I'd need a better picture."  Speed concentrated and his camera appeared, letting him see it.  "Yeah, he's right.  The second bar I'd expect at that rank is gone."  He pointed.  "That's normally the fourth.  That's the third.  So someone switched them.  I don't see the second one."  Mac looked then shook his head.

"So, someone redid his medals and ribbons?  Anything else out of order?"

They kept looking then shook their heads.  "The rest is all right.  That's the old style coat and that's how they did collars back in the day."

"Thanks.  We found him dead, not sure why yet.  I knew something was off but not what."  He took the camera back.  "I'm going to go back to listening to Horatio snarl."  He waved his wand with a grin and disappeared with the camera.

Mac and Gibbs looked at each other.  "We really should get together more often, just to form a support group."

"Yeah, but I'd rather have someone who dealt with my director."

"She put us on Admin suspension," Tony said dryly.  "Can I go help Danny in the labs?"

Mac looked at him.  "We'd never be able to explain it in court, Tony."

"Damn."

"Ask Horatio or go help Stella with the grant paperwork I assigned her."  He beamed and called Horatio then went to help Stella.  He looked at Gibbs again. "Politics?"

"My ex," he said blandly. "Trying to get me back."

"Ah, the drug test thing?"  That got a nod.  "Danny was ranting about that when he came in.  He had been with Sheldon."  He shrugged.  "I'd better get back there to watch over things.  I'm off this weekend if you wanted to get a beer."

"Aren't you guys supposed to head to Alex's?"

"Well, yeah, but I can still come and get you for a beer," he offered with a small grin.  "Keeps me away from the dragons and Alex's stories about saving Draco from gangs, which pissed Horatio off grandly."

"Sure.  We'll go for beers."  He smirked and Mac smirked back then disappeared.  He looked at Fornell.  "So, why did she order you to come?"

"To investigate DiNozzo for tampering with cases and for passing off information.  She stopped her rant just short of declaring him committing treason."

"He's suing her."

"Ah.  I figured as much.  The SecNav called me this morning before she did and said to tell him if it was anything and to be very careful of what I said around her."  That got a nod.  "So, who was that?"

"Taylor, NYPD."

"Mac?"  That got a nod and they walked inside.  "I've heard of him. He did the same job you used to do.  I heard he runs a good lab."

"He does.  One of his guys, Tony, and Speed are all former school buddies who just got back together.  We three supervisors have started a support group for when things get odd."  Fornell snickered at that.  "Seriously."  They shared a look as they got into the elevator and went back to Gibbs' floor.  "She's trying to get me back," he said quietly.

"I realize that.  I don't know why, Gibbs."  That got an evil smirk.  "Shows her bad taste," he taunted with a smirk of his own as he got off. "Agent McGee, I need you to get me into Agent DiNozzo's computer."

"No, sir."

"Excuse me?"

McGee looked at him. "No.  If you want into his computer, you're supposed to go to computer services.  I'm not helping you ruin Tony's career on the whims of an obsessed woman with power issues."

"McGee, he's not here to ruin him and the SecNav's already cleared him," Gibbs said.

"I can still lose my job, boss."  Gibbs stared him down.  "Yes, boss."  He got up to get him into it, then glared at him.

Fornell looked at Gibbs.  "You've done good turning him into a fierce little lap dog, Gibbs.  Good job."

"Up yours," McGee said quietly, staring him down.

"Down, boy!" Gibbs ordered. "He's *helping*."

"Really?"

"Really."

"Fine."  He went back to his desk.  "Boss, the Director wanted to speak to you.  Apparently your system is back up and running again."

"Even with me being suspended?"

"Apparently."  They shared a look.

"Last I know, I was suspended too."  He gathered up some stuff. "I'll be working on the boat, Fornell.  Let me know what you find about his dating habits as long as it's not too nasty."

"Sure.  I'll let some of my boys get the perverted things out of the way."  He watched him go, then looked at McGee. "You weren't suspended?"

"I still had access so I'm not sure.  I'm waiting to hear."

"You know it's unpaid, right?"

"Yeah, I'm aware of that.  The same as I'm aware that suspending our *team* means suspending Abby as well since Gibbs brought her in."  Fornell moaned.  "Possibly also Ducky.  We're checking on the definition of teams."

Fornell smirked at him.  "Getting catty in your old age, McGee."

"I don't like power plays.  We're all perfectly happy to work like a real team.  Also, notice Ziva isn't here.  The Director's been keeping very close tabs on her."

"I'll keep that in mind. You guys mind working with her?"

"No.  Not anymore.  Most of the time.   I can't speak for Tony though.  He and Kate were really close."

"Then we'll see."  He sat down behind the computer, getting to work looking through his address book for what date that had been.  "How many women does he know?" he complained finally.  "McGee, does he keep an appointment book?"  The other agent came over to open the top drawer and hand it over.  He looked in there, then at him.  "Why does he have a yo-yo?"

"For those days when he needs to do something while he thinks."

"Oh.  All right."  He shut the drawer and looked at the other one, then shuddered.

"Kate joked a few times that they created viagra off Tony and guys like him," he shared with a grin.

"I can see why."  He flipped through the appointment book, finding the right date.

***

Gibbs looked up as Tony appeared in his basement, giving him a look.  "Isn't that dangerous?"

"Only if you moved stuff around, boss."  He sat on the bottom of the stairs.  "So, did Fornell have fun being a perv in my dating history?"

"He said it's amazing that you managed to make it to work most days."

"I try really hard," he said with a snarky smirk.  "Are we clear to work tomorrow?"  He shook his head.  "How much longer?"

"Not a clue.  He's presented his findings on that one date.  He couldn't find much of a connection between the women so she can't say whoever's sending different agents out to get information from you."  Tony raised an eyebrow.  "She stopped just short of accusing you of treason."

"I'm so going to keep going with that suit," he complained. He stood up.  "Boss, don't you have a date tonight?"

Gibbs looked at the clock, then nodded, putting down his planer.  "It's still early though."

"Yeah, boss.  Go shower and change.  Be a real man."  He rolled his eyes.  "Before I have to give you dating tips."  He smiled sweetly then left.

"I don't need them," he called.  He called Speed.  "What do you do with DiNozzo when he's bored and in an evil mood?"

***

Speed looked at his phone, then put it back against his ear.  "Usually, I tie him down and fuck him hard enough to make him beg and get it out.  He babbles great prank ideas when he's in that sort of mood."  Ryan choked and gave him an odd look.  "Old school friend."  He listened to Gibbs complaining he couldn't do that.  "We'll see what we can do to keep him from being bored.  I take it you're both still suspended?"  That got an affirmative complaint.  "I guess it could be worse.  He does take those moods where he's just evil.  Watch out for those, Gibbs."  He hung up shaking his head.  "Tony's bored and edging on an evil mood."  He sent a thought at his buddy that he had scared Gibbs, getting a cackle back.  "Yeah, someone's going to have to help him wear that out."

Ryan gave him an odd look.  "So, you're bi?"  Speed looked at him.  "Just generally asking, Speed.  I was asked by one of the patrol guys I know if you were.  He was thinking about asking you out."

Speed blinked a few more times.  "It's a thing between some very old and dear friends that I went to boarding school with, but I am bi.  I don't date at the office. A bad breakup could lead to a lot of animosity that would mean someone dying, again."

"Sure, I understand that," he agreed quietly.  "Just asking for him."

"Tell him I'm flattered, but I don't want to take the chance to date out of the office pond.  It's not an ocean and I've seen others who've had problems.  I've seen a few that led to lack of being backed up during a problem."

"I've seen those too," he admitted.  "I never take sides in those unless it's an abuse case and then the abuser has no support from me.  I know it's the job and all, but I can't."

"That means you're human, which counters some rumors going around about you," he offered dryly.  Ryan glared so he smirked.  "It does."  He watched Horatio go strolling past their lab and winced.  "Speaking of evil moods."  He shuddered.  "Either we just got a fed in who's trying to muscle in on Horatio's turf, or someone's in trouble."  He looked at what they were doing, then at Ryan.  "Think we missed something?"

"We need to finish processing this first.  Then we can sneak out."  They got back to work, going a bit faster now.

Eric looked around before slipping into the lab.  "H is in an evil mood," he complained, closing the door.  "Any idea why?"

"Not yet," Speed offered, looking outside.  "You know he heard you, right?"

Eric flinched and opened the door. "Sorry, H."

"It's all right, Eric.  We all have those days.  We also know what causes mine."

"Fed?" he asked hopefully.

Speed looked at him.  "No, that's the 'there's a moron with a badge' look.  I'm hoping it's not a lab person?"  Horatio glared at him.  "Me?"

"No," he growled.

"Does this have anything to do with the guy who didn't stay this morning on our crime scene?" Ryan asked.  Horatio came in. "You didn't hear we got left?"  He shook his head.  "Oops?"

"How long were you two left alone?" he asked calmly.

"Ryan was alone when I got there, but the body was gone," Speed admitted.  "We had one who stopped to ask us what we were doing, then I guess he left because I looked up and he wasn't there anymore either."

"Thank you for telling me about this, boys."  He walked off. Now he had three targets to wear his anger out on. He called Alex's house.  "Can you please connect me with Miss Summers?"  The house elf agreed and connected him through the floo to Dawn.  "Dawn, it's Horatio Caine. I need a slight favor.  No, my nephew is just breaking out in skills and I'm supposed to get him his supplies so I can start to teach him tomorrow, but I'm getting called in on a court case. Please."  He smirked. "That would be fine. I'll send him over.  What's the time difference?"  He checked his watch.  "I'll send him at ten tomorrow?  Thank you, Dawn. Of course."  He hung up and called Ray.  "I've got a solution to not being able to take you.  There's a very nice young woman, who is engaged before you ask, who can escort you.  She's in the school currently so she'll be able to tell you what she's been using. Yes, I can have her escort you around, Ray.  It won't be a problem and she's not that much older than you are."  He smirked.  "Good boy.  I'll do that tonight.  Take a nap now.  She's in England."  He hung up and went to track down the duty log for the patrol shift.  Someone needed to have a talk with him.  The watch commander gave him a horrified look.  Then again the only times he saw him was when there was a problem.  Him showing up in his office was almost unheard of unless he was about to flay someone and cook them over an open pit. "Two of my CSIs were left at a scene, twice?" he asked coolly.

"Oh, shit," he murmured. "Which ones?"

"Wolfe originally and then Wolfe and Speedle."

"Oh, double damn.  I'll find out who, Lieutenant, and have a word with them."

"No, I'll be having a word with them," he assured him. "You can have your own after I'm done."

"Yes, Lieutenant.  I'll find that out for you and send them your way."  That got a nod and Horatio walked off.  The watch commander went to talk to his dispatch people. "Who left two CSIs alone!" he demanded.  "I nearly got chewed a new one by Caine!"

"I'll have them brought in, sir," one of them offered, going to look that up and find them.

***

Danny walked into Mac's office, finding him reading.  "It's a state of mind.  You used to think it was more important."

"You think so?" he asked, looking at him.  Danny nodded.  "Maybe."  He put down the book.  "What can I do for you, Danny?"

"Well..."  He held up a report. "This has no bearing on my case.  Why did I have to deal with this?"

"It was at the scene."

"Unless we have someone who was leaking sand doing the scene, not a lot I can do with it.  Usual sand."  He handed over the report. "I'm guessing someone's beach toy got broken."  He gave him a look. "It was in the middle of the street, Mac."

"It was still at the scene.  We had to make sure it didn't have any bearing or get tracked in by either the killer or the victim."

"One's allergic to the sun and the other's well enough known that he's in the system."  That got a smirk.  "Already being brought in.  Officer reported him saying something along the lines of 'knew I shouldn't have hit her that hard' when he was handcuffed.  Flack was very amused."

"Good.  I like it when he's amused.  When's your next game?"

"Hopefully this weekend."

"It would be a nice change but I think Horatio has to work."

"He's got Saturday off."

"He called earlier to say he had Grand Jury testimony."

"Well, maybe not this weekend. Our next inter-borough game is in three weeks."

"Good.  Then I want you to open this old case," he ordered, finding the file and handing it over.  "Go over it, find me the suspect if possible. I couldn't five years ago."

"Sure."  He walked off reading it, heading to find a place to sit and read, then pull evidence. It wasn't often someone got away from Mac.

***

Ray landed and smiled at the pretty trio of girls standing there.  "Hi."

"Ray?" one asked, stepping forward.  He nodded.  "I'm Dawn.  These are Luna and Ginny.  They were waiting with me.  They think I could get into trouble," she shared with a grin.  He grinned back.  "See, ladies, perfectly harmless.  You've met Horatio."

"Yeah, he's a hottie," Luna said dreamily.

"I'm telling Wes you said that," Ginny retorted.

She looked at her.  "Why would you?  Wes said the same thing."  She smiled and waved at Ray.  "We expect you to take good care of Dawnie for us.  Oh, Midnight!"  He came trotting out of the woods.  "Good boy.  Go with your mother there."  He got pets from them then went to his mother's side, letting her pick him up so they could portkey off.  "I wonder if Alex is thinking about opening a teaching academy.  He seems to do a lot of it."

Ginny gave her another odd look. "Do you really want to see Alex Dumass and Draco teaching?"

"Well, no, but they'd be very good wizards."

"Sometimes I worry about you," Ginny said as she walked off.

"We're supposed to go back to class."

"I am, I'm going to get something sweet first.  Apple's cravings are crossing over."  She continued on into town, going to get herself a treat, Luna right behind her so she couldn't get into trouble.

***

Ray looked around the alley as they walked in.  "The books did good at describing this."

"It did," she agreed, smiling at him.  "Now, Horatio said he was sending you with a key?"  He nodded, handing that and the letter over.  "Okay, let's head to the bank first so we can shop."  He smiled and nodded, letting her lead the way.  "Middy, stay with me," she ordered.  The dog came back from sniffing a man's leg to pee on him, walking beside her to guard the mommy.

"You're Dawn!" someone older and female shouted, rushing over.  "Hello, dear.  Are you off on an errand for the school?"

"No, I'm off an errand for a friend of Alex's.  This is Ray, he got a bit missed so we're going to start his education with the other missed ones we're working with."  She smiled at Ray, then back at the woman.  "Alex knows his Uncle, but his Uncle couldn't come today due to work issues."

"We're missing wizards?" she asked, looking horrified.

"No, the US is missing wizards.  A lot."

She gasped and patted him on the cheek.  "You listen to her, dear.  She's learned quite a lot since she came over to join us a bit late."  She walked off, going to talk to someone.  She knew the true power of gossip and had went to school with someone at Witch World Weekly.

Dawn smirked at him.  "I can almost guarantee it'll stop," she promised, taking his arm and walking him off.  "Middy," she called softly.  He came away from that one man's leg.  "No humping the bad man."  He barked and trotted happily ahead to make sure nothing there could hurt the mommy either. "He's very protective of me.  Alex and them told him to protect me."

Ray grinned.  "Do you get into that much trouble?"

"Well, yes," she admitted with a grin.  "More often than not."  She pointed at a building. "If anyone in there asks you about me, just tell them the truth, I'm nice and doing both our uncles a favor."

"Okay.  I heard you're engaged."

"Yup, and Ron's ahead of us," she admitted, smirking at him.  "Ronald Weasley, what the fucking hell are you doing out of your lessons?"  He jumped and gave her a panicked look, then shook his head and sighed.  "Got you," she said fondly, kissing him on the cheek.  "This is Horatio's nephew Ray.  Ray, this is my boy, Ron."

"Hey, Ray," he said, shaking his hand.  "Draco sent me to watch over her since I've been a bit of a grouch."

"Vacation's this weekend, Ron, you can wait that long for sex."  She kissed him again.  "Be a good boy and come help us."  He nodded, taking her other side.  "Midnight, leave that man alone!" she ordered.

Ron looked at the guy, pulling his wand.  "You are?"  He moved on quickly and the dog came back.  "Midnight, stay with the mommy.  She's getting into trouble."  Midnight heeled very well and kept right with the mommy, no matter how nice some things smelled.  "I thought you had him fixed."

"I did."  She shrugged, smiling at her dog.  "We should make sure no one made your balls grow back."  The dog barked up at his mommy, he liked being smiled at.  Even if she did pick him up to give him belly scratches.  Ron put him back down with a pet.

"Good boy.  Stay right with us.  No nuzzling the goblins for treats this time."  He led her to the desk she'd need.  "My girl there is helping an American shop for school supplies."

"He sent a letter and a key," Dawn said, handing them over.

The goblin looked it over, then looked at Ray, who pulled out his school ID.  "Very well then."  He filled out some forms and stamped them.  "The fastest way is to transfer that amount into your vault tonight, Miss Summers, and take it out of yours."

"Mine's pretty thin. I just did my usual shopping spree," she admitted. "Do I have enough to cover it?"  He looked, then shook his head.

Ron looked at her.  "Alex said to quit wasting your allowance, that he'd buy you clothes, Dawn."  He pulled out his backup key.  "Take it from mine, Hurst."

"Thank you, Cursebreaker Weasley."  He went to do that. He came back and handed over a copy of the forms, then handed Ray a small bag, then Ron a larger one.  "Alex said you had to go book shopping."

"Why?  We've got a library!"  The goblin shrugged.  "Fine.  I'm sure he's put in an order somewhere.  Any other instructions since he's too busy buggering Draco today?"

"Not yet."

"When are they no longer considered apprentices?" Dawn asked.

"When their names appear in the listing," he told her.

Ron blinked.  "That's been about a year now. I thought we were still apprentices."

"You are, but higher level ones. It's like taking specialist lessons."

"Oh, cool.  Harry too?"  That got a nod.  "Really cool.  I'll have to tell him tonight and get onto Alex for not letting us have a party."  He walked off with Dawn, then came back.  "Flack's listed already?"

"Alex has gotten him past the major obstacles.  Since he's not going to be in the field, he's listed as an Apprentice, level two.  You and Mr. Potter are both listed as Specialist Apprentices."  Ron beamed and trotted off with the others.  He shook his head. "We wondered how long it was going to take him to realize that."  He made a note and sent it to Gruinth, who dealt with Alex's tribe of students.

***

Ray walked back into his uncle's house that night, the portkey having been set to there when he was done.  He dropped his packages on the couch and looked at his uncle.  "She can talk," he said in awe.  "She can also make reporters babble in joy."

"Reporters?"

"You forgot she was marrying Potter's best friend?"

"I had," he admitted.  He shrugged.  "Did she tell them you were missed?"  He nodded. "Then we may see less students being missed in the future.  What's it made of?"

"Birch and virgin unicorn fur.  Ten inches," he said proudly, letting his uncle have his wand to look it over.

"Interesting.  Did she take you into the herb shop?"

"No, but Ron did.  Dawn said she does horrible in there so she avoided going near it or the cauldron shop."  He smiled at that and handed it back.  "She got me the standard set of books that Alex told her to get me. I picked up my first wizarding comic, and also a book on 'spells, charms, and potions for teenager witches and wizards'."

"Good.  That's probably got the anti-acne potion and things."  He was handed it to flip through.  "We can definitely teach you out of here," he agreed, handing it back.  "Did she teach you anything?"

"How to clean up a mess since her dog went nuts in the clothing shop."

"Yes, Midnight likes to shop nearly as much as his mistress does."  He nodded toward the kitchen.  "Your mother and dinner are in there."

"Am I headed home?"

"Not yet."  Ray nodded, going to get his dinner.

"Remember not to sit on that, Ray."

"Yes, sir."  He took the plate from his mother's hand, kissing her on the cheek.  "Are you calmer now?"

"A bit."

He grinned.  "It'll be easier and faster to clean my room now."

"Good. I would appreciate you cleaning your room now and then, son."  She smoothed down his hair.  "We will talk tonight."  Ray nodded, taking his plate back into the living room.  She followed, handing Horatio a bottle of water.  She also got given an odd look. "I didn't think you needed a beer."

"Not at the moment," he admitted.  He sat down to drink, watching his nephew.  "So, did you not eat lunch?"

"I did, but that was a while ago.  Oh, they said to give you this," he offered, pulling out the paper on the vault transfer.  "Otherwise it could've taken hours."

Horatio nodded, looking it over. "That's more than acceptable.  It went into Ron's?"

"Dawn had just went shopping," he shared with a small smile.  "That's one expensive girl to have dating you."

"She'll be spoiled by Alex."

"Ron was already complaining."

"She's enjoying it before she graduates and has to start working, son," his mother pointed out, sitting across from him. "You will be responsible with this?"

"I know the urge exists to hex bullies and things, but it's not me, Mom.  I'm going to be a good boy and if I have those, I'll talk them over with Uncle Horatio."  He finished his dinner and put the plate aside.  "She also made me get some clothes.  She made sure I don't totally look like a dork in my two student robes.  The potions smock I do, but not the student robes."

"As did we all, Ray," Horatio assured him dryly. "Probably even Speed."  He handed over a picture.  "I asked Messer for it."

"Who?"  He looked, then giggled. "Is that Speed?"  He nodded.  "He really was a sulky thug back then, wasn't he?"  He handed it back.  "Who were the two others?"

"Tony DiNozzo and Danny Messer.  Danny works in New York with Mac Taylor and a few others.  Tony works at NCIS.  I'm telling you this so you'll know who to head to if something happens."

"Them or the night shift in Vegas, you told me that."  Horatio nodded.  "Do we have a current picture?"

"That was their senior picture.  They haven't changed that much."

"Speed grew up," Yelina reminded Horatio.  "He does look different."

"I'll try to get a current picture," he agreed, smiling at her. "The reason I'm telling you this, Ray, is because the military is trying to recruit those of us with these skills.  They've taken over some of the schools and things as well."

"Wow."  He frowned, shifting until he was leaning against his things.  "Why?"

"Someone wants them to use their skills for the military," his mother said blandly.  "As Taylor used to."  He nodded at that. "Now they want more of them."

"But not everyone should be in the military," he pointed out.

"Which is why we're warning you.  Alex Dumass and some of his friends had to get one of the academies in the US free," Horatio said calmly.  "Sander's sponsored student ended up in the Canadian school because of that."  Ray nodded, getting that.  "You must be careful who knows, Ray."

"I will be, Uncle Horatio."  He grinned at him.  "As long as I don't have accidental problems."

"That's a matter of self control. Which is why most students start at eleven or twelve."

"Eleven?" his mother demanded.

"Everywhere but here," Horatio assured her. "That way we get them before they hit puberty, it gives them a better framework for later control during the hormone swings.  Here we start at twelve and it's a bit harder but we manage."

"I accept that I'm already behind," Ray assured him.  "I know I've got some catching up to do and I know you're only going to teach me what I absolutely have to know.  That way I don't get into trouble and I can look things up if necessary."  Horatio nodded.  "That makes sense.  I'm guessing the ones Speed's working with are getting the same thing?"  He got another nod and a small smile.  "Good.  Then I'm fine with that.  How many did they miss?"

"Too many to train," Horatio admitted.  "We'll figure it out, Ray.  You're my first student. All I've done is tutor.  Thankfully Alex and Speed have both promised to help me teach you."

"That's cool.  Can you teach me how to fly?"  Horatio smiled and nodded. "Dawn said you were pretty good as a keeper."

"I am," he agreed.  "I'm also very good in Charms."  Ray beamed at that.  "I'm miserable in potions, but I can rely on Greg for advice I'm sure."

"That's fine.  Are we starting tonight?" Horatio nodded.  "Charms?"

"We probably should."  He got up and found his wand, bringing it back to sit next to him. "The first is always wand movements," he said quietly, showing him how to swish and flick.  "Now, that goes with a number of spells."

"Wingardium leviosa, like the books?"

"That as well.  Try it on your plate."  Ray swished and flicked, watching it float.  "Very good, Ray.  Now, gently put it back down."  It landed with a small thump.  "Good.  Now, let's move on."

Yelina sat back and watched her son learn something she considered mildly evil.  Horatio would make sure he stayed a good boy.

***

Speed looked up, seeing the suit in the hallway of the lab.  He nudged Eric, nodding at him.  They had the windows obscured thanks to Ryan, who was getting paranoid from Horatio watching them.

"Ryan," Eric said quietly.  He nodded outside.

"Super.  Feds."  He stared at him.  "Disappear, Speed.  Now."  He popped off.  Ryan looked at Eric.  "You've never heard of it, get to Alexx and whoever else in the lab.  Call Horatio."  He got a nod and Eric walked out while Ryan went to ask the suit what was going on.  "Excuse me.  Do you have a visitor's pass, sir?"

"I'm Special Agent Donaldson."  He flashed his credentials.  "I'm here to see Timothy Speedle?"

"He's gone for the day."

"The receptionist said he wasn't."

"He left earlier with a headache."  He looked at him. "I'm working with Speedle, can I help?  I'm Wolfe.  We work on the same cases for the most part."

"No, sir."  He checked the list in his hand, then blinked at him. "Well, perhaps.  We're here to talk to him about his choice of laboratory."

"Hmm.  No.  He likes it here.  I can assure you he'd never switch."

"He may not have a choice, sir."

"I doubt that."  Ryan moved closer.  "You shouldn't be here."

"Sir, that sounds like a threat."

"It's not, it's a statement of fact."  He mentally started a summoning of Willow, noticing when she appeared up the hall.  "He'll be back tomorrow, you can talk to him and our boss then."

"I'm afraid that'll be too late," he said blandly, pulling out handcuffs.  "If you'll come with us."

"No."  He noticed Frank Tripp coming up.  "Frank, go away.  Now."  He got an evil look.  "Seriously, Frank.  Go away.  These nice guys want to take Speed."

"Over Horatio and Alexx's dead bodies they're getting the boy," he said sarcastically. "Those two will destroy everything if he's removed from this lab again."  He glared at the Federal Agent.  "I'd leave, whoever you are."

"Special Agent Donaldson. FBI."

"Yay.  Go.  Now."

"I'm ordered to bring Detective Speedle in."

"Yay.  Go.  Now," Ryan mimicked.  Frank smirked at him so he grinned back.  "It's what I do in my spare time, Frank."  He glared at the agent again.  "Go away."

"I can't do that, sir.  You're going to have to come with me."

Willow strolled over, smiling at Ryan. "Hi, I wanted an update on my assistant's case.  Is this a bad time?" she asked cutely, smiling at Ryan.

"No, not in the least.  He was just leaving."

The agent swallowed and looked at her.  "Miss Rosenburg."

She glared at him and he backed up a few steps.  "Really?  Am I?"  He started to say something and she raised a hand.  "I will turn you into something cute, fluffy, and sellable."  He turned and ran.  She looked at him.  "Call Horatio."

"Eric."

"Okay.  Call anyway."

"On it," Frank offered.  "Then I want an explanation."

"Ask Horatio," Ryan ordered.  "That's what he told me to say," he defended at the heated look.  "He told Alexx the same thing."

"Fine."  He finally got Yelina on her phone.  "Why were there feds here looking for Speed?"  The phone was handed over.  "There were feds here looking for Speed, tried to take Ryan, and why is Rosenburg in the lab, Wolfe?"

"I called her."  He shrugged. "She makes really good backup."  He walked her into his lab.  "Let me put everything back up and then I'll drive you home.  Thank you."

"I hate the purge.  It's evil."

Frank walked in and shut the door. "He said for you two to tell me."

Willow snapped her fingers and a small flame appeared on her fingertip, making him stare.  "Some of us are a bit powerful and they want us to work for them."

"Speed?"

"I'm going to find out why they want him," Ryan admitted. "This cannot get out, Frank."  He banished the flame, staring at her.  She just smiled.  "Showoff."

"Of course.  I was raised with Xander."  He snickered at that.  He was the only one who had laughed at Alex's theatrics while he had been in town. She looked at Frank.  "They want us in the military, Detective.  They've tried to take a number of us into secret custody for that."  She listened, then looked at Ryan.  "Let's go.  Now.  There's at least five of them."

"Decent."  He took her hand.  "Laters.  Make sure Eric knows that it's not put up fully."  They disappeared.

"Holy mother of god," he hissed, calling Eric.  "Delko, Wolfe just had to go for a run with his buddy Willow.  Some of the stuff's still out in the lab.  She said more are coming."  He hung up and went to get with security.  Maybe it wouldn't end up in a stand-off.

***

"Mr. Daniel Messer?" a female voice said from the hallway.  Danny looked back at her then went back to his microscope.  "I need you to come with me please."

"I doubt it."

"Sir, that's an order. I have a warrant if I have to use it," she said plainly.

"For?"  He made notes and repackaged the slide, then turned off his microscope before looking at her again, his glasses back in place.  "What did I supposedly do?"

"You were born."

"Not my choice."

"Sir, I don't want to have to make this hard."

"Yay."  He glanced around, then pulled his wand and changed her.  "Pity."  He picked up the turtle and walked it down to Mac's office, putting her blatantly in front of him and the agent in there.  "That slide is murky and it looks like squid ink, I'll do an analysis when I get in tomorrow morning. I repackaged it."  Mac nodded slowly, his eyes wide.  Danny looked at the others, then back at him.  "We all know I'm not the peaceful sort, right?"

"Not in the station, Danny," he ordered quietly.

"Obscurus," he cast, obscuring all the windows.  Then he hexed the two agents in there, giving Mac three turtles.  He put them all on the desk and smiled.  "I've had enough already."  He got a head's up from Speed, and Tony groaned. "Do we think his father is that petty?"

"Yes," Mac offered, looking at the turtles.  "I have nowhere to keep them."

"Give them to Hammerback.  Maybe he'd like some new pets."  He walked out, going to get the stuff out of his locker.  Don was already in there, as was Stella. "Tell Mac we're heading to Alex's now.  Right now.  Speed's already heading.  Tony's at Gibbs' to get him.  He said he's warned McGee."  He slammed his locker shut, looking around.  "Yo, any of the cult members here?"  No answer.  "Anyone else here?"

"Just me and Lindsey," Sheldon offered.  "Go.  Now.  Before they come back."

"Know anyone who likes turtles?  Mac's got three."  He created a portkey and they headed.

"Crap," Sheldon offered, heading to call someone.  "Sal, it's Sheldon Hawkes.  Danny and them just had to leave.  No, Feds," he said quietly.  "Yeah, that sort.  Be very careful.  Oh, Mac's got a few new turtles.  We'll have to find him a tank."  He hung up and looked at her. "Not one word.  They wanted to capture them to get someone they know because they want the CSI out of the lab to cover something up."

"Okay," she said quietly. "Why?"

"Because someone higher up is an idiot," he assured her, taking her to Mac's office. "They went visiting."

"Agreed."  He got up and looked around the office, gathering a few things, then he nodded.  "Tell night shift that I'll be back sometime soon, my country came calling for a few days.  Don't expect the rest of us back until it's fixed. We'll call around."

"Gotcha."  Mac nodded at the turtles and Sheldon smiled. "I'll take care of Danny's new pets too.  Go."  Mac nodded and disappeared since the windows were still obscured.  Sheldon gathered up the small creatures into an evidence box and took them with him.  "Come, Lindsey."

"Yes, Sheldon. Why?"

"Because we just got ambushed by the Feds," he said grimly. He walked her out to his car, getting her in holding the former people and heading around to drive.  On the way, he dialed the number in his cell.  "Toby, it's Sheldon Hawkes.  No, the purge just tried to hit our group. I warned our other detective, the others took off running for Alex's.  Yeah, needs to be known about.  I don't know, man.  I know Mac had to go help Tony earlier because Danny was about to throw a fit about something going on down there. Thanks."  He hung up, then called him back.  "Do we have a general repository for new turtles who used to be Feds?"  He smirked.  "On my way."  He turned and headed the other direction, going to take them to the overlord's house.  Once there he took the box and gave her a look. "Stay."  He got out and walked up to the door, smiling at the guard.  "Danny Meser sent me with these feds who tried to kidnap him."  He handed the box to the guard.  "Our union rep said to hand them to you."

"You're one of us?"

"No, my sister was."  He went back to the car, calling his sister.  "It's Sheldon.  Lay very low.  We were almost purged."  He hung up and took her home.  "Lindsey, we cannot speak about this.  Do you understand?" he asked quietly.  She nodded.  "Good.  Not one word about this, the turtles, where I dropped them off, nothing.  Those people are very bad and they want Mac and them to work for them by force.  It won't happen but they want it a lot."

She nodded.  "Okay.  What about us?"

"They've got special skills we don't.  I may be in trouble but I never showed the skills they want.  My sister does."  She nodded at that.  "So just go home, forget all about the turtles, and try to sleep."  She got out and headed upstairs, he went to his place.  Hopefully his family would be all right.

***

Tony heard the 'oh shit' from Speed and groaned.  "Boss, purge coming.  I'm going to kill my old man if he had anything to do with this."  He stood up.  "Get to safety, boss.  It's hit New York too."  He disappeared, going to hit the 'pack me now' button for his place.  Then he hit the charms for Danny's and Don's places as well. Stella didn't have one yet, but they could get her clothes.  He summoned the stuff from their places, scrying Stella's before heading over there.  A few swishes and flicks, then her closet and dresser were packed.  He gathered them back with the other stuff, then went to Speed's, but he was doing his.  "Grab on.  Alex taught me the camp moving spell."  That got a nod and the 'pack me' spell was redone for this apartment.  The two boxes joined the others in the circle and Speed stepped in.  They headed for Alex's.

"What about the others?" Speed asked, dialing as soon as they landed.  House elves came out.  "That's our apartments' stuff," he ordered.  He got Ryan.  "Is everyone down there safe?"  He listened, moaning a bit.  "Thank you.  Where is Ray?  Because he's new.  No, he just got his today."  He nodded.  "Okay."  He concentrated but Tony put a hand on his arm, shaking his head.  "No?"

"No.  I felt something.  The kid searched for us and hit a side realm.  An alternate us."  Speed nodded, relaxing.  They could get him back from that and they trusted themselves.  "All Horatio had was an older picture.  He got our senior picture from the beginning of the year, while we were still with the girls.  Danny told me that's the one he gave him, wanted to know if I had anything more recent."

"I trust us," he reminded him.

"Good."  They headed into the house, finding Horatio in there.  "Ray hit a pocket realm?"

"Apparently.  All I had was the senior picture I got off Danny."  He looked at Tony.  "Can we get him back?"

"Yeah, I've got the books on that," Alex called. "Been in a few of them myself."  He came out.  "Okay, all your stuffs were put into your usual rooms.  Draco's throwing a really loud fit in the study, and Stella, someone packed for you, dear."  He kissed her on the cheek.  "I warned Philip and he warned Greg and them.  All the Banes from the US and their protected people are heading for there."  She nodded.  "Fortunately we've been working covertly on this problem through the bank and the Ministry here.  We're getting it stopped and Dawn gave an interview earlier that I allowed her to do. That should get a louder outcry started.  Hopefully it won't be more than a few weeks."  He looked around.  "Dawn's coming up anyway, but she's leaving Luna and Ginny there.  Gringotts ordered all curse breakers not in the field to come in for emergency meetings tonight, and those who are in the field are being contacted to make sure they're all safe.  Fortunately there's no active digs or projects going on in the US that can't be abandoned.  Mostly things like cleaning up artifacts left in wills."  He grabbed his cloak. "I'll be back, defend the castle and Draco."

"Fat chance.  I am a curse breaker as well," Draco reminded him, stomping out with Ron and Potter. "Arens is picking up Dawn.  Let's go."  He nodded at their students.  "Get comfortable.  We'll hold real lessons starting tomorrow."  They stormed out as a group, heading to the aparation point.

"A pissed veela is a horrible thing on the world," Danny said quietly. "Anyone hungry? It's nearly dinner break for us."

"I could eat," Don agreed.

"I already did," Stella offered, smiling at Horatio. "He'll be fine, Horatio."

"He had better be."  He followed them, going to watch over everyone.  "Tony, call Gibbs, make sure he's fine."

"They were coming up his driveway when I popped out.  Give it another twenty then I'll send him a scale as a portkey."  He readied one and sent it there, sliding it into his back pocket by his orders.  He knew his boss would've felt it.  He looked at the nearest house elf.  "Watch out for Gibbs.  He's on his way, possibly with Abby."  They nodded, sending one out there to watch for them.  He called McGee.  "Are you safe?"  He nodded at that.  "No, I sent the boss something for his own security.  No, send her to the Leaky, I'll pick her up there."  He hung up and looked around.  "Abby nearly got taken from the lab.  McGee got to her in time.  He's sending her to the Leaky.  Let me floo over."  He went jogging for the floo port out by the walls of the valley but one of the house elves went instead to get her.  Tony went back to the house, seeing if they had missed anyone important to the group.

Speed called his friend's father.  "Mr. DiNozzo, I need the truth.  Did you get the purge onto us today?" he asked quietly.  Danny was right behind him.

"What purge?"

"The military is tryin' ta purge all of us, get us ta work for 'em," Danny said quietly.  "They came after my group, Speed's group, and Tony's group."  His father's face went pale, then very rigid.  "That's why we're askin'.  You and he got into a fight and I don't wanna think that bad about you."

"No, it wasn't me," he said firmly.  "I will be finding out about this."

"I gave someone three new turtles," Danny offered dryly.  Speed gave him a funny look.  "Not like I was gonna let myself be captured, Speed.  Sheldon probably took 'em to the overlord if I know how our union rep thinks."

"Very well. I'll be there tonight," he promised.  "Do you have another theory, Daniel?  Since I would never do that to my son?  He's already too close to them for my comfort."

"They were trying to take over New York's academy," Mac said as he came in.  "They already had Chicago's rolls.  They told me they knew I went to Chicago."  That got a nod and the head disappeared. "Who was that?"

"Tony's dad.  He looks a bit different without the illusion charms," Speed said, standing up. "Floos can strip those off."

"Bloody fucking hell!" someone shouted from the hallway.

"Some of us are in here, Methos," Speed called.  The defense teacher stomped in.  "What?"

"We're having a Bane reunion and Nick's got most of the books we need."

"The recall switch," Danny said, going to show it to him.  All the books that were currently out of the library appeared on the table.  Including a few that had been in other libraries. "Got what we need?"

"I do," he agreed, pulling out the books they'd need.  "We'll be adding at least one of you to the Bane network this weekend." He stomped off, heading back to the floo port with the books.

Horatio called Grissom.  "Gil, Horatio Caine.  Tell whoever had books from Alex Dumass that they got recalled.  Some of us almost got taken in the purge and they needed them for research over here.  Thank you.  No, he's heading for the school.  I'm at Alex's.  Thank you, Gil.  You too."  He hung up.  Then he called Alexx. "Are you and the kids safe?  I don't care.  They came to try to purge us, Alexx.  Hide the kids and stay safe.  Apparate in the open if you have to."  He hung up and called Calleigh, who had Eric with her. "It's me. Speed and I are safe.  Watch out for Yelina.  They should let her go tonight.  Watch for Ray to reappear."  He listened to Eric, nodding a few times.  "I didn't expect them to but Willow is very high profile.  It's being worked on, kids. If anyone asks, someone broke into my house to take all of us.  Ray and I escaped.  Yelina's going to be set free or else I'm going to destroy them.  Other CSI were also almost taken.  We're all in hiding.  You two lay very low, only take those you trust to cases if you have to go out.  If you have to run as well, tell me where.  Tell Eric to make sure his sister is safe if they knew Wolfe was."  He hung up and looked at them.  "They knew what Ryan was somehow."

"That could be because of Willow," Mac said gently.  "Should we worry about getting Yelina, Horatio?"

"I was going to try to summon her."

"You'll have to get out of the valley," Danny ordered.  "The shields prohibit it.  Find McGee and make sure he's safe.  He can help, he's still either in DC or he's in Seattle hiding with the Council he's been working with."  That got a nod and he went to do that with Mac's help.

"I sent a portkey to Gibbs," Tony offered as he came back.  "He's not here yet."

"I know, I cleared him to come in on an emergency one," Danny promised.  That got a smile and a nod.  "He should be fine.  If not, I can get Alex."

"Where's Harry?" Abby demanded as she walked in.

"The bank," Tony called, bringing her running to hug him.  "Gibbs is on his way in," he promised.  "I sent him a portkey."

"They were menacing him at his house."  She buried her face in his chest.  "I don't like this."

"Me either," he promised.  He looked at Speed, then at Danny. "The kids?"

"I can't get the school," Danny admitted.  "I did get one of the thug bastards.  He's in our room and he said he's summoning those who needed safety the most.  He said the prefects locked the houses down earlier in the night and some of them managed to get out.  If they have to, they've got the stuff to form a rebellion.  We'd have Ray come back there probably, or out in our old hidey hole."

"Decent," Tony agreed. He went back to cuddling Abby, waiting on the news that Gibbs was there.

Not Quite What I Was Going For

Ray flinched when the door splintered.  Someone ran in and he saw a gun, so he did the smart thing.  He had read the books, he knew what aparating was.  He took off, keeping that picture firmly in his mind.  He landed with a bad thump in a darkened room, moaning a bit.  That was not something he wanted to do again.  He felt like he was cotton wool being pulled apart by a toddler at the moment.

"You'd better be a hurt house elf," a male voice hissed.  It wasn't very deep, and it sounded about his age.

"I wish.  Apparating gives me a headache apparently."

"Luminos."  A young Danny Messer sat up, staring at him.  "Who in the fucking hell are you, kid?"

"Ray Caine." He looked at him. "Please tell me I didn't go back in time?"

"Huh?"

"My uncle, Horatio, said if I ever got into trouble to come to you.  Federal agents were breaking in the door.  We're in a purge, but I know Speed and he's in his early thirties in my life."  He got to his knees, looking at him.  "Did I go back in time by accident? I was trying to apparate with the picture Uncle Horatio showed me earlier.  It was a younger one, from you guys in school."

"Whoa!" he said, holding up a hand.  Danny pointed his wand to the right, then muttered something.  Someone next door yelped and came jogging over.  Tony DiNozzo, seventeen and one of the top badasses in the school, stood there, wand in his hand.  "Do we know a Horatio Caine from somewhere?"

"Speed works for him in my time and he went here," Ray told him.  He looked at Tony and grinned.  "You've been down working with Speed in the lab," he offered.  "Recently, after he came back."

"What?" he demanded.  "SPEED!" he bellowed.  A few others glared at him from their rooms.  "We just got a delivery."  That got more glares.  "Someone get the head of the house!" he yelled.  "Tell her it's a human delivery!"  Speed came out of his room, his hair sticking up every which way, still damp from his shower.  He and Speed walked in, then shut the door and made seats for themselves on the bed. "Okay, start again.  From the top, kid."

Ray nodded, shifting to get comfortable, wincing a bit.  "I'm Ray Caine.  I'm Horatio Caine's nephew."

"Heard of him.  He went here about a decade ago," Speed offered.  "Graduated seven or eight years ago if I remember right."

Danny blinked. "He's one of the guys who made the study center, right?" he asked.  Speed nodded. "Okay, got that part.  Keep goin', kid."

"Okay.  I'm his brother's son.  His brother's dead, long story.  Horatio's working in Miami as the head of the CSI lab down there."  They all nodded at that.  "In my life, Speed's about early thirties somewhere.  Unfortunately we've got the military doing something Uncle Horatio called a purge.  The military is trying to get us to work for them."  That got slower nods.  "Earlier tonight, when I got back from picking up my wand and stuff, he showed me you guys' picture from what he thought was your senior year and told me who you were, to run to you guys if there was a problem.  I know Speed, and I've seen Tony from a distance, but I was focusing on the picture.  Did I go back in time?"

Speed pulled his wand and ran it over him.  "No, you slipped realms.  We're an AU to you, kid."  He looked at the others.  "Danny, what did you eat before bed this time?"

"Not funny!  I didn't conjure the troll in my sleep!" he said, kicking at him.  Someone pounded on the door.  "Yeah, s'open!"  The Headmistress walked in and they all waved, then pointed at Ray.  "He got sent to us.  His uncle Horatio only had a picture of us at this age."

"We're juniors," Tony noted.  "So you thought us a bit younger and it's good to know there's other versions of us out there."

"You had to pick up a new wand why?" Speed asked.

"I got missed."  He shrugged.  "Uncle Horatio is teaching me since I'm in Miami, my mother's panicking about this stuff, and the purge."

"Purge?" the headmistress asked.

"The US military is trying to force us to work for them in my realm or whatever," Ray told her.  "Uncle Horatio told me to come to these guys, but I'm assuming he meant their older counterparts."

She sighed and shook her head.  "All right, let's go to my office.  Boys, get dressed, meet me up there with him."  They nodded and she walked out, going to prepare for this talk and get the nurse in.  Just in case it was needed for passing out people.

***

Ray followed the boys back to their dorms. "I'm really sorry I did this, guys."

"Not an issue," Danny said blandly.  "Not a great time ta do it, but not an issue."  He looked at his cohorts, then back at Ray.  "How did they miss you?"

"This school apparently missed a lot of students.  You, Speed, and Tony are training two others that got missed who're about your ages. I have no idea who, they don't tell me that stuff.  He did tell me Mac Taylor's name.  He's apparently Danny's boss at his CSI unit."

"I knew you two were too geeky to be normal," Tony taunted, heading into his room.  "Speed, do you wanna crash with me or Danny?"

"We'll crash together," Danny offered.  "Kid, take my room.  Do not touch my brooms."

"Uncle Horatio promised he'd teach me how to fly this weekend," he offered grimly.  "I wouldn't know what to do with one yet."

"Don't even think about doin' it with mine," Danny ordered, heading for Tony's room.  "We'll get you up for breakfast and that stuff."  Ray nodded, giving him a hesitant smile.

"It's gonna be a long day, Ray, get some rest," Speed ordered more gently.  He let him into Danny's room then went to curl up with his posse.  "Ideas?" he asked once he was comfortable on Danny's chest.

Tony climbed in and curled up behind him, one arm over them both.  "Not yet.  Danny?"

"His story checks and you can do that during an apparation if you're not careful.  There's documented cases in the library.  I'm wondering if we should pump him for information."

"We're an alternate realm from him, it might not hurt anything," Speed said quietly, then yawned. "I'm more worried about the looks he was giving me."

"We'll find out tomorrow," Tony decided.  "Do we teach him?"  They both nodded, he could feel it.  "Okay, is he going to be enrolled?  He's the oldest first year I've ever seen."

"He is," Danny mused, thinking about it.  "I say we teach him.  Not like we're not bored anyway.  Speed, do some research on his family and his uncle."  He got a quiet, sleepy sounding hum.  "Tony, you're best at interrogation, find out what you can."  Tony yawned and nodded.  "Good.  I'll figure out what we're teachin' the kid based on what you find out.  Speed can do the flying lessons."  He yawned and accepted the gentle kiss from Tony.  "Love you guys too.  Let's nap for now."  They drifted off, letting themselves relax for now.

***

Danny got the kid up and moving toward the stairs.  "Geez, kid.  Most of the rest of us have been up now for at least a half-hour."

"I get up at seven for school," he complained.

"By seven most of the food's gone," Danny assured him, taking him down to the dining hall.  He found the other two and his usual seat open so he sat down and pointed at Ray to grab another chair and bring it over.  The house elves put food in front of them. "Thanks, Gerrty.  Get Ray there some caffeine too, 'kay?"  The house elf brought him food and caffeine too.

"Thank you," Ray said quietly.  She patted him on the wrist then left.  He looked at them.  "What?"  They were all staring.  He dug in, eating as only a young teenager could.  "I'm still growing," he defended at Speed's amused looks.  "You told me once you ate half the side of a cow one weekend."

"I did," he agreed fondly.  That alone proved the kid knew him at least casually.  "Okay, kid.  What have you learned so far?"

"Um, levitating, three other charms.  Uncle Horatio had only started to work with me for an hour or so."

"Good.  That means you're a blank slate."  He looked toward the headmistress, getting a 'come here' glare.  He got up and headed up there, going to get some more soda.  "What?" he asked.

"You three are protecting the boy?"

"Yeah.  He was sent to us."

"Fine.  What has he learned?"

"Four charms.  He'd only been learning for an hour."  She shuddered.  "We need ta know what he knows about us."

"It could be vastly different."

"It'd better be vastly different.  I'm not sure I wanna be a cop."  She nodded, accepting that.  "Any restrictions?"

"Try not to turn him into someone who'll hex in the hallways."  She noticed Danny and Tony both stiffened and turned pale.  "Let's go."  She walked back there.  "What?" she asked quietly.

"I asked him about the old war that got restarted and then stopped again," Ray said quietly.  "I'm sorry, guys."

"It's okay," Tony said, calming himself down.  "Yes, there's some over here, no they'd never attack the school."  Ray blinked at him.  "I swear to you, they won't."

"They do, they're in trouble," Danny said finally, quietly.  He sipped his drink.  "It got ended, restarted, and then stopped?"

"Yeah, well, according to the books that're right up until his fifth year, Potter, Harry, ended up being able to stop the killing curse somehow. He's got a really bad scar on his forehead thanks to it.  Vo...  Um, HIM, turned into a ghoul, wandered around for a few years, came back when Harry was a first year at Hogwarts.  Harry's...  Um, let's see.  He graduated from there about two years ago in my time and I'm just about to turn sixteen if that helps."

Tony looked at the date on the kid's watch, doing some mental math.  "So, it'll be stopped this year sometime if I'm right."  Speed nodded at that.  "Any idea when?"

"I think Halloween but I'm not positive.  It was only given once in the books and I'm not sure I remembered right."

"Okay," the headmistress agreed.  "We can see if there's a difference there.  Boys, pick up and let's do this in private."  They nodded, going to get more soda and take their plates with them and Ray as well.  She put them in an empty classroom and locked the door.  "All right, you know more about these boys' present lives in your time.  While we're an alternate reality to yours, some of it could be necessary for us to know.  What are they doing?"

"Tony's working with NCIS, in DC.  Under a guy named Gibbs.  Says he's a bastard but he's usually smiling when he says it.  Speed's a CSI under my uncle Horatio.  Danny's a CSI here in New York under a guy named Mac Taylor. I know these three are teaching a few others who got missed. The school was missing people on purpose.  Um, I keep hearing a Don Flack and Stella Bonasera mentioned?"

"There's a Bonasera left?" she asked.  "I thought they all died."

Ray shrugged. "I'm on the outskirts of that talk.  If I had a way, I'd tell you.  I do know that Danny's got a problem with his wrists.  Uncle Horatio was finding him a rub for them. Something about a fall, I think senior year."  Danny moaned at that.  "I know they went to separate schools. I know Speed earlier was swearing about Tony's father trying to force him to marry someone he didn't want to."

"Audry?" he asked quietly.

"Speed said you're a playboy and you date a lot.  I have no clue."

Tony sighed and slumped down some, drinking his soda.  "I'm seeing the unsutble hand of my father in that for some reason."

"Sounds like him," Speed agreed.

Danny coughed.  "Fall?"

"Not a clue, he was muttering to himself about it.  I know you play beater with him playing keeper when you guys play some of Alex Dumass's friends, you guys call them Banes?"

"I've heard of Dumass," Danny admitted.  "He's been attacked in the past and kept them off."

"Okay."  Ray sat up.  "Did he deage?  Alex, who I met when he was in town with his husband Draco, who's a veela of some sort, consort maybe since they kept calling him that, was only about twenty-one or twenty-two."

"Are we sure it's not his son?" Tony asked .

"No.  Speed told me he was the reason why curse breakers always searched for special dark traps when they went into jobs now.  That he had been deaged due to a curse on a job.  He's the reason the stupid vampire show was such a hit, everyone liked Xander."

Danny got up and headed out, coming back a few minutes later with a few books.  "Okay."  He opened up a yearbook. "That's your uncle?"  Ray beamed and nodded so he passed that on.  "Quidditch keeper, member of the Charms Society."  He sat down with the other one, skimming. "Here we go, Dumass, Alexander Michael.  Curse breaker, attempted deaging, was found to be an unnamed white light power source."  He blinked at that.  "Huh."  He looked at him. "Potter's a year older. It happened last year."  He handed them the book.  "Okay.  Anything else you know for sure or think you know, kid?"

Ray nodded.  "Speed and you were talking once about the stuff of your girlfriend's that you had found at your family's house after they kicked you out.  He was going over how to break a memory charm on you about Daphne?"  He nodded slowly.  "He said a few times that it was probably done in kindness."

"Why?" Speed asked.

Ray looked at him.  "All I know is that you said she died.  That his parents had her taken from him.  You said it wasn't surprising that they went after his girlfriend because she's not like him."  He shrugged, looking clueless.  "I'm not sure why.  Is she a muggle?"

"Nope," Danny said dryly.  "She's not a pureblood though and there's still some Death Eaters over here."  The headmistress sighed.  "Okay, so we've got maybe a year?"

"He said it was around when you fell."

"A year or so," Danny amended.  "How did I fall?"

"I think during a game?  Not real sure."

"That does explain why I'm not playing pro," Danny agreed dryly.  "Which wrist?"

"Off.  Uncle Horatio was saying something about it wouldn't bother you while you batted at least."

He nodded, rubbing that one.  "Okay.  Anything else?"

"Yeah, I've heard little bits of conversation while I was hanging around the office to escape my mother, the dreadful panicking one.  You three split for a while.  Uncle Horatio wasn't really happy when Speed suddenly took a day off to clean out your old hiding places.  The next day, Speed came in acting like he was before he met you two.  Uncle Horatio wasn't really happy about seeing a teenaged Speed."  Speed chuckled darkly at that.  "Exactly. But we shared music."  He looked at Danny.  "I'm assuming you two did the same thing with the way he ranted at Mac a few times that day.  He had to clue in Mac about you.  You and Mac are apparently real tense about each other, not sure why.  I know you're playing inter-borough for the PD team as a beater with Don Flack and Stella Bonasera."

"See, I know Stephi, she's here," Danny said, looking at the headmistress, who blushed.  "Oh, tell me you didn't cave!" he demanded.

"His father wanted him to be a cop like him and his mother begged," she said quietly. "He wasn't that strong."

"Uncle Horatio said they proved staying untrained can lead to cancer and suicide," Ray told her.  "Plus, he's studying under Alex personally.  Uncle Horatio was hiding in plain sight until he ended up being summoned by Alex to help him one night.  Then he came out to a union convention and that's when Speed somehow got brought back."

"Brought back?" he asked slowly.

Ray looked at him.  "You got shot on the job.  Your gun jammed.  Eric was really wiped out but you weren't mad at him. You were really mad at Calleigh and Alexx there for a long time for doing it to you. It happened during the convention somehow.  Something about a stupid vampire show and slayers."

"Slayers?" Danny asked.  "Huh?"

"When Alex got deaged, he worked with a slayer in Sunnydale.  That's where Dumbledore stuck him with some sort of shield over him.  Harry told me that when he came to bail them out after the street gang and drug lord tried to take his husband for being pretty and hot."

"Bail...  Never mind, he's a curse breaker, they get into trouble," Danny said, shaking his head.  "Which means Flack's one," he said suddenly, glaring at the headmistress.  She moaned.  "I'd fix that."  She nodded, going to talk to the family about checking him over again.  He looked at the kid.  "Okay, so Speed died?"  He nodded.  "Where were we?"

"Not in Miami.  That's all I know.  I was kinda torn up about my father dying and them saying he was a dirty cop and all that."

"Okay," Speed decided, looking at the other two. "I'm all for calling his uncle into this.  His uncle has to have a clue about some of this stuff."

"He complained that every time Alex and he ran into each other there was a lot of paperwork and covering up involved," Ray offered.

"You'd make an excellent spy," Tony said, smiling and ruffling his hair.  "You're good, kid.  We'll work on your training.  Because we're all bored.  Danny's okay in Potions and tops in Defense, second in Charms.  I'm good in Charms and Herbology.  Speed's great in Herbology and creatures, plus good in the other stuff."

"Do I have to take divinations?"

"Ewww," Danny said, shuddering.  "Don't remind me I get to go up there today, okay?"  He closed the book in front of him.  "If he's right, we're sending him back into a war zone when he goes back.  He'll need the defensive and offensive skills of a curse breaker to fix this."  The headmistress came back.  "He coming in?"

"I cited that a flair of magic had been seen around the house, that we wanted to check him again.  Are you *sure*, Ray?"

"I know he spends a lot of time with Alex.  Uncle Horatio said he had a cult to himself, and someone mailed him a baby dragon egg."

"He's a curse breaker," the trio agreed.

"Do all dragons dive down shirts?  Dawn was telling Ron that the new one wouldn't go down her friend Ginny's like the other one did.  That it was scared of her for some reason."

"Huh?" Tony asked.

"Dawn is Alex's adopted little sister.  From what I've seen in the magazines laying around the office, her sister was a slayer, the one Alex was helping probably, and she got killed.  So Dawn got adopted by him.  She's from Sunnydale.  She's engaged to Ron Weasley, who is Potter's best friend and the guy who followed him into trouble.  She's got two good friends, Luna Lovegood and Ginny Weasley, who I vaguely met when I went to get my wand.  They were waiting with her to make sure no one took her.  Ginny was wearing silver leathers and had long red hair pulled back in braid. Luna was a blond who was really creepy and Dawn said something about her and a Wes and an Ethan demon."  He shrugged.  "She was babbling at Ron about them and for some reason Beaua, the new dragon, didn't like Ginny as much as Keelian, the old dragon, who had somehow adopted Ron.  She was wondering if it was about which human they had chosen to adopt since Beaua had adopted Don Flack.  Then they got back on Gucci shoes again and shortly after that, made me have a sundae so they could go have sex in their brothers' back room."  He looked at them. "Is there any way I can summon the stuff he bought me?"

"Not really," Speed offered, looking at Danny, who smirked and nodded.  He got up and led the kid into the library, back into the back room they weren't supposed to know existed.  The librarian stormed after them and Danny glared, making her leave with an 'eep' of fear.  Speed walked in after them and shut the door.  "What did you do to her this time?"

"I turned her into a mouse the last time she nagged me.  Her assistant is so much nicer. I'm looking forward to her taking over since she makes good cookies during finals."  He found the book he was looking for and then the charm.  "Here.  Anything in particular about it?"

"It was still mostly wrapped, I dropped it onto the couch after I got back from Diagon.  I only took out a paper and my wand."  He looked at the charm, then concentrated really hard, eyes squinting shut as he recited it.  He felt something catch and yank, but not close enough.  He growled and did it again, making it appear in front of him.  "Well, everything but the dorky robes."

"They're back here," Speed offered, pointing at the steaming bag.  "Nice work, Ray."

"Very trainable," Danny agreed.  "Let's pick this up.  They set it on fire?"  He put it out then repaired everything, letting Ray do the gathering then floating the mass with them.  They went back to the classroom.  "He's good.  He did the charm."

"Wonderful," the headmistress agreed, nodding at the defense teacher.  "He's gotten hold of his uncle."

Speed sat down with the bag of books, looking through the 'Spells, Charms, and Potions for Teenaged Witches and Wizards' book he had.  "This is cute.  I could've used this a few years back."

Danny looked then smirked.  "That one just came out last year."  He took it to look over.  "That's the stuff his uncle bought him yesterday his time."

The defense teacher came over to look at the textbooks.  "That's not what I'd consider teaching the students out of."

"No school near him and with the purge his uncle said he's teaching him by himself," Tony told him, taking the herbology primer.  "Herbology and Potions for Dummies.  Charming."

"There's a whole line of books about every subject that end with 'for Dummies'," Ray offered.  "They're uncomplicated reference books or to teach you new skills.  Uncle Horatio said he's not good in potions so that would probably be better for me."  He looked up at the knock then someone walked in.   His patrol uniform was well fitted, his red hair cropped closer to is scalp, but he knew that man.  "Uncle Horatio."

The man standing there stared, then closed the door gently, walking forward.  "You're obviously family."

"I'm Ray's son, Ray Jr."  He hugged him.  "Sorry, familiar faces," he excused himself as he pulled back.

Horatio looked at him.  "Mother's name?"

"Yelina Salas."

"She's carrying you now," he said quietly, tipping his face up.  "What happened?"

"The purge was coming.  You had told me to come to these three guys, but only had a picture of them about this age. Apparently I slipped into a side realm?"

The headmistress nodded.  "We did test him, he's not native to this realm, Horatio."

"Thank you, Headmistress."  He looked his nephew over, then nodded once.  "Okay, what are we going to do about this?"

"The kid needs taught and we can put him back whenever we got him from," Danny pointed out.

"We'll use the study center as a key since it should be safe," Speed offered. "If not, we've got a few hidden areas of our own."

Tony nodded.  "Until then, the kid got skipped.  Apparently we're doing a lot of that.  Hey, Ray, ever hear about a Sonny?"

"Speed swore about him being dead.  Something about pain and misery not being enough?"

"We can change that," Tony said dryly, smirking at Horatio.  "You look good in a uniform.  He said we're all going to be cops of some sort.  CSI?"  Ray nodded.  "What do I do?"

"NCIS.  I guess it's the same thing only fed."  He shrugged.  "Not a clue, man.  I'm not quite that old or involved in my uncle's life."  He looked at his uncle.  "Can we talk?"  He looked at the headmistress.

"I don't see as it'd hurt," she agreed.  "Boys.  Let's figure out how to get him home and get him to the point where he'll be safe."  They nodded, packing Ray's things back together again.

Ray swallowed, looking at his uncle. "The only reason I'm here now is because of you.  You've saved me a lot of times."

"From?"

"Stupidity at times.  A few bad kids I was hanging out with.  Dad's rep."  Horatio glared and he shivered, sitting down.  "Dad went undercover in Miami.  You're both down there, well, you were."  He nodded once and sat down across from him.  "Dad went undercover to stop a meth ring.  He got hooked.  I've got a half-sister named Madison."

"I see.  How long ago was this?"

"I was eleven when he died," he said quietly. "I'm almost sixteen."

Horatio considered it.  "All right, I can believe that.  Ray's had some past issues that could have led him that way."  He looked at him again.  "I want to know everything you do, Ray.  I need to.  If that purge happens here, I'm going to end up fighting it."

"Can you do anything to read my mind?"

"Legimens."  He nodded, pulling his wand, casting it quietly, reading the wide open young man.  He pulled back shuddering.  "All right." He looked back, finding the trio standing there.  Then he looked at his nephew again.  "I'm going to leave you in their hands.  I've heard about them.  They're good."  He stood up.  "Right now, you showing up would get a lot of people wondering.  Especially your father."  Ray nodded at that.  "Good boy, Ray.  You tell the asshole me there to lighten up and remember when we were twenty-one, okay?" he smirked.  He walked out, heading back to his station to think.

"Legimens," Tony cast, including the other two.  They saw everything Horatio had and he canceled it. "Okay.  We've got a way around this but it could warp you toward us, Ray."

"I always thought Speed was pretty cool, even if Eric did get more chicks than was humanly reasonable."

Danny smirked.  "Good.  Go rest in my room.  We'll do the rest later."  Ray nodded, taking his stuff up there.  He looked at the crew, then nodded.  They nodded, heading with him.  They had to gather some things, including some things they had hidden outside the school.  Danny ran into Stephi Flack on the way out, stopping her.  "You need to make sure your brother comes in.  Real sure.  Don't let your Ma get in the way this time."

"Why?"

"Your Ma pressured the headmistress, Stephi."  She growled and he smirked.  "Our visitor is from another realm.  He's a natural curse breaker there."

"Fucking hell, dad would shit."

"Nah, ya think?" Speed asked sarcastically.  He rolled his eyes. "If asked, we're helping the visitor.  We had to get some stuff.  Don't bother him.  He's got sweet and nice down pat."

She snorted.  "I've got a man.  Why do I need another one?"

"Better and more interesting sex," Tony told her, walking out with the guys.  Speed punched him on the arm.  "Ow!  What was that for!"

"For suggesting she have sex. She might breed and then we'd end up dealing with a baby Stephi Flack."

"Eww," Danny agreed, hitting Tony on the shoulder.  "Make sure she wants to give up sex later."  They made it outside and past the guards easily.  Not like they hadn't done it hundreds of times. "You going to tell Audry?"

"Nope.  You gonna tell Daphne?"

"Hell no," he snorted. "Might have her more often.  If they come for her, I'm gonna be there."

"Like shit on velco," Speed agreed.  "All of us, Danny."  That got a smirk.  He looked at Tony. "You and Audry stay serious, we'll help you sneak her off for the marriage and honeymoon."

"Not an issue.  I can tell my old man I'm taking one of mine that I'm serious about," Danny promised.  Tony hugged them both.  "Get off!  Bastard."

"Me?" Tony said with a sweet smile.  "Why would I be a bastard, Danny?"

"Because you're like that every day?" Speed suggested.  They all laughed at that.  Tony was definitely a bastard, one of the biggest in the world.

***

Ray looked up as the guys came back, putting aside his herbology book and sitting up straighter.

"Slouch, kid, not like we care," Speed reminded him, setting stuff up.

Danny set up the candles and then handed Tony the small packet of herbs he had mixed earlier.  "Okay, we're gonna do something called a bonding.  It'll allow us in that brain of yours and you in ours.  That way you'll see what we know.  We can teach you shit out the ass that way.  Got me here?"  Ray beamed and nodded. "Good, then you'll have to practice."  He looked at his broom then at him.  "Admiring it?"

"Some cat came in and nudged it, so I shooed her off sleeping on the tail."

"Thanks. That's Stephi's."  He smirked at Tony.  "Guess that means Hova's in your room again."

"Let's hope she's not having her kittens on my broom or in my bed."  He went to check, coming back shaking his head.  "Kittens *everywhere* on my bed."

"Sorry," Speed said, not meaning a word of it.  "You can always curl up with us, Tony."

"Are you three together that way?"

"It's a bonding thing, we won't expect it of you," Danny assured him.

"I have no idea where I stand on that yet," he admitted.  "I'm a bit slow there."

"You'll see plenty of it from us," Speed assured him.  Danny smirked and nodded, looking very wicked.  Tony just let out this evil chuckle and Ray shivered at that.  "We ready?"

"Nearly," Tony promised, sprinkling the herbs on the candles, then he looked at the bed.  "You a cuddler or not?"

"I like to cuddle, but I can't stand being held down."

"You and Danny both," Speed complained. "Okay, I call new kid since he's closer to me in his real life."  Tony nodded and they put him and Danny in the middle, Tony curled up against Danny's back, Speed against Ray's.  Then Danny cast the spell to light the candles and started the chant, which Tony picked up when he dropped, then Speed finished, drawing Ray down with him since he was better at forcing it.

Ray started to surface later but Danny's mind held him down and showed him some stuff the others hadn't.  He drifted off again, content in the knowledge that he now knew the difference between having a man and having a woman.

Tony kissed Danny on the back of the head. "Have I mentioned yet that I'm going to kill Sonny some day soon?" he whispered.  Danny nodded, letting himself be held.  "Good.  As long as you realize that."  He nuzzled him, then looked at Speed, who was frowning at them.  "What?"

"We turned him into us."

"Yeah, and?" Tony demanded.  "What's wrong with being us?"

"He was a nice and sweet guy," Danny said quietly.  "It'd be like turning Flack into us."

Tony snorted.  "That girl is pure evil, Danny."  He kissed him again.  "Think we can let him rest and adjourn to Speed's room?"

"Go ahead, I've got a headache," Ray said, one hand drifting up to cover his eyes.  "Thank you, guys."

"We'll put you through your paces later tonight," Tony warned.  He got up and hauled Danny, who winked at Speed to get him to follow.

Ray snickered at the bonding going on up the hall, and the complaints from a few females.  If that Don guy was anything like his sister, that was an interesting friendship.  Someone tapped on the door.  "What?" he called softly.

The door opened and a blonde girl walked in, coming over to lift his hand off his eyes.  "Hi, Ray.  I'm Audry."  He grinned at her. She was beautiful.  Green eyes the color of grass.  One zit marred the beautiful face from the tip of her nose but oh well.  She sat beside him.  "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."  He patted her on the arm.  "You don't have to baby me because Tony's helping me."

She snorted. "I'm not, I'm babying you because Tony's fucking Speed up the ass again," she assured him, making him blush.  "Not like they'll let us in there."

"What lock charm are they using?" a redhead called from the doorway.  "So we can go pounce."

"They'd get mad if I told you."

"Oh, please," the mini-Flack complained, walking up to Speed's room.  She pulled her wand and whispered something.  "You three are setting a bad example for my little brother. Someone's got to carry on the family name!"  The girls squealed and headed in there to pounce their guys, and Speed since he was so nice.  She locked them in using a very old lock charm then came back to Danny's room to talk to him.  "Hi, Ray.  I'm Stephi.  Forget everything they've said about me so far."  Then she smirked.

"They only said you were evil."

"Well, okay, they got that right.  Come on down."  She helped him up and downstairs to their common room, where her brother was staring around in awe.  "Donny, this is Ray. He's visiting from another reality."

"Hi, Don," Ray said, shaking his hand.  "You're going to be a great wizard some day."

"Cool.  When do I get to learn to fly?"

Stephi looked at him.  "What makes you think you can?" she snorted.  Ray pulled her down to whisper in her ear.  "Really?"  She looked at him.  "Interesting.  Okay."   She nodded.  "We can get them to teach you when they teach Ray."  He beamed and bounced a bit.  She put a hand on his head.  "Stop it, Tigger."

"I am not!"

"You are too!"

"Merlin, quit!  We can't have sex with as loud as you are!" Tony yelled.

"Good!" Stephi and Don called back.  "That way there's no little DiNozzo's running around polluting the populace!" she finished.  "Bastard."

"I'm tellin' dad you swear," Don taunted, smirking evilly at her.

"Try it, squirt, watch me turn you into a frog."

"Dad said if you ever changed me again you'd never sit and you'd have to shit babies out."

Danny came down, looking at Don, smirking a bit. "I like you, kid.  You're with us."  He walked him up back the stairs.  "Ray."  He waved and followed.  "Good.  Stay away from the mini-Flack.  She's an evil, evil bitch from the darkest pits of hell."

"To you too?" Don asked, looking serious.

Danny beamed at him. "Your sister's a nag and she whines and pleads."  He put them both in his room. "There, go over wand maintenance or something.  We'll be done in an hour, then go eat, then work with you both."

"Can you teach me to fly?" Don asked, giving him the biggest blue puppy eyes he'd ever seen. "Please?  It looks really neat and fun and I wanna learn."

"We're teaching Ray, I don't see why not," Tony said from the doorway.  "Sorry, gotta steal him back. He's still a bit grumpy."  He winked at Ray and took Danny back to their room to get back to their...bonding.

Ray looked at Don.  "Don't feel bad, they missed me too."

"Yeah, but it sucks that my Ma said for them to skip me on purpose."

Ray nudged him and grinned.  "Could be a lot worse, Don.  Really.  Think about learning it at your dad's age."

"Eww."  He shifted. "They took me to get my wand earlier.  It's still in the office while Dad worked out payment stuff.  Then I guess I'm over here."  He shrugged. "I have no idea how this works."  He looked up.  "Why do they call her the Mini-Flack when I'm younger?"

"Any older siblings?"

"Yeah, another sister.  She was here about eight years ago but she died."

"Maybe that's why."

"Oh.  But that was before their time."

"You never know," he said more gently, hugging him. "It'll be okay.  It's scary but wonderful."

"Sure.  Think I could have a dragon?"

"I don't know.  Maybe someday."  Don beamed at that and nodded.  Someone knocked on the door.  "What?"  The door opened and Stephi walked in.  "He wants a dragon."

"Of course he does.  Don't get your hopes up, they're rare as fuck."  She put the trunk in front of him. "You're with us.  The sorting bowler said so."  She looked him over.  "Come on.  We'll put you in your dorm."

"Ma?"

"Crying.  I'm saving you misery and you'll get to see them this weekend.  Just like going to camp, Donny."

"Cool."  He smiled at Ray.  "Don't let them forget."

"I won't.  I wanna learn how to fly too."  Don beamed and took his trunk and his sister off.  "Hey, Stephi, is your cat Hova?"  She sighed and nodded.  "She's having kittens on Tony's bed."

"Yes!"  She ran that way, going to help her momma cat.  "Mirelle!  Come put my brother in the firstie's dorm!" she yelled. "My cat's having babies!"

"Eww!" Don called a minute later. "They're slimy!  And why does he have naked women on his walls?"

Tony walked out of the room he was in, going to remove both brats from his room and down to the common room, then slammed his door shut and locked it with a better charm this time, walking back to Speed's room shaking his head.

"Was he naked?" Flack asked his sister, who nodded. "How did he look like he was almost wearing clothes?"

"That was a very weak illusion, Donny.  I'll teach you how to do that one better."  She walked him up to his dorm, finding the new bed already in place.  She coughed and pointed at the spare blankets, making the kids get up to get them with a sigh.  "Like you'd get an extra bed for no reason?"

"We were hoping we could use it for girlfriends when we got one. All the other boys have a bed for that," one of them complained.

"Duffus, they use their own!" she complained.

"Tony's room is scary," Don told them.  "He's got naked girls all over his walls."

"What's Messer got on his?" another boy asked.

"Bet it's quidditch stuff," a third said dryly. Everyone knew that Messer should play pro when he graduated.

"A few brooms, a few naked pictures, and one of his mother and sister," Stephi told them.  "You think that's scary?  You should see Speed's.  His room is basically a shrine to naked people having sex.  He even arranged the pictures to make a collage in some spots."  They all gaped.  She smirked.  "They're all in Speed's room at the moment.  My cat's having babies on Tony's bed."

"And they're really slimy and gross," Flack added.

"Worse than newt's eyes?" one of the boys asked.

She considered it, then shook her head.  "No, about like the slimy inside of pig bladders."  They all shuddered at that.  "Okay, this is Donny.  He's my little brother.  He's the true mini-Flack, and they're going to work on his flying later.  You guys be nice to my baby brother or else.  Got me here?"  They all nodded, looking scared.  "Good."  She smirked.  "Make sure he doesn't turn into DiNozzo or Messer."  She walked out. "I'll be downstairs, Donny."

"Sure."  He closed the door, grimacing. "I don't like her, she's pushy."  They all laughed at that and came over to help him unpack and things. "When's dinner?"  The boys accepted him on that alone and it was all good to him.

***

"Interesting," Speed said.

"What is?" Tony asked.

"Ray flies like a kid between you and me and Flack flies like Messer."  He watched them play tag with Danny, who was flying rings but Donny was catching onto his moves and trying to cut him off with the same things now and then, while Ray was more straight forward and looping casually.

"Horatio played keeper," Tony offered, floating closer to him.  "Flack can be Danny's replacement on the team."  They smirked at each other.  "We'll have to turn him more evil than his sister is so he can hold his own against her."

"Sure," Speed agreed.  "Danny, make him your replacement," he called.  "He can beat up on his sister in practices!"  Danny smirked evilly and nodded. He spun and tagged Don on the head, getting a growl and the boy trying to pounce him.  "Not while you're flying!" Speed yelled. "That means you fall!"

"We can turn Flack into a mini-us," Tony decided smugly.  He watched as the rest of the team tramped in for their practice.  "Hey, guys, that's Danny's replacement," he called, pointing.  "Get over it now, Stephi."

"Fine.  Danny, do not let him fall!  I'll never hear the end of it if he breaks his neck."

"He pounced me!" he complained, landing and putting the kid back down.  "He pounced while flying."

She moaned and shook her head, then hauled off and hit her brother hard.  "Quit!"

"Yes, ma'am," he smarted off.  "Bastard."  He grinned at Danny.  "You can teach me how ta play?"

"Sure.  I'll be graduating after next year, by then you'll be great."

"Cool."  He beamed at him, then up at Ray, who was holding his broom.  "Thank you."

"Welcome, Don."  He landed and dismounted, then looked at Danny. "Thank you."

"Not an issue.  Everyone should know how ta fly."  He ruffled his hair with a smirk.  "You guys run this one without us.  Got me here?"  The rest of the team moaned but nodded. "Good.  Stephi, no beating up on the chasers."  He took Ray and his boys with him, going to find a quiet area for them to practice in.  "Let's start small.  Light shield."  Ray cast it.  "Defensive return?"  Ray cast it....

***

Tony nudged Ray awake later that night, nodding behind him. Ray nodded and slipped out of the bed he had been assigned, heading after him.  They walked out of the house and up the halls, then down a steep set of stairs.  Tony looked at him, smirking a bit at the lack of questions.  Ray shrugged and pointed at the door, getting a nod and a wave.  He remembered how they opened it so he concentrated and stabbed his wand, muttering the incantation.  The door shifted off to the side.  Tony blinked, then looked at him.  "It's not supposed to do that," he noted quietly.

"Sorry."  He looked, then blinked a few times. "Is that what I think it is?"

Tony looked, then nodded. "Yeah, it's a dungeon, like for sex."  He closed the door, then did the incantation again.  This time the door opened properly.

"It was his pronunciation," Speed said without looking up.  He turned the page on his book.

Danny smirked at him from his place against a cupboard.  "So, Ray.  You got all the memories we had.  You got more than enough information on sex and stuff too.  If you mess up a birth control spell, it'd better be on purpose."  Ray nodded quickly, there was no way he'd be messing up birth control spells.  His family was scary.

Speed smirked at the kid, finally looking up.  "We're going to go over some of the more...obscure things that you probably saw."

"The summoning the demon to get the parts stuff or the stuff with the sex magic or the stuff with the barrier portals?"

"All of the above," Danny noted, nodding once at his mouthiness.  He could appreciate that.

Tony slid into his usual seat and put his feet up.  "It's also important that you know what other things we've learned over the years to help your people stop your purge.  The only way the military will listen is force.  They don't understand other means."

"Too true," Speed agreed, looking the boy over.  "So, for now, we're going to do a temporal stretching spell.  Then we'll go over the more...odd things in privacy."

"Agreed," Ray promised, sitting on the floor beside Tony.  "I didn't see one of those."

"I'm doing it now," Speed offered, going back to his book.  He frowned and got up, kicking open an old trunk and pulling out another one.

"I knew stealing books from my father's library was a good idea," Tony said with a grin for Ray.  "I wonder if he's missed them yet."

"Knowing your dad, he's got the good parts memorized," Danny pointed out dryly.  "Can I come stay with you guys over the summer?"

Tony looked at him.  "Should Sonny come back, I'm killing him this time, Danny.  I've had enough of your dad's idea of what your life should be.  There's no way a pureblood like you should bow down to someone like him.  It's foul."

"You sound like a death eater," Speed said quietly, looking at him.

"I don't like their methodology and I don't like their ideals, but they did have a point," he defended.  "The only person a wizard or witch should be *forced* to bend down to is someone who can beat them in a duel or a battle.  I'm sorry, but I'm not going to bend my knee to any little jumped up muggle with illusions of grandeur.  That's probably what started the purge in Ray's world."

"Actually, they caught a chaos sorcerer from what Uncle Horatio told my mother while I was doing some reading he had ordered me to do."  He shifted, getting more comfortable.  "He told my mom that the military had discovered demons and hellmouths.  They went after the demons as a force to aid the military, using control chips and things from what he said. They shared a look that I couldn't interpret and then mom shuddered.  While there, someone turned over a chaos sorcerer and they learned it from him.  Then things like satellites picking up people going into Diagon and things like that happened.  It hit the wrong ears, and bam, we're all hunted.  They're still probably trying to take over Miami in my realm."

Tony reached over, smoothing down his hair.  "We're going to make sure you can keep up with the curse breakers your uncle is working with," he said seriously.  "You and yours will be protected, Ray."

"I'm going to be protecting as many as I can."

"Good," Danny agreed, smiling at him.  "That's the right answer."  He walked over, making Ray look at him.  "Now all we gotta do is up your defense training."  Ray nodded at that.  "Plus teach you how to manipulate shit to do what you need it to do."

"Transfiguration...." he started slowly.

"Think of it like advanced transfiguration," Speed offered, coming back to set up things.  "Okay, we're setting it in this room and this room alone," he announced, moving on.  He got everything set up.  "I need you two."  They came over, taking the spellbook to look at the incantation, then took their spots.

Ray watched as the room seemed to expand, then felt something snap.  He grinned. It felt like he was weightless there for a minute and it felt tingly right now.

Danny looked at him.  "Less smirking, more badass moments.  C'mere."  Ray got up and walked over, coming to learn from his three teachers.  If his teachers in school were like this, he'd have been a prodigy.

***

Danny looked up as Ray joined him a few days later, smirking at him.  "Okay.  We're gonna send you home.  The only issue might be if we can't get you back across the reality line.  If we can't, you'll stay here but in the right time zone."  That got a nod and Ray sat across from him.  "Good boy.  If that happens, where we're puttin' you?  You find us.  I doubt I'm leaving New York, unless it's for a game.  By the way, I'll watch out and not fall."  Ray smirked a bit at that. "Quidditch is my life.  What can I say, I'm a jock?"  He shrugged a bit.  "Tony should be easier to find and Speed may still end up in Miami.  His line was looking pretty set when I did a star chart on him. You know how to apparate.  We taught you all the deadliest things so you don't have ta use 'em."  Ray nodded, he had been taught the unforgivables and he knew not to use them unless it was absolutely necessary.  "Good boy.  Now, let's get you home.  Come on."  He got up and took the book with him, Ray following.  They walked back into the practice area, finding it all ready to go.  Tony closed the pentagram behind them and then took his place.  Speed tossed over his backpack with the stuff Ray had pulled to him.

"Nox," Speed cast, taking out the overhead light.  "Ignus."  The candles and the symbols on the floor lit, making Ray shiver.  "It's all right.  Just calm, center, and think of home, Ray."

Ray nodded, doing that, finding his thoughts of home.  His uncle, the right one.  His mother.  The beaches.  The station.  He heard the chanting going around him and felt it moving through him, not realizing his lips were following along.  He felt the wrench and moaned, doubling over as he landed.  He looked up.  He was in a cave.  He walked out to the entryway slowly, finding his Uncle standing there.  Only not his uncle, unless he had lost a bit more hair than the last time he had seen him.  "Uncle Horatio?"

"Well, that's the second time you called me that."  He smirked at him.  "Danny and I talked way back when, Ray.  He said he didn't think he had gotten you more than temporally centered.  Come here."  Ray came over, joining him.  "Gringotts let me borrow this for a few hours.  This will take you wherever I am."  His nephew smiled and hugged him. "I can only hope the you here turns out as well."  He patted him on the back. "Go home, nephew."

"Yes, Uncle H."  He walked into the mirror, feeling like he was swimming through jell-o.  Until it finally cleared and he came out the other side.  He looked at himself and grimaced.  "Eww!"  He cast the cleaning charm.  "Better.  Much better.  Clean clothes are always better than slimy."

"Shit, he sounds like a young Tony," Speed said, staring at him. "Ray?"  He smirked and nodded, then turned and stepped out of the way with a wave back at his uncle.  The portal closed, leaving him there.  "How in the hell!"

"Oh, gee, alternate realities," he said blandly, walking over to the table they were all at.  He looked at his uncle. "The you there back when they were juniors said to remind you of when you were twenty-one for some reason.  I think he thought you had forgotten what fun was."  His uncle smirked at him.  He shrugged and smirked back.  "Yeah, I jumped realities."

"Been there, done that, didn't like the vamp me," Alex called from his spot.   He cast a hex at Ray, watching him rebound it then stop it and end it. "Good job, Ray."

"Yup, he learned off the younger us," Danny sighed.

"Good, he could use it," Horatio agreed.  "It's only been a few hours.  Gibbs just got here.  Do you need a rest?"

"No, but I'm missing Don's sister.  She was always picking on me."  Don blushed at that.  "Sorry."

"No, I heard what she was like from their memories."

"Yeah, me too mostly."  The trio looked at him and he shrugged.  "Does he still have that little sticking out mole?"

"Yup," Speed agreed, going back to his reading.  "Go take a nap, Ray, or go eat.  It's gonna be a while before we can do anything."

"Sure."  He grinned at Alex. "I hope you don't mind."

"Not a bit, Ray.  More of you means my house elves go into orgasmic flutters of happiness.  You can bed down across from your uncle."  That got a nod.  "Go eat, kid. You're that age."  Ray headed out, following the food smells.

"I wonder if you had that bite mark there," Stella offered.  Danny slammed his book shut and glared at her.  She grinned. "Think he found out?"

"No!" he snorted.  Something floated out of midair and hit the table in front of him, then one hit in front of Speed, then one in front of Tony and one for Horatio.  "Huh.  Progress reports.  All right."  He opened his, blinking at the flash of the memories he hadn't had.  He relaxed and smiled, nodding.  "Thank you, me."  He read the note explaining that, being happy with himself and their protege's progress.  "Hey, Don, they made him go find you and test you again."

"Cool.  Was I still a cop?"

"Demented quidditch player but you went LEO when you retired due to a back injury," Tony read. "You went CSI."

"Aw, man!" Flack complained.

"Tough," Danny taunted.  "Ooh, they found you, Mac.  That was enough to stop the purge when it started.  Someone was close enough to erase the memories before it go more than one person.  You made sure of it through the commanders who knew."  Mac smirked at that.

"Geez, Horatio, I never knew you had more women than we did combined," Speed complained. "Why don't you date now?"

Horatio blushed a bit.  "I did not."

"You did so," Speed said, switching their notes.  Since his had been for Horatio.  He chuckled at the message to himself.  The other Speed had planned it that way. "Hey, I settled down with Kate, Tony.  Danny got Stephi after Daphne died.  A few years later.  Tony, you're still with Audry and having baby DiNozzo's every now and then while fending off the evil grandfather who tries to corrupt them. Apparently you're halfway to a quidditch team, the mini-Flack's got two with brood boy there, and I've got one with Kate, which made her retire and sigh in misery almost every day because she's bored.  Poor Gibbs, he had to deliver the kid."  Gibbs moaned at that, shaking his head.  "McGee got to do the blessing?  Uh-huh.  Okay."  He shook his head and smirked at them.  "It gives me an idea of how to stop this."

Danny looked down at him.  "A *good* idea?"

"No, a wicked and naughty one," he shot back with an evil grin.

Tony looked at him, then got up and moved away.  "The last time you had that look, we went to Hawaii.  I got my ass nearly killed for that."

"*You* nearly got killed?" Danny said dryly.  "Please!  Do you know what my old man did ta me!"

"How many native girls came back with the 'I'm pregnant' statement?" Ron teased.

"We're more careful than that.  We found a month-long infertility charm," Speed said with a renewed evil smirk.  "We overshot it by three hours, but oh well."  Gibbs moaned again, sounding like he was about to cry.  "Hey, boss, you need drugs?" Speed asked.

"I need the mental picture of you three in an on-the-beach orgy out of my head," he complained.  He held his head, then he felt fingers coming up and suddenly he was being tickled.  "Damn it, Abby!" he shouted, getting away from her.

"You said you needed a distraction," she said innocently, smiling at him.

"Not like that!"  He went to hide by Alex, getting a smirk from Draco.  "Are you sure they aren't curse breakers too?"

"Tony might've made a good one with a lot of work, but no," Alex sighed. "Think someone should wake Yelina up and tell her Ray's back?"  Horatio shook his head.  "No?"

"No, not with the sleeping pill she took.  She'll be cranky."  He folded up his letter.  It was a pointed reminder of what he wasn't doing right in his life.  He'd have to fix that.  He looked at the Ungodly Trio, as Mac called them.  Danny smirked at him and got out of the way so he could see Speed's ass and Tony's front.  "Not funny," he mouthed.  Danny smirked.

"Quit staring at that spot, Horatio," Gibbs ordered.  "Mine."

"I am?" Tony asked dryly.  "Since when, boss?"

"Since that's what'll drive her nuts the most," he pointed out dryly.  "My girlfriend knows by the way.  She suggested it.  She has a truly wicked mind."

"She should," Tony assured him.  "I'll play along if you want, boss.  Not like it'd be the first time."  He winked at him, then kissed Speed.

"Eww, onions," he said when he could breathe.  "Brush your teeth, Tony."  He patted him on the cheek.  "Plus, swallow some of the drool first."  He walked back to his seat to Danny giggling.  "We could do that," he noted.

Danny looked at him.  "We could," he agreed.  "It'd be a massive undertaking to make someone think that they were going nuts."

"Not really," Gibbs pointed out.  "That the final or the first step?"

"First. Second is Mac calls on some of his old friends," Speed said, looking at him.  He got a nod.  "Already have?"

"I have.  They're in Virginia.  My contacts can get a rescue unit in there within hours.  The regular military doesn't like this idea either."  Speed grinned and nodded at that.

"Can't say as I like it either," Gibbs noted dryly.  "Magic instead of guns?  It's a nice fairytale but the other side'll have guns.  I'll want my own to protect myself."  They shared a look.  "Nice job hiding it, Taylor."

"I only got the occasional call to take memories and get information.  I'm not that strong."

"Which means I get to do the memory charm on Lindsey to drive her away from magic," Tony said firmly.

"Yeah, well, I'm almost more scared at the moment of Wolfe and Rosenburg getting together," Speed complained. Everyone stared at him.  "The HP's in the city decided she was his new pet."

"That's a scary thought," Xander agreed.   He burst out giggling.  "Oooh, he's in for a major life shaking event."  He shook his head, calling Nick to warn him so he could let his buddies back in the Legacy know.  "While I've got Nick on the line, anyone need a message passed?"

"Yeah, can I please have my girl back?" Ron complained.  "The quickie yesterday wasn't nearly enough."

Alex passed that back and got a 'fat chance' from Philip.  "Nope, sorry."

"I wouldn't mind the dragons," Gibbs offered.  "It'd give Abby something to do since Harry's there."

Alex passed that to Harry, who cackled and promised he'd work on that.  Alex looked at them.  "Would buying a senator to decry these people help?"  Everyone stared at him.  "What?  Do you think I haven't kept anything that I've taken out of tombs over the years?"  He got up and went to the fireplace to call the bank. "Gruinth."  He appeared, blinking at him.  "Would buying a senator in the US to decry some of these covert gatherings help?"

"It could," he agreed.  "Start a small leak, get the plans known.  Yes, I do believe it could work."  He disappeared.

"Mac, get your people to rescue them within the next 72," Xander ordered.  "Speed, put yours into play by then too."  They went to make the calls they needed.  Xander grinned at Gibbs.  "Who did you think planned our assaults?"

"I would've given up at the first demon," he admitted, sitting back down at Xander's wink.  "So, dragons?"

"On their way.  I'm being a good boy."

Draco gave him an odd look.  "You're what?"

"Okay, I'm trying to be a good boy."

"Again, you're what?" he asked dryly.  He stood up and hauled Alex to his feet.  "Come along, Alex.  You apparently need a dose of sanity."  He walked him upstairs, taking him up to have him, again, and calm him down before he got too evil and mean.

"If I ever find someone who has me like that, I want to be shot non-fatally so I have the   time to realize that it's a bad thing," Horatio said quietly.  Gibbs burst out laughing, nodding at that.  Ray came back in so he smiled at him. "Your mother's upstairs resting."

"I figured she was.  You're too calm for her to be taken and it's not noisy enough for her to be awake."  He hugged him around the neck.  "Uncle Horatio, can you talk to me about girls and boys and why it's a bad idea for me to go be a club whore?"

"It's a bad idea, Ray.  Even with anti-disease charms, disease spotting charms, and all that, things can still get through.  Remember, your parents married because you were on the way."

"Good to know."  He kissed him on the temple.  "But I still *need* someone, Uncle Horatio."  He let him go and walked off.   "I'm not even going to be picky yet."

Horatio looked at Danny, who was chuckling. "You three warped him horribly."

"Hey, Speed and Tony were the ones that had shrines to sex in their rooms.  Speed made a collage out of wizarding photos that he changed around and positioned."

"Danny!" Speed complained.

"I'm sure my sister, the perv, went to stare often," Don said dryly.  Danny nodded at that.  "What was on yours?"

"A few brooms, a few girls, nothing much. I went for simpler stuff.  Speed's wall art took up a suitcase by itself.  His mother was horrified the time she popped up for a visit and he hadn't heard so no one did the obscuring charms.  She thought he only had a few."

"My mother yelled until I was black and blue from the sonic vibrations," Speed sighed.  "Then the girls came up to see why she was yelling. Your sister pointed out it was better than me sleeping around as much as I had been."  Don moaned at that.  "By the way, your sister?  Hints badly."

"Yeah, I know.  Any of you three know who the father of my niece is?  Kinda obvious it ain't her daddy."

"There's about three really good choices," Tony offered.

"Williams.  I had magic sensing on my glasses back then.  She came back from the Astronomy tower pregnant and Williams was bragging he had finally bagged her to the guy who ended up her husband, who didn't want to break her in himself by the way."  He turned the page.  "That's why I kicked her off the team, Flack."  He felt everyone staring at him.  "What?  It was a part-time job to come back and ref the games while I was in college."  He shrugged and got back to it.

"I did the same while I was in school," Horatio agreed.  "The headmistress liked us."

"She did.  The batty old broad was all right as long as you played quidditch and you wore a lot of blue."  Horatio laughed at that.  "She was.  Wonder what'll happen to the new battleaxe."

"Not a clue, Danny.  Hopefully a change but not a clue."

Abby suddenly squealed and hopped up, heading for the doors outside.

"Sounds like Harry snuck off," Ron said dryly, looking.  "Oooh, and there's my baby too."  He got up and headed to pounce her and have her in one of the storage caverns.

Don watched. "Nothing says love like having her on a stack of unholy seventeenth century gold statues that pinch," he joked.

Gibbs shook his head.  "Let's hope you're talking about those two cute things?"

"Yeah, Harry's kissing Abby's hand and cheek as he walks her back this way with the dragons."  He got back to his reading.  He still had to brush up on some of the lock spells.

Gibbs looked down at the creature invading his lap, smiling.  "Hi, Beaua.  Missed me?"  He scratched her head, earning a happy lap dragon.

"Keeping dragons is still illegal, Jethro," Horatio said with a tolerant smirk.

Mac looked down at him.  "So, how wild were you in your youth, Horatio?  I heard all about your school being full of easy women and guys who'd do anything in Times Square."

"No, that was our year," Danny assured him.  "Mostly Tony, but our year."

"Hey!" Tony complained.  "I'm not the one they almost picked up for prostitution, thank you!"

"You're the one who charmed my pants to be that tight," Speed reminded him.  All the bosses looked at them.  "What?  He did."

"What did Danny do?" Don asked.

Danny smirked at him.  "Remember that night that you don't remember really well?"  Don nodded slowly.  He had seen that when they were sharing memories. "That.  That's why wizards don't drink tequila."

"I thought it was the dried frog taste the next morning," Mac complained.

"Tequila is bad for you guys?" Gibbs asked.

"Something in tequila works against magic, Jethro," Horatio said blandly, going back to his reading.  "It makes us giddy, high, and unable to control it."

"Tony ended up in Africa healing some sick villagers and dancing around the fire because he was possessed," Danny said happily, beaming at Tony.  "How many spirits did we pull out of you?"

"Twelve, thirteen, something like that," he mumbled, ducking his head.

"Yeah, Danny, let's talk about how it took us nearly a month to find you because you were in Mexico drinking it from the really old stock and using your girlfriend of the moment as a cup," Speed shot back.  Danny just beamed sweetly and shrugged.

"You were doing what?" Mac asked.  Speed gave him a look.  "Her naval at least?"

"Nope," Tony said, shaking his head.  "Tilted her hips up, filled her up with about a shot, then licked it out."  He turned the page.  "On the beach, which was at least a private beach."

"We have no idea what he did for the rest of that trip," Speed offered.  "Neither does he."

"Not like she complained," Danny pointed out.  "She was having fun."

Stella reached over and swatted him hard.  "Behave!"

"Why?"

"Now!"

"Yes, mother."  He grinned at her and got back to work, he had to help find the charms to up the shield over the valley. "Have we heard from McGee and them yet?"

"We have.  They've figured out what they need to block but not how," Tony offered.  He wrote it down and passed it down to Danny, who sighed and got up to get a different book and bring it back.  "Remember, it can't block cellphones or the satellite dish."

Danny nodded. "I know."  He got to work designing the charm with Horatio's help.

Ray walked in, finishing his roll.  "Uncle Horatio, would it be wrong to grab my girlfriend when we go back and kiss her stupid to prove that she's mine?"

"No, Ray," he ordered.  "Make sure she wants you first or she can claim sexual harassment and get you kicked out."

"Yes, sir.  Can I go clubbing while we're here?"

Everyone in the room stared at him.  "Bad idea," Tony told him.  "Could lead to much trouble."

Stella looked him over.  "You're not quite old enough yet, Ray.  Give it a few more months and I'll let Danny and Don take you out with them."  She smiled at Mac when he came in.  "Are we set?"

"Nearly.  They're gathering."  He sat down and smiled at Ray. "You'll be grown up soon enough, don't rush it."

"Fine."  He walked off again, going to find his Uncle's room so he could take a nap.

Horatio moaned and shook his head.  "That boy is going to drive us insane."

"Yup," Stella said happily, reaching over to pat him on the shoulder.  "Remember your own wild youth, Horatio.  Then add today's looser morals."

He gave her a pitiful look.  "Don't do that to me."

"Sorry."  She got up and kissed him on the cheek.  "Be a good boy."

"I try very hard."

"I know you do," she whispered.  "Try less hard.  Shock Eric and Speed to death."  He smirked at that wicked thought.

***

Everything was finally arranged and set, the purges were stopping.  The CSI decided they had to go back to work.  They called their respective departments to get an 'all clear' and headed back late at night.  That way they could show up like nothing had happened.  Horatio decided to take Ray out, teaching him the contraceptive charm, the disease finding and anti-disease charms, and the one that would render him infertile for a month.  Once they had both applied them, they headed out together.  Ray had gotten very good at transfiguration.  Nearly as good in charms but transfiguration was his area.  Horatio had slipped into some clothes he hadn't gotten to wear in years; taking him out to his sort of place, which was clean but very dirty underneath.  He looked at his nephew before going in.  "Your mother finds out I know this place exists as more than a rumor and I'm going to make you a girl and sell you."  Ray beamed and nodded.  "Good."  He walked them up to the door, presenting his pass.  The guard had to run it, giving him an odd look.  Most people never brought passes that old.  "Work.  This is my nephew.  Just old enough."

"Sure," he agreed, handing it back. "Not an issue."  He let them inside, watching them disappear into the diverse, party heavy crowd.

Ray stayed near his uncle for a bit, then slowly got interested in his own dance partner, letting her move him off.  He felt someone against his back and glanced back, grinning at the guy, then winked at the girl in front of him, getting a laugh.  "Newbie but I'm good with the knowledge."  He scanned them both, both clean, both more than ready.  It was going to be a good night.  He let them dance him off, doing whatever he wanted to.  He did run into Eric there and blushed.  "Um, hi!" he offered with a wave.  "Uncle Horatio's that way!"  Then he ducked back into the room he had just come out of, getting smacked across the back with the whip.  "Ow, but okay."  His former bedmate stared at him.  "One of my uncle's coworkers."  They invited him back, showing him that a bit of pain now and then was a good thing.

Eric found Horatio in the middle of a pack of girls and just stared.  He couldn't do that.  He walked over, smiling at one.  She peeled off for him and made him a happy guy.  Horatio gave him a look like he was poaching.  "Sorry, H."

"Eric.  Behave or else."

Eric shivered at the look in his eyes.  This was not the Horatio he saw at work.  This was a very horny, slutty Horatio that had one woman already on her knees and begging in front of him.  He danced the girl off, making her his safety for now.

"You know that stud?" she called.

"He's my boss!"

"Oops!  Well, maybe he'll give you some too," she said happily, latching onto him to dance with him.

That was a thought Eric decided to leave alone.

***

Across town, Ryan poured Willow another drink, then himself one, looking at her.  "You good?"

"I'm still pretty sober," she admitted.  "That's why I can hear the music twanging."  He grinned at that.  "You are a lot more fun than the slutty Xander.  No one but Tara ever wanted to go to a club where you didn't dance."  He patted her on the hand.  "Did you have someone like Tara?"

"Long time ago," he sighed, nodding.  "Since then I've stayed pretty casual."  He stroked some of her hair behind her ear.  "Be a good girl, Willow.  We'll see what happens."  His phone rang and he looked at it, then groaned.  "Wolfe," he answered sharply.  "No, Frank, I'm a bit drunk.  I don't know, is Horatio back in town?"  Willow nodded.  "Where?" he mouthed.  She wrote down the address and he blinked.  "Horatio goes there?"

"Apparently."

He listened to Frank wanting to know.  "Willow saw him, Frank.  I don't know, probably stress relief.  Ask him in the morning if he's got a hangover."  He hung up and looked at her again.  "I'll get in trouble for that tomorrow."

"You didn't tell him where he was, you'll be fine."  She kissed him on the cheek and grinned.  "This is fun and nice. I haven't had nice fun in a while."

He grinned. "I'll remember that."  She beamed back and sipped her iced tea while he drank his.  There was no way he was getting drunk, so the little lie was okay.

***

Eric watched Ray walk in the next afternoon, blinking at him.  "He's a lot more confident," he told Horatio since he was beside him.

"He's also walking like he had a lot of fun last night."  He looked at Eric.  "Did you?"

"I didn't think you'd mind that one girl, Horatio."  Horatio gave him a look. "Next time I won't poach."

"Good boy, Eric."  They watched as Ryan walked past where they were standing.  "Someone else had some fun."

"Frank said he was out with Willow."

"Interesting.  Any other good news?"

"Yeah, Speed's walking like Ray."  He looked down at Trace, where Speed was still standing up.

"To quote someone else, Love is all good."  Horatio walked off smirking, going to meet his nephew, who his mother was still wary of but getting closer again.  "What's wrong?"

"My girlfriend asked if I had a good vacation, a few of the bullies tried to say I had to have a permanent viagra pump inserted, and the science teacher thinks the platypus is a reptile.  Kissed her, stunned her stupid and wet, kissed him, stunned him hard and moaning, but he's not gay, and corrected the teacher.  For which I got detention for the next three days.  Even though the principal agreed with me, he said my way of proving it wasn't that good of an idea."

"The textbook?" he asked hopefully.  Ray nodded, grinning at him.  "Good boy.  How was it without your wand?" he asked quietly.

"Better. Since Mac and Jethro helped me with my self defense a few days ago I'm much easier without out,"

"Good."  He patted him on the face.  "Why else are you here?"

"My keys don't work.  I have no idea why and neither does mom."

"I'll take you over there."   He took him out to the hummer and home, watching his nephew try his key.  Horatio swished his wand, unlocking it.  Ray smirked at him so he smirked back.  It was nice being yourself.

Oh, Mac

Danny looked up as Mac walked into his lab.  "Hey, how was your first day back?"

"Better than yours I heard.  How old was she?"

"Hammerback estimates fifteen."  He sighed.  He hated dead kids and dead kid prostitutes sucked even worse.  "We've got some good evidence but nothing's firm yet.  Too soon."

"That's fine, Danny.  Remember, you can come to me if you need to talk."  He patted him on the back.  "What about that rogue situation?"

"We're heading out tonight," he admitted quietly.  "Don's going in disguise.  I'm not sure what I'm dressing him as."

"Let me help with that.  I'm pretty good at them."  He grinned at him.  "It'd be good to get my hand in again."  Danny nodded. "Where is he?"

"Probably chasing someone down a flight of stairs.  He was just complaining about there being stairs to run down."  He looked around then at him.  "Are your shields still dropping?" he asked quietly.

"No.  Thankfully they've stopped that."

"Good.  Thank you.  Kinda weird to suddenly have you in my head while I'm sliding home, ya know?"

"Yeah, I feel the same way," he promised. Not like he didn't enjoy it, but...  Danny was giving him an odd look. "What?"

Danny walked over and shut the doors, then looked at him.  "Having fun?"

"Not really."  He backed away from the smirking man.  "Danny...."

"Uh-huh.  See, Stella pegged it. She also said that you feed out better than you get feed in."   He moved closer. "So you do enjoy it, huh?"

"It's at a very primal level, Danny, I don't know anyone who wouldn't, but I do try to keep them up."

"Uh-huh.  Maybe you and Stella should have a talk."

"Why?"

"They think you wanna join in."

Mac blushed.  "Um, no, not really.  This isn't the place to have this discussion."

"Sure.  Bar tonight while we're following Flack."  He opened a door and smiled.  "Thanks for helping me with that, Mac."

"Not a problem," he muttered, walking out.  He ran into Stella, giving her a hurt look.  "What did you tell him?"

"The truth, Mac.  My shields drop less than yours."  She pinched him and grinned. "Dinner tonight before the bar or not?  Danny and Don are still arguing that point."

"I shouldn't...."

She hit him on the arm, making him wince and rub the sore spot.  "Shut up, Mac.  Be there or else we're summoning you out of the shower when they drop again."  She walked off happier now.  She was in the mood to torture someone.

He went to hide in his office.  There was no way he was getting out of the office until well after those three had gone out, gotten drunk, and had sex at home so they were deeply asleep.  His plans went awry when he found himself getting up at the end of the work day and heading for the locker room.  He wasn't sure why. He definitely wasn't in control of his body.  At his locker he put everything away, pulling out his bag to go home with.  All but his keys.  He made a grab for them. "I need those," he complained quietly.  He couldn't get his wand either. "Guys!"

Danny came over, looking then taking his keys and wand with a bright smirk.  "Don won the dinner argument.  You got anything against Cajun?"  Mac slowly whimpered. "Good."  He closed his locker and pointed.  "That way."

"Who?"

"Stella's incredibly good with puppet spells, ain't she?" he asked fondly.

Mac moaned and followed, he had to.  "Danny," he complained.

"Shut it, Mac," Don said as he joined them.  They ran into their cult member, Don smiling at him. "Hey.  Long time no see."  The man gave him a beautiful smile then hugged him.  "I missed you guys too.  Sorry, but it was necessary to protect ourselves and others."

"We understood.  We have another who had heard of the people who came for you."  He pulled back and wiped his cheeks off.  "Thank you for returning safely and to your protector for taking such good care of you."

"Not a problem. I like spoilin' him," Danny assured him happily.  "He never expects it."  The cultmember smiled at that.  "We're heading out to dinner then to get drinks.  You tell them we're back, it's all good, and cases are still hell."

"I will, Protector.  Thank you. Would you wear that seafoam shirt tomorrow?" he asked hopefully.  "That would help your cause greatly."

"I was gonna wear it tonight."  The man beamed and nodded, heading to report that.  He looked at Don, who just smirked.  "Hey, I like that shirt too."

"It does good things for your eyes," Don agreed, taking Mac's arm as Stella walked over.  "We ready?"

"Almost."  She attached something to Mac's collar, then looked around before disappearing since they were in a back hallway.

"Ah, they are all sharing his power now.  It is a blessing he has given to them," the cultmember said happily, reporting that as well.  That would not be put out openly on the boards, they did know discretion and knew that there were those who looked at their Father oddly for them being at his command.  Maybe it was time for those who needed it to ask the Father for help in their transformations.

***

Don looked around the bar, finding the guy watching him.  He raised an eyebrow and took another drink, glancing around again.  His backup was all in a booth, Stella quizzing Mac about what he wanted.  Not that he wasn't lying and avoiding the subject but she was good at breaking people.  The person who had been watching him plopped down next to him.

"Beer."

"Any type?" the bartender asked, sounding just a bit too calm.

"Whatever."  He got poured a glass and put three silver sickles on the bar. "You new in town?"

"Nope," he said, not bothering to hide his accent.  "Pretty new to the field."  He looked him over.  Dirty jeans, t-shirt, overshirt.  Standard curse breaker gear.  "How long you been doing the job?"

"Sixteen years."

Don nodded.  "Long time.  I'm still training."  He took a sip of his drink.  "What's your area?"

"Obscure artifacts, mostly religious."  Don hissed at that.  "Yeah, it's got a bad rep among most of the other breakers.  I like it though, I learn a lot."

"I'm training through the London branch of the bank.  They want me to do more jewelry and stuff, some library stuff.  Not a clue why."  He looked at him.  "Man, I saw Weasley the other day doing some chest of something. Then he gave this smug little grin to the goblins and strolled out like he was all that."  He snorted.  "Training and balls.  I'll get there.  Alex is thinking about taking an older apprentice on I heard."

"I hadn't heard that.  I know he's got one.  Someone they missed and ended up being a natural."

"I've seen him coming in to get some reference materials for language stuff."  Don smiled at him.  "Which branch did you train with?"

"Local."  He finished his beer, pulling his wand out. "You seem like a good kid, boy.  You sure you wanna stay in this field?  You'll lose everything."

"Like you did?" Don asked, turning to look at him.  "It shows, man.  I've seen that pain."

"Have you?" he sneered.  "What do you do before you changed career?"

"A cop," he said quietly.   The man flinched.  "Then I transferred over."

"I understand why.  You ever lose someone?"  Don nodded.  "Someone important?"

"Two partners, one who went bad and I had to arrest.  The other just Lost."

The guy nodded.  "Then you understand."

"Yeah, I do, but I don't understand why I've heard someone saying that one of us has went rogue."  The man gave him a horrified look.  "Not you?"  He shook his head, swallowing.  "You know who?"

"I do," he agreed quietly. He pointed at one guy in the corner. "Redeo."  He got up.  "Thanks, man."

"Not an issue.  Lost is lost, no matter if they were lovers or partners. All you can do is remember and move on."

"I know.  Thank you."  He walked off.

Don walked back there, nodding at the guy.  "Can I join you?"

"You looking for a bad night, kiddo?"

"No, I'm not."  He sat down, looking at him.  "I heard we've got a problem with one of the other curse breakers in town.  I wanted to talk to one who was more knowledgeable since I'm still a newbie to the field."

"Name?"

Don smirked.  "Yours?"

"Turks."

"Flack."  He sat up.  Don gave him a slightly smug look.  "Training out of London."

"All right.  So you heard I was here, wanted to come talk about my little hobby of cleaning out some of the idiots in the field...."

"And don't like your little hobby.  This is my city."  He leaned closer. "Therefore, you go after them by going through me.  But if you wanna make a statement about why, do it now."

"They're idiots."

"So?  They'll get killed in the field.  It's the great equalizer.  We all have a moment of stupidity.  It's what makes us human instead of Alex."  That got a small smirk.  "Now, you wanna go?  Or not?"

"We can go.  Here?  Or wherever your backup wants?"

"Turks, you took down the shields where we fly and practice, man.  You took away my stress relief."

Turks smirked at him.  "It's a weak shield."

"It was but it's not like someone around here can build better."  He shrugged.  "We're low on that talent in this city."

"Point, still doesn't mean I should put up with shoddy work."

"Hey, they do the best they can.  You want better, work on putting up new ones.  Shall we?  You're bothering my city."

"Fine.  Alley or not?"

"Up to you, I called you out."

"Alley's good.  Your boys can guard."  Don nodded and sent that over their bond, then followed him out.  Mac got one end of the alley, Danny got the other, then Stella took his jacket.  Turks smirked at him.  "You got some pretty helpers."

"She's a tough girl," he promised with a smirk.  "Stella's one of us at the PD."

"Ooooh."  He looked her over.  He saw another person come up and his eyes widened.  "I know you."  He rubbed the scar on his arm.

"Yeah, and she's mine," Danny growled.  "Eyes off what's mine unless you wanna go with me instead?"

"No.  That's okay."

"Good."  He went back to guarding his area, taking Stella with him.  They turned to watch, Danny looking at her.  "Put up a shield, you need the practice," he said quietly.  She nodded and put one up to bubble them and he put one to conceal the alley. He nodded, sending an 'all clear' to Don.  Mac did the same.

"Formal or standing?"

"Formal.  Let's see how good your boy taught you."

Don nodded and they moved into position, giving him time to calm himself.  He did just what Alex taught him, including taking the second shot to gauge the seriousness of his action.  The guy sent something that would probably hurt a lot.  Don ducked before he sent a very old hex, something like a stunner, that would incapacitate.  The guy put up a quick shield and shot back.  Don glared and shot back something odder, making him howl as his hair turned into tiny little piranha.  Hungry little fishies.  Don smirked at him and cast another one, easing their agony and making the guy pass out.  "Pity.  Remember, I am learning from Alex 'I turn your hand to gold' Dumass."  He walked over, taking the other guy's wand then searching for more.  Ron always had at least three.  He found a small case in his inner pocket, pulling it out and opening it.  "Man!  How did you get nine!"  He looked down at him, unfreezing him.  "Do not even think about it.  What do you do that you need nine wands?  I mean, Weasley only needs three!  Bill only need five and he's doing tombs."

"I use them for various things.  Most of us don't need that many, I just need them for certain charms."

"Man!"  He walked off shaking his head.  "Alex said I'm only good enough for my second!" he complained.  He cast a small fire charm on a bunch of cardboard.  "Gruinth."  His head appeared so he pointed.  "Your rogue?"

"I'll send someone.  Hold the area.  You have his wands?"

"I've got all nine."

"Nine?  That's overcompensating."  His head disappeared.

A local goblin appeared a few minutes later, sighing.  "Turks," he said sadly.  "What have you been doing?"

"He said he was weeding out the stupidity and weakness in the city.  I agree, we could use some stronger shields."  The goblin looked at him, glaring.  Don glared back.  "It took him all of ten minutes to bring down the shields on the flying area in the park.  It took five to take down the ceremonial spot.  We need stronger shields.  It's not serving the community to keep them that weak."

"Not like we have control over that."

"Then put the overlord onto it," he ordered.  "You're making our lives miserable.  Why would we stay?"  The goblin shuddered.  "Remember, the goblins in the bank and the businesses in the city are all about helping us and making money.  You can't make money if we're not here and making us miserable and vulnerable, especially during a purge, sucks ass to our quality of lives.  Alex has me doing shields, why can't you make the trainees put them up?  Or the injured ones," he said at Danny's mental suggestion.

"It is an idea I'll put forward."  He looked at Danny and Stella.  "There is no danger."

"She's stuck," Danny called.  Finally the inner shield came down and he walked her back.  "Speaking as someone who went here, you could probably get some of the senior class involved.  Make it a yearly thing to strengthen it.  It could help and it's something we do on our own houses for silence and privacy."

"True," he agreed.  "That would keep us from shouldering the whole cost."

"Plus let you find guys who have the skills before they get dropped by the usual issues."

"True.  Thank you, Wizard Messer. Are you going for overlord?"

"Hell no," he snorted. "I don't want it.  I just want someone competent in it.  Any word on the purge?  Move, watch me send your balls through your ears," he ordered. The curse breaker quit shifting.  "Thank you."  He looked at the goblin again.  "Were gonna be talkin' ta Alex again tonight.  Need us to pass on a message?"

"No, but can you perhaps let Breaker Flack's cult die down?"

"They won't.  I'm happy as long as they're not hurting others," Don assured him.  He put an arm around Stella's shoulders, smiling at her.  "We good?"

"We're good.  I could use a backrub.  I didn't get to torture anyone today."

"Eh, there's still Mac," Danny reminded her.  She smiled and nodded, going to find him and bring him back since he had taken the opportunity to sneak off.  He suddenly appeared on his butt on the ground in front of them.  "See?" he said happily.  "You can straighten him out one way or another."  He kissed her and then pulled Don closer.  "That was cute."  Don beamed.  "You're still on the bottom."

"Sure," Don agreed, smirking at him, then down at Mac.  "Come on, let's drag our boss home to talk about his shield issues."  The goblin gave him an odd look.  "It's a binding, man.  It's making us happy."

"If you say so."

"Alex said so," Don said smugly.  "Dumass is my trainer."

"No wonder."  He took the other curse breaker off with him.

Don handed Danny the wands, earning as mile.  "Think we can get me a third one?  I'm doing good with my two."

"You are," Danny agreed.  "Grab Mac and let's go."

Stella activated the node she had put on Mac's jacket, sending him to Danny's sealed back room.  She cuddled up to Danny, touching his belt.  Don did the portkey spell on it since he was better.  Don cuddled up and they were off.  They landed in the back of the living room, and Stella beamed at him.  "Nice shot," she praised.

"You're doing them all weekend," Danny assured her sweetly.  "That and target work.  Because I'll be damned if you're gonna end up dying because you get trapped."  She sighed and nodded.  He stopped her from moving.  "We need to talk, guys.  Mac?"

Don considered it.  "He's hot when he's not in evil or sulking mode."

"He is and he's sweet underneath," Stella agreed.

"Not the point," Danny reminded them.  "We agreed while we were at Alex's that we were gonna get serious, not just falling-into-bed-drunk sex."

She considered it, imagining him over her, under Don and Danny, and shivered, her lower half clenched.  "That was a hot image," Don moaned, clearing his throat.  "Especially the part where you had him tied down."

Stella grinned.  Danny cleared his throat.  "That's the way it'd be too.  I'm filled up on trust at the moment."

She nodded.  "I can understand that," she agreed, kissing him.  He moaned.  "Up to you, Danny.  We can see the benefits.  He might be a casual thing."

"We'll have to wait and see about that," Don agreed, kissing her.  He grinned.  "Danny?"

Danny considered it, then sighed and nodded. "If it makes you two happy.  It'll definitely make him a happier guy."  They smiled at him. "If you two want it, I'll let it ride for now.  We'll see."

Stella smiled.  "So, we can go tie him down?"

"We can go tie him down," Danny sighed, grinning at her. "I spoil you horribly."

"You do," she agreed.  "That's why you're gonna let me go through your closet tonight."  He moaned.  "Tony told me he took you shopping again."  She walked him that way, opening the closet and finding the new trunks of stuff.  She pulled one out and he groaned, sitting down.  "Danny!"

Don looked then at him.  "Oh, really?"

"Tony and Speed took me.  That was their idea.  I did not buy the leather pants for myself."

"Pity," Don said, swishing his wand and putting them on Danny, his pants now in the basket.

Stella looked. "They're not fitted very well."

"They're magical," he sighed, tapping his wand to the mark on the waist.  They shrunk in and she came over to run a hand over it.  He tensed and hissed.  "Sensitive there, Stella."

Don giggled.  He dug into the trunk, finding more stuff.  "Damn," he said, pulling out a blood red shirt.  "I can't see you in that."  He swished and flicked and Danny was in that now.  It complimented the pants very well.  It did make him look a bit darker and a bit more serious.   Mac moaned from where he was stuck on the bed.

Stella beamed at him, then pulled something out that Tony had promised he had found for them, letting Don see it, then he moaned and put the silver, thin silk slip dress on her.  She squeaked as her underwear disappeared. "Don!"

Don smirked.  "Welcome.  Makes sense for later. Less to take off you."  He took the bag she handed over, looking inside.  "Oh, no."

Danny pulled his wand and Don found himself redressed, then the t-shirt tightened on him. "Turnabout and all that," he said smugly.

"Meany. You can't get me out of this."

"A good finite against that dot and it'll unshrink," Stella reminded him.  She moved over, kissing him. "You look hot."

"I always look hot," Don reminded her.

"I dare you to wear that tomorrow," she taunted.

"Some of us can't run like this and I've got to look better.  My lieutenant would throw a fit."

"Claim laundry," Danny ordered, smirking at him.  "Wear those pants and a good t-shirt. It'll be good enough."  He strolled closer, kissing him.  "Do it and be rewarded tomorrow night," he whispered. "Anything you want."

"You under me and begging?" he offered.  "Anything I want?"

"Anything you want short of my trust issues."  Don smirked at that.  "No handcuffs."

"Done," he promised, stealing a deep, stabbing kiss.  "These are way too tight to get hard in," he complained.  They uncharmed their pants and Danny got Don's shirt, then Stella giggled and banished the clothes, folding them again.

Danny smirked and pulled her over, dragging her between them.  "You're too far away."  He ran a hand down her stomach, making her flinch and arch back against Don.  He smirked and kissed her, then pushed her toward Mac.  "You wanted to talk to him.  Talk, I've got Don."  He pulled Don against him, taking his mouth and arching against him, rubbing gently for now.  "You, me, the bed," he ordered.  Don nodded, taking a running leap at the bed. Danny smirked and walked over, grabbing the lube.  "Naughty, Don," he said, noticing the position he was in.  "Anxious?"

"Hell yes.  I've wanted this all day.  I haven't been able to fly in days."

"Yeah, the feeling of a broomstick behind your balls is something you end up missing."  He bent down to tease and taunt him before even thinking about the lube's top being opened.

Stella turned Mac's head around, making him watch.  "See the prettiness?" she whispered.  He swallowed and nodded.  "You want that, I know you do.  The same as I know you want me," she pointed out, making him look at her.  "We're more than happy enough to let you come to us.  We just need to know."  He turned away and she made him look at her.  "Listen, you stubborn ass, we know you want, but you're not linked in the same way. I can't read your mind the way I can theirs."  He nodded, looking down.  "No, at me."  He looked at her again.  "Good.  Now, tell me."

"I'm...."

"Confused.  I know."  She kissed him gently and he pulled her closer.  "Nothing changes at work.  I said so."  He nodded, taking another one.  "Good boy.  Now, tell me.  What do you want?"

"You," he admitted.  "Them."

"There's some rules with them.  Danny's very possessive," she said quietly, pulling him over to sit on the foot of the bed with her.  She moaned as Danny slid home, looking back at them.  "Danny!"

He smirked.  "I'm having fun.  You're not?"  He pulled out and slammed home again, making Mac groan even though he wasn't watching.

Stella kissed him again.  "Let it go, Mac.  You're here with us."  She stroked his cheek.  "We'll talk tomorrow if you want."  He nodded, pulling her into his lap, his control totally snapped.  He lipped her ear, then moved his way back, taking her mouth hostage for now.  His hands skimmed up her side, shoving the dress up.  "Slow down."  He moved down to her neck, nipping gently.  She shivered and he kept going, doing whatever he had to to make it good for her.  He didn't get to do more than unzip and shove her dress up, but it was hard, fast, and made her squeal.  He soaked up the noises, kissing her to gather them, pushing up into her while he held her still.  He moaned and grunted, coming hard, resting his head against her shoulder.

"Tease her, Mac," Don panted.  "She still needs it.  Please!"  Mac let a finger go down, teasing her gently.  She squealed and shook, getting off around him.  "Thank you!"   He moaned and let go, squeezing around Danny so he had to go too.  "OW!  Biter!"  He rubbed his shoulder.  "I'm going to do that to you one day."  Danny chuckled and slid out, laying down.  Don sighed and flipped over, crawling over to lay on Danny's shoulder.  "There, now I can get my cuddle on.  Stella?"  She climbed off Mac's lap and pulled him up, stripping him gently.  She smiled, kissing him when he blushed.  "I knew you were hot," Don offered.  "Come on, I don't get cuddled.  Danny doesn't.  Ever."  Stella stripped off and pushed Mac onto the bed.  "Mac, please? I'll get cold and feel unloved."  Mac crawled back, laying against his back, one arm around his stomach.  Stella curled up against Mac's back, holding him.

"Guys, I don't sleep that much."

"You will tonight," Stella said in his ear.  "No nightmares are allowed.  I've even helped Danny's go away."  Mac shivered and nodded, relaxing again.  "Good boy."  She stroked his stomach, earning a hiss.  "Awww, are you ticklish?"

"Some of us have to be up at seven," Don complained.  "Danny, alarm?"  He pulled it over, making sure it was set.  "Thank you."  He stole a kiss, earning a smile.  He and Danny shared a look then he flipped over to cuddle Mac, letting Danny curling up in the other direction against his back.  Mac gave good cuddle so he drifted off, feeling Stella's hand stroking him now and then as she soothed Mac.

Stella smiled as Mac fell asleep under her hand.  She sent a thought at Danny, getting a sleepy, content murmur out loud. She pulled the blankets up higher, making sure he could curl up under them.  Danny's head disappeared, making her smile, then Don sighed and kissed Mac's throat before getting comfortable, which forced her back on her back.  It didn't matter, she'd be held later.

***

Mac woke up, realizing where he was.  He knew he wasn't at home and he'd seen the inside of Danny's bedroom before.  He tested his bonds, finding it fairly lax, just Stella's leg at the moment.  He gently and slowly moved her, shifting until he could get out.

"Freeze," Danny whispered.  Mac froze.  "Get your ass back into this bed."

"Danny."

Danny uncovered himself and glared. "Now!"  Mac slid back into the bed.  "Thank you."  He nudged Don.  "I'm cold," he whispered, making Don sigh in pleasure and flip over to land on top of Mac.  He smirked at him.  "Good."  He rested his head on Mac's shoulder, dodging Don's arm around his neck.  He swatted at it. "Need to breathe."  Don shifted, taking his hand to hold instead.  "Good boy."  He smirked at Mac.  "Tough.  Deal with it."

"Danny," he started again.

Danny muttered and looked back before finding his wand and pulling it over.  "Legimens," he cast quietly, getting into his mind.  Mac tried to fight but oh well.  Being so out of practice around him was a bad thing.  He showed Mac what Don and Stella had thought earlier, then what he had.  Mac relented so he left his head, giving him a look.  "Like I said, tough.  Deal with it.  Be cuddled so I don't have ta."  He closed his eyes, tucking his wand under the pillow.  Just in case.

Mac laid there and thought.  Don shifted a few times but he wasn't being sexual, just trying to get comfortable.  He knew he had hard hipbones.  His wife had complained all the time when he had laid on her.  Don moaned and shifted again, letting go of Danny's hand.  Mac flipped him over and held him, earning a sleep-smile, and it was good.  He was comfortable.  Even though Danny really didn't cuddle.  He was curled up against his side, back to them again.  He wondered about that but he understood; some guys had trust issues.  He had some of those too.

"Before you ask, no, I don't bottom except in very rare circumstances and only when I'm totally comfortable.  That'll be four times in my whole life," he said quietly.  "Don switches, and Stella loves to help me with him."

"Good to know," he agreed quietly.  "I can accept that.  You want to share why?"

"Nope."

"Okay."  He reached over, stroking over his hip.  "I'm wanting but...."

"You're scared she wouldn't approve.  Ya know what?  I doubt she'd want the Mac robot that you became instead."  Mac made an unhappy sound. "Think, Mac.  You were so uptight you couldn't even bring yourself off.  Would she like that?"

"No," he admitted.

"Would she be really upset that someone was making you happy?"

"Probably not.  She would mind the fact there's three of you."

"She'd laugh because it took three of us to make you relax and quit working yourself into joining her," Stella offered, reaching over to smooth his hair off his forehead. "If you do it again, I'll have to spank you."

"Don't let her do that, she's scary when she does," Danny promised, sounding like he was smiling. "She spanked Don the other day for refusing to give her oral sex."

"He was mean."

"He was," Danny agreed.  "I'm still staying out of it."

"Fine.  Be that way."

"You want off in the morning?"

She moaned.  "Yes, please?"

"C'mere," he ordered.  "Mac, shift over.  Mac gently shifted him and his blanket over, making him chuckle. "I can't stand to be held down, but you're good at that."  Stella slid out of the bed and around, coming to rest against Danny's front.  "You just need it quick, hard and good?" he asked, kissing her gently.

"Please," she begged.

He smiled. "You and your PMS horniness."  She nodded, letting him have whatever he wanted.  He started small, a kiss, a light brush against a nipple.  She moaned and arched up as the hand move further down.  "Hard and fast or just good?"

"Fast and good, hard is too much," she panted. His fingers spread out, two entering her and his thumb teasing her clit.  "Oh, there!"  He gently worked her, just teasing for now.  "Danny!"  He added some pressure, making her clench and start to shift her body with his thrusts.  "Please?"

"I think you're starting again, Stella," he whispered.  He finished her off, making her moan and go limp.  "Go check and get me one of the baby wipes?"  She reached over, getting one for him. He wiped off his fingers, making her get up with a sigh and head into the bathroom to clean up fully.  "We'll do the potion tonight."

"Thank you."  She closed the bathroom door gently.

Danny finished cleaning his fingers, then flipped over.  "Quickest way to ease the cramps."

"I'll remember that.  That's amazing."

"She's got a body that desires to be stroked.  In the old days, she'd have been a concubine witch.  Her body throbs once you start it.  All you have to do is drop your shields to feel it."  Mac swallowed and nodded.  "Don's the same way.  His body's made to be played with. I can see what his cult thinks."

"What about yours?"

"Mine's easy but it's good.  It's not hard."  Stella came back and curled between them.  "You good?"

"I'm fine."  She kissed him, then Mac.  "We should finish sleeping before we wake Don up."

Danny smiled.  "Good idea.  Knew you were the brightest bulb in the group."  She pinched him, making him chuckle in her ear.  She shivered.  "Go to sleep, Stella.  Curl up on the big, strong chest there."  She nodded, giving Don a gentle shove to get part of the body pillow he was hogging. Don groaned and shifted for the price of a kiss.

Mac stole his own and smiled at them.  "Thank you, guys."

"Welcome," Don moaned.  "Sleep or I'm going to be a cranky cop."  Stella kissed him.  "Nice, thank you, Stella."  She stroked his back, making Mac help her.  He fell back asleep within minutes.

"He's the most cuddlesome thing ever," she said quietly.  "Followed by me."  She closed her eyes, taking the hand petting Don to hold.  "Don't leave without me."

"Of course not," he promised. Danny snorted.  "I won't.  I'll make sure she gets in since it's your day off."

"Good to know.  We get upset by the time off?"

"Some but it was explained and it was good.  We're in the clear.  Horatio had a few more problems but it's cleared up as well.  Tony and Gibbs had more with their director but the law was laid down while they were gone.  She's seething more privately."  He looked over at him.  "You can have my other side."

"I don't cuddle.  Don complained when I popped his cherry and didn't cuddle him."  Mac moaned and tensed at that.  "Sorry."

"No you're not."  He smirked at him.  "That was a hot image.  Thank you."  He shifted under Don, getting the friction he wanted and needed.  Stella moaned and reached over to help.  "No, let me," he ordered.  She looked at him and he smiled. "Please?"

"If he's cranky you deal with him," she ordered.

"Okay.  I'll cheer him up later."  Danny smirked at him. He shrugged and got back to work, rubbing himself against Don's body.  Don moaned as he got harder, shifting back against him.  Mac stole a kiss when the blue eyes opened to look at him, pulling him into better contact.

"Mac, can't I sleep?"

"In a minute.  I'm making sure you're going to sleep."  He pulled his head down to kiss him again, making Don stretch across him.  He grabbed his butt and forced him to straddle him.  "Better," he moaned, arching his hips up.  "Please?"

Don smiled, sitting up some.  "Mac, we adore you, but just take it."  Mac moaned at that.  "I'm still slick. All of that lube and Danny's come."  Mac flipped him over, taking him hard, fast, throbbing into him.  "Thank you!"  Mac moaned, slowing down.  "Mac, need to sleep soon."

"I'm trying to make it good for you too, Don," he promised.  "Let me calm back down."

Don wiggled free then flipped over, pulling him back down.  "Better this way."  Stella guided him back in and Mac shivered, getting back to work.  "See, still rubbing and even better."  Mac nodded so Don pinched him.  "Don't just stare. I already knew I was pretty."  Mac smiled and got back into it, having him all he wanted.  Don's breath hitched and he came.  Mac moaned and let himself go.  Don stroked through his hair.  "Next time, you can have me first," he promised.  Mac smiled at him.  "Okay?"

"Later," he promised.  "If you get cranky."  He took a kiss, then laid back down.  "Can I cuddle?"

"I'm always happy to cuddle.  Danny's not a cuddler and it sucks but he gives the best blows," he shared.  "His mouth is all sin."  Mac shivered.  "Stella's almost as good but she's playful and she *teases*."  Mac's breath hitched. "Ooh, I feel that," he teased.

Stella teased Mac's balls, making him shiver and shake until he finally came again.  "Good boy.  Now sleep.  We all need sleep."

"Well, you guys need sleep.  I might get up ta make breakfast but nothing else," Danny taunted.

"I can make you come in too," Mac complained, closing his eyes.  "Can I do that anytime I can't sleep?"

"If it's a good night."  Don stroked his back, helping him fall back asleep.  "Good boy, Mac. You sleep."  He got pinned down and it was a good thing this time.  Stella kissed him so he grinned. "You mind?"  She teased him, making him tense and come after a few more minutes.  "Ahhhhh."  He drifted off.

Danny kissed the back of her neck.  "You're doing so good on your evil minion training I might have to promote you to evil temptress and consort," he joked quietly.

She flipped over, smirking at him.  "Who said I haven't taken your crown?" she taunted back, snuggling up to him.  "You need one too?"

"Nah, I'm good for now.  Get one in the morning, see how some people have learned that other lesson."  She leered and he beamed, letting her stay against his side until she fell asleep then flipping back over.  He even endured the arm around his waist for now.  Otherwise he'd have to go to work so Mac could do something other than pleasing those two.

***

"Tell me you cooked or I'm going to eat you," Stella called as she walked in.

"Of course I cooked.  Tony and Speed will be up soon," Danny called.  "Potion book for you in the library."  She headed that way.  "Along with everything you might ever need."

"Thank you!"  She sat down with the book he had pulled out, finding the potion she wanted.  She noticed one marked and headed there instead.  "Okay, I can do that one," she decided after comparing it.  She got down the things he had already prepared for her, getting to work brewing it for herself.  Even if it did make her tired, crankier, and not hungry, she was having this potion.  She didn't care if it made her infertile or magicless, she was having this potion.  Danny came in to check on her, making her smile. "I'm good so far. This is like cooking and chemistry."  He nodded, kissing her on the temple before going back to the kitchen.  "Did Greg approve of this one?"

"No, but Emilia did."

"Good enough for me."  She finished it a half-hour later, pouring out the recommended dosage and taking it, making a grossed out face. "It tastes like the ingredients," she complained.  He gave her a look. "I know."  She sniffed her plate then moaned.  "How long before I can eat?"

"As long as you don't puke it up, a half-hour."  She nodded, sitting down to watch them eat, making note of the time.  Speed and Tony showed up, getting hugs.  "How was your day?"

"Boring," Speed told him.  "By the way, Greg had to explain why he had to keep helping Alex. They've got a new sheriff and Ecklie's pushing to have him removed behind the scenes.  The sheriff wants him back in the lab again, so we'll see what happens. He's vowed so far to take the kids to Scotland Yard so no one and nothing would touch them, plus so they could go to school over there."

"I heard and joked that maybe he should become a PI.  After all, that would give him the perfect cover if he needed to move or if he needed to investigate something.  Greg was not amused," Tony offered dryly.

"Greg's sense of humor has sharply went downhill since he went into the field," Mac reminded them.

Speed looked at him and smirked. "You look well rested."  Mac blushed at that, looking away.  "Statement of fact."

"Behave," Danny ordered quietly.

"I'm trying to.  Think Yelina would bitch me out if I gave Ray Jr. my collage set?"

"Yes," everyone at the table said.

"Oh well.  Pity about that, guess I'm hiding tomorrow, huh?" he said with a bright grin.

"Remember, he can do tracking spells," Mac warned.  "You can't destroy my city to do that."

"Yes, sir."  He saluted him and dug in.  "Nice job, Danny.  Stella?"

"Anti-PMS potion."

"Ah.  I knew girls who took that right after eating, that way they got around it."

"It said an empty stomach."

Danny got up to get the book, bringing it out. "It has been updated to an empty stomach," he admitted, handing it off to Speed. "I made her do the harder one."

"I'm happy, I'll save at least half on tampons."

"Plus, if she's really good, I'll make her the other potion, the one that'll help her if she gets pregnant," Danny teased.

"Can I do that?"

"Not on that potion," Danny said firmly.

"Oh, good.  Then I don't have to worry about buying pills either."  She smiled happily.  "One less exam a year is good for me."  She checked the clock then dug in.  "Thank you for cooking, Danny.  I missed lunch."

"I heard."  He patted her on the arm.  "Now, be a good girl and I'll teach how to make the wizard's viagra potion.  It's meant to drive wizards insane."

She looked at him.  "Surely you're not suggesting I need it," she said dryly, smirking at him.

"No, but it's fun ta play with now and then."  He smirked at her.  "Plus, no condoms."

"No mood swings," Don agreed.  "Or fighting against the anti-cuddling monster."

"Sue me, I don't like to be tied down!" Danny shot back, glaring at him.  "We've all got things we won't do."

"No more bitching," Speed ordered.

"Man, usually when Danny gets that cranky, Sonny's around."

"He's dead," Danny said firmly.

"No, all we have are reports he committed suicide," Mac noted.  "He never had an autopsy done, Danny."  Danny tensed up.  "Not saying either way but we can't be sure."

"There's a charm to let you know who's in a grave," Tony said quietly.  "I'll do it at his tonight."  He ate another bite, looking at Speed, then at Danny.  "Are you feeling that usual itch that happens bi-yearly?"

"No, not yet.  Why?"

"Because you're cranky and edgy, Danny."

"I keep expectin' it."

"Huh?" Don asked.

"My father put a hex on me when I was littler to test me every once in a while, see if I was worthy of the family.  It usually ends up with a banshee screaming for my blood after some very bad months."  He stuffed his mouth.

"But we can remove a blood curse, right?" Don asked Speed, who shrugged.  "I think you can."

"We researched it, all we got was that it had to be removed by the caster," Speed offered.  "I never got around to asking Alex about it.  I figured we'd go to him if it manifested again.  Last time Tony ended up protecting him at his place and going in the next morning saying he had fallen while jogging."

"Gibbs give you hell?" Danny asked.

"No, I told him I tripped," Tony promised.  "I got a 'quit looking at the bouncing asses in front of you next time, DiNozzo', but nothing else."  He looked at him.  "I warned him this was the year for it.  That way he'd know if I suddenly had to shoot off to help you again."  Someone knocked on the door so Danny got up to get it.  "Trouble?" he called at the quiet words.

"I forgot to write out the rent check," Danny assured him, sitting down with his check book and checking the balance before writing out two month's worth and handing it over.  "Sorry about that.  Next time, yell at me sooner if I forget.  I work some insane hours some weeks."

"I understand.  Thank you, Mr. Messer."

"Just give me a day to make sure I've got the funds transferred, all right?"  That got a nod.  "Thanks."  He smiled and closed the door, then called the bank.  "I need to autopay my rent, can I do that?"  The goblin answering the floo nodded.  "Cool.  Do I have to fill out forms?"

"You would have to, yes."

"I'll be in tomorrow before work, which'll be about opening."

"That's fine, Wizard Messer.  Is Breaker Flack with you?"  Danny nodded, getting out of the way.  "Where are the wands he confiscated last night?"

"My dresser," Danny offered.

"Thank you. Bring them with you please."  He hung up and went back to work.

Danny sat down again. "Sorry about that.  Sometimes I forget the littlest shit."

"You sure you're not feeling the curse?" Speed asked.  "Two other times it started off that way.  One of them by you nearly cheating on your girl."

"Yeah, I remember that now.  I still think it's strange I ended up with Stephi Flack in that other reality."

"You think it's odd?" Don said, giving him an odd look.  "That'd be one loud household."  Danny shrugged, grinning at him.  "At least I got in the normal way.  I got to do the bonding stuff and the quirky teenage stuff, plus the dorm stuff."  He ate a bite of salad.  "What is boarding school like?"

"Somewhere between a really lax prison and a harem where you have people bugging you so you can't do homework," Speed offered.

"The less popular and more isolationist you are, the more prisonlike it becomes," Tony added.

"Think of it like being in the college dorms, only there's people there to beat the snot out of you for breaking the rules," Danny told him.

"I commuted.  My dad was afraid I'd do the wrong things and mess up my chances for the academy."

"Did you go to summer camp?" Tony asked.  Don nodded, smiling at that.  "That's boarding school only it's inside, you have homework, it's too loud to study, and the older kids pick on you because every school has kids like Draco."

"We were the kids like Draco," Speed reminded him.  "We were bastards.  You answered to the name Bastard," he fondly reminded him.  "Danny answered to the name bitch."  Tony and Danny both beamed at him for that.  "We ruled our house with a fairly loose grip.  That's why the mini-Flack hung with us."

"Why did you guys call her the Mini-Flack?" Don asked.

"We got there just as your sister graduated.  She came back to do inductions and the first week's sponsoring," Tony told him.  Don shuddered.  "Exactly."

"She died?" Mac asked quietly.

"Car crash her first week at college," Don admitted.  "She was the holy terror of the family.  Makes Stephi look like a saint."

"Oooh, we remember," Danny agreed.  "A few of the teachers started on the mini-Flack since she had the attitude down pat but not the nastiness.  We spent a lot of time making your sister go away or running from her."

"Unfortunately true.  Your sister's cat had kittens on my bed," Tony complained.  "My girlfriend complained and made me kick Speed out to sleep with Danny until it was cleaned up and the mattress switched.  She complained about the law of contagion but I always thought she was making things up."

"I don't think anyone could've used somewhere a cat gave birth as more than part of an easy birthing spell," Stella offered.  "My friend who does the Druid stuff explained that law to me a few times. It has to relate to the purpose."

"Yeah, but conception isn't that far off birth.  Have to have it first.  It might've stretched," Speed offered.  "Oh, Mac, expect a call from Horatio soon.  He's throwing fits about Ryan and Willow getting together and going out for drinks.  Plus he had to treat whip marks on Ray's back."

"Why?" Danny asked.

Speed smirked. "He ran into Eric at the club Horatio took him too. He ducked into a back room to get away from him.  He figured out it wasn't so bad."  Tony choked at that.  "Plus, Horatio is still making cow eyes at Eric's sister.  It's kinda cute to watch him blush and smile at her.  Ray, however, is a huge pervert.  His mother caught him talking girls with Eric and comparing things like nipple taste. Needless to say, even Horatio hid from that fit."  Everyone chuckled at that.  "Seriously.  Ryan ended up sedating her and then he had the gall to sigh in relief and walk off smiling about it.  Horatio's 'I'm not amused, Mr. Wolfe' followed him back to fingerprints."

"You guys get the fun office days.  Today I got to be watched, very closely, by Fornell all day since the case crossed into his turf.  Oh, the director did accuse me of selling government secrets.  Fornell told her to quit deluding herself and to ask Gibbs.  If I had been doing something like that, Gibbs would've known and stopped me by now.   She pounced the boss instead, making him growl.  She started to accuse him of being in on it too, but by then Fornell had called someone, who told her very plainly that she'd be in trouble if she said another word.  Also, his girlfriend still thinks we should date to fluster her worse."

Danny snorted. "I can't see Gibbs going for that one," he joked. "You're not a girl.  He seems very straight to me."

"He does," Tony agreed happily.  "I told her I'd almost rather date Abby and she squealed at that.  Apparently Abby and Ducky went to her museum and introduced themselves.  She's coming in for our picnic after we all do the defensive driving class at the FBI academy."

"How's Stan?" Mac asked.

"Doing good.  The last few cases are just now hitting the courts so he's had to spend some time back there testifying, but otherwise he's good.  Gibbs loves working with him.  He's got good insights.  Understands higher and lower crimes.  Has good instincts.  Got the boss's rules down really quickly.  He makes McGee blush almost as often as I do.  It's a wonderful thing."

"Good," Mac agreed. "Any idea when he'll be able to go back?"

"Not yet.  That case still hasn't fully wrapped yet," Tony admitted.  He shrugged.  "We're hoping soon.  He's a bit bored.  He said he's never had this little work in his life.  He's used to having a desk full of case files."

"How many open cases do you have?" Don asked him.

"We usually try for one open at a time, maybe the cold ones in the background.  Right now we just closed one so we're on call tonight for a new one that comes up, we've got that case in the background that we're working on, plus about sixteen cold ones since I joined."  Don looked impressed.  "Our cases go pretty quickly since we've got the whole team to focus.   Abby's a forensic Goddess.  Ducky does about six autopsies a week.  I've got about four cases sitting in my desk at this moment plus the open one from that smuggling ring."  He scraped his plate and reached for more, making Stella swat his hand.  "Sorry."

"Mac, who was the Patton wannabe who came up to you today at the office?" she asked.

"Former CO.  He was working on getting the others free.  Why?"

"I was wondering if we'd have to worry about things being bugged."

He shook his head.  "Not unless Tony's director is doing it.  I can find my bug sweeper and use it around the house.  Why are you worried?"

"Because I heard him say I'd be an asset to the uniform."

He smiled.  "He was talking about morale boosting, Stella.  He was always for the idea of a pretty girl making the guys fight harder."  She relaxed at that.  "I can still do a general sweep for bugs.  It's probably not a bad idea since Tony's got the delusional director and Horatio's got Stetler on his case, plus we've got Hillborne on Danny's.  I'll pop home to get it tonight and bring it back."  They all nodded at that.  "Game?"

Don groaned.  "I have no idea what we're going to do.  I'm on that shift.  Danny's on that shift.  Neither of us have the vacation time.   We've only got the one backup."

"What's your sister do?" Danny asked suddenly.

"She's a Civilian Aid.  Why?"

"That means she's PD, dufus.  She can play."  Don's face lit up.  "Call and ask her, then remind the coach."  He got up to do that.  "Can you see Don being the one to turn his sister, who was our next generation of evil," he told Mac, "around and making her more human if he had attended?"

Tony snickered, shaking his head. "No, I think Flack would've been us the next generation and Stephi would've been shocked and appalled when he came out with his own harem in ninth grade."

"Maybe," Speed agreed.  "He could've out-eviled her."  Tony nodded at that.  "We might've had the seriously evil Flack and the minor evil Flack."

"Both playing beater," Tony agreed happily.  "The other house would've sworn at us big time for it."

Don came back.  "She said she hasn't flown since college."

"Bullshit.  When you love the broom you hang on the broom," Danny told him.  "Even when I was forbidden to fly by the docs I still flew."

"Many times we pulled Mr. Head Injury there off his broom," Tony agreed dryly.

"I thought that was you," Mac taunted, smirking at him.  "Gibbs said you get hit in the head and knocked out more than anyone but Alex."

"Man, Alex must've been hit in the head a few too many times and have some serious trauma with the way he loves it when Draco goes evil and picks on Harry about how he can't get past kissing Abby without having a panic attack."

"She's got that one figured out," Tony assured him happily, smirking even.  "I sent her over there since she's got tomorrow off."  He reached for more food since Stella was now done with her first helping and had gotten more.  She smiled at him.  "I'll have more manners if you quit being so cranky.  Or else you're going to make Danny wear out his wrists."  Danny shook his head but Stella blushed.  "Bad day at work?"

"Very.  Sheldon picked on me all day about having had enough sleep last night and being too mellow.  Lindsey joined in a few times, asking if I had a new guy.  I told her it was an ongoing thing and the same guys as before in my life.  She asked if the vibrator was good enough and I said usually but they're at home.  I wasn't last night. Hammerback just smiled at me and said I looked radiant and happy.  Then the Patton wannabe showed up.  Then Hillborne showed up."  Mac and Don both groaned at that.  "He wanted to know who I was dating, that there were rumors I was dating Tony, who was some sort of spy."  Tony spluttered at that.

Danny got up to find his phone since it was screaming for him.  "Yeah, wha'sup?" he answered.  He listened.  Then he put it on speaker and set it in the middle of the table.  "Hold it closer, Sheldon."

"Oooh, you're such a pretty unicorn," Lindsey cooed.  "I wish I could pet you."

"Tell her she can as long as she didn't ever have penetrative sex with a man vaginally," Speed offered dryly, finishing his dinner.

Sheldon spluttered but repeated that.  "Lindsey, go ahead and try as long as you've got an intact hymen."

"Oooh!"  She moved further away from the phone.  "She's soft!"

"Guys, I could use some help," Sheldon pleaded. "Please?"

"On the way," Mac promised.

"Thank you!  Oh, Mac, your phone's in your office."   He hung up.

Mac got up and wiped his mouth.  "Be right back."

"I'm coming too," Tony promised, apparating with him.  He sat down on the stairs, looking at the officers looking at her and the unicorn.  "Apparently she's still got some virginity left," he told one quietly when he got looked at.  She shot a glare at him so he waved and smiled.  "Yes, we were having dinner with Danny."  He looked at Mac.

"Inside, guys.  We don't want to spook the poor thing."  They grumbled but went back inside.  "Lindsey, keep him calm and there, okay?"

"Him?"  She looked.  Then at the deep blue eyes. "You are a him, aren't you?"  She went back to petting him.  "Not like I care, you're still sweet and cute," she cooed.  "I've never seen one of you before."

"They're very rare," Tony assured her.  He pulled his wand.  The unicorn glared.  "Just making sure you're not a changeling."  The unicorn stood his ground so he swished and flicked, nodding.  "Thank you. You know, I know a herd keeper."  The unicorn snorted and went back to nuzzling her chest.  He looked at Mac.  "Call the local school?"

"No, I called Aiden.  She said they were looking for one for their school when I last talked to her.  She said they've found a female but she's lonely."  Aiden popped in and smiled.

"Hi, baby," she called.  "I've got a female at my school just for you."  She walked closer slowly, letting him sniff the scented towel she carried.  "There, she's in heat since last week."  The unicorn huffed then looked at her.  "I can send you to her, but it'll mean a portkey and silver rope for a few minutes.  Okay?"  The unicorn sniffled Lindsey's chest, then the towel.  He nudged Lindsey closer to the towel and sniffed her again.  "We can take her for a few minutes too," she promised.  "The female won't let you pet her.  Only the pure can touch her," she warned the human.  She came over, handing over the silver rope.  "Around his neck, please."  Lindsey nodded and did that.  "Okay, tighten it just a bit more.  We want good contact without choking."  She did that.  "Good, now hold onto it."  She picked up the towel and handed it to her, then cast the charm to make the portkey out of the rope.  The three of them disappeared and she led Lindsey and the unicorn outside to where the other one was waiting in the courtyard.  Lindsey let him go and watched as he went out to sniff tails with her.  Then he looked at Lindsey, making her follow.  Aiden sighed and left, heading back to New York.  "He's got her in thrall, Mac.  Anything in her background?"

"Not that I've ever found," he admitted. "She's pretty resistant to the oblivious."

"Cool.  Just what I need.  I'd better go back to make sure she doesn't bend over and take it."  She waved at them and grinned.  "Smack Danny on the ass for not calling me."

"It'll be his pleasure," Tony assured her with a wink and a smile.

Aiden looked at Mac.  "Really?" she asked, moving closer.  "Can I have ...details?"

"No!" he said, shaking his head.  "I don't share private details."

"Pity.  That'd be hot."  She shrugged and headed back to the school, heading outside with the other students.  "Guys, let the unicorns screw!" she demanded. The students backed off and Lindsey was drug inside too.  "You, upstairs so we can wean him away from you."  She gave her a nudge.  She looked at the crowd.  "Anyone I catch watching flunks my class!" she bellowed.  They all scattered.  She was already a tough teacher to pass.  She got Lindsey to the infirmary.  "The male unicorn mating with ours outside likes her.  She was all cooing and cuddling with him."

"Interesting.  I'll see what I can do to break it," the nurse promised, going to do that.

Aiden went back to make sure the students were showing proper respect.  "People, I meant it. You probably don't want to be watched either. So unless you want Professor Lupin and his cohorts to start taking a front row seat when you're going after your boy or girlfriend I'd hustle back to your rooms."  The remaining students, minus three, ran off.  She looked at them.  "You want to be voyeurs?  Go watch the others.  Now, or fail my class."

"We don't have you," one of them noted, grinning at her.

"Besides, we gotta learn it somehow," another noted.

"Trust me, kids, that isn't how people do it.  Sirius!  Spike!"  They came jogging up the hall.  "These kids think that they're going to do it just like the unicorns.  I think they need that talk."

"Right," Spike agreed, dragging the three of them off to have a beer and a talk with them.

Sirius kissed her on the cheek.  "Love you, Aiden. How did you know I was bored?"  He turned into a dog and trotted after them.

"You're always bored.  Teach 'em how to lick their balls too, Sirius."

"Don't encourage him," Remus complained as he joined her.  He looked at the unicorns.  "He's young."

"He was hanging on one of Danny's coworkers," she said dryly.  "The one who replaced me."  He chuckled a bit at that.  "So, she's being cleaned of the thrall, he's no longer walking around lower Manhattan, and we're probably going to have to ask someone to find us a herd land."

"Alex Dumass has a herd at his manor," he said quietly.  "He must've been really desperate, they're still going and she's sighing like it's been more than enough time."

She did a checking spell and growled, removing the cock ring. "Someone was keeping him."

"Ooooh," he said, getting out of the way.  She was going to explode on someone. Probably one of her potion making brethren.  He called Greg since their overlord was so nice and did things the right way.  Since Chicago didn't have one and St. Louis' was closer, but boring and ineffective.  New York's was out of the question, everyone was shunning him for his support of missing students and supporting the purge.

***

Danny hung up and looked at the people around him.  "The unicorn was being kept by someone.  It had a ring."  Tony moaned at that.  "Aiden is not a happy camper."  Don and Stella both whimpered.  "They're calling around to beat the shit outta someone.  I'm not even sure who is a potions person in town."

"Why would you put a cock ring on a unicorn?" Stella asked.

"There's a few spells that call for unicorn sperm as an ingredient in the potion."

"Plus two darker spells to take the unicorn's power and channel it into a child you create between you and him," Danny offered. "Mostly the skills go to the kid."

"EWWW!" she yelled, getting up and going to clean her ears out.

"That's why they're *dark* spells," Mac called after her.

Speed looked at him.  "How did you find the book with the nastiest spells in existence?  Because that's almost as sick as the enchanted frog spell you gave the mini-Flack."

Danny lazily swished his wand with the biggest smirk, handing over the book that came out.  "It was my sixteenth birthday present from my uncle."

"Your uncle is a sick, sad bastard," Tony noted, looking at it.  "Power and Blood Rites."  He took it to flip through, finding that one easily enough.  "Did you highlight?"

"Nope.  Keep goin'."

Tony slowly flipped on, then suddenly dropped the book and went to join Stella before he needed a full shower.  Speed looked and then at him.  "Your uncle is very sick and needs to be put down."

"Too late."

"Oh, good."  He kicked the book closed.  "Is there worse in there?"  Danny nodded.  "Than the zombie spell?"  Danny nodded again, smirking.  "Eww."

"Ya think?  He thought I was weaker and if I did one I could impress my pops."

"Did people really do those things?" Don asked weakly.  Speed and Danny both nodded.  "Why?"

"To gain power.  Plenty of people have done a lot of stuff to gain more power.  That's what all those rites are about," Speed offered.

"Over the ages, plenty of people have made new ones and used the old ones.  I'm not so sure that wasn't my uncle's personal copy of that book.  I doubt he had the chutzpah to do it.  He's not that good and my father would've kicked his ass if he had done some of it.  He hated some of the darker magics."

"Your dad and Draco's dad, wherever he's floating around, need to have a long talk with someone good about how to raise kids," Tony said as he came back.  "I *swear* I'm going to burn that book."

"There's worse in there," Danny said with a cocky smirk.  "He gave it to me over breakfast and I sat there and read it, at least until I got to the next-to-last.  Then it carefully put it on the table, open, and walked away.  My mother looked and about ripped his head off."  Tony shuddered at that.  "My father looked then found me later and pointed out I'd still better join the family business and that's all he wanted of me.  If I did those, I'd be locked away somewhere."

"Good!"  Don agreed happily.  "Only good decision your dad ever made!"  His phone rang so he answered it.  "Yeah, dad?"  He grimaced.  "No, I'm at Danny's with a bunch of the guys and Stella.  Why?"  He looked confused.  "Danny, someone told him I was their most special boy and going to be a saint?"

"Your cult?" Speed suggested.

"Dad, was it part of the cult?"  He snorted.  "I don't care as long as they're not harming others," he offered.  "Yeah, I'm sure.  So?  They think I'm hot, they like to see me dressed nice, they don't hit on me, and it's all good to me as long as they're not harming others.  Do I care?  Dad, I'm a curse breaker, this stuff happens to us.  The same as someone sent me a dragon's egg."  He smirked at the choking.  "No, I'm going to go over permanent transformations with the guys soon.  Need me for anything?"  He smirked.  "Dad, do you really want that information?  I didn't think so.  Night, Dad.  Remember don't drive.  You've already had enough to drink."  He hung up.  "Dad's still hearing rumors that I'm gay and apparently my cult sent him a nice birthday card for having me."  He grinned at them.  "One of the cult members wrote me an email today asking me to finish her transformation since the doctors didn't like why she was doing it."

"It takes three pretty strong wizards to make a permanent transformation," Tony noted quietly.

"We're talking gender," Danny offered.  "Female to male."

"Yeah, and to make sure she works right one of the harder things," Speed reminded him.  Tony glared.  "Sorry.  At least we weren't trying to make yours permanent, Tony."  Tony snorted and calmed down.

"Was he a pretty girl?"

"He was a very pretty girl," Danny agreed with a grin.  "We were doing lessons in transfiguration when he got stuck.  Even after we got him back to himself, our girlfriends were all jealous."

"I was actually dating then and mine stomped off because she decided our bonding stuff had gotten out of hand."

"We only did what we do to help Stan," Tony defended at the amused looks.  "Fingers, nothing penetrative.  No one was sure if birth control would work on me so I wasn't even going to suggest it.  The only problem is, if I go back to it I might get stuck unless it's a removable one like we used on him."

Danny shook his head.  "You poor thing, stuck forever as a pretty, leggy brunette with a modest chest."

"Yeah, and think about what my father would've done."

"Sent you to Salem," Speed joked.  Tony gave his head a shove.  "He'd have spoiled you rotten.  Your sister was giving him a second grandbaby.  You would've been the princess if you had pushed even the littlest bit.  Spoiled heiress and all."  He smirked at him. "I should dig out that picture and show it to Horatio in case you suddenly switch back."

"No, thanks anyway. I stay away from those things near me."

"But can you guys teach me what I need ta help them?" Don asked.

The trio looked at each other, then at Don, nodding.  "Sure.  Not an issue," Danny agreed happily.  "I'll even help you cast and Stella can join in if we need her to."  Don beamed at that.  "You really like your cult, don't you?"

"I do. It's really weird thinking that they're worshiping me, but I like 'em.  Most of 'em are nice that I've met.  A few are a bit odd."  He privately sent that he thought a good few were deluded, but only because they were praying to a velvet painting of him.  "I like them overall.  Once we weeded out the bad sort, I'm pretty okay with them and their fascination with my tight ass."

"Broom butt is always great," Speed agreed, standing up with a stretch.  "I should head back.  We'll probably get a call before dawn tomorrow since today was check day."  He waved and disappeared.

"Man, I forgot about that," Tony complained. "Night, guys.  Love you."  He faded out.

Danny smirked at Don.  "Let's go find the book."  Don beamed and nodded, going to learn something new.  "There's two ways to do this.  Anchoring the change inside them, or doing it outside them, like we did with Stan."

"I'd rather anchor the change.  Will it change DNA?"

"It may," Danny agreed. "Which means doing a background check."  Don nodded at that, he wouldn't want to help anyone escape the law.  "To anchor it inside them and do all that?  We'll have to use this one," Danny offered, pulling down a thin book.  "That's theory and the spell."

Don sat down to read it, going slowly since it was theory heavy.  "Were all your classes like this?"

"Only at the upper levels.  First years are taught 'you do this' and limited theory in transfiguration.  Later on and you could need arithmancy as well."

"Huh?"

"Magical math."

"Oh.  They never covered that in the books.  Is it like algebra?"

"Algebra, some trig now and then depending on what you're doing, but mostly spell calculations.  See, this one's got arthimancy already built into it so the average person doesn't have to do it and come up wrong.  Things like hair and skin color, dick length, closing the old openings, changing the DNA rely heavily on a special formula but that's all done within the spell itself.  That's why you do the prep steps first."  Don nodded, going back to his reading.  "It's going to be a good few months of working on it before you're ready to try on someone."

"Yeah, I'm not ready to do it yet but I thought I'd ask, see if there was one."  He looked at Danny, grinning.  "You're sure you'll help?"

"Sure, not an issue," he promised happily, stroking over Don's cheek.  "We gonna let Mac hide at his place?"

"Stella's already asleep in bed.  Mac's already asleep too."  He stole a kiss with a smile.  "You wanna have some fun?"  His phone rang and he sighed, looking at it.  "Yeah, Dad?" he asked impatiently.  "No, you caught me going into the bedroom so I could get some.  Well, gee, I don't know.  Why would I want to have my lover stroke and please me, then make my head explode when I come?" He smirked at the choking going on.  "Got me on speaker, dad?  You really should be poured into a cab by now."  He looked at the phone, then snorted.  "Dad, do you really care which lover of mine is giving me some tonight?"  He heard the 'no son of mine...' speech start.  "Dad, stop before you say something that'll make Ma scream at you forever and ever.  Because I will tell her if you finish that.  Now, put your ass into a cab and I'm callin' Ma."  He hung up and called his mother.  "I know it's late.  Dad's called me twice drunker'n shit.  He just stared on the 'no son of mine' speech again, Ma.  Yeah, he's not in a good mood.  I'll keep my phone on and you call immediately if he tries anything, all right?"  He smiled.  "Sure, Ma.  Love you too.  No, he was baiting me about having two lovers.  Yeah, them."  He grinned at Danny.  "Ma said hi."

"Hi, Ma," he called quietly, kissing Don on the temple.  "I'm going to shower.  Come to bed when you're done."  He walked off, leaving him alone.

"Ma, dad's seriously going off on me having a Danny and a Stella.  Yeah, well, my life, my ass, and if I wanna have someone ride my ass until I go unconscious it's a good thing.  Danny takes good care of me and he's working on my training too.  Yeah, well, he didn't have to.  His buddies and he didn't have to do more than run me through the exercises but we're buds and it's good with us.  No, ma, I'm not sleeping with Speed and Tony too.  Just Danny, Stella, and Mac."  He heard her gasp. "Sorry, but he likes us, he's bound to us, because we did this pretty cool binding thing, and it's good.  He needed us, Ma.  Plus he's great in bed."  He smirked.  "Sorry, didn't mean to share that much, Ma."  He listened to her. "No, Ma, Danny's not like that.   Ma, with the binding I got most of their memories. I can pass the practical tests right now.  Plus I did the same with the guy who's teaching me curse breaking.  He thinks I'm good enough to graduate to second level apprentice and start learning speciality stuff for when I need ta do it at work.  Yeah, well, being able to take down a shield that some drug lord or some gunrunner has would be a good thing.  Yeah, I can totally use it on the job.  Thanks, Ma.  Means a lot."  She asked a question.

"No, he's in the shower. He said to join him in bed when I'm done with you.  That him?"  He smirked.  "Pity about that.  No, he's already come over once to yell at me for hearing gay rumors.  Tell him I'm *happy*.  That should be enough for any parent.  I'm happy, I'm content, Stella's hell in bed herself.  Danny makes me howl and almost throw my back out.  So yeah, I'm happy and even if Danny don't cuddle I'm still happy. Nah, never has.  Occasionally in the middle of the night he'll roll to put his face in your chest, but nothing else.  I'm okay with that though.  Because Stella cuddles very well and so does Mac.  Mac lets me use him as a full body pillow.  Stella lets me snuggle up whenever I want as long as I don't yank her hair again.  The pretty one with the curly hair, that's Stella.  Yeah, her."  He beamed.  "Yup, they missed her too.  She's my fellow student.  Ma, he didn't *have* to take me in.  He could've assigned me a tutor.  He could've just handed me the books and set homework.  We were friends before this and we're still friends. Just extra cuddly ones now and then."  He grinned at her moan and Stella's snort from the doorway.  "We are, Stella."

"We are," she agreed, coming in to hug him.  "I just got called out."

"Poor baby.  Come back when you can."  She nodded, heading out with her case and badge.  "Stella, gun!" he called after her.  She came back for it and waved, then headed off again.  "Sorry, Ma.  She got a call out."  He listened to her wisdom.  "Ma, it's not like that.  Really.  Yeah, but Danny's known Stephi since the day she started school.  She used to torment the three of them.  Ma, please," he said at her suggestion all three of them had him now.  "Not that I'd mind.  Tony's sexy as hell and Speed's got that brooding sexuality thing going on for him.  Very deep that guy."  He grinned at her dissatisfied comments. "Sorry, Ma, but I'm bi and you and dad are going to have to get used ta it.  I like it when Danny flips me over and rides me hard.  The same as I like doing it to Stella.  Occasionally.  I prefer being under Danny.  It's just how it works best for us.  Yeah, I have.  But I'm more comfortable on the bottom unless I'm having a total caveman, needing to prove myself day and he likes it that way too. That's why we work so well, Ma.  We spoil each other horribly.  You mean like Danny cooking dinner?"  He grinned.  "Yeah, my boy's good at that too, sometimes.  Thanks, Ma.  No, you've met them both.  Yes, that Danny. That Stella.  That Mac.  Hell, maybe they'll raise my IQ."

"You say shit like that to put yourself down again and I'm gonna spank you," Danny ordered from the doorway.  "You're not stupid."

"Yes, dear."  He blew a kiss.  "Danny just told me to quit putting myself down, that I wasn't stupid."  He looked his lover over. "Ma, gotta go.  No, blue silk bathrobe."  He hung up and got up, pouncing Danny right there.  "You know what that does to me."

"Hmm, that's probably why I put it on," Danny offered, wiggling free and heading for the bedroom, his ass swishing gracefully as he walked, drawing Don like a tail.  He found himself pounced again but it was okay this time.  It was just them and he could take it with Don.

***

Gibbs opened up the letter that was on his desk, looking at the picture.  It was a beautiful young woman.  He looked at the obvious relative.  "Is she someone I should be wary of or is this an announcement that she's coming?"

Tony looked up, then walked over.  "No, boss, that's called I fucked up in Transfiguration," he said quietly.  "That's also called why Tony doesn't do disguise spells on himself anymore.  I got stuck in that form for two and a half weeks.  My girlfriend was totally pissed and accused the boys of breaking me in, even though we only used fingers.  They spoiled me horribly," he sighed, taking the picture and going to put it behind one of the quidditch ones on his desk.

"So I take it you can't do drag?"

"I can do drag, I can't do anything that would remotely turn me that way," he said quietly, glancing around.  "Otherwise it'll be permanent, boss."

"Okay, I'll remember that. Anything else you wanna share?"

"Yeah, Abby gave me the scary, happy smile this morning. I think Harry hyped her up last night."

"I'll talk with her later, DiNozzo.  Get back to work."  He shook his head.  "What does Messer become?"

"Ask him, boss."

"Speed?"

"Ask him, boss."

"Uh-huh.  You know, we could use this in evidence gathering."

Tony looked at him.  "Only if you can figure out how to explain how you got it."

"Easy, I trained the cat to walk into somewhere wearing a collar with a camera and microphone, then lay down and watch."  He smirked at him.  "Thank you for helping that way, DiNozzo."

"Yes, boss," he sighed, getting back to work.  "If you do, I'll need brushed.  Repeatedly."

"Fine.  Does Horatio know?"

"Hopefully."

"So what does Danny become?"

"Ask him, boss."  He sent a thought at Danny, getting a moan in return. So he asked if it was good and Danny shot back an acidic remark about Mac hearing that and no, that wasn't a good thing.  He looked at his boss.  "Danny's bitching at you for ratting him out."

"He becomes a what?"

"Boss!"

"Sorry."  He smirked at him.  "Think we could borrow him too?"

"No, boss.  Remember, his boss is quite possessive and jealous."

"Yeah, point."  He got back to work, it was a paperwork day so far and he was bored.  "Is there any way to make these things fill themselves out?" he asked finally.

"Secretary," Tony said simply.  McGee walked in smiling and happy.  "Either Abby's mood is contagious or you're having a good day," he noted dryly. "Please, lighten the paperwork burden some."

"Okay," McGee said happily.  "We've figured out how to do it and have successfully tested the new shield. It no longer requires a lighting element and it works very well to block any radio, visual, or auditory waves coming in.  We tested, it does not block cellphone or the wavelength of satellite tv signals.  But that and sunlight are the only spectrum waves that can get in and from the outside it looks like no one's there."

"How hard is it to apply, can you fly through it like Draco has now and then, and how much is it going to frustrate Alex?" he asked quietly, telling Stella, who was calling Alex.

"Easy enough, yes you can, and it shouldn't do more than add onto what he's already got."  Someone squealed and pounced him.  "Hey!"

"I love you!  Come help me, now!" Alex ordered, grinning at Gibbs.  "I'll bring him back when he's fixed my shit.  Please!"

"As long as I get him back. I'll call if there's a case."

McGee nodded, letting Alex take him off and back to the castle to help add to the shields.  Then they went to do the manor's and McGee went to hand Philip the book so he could do the school and town's shields. By the time he finally got to the office, Stan was back and complaining about idiot lawyers who were pressing for where he was hiding and judges who let them, making him answer.

Tony walked her off.  "It'll be fine," he soothed.  "No one can find you here."  He took her into the break room to debrief her, getting all the information he could about the lawyer, judge, and case.  Stan had called his ex to find out more about them and Tony took her number too, calling her to get what she could give him. It could help their case a lot.

Animal Magnetism

Mac walked into the lab Danny and Stella were working in, looking at the other tech, getting a smile back.  "Danny."  Danny looked at him.  He opened the link between them, sending over his question about what animagus form Danny had.  Danny smirked and winked, then got back to work.  "I really do need that question answered, Danny," he said more firmly.

"Can I help?" Stella asked, beaming at them.

"If you want," Danny agreed, knowing what she meant.  "See, Mac, there ya go."

"Danny."

"No."

"Come on, Danny."  He walked him away from the lab table and outside, then into an unused lab around the corner.  "You can tell me, Danny.  You know that."

"No.  I haven't changed in years.  I'm not even sure if I'm the same as I was before.  Not like I'm the same little thug I was then."

Mac smiled at him for it.  "I realize that, Danny, but still.  Please?"

"Not now, Mac.  Let me think about it."

"That's good enough for me," he promised, smiling at him.  "Do you think you can change?"

"Well, it's based on who you are inside.  I'm not the same guy I was back then.  Yeah, I got some tendencies, anyone would, but I'm not the same guy.  So I don't know."  He shrugged and walked off, going back to work.

Mac considered it, then went to make a call about that.  "Alex, Mac.  Got a complex question.  If someone's had a radical personality shift and they were already an animagus, would their forms change?"  He listened to him hunt for a book, then talk about the theory.  "You think she'd have a better idea?"  He nodded.  "Thank you.  Please."  He hung up and considered it. Stella would be some sort of mothering symbol.  Maybe a lioness, fierce and proud.  He'd have to be there when she went through it the first time to make sure.  He sent a mental note to Speed, who moaned and told him to go away, he was busy doing something important and non-magical.  So he got back to work, wondering about Danny.

***

Danny looked up as the owl dropped the package in front of him, grinning a bit.  "Thanks, Tart."  It flew off, heading for the local owlry.  It was Philip's owl from the school so he knew it was probably important. He unwrapped it, frowning at the mirror.  "Uh-huh."  He looked around then walked further into the alley so he could pull his wand in peace.  He tapped it and it came to life.  "Professor McGonagall," he said, looking a bit shocked.  "Is there something wrong?"

"Well, I was approached about a question on animagus and I was also told one of your students would like to try."

"Probably both but Don might want to become a broom," he said with a small grin.  He looked around then sat down again.  "Okay, slight complication to my form.  If I'm not what I was when I was younger, totally changed, would that matter?"

"It could.  Do you still have the same reactions?"

"That's more training."

She considered it.  "I'm sure you have a copy of the book or you can get a copy of the book?"  He nodded quickly.  "Do it with them.  See if you get a dream.  If you do and it's different, then yes, you could change that way."

"Both or just a new one?"

"I'm not sure," she admitted.  "That sort of trauma is rare, even with the war we've had.  Being able to change this way is even more rare."  She saw another head, then Danny punched him, knocking him back.  "Oh, my."

"Yeah, tired of people today," he offered dryly, smirking a bit.  "So, MPD cases?  Do they get one each personality?"

"I've only seen three that have that problem and this skill.  Of them, two did," she admitted.  "It's very rare.  If so, please do write it out for me.  I like to study such things."  She smiled.  "Now, get the stuff ready to teach them that.  I'm aware you did something like the Banes did to fully train them."

"It was too dangerous not to," he agreed.

"Are they ready?"

"Yeah, they are."

"Then do that.  It could be of benefit to both of them."  She smiled and winked.  "Let me know please.  Also remember the charmed tags, dear.  Very important since you don't have a registry.  After all, none of us want to end up at the pound."  He shuddered and nodded.  "Good boy.  Now, I'd best get back before my little heathens come for my next class.  You should probably apologize for hitting him."  She wiggled her fingers and signed off.

He put the mirror into his jacket pocket and glared at the cop.  "Nosy," he snorted.

"That's a magic mirror!" he said.

"No, it's like video conferencing but I couldn't do it on my cell.  This way you've got the camera and the screen."  He shrugged and smirked.  "What can I say, I know techno geeks."

"Fine."  He rubbed his chin.  "You hit awfully hard."

Danny quirked an eyebrow up.  "Really?  I can hit harder."  The cop snorted and walked off.  Danny pulled out a cigarette and lit it, smoking while he thought.

"Bad," Don called.  "Bad, bad, bad, Danny!"

"It's not tobacco.  Lay off."  He took another drag and looked at him, sending him the question quietly.  Stella's 'ooh, me, I wanna do it' came through clearly.  She was apparently having a good time on her scene at the brothel.

Don considered it.  "I heard the broom comment," he muttered.  Danny smirked at him.  "I'll spank you later."  He thought about it.  "I wouldn't mind.  It could be helpful.  Save my ass at times."

"Okay.  We'll do what we can."  He clapped him on the arm and walked off, finishing his cigarette on the way.  He stamped it out and headed inside, exhaling the last right before he stepped over the threshold.  Their cult member glared at him.  "What?  It wasn't tobacco!"

"If you say so."  He pouted at him.  "It's a nasty habit that could take you away from him."

"I know, that's why it wasn't tobacco."  He clapped him on the arm.  "Behave.  Don't make him pout.  He's already had a long day."  He walked around him, heading back to the labs to get back to work.

He stared at his back.  "He is going to drag him down."  Don walked in and he straightened up and smiled.  "Good day."

"Hey," he said, smirking at him.  "You're wrong, Danny's teaching us stuff," he said quietly as he walked past him. "Including how to do the granting that I got asked about."  The man beamed at him, clapping and bouncing some.  "So it'll take some time.  I'm still reading up on it.  Just leave him alone.  Got it?"  He nodded. "Good boy."  He looked him over.  "Pants are undone."  He blushed and did them back up.  "Nice.  Like the tie."  The man looked proud.  "Go work."  He headed off.  Don went back to his desk, considering the implications.  He did check on the website, he wanted to keep up with what they were saying about them.  One of them caught him lurking and he said 'hi' quietly.  He did ask about animal symbolism, something he had read about recently.  The member who had seen him sent over their files on that.  Eagles.  Interesting.  More Mac than him, but interesting.

***

Horatio saw Speed start to glower at the evidence and walked that way.  "What's wrong?" he asked softly.

"Animagus."

"Ah."  He smirked a bit. "Of course they want to try it.  The same as Ray does."  Speed looked at him. "I never got it to work for me."

"I doubt they could find an animal to symbolize you," he agreed. He glanced around.  "Ryan's shaky on a broom," he offered quietly.  "He's still at the slow and careful phase."  Horatio nodded, most kids had that moment. "Does Ray fly?"

"Very well. He flies a lot like you and Tony really."  He smirked at that.  "It shows who trained him."  He stepped closer.  "Do you think Ray should consider it?"

"I think it's an option everyone's got to consider for themselves," Speed reminded him.  "Most kids want but not all can do it and not all get answers.  Some are too human to be anything but human."

"True.  I'll talk to him about the advanced training he could be doing."

Speed looked at him.  "Let me talk to him first.  With some of the shit we got into by our junior year, I'd be surprised if he hasn't already tried it."  Horatio nodded, leaving it there.  "You get to help Ryan calm down."

"If you want."  He went to find him and talk to him.  "Mr. Wolfe."  Ryan gave him a sideways look and went back to his search.  "Need help?"

"No, I'm okay so far," he admitted, plucking a hair off.  "Why?  Did someone say I needed help?"

"No, just wondering."  He closed the door and looked at him.  "Speed said you were having problems with your balance?"

"Yeah, brooms are really tiny and thin when you sit on them."

"That could be the make of broom," Horatio offered quietly.  "Some people do get thicker handles.  I know my original one was about six inches in diameter."

"Which is still really thin," Ryan assured him, grinning at him.  "I don't think I'm going to be doing any casual flying but it's a good thing to know about in case something happens."

"I heard some like you had enchanted surfboards to float.  I know Gregory has one of those."

Ryan smirked.  "I heard.  Greg brags.  A lot."  Horatio smirked at that. "Anything new coming?"

"One never knows what the future will hold," he reminded him.  "Let me know when you've got something."

"Do you think Ray's going to be one of those who learns both?" he asked quietly.

Horatio looked at him and shook his head. "That's usually for those with power who were using your style originally then got chosen for a school, or those who are very scholastic.  I think at the moment Ray's more fascinated with picking up girls than studying the various paths."

"I read the books.  He going for the kitty changing thing?"

Horatio smirked.  "Speed and I were just talking about that."

"Really?  What's he become?"

"I do not know, he won't tell me," he admitted, walking out and going back to that lab.  "Speed?"  He groaned.  "What do you change into?"

Speed looked at him. "What makes you think I do?"

"Because I know you, Speed.  What do you change into?"  Eric gave him an odd look.  "Read the books yet?"

"I did before.  I have nieces who think Harry's cool."  He smirked at him.  "I can see him as a scruffy puppy dog."  Speed shook his head. "No?"

"Nope.  Sorry.  Not saying if I got it to work or not. I need some secrets."  He sent an evil thought Tony's way for letting Gibbs know he could change.  Then Stella asked what he was.  "Huh, some things didn't get transferred over during the bonding," he snorted, getting back to work.  "No comment."

"You can tell us, you know that, right?" Eric asked dryly, smirking at him.  "I'm sure you're adorable."

Speed stared at him. "First, you'd have to actually *practice* the Craft, Eric.  And second, you'd use it to pick up girls."

"Well, yeah," he admitted.  He grinned at him.  "A wolf?"

"No, no comment."

"I know Tony's a very sleek, shorthair black cat that Jethro said was shaped like a Siamese or a Korat," Horatio offered, staring at him. He looked around and pulled his wand, but Speed had put up a shield.  "Ah, you do practice both."

"No shit," he snorted, getting back to work.  Ryan walked in looking confused.  "Horatio forgot I was a booknerd."

"Yeah.  I can see that.  It glows green.  Like mucus green. You really should get that examined."  Speed glared and lowered it, then wrapped it around Horatio's wand.  "Cute."  He looked him over, then snickered.  "I can't believe you turn into that."

"I can render you mute for life," Speed threatened.

"I won't tell if you won't about mine."

"Not an issue."

"Thanks."  He headed off, grinning at Calleigh as he walked past her.

"What's going on now?"

"Male bonding."

"Like frat house bonding or like boarding school in the dorms and no girls allowed bonding?  Because a few of the girls told me that was hot to watch but I doubt it."

"I still like girls," Eric called.  "Thank you anyway, Calleigh."

"Not you!"  She walked in there, looking at Horatio's wand.  She rolled her eyes and took it, shaking it off.  The shield fell at Speed's snap.  "Thank you."  She tucked it back into Horatio's inner pocket. "Behave."  She glared at the men.  "Quit picking on him."

Speed looked at her.  "Picking on him!  He was picking on me!"

"He thinks Speed should be furry too."

"Really?  I more see him as a hawk or something.  Something that's protective and possessive of its territory but always watching.  Or maybe I'm being romantic again," she said happily.

"No comment," Speed told her, shaking his head.  "I'm trying to work and I'm finding it increasingly difficult for some reason."

"You could just change and show us," Eric reminded him happily.

"I can also force you to use magic to protect yourself too," Speed reminded him, smirking a bit evilly.  "Let's see how fast you run for a crystal and some candles, Eric."

"Fine," he pouted.  "Meany."

"This is new information why?" he taunted.

She walked around, looking at him, then suddenly she tickled him, making him shriek and duck to get away from her.  But she followed, making him bat at her and finally pin her against the wall.  So she decided to get dirty and kneed him.  But he moved, thankfully.  She didn't want to really hurt him. A hand came in to help her and Eric gave her his most wicked smirk.  Finally Speed had to change, he was pinned between them and unable to move.  Plus Eric had his wand so he couldn't apparate.  He took a step to the left then changed back, grabbing his wand and disappearing.

"Well, now we know," she said happily.  "He's like a Persian but he's got a non-squashed face and he's a pretty black cat that needs brushed."  She smiled at them.  "Now, you two go find him before he starts to pout."  She walked out, going back to her lab, her mischief for the month done.  She leaned into Ryan's lab.  "He's a cute little kitty.  What's yours?"

"No comment and it's not as instinctive as theirs are so no torturing me."  He gave her a look, then smirked back.  "Or else I'll make you a frog."  She laughed and walked off, waving a hand at him.  "Maybe I was wrong and she is a chaos person too," he mumbled as he went back to searching for more hairs in the rope.

***

Speed landed at Tony's work and was already changed within a heartbeat.  He headed for the elevator since it was open, finding Abby in there.  He rubbed against her leg, meowing up at her.

"Aww, you poor thing.  Are you lost?"  He shook his head, his tag jingling in the quiet elevator as they moved.  "Ooh, you have a master.  He needs to brush you badly."  She looked at the tag then grinned.  "Are you Tony's familiar, baby?"  She picked him up, cuddling him gently.  She hit a different button when the elevator stopped, taking him up there.  She walked up to Tony's desk and put the cat on it, glaring at him. "You need to take better care of your familiar," she complained.  "It's mean not to brush him."

He looked at the cat, then at her.  "That's Tim," he mouthed.  She blinked, eyes wide.  He nodded.  "Shoo, Abby."  She squeaked.  "No, that's McGee."  McGee moaned and she ran off.  He glared at Tim.  "Get me into more trouble, watch Danny kick your ass for putting more pressure on him."  Tim's tail spelled out an H.  "Ah.  Tortured it out of you?"  The cat gave him a pitiful look.  "I agree, you need brushed."  He looked in his desk, finding his spare comb, and got to work on the soft, full coat.  "And I thought I had hair," he complained quietly.

Gibbs came in and stopped, looking at the cat, then at him. "What's that?"

"Abby handed him to me, said he was my familiar.  I'm thinking about having him fixed tonight, boss.  Think I could get Danny to do that?"

The cat gave Gibbs a pitiful sounding meow. "I don't think he likes that idea."  He picked the cat up, holding it under the front shoulders, staring into the eyes.  "Hi, Speed."  He put it back down. "Horatio warned me you ran.  Not why."  Speed made a grumbling noise.  "Fine.  You can stay for now.  Cute tag.  First desk on the right?"

"It's a wizarding address," Tony said quietly, getting back to work.  "She apparently thought it was cute too."

"What is that beast doing in here!" the director called.

"Abby got him for me, Director.  Said I needed a familiar and someone to keep me company.  I'm taking him home with me tonight."

"He's not allowed in here!  Put him in your car!"

"I can't, ma'am, that would violate animal protection laws."  He got back to combing the soft coat.  "One of these days, I'm using a crimper on you," he said quietly.  "Just to see you with wavy hair."  The cat glared at him so he smirked.  "Pays to have short hair, huh?"

"Try to behave, DiNozzo," Gibbs warned, going to his seat.  He saw McGee's hesitant look.  "What? It's not like he'll chase you."

"I know he won't, boss.  It's still kinda cute."  He snickered a bit.  "What does Tony become?"

"A short haired version of that.  I'm still wondering about their third."

Tony just grinned.  "Nothing furry."

"That narrows it down."  Gibbs sat down.  "Care to give me a smaller category?  Insect, reptile, fish?"

"I never met anyone who turned into a fish," McGee offered, considering it.  "That'd be a bad one to have really.  Fairly restrictive environment."

"Alex claims he doesn't have one," Tony offered.

"I so believe that too," McGee snorted.  "Someone like Alex?  I'm sure he's trying to find a way to have more than one."  Tony smirked at that.  "Does Danny?"  Tony just looked at him. "Fine. He's a private guy.  I can understand that."

"Mac'll get it out of him so they can work together better."  Gibbs flipped open a file.  "We should be working, correct?"

"I just sent you a report, boss, I'm waiting to see if I have to make corrections."

"I'm still waiting on you to get back to me about my last one," Tony offered.  The director stormed in with one of the security guards.  "Hey, guys.  Abby dropped him off with me."

"He's adorable," the security guy offered, letting the cat sniff his fingers then scratching him on the ear.  "Your whole row has to not mind and no one can complain about allergies."

"Anyone care?"

"As long as he doesn't try to chase me," McGee offered dryly, going back to his solitaire game.  His inbox beeped so he opened it.  "Thanks, boss.  What did I do wrong?"

"Footnotes, McGee?  This isn't college."

"Oops.  Guess I was missing writing academic papers and slipped a few in.  Won't happen again, boss."  The director gave him an odd look.  "I've been thinking about going back for a few extra classes but with our case schedule and always being on call, I can't schedule it reliably."  He got back to work including the footnotes into his report.

"Do it through a real college and take online stuff, Probie," Tony called down.  "You can get most anything on them, including some lectures on i-Pod."   McGee smiled at that and nodded.  "I know UVA has one and a few others here in the city."

"Thanks, Tony.  I'll check into that.  Boss?"

"Not up to me."

"Do we have tuition reimbursement?"

"Ask the director.  Last I knew we did.  Unless she's decided to cut that too."  He looked at the cat.  "He looks comfortable."

"He's relaxed.  I'm good at making people relax, boss," he said quietly. "He knows he can trust me."  They shared a look and he looked at the guard.  "Since no one's complaining....."

"Then by building rules, as long as it doesn't come back."  He smiled at him and gave the cat one last head pet.  "He's adorable, Agent DiNozzo.  Congratulations."

"Thanks.  His coat needs a lot of attention but he'll do nicely with the one I babysit now and then."  That got a smile and a nod, the guard leaving it there.  He looked at the director, who was fuming.  "He'll be going home with me tonight, ma'am," he said quietly, getting back to work.  "Boss, still waiting on you to proof my report and send it back for corrections."

"I'm doing that now, DiNozzo.  Hold on.  A few odd word choices."

"I thought I'd change it up a bit, use the thesaurus and prove I actually earned my grades."  She stomped off sneezing.  "Really?" he muttered.  He looked at his boss.  "She's allergic?"  He nodded once, smirking at that.  "Interesting."  He looked at the cat, then got up and walked him and the comb over. "Here, since his boss traumatized him."  He went to the bathroom and checked around, making sure he was out of camera range, then he changed down and headed up the stairs, a silent shadow in the small shadows of the hallway.   He snuck into the director's office when the secretary was delivering coffee to her mistress, and he hid.  She sneezed and he was having fun now.  He called Danny, who groaned and told him he might've changed.  Besides, not like he wanted to do that there.  He might get stepped on.  She sneezed again, her nose starting to bleed.  He almost gave up but the vindictive look on her face made him stay and watch as she typed an email into her system and sent it.  He knew Fornell was monitoring them for the investigation.

When she got up to get more tissues, he hurried over, using his paw to work the mouse and get into her email.  He hit the back button until he found it, then clicked on the small print icon before going forward and reloading it.  He headed out of the office, finding a deeper shadow near MTAC.  He changed back and walked into the director's office smiling.  "Hi, I think I printed something off in here by accident.  Printer?"  She pointed with a smile.  "Thanks."  He walked over and found his email, heading down to gather his buddy and switch with Gibbs.  Who just smirked at him. He sat down with Speed in his lap, finger combing him now.  Ziva came in and he waved.  "Before you ask, Abby found him and gave him to me.  Called him my familiar."

"What's his name?"

"Tim."

"That's an odd name for a cat."

He looked at her.  "Not really.  He reminds me of my friend Tim."  She shrugged it off and sat down.  "Get the car's forms done?"  She nodded and handed them over. Gibbs had made her go with the van to get it fixed since she had crashed it.

Gibbs looked them over, nodding a bit.  "Thank you, Officer David.  Reports?"

"Working on them," she promised, getting back to work.  She did occasionally look over at the cat.  She had never expected Tony to be a cat person.

***

Danny looked through the book, finding the dream quest potion.  He was not going to let Stella try to make this on her own. It had to be precise.  Which meant he probably shouldn't make it either but he had made it when the three of them had taken theirs.  He heard the subdued pop of someone showing up.  "In the study," he called.  Horatio walked in.  "Hey.  Need help with Ray?"

"Looking for Speed."

"Still with Tony.  Apparently he needed cuddled?" he said, giving him an arch look.

"He was trying to hide it."

"Yeah, with good reason.  Speed's the only wizard I know who ended up at the pound, even with tags."  He got to work looking at his list, checking his supplies, making out a grocery list.  "Stella wanted to try it."

"That's fine.  I never got mine to work."  He walked in further.  "How are you doing, Danny?"

"Just fine.  Why?"  He gave him an odd look this time.  "I've been fine.  I'm not the one of the group who's pissed at you."

"He'll forgive me later," he said dryly.  "You've been in the study center recently?"

"I have.  We cleaned our stuff out of there that day too.  Then we initiated one of the new kids into it so he could add others."

"Good.  Excellent even.  I heard it was in use again."

"Still tied to the spell on the fireplace?"

"Actually, onto the door.  There's one who keeps going in there with books that make my neck itch."

"I'll call down there.  Dark evil, or unholy?"

"Dark and evil.  I'm not sure of the exact source or which student it is.  I know she's in there now."

"We can go," he agreed, grabbing his wand.  "You remember the apparation point?"

"I don't."  Danny grabbed his book of photos and handed it over.  "We've been popping into the old shopping area to head down there and work with a few of the kids."  Horatio smiled at that.  "They needed it.  Some of the teachers are idiots.  When we had that giant demon, they were trying to stun and finite it."  Horatio moaned.  "Exactly!"  He headed off, letting Horatio follow him.  He found the doorway and tapped his wand on it before using the opening spell, letting Horatio walk in first.

"Crap, man, give us some warning!" one of the thugs called, glaring at them.  "Who's he?"

"Horatio.  He helped build this place and he's tied to a few of the spells.  He said there's an issue down here."

The thug nodded and pointed.  "She's that way."

"Thank you," Horatio said quietly, looking him over.  "Potions?"

"And herbology.  They go hand in hand.  You?"

"Charms."  He smiled a bit. "I did the doorway."

"That's sweet work, man. You still in practice?"

"Getting back there.  I didn't keep up with some of the more esoteric knowledge."  He shrugged a bit and smirked.  "Work got in the way."

"I hear it can do that.  Not looking forward to it at all really."  He led them to where the young woman in question would be.  "Maple."  She looked over, giving them a bland look.

Danny looked at the book, then snorted.  "I've got a copy of that but mine doesn't radiate evil."

"Mine's a first edition," she said proudly, going back to her _Big Book of Dark Pranks_.  "What are you doing here tonight, Messer?  You're not supposed to tutor until tomorrow."

"Horatio felt a problem on the doorway."  He walked in and took the book, looking it over. "Bound in human skin.  Sweet.  Alex would be so pissed that someone tainted a copy of his works."

She stood up.  "You know the great Dumass?"

Danny smirked and nodded.  "He's training Don Flack."  She gasped.  He shrugged and gave her another smug look.  "Been to the castle a number of times."

"Would you introduce me?"

"Maybe.  Depends on how dark a dark lord you wanna become."

She tapped a foot.  "I don't want to become a dark lord."

"Then why not ask to be introduced to the Weasley Twins?" Horatio asked quietly.

"You know the twins?" she asked, giving him an awed look.  "I'd *love* to work on stuff for them."

"They're in Diagon, and yes, we do.  We've played against them a few times," Danny agreed dryly.  "Alex is still training their brother Ron and he did train Bill from what I heard."

"Wow."  She looked from one to the other then back.  "Can I get a letter of introduction?"

"Sure," Danny agreed, handing back the book.  "Keep that out of here."

"Yes, sir.  I'm sorry if it warps the spells on the doorway."

"It was more warning me you were carrying dark materials in," Horatio offered.  "Always that book?"

"No, my aunt left me a whole collection and I've been working my way through them."  She sat down again.  "Please, sit."  He sat across from her while Danny went to find some parchment and borrow a quill.  "Do you work in wizarding circles now, Horatio?"

"No, I'm with the crime lab in Miami."

She blinked and looked over at where Danny was writing at a table.  Then back at him.  "He does the same thing, right?" she asked, looking confused.  He nodded.  "How did you get into that field?"

"I like figuring out who did the crime.  It takes some training and then field training."

"Oh, I see."  She blinked a few more times then shrugged and smiled.  "I never expected any of us to do that sort of thing. To have more than one flustered me but all right.  My father said most wizards work in wizarding circles."

"Not enough of us run businesses and here in the US there's no Ministry to work for," Danny pointed out.  "That's where the overflow in other countries end up."  He looked over.  "Britain's main one in London employs nearly a thousand."  He went back to writing.  "Plus a lot of the muggle-borns go back to the muggle world and practice in quiet."

"I suppose that does make sense with them being more comfortable in that one.  Most of the wizarding world isn't as computer savvy."

"Hogwarts still uses quills for daily classwork," Horatio agreed.  She moaned, giving him such a hurt and horrified look.  "No computers, everything's handwritten but the books."

"With special permission they can use dunking style fountain pens," Danny agreed.  "Then again, my year used quills for daily exercises and typewriters or computers for the lucky few for papers."

"Greg said Lindsey had to update her laptop," Horatio offered.  "She's taking notes on it."

"You know someone going right now?" she asked.

"Canada's academy," Danny offered, reading over the letter.  He inserted a word, then charmed it dry and smudge-proof, folding it up and sealing it so he could hand it over.  "There you go."

"Thank you, Danny."  She smiled at them.  "When should I go?"

"Students are still in school so this weekend if your parents agree?" he offered.  "You can portkey into Diagon."

She nodded.  "I can do that.  Thank you, Danny."  She got up and kissed him on the cheek, then shook Horatio's hand.  "Thank you for that information as well, Horatio.  I'll try not to set off the wards any longer.  Danny, have you seen Orionathon?"

"I had and I shudder in horror most of the time," he admitted dryly.  "What'd he do this time?"

"Mostly?  Botched some Ever-Grow."  He shuddered at that.  "We've learned how to do the permanent hair cutting charm recently."

"Can I get that and some of the potion?" he asked.

"Not on Speed," Horatio warned.

"Nah... Tony's so much more fussy about his hair," he promised with a smirk.

"Jethro would kill you, Danny."

Danny just grinned at him.  "Only if you tell him it was me."  She giggled and went to get a copy of that charm for him and a sample of the potion they had confiscated.  "Thanks."  He grinned and put it into his pocket, taking it with him.  They landed back at his place once they were outside the study center area.

"I'm still mad at you," Speed announced when he saw Horatio.  "Go away."

"I'm sorry, Speed," he offered, moving closer.  Speed hissed at him.  He smirked.  "I don't know why I didn't see it before."  He patted him on the arm.  "You do make an adorable cat."

"Tony spent an hour combing my coat."

"Yeah, he was always fussy about his hair.  That's why he's a shorthair," Danny agreed.  Speed punched him on the arm, making him crash into a wall.  "Easy!  I had a potion on that side."  He checked.  "Oops, did break."  He sent the rest of it at Tony, banishing it really.  Then he went to start the ever-cutting charm for his hair.  He could already feel it growing. Just the front though. He pulled it back behind his head and tied it off.  They all heard Tony shriek, making Speed giggle.  "One of the kids botched some ever-grow," he said fondly.  "Now, I'm working on a furry-thing potion for Stella."

"And you.  I heard what McGonagall said," Speed offered, coming over to help.  "Go away, Horatio."

"I wanted to know what he became."

Danny looked at him.  "It could've changed since I did so much."

"It can do that?"

"McGonagall said that MPD cases have even been known to have a different one for each personality."

Horatio moaned at that, shaking his head and heading back to his house, where he found his nephew kissing a girl.  "My apartment is not a motel," he said firmly.

"Mom told me to kiss her here instead.  I tried to tell her that, Uncle Horatio."  His girlfriend giggled. "This is Gwen.  She's my lady."

Horatio shook her hand.  "Nice to meet you, Gwen.  Please get your hand out of his pants. I do expect polite manners."  She blushed and did that.  "Thank you.  Nephew?"

"Mom said so."

"I see.  Screaming, ranting, or otherwise?"

"Otherwise.  Drinking herself to sleep since I'm with a real woman."

"Ah."  He looked at Gwen, then at his nephew.  "Am I making dinner?"

"We've already eaten but thank you anyway," she said politely.  He nodded at that.  "I should probably go."

"I did need to go over some family information with him later," Horatio offered.  "I look forward to seeing you again, Gwen."  She blushed and smiled, doing up her shirt as she turned around.  Ray swished his wand once she was dressed.  "Ray...."

"Her sister just graduated Andromeda."

"I see."

"She's like Marisol and Eric."

"He doesn't practice."

"Uh-huh.  That's a choice, not a reason."  He stood up and straightened himself out.  "Sorry, she got insistent.  Won't happen again."

"Good.  It had better not."  He looked him over.  "You missed a step."  Ray did up his zipper, then shrugged and grinned.  "Stella and Don have expressed an interest in the animagus information.  I was going to see if you wanted to go up and work on that?"

Ray considered it then shook his head slowly.  "I think I'll stay with being human for now," he offered.  "I'm still catching my balance with the growth spurts and other puberty and growing up nastiness.  Maybe when I'm older but for now I'll stick with self transformations."

"As long as you don't get stuck like Tony did."

"He did?" he asked, sitting down again.

"As a girl.  They were doing disguise spells or something.  He got stuck for a little over two weeks."

"He probably wanted to play with his breasts," Ray said dryly.  "Think I could get mom to pass out with that?"

"Ray," he said dryly, staring him down.

"Sorry."  He grinned.  "Would you still need a lube spell?"

"Ray!"

"What?  Inquiring minds want to know."

Horatio moaned and nodded. "Yes, you would.  It would transfer it back since you wouldn't really have an opening."

"So, it'd be like being the best drag queen ever?  Wow."  His uncle looked at him.  "I'm sure that the transgendered wizards around have it easier than the surgery, plus they probably have fully working bodies."

"It takes three very strong wizards to cast that spell, Ray," he said firmly.  "I'm sure they have guidelines too."  Ray nodded at that.  "Tell me you're not picking on them."

"No, I don't pick on anyone.  I can do a mean impersonation of a swishy gay guy."  His uncle glared.  "I'm not picking on them, I'm picking on the kids who thought I was one by taunting them.  Relax, I'm not that sort of kid, Uncle Horatio."

"You were."

"I was younger and more stupid.  Besides, my mother kicked my ass.  I'm scared of my mother.  I'm never doing it again."

Horatio cracked a smile.  "That's a wise decision to be scared of her, Ray.  Many men are."  He went into the kitchen. "Ask Danny to take you book shopping his next day off. He could probably use an updated charms book or three."

"Okay."  He moved to call him, hearing Don howling with laughter in the background.  "Bad time?"  He snickered at the story going on from Stella.  "No, Uncle Horatio suggested I take Danny book shopping with me sometime soon so he can get some updated charm books."  He grinned.  "Thanks, Stella."  He hung up. "She said she could probably go too.  Right now he's fighting with his bangs, which are growing at an alarming rate."

"He had some ever-grow potion break on him."

"How do you stop those things?"

"It's usually in the spell.  That's why you read them, nephew," he reminded him.  Ray grinned.  "What did you do?" he asked finally.

"I was being a good boy and bored so I did the housecleaning charms.  The laundry's still going since it was doing it by hand, I'm not sure why, but it was.  I've got a shadowy figure that goes out to hang it up every so often or to bring in dry stuff.  Everything but that part's stopped."  Horatio moaned.  "I'm wondering if we have to become nudists for a day so there's no more laundry."

"Possibly. Get the book, look at the spell.  It should tell you how to turn it off, Ray.  Do it now, before your mother starts to scream," he ordered calmly.  His nephew apparated home, letting Horatio moan as he stuck his dinner into the microwave to warm.  At least he was being helpful, he'd have to keep repeating that until it sank in.

***

Danny came out of the dream confused.  He wrote it down and sent it to McGonagall, hoping she had an idea but he was still badly confused.  He hadn't been able to change forms since he had rejected his old life and been kicked out for it.  He looked around, for once he was alone at his place, and concentrated on the magic.  He knew how the spell went.  He could feel the tearing inside him, the fighting.  "Stop it," he muttered.  "Either it's both or nothing."  He could see where his old life had influenced his old form, and he could feel the roots of it now, even though it wasn't a *bad* thing.  He felt himself shift and looked at himself, seeing the old form.  Then he concentrated and changed again, to the new one.  That one surprised him, but not totally.  He heard someone coming so he changed back to human, holding his head.  Did this mean he had something like MPD?  He had no idea.  He didn't have any funny little voices, but it wasn't making him happy at the moment.  Stella knocked on the door.  "Yeah, 'sup?" he called quietly.

She walked in and sat beside him.  "I'm an eagle."  He grinned at her.  "Is flying instinctive?"

"Nah, you gotta practice.  We all gotta practice.  Tony had to practice giving himself a bath for *months* before he quit missing his ass."  She giggled at that and hugged him.  "Don awake yet?"

"Nope."  She nuzzled his neck.  "So, what are you now?"

"Not sure yet.  I sent a letter to McGonagall to get some more help."  He patted her on the knee, looking at the clock.  "It's three in the morning.  You awake for good or not?"

"I could sleep," she admitted, smiling at him.  "If I had some help."

"Help's always nice," he agreed, kissing her.  It was a weak ploy and she'd come back to it later, but it'd give him some time to think.  He got them both stripped and down, kissing his way down to please her, making her beg and whimper to have her already.  So he did, slowly and gently, making her wiggle and clutch at his arms.  He heard the door open and reached for his wand but could feel it was Don, especially when he climbed in behind him and licked where they were joined, making her shriek.  He grinned and made sure she came, then got Danny to make sure he was good too.

Don kneeled in front of the cuddled duo, Stella making Danny cuddle this time, beaming at them like he was high.  "I'm a dog."

"I knew that already," she teased.  "You like to lap things."

"No, I mean I change into a dog.  I'm not sure what sort yet.  I've seen it on the breed shows but I'm not sure of the name."

"Something fast, a hunting hound," Danny offered.  "It's who you are, Don."  Don grinned and took a kiss, laying between them to spare Danny the agony of cuddling.  It was much appreciated.  "Stella's an eagle."

"That's pretty cool.  So's Mac."  He kissed her, then him, still grinning.  "Can I have some love?"

"You can have all the love you need and can handle," she promised, moving to tease him.  He was always fun to tease and play with.

***

Danny listened, hearing Mac tell Lindsey that yes, she did have to go into the creepy snake house, and yes, she did have to take Danny with her.  He snickered.  Someone had apparently guessed a bit of his secret.  Mac sent a wave of understanding at him and the point that they lived by their wits, they weren't truly deadly unless you tried to hurt them or they needed to hunt, and that they were good at camouflage.  He walked in a minute later.  "This is a low evidence case," he said quietly.  "Can you work with her?"

"If I gotta," he agreed.

"What about your second one? I saw you running as something but I couldn't tell what."

"You need glasses," Danny teased, smirking at him.  He patted him on the arm.  "Not sure yet myself, Mac.  Can I do some mischief?"

Mac leaned closer.  "No."  He glanced around.  "But if you can get them to tell you anything, I'd be thankful.  She's literally got a hair and a footprint."

"Cases have been solved for less but I'll see what I can find."  He smirked at him.  "Where's the broad spectrum lights?"

"She's already tried."

"On the carpet?"

"That too," he admitted dryly.  "Do what you can."  He got a nod and Danny left, going to check something out of supplies and then head out with her, whether or not she liked snakes.  He did remind Danny over the bond not to tweak her for her fear.  Everyone had one and he wouldn't like his being put out in the open that way.

Don bounced in and shut the door. "He's a what?"

"All I caught was furry and four legged."

"His old one," he complained.

Mac grinned.  "Reptilian."

"Uh-huh.  Monroe's got a thing about snakes, right?"

"Yes, and if he taunts her that way, I'm going to have to spank him later."  He smirked at the shocked look.  "Think I won't?"

"No, I think you'd try but Danny would hate you if you did," he admitted.  "I'm a puppy."

"I saw.  A very nice weimeraner, Don.  They're very protective and guard very well.  They're hunting dogs, often called gun dogs."

"Cool.  Now I've got a name ta go with the pictures in my head.  That silvery color is normal, right?"

"That's a breed standard."  Don beamed and headed out.  Mac shook his head.  They were having so much fun with this.  He walked out, going to find Stella, nudging her a bit.  "This weekend, practice of that stuff," he whispered.  She shivered and nodded.  "You won't fall.  I promise."  She nodded, giving him a look.  "I had Danny go with Lindsey to see if he could find anything at the snake case."

"Was it a bite?"

"Sid said no.  I mentioned snakes and it said it wasn't a bite and it wasn't strangulation.  He did say the victim's heart stopped but it wasn't venom."

"Poison?"

"Possibly.  We're still waiting on tox results."

"Okay.  Let me know if I can help."   She sent a fond thought at Danny, getting one back.  "He's plotting, you know that right?"

"I know.  I'm hoping we don't have to bring any of the animals back."  He walked off, heading to his own lab to get to work.  He kept a mental ear out on Don to make sure he wasn't doing more than talking about getting a dog.  Stella was mildly happy with being an eagle.  He heard Speed complaining about how they obviously never got anything done from all the noise up there so he sent him a picture he had seen from Danny's renewed animagus dream.  Speed just groaned.  Tony sent back 'he always thought it sucked that his animal form wasn't native to New York, at least this one is' and a laugh.  Mac told them to get to work, they could play later if everyone was free. Speed ended up having the later shift so the rest of them could play while they cheered him on.

***

Danny leaned in the doorway of the precinct.  "Guys, could use some help carrying?" he called.  "Gotta warn you, it's tanks of snakes."  A few of the cops shuddered.  "They're evidence, they're in fish tanks, come help heft and tote!"  He closed the door and went back to where Monroe was staring at them.  "What? You lose a dog to a copperhead or somethin'?"

"No!"  She glared at him.  "Snakes are nasty.  Most of them feel slimy."

"No they don't."  He looked and opened one, lifting it out.  "Touch."  She backed away. "It's not poisonous, I promise.  Touch."  She ran a hand over the scales the wrong way.  "Now, go with the grain," he said patiently.  She did that, smiling a bit.  "See, amphibians are slimy, snakes don't usually live in the water."  He put that one back carefully, sealing it back inside the tank.  "We'll need ta set up lights like he had.  Go clear a lab.  Make sure they can't be shoved off a table."  She nodded, going to do that.  Mac and a few other cops came out.  "Six of 'em with blood spots.  ME say anything about head trauma?"

"No, he didn't even suspect."  He came over to look.  "Mostly non-poisonous."

"He coveted pythons and other constrictors.  I already broke her of her 'they're slimy' issue.  Come on, guys.  Wherever Monroe says."  They groaned but carried the aquariums inside, hefting and toting for the department.  Danny took the last one for himself.  This one he knew was poisonous and he didn't want anyone to trip and let it loose.  Don almost backed into him. "Whoa, I've got the biter!"  Don got out of the way, giving him a horrified look. "What? It's a reptile.  It's doing what Mother Nature says ta do."   He walked into the lab, putting his carefully on the lab table.  Then he found the tags they used for the dangerous things, sticking one on the cage.  "That should be subtle enough."  Mac looked and nodded it was fine.  "Okay. This one could use milked before we swab blood spots."

"How do you know so much about snakes?" Lindsey asked.

"One of my teachers had a thing for 'em in college.  Extra credit."  He looked around.  "I need something like a little jar and something that'll feel like flesh when it pierces over top of the mouth."  Mac nodded, going to rig something up.  "You, don't touch this one," he ordered.  She nodded, backing away.  "Ah!"  She stopped and looked, moving away from the cage on the floor.  "Go make a sign saying there's snakes in here."  She hurried to do that.  He looked inside the aquarium at the poisonous one.  "Shit life you've got, my friend.  Hope he's got a will."  He stood up, looking at Mac as he came in.  "That'll work.  That's how I used ta do it."

"King snakes are constrictors."

"Yup."  He carefully pulled out the cobra, holding it properly.  "Calm down," he whispered.  "We're taking the venom.  That way you don't get a sinus headache or anything."  He positioned the jar and let the fangs pierce it, watching as the venom poured in.  When it was done, he handed that off and shifted his grip, stroking down it.  "Shh, I've gotcha.  It's all right.  Mac, blood spatter on this one was on the hood and the inner, tail coil."  Mac put on some gloves and wet down a few q-tip sample collectors, finding the blood on the dark scales. The hood came out at the first touch but Danny went back to talking to it, soothing it. It was still a pretty young cobra.  It had obviously been handled in the past.  He kept it from striking by staring into its eyes.  Mac got done with the spots he could see, letting Danny lift the tail up to see if there were any underneath.  A few there, then he moved up to get the hood.

"Back in the military we were trained on how to recognize the dangerous snakes," Mac said quietly. "The trainer had been bitten by a cobra and a coral snake."

"Poor guy.  Mac, animal control needs ta make sure he's got a will.  He's got six other snakes still there.  I dropped in some mice, but you know how long this can take."

"I'll have Stella call," he promised.  The door opened and the cobra tried to strike but Danny moved.  "Nice move.  Lindsey, tell Stella to help you call Animal Control to make sure they know this guy has snakes.  That way they can see if he's got a will."

"Sure, Mac."  She headed out, closing the door most of the way again.  That way the opening couldn't spook one of them.

Sheldon peeked in.  "Wow.  She's a beauty."

"He is," Danny agreed with a grin for him.  The cobra hissed and he hissed back, making it back down. "Yeah, I'm the bigger one," he assured it.  Mac stepped back and capped the last collector so he put it back into the tank and resealed it.  "We'll need some mice, Sheldon.  He only had about twelve and I gave the other snakes priority since we'd have these here.  Oh, here, cobra venom," he said, handing it over. "For whoever does the antidotes in the city."

"Thanks."  He went to put it in the fridge and make calls for both of those.  He looked out the door, seeing a sleek black cat sneaking around.  The jaunty tail waving showed it wasn't trying to avoid detection but there was something wrong about that cat.   "Who let their cat in!" he called, making the second call.  "Hey, Sid, it's Sheldon.  Do we have any mice?  No, but Lindsey caught a case with snakes and Danny had to bring some back.  He said so.  Also, he milked the cobra and I put the venom in the sample fridge in DNA.  Thanks, man."  He hung up and went to track the cat, not finding it anywhere.  He did find Danny's friend Tony hugging Stella, who was babbling at him.  He shook his head.  "Stella, Sid said he had no idea where we'd get mice."

"Pet store," Tony said dryly.  "Unless you wanna go catch rats?"

"Not really," he admitted.  "Lindsey caught a case with snakes."

"Danny must be in heaven."  He let himself be led that way, watching as the reticulated python wound its way around Danny's arm.  "You look good like that."

Danny smirked at him.  "Keep it up, DiNozzo."

"No boss?" Mac asked, swabbing for samples.  This one hissed and shook its tail but only squeezed Danny tighter.  "We're at the end of those samples whenever you guys are ready to come back."

"Nope, maybe later. Depends on how bugged he gets by the director.  Man I wish Morrow were back.  She's trying to say we can't work this case but all the COs wanted us to instead of anyone local."

"He went onto bigger and brighter," Danny said patiently.  The snake stared at him so he smirked.  "Keep it up.  I'm still bigger'n you."  Mac finished with that one so Danny put it back as well, making sure the tanks were staying closed. "Tony, help me move this one, it can tip."  They moved that one onto the floor and Stella came in with mice, handing over the box with an 'ick' face.  He dropped a few into that tank, then into the ones they'd done already.  The next one he held it up so the snake could swallow it while Mac worked.  "This is nice."

"It is, but I still had to brush Speed at work and nearly got into trouble.  Oh, the director's allergic."  He smiled angelically.

"Cool," Danny agreed.

"She was also writing an email about turning me in for child molestation."

Danny looked at him.  "You don't like 'em that young."

"Gibbs pointed that out to her, she stomped off in a renewed snit when Fornell told him. They're tracing who she was sending it to now."

"Good.  Lemme know if you need help."

"Of course."  He stroked the back of the snake gently.  "You've got pretty colors, baby."

"She does," Mac agreed.

"He," Danny said patiently.  "The only female in his collection was a cottonmouth.  It was also the only other venomous one."

"How can you tell?" Stella asked.  Danny nodded her closer and pointed at the opening.  "That's boy stuff?"

"Yeah, girls have a slit, boys have that.  That's how you tell."

"Okay, and how do *you* tell?" she asked. He draped the snake around her shoulders, then took her hand, staring at her.  Tony obscured the windows with a cough, and he changed, hanging onto her wrist, gently working his way up it with Mac's help after a minute.

"He's a beautiful black king snake, isn't he?" Tony whispered in her ear. "Shiny black, only a few touches of a grayish white near his stomach.  They're constrictors too."  She shivered and he took the snake off her neck.  "Pet him, Stella."  She moved Danny closer to her shoulder and stroked down his back.  "He's all grown up now as a snake.  As an eagle, you're a young fledgling.  As a snake he came out nearly a newborn and had to grow up."

"It's that way for all of us, which is why Don's been acting like a playful puppy all day," Mac agreed. He stroked down the back, weathering the long stare the snake gave him.  "Am I allowed?"  The snake rippled so he took it as a shrug.  "Thank you, Danny."  Sheldon walked in and stopped.  "You can come in.  He's not dangerous."

"Good.  Monroe's behind me," he mouthed.  He came over to pet that one.  "I haven't seen one of you before.  What kind are you?"

"Black king snake.  Usually found in the middle of the country.  There's also a Mexican version but this one's an American," Tony offered, continuing to stroke.  The delicate tongue flicked out and he smiled. "I know, I smell like Gibbs' boat.  I was helping him shift it to the right."  The snake crawled off Stella and onto him, getting comfortable on his shoulders.  "This one's pretty trusting."

Lindsey came in and stared.  "I don't remember that one.  It looks evil. Is it poisonous?"

"No, it's a constrictor, like a python," Tony assured her calmly.  "Come here."  She moved closer, looking at the snake.  The snake flicked his tongue at her, then put his head back down Tony's collar, sliding down to curl around his waist.  "You're very friendly today," he complained, looking down his shirt.

"I still say it looks evil," Lindsey said quietly, backing away.  Sheldon moved her away from the cobra's cage and out of the lab. "Thank you!"  She hurried off.

"She's going to have to learn to deal with that.  I did," Tony noted dryly.  He looked down his shirt again. "What?  She smell bad or something?  Get back up here."  The snake unwound itself and moved back up his chest, coming out his collar again.  "Thank you."  His phone went off.  "Fuck me.  Gotta go.  I'll send him back."  He disappeared with Danny.  Danny reappeared ten minutes later, smirking.

"Good, let's get back to this," Mac ordered, giving him a look.  "What was it?"

"She smells off, sick maybe.  I don't know why."

"Okay. I'll make sure she goes in for a physical."  He pointed at the next tank.  "Can we move on?"  Danny nodded, pulling that one out and letting it crawl up his arm while Mac found the blood drops on the white scales.  Once it was back inside he fed it two mice and moved on again.

***

Gibbs looked up as Tony appeared in the garage, watching as he took off his shirt. "What are you doing?"  This had to be something magical, Tony wasn't usually one to walk up to him and strip naked.

"Getting Danny off me."  He came over, handing McGee his shirt, watching as he backed away in fear.  "It's Danny."  He peeled the snake off and handed it to Gibbs.  "Get over it.  You wanted to know what he was. He had a drastic personality change."

"Snakes are very cunning," he noted quietly, petting the poor thing.  "Restrictor?"

"Constrictor," Tony corrected. "But yeah.  Black king snake."  Gibbs smirked at that.  "His new one's a bit more furry, like us."  He put the snake down and watched it move out of sight, then change.  "Thank you."

"Nah, I'm havin' fun and I needed to get the stink of Lindsey outta my nose.  Thank you, Gibbs.  Sawdust is preferable to sick."  He waved and disappeared.

Gibbs looked at him.  "That I would not have guessed."

"Me either until it happened."  He shrugged. "What's up, boss?"

"Someone tried to break into Abby's place."

"Meet you there."  He disappeared with a small pop of displaced air.

"Can you do that with others?" he asked McGee, getting into the truck to drive.

"Not me, boss.  Alex has a camp moving spell that he can move anything within a certain radius, including dragons, with, but I don't know it.  Also, with apparating, what Tony did," he clarified at the odd look, "you have to know where you're going.  That's why we set up standard spots that won't change."

"Good to know.  No wonder he took a long look around my basement after helping me move the boat."  He backed out and sped off, his normal speed.

***

Stella woke up to feel something moving across her stomach and shrieked, waking up Mac and Don.  Mac woke up first and snapped on the lights, looking around.  Then he checked for Danny.  He was still asleep.  He carefully picked up the small snake and looked at it.  "How did you get in here?"

Don nudged Danny.  "Are you bearing baby snakes?" he demanded.

Danny gave him a 'we are not amused' look.  But he did sit up and look at the snake.  "She belongs to the people upstairs."  He took the snake and looked at it.  "Escaping again?"  The snake flicked its tongue at him.  "I know, sometimes the fish tank is boring.  You need more challenges. You're a big snake and she's still got baby snake stuff."  He got out of the bed, looking at himself.  "Someone put my sweats on me?"  Mac flicked his wand and muttered something then laid back down.  "Good thing you didn't get into Mrs. Davis's place.  She's got pet gerbils."  He walked the snake off, taking it upstairs.  He tapped gently, frowning at the young girl who answered it.  He held up the snake.  "She ended up on my bed with my girl."

"Oops," she said, taking the snake back properly. "I'm so sorry."

"It's okay.  Maybe you should add more stuff to her tank, give her some new challenges."  She smiled and nodded. "Oh, Mrs. Davis has gerbils."

"I'll keep a better eye on him."

"Her," Danny said.  Nodding when she gave him an odd look.  "One of my college teachers had a lot of snakes.  He gently turned her over and pointed.  "That makes her a girl."

"Ooh.  Okay.  Thank you."  She smiled.  "We're really sorry."

"Not a problem.  There's a great catalog online he recommended to anyone who had any thoughts.  I can get you a copy if you want."

"Please."  She smiled.  "Have a nice night."

"You too."  He headed back down the stairs.  He had to knock to get back into the apartment but Don was still awake.  He walked in and shut the door, then he took Don's wand and sent a copy of the catalog he had picked up earlier to their mailbox.  Then he went back to bed, stripping off the sweat pants so he could get comfortable.

Don looked at him.  "Can you teach me how to change?"

Danny lifted an arm so Don curled up behind him.  "The spell is simple.  You can think it," he ordered quietly.  "Stella can't change until Mac's got her in a good spot.  The bed could hurt her claws."  He patted the hand.  "Simple word.  Animi."

"Animi."

"Now, think it and concentrate on your animal.  Picture yourself as it.  Make sure your mind and heart knows it's you, that you're that animal as well as your human self. Believe in it."  Don nodded against his neck and Danny felt him relax.  "Now, breathe out as you think the change.  Think it again and picture yourself as human, want to be human again, to come back," he instructed.  "After the first few times it becomes instinctive."  He felt a tongue lap him and grinned, looking back.  "Feel better?"  The dog lapped him and bounded over to lap Mac and Stella.

"You're brushing your teeth in that form too!" Stella complained, shoving the puppy off her.  "Flack!"  He sat down and barked, his tail going like a whip behind him, seeming to grin.

"He's a puppy, Stella.  Be thankful we don't have to paper train him."  He looked at Don, then at the clock.  Don came back and scratched behind his ear.  "Fleas already?" he joked.

"Not funny.  Do I have to take flea medicine, Danny?"

"Only if you get exposed.  Then you can use flea shampoo."

"Okay."  He flopped forward, landing between Danny and Mac.  "I'm a cute puppy."

"You are," Mac agreed, petting his hair.  "Go to sleep, Don."  He got a kiss and smiled. "Thank you.  Remember, you've got to work tomorrow."

"Plus we're going over that changing spell," Danny reminded him.   Don nodded and snuggled in, wiggling under the blankets. "Are you sure you're not the snake?"

"Quite.  I'm a cute puppy.  There are calendars with my sort of puppy on them because we're so adorable."

"You are but if you keep me up, I'm going to have renewed PMS on you tomorrow, Flack," Stella warned.  He wiggled over Mac and hugged her.  "Thank you."  She drifted back off, snoring in his ear.

Danny and Mac shared a look when Flack started to snore as well, then Danny flipped over.  Mac moved up behind him.  "Can I put an arm around you?"

"I'm not a big one for touching."

"I know.  I don't know why, but I realize that."  He moved closer, putting one arm around his waist.  "Tell me if I get annoying.  I sleep better when I'm touching the person I'm in bed with."

"That's fine."  He waited until Mac drifted off, then changed and got free, dropping onto the floor and changing back.  He found a spot and crawled back in, behind Mac and between the cuddlesome ones.  Mac flipped over eventually, looking for warmth.  Danny sighed and changed down to a snake, then got out of the way when Mac went searching for more warmth.  He found Don's back and sighed in pleasure.  Danny went back to his staring at the other wall.  It made him happier not to cuddle. They would eventually learn it and he wouldn't have to resort to switching sides of the bed and staying awake so long.  He let himself drift off, relaxing again.

Mac woke up a half hour later, then flipped over and cuddled Danny's back again, this time not putting the arm over him.  Danny sighed and snuggled back into his warmth.  Mac smiled and left it there, sneaking one leg between Danny's.  He rested a hand on his hip.  Danny shifted away so he moved the hand.  He relaxed again. "Okay, we'll play by your rules," he agreed quietly.  "I'll try not to touch during sleep."  He nuzzled the back of his neck and let himself drift off again.  Instead of holding him, he held onto the edge of the pillow.  It was enough, he had good contact with Danny.

***

Danny woke up with a sigh of pleasure and stretched, then looked at the clock. "Fuck!"  He hopped up.  "Mac, we're late!"

"Shut up, Danny."

"Mac!"  He shook him.  "It's ten!"

"Danny!  It's our day off!"

"Not mine!"  He hurried toward the bathroom.

Stella sighed and shook her head.  "We should probably tell him that today's the day they're cleaning the air ducts so we can't be in there."

"Danny, they're cleaning the ducts," Don yelled.  "Get back here!"  Danny opened the bathroom door, looking confused.  "We're all off today.  They're doing the air duct thing.  Remember?"

"No!"

"Lindsey and Sheldon were supposed to tell you," Mac moaned, covering his eyes.  "You were still on a call when we had the meeting.  They're scrubbing the air ducts for soot and things due to all the respiratory infections."  He looked at Danny.  "Come back to bed.  We'll teach Stella how to change later."  Danny turned off the shower and came out.  He got back into the bed. "Thank you."

"Next time make sure I get the memo, okay?"

"Sure.  Sorry," Stella yawned.  "Go back to sleep, Danny.  It's damn early.  Next week we have to cover for the two stations that get their day off."  She snuggled back into Mac's chest.  "Cuddle or else."

"I don't cuddle."

She growled and grabbed Danny's wrist, then yanked until he curled up on Mac's chest.  "There, I feel better now."  She sighed and closed her eyes again.

Danny and Mac shared a look.  "Technically, you only react when you're touched with a hand," Mac offered quietly.  "My leg didn't bother you and neither did me being against your back. Try sleeping on me and see if it works.  It'll make her and Don happier."

Danny snorted but stayed there until they all started to snore, then he moved gently away, heading for the library to get back to his research.  Don came in twenty minutes later and hauled him up and back to the bed, pushing him down and climbing in to sandwich him between his body and Mac's.  He thought about changing but Don's arm tightened around him.  "I won't leave again," he promised.

"Good."  He put his head on Danny's shoulder, one arm slung low over his stomach.  "If I ever find out who made it so you can't cuddle I'm kicking their ass."

"Some people don't cuddle, Don, it's not always trauma."

"In your case it is. You flinch from contact when you don't expect it.  I'm going to kick someone's ass.  Let me know who when I wake up."  He kissed Danny's throat and let himself go again.

Danny rolled his eyes, shaking his head.  "Why me?"

"Because we love you, dumbass," Stella reminded him. "Shut up and go back to sleep."  He snorted but did quiet down so she could sleep.

Mac smiled at him.  "Sometimes it's easier to humor her than to put up with the bad mood. I learned that our first year together."

"Maybe, but I still hate being held."

Mac winked and checked them.  "Change and come over."  Danny did that, watching as they gravitated toward each other.  Danny changed back and climbed over Mac's body.  "Now, curl back to front against me."  Danny did that.  "Good, now relax.  This didn't bother you while you were asleep."

"You tested it?"

"Yup.  It's a bad hobby," he joked. Danny elbowed him.  "It is.  I could do anything but wrap an arm around your waist," he offered, doing that.  Danny tensed.  "So I didn't."  He let him go and snuggled down further, one leg going back between his thighs, arm now around his hips.  Danny didn't tense. "See?"  He got comfortable, switching the pillow down.  "Only problem with this is Stella rolling over and smothering me in her chest."  Danny snorted and shook his head, but he was still relaxed.  "Sleep, Danny.  We'll teach her how to fly later."  Danny nodded and let himself drift off again.  "Good boy."  Danny succumbed and he smiled, moving back up slightly. It was only around his waist, chest, or shoulders that Danny reacted to a touch.  So someday he'd cover up for Don beating someone's ass.

***

Gibbs looked up as Tony appeared the next morning, looking him over. "You a princess suddenly?"

"The ever-grow won't quit," he complained.  "I can't reapply the charm either."  He sat down and flicked his wand at his hair, then put on his NCIS hat.  "Better?"  He growled as he got to work.

"Ooh, did someone get into hair tonic?" McGee teased from his desk.

"No, some of the students we tutor now and then were working on some ever-grow and it got into my hair thanks to Danny.  His quit and mine hasn't."

"He probably got less on him.  Have you tried a neutralizer?"

"Someone makes one?"

McGee looked at him.  "Now I know why I didn't go to New York.  Apparently their potions and defense people sucked, Tony.  Of course there is."

Tony dialed a long distance number.  "Emilia, can you please beg and whine at Greggy until he makes me a neutralizer for some ever-grow that got into my hair?  Because I can't reapply the charm for a day after it failed.  I look like a princess.  I can't work like this. Please?" he begged.  "Thank you, Emilia. I love you.  No, I can't bear Greg's next brilliant child for you two.  Speed told me I had to give one to Gibbs first."  Gibbs choked at that, wheezing so hard McGee had to get up and help him.  "Thank you, Emilia."  He hung up.  "He did, boss.  He really did."

Stan walked in and looked at the boss, then at Tony.  "I'd duck a lot later and walk behind him."  He walked over and tipped Gibbs' face up. "Your girlfriend was signing in right behind me."  He caught his breath and nodded, swallowing.  "Want me to smack him for you?"

"No, I want that pleasure."  He got up and hit Tony hard.  "Won't happen, can't happen."

"Actually, some girl did figure it out for the Weasley twins," he noted dryly.  "Offered it to their wife."

Gibbs moaned, heading to the elevator to see what his girlfriend wanted.  She came off crying. "What's wrong?" he asked, leading her to the windows.  "Shh, it's all right.  What's wrong, Amanda?"

"They're going to..to close my museum," she sobbed.  "They want to put a *Wal-Mart* there!" she wailed, clutching his chest.

Tony got up and walked over some tissues.  "Can't they move the museum?"  She sniffled and shook her head.  "Why not?  It's a museum."

"We don't get enough visitors according to them," she sniffled, looking pitiful.  "They sold the whole collection to the Smithsonian last night.  They told us this morning."  She burst into new tears and Jethro cradled her gently against his chest, patting her on the back.

"I'll put on some coffee, boss," Tony said quietly, heading to do that.

He kissed her on the forehead.  "It'll be okay, Amanda.  I'm sure you can find another spot.  It'll be all right."  She shook her head.  "No?"

"No," she said, looking at him.  "My boss won't write my internship up for anyone, she's being vindictive.  She thinks I was hitting on her man and she knows I have you."

"Did she want me too?" he asked dryly.  She nodded, burying her face again.  "I'll straighten her out and you can have the assistant curator write one," he soothed, getting her calmed down.  "I'm sure there's a lot of spots open."  She shook her head. "Not even at the Smithsonian? They've always got new stuff coming in."

"No.  They won't have more interns coming in until this fall.  The only interviews I've seen open are in New York and upstate New York at a small place."  She pulled back to look at him.  "Winchester is looking for one for their museum collection but I don't want to leave."

He wiped her cheeks off. "You do whatever you have to do," he said softly, staring into her eyes.  "If that means you move, you move.  We'll stay in contact and if nothing further happens we'll still be friends and talk all the time.  Just like you and Ducky are."  She nodded, giving him a hopeful look.  "Go for the Winchester job.  It's right up your alley."

Tony came back with two cups.  "I heard somewhere that the Arlington Memorial Museum is looking for someone but I'm not sure in what capacity," he offered.  "I've also heard that there's a new exhibit in Vegas about weapons.  Some rich guy who croaked and left it all to his idiot brother, who has not a clue so he's letting someone show it off for him."  She nodded at that.  "I know they're going through the Rampart, but I'm not sure you should work for them.  I heard the owner's kinda sleazy."  She nodded, accepting that and the cup of coffee.  "We'll gladly write you a personal reference for wherever you end up."  She smiled weakly.  "Now, take the boss and make him calm down.  Someone suggested I give him babies and it made him choke."  She chuckled.  "Good girl, Amanda.  Take him outside to talk. That way the nasty spies we've got around here can't try anything against you."  She nodded, taking him and their coffee back to the park beside the office.  "That sucks.  To pull down a museum because it's not getting a lot of visitors to put up a Wal- Mart?"

"Wal-Marts, even being evil, do create jobs," Stan reminded him, giving him a look.  "Even though it's wrong on so many levels, they were probably looking out for the tax base and what was good for the town in general."

"Still sucks."

"It does," she agreed.  She got up and came over to take off his hat.  "You know better."  He pointed at his hair.  She snorted and turned him around, fingercombing it then braiding it.  She found a hairtie in her drawer and sealed the braid, then handed him back his hat.  "No hats indoors and around ladies."  Then she got back to work, making him smile and head back to his desk.  "When will it stop?"

"Hopefully soon.  It's been a few days."  A note appeared on his desk so he read it.  "Damn it.  No neutralizing solution, Probie.  He checked, they got it wrong."

"Oops. I know there's one for the regular stuff."  He shrugged and got back to work.  "Think you should run home and get the cat so she can be comforted?"

"I'm sure the boss is very good at it, McGee," Stan said dryly.  "He had it well in hand."  Ziva came off the elevator looking confused.  "What?"

"Who was she?  The woman with Gibbs I mean, who was she?"

"His girlfriend Amanda," Tony said, giving her a dry, bland look.  "They're closing her museum to put up a Wal-Mart."  She grimaced at that.  "She came in crying so he's calming her down."

"Poor thing," she said, sitting down and turning on her computer.  "Can she find another spot around here?"

"Nope," Tony said grimly.  "Not until this fall.  But she does have a good hand with weapons and there's a few spots open, including Winchester's museum collection.  She's still studying and she can do her Ph.D. near them.  Or I suggested an opening I heard about in Vegas, even though the casino owner is a bit slimy from what I've heard."  He looked over as the director stormed down, holding up a form.  "Gibbs is outside at the moment.  That's the manpower statement from our last case and travel vouchers, which he had me do."  She snatched them, glaring at him.  "His girlfriend came in crying."

"Why?"

"Her museum is being shut down to put up a Wal-Mart."  Even she looked disgusted by that.  "So he's getting her calmed down.  I'm sure he'll be back within the hour if you needed something or I can text him a message."

"No, I needed these."  She stomped off again.

He sneered at her back, making her shirt unbutton itself as she moved.  She looked down at the first blush and blushed herself, doing it back up as she hurried into her office.  Tony smirked at McGee.  "I'm having a fun moment.  You?"

"I am too," he admitted.  "So, how are you going to get it trimmed this time?  Same style, more messy like Speed's?  Tangly like Danny's?"

"I like my style but I'll see what my hairdresser has to say."

"You go to a hairdresser?" Ziva asked, looking confused.  "I thought women did that and men went to barbers."

"Men can go to barbers or stylists.  I prefer going to see my stylist, who likes how I dress and understands my needs."

"An ex?" she asked.

"No, a former officer who got shot on the job and knows what it's like to be chasing someone down ten blocks while in body armor."  She gave him a contrite look.  "She does a lot of cop's and fed's hair.  Maybe you should be introduced?"

"I like my barber."

McGee coughed. "Can I get her name?"  Tony nodded, finding a card and throwing it at him.  McGee had to get up to get it but he smiled.  "Thanks, I could use a change when I need a trim this time."  He sat back down, looking at Stan, who was smirking just a bit.  "You need it too?"

"No, I know her.  She trimmed mine before I came back the last time."  She flipped her hair back over her shoulder.  "Tony, dear, you know that piece of shrapnel I've got?  It feels like it's trying to move."

He got up and came over to look, nodding a bit.  "I should probably seal it back in," he offered quietly.

"Shouldn't she have it removed?" Ziva asked from behind her.

"Not in this case," Stan told her.  "It should stay in.  It's keeping a nerve firing right."

"Oh.  I didn't know that could happen."

"It can," Tony agreed.  "Come on, I'll do it in the locker room. It should be empty."  She nodded, getting up to follow him, only letting him stop to get his wand.

Ziva looked at McGee.  "Shouldn't he be calling Ducky for that?"

"Not in this case.  Tony's got some massage way of keeping it in place and helping it reseal."  He got back to work.  "He'll expect that last report when he walks in."  She sat down and got to work as well.  Gibbs came back, not looking happy.  "Boss, Standa's shrapnel injury is starting to move so she asked Tony to look at it."

"Shrapnel?"

"That piece of silver in her shoulder, boss?" he prompted.

"Oh, that.  Where are they?"

"Locker room of the gym.  More private in case she had to get down to her bra."

"Thank you, McGee.  Report?"

"Almost done. I'm spell checking it right now, boss."

"Good.  Officer David?"

"Working on my conclusion page," she admitted.  "I was a bit late thanks to the bus blowing a tire."

"I heard."  He headed back to the elevator.

"Um, boss, the director showed up for the manpower and travel statements.  Tony gave them to her, but she didn't look pleased," McGee called.

Gibbs came back.  "When was this?"

"About two minutes after you took her outside," he said quietly when Gibbs came closer.  "She looked pissed," he offered.  "Seriously pissed.  Tony told her about the Wal-Mart thing and she looked pissed at that as well.  All he said was that you were calming her down about it."

"Thank you, McGee."  He walked off again, going to hit the button since it had apparently come and gone.  He made it down to the gym, finding Tony sealing the injury under Ducky's careful watch.  "It going okay?"

"Not quite," Tony admitted.  He shook his head.  "Hold on, Stan.  Let me yank and reimplant. You've worn out the area."  He popped the small sliver of silver out and put it in the other shoulder, making her hiss.  Then he sealed that one properly.  Danny appeared, looking sleepy and grumpy in his boxers, and came over to fix it for him.  Then he patted Stan on the head, grunted, and disappeared again.  Tony grinned. "Someone got to sleep in."  She giggled, hugging him.  "How's that feel?"

"Pretty natural, even though I do miss my tool."  She stood up.  "How much longer?"

"We've found them, we've got the paperwork, I'm waiting on an arrest warrant," Gibbs offered.  "Are you going back home?"

"I probably should."

"I can offer you a spot here, Stan."  She hugged him.  "I know, it's hard."  He got free.  "Don't have mood swings on me."

"Yes, boss."  She wiped her face off.  "Thank you, guys."  She got back into her shirt and jacket, then smiled and kissed Ducky on the cheek. "You're adorable anyway.  Even when I am a guy."  He blushed and smiled.  She walked them back upstairs. "Think she's watching?"

"Probably," Tony admitted.  "Doesn't mean she's not going to be laughed at."  He froze the cameras in the elevator then turned it off, looking at their boss. "I had to tell her Amanda was your girlfriend, boss.  Sorry but I wasn't going to weather the glare this morning."

"That's fine.  Put back on the hat.  You still look like a princess, DiNozzo."  He flipped back on the switch.  "She's also got more cameras in here."

Tony shrugged and kissed him, hard, then walked off when the doors opened.  "Oh, well."

Gibbs shook his head and looked at their 'female' team member.  "Don't do that."

"You're not my type," she assured him happily, walking back to her desk.  She looked at Tony.  "I know Amanda wanted you, cuteness, but really."

"She ordered me to and as the girlfriend of the boss, she outranks me," he said, smiling at her. "It's a small price to pay to keep him happy and well lubed for the job."  Gibbs smacked him extra hard this time.  "Sorry, boss.  She did order me to do that."

"Uh-huh.  You only obey *my* orders, Tony.  Not my girlfriend's.  She does not have equal rank on the team.  Do it again and I'm having Ducky sew every orifice of your body shut."

"Yes, boss," he agreed cheerfully.

"Do it again, I'm putting that silver thing in you, DiNozzo."

"Then I'd really have to take Speed up on his orders, boss.  That probably wouldn't be very pretty."

"No, it wouldn't, DiNozzo.  You're giving me a migraine with that mental image.  Quit or I'm sewing you shut personally."

"Yes, boss."

"Report?"

"I emailed it last night, boss. I'm totally free and clear of all work."  He grinned.  "Should I go over that case again?"

"Now."

Tony got up to get that case file and go over things.  He still felt they were missing something but he couldn't be sure what.  It was going to drive him nuts soon if he didn't figure it out.  He read over the fact sheet on each suspect, looking at their list of postings. "Boss, why would they have been on the base in Vegas?" he asked.  "Isn't that Air Force only?"  Gibbs' head raised slowly and looked at him.  "There's another two on the list that I thought were Air Force only."  He brought the list over.  "Plus," he said, going to get another one and bring it back. "Isn't that an Army only base?"

He looked, nodding.  "They are.  Find out why they were there and how, DiNozzo. I don't want any chance of them escaping."

"Yes, boss."  He went back to his desk to look that up. No one wanted these morons to go free after all they had done.

"Boss, would it still be our case if they weren't legitimate military personnel?" Stan asked quietly.  He looked at her and shook her head.  "US Marshals?"

"JAG."

"Oh, good," she sighed.  "Marshals could mean it being drug out for another few years."

"Not on my watch," Gibbs assured her.  She smiled and got back to work.  His phone rang so he picked it up.  "Gibbs."  He listened, then frowned. "Why?"  He snorted and shook his head.  "Thank you, Fornell."  He hung up.  "DiNozzo, cut your hair somehow," he said quietly.

"On it, boss."  He got up and found his desk scissors, heading into the bathroom.  Once it was off and he looked semi presentable he burned the excess hair, not leaving any mess or trace of it.  He headed back to his desk, giving his boss a look. "It might hold for a few hours," he offered quietly. "More than that and I'll need to braid it again."  Gibbs nodded at that.  "Sorry, boss.  Some of my students that I tutor messed up something and that's what did it."

"I understand, DiNozzo. You explained it when the flying purple goop hit you. Get back to work."  Tony sat down and got back to work.  Gibbs timed it, it only took him thirty minutes to have to burn some of the new hair off.

"What is that smell?" Ziva demanded.

"Probably cleaning out the A/C again," Tony offered.  "The ducts gather dust and shed hair, it burns when they turn it on."  He finished with a flourish and leaned back while his search ran.  "Intake and sign-up forms, so they're real military personnel," he offered quietly. Fornell came off the elevator, earning an amused look.  "Agent Fornell."

"DiNozzo," he said grimly.  "What happened to your hair?"

"In the process of being fixed."

"I see."  He looked him over then shook his head. "I just got a call saying you were practicing medicine?"

"No.  Wasn't.  Was I, Kelly?"

"No, he was helping me with a piece of shrapnel he's helped with before," she assured him, smiling at him.  He smiled back.  He liked her.  She was just as blunt as Gibbs but at least ten times prettier - that's how he had explained it when Gibbs had asked him why he liked her.   "Ducky was there watching even."

"That's fine. Do you know what it is?"

"Silver. It's a small chunk. It doesn't bother me until it shifts."

"You could have it removed."

Gibbs got up and said something in his ear, then smirked. "No, she can't."

"Uh-huh," he said slowly, then blinked at Tony, who shrugged a bit.  "You?"

"Part of it."

"Okay.  No wonder you three are so territorial about her."  Gibbs nodded.  "That's fine.  And the reason why the Director is still on your ass?"

"No acting one was named," Gibbs said blandly.

"Ah."  He nodded more quickly this time, walking over.  He whispered in her ear, getting one back, making him shudder. "Now I understand why.  I like you better like this."

"So does my ex."

"Your ex?"  He smirked.  "Your ex makes me look like a pussy cat."

"Yeah, me too.  Oh, well, she still likes me better like this."  She grinned at him.  "Did he tell you the judge last time got very interested in where I'm hiding?"

"He did.  We checked on that, he's dirty to the same people.  Jethro."  He handed over a CD.  "Get McGee to run that since you're so pathetic with technology.  It could help."

"Does it explain why they're on bases they shouldn't be on?" Tony asked.

"Nope.  Not yet.  That's more your thing than ours," he said with an evil smirk.  Tony shrugged and got back to his searching.  He looked at Stan. "Pity."

"It's nice.  I like this but I miss myself sometimes."

"I'd have thrown fits."

"Nah, it's good," Stan assured him with an evil smirk of her own.  "I learned a lot from it."

"That's always the best salve."

"No, that's neosporin," she joked.  He snorted and went back to Gibbs' desk, watching him run the CD.  "Boss, can I help?"

"Nope.  You know that. They're targeting you."

"Point."  She strolled over anyway. "Can I stay?"

Gibbs smirked.  "If you want."

"I so want.  I remembered what my desk was like before."  Tony chuckled at that.  "I had stuff piled so high I couldn't see myself think some days."

"I remember those days," Tony agreed happily.

"We still had typewriters at some of the desks."

Tony burst out in giggles.  "No wonder!  Oh, damn, Standa.  I'm so sorry!"  He got up to give her a hug.  "I hope you can stay after that trial's over with."  She grinned and pinched him.  "Fine, I'll hug McGee."

"You'll quit hugging and find out that information, DiNozzo," Gibbs said shortly.

"Search is running, boss.  I can't make it hurry up.  Wish I could at times."  He shot him an evil glare of death and Tony just grinned. "Not my fault. It's running."  He turned his monitor around to show that it was gathering facts.  "See?"  He turned it back around to start looking over the list.  "Special projects," he read.  "Over and over again.  Special Projects."  Gibbs came over to look so he opened them in another window, highlighting that.

"Crap," he muttered, going back to his desk. "When that's done I want to know what sort of project."

"Usually I don't have that sort of clearance, boss.  Want McGee to hack?"

"If that's what it takes," he ordered.  McGee hurried over, taking down information and getting to work finding out what they had been doing.  "We're doing a full briefing and reevaluation in an hour," he ordered.

"Yes, boss," McGee assured him, hoping he could pull it off this time.  He called Abby.  "Come up and get a few of these files, see if you can trace them."  He hung up and got back to work, typing as quickly as he could.

Abby came off the elevator and smiled, waving at Fornell.  "Hi, Agent Fornell.  Back to be a pain in Gibbs' paw?"

"Unfortunately not this time. I'm helping on this smuggling case."

Tony nudged her with a CD.  "McGee, focus on Tellers.  I'm giving Abby Randt.  I'm taking the third guy."  She nodded. "Special projects."

"On it," she agreed, turning on her heel and walking back to the elevator. She waved when the doors opened.

"Abby!" Speed ordered as he appeared, catching her and pulling her back. She squealed, giving him a panicked look. He pointed at the elevator.  "It's not there."

She went pale and stared.  "Oh, shit!"  A mundane idea hit her head and she focused on that to come back to her senses.  She looked, then pointed at the CD.  "I need that."  He floated it back up.  "Thank you, Speed."

"Not an issue, Abby."  He kissed her on the forehead.  "Take the stairs and be careful."  She nodded, heading that way, still shaky.  Gibbs finished coming over to look at him; he had paused when he had seen who it was that had made Abby squeal in fear.  Speed pointed at the doors.  "No elevator."

"Why?"

"I don't know."

"I was talking about you," he said quietly.

"Danny has 'em," he offered quietly.  "Not often but only for those he considers close.  He was on my couch trying to sleep.  It wouldn't have broadcast."  Tony went limp, nodding at that.  "Get it fixed, Gibbs.  I don't want to have to baby Tony through a funeral."  He disappeared.

Gibbs turned, finding Tony on the phone.  "Danny?"

"Maintenance.  Danny's fine.  Shaken but fine.  Don felt it and headed."  He came off hold.  "This is DiNozzo.  Our elevator doors opened without the elevator.  Get someone to fix it.  It nearly killed Abby.  Do it now."  He hung up and stood up.  "Boss, going for a ten minute calm down break."  That got a nod.  Tony headed up to the roof to rant and scream and perform a very nice checking spell.  There were supposed to be safeguards against that sort of thing. Nothing magical.  That made him think and he jogged back down the stairs.  "Probie, MI 1.  Elevator scene.  Hack it, see if someone else has."  He got a nod and did that.  Gibbs looked at him.  "In some types of elevators they feed into a computer system to tell you if they're stuck.  They can be taken over and doors triggered remotely."

"That was only a movie, DiNozzo," Fornell sneered.

"No, it happened," McGee offered, turning his monitor around.  "Right there, boss.  Not sure who.  I can't trace it, but I'll get Abby the ID and have her do it."  That got a nod so he sent all the information to her, getting back a 'I'LL FIND THE BASTARD AND KILL THEM MYSELF WITH MY BIG, CHUNKY HEELS' in all caps.  "She's not a happy camper, boss. She's typing in all caps."

"That means she's yelling," Tony explained at Ziva's confused look.  "Netiquette.  All caps is yelling on the web."

"Oh.  All right," she agreed, shaking her head.  She got back to work. "Should I work on that other profile?"

"We can run it in the background while we're doing this," McGee assured her.

"You can do the wife," Tony ordered, IM'ing her the name.  "That's her, we have a decent background.  Get into the tiny details.  Folder's on Gibbs' desk."

"I can assign her that job myself, DiNozzo," Gibbs noted dryly.

"Boss, I'd rather have you ripping whoever tried to kill Abby a new one, so let us do this while you go chew on someone."  He looked over. "Before something else happens," he said more quietly.  Gibbs nodded at that.  Abby was priceless to everyone on the team.  Trying to hurt her made them all mad.

"Usually you'd be huffing by now," Fornell noted, stepping away from him.  "Did you take valiums or something?"

"No, he's waiting for a target," Tony told him.  "As soon as someone gives him one, they're toasted."  He smirked at him.  "Then he'll huff and puff and blow their house down."

"Princess, let's not start on the fairy tales," Gibbs shot back.  Tony burned his hair again, shaking the dead ends free.

"There it is again!" Ziva complained since she hadn't been looking.  She frowned at Tony. "You're smoking.  Is that a wig?"

"No."  He put out the smoking spot.  "Just some chemicals that hit me the other day.  That's why this all seems like the Twilight Zone."  He pulled up something and sneered, printing it and handing it to his boss with a flourish.  "Can I back you up, boss?"

"No, DiNozzo. Not yet."  He looked it over, smirking a bit.  "Later you can."  Tony grinned and went back to his desk. "Any news from New York?"

"Not yet but I'll be sure to make our travel arrangements to arrest them quickly, boss.  After all, we owe them a speedy arrest.  Maybe we'll even let Ziva drive back."

"That's mean," McGee assured him.  "That might even be covered under cruel and unusual punishment."

"Not bad enough in my book," Tony assured him, looking over.  "One of them could have done this, McGee."

"Never mind. Boss, can we get her a chopper and let her fly them back?" he asked.

Gibbs snickered, shaking his head. "No, McGee. She's not rated to fly one.  Yet."  Ziva gave him a dirty look.  "Did you go to the mandatory driving lesson?"

"Yes, did he say I didn't?"

"No, when I talked to him he was very drunk, Ziva.  What did you do?"

"He asked me what the Mossad taught as defensive driving so I showed him."

"Ah."  He nodded and looked at Fornell.  "While we're doing this, get her to her next lesson, Fornell.  Help the trainer."  He looked over as Tony patted his desk down.  "Missing something?"

"Remote."

McGee found it and pressed the right buttons.  "There you go."  He tossed it over.

Tony canceled his screensaver and put what he wanted back up there. "That, boss, is their special project.  They made one up and somehow got it into the system so they had access to any base they wanted."  Gibbs came over to look, making him use the remote to highlight certain areas.  "That's the paperwork filed on the project.  That's their known accomplice.  Who I'm searching as I tell you this, and that's another facet that should get them killed in prison.  The original group was kidnaping children for ransom and selling them to higher bidders who needed a baby that badly and couldn't have one. Then their last partner joined in and the focus shifted to the more lucrative weapons business."

Gibbs nodded. "Good work. Find the accomplice.  Find how many they did."

"Working on it, boss. Should be ready by the hour deadline."  He went back to work, leaving it up there. He pulled out the checking charm he had of Abby's hair, putting it right in front of him in case something else happened.  He would be killing someone if they hurt her.  Gibbs looked at him.  "They're pissing me off," he muttered, knowing his boss could read his lips.  That got a nod and Gibbs got back to work with Fornell helping him.

Picnic With The Family.

Don growled at the person coming toward where he and Danny were playing in the park, then ran over and pounced her away from his lover.  He stared down at her, smirking mentally, knowing the amusement would show through.

"You drool worse than you did as a toddler," she complained, getting off her.  "Eww, Don!"  She got up, wiping herself off, making Danny chuckle.  "Messer, can't you keep your mutt under control?"

"Usually but he's extra playful today.  It's either this or I'd get doggy cuddles."

"You still don't cuddle?"

"No," he snorted.  He shifted, giving her part of the bench.  Don ran for some bushes and they saw them moving so he popped out as a human a few feet down.  "Remember, we're shielded," he called.   He looked at Stephi Flack again, smirking slightly.  "Pretty day."

"It is."  She looked around.  "Ma told me there were four of you?"  He pointed out at the eagles soaring around.  "Ah, flying practice.  Gotcha."  She looked her brother over.  "You're gaining weight."

"Speed's a good cook," he agreed, sitting on her other side.  "So, which one sent you?"

"Ma.  She's been sobbing all morning over needing more grandkids."

Danny gave her his most evil look and swished his wand, getting a scroll.  "Tell her we copied it from the Dumass Library. Someone recently figured out how ta do it ta give a set of twins and their wife more."

She unrolled it, looking it over, then she moaned and shook her head.  "No way in hell I'm giving that to Ma.  She'd go on a rant about unnatural babies and tainting poor Donny."  She handed it to him.  "If you do knock him up, don't let her know until the baby's here if you can help it."

"Not my intention to ever have kids," he noted dryly.

"I wouldn't mind one far in the future," Don admitted.  "Certainly not in the next three or so."  His sister looked at him.  "So, how's the munchkin?"

"Doing well.  Pissing her father off."

"Stepfather," Danny corrected.  She glared at him so he raised an eyebrow.  "Not like I couldn't tell, mini-mouth."

"Fine.  He doesn't care."

"Good.  That's good," Danny agreed.  "Means Don don't have ta beat his ass."

"Speaking of kicking asses, who do I get to kick in the nuts for making him not like to cuddle?" Don asked his sister.

She looked at him, then snorted and shook her head, hanging it slightly.  "I have no clue.  As far back as I can remember, he never liked to cuddle.  You could try asking DiNozzo.  He and Tony were friends before they got with Speedle."

"True," Danny agreed, "but I've always been like this."

"Yeah," Don snorted, nodding.  "Sure you have been.  Mac thinks it's trauma induced too."

"No, not really.  I didn't even really cuddle Daphne.  She had her side of the bed and I had mine."

"Sounds cold," Stephi offered.  She looked at him. "You got some of the memories back how?"

"Strange shit.  Horatio Caine."  She gaped.  "His nephew got missed so we've been working with him to help Speed's boss."

"Small world," she said in awe.  "He still fly?"

"We have a team we play the Banes on," he admitted.  She beamed at that.  "Anyway, the purge hit Miami and broke into his house.  Ray only had a picture of the younger us, apparently our junior year, so he headed.  It skipped realms and when they sent him back, I got some of his.  He sent me a memory crystal."

"Wow."  She stroked his hand.  "That's good, Danny.  We hated what your family did to you."  She patted the hand.  "For now, I need Don's leash so I can take him home.  Ma wants ta talk to him."

"Mom and Dad can both come here," Don said firmly.  "Or they can forget about trying to talk me out of my relationship."

She looked at him.  "Trios are only accepted when one's a twin," she said blandly.  "How are you going to get the quad accepted?"

"Not a clue," Danny offered.  "Not like I'm looking for official acceptance."

"Point, but it could start to impact Don's job if others heard.  Which is what Dad's worried about. He thinks the other officers won't help Donny on scenes since he's with you."

"They've never cared yet," Danny assured her. "We've been close for ages.  Don's the guy who stood with me for a very long time, through shitloads of stuff."

"I heard.  It's good that you've got him, but if he doesn't get backed up some day...."

"Then I'll be there," he said simply. "Then I might encourage him to move to Miami and join Speed and Horatio.  His team's pretty cool."

"Sure," she agreed, smiling at him.  "Would the other two move?"

"Mac would be the tough one," Don noted, considering it.  "Stella might go."  An eagle landed beside him, giving him a long look.  He looked back.  "My parents are worried that I won't be backed up on a scene some day.  Danny said if that happened, he'd see if we could move down to Horatio's town."  The eagle made a soft squeaky noise and he grinned.  "I know you would, Stella."  The eagle changed, becoming Mac.  "Sorry."

"Not a problem.  We do look nearly alike."  He stroked Don's cheek.  "If that happens, you tell me, and I'll prove it, have their badges, and feed them to general population myself," he promised quietly.  "Then we'll go take over Horatio's other shift."  That got a smile.  He looked up. "Stella!"  She flew down and landed, looking at him.  "Just like we practiced, Stella.  Change back."  She changed back, beaming and happy.  "Good girl."  He stole a kiss.  "Have fun?"

"My arms are *so* sore," she complained, "but I did."  Danny pulled her down to work on her arms for her, making her moan.  "Thank you, Danny."

"Never a problem," he reminded her, kissing the back of her head.  "You like it?"

"Ooh, I love it.  It was so ....so...freeing isn't even enough of a word."

"Yeah," Don agreed, grinning at his sister.  "We just started this stuff."

"I realize that."

"What did you become?" Stella asked.

"I never wanted to," she admitted.  "Animagus wasn't my thing."

"No, the books we accidentally left around on obtuse magic, demonology, and blood rites was," Danny said, staring her down.

"It was interesting but I'd never do it.  Even if I do have a touch of Sight with the dead."  She frowned a bit then cleared it up.  "So, Donny, Ma wants you home for dinner."

"They can bring it out here and we'll have a picnic," he assured her.  "That way she can get to know the others and love them like I do."

"If we had to," Mac said quietly, glancing around.  "We could make it seem like two couples to the station."  Stella looked up at him. "However would work best.  That would get us out of the quad rumors."

"It would," Danny agreed, looking at Don, who shrugged.  "Doesn't matter to me, no one likes me anyway."  He snorted.  "The only people who like me are Don's cult."

"We like you," she promised, giving him a hug.  "The others will come around."  She smiled at Stephi.  "Call them, tell them to bring food.  We'll run out and get something and have a picnic here."  She nodded, pulling out her phone.  She looked at Mac, who rolled his eyes but did that.  She beamed at the other two.  "His training is coming along very well."

"He's used ta serving strong masters," Don joked.  "You can't be tougher than a Marine, Stella."

She gave him a long look, then nodded. "Yes I can.  He's said so."  She winced, rubbing her tattoo.  "Tony's not a happy camper."

Danny sent a thought at him getting a terse 'not now' back.  He called Alex.  "Hey, it's Danny.  Can the senator the bank bought recently help against Tony's director?"  He listened to what had been going on.  "Really?  No wonder he's uptight and ready to snarl.  Thanks, Alex."  He stood up and looked around before apparating off.  He landed in the back of the gym, where Tony had put up a private marker.  Then a quick hop up to where he could feel Tony waiting, and smell blood.  He changed into his second form, speeding and slinking around the bodies in the way.  They had SWAT help but Ziva was still on the floor bleeding and the Director was still ranting.  He made it into a shadow and changed to his original one, feeling the pang of what he used to be.  He snuck behind her, starting up her ankle, making her shriek and hop around.  Tony tackled her, moving the gun out of her hand and punching her.  Danny scurried off as fast as he could slither, coming off the elevator to help.  "Hey," he said, catching him.  "Save some for Gibbs."  He pulled Tony back to help Ziva, letting him do that while he watched over him.  Someone gave him an odd look.  "I came in for a visit."  Tony looked up at him.  "What?  I did."

Tony cracked a small smile.  "You're insane, Danny.  Thank you."

"Not an issue."  He helped get her onto the gurney and held Tony back while they walked her off.  "Get a ride.  Only boyfriends ride in the ambulance with them."  He nodded, going to get Gibbs to take them all.

Gibbs looked at Danny.  "Thank you."

"Not an issue.  It's what we do for each other.  Now, I believe he's going to have flashbacks soon.  Maybe you should take him with you?"

"Going," he agreed.  "Head home, Danny.  He'll see you soon."

"Sure, Don's parents are coming to join us in the park for a picnic.  Mac, Stella, and us."  He shrugged and followed them into the elevator, disappearing from in there.

Tony rested his head against the wall for a minute.  "This isn't a flashback to Kate, right boss? It's not like Ari, part two or anything?"

"No, DiNozzo.  We won't let it be."  They walked off the elevator, heading for the car, McGee silently trailing behind them.  He looked at the silent one. "You good?"

"No," he said honestly.  "Nor will I be for a while.  I'll break down once we find out how she is."

"That's all I expect," Gibbs admitted, letting them into the car.

Danny reappeared, settling on the bench between Stella and Don, watching Mac spread the blanket.  He looked at Stella.  "Are you torturing him?"

"Watching his ass in those pants," she said absently, watching him work. "See, he's got a nice butt.  Not broom butt but a nice butt."   Mac blushed at that comment, truly blushed.  It was something she hadn't seen before.  She got up to kiss him, pouncing him on top of the blanket.

"Hey, no DNA samples with lunch," Don complained.  He looked at Danny.  "What did you do?"

"Broke her concentration."

"How?" he asked patiently.

"Circled her ankle and squeezed. She screamed and jumped."

Don kissed him on the temple.  "I love you, you nut."  Danny grinned at him.  "Tony good?"

"Ziva got hit in the shoulder.  We'll know soon."  That got a nod.  "She was ranting about how Kate had all been a setup and all that stuff.  They had SWAT up there so I was very discreet and only showed up when they got her down. I'm sure they'll be fine."  He shifted closer.  "If you two are gonna go at it for real, add a second blanket so we don't have to worry about dropped food.  I doubt his family want to taste either of you."

Mac smirked at him.  "Speak for yourself.  Don likes to taste us.  Don't you, Don?"

Don grinned and ran over to pounce them. Stella got out of the way, letting those two play for now.  It was good for Mac to play. Don snuck kisses whenever he could pin Mac momentarily, then Mac pinned his back to the blanket, holding his upper arms down.  "Oh, come on, just one more?" he whined.  "Please?"

"No, Don.  We've got to finish laying out the spread."  Don wiggled but it wasn't working.  Then suddenly Don changed into his dog form and got free, landing on top of his back to knock him into the ground and pin him, taking another few kisses.  "Don," he moaned.

"Got you," he smirked, taking another one.

Don's father cleared his throat.  "Good to know they let you be playful, son."

"Let me change the blanket so it's clean," Stella offered.  Don got up with a groan and helped Mac up while she transfigured the blanket into a different, clean one.  "There we go."  She came over to get their contribution, laying it out with Danny.

Danny watched Don and his mother talk off to the side, then lifted his wand, sending a small zap of energy at Don's ass, making him squeal and grab it, turning to glare at him.  He grinned.  "Come eat.  You're the hungry one."

"I'll get you back for that later," he promised, scowling at him.

Danny smirked.  "Sure you will.  You've still got lots to learn if you wanna take me, Don."

Don leered. "You didn't say that this morning."

"Not that way."  He swatted him, frowning.  "I doubt your parents wanted that sort of information."

"But give it anyway," Stephi called as she brought her daughter over.  She sat down, planting her daughter next to her.  "Do not move."

"Wiggle away, kid.  It's a park.  Just don't go over ten feet from us or your Uncle Don'll pout."

The ten-year-old girl giggled and hugged her uncle.  "I missed you.  Dad's being a poop again."

"Why?" Don asked.

"Don't say such things about your father, Miranda," her grandmother said firmly.

She looked at her.  "He is!  It's the truth. I could've used much less polite words."

"Why?" Don asked again, staring at his niece.

"He thinks my girlfriends are bad people because they like to look at pictures of movie stars and cute singers."

Danny shrugged.  "Sounds like normal pre-teen behavior ta me.  Didn't you do that, Stephi?"

"Yup, and he considers it amoral."  She rolled her eyes.  "I think he needs to have a talk with Dad but he's claiming he's the normal one."

Her father looked at her, then at Don.  "You come with me?"

"Sure. I've still got handcuffs."  He stared at his sister.  "Anything else we gotta talk ta him about?"

"Not yet."

Danny pulled his wand and pointed it at her.  "Finite Incantantum."  She shrieked and covered her face.  "The swelling gives it away, Stephi.  I taught you better'n that."  She glared at him, he glared back.  "Where is the pile of fertilizer?"

"Home."

"Good.  We'll be there later," Don promised, smiling sweetly.  "His fist or his hand?"

"Hand," Miranda told him, looking up at him.  "Can you hit him for me too?  He wanted to have me sewn shut so that no evidence of the wrongness that is being female can come out."

"Sure, pumpkin, I'll hit him once for you too," he promised, giving her a hug. Danny sent him a thought and he smirked.  "That's so mean.  I like that."

"Tony used it on Sonny once."

"Hmmm," Don moaned.  "He showed me what he did.  Was nice."  He started to open things. "Plates?"  Mac moaned.  "Fine."  He handed over lids to containers.  Then he transfigured his.  Stella beamed and did the same.  Mac hesitated but Stella did his and Danny did his before she could give him one with flowers too.  Stephi did everyone else's.

"Can I do that too?" Miranda asked.

Danny handed over his wand, watching as she held it.  "Okay, point it at the grass. Say enflamee."

"Enflamee."  A small fire started.  "OOOOOOHHHHHH!  Mom!"

"I can see that. We'll expect a letter."  She handed Danny back his wand then put out the fire.  "Good job, Miranda."  She beamed at her.  "Don't tell your father."

"Nope, I won't."  She looked at her uncle. "He hit her because she was polishing her broom."

"Need help buying a new one?" Danny asked.

"No, mine's still good. I got a new one about five years ago."  She smirked at him.  "You two are both on that day?"

Don moaned and nodded.  "My boss hates me."

"I've been thinking, she only does this on game days," Danny said thoughtfully. "I think she might know."

"She might but she's a cop.  She should be supporting us," Don complained.  "Even if I think she's dating another team's chaser."  Stella looked at him.  "I thought I recognized him."

"We'll look at pictures later," she promised.  She grinned at him.  Then at Danny.  "Can I borrow your green broom for the game?"

"Nope.  Mine.  You've got a good broom.  You haven't practiced on mine."

"Yet?" she asked hopefully.  She gave him the begging eyes.  "Please?"

"We'll see the next time we're at Alex's and we're playing the Banes."

"That'd be kinda cool if we could arrange that soon," she admitted.  "Speed and Horatio could use the break too.  Plus Gibbs."

"True."  Danny called Alex.  "We could all use a vacation.  Think we could have a game against the Banes?"  He smirked at her.  "He still wants to take our group, all his students, and Greggy to take a long vacation somewhere we can't be reached."

"Some of us don't have any vacation time," Don pouted. "They made us use it for the purge situation."

Danny listened to Alex's 'let me handle this'.  "He's got a plan.  Thanks, Alex.  Sure, if you can arrange it."  He hung up and looked at him.   "He's trying, Don."

"I know but I still won't have any vacation time.  Unless we all get injured, I'm screwed."

"No, that's later," Stephi teased.

"Stephanie Flack!" her mother shouted.  Her daughter giggled.  So did her granddaughter.  "Don't give your daughter such ideas."

"Hey, Merry, you mind if I date these three?" Don asked his niece.  She blinked at them, then at him.  Then she giggled and shook her head.  "Thanks, squirt.  Better'n your grandfather already."  He kissed her on the head. "You know, you're pretty smart so if you wanna follow us into the department, you could do what they do.  They're all CSI people."

"Wow.  Do you get to see really gross stuff?"

"Yeah, but if we tell you while the others are eating, they might get sick," Stella said, grinning at her.  "We'll talk while your Uncle Don gets to play fetch later."

"He's got a dog!  Why can't I have a dog?" she whined at her mother.

"He is a dog," she told her patiently.  "Donny, change," she ordered at the pout.  He changed and Miranda squealed, coming over to pet him.  "Gently!"

"He's adorable!" she cooed, hugging her uncle.  "This puts you up there with the saints for me," she assured him. "You are THE coolest uncle, Uncle Don."  She looked at the others.  "Can you guys change?"  They all nodded. "What do you guys become?"

"Mac and I are eagles," Stella offered.

"I'm a black king snake," Danny said with a grin.

"Cooollllll," she breathed. "Can I see?"  He transformed down, letting her pet him gently.  "You're very pretty like that."  She got away and he changed back.  She looked at him.  "You can do something else."

"I can but it's because I changed so much since I was a little kid."  He patted her on the head.  "It'll be okay.  You'll learn some day."

"What's your other one?"  He gave her a look and she smirked just like her uncle. "Please?" she pleaded.  "I'll be your favorite niece too since you're dating my uncle.  Pretty please!"

"Fine," he agreed, changing down into his second form.

"You're a red fox!" Stella said.  "Ha!  Pay up, Mac."  He put the five dollar bill into her hand.  "Thank you."  She smirked at him. "I thought that's what I saw."

Don picked Danny up, putting him into his lap to pet him.  "He's been ghostly about showing us," he told his niece.  "Eat."  She went back to her plate, eating while he petted and ate.  Danny made a tired noise.  "Nope.  Not even close."  Danny changed back, still in his lap, giving him a dirty look.  He grinned.  "And?  You're cute and needed petting."

"No I didn't."  He wiggled free and picked up his plate again.  "Forgive him, he's been the dog all day and he's having trouble putting a barrier between 'em in his head."

Don's father smirked at that.  "Well, son, you've at least met your match in that one."

"It was nice that you were the aggressor with the other guy," his mother offered gently.

"I'm Stella, this is Mac," Stella introduced.  "The other guy's Danny."

"I've met Danny in the past," his father assured him.  He looked at his son, then at Danny.  "Anything in your life hurts him, I will have your badge taken."

"Nothing in my past should hurt him. There's nothing in my past.  Wrong Messer brat," he said, staring back.  Don's father backed down at that.  He smiled at Stella.  "Do I get a present with that?"

"Nope.  It's purely for my chocolate fund."

"Ask, Stella, we'll feed you all the chocolate you need ta be in a good mood," Don promised, grinning sweetly.  "After all, a cranky you makes people cry more'n I do."

"Can't have that, then their lawyers complain and I have to make the lawyers cry," Mac joked.  Danny nodded at that.  "Any word on the Dursley case?"

"Yeah, Monroe got the boy who killed him.  Seemed justified ta me," Danny offered.  "Fatass called him out with racial slurs then walked off laughin'.  Guy got him after they had both left.  Sheldon empathized with the guy.  Lindsey's even hatin' the family now."

"Hmm.  At least it was solved," Mac offered.  They all nodded.

"Dursley?" Stephi asked.  "He's real?"

Don looked at his sister, beaming proudly.  "I'm training as a curse breaker beside Harry and Ron.  Alex Dumass is training us."  She gaped, staring at him.  He nodded.  "Yeah, Alex is our buddy."

"Also known as Xander Harris," Danny said with a smirk.  "Buffy was joking when she suggested the show but they liked it.  That cemetery rite?  That's how Speed got brought back by his Alexx, their ME and his pseudo-mother."

"Damn," she breathed. "He's okay, right?"

"He's fine.  I checked.  Nothing evil coming with him.  He's at home napping at the moment.  Tony's just had a teammate shot.  He's working NCIS."  He concentrated and Tony showed up, giving him a hug.  "Needed the time off?"

"I was going to hit the Internal Affairs person," he admitted, sitting down between him and Don.  Speed showed up with a long yawn.  "Sleepy!" he accused.  "We just got threatened, had Ziva shot by the director, and had her arrested.  Plus found out she's the one who planned to get Kate shot so she could replace her with less of a threat on the team to her getting Gibbs back."  Speed walked over and gave him a hug.  "Thanks.  Danny helped."

"I figured he had. I thought it was an odd dream.  You good?"  Tony nodded.  "Then let me send Gibbs a portkey."  He made one out of a napkin and sent it off after making a short note on it.  Gibbs appeared a few minutes later.  "Hey."

"Thank you.  They were about to get shot. You all right, DiNozzo?"

"No, boss, I wanna kill someone," he said blandly.  "Preferably your ex.  Got any qualms?"

"Not really."  He sat down, taking a roll Mac handed over.  "So, this idea of Alex's to give us all a long vacation.  Any issues with it?"

"No vacation time," Don complained.

"I'll have someone borrow you for a federal case."  He smirked at him.  "We could all use a good vacation, at least a weekend away."  He looked at the parents, then the young woman and the little girl.  "Hi, Jethro Gibbs, I work with Tony."

The woman looked at Tony.  "DiNozzo, you have very handsome taste in bosses."

"I didn't pick him for that reason," he snorted, glaring at her.  "Boss, this is the mini- Flack, Stephi, and her daughter, who I do believe is Miranda?"  The girl smiled and nodded.  "Speed and I," he said, pointing at Speed, "went to school with your mom.  We used ta pick on her all the time."   Danny cackled and nodded.

"That's kinda cool.  My Uncle Don can turn into a dog."

"I can do a cat," Tony told her, smirking a bit.  "Wanna see?"  She nodded so he changed.  She squealed and hugged him, petting him.

"Don't do that with me," Speed said, staring at her.  "You'll make a good cop some day, Miranda."  She smiled at that.  "Let Tony change back and smooth down his fur, he itches if you don't."  She smoothed it all down and moved, letting him shift back so she could hug him.  "You'll be a pretty good witchly cop."

"Uncle Don said I could be a CSI person like his lovers."

"You can," Don agreed, patting her on the head.  He stuck her in his lap.  "There, comfy?"  She smiled and nodded.  "Good girl."  He grinned at Speed.  "Rare day off?"

"No, my last case ended in a five county car chase and standoff.  With me right behind him.  I couldn't peel off since it was my case.  Horatio told me to go home and sleep since I only got in a few hours ago."  He yawned again.  "We've got some scary backwoods in Florida.  I didn't realize that."

Tony snickered. "Every state has some.  Some just have more than others.  I found some of the Bayou people scary the last time I was in Louisiana. Of course, they were trying to scare me off," he admitted.

Speed rolled his eyes.  "I ran into the version in the Everglades."

Danny nodded wisely.  "I've seen some of them when I came down to visit that time and got lost."

"Don't remind me," Speed snorted.  He looked at Stella.  "Never let him navigate more than five hundred miles without a break."

"Sure.  If we take a massive road trip I'll remember that."  She hugged him.  "You can nap on me if you want."

"I would but Mac would get insanely jealous."  He grinned at her, then at Don's family. "Don't worry, we just tease them."

Don's mother rolled her eyes. "I heard plenty about you three while Stephi was in school.  Thankfully at least one of you has grown up," she said, giving Danny a cool look.

"I grew up back then," he reminded her.  "Kinda hard not to in my life."

"Both ours," Tony sighed, looking at him.  "I saw Audry the other day.  It was an accident."

"Hmm," Speed agreed.  "You should talk to her, settle some things."

"I should but I'm not that brave."

Speed looked at him. "I am."  Tony looked at him, getting a shrug.  "I can make sure she's happy, Tony.  Not an issue. You'll never move on without knowing."

"True.  Gibbs?"

"We probably won't be doing much and he's supposed to be a good investigator if it does happen.  Does she live close by?"

"No, but her daughter's school is in for a long week in the city for the museums," Tony offered.

"Ah."  He nodded.  "That's fine, you've got my permission, Speed.  Maybe if he settles that he'll start settling down."

"Doubt it," Danny quipped, cracking Stephi up.  She shook her head.

"If I find the right person, I will settle down," Tony assured them. "I haven't found anyone as special to me as Audry was.  Nor am I thinking I will."  He looked at his hand.  "It's only got one notch on my love line so nope.  I'll love many but only be loved by one."  Gibbs swatted him.  "What was that for?"

"For believing that BS," he said dryly.

"Actually, they do teach us divination, I did take it, and the teacher did agree with him," Danny offered patiently.

"They teach you guys palm reading?" he asked, looking incredulous.

"All forms of divination.  Everything from reading guts your senior year to doing tea leaves, to palms, star charts, all of it," Speed offered.  "Some kids make up *everything* but those with the gifts, like Danny had with Abby, take it to learn the vital things, like what happens when you start to refuse to see one and get plugged up."

"You start seeing dead people," Tony agreed dryly.

Gibbs looked at him. "You know someone who did that?"

"Yeah, one of the Banes has the Sight, mostly related to his personal family, and he got backed up because he didn't want to see his wife having a car crash.  He was seeing all sorts of chatty dead people."

"Does this happen often?"

"Depends on how stubborn you are about not wanting to see it," Danny admitted.  "I let 'em come as they do so I can warn someone.  Some block things out because they're too painful.  Emilia wouldn't have died but she would've been pretty injured.  Fortunately, their overlord loves them.  He locked her in his suite and kept her there for almost a week."

"Greg has them?" he asked, looking stunned.

Danny nodded. "He's the one who saw the purge first."

"Hell, at least it's useful then."

"Yeah, but only when his family's in danger," Tony agreed lightly.  "Danny's got that same sort of 'but' clause in his too, but he's not that close to many people.  He did see Speed getting shot and called me to warn me, then we went down to warn him...."  He glared at Speed, who flinched and curled in on himself. "Either it was meant to happen and he couldn't have avoided it or he conveniently forgot."

"I'm hoping it was the first," Speed offered.

"You'd better hope it was the first," Danny agreed. "Next time I have one about you, I'm going to chain your ass to Horatio."

"Chain me to Eric, that way I get more fun."  That got some laughs.

Danny shook his head.  "Horatio will keep you in line."

Mac pulled out his phone.  "Hey, Horatio, we're having a picnic with everyone and Don's parents.  No, Gibbs' boss went off the deep end earlier so we've got those two.  Thanks."  He hung up.  "He'll be right up."

Tony pulled out his phone, calling the hospital.  "McGee.  How is she?"  He nodded, smirking.  "No, we're with the group and I got told I was a very cute kitty by Don's niece.  Sure."  He hung up.  "Boss, she's back out again.  He said she insisted he leave too.  Apparently she's the sulk in pain by herself sort."  Gibbs nodded at that.  Tony looked at the blanket, then grabbed a bottle of water and transfigured it, handing it over. "Here, before you go into withdrawal.  I don't make good coffee but it's not like you'll care."

"Thanks, DiNozzo."  He opened it and sniffed, then sipped.  "Not too bad for iced coffee."

"What can I say, I'm trendy," he offered with a grin.

"No, that was Speed," Mac reminded him, patting him on the arm, getting a smirk in return.  "Any other showing off we've got to do?"  Horatio appeared and flopped down with a sigh.  "Bad day?"

"Stetler," he said, hanging his head.

"Again?" Speed demanded.  "Can't I just hex the asshole?"

Horatio looked at him. "If I can't, you can't," he said quietly.  "I don't care if he is Internal Affairs, you may not hex him.  He serves a purpose."

"Yeah, and?  He's not doing his job if he's bothering you again."

"No, we found a link back into patrol.  He came for that and stayed for the taunting.  It's sucked all the energy out of me.  Though Ryan did say he's not like him."

"We sure?"

"He assured me he's totally non-magical."  He felt an incoming portkey and slid his wand into his hand, looking at the person who appeared.  "And you are?"

"Greg sent me," he said grimly.

"Hey, Hodges.  Come pull up some grass," Danny offered, grinning at him.  "What did Greggy want?"

"*Greggy* wants you three to get your ass up and go to the bank to deal with the artifact going rogue.  For some reason they called *him*.  He's not sure why.  He said it's like someone calling him about dragons.  No clue why they would."

Don stood up with a groan and walked over to a fire pit, starting a fire and tossing in a bit of floo powder. "You yelped for help?" he asked dryly.  The goblin blinked at him.  "I'm Flack.  Curse breaker apprentice Flack.  You yelped to Sanders and he assigned?"

"We did.  We were hoping to get Dumass."

"He's banging his boy.  It's gonna be a while.  What've you got?"

"Demons.  A few demons."

Don sighed and nodded.  "Be right there.  Guys, I'll be right back."  He apparated off, landing with Danny right behind him. "I can do this!"

"No you can't."  He clapped him on the back.  "I'll hold, you contain."

"Fine."  They headed that way, pulling their wands to contain the menace.

Back at the picnic, Gibbs was chuckling.  "I thought Alex was bad when he got called out of bed."

"He is," Stella assured him, smiling at Horatio.  "You heard the last time."

"I saw the last time.  The bank got him while he was on vacation.  Draco threw a fit worthy of a princess and stomped a bit.  Alex complained and headed off to help.  He came back an hour later still complaining so Draco soothed him and got him back into bed. Willow was with them so she laughed the whole time."

"I'd laugh too," Mac agreed.  "For doing what he's got to, he's a fairly complaining guy about it."

"It's not so bad but they always get him out of bed and things," Stella offered.

"That man spends way too much time in bed," Horatio noted dryly.

She looked at him.  "If you had a lover like Draco, wouldn't you stay in bed most of the time?"

He hesitated, then shook his head.  "Not all the time, but probably whenever I wasn't working," he admitted.  "Getting a veela to choose me as a mate is very slim."

"They're almost more trouble than they're worth," Stephi assured him. "I dated one.  Not a consort type but a half pure veela.  Talk about a princess."

"Was he the boy with the hair?" her mother asked.  She nodded.  "I remember him.  Nothing was ever good enough for him."

"His kind were bred to be concubines to the higher heads in Europe," Horatio told her.  "Most of them prove it.  Draco will at least help the boys work, especially if he has to do a potion or research.  Hodges, sit."

"Fine.  Any idea why they'd call Greg?"

"Nope," Stella admitted.  "He was the only wizard they knew or they knew he could reach Alex or Don?"

"Maybe.  Greg's having a cranky day.  The Sheriff didn't like how he handled the multiple body case.  Called him into his office last night and yelled for a good hour, including how he should've handed it over to the military, even though most of them weren't."

"They would've handed it right back," Gibbs assured him.

"He said it was protocol."

"Which leaves families waiting on news," Tony said blandly.  "He's elected, right?"  David nodded, smirking a bit.  "Already got a recall?"

"Election's next year.  The entire lab is spreading 'vote for anyone but him' complaints.  Even the cops don't like him."

"That's always a treat to work for," Mac said bitterly.  "We had one like that once.  Those of us who could found his every secret and encouraged him to retire."

"To outward appearances, he lives like a monk, doesn't like sex, and hates women.  He won't talk to Catherine unless absolutely necessary and she's the only one there."

"Which means he's hiding a strong kink lifestyle, he's submissive to women, probably, and he may have a past history of violence," Stella offered.  "I've seen his sort before."

"If he does, it's hidden pretty deeply.  Warrick went looking and couldn't find anything."

"Point out it doesn't have to be admissible in court, unless it's kids or something," Tony offered.  "Have Greggy look."

David looked at him.  "Does he know you call him that?"

"Yup, so does Emilia," he admitted with a smirk.  "So do the kids."  He winked at him and pulled his wand, tracing a mirror in the air, then lighting up a scrying spell.  He watched, then nudged him. "Cuff marks."  He looked him over.  "Ooh, he's a neuter."  They shared a look.  "Normally we wouldn't care about kinky sex.  I'm sure Grissom won't care about that, but that other one, depending on reason...."

"Thank you.  We love you," David said happily. "Send me back to Greg's?"  Speed pulled his wand and sent him off.  He jogged in from the pool, finding Greg on the couch with an ice pack.  "Greg, what happens if you look for inadmissable stuff?"

"As long as I don't find something I'd have to turn in," he admitted, lifting the icepack to look at him.  "Why?"

"Cuff marks and Tony thinks he's a neuter."

"Really?" he asked, his whole face lighting up with the evil smirk.  "Emilia, honey, would you please start a scrying spell!" he called as he got up, taking him up the stairs to check.  He saw him still yelling at Grissom so he called him.  "Have him turn around for some reason, boss.  No, I'm finding a reason to make him want to run for the hills."  He listened to the banal words and the Sheriff turned, making him smirk.  "Oooh, he so is.  Boss, our beloved Sheriff is into body modification.  He's got no male set.  Also, cuff and whip marks, which wouldn't *normally* matter to you.  But I think we can find enough to make him want to run."  He hung up and watched as Grissom smiled at the Sheriff and asked him something, finding a tube of stuff in his drawer and holding it out.  The sheriff gave him a horrified look, rubbed his wrists, and fled.  "Teach him not to bitch me out for doing my job correctly again," he snorted.  His phone rang so he canceled it, smirking.  "Hey, boss.  No, he yelled for an hour last night about how I handled the case with the pits."  He nodded. "I know.  Went over the military point six different times.  No, I've still got a migraine.  Thanks."  He hung up and shared an evil look with David.  "We so need to mine his house with spy cameras and stuff."

"Archie is over that, Greg," he said innocently.  "And Bobby's got most of the wires to check them for flaws."

Greg cackled and called his former cohorts.  "Boys," he said when he had them on a three- way call.  "We've found a way to make the sheriff run."  One of them clicked and went off speaker phone. "He there?"

"Out in the halls," Bobby said softly.

"What did you have in mind?" Archie asked.

"Well, we know the guy doesn't have a set.  Like it's been cut off.  We also saw he had cuff marks.  I was thinking a simple capture."

"Can't we just ask Lady Heather?"

"A good Domme will never talk about her clients," Greg told him.  "That would breach confidentiality."

"What if he's not hers?"

"Hmm, we could ask Grissom to ask her if he is.  Point out that we know he's like that already.  I still want to put a few discreet cameras in his place."

"Twitchy on the legal side," Archie noted.

"Not like we'll have to present it, Arch," David reminded him blandly.

"You two are working together?"

"Tony and Speed suggested it," David admitted with a smirk for Greg.

"Ooooh," Greg moaned.  "Tony perfected his skills getting a friend out a street gang."

"Tell us more of this evil plan, Gregory," Bobby offered quietly.  "Oops, Grissom."  He hung up.  He called back a few minutes later and was much happier.  "Gris called Lady Heather, he's not one of hers.  She refused him."

"Ooooh, yes!" Greg said, cackling again.  "I think we can work with this.  I'll be in early tonight, boys.  That'll get me there the same time you guys are.  We'll work out the details then."

"Deal," Archie agreed.  "Can you do it your way and record it?"

"Yes, but then that would expose him to it."

"Can't we channel it to show like it's being played back?" David asked. Greg looked at him.  "Set it to play on the tv instead of a mirror?"

"Usually you set the spell on the mirror at the same time.  It's part of the scrying."  He considered it.  "I'll see.  We'll experiment."  He grinned.  "Thanks, guys.  See you tonight.  Have a good breakfast."  He hung up and hugged David.  "Good idea, David."  He walked out with him, heading for the library.  He was already sending to the more techie members of the Banes, getting back ideas of how to do that.

***

Greg called Stella later the next night.  "Hey, Stel, it's Greg.  No, I've got a problem and I think you've got the solution.  Catherine needs a book on puberty and sexuality for witches.  I can't find any out here for her.  I'm pretty sure Danny said he was going to get you one.  So can I send her to you?  Maybe set up a book exchange?"  He grinned.  "Thanks.  No, she's off tonight.  Bless you."  He hung up and looked at Catherine.  "Stella's off duty right now.  She doesn't have the book in question, Danny's been handing her the spells as needed.  She's more than willing to go find one and share it with you."

Catherine hugged him. "Thank you.  Okay, let me grab my purse."  She found it and her wallet and keys, then stood still.  He grinned and handed over a portkey, sending her off.

Girl Toys and Boy Toys

Stella smiled and hugged Catherine.  "Lindsey's hitting that age?"

"Oh, she's so hitting that age.  She's asking about going bra shopping when she gets back," she complained, sitting down.  "I know there's some things that're different about being what you two are, like the power surges Greg mentioned."  Stella looked confused. "Whenever the emotion gets too good and the first time usually.  He said something about Alex's nearly making a new realm."  Stella giggled at that.  "That was a long time ago and many lovers ago.  But she's at that awkward age and I don't know what to tell her.  She said the nurses up there have pamphlets and they keep suggesting certain books.  I'm hoping we can find them for her.  Vegas's mystical bookstore is more New Age than your sort. I asked her for something on pubescent witches and she said to keep her natural to keep her powers strong.  I have no idea what that means.  I find a lot of advise like that though."

Stella nodded.  "Me too.  That one I can almost explain.  I have a friend who's a Druid and now with my own stuff, I was told that birth control and things can mess with our powers.  There's special potions and things to ease the cycle and keep our powers from going odd."

"Oh, good," Catherine said, smiling at that.  "That explains that comment.  Why would I want to buy my daughter a toy?"

"To break the hymen before it happens with a boy.  Probably thinking it'll be easier."  She called Danny over their bond, getting a spluttering from Mac and a calmer explanation from Tony.  She blushed and looked at Catherine.  Then a book landed in front of them.  "That may be one you need.  Tony sent it."  She coughed and cleared her blush.  "Apparently purebloods who aren't broken before they're broken in run a slight risk of fixating their powers on that person, meaning they have to marry them or lose their minds and their powers.  I don't know why."

"Okkayyy," she drawled, picking up the book to look through it.  "Tony DiNozzo had this?"

"He's a pureblood.  Not a clue otherwise."

"Sure," she agreed, putting it into her purse.  "Do you need it?"

"I'm well past most of those issues.  Fortunately."  She shuddered.  "I can't imagine being a virgin again."  Danny sent a whispered word that it was possible.  "No!" she called, looking up.  "Not going to happen, I'll kill whoever does it!"  She looked at the amused mother beside her.  "Danny just told me it's possible to create a new one."

"Uh-huh.  I guess that's for those in arranged marriages?"  Stella shrugged.  "Eww."

"Yeah, that's my feeling too."  She stood up and grabbed her wallet, keys, badge, gun, and everything else she'd need, putting everything but her badge and gun into her purse.  She checked the clock and put the badge in her purse, then clipped on her gun.

"Wear it, just so you don't get in trouble," Catherine told her.  "Nick got into trouble for that recently."

"Most of the cops in the city know me," she admitted, but she put on her badge too. "Come on, just in case I get called in."

"Sure."  She followed her out.  "Is the shopping area here nice?"

"Pretty nice. The broom shop's closed but otherwise it's pretty nice and open kinda late."

Catherine looked at her.  "You play?"

She smirked.  "Chaser.  On the inter-borough PD team."

"Greg would kill for that."

"Greg played?"

"While in school.  He said he wasn't great but it was good stress relief now and then."

"Danny and Don do that now and then with the bludger."  She let her into the cab then climbed in after her.  "Gramercy, Willow Reed Park?"  The cabby gave her an odd look so she pulled up her badge.  "Some reason that's a bad idea?"

"There's a protest there, detective."

"Oh, crap.  What sort?"

"Not sure."  He turned on the radio, letting them hear the news. Stella sent it to Danny, getting a 'they closed it off and shut down, emergency procedures' absently sent back.  They got out.  "Sorry!"

"Not your fault.  Thanks," she called, waving.  She walked Catherine back up to her apartment and set a new portkey.  "We're going to the mother of all shopping areas."  She checked the clock again. "It'll be kinda late but it'll be fine."  Catherine grabbed on and they left, heading to Diagon.

***

Danny looked up, frowning a bit.  "She went where?"  Mac walked in frowning.  "Did she go to Diagon?"

"With Catherine from Vegas.  Her daughter's running into puberty problems.  They're going looking for books."

"I hope she remembers to go to the bank since nowhere over there will take cash or credit."

"I'm sure she will."  He handed over a report.  "You wanna explain this one?"

Danny looked, then shrugged.  "Was it the one I ended up sneezing on?"

"It was," he admitted.  "It was only found on his face."

"Yeah, he had something on him that made me sneeze."

"It was a particular kind of flower.  It made Hammerback sneeze too.  At least you only did it once and you wrote the report, right?"  Danny nodded quickly.  "Thank you."  He walked off, taking it with him.

"I wanna know what that was!" Danny called after him.  "That way I won't run into it again."  Mac waved a hand.  "Thanks."  He got back to work, keeping an ear out for Stella.

***

Catherine stared in awe at the shops around here. "They really do live in Victorian times," she said, then stopped at the lingerie shop.  "They don't even use elastic."

"Nope," Stella admitted, pulling her off.  "To the bank, dear.  We've got to get some stuff changed."  Catherine looked at her. "Not like New York, wizarding money only."  She grimaced.  "Exchange rate blows too."

"So Greg said."

"Yeah, Greggy's real up-to-date on that stuff."  They shared a wry look then giggled. Greg and his philosopher's stone!  They headed into the bank and to the desk that Ron had made them go to.  "Hi.  Is this where I change some muggle American money to galleons?"  The goblin pointed to the next window.  She switched them over and the goblin gave her a long look.  "We're used to New York and Vegas, they accept plastic."

The goblin snorted. "It would be much easier if they did it here as well, but the tradition is everything to the locals."  He accepted their checks and ran them, cashing them out.  "You're in luck, gold is down today," he said, giving each a handful of coins.

"Is that enough for minor book shopping?" Catherine asked.  The goblin nodded.  "Thank you."

Stella nudged her.  "If not, I'll floo Alex and beg prettily with Draco."

Catherine snickered. "Does that work on them?"

"Sometimes."  She heard a yell and ducked, pulling her wand and her gun to point it at the person who had yelled.

"Sorry," he called sheepishly. "Just in from the field."

Stella put away her weapons and looked at him. "Bill?"  He looked and frowned. "Stella, Alex is training us."

"Oh, yeah."  He grinned and came over to shake their hands.  "Forgive the pong but yeah, it happens in the field. Over on assignment?"

"Her daughter's at *that* age."

"Glad I missed Ginny's," he said happily, beaming at her.  "Hi.  Bill Weasley, big brother to Ron."

"I've met most of the others," she admitted. "Catherine Willows."

"I've heard about you from the everloving idiot twins."  She snickered at that.  "Well, have fun ladies.  I know the bookstore closes in about an hour."  He winked and headed to a goblin. "You cheat me this time and I'm spreading the bank's secrets in the Prophet."

"No one would listen to that source anyway," he noted, pulling out a form.  "What did you find this time?"

"Ruby."  He pulled it out, holding it up. "Pretty little dragon thingy."

Stella looked. "It's a changed thing."  Bill looked at her. "I've been helping Don Flack study.  It's changed, right?"  He nodded, letting her hold it.  She looked and petted it.  "It can feel that. I can feel a purr."

"Thought I was hallucinating," he said, grinning at her.  "Thanks, love."  He kissed her on the cheek.  "Go have fun.  I'll make sure Ron won't pounce you if they call him to help."

"I don't mind him pouncing us, it's when he pounces Dawn in front of us."  Bill broke out in very girlish giggles, leaning on the counter.

"Indeed," the goblins around them agreed.  "Thank you, Witch Bonasera."  She grinned and walked off.  "She is learning very well."

"She should be," Bill wheezed.  "With Alex on her rump, she'll learn everything and then some."  He calmed himself down, petting the dragon.  "It's a good thing you like the pretty woman, little bit.  We'll get you changed back, maybe."

Stella led Catherine back to the bookstore.  "Sorry, the others are just such trips."

"Oh, I know.  Tipsy, Emilia, and I are friends.  The quad terrors are over all the time at Greg's."  She giggled at that, nodding.  "You should babysit, it'll give you a whole new appreciation for birth control."

Stella nodded. "I've already got that.  Learning with Dawn, Ron, Harry, Don Flack, and me there, it's just a bit too many kids at one time.  Especially now that Don's mastered his animagus form."

"What is he?"

"A weimeraner."

"So he's a hunting dog with a bit too much energy?"

"Who's a puppy right now," she agreed dryly.  Catherine shuddered. "At least we don't have to house train him.  Danny likes to play fetch with him to get him used to his body.  I've got to find something for my arms.  I'm an eagle."

"That's good though.  Most people won't shoot you.  They will shoot Don."

"Maybe," she agreed.  She held the door to the bookstore.  "There ya go."  Catherine smiled and walked in with her.  She tapped a salesman on the shoulder.  "She's got a teenage witch.  We need books for her."

"Left rear wall, pink bookshelf," he said happily.  "Ranked by order of preference according to the nurse."

Catherine pulled out her list.  "She's in Canada."

"Ah."  He looked at the list and shuddered. "They're a bit...liberal, ma'am."

"I know.  My daughter will be mixing her own birth control and she will be learning everything."  He nodded, leading them there.  He found one thin book and handed it over.  "This is a good one?"

"The best we've got on the liberal side.  It's got all the pertinent potions and things. Is her father a muggle?"

"Her mother's a wiccan," Stella told him. "Have been for years."

"Ah.  They switched the side of power.  Understood."  He pulled out a thick, heavy one.  "If you wanted something more theory and earth magicky, this is good but really dry."

Stella looked at it and shuddered.  "I'm hoping she gets basic biology there."  She put that one back and looked at the list, pulling out those books to flip through so they could compare them.  He left them alone.

Catherine looked.  "It's got all the right spells, including the birth control ones."  Stella found a small book with all the variations on the birth control potion, handing her a copy and keeping one for herself. They browsed the other books, finding the ones they wanted and needed for Stella and Lindsey's own libraries, then they left.  Stella got a copy of a map too, looking it over.  She nudged Catherine and grinned, pointing at one shop.  "I need to hit there.  I broke one."

"How do you break one?" she asked, following her out.  "I didn't think it was possible."

"Oh, no, Don found some charmed ones and Draco made Alex send them off.  Don gave me a whole box of them and one of them had the charms wear out."  Catherine just gaped.  Stella nodded.  "Really.  They're really nice though, no sore wrists!"

"What is it about curse breakers that makes them the horniest people on the face of the earth?" she complained, following behind her.  She wanted to see what wizards considered sex toys.  They walked into the small, discreet shop and she looked around, spotting the whip behind the counter.  "I know a domme who would kill for that," she admitted.

The owner looked at it, then at her.  "Sorry, luv, but I'm more Alex's type.  He claims I'm an Indiana Jones wannabe."  Stella giggled at that.  "Thought you were his student."

"Oh, yeah.  I'm Stella, this is Catherine.  Alex gifted me with some of the assorted toys he had collected over the years that were in storage.  I broke one."

He snorted.  "Uh-huh.  Sounds like his little boy there got jealous and made him send them off."

"Basically," she agreed, still grinning.  "Where are they?"  He pointed, she walked that way with Catherine behind her.  She stared at them.  "This is so much cheaper."

"With the exchange rate, it probably comes out about the same," he offered, looking over Catherine's body.  He got up and found something, nudging her and handing it over. "Just got it in, luv."

She looked, then blinked and blushed.  "My daughter's not quite ready for that yet."

"She will be soon.  Safer than her dating, right?" he asked with a smirk.

"It is," she agreed, still almost scared that someone made a breaking in kit for witches.  She looked at the assorted things, finding Stella frowning at the selection.  "Nothing exact?"

"No, nothing the same size.  Don had good taste in what he picked out.  I have a full gradual set up to humongous."  She looked at her.  "Plus he included one toy that will bugger anyone who's not sitting down.  I have to keep it strapped down, I can't get it to turn off."

"I remember selling that to Alex," the shopkeeper admitted. "The off key is on the tail end, the pink dot."  He looked her over.  "What size?"

"Comfortable to grip around and about six inches."  He nodded, going right to the one she meant and pulling out the two colors he had in it.  She smiled and chose the light blue one.  "Thank you."

He winked and opened the cabinet above where she was looking.  "We've been expanding the magical ones. Were all yours regular or vibrators?"

"Regular.  I didn't know you could make a magical vibrator."  He nodded, handing her one.  She tapped her wand on the end, feeling the heavy thrum in her hand.  "That's nice."  She looked at the tag, then the size.  "Bigger than I usually use.  Got one about the size of the other one?"  He nodded, handing her another one.  She tapped that one and it was a lighter vibration but faster.  "Is it variable or the same spell?"

"The same spell.  It depends on what it's made of.  The more silica based the better it goes off.  The closer to a plastic or resin model the lighter.  The only exception is the ones that's classic collector's editions from way back when."  They both looked at him and he blushed a bit.  "Way back when it was customary to ...make some the natural way."  They both shuddered.  "Some of the collections have lasted to this day," he admitted.  "They're very well hidden.   I know of three personally."

"That's just sick," Catherine admitted.

"Well, yeah," he admitted, grinning at her. "But they didn't have plastic back then and most of 'em were wives who wanted part of their husbands with them."  She shuddered so he grinned and hugged her around the shoulders. "I like you, you've got sense, luv."  He walked her over to another cabinet.  "This domme, she one'a us?"

"Not that I'm aware of.  Then again, I never asked Lady Heather."

He gaped for a moment, then nodded.  "She definitely is."  He gave her shoulders a squeeze.  "Poor lady, wears out some things horribly at the manor."  He opened something and showed her the outfit.  "That's enchanted to control the body to the dom/domme's wishes.  Cool, hot, vibrating, sightless, anything they want it to be."  He ran a hand over it. "Special order."  He grinned at her.  "You'd look hot in that."

"Not my scene.  I'm more a candles and flowers sort."

He nodded. "Some girls are like that.  We've got some great candles in too."  He walked her over there.  "Ones to encourage lust, ones to help those who have ...problems with their desires, ones to defeat desire. Ones to promote fertility."  He waved a hand.  "All in multiple scents and colors.  The tealight size takes at least four in a small room to have the same effect as the pillars, but it's always good.  We also got veela scented ones so they can be driven wild and insane with lust."  He pointed at the carefully wrapped sets of candles. "I don't recommend those for anyone new to a relationship. Usually I suggest they use them in concert with the ones for problems."  He walked her on.  "Now, this, this is my favorite section of the shop. Bubble baths, luv?"

"I like my baths," she agreed, looking at a bottle, blushing hotly.  "Is that for men?"

He looked and shook his head.  "Not necessarily. You girls have one too, it's just smaller and more delicate."  He gave her shoulders a squeeze.  "Miss Stella, come see."  She came over and he looked her over, then handed her a few bottles. "Try those. I take you as a woman who goes after her pleasure."

"Hmm, definitely."  Catherine gave her an odd look.  "I'm the creamy filling between Don, Danny, and Mac."  He handed her another bottle with a shy grin.  She looked and blushed bright red.  "I don't think they need it yet."

"It's for when they've collapsed and can't give you anymore but you still need some," he promised, patting her on the wrist.  "Do your boys play?"

"Not yet," she assured him, grinning slightly.  He beamed and got her another kit from behind the counter, making her go pale.  He snickered at that.  "It's ...."

"Another breaking in set.  Yeah.  It's still fun to play with when you've been broken in.  Lots and lots of toys in there," he said proudly.  "Or we've got a slut's set," he offered, pulling out that box and letting her see the contents list.  She and Catherine both blushed at that.  "It's a nice thing when you're together.  Can be switched for gender too."

She checked the prices, then considered it.  "I need to head back to the bank."

He winked and tapped his floo with his wand, getting a bored looking Alex.  "Got one of your students in here.  Give her your standard discount, Alex?"

He looked at Stella, then what was on the counter, then at Catherine and waved.  "Hey, babe. Watch out for Aunt Cordy, she's going to come visiting."  He looked at the shopkeeper.  "What's my tab look like?"

"Not much at the moment.  Your little boy needed more lube."

"Draco, why didn't you make lube?" he asked, looking down at his lap.  He got a growled response and grinned.  "Okay."  He looked at him. "Add it on, Stevey.  Make sure Catherine's got what she'll need for her daughter, who's fourteen."  That got a nod and the kit was held up, plus the bag from the bookstore.  "Is that enough for the kit I made the boys, Catherine?"  She nodded quickly. "Good.  Should I give her the talk since you gave Harry, Ron, and Draco theirs?"

"You can if you want, or Emilia could if she's bored," she offered. "I know I can't answer all her questions."

"Sure.  Let me know when she's home."  He winked and the connection was cut.

Steve smiled at them.  "Alex likes to promote good sexual relations.  He's one of my best customers."  He winked at them and bagged everything up, filling out a slip and putting it into his book.  "There ya go, ladies.  Anything else tonight?"

"No, but I'll definitely write Lady Heather and tell her about that outfit," Catherine offered, still blushing.  He hugged her, sniffing her hair.  "Thank you."  She wiggled free and left with Stella behind her.  She looked at her.  "I...."

"He's a cute guy."

"He is, but I still live in Vegas, Stella.  It's a long commute, even for a true witch."

"Point."  She smiled back at Stevey.  "Thanks, dear."  She winked and waved, then they disappeared.

"Hmm, those two would be so hot together," he said, going to find his sketch pad and work on some thoughts of his.  They always sold well.

***

Catherine landed back in her house with Stella beside her.  She flopped down and looked at her.  "I'm sorry I made you go with me."

"I'm not," she said with a catty grin.  "I needed to go in there anyway."

"You're the one with three lovers.  All I get is Alex's aunts wanting to know if I could bear their heirs for them."

"I got asked too," she admitted, sitting beside her.  "Call Lindsey."  She called her daughter, taking it into the next room.  Stella called Alex.  "Thank you."  She listened to his smug little laugh and the explanation that it would help keep Don's magic from leaking. "I don't think he's got that problem right now, Alex.  There's the four of us together."  She heard his reasons and groaned.  "Sure.  Anything else we should know?"  He made a good point and she nodded.  "We've talked about it before.  Thanks, Alex."  She blushed.  "Yes, I remembered lube, dear.  Thank you."  She hung up, looking over as Catherine came back, still bright red.  "She enthusiastic?"

"To say the least. Fall break is in two weeks. I'll bring her back for that."  She hugged her.  "Thank you."

"Not a problem."  She patted her on the back and stood up, grabbing her bags.  "I'd better make sure my boys are behaving.  Mac's supposed to be doing dinner tonight for the whole group."  That got a small moan.  "Tony and Speed are great guys."

"I'm sure they are, I liked Speed when I worked with him.  I don't know how you stand three of them when I couldn't stand one."

"It's not a problem usually."  She winked and disappeared.  She landed in Danny's place, looking at the bags.  She sent three of them that were Catherine's back and settled in to look through hers again.

Tony looked over her shoulder, then kissed her on the cheek.  "Tying them down and using that on them or tired of their sweaty bodies?" he asked quietly.

She grinned.  "I haven't decided yet."

"Good.  Because if you hurt Danny, we'll have to deal with you and that would be a shame."  He kissed her on the cheek again. "How was Diagon?"

"Good.  I thought Mac was cooking."

"He is, well, ordering."  He grinned at her.  "It'll be okay.  So, the bookstore and the sex shop?  That's it?  Nothing clothes?"

She looked at him. "I've got plenty of that, Tony."

"Shoot.  I wanted to see you model something," he teased.

"Last time I knew I wasn't sleeping with you."

"Also a pity."  He winked and stood up, heading back into the kitchen.  "I'm making rice to go with dinner.  How was Alex?"

"I only talked with him for a minute. He put this on his tab at the store.  He did suggest we bring Horatio in."

Tony came back to the doorway of the kitchen, looking at her.  "Why?"

"He said we could use someone who was a bit more steady and truly in the bond.  Mac and Horatio both do stupid shit and we could use another base to be wild and crazy from.  He also noted that if there's a problem it'd be him we'd go to instead of McGee."

"Point," he admitted, considering it.  "We'll talk about it over dinner.  Go hide those before Danny sees.  Or else you might be the one they're used on."  She blushed and got up to hide them in her bag in the closet.  He smiled and went back to his rice cooker.  They had talked about it before and gotten a maybe.

***

Don was the last one in and he trudged in, grabbing a kiss from Stella and a hug. "I hate my boss.  She definitely knows.  She told me I played sucky."

"I think you play great and Bear said you had real potential to play pro," she soothed, stroking over his cheek.  He nodded, smiling slightly.  "Mac ordered."

"I didn't think he'd want to cook tonight."  He gave her a squeeze.  "How was the shopping?"

"Bookstore and I stopped to replace the toy I broke," she admitted, grinning at his shocked look.  "Catherine came home blushing and needing to talk to Lady Heather about something we saw."  He gave her a harder squeeze. "I'll show you later."

"Yes, you will," he assured her, kissing and nuzzling her throat. "Is it later yet?"

"No, not yet," Speed called.  "Change, Don."  He nodded, letting her go to do that. He didn't even peek.  He knew it was worth the wait by the look on her face. He came out in a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, flopping down in his chair, Stella on his right, Danny on his left.  "Good.  Now eat."  Don grinned before dishing himself up some food and digging in.

Tony coughed.  "Stella got a suggestion from Alex earlier," he announced.  "He wanted us to consider adding Horatio in as a stable, base member to the group since we'd go to him for problems."

Speed leaned back, licking off his fork.  "I'm not sure he'd accept," he admitted. "I know he's watching Ray really hard and that he asked New York for my file for a background check."  He smirked at Tony, who flinched.  "Yeah, it's in there.  He asked me about it."  He looked at Don, Danny, and Stella.  "It's mostly up to you three.  I can't see a problem with asking him.  We could use the voice of restraint now and then.  Not often and Horatio does cover a weak spot at the moment."

"Mac does voice of reason stuff," Don offered. "But he's not fully linked in.  His is removable."  Everyone looked at Mac and he nodded that was true but didn't ask to have it changed.  "You don't want it?"

"I'm not sure I could handle being that much closer.  I still get shield bleed-through now, Don," he reminded him.  "You three have all told me I have."

"The night those three got together I ended up blowing myself off off-site at a crime scene," Tony told him.  "You hiding in your bed wasn't that bad."

"No, he's right, he does get bleeding," Danny told him.  "He's constantly getting hit with thoughts, the same way we do when he's leaking."

"They don't make depends for this stuff, Danny," Speed noted dryly.  "So do you."

"Yeah, but I'm used ta how you two screwballs think.  Mac's not used ta the hot and cold running smut in some people's minds," he said, staring Speed down, getting a grin back.  "And he got confused between crime scenes the other day," he said, looking at Tony, who nodded.  "You find what he was talking about?"

"Yup, it was a big help, Mac, thanks."  He patted him on the arm.  "I won't be upset if you don't take the full package deal.  It's gotta be hard to change in midlife from a wife to a wife and two boytoys."

"Hey!" Don complained. "I'm not a toy."

"You're not a toy," Mac assured him, earning a grin.  "Neither of you are a toy to me."  He looked at the older trio of friends. "I'll consider it, guys, but right now you guys give me headaches some days.  Maybe I can't develop the shields I need."

"You also haven't been working at it, Mac," Danny said patiently, staring him down.  "You never take the time to do the exercises."

"True, I don't have much time to do the exercises."  He stared back. "What was your issue on the crime scene today?"

"The stench."  He shrugged.  "Even with a mask I still got a noseful."  Mac grimaced.  "What?"

"You yelled a bit loudly," Don offered, patting him on the arm.  "Not that it didn't stink.  Why did you get there before me?"

"I'm the one who called you when Sal passed out from the stench."

"Oh.  Okay.  I thought it was my case originally."

"No," Danny said patiently.  "I told you over the bond that it wasn't.  You were apparently tied up in watching Stella's ass walk."

"And that's the snap," Speed said quietly, looking at Tony.

"I'll call Alex myself to see if he can remove it since it's started again," he promised, getting up to do that.

"No it hasn't!" Danny complained.

"It has, I felt it," Speed assured him.

"I felt something suddenly loosen," Stella offered.  Danny glared at her. "It did."  She kissed him and he calmed down.  "We're all gonna help this time, Danny."  Alex appeared with Draco and Horatio.  "Hey, we were just talking about you," she offered, smiling at him.

"Of course, who wouldn't?  I'm magnificent," Draco agreed, kissing her on the cheek.  "Did you have fun with Stevey?"

"Stevey?" Danny asked, staring her down.

"Guy at the sex shop, Danny.  Old friend of Alex's who led me to what I wanted to buy while he flirted heavily with Catherine."

"She is the sort of woman Stevey would like," Alex admitted.  He pulled Danny up and back to his bedroom.  "You never told me anything about a curse."  Danny sighed and got his father's journal, handing it over.  "Thank you.  Sit.  Before it makes you ruin the best thing in your life."

"Did you apparate back in time?" he asked.

"We were at the school," he admitted, looking for it.  He finally found it and sat down to read it.  "Can I kick his ass?"

"Nope.  He claims he doesn't know how ta remove it."

Alex looked up at him.  "That could complicate matters.  Where is he?"

"Family house, outside Milan."

"Wonderful."  He went back to his reading, then started to take readings of Danny's magic.  "What's with your wrist?"

"It was a curse and Pomfrey undid it."  He shrugged.  "You only groped it."

"Usually I'd have felt it even without checking.  I didn't feel either of them."  He checked him over again.  "Not my area," he said finally, frowning a bit.  "I'll need to check with the source anyway and I think Ryan and/or Willow could unravel and expose it so I could finish it off."

"Small problem, they're working," Danny noted.

"So am I."  He winked at him.  "Get comfy, Danny.  I want you to rest."

"I can't.  I've got second call tonight."

Alex gave him a look and walked out to stare at Mac.  "Danny's not to go out until someone can break that.  It'll get him killed.  He passed the expiration date on it."

"He nearly died last time," Tony admitted.  Speed sat upright.  "The banshee is getting a lot stronger.  It nearly got me and him last time, Speed."

"What do we need to break it?" Stella asked.

"His father to recant his wish and Willow and/or Ryan to finish breaking it.  Whoever helped his father had skills on their side too."

"Peachy," Don agreed.  He wiped his mouth.  "Can I help?"

"Help me beat the shit outta his father?  Sure," Alex agreed happily.  Draco and Mac both glared at him.  "What?  He's got to recant and it's got to be an honest recant, guys.  Otherwise it won't work."  He looked back as Danny came out.  "You have any scenes today?"

"One."

"It nearly get you dead?"

"Only the stench when I opened the carrier."

"Why were you opening it instead of a Custom's guy?" Stella asked.

"Custom's guy reported it stank ta high hell but he wasn't authorized.  FBI said it was outside the port so not their issue.  Patrol guys got there after me.  Dispatch got a bit slow again today."  He got glared at by Mac.  "They said they were at an accident."

"I'll make sure they were.  You know better."

"I was hoping for survivors, Mac."

"Which is noble, but you know better."  He leaned back, looking at Horatio.  "You'd be throwing a fit if it was your guys."

"I would," he agreed.  "That's why we get to abuse the patrol guys, Danny."  That got a frown.  Horatio smirked.  "You have a cousin still in town.  She's attending the school.  Wanted to know if I'd pass on a request for you to come see her soon."

"Yeah, if we can remove this, or right after if I don't die," he agreed, sitting down again and digging back in.  "Alex, no beating my father or mother."

"Shoot, take all my fun," Don complained.

"You either.  Especially you.  He can get your badge."  They shared a look.  "I mean it, Don."

"Tough."  He gave him a kiss on the cheek.  "Remember, this is what friends are for so let us handle it."  Then he casually knocked him out.  He looked at Alex.  "Whenever's good for you," he offered politely, then smiled.

"I'm in too," Tony noted.

"Oooh, I'm so looking forward to my next talk with Mr. Messer," Speed agreed.

"Speed," Horatio warned.

"He did it to a kid, Horatio.  He deserves my foot up his ass.  It's not like anyone would've stopped him."  He looked at Alex.  "Tonight?"

"Tomorrow."  He looked at Mac.  "Unfortunately we'll basically have to take the whole group with us."

"Slight issue, we're all grounded to the home office," Tony told him.  "Until the investigation on Madam Director is finished."

Alex beamed.  "Just leave that to me.  Trust me."

"I'm almost scared," Horatio offered, looking at him.  "We can't leave either, Alex.  Crime does not stop in Miami or in New York."

"Ah, but I've got something better.  I've got curse breakers dying and vaults being robbed."  All the cops stared at him.  "Yeah.  That's my current assignment.  Finding who did it."  He looked at Don.  "I was going to yank you anyway, Don."

"I wouldn't care," he promised.  "Can we get a real vacation out of it?  I could use one."

"I probably can," he agreed happily.  He beamed at them all.  "Anyone mind working for a secret hallway in Interpol?"  They all just stared.  "Didn't think so!"  He disappeared, taking Draco with him.

Speed blinked.  "I'm still almost scared."

Horatio nodded. "I'm worried what'll happen to our city while we're gone."

"Eric, Calleigh, and Alexx?" Mac suggested.

"They'd get overloaded," Horatio complained.  "We handle too many cases every week for them alone to handle it."

"He said the whole teams," Stella noted quietly, eating a bite of dinner.  She shrugged at Horatio's dirty look.  "He did."

"He did," he admitted bitterly.  "I don't like this."

"Well, on a lighter note," Tony offered with a smirk for him.  "He suggested earlier that we offer you admittance to the bonded group, Horatio.  We had pretty much decided in the affirmative when this started."  He looked at Danny.  "He's starting to come around."

Stella pulled her wand and bound him, then grinned. "I have plans for him later."

"Good plans hopefully?" Speed asked.

"Nope, not in the least," she promised with a wicked smirk, then turned it on Don, who shivered and hugged her. "I thought you might like that."  She smiled at Horatio.  "So, how about it?  Be our semi-voice of reason?"

Horatio looked at the group, then at Mac.  "Is it really needed?"

"My part is implanted," he admitted, picking up his fork. "Have Danny's plate, Horatio."  He ate a bite.  "I'm getting too much leakage already from them and I can't seem to block them out.  They need someone who can do both at times.  Otherwise they go along with Alex's plans."  He ate another bite.  "But you can say no.  They'd probably go to Gibbs after that."

"Non-magical," Speed reminded him.  "Might not work on him."

"Besides, I don't want *Gibbs* in my head every day for the rest of my life," Tony assured them all.  "It'd be nice in the field at times, but he's growly and a bastard the rest.  I don't need that stress.  Nor would he want it probably."

"Call him and see?" Mac taunted.

Tony called Gibbs' home phone, putting the phone on speaker.

"Gibbs."

"Hey, boss, it's us.  Most of the group. Two small things.  Mac wants you to join us in the bond and Alex is figuring out a way for all of us to help him with a problem at the bank.  They've been having dead coworkers of his and he got assigned to investigate."

"Uh-huh."  Gibbs swallowed something.  "No way in hell and we are grounded to the office, DiNozzo.  Anything else?"

"He said he could arrange the last one," Speed offered.  "For all of us.  It almost sounded like he was plotting, Gibbs."

"That's nearly scary," Gibbs admitted.  "Did he have that manic grin?"

"No, he was more worried about Danny's relatives at the moment.  He wants to beat the shit out of his father for cursing him since it just started," Tony offered.

"Which means we of the group may have to take time off to defend him anyway," Stella noted calmly.  "He said he's past his point of expiration and Tony admitted the last time nearly killed them both."  She ate a bite. "Would you like to come up?"

"No, I've got a date tonight.  Thanks anyway, kids.  Mac?"

"Yeah, Jethro?"

"Smack Tony for me."

"Boss, we had this talk.  Only you get to do that or else I'm leaving you and going with a less abusive boss."

"You leave and I'll have someone drag your ass back here, DiNozzo."  He hung up.

Tony grinned.  "See, he does like working with me," he told Speed.

"I still say it's an abusive relationship," Speed said grimly.  "I don't like how he hits you.  You've never been one to like being spanked."

"Um, ewww," Don offered, raising his fork. "I'm sure Gibbs is a nice guy to his ladies and all that but I *so* did not need the image of Tony taking it from him.  Thank you though, Timmy."

"Bite me, Don," he shot back, smirking at him.  "Or should I say Killer?"

"You can call me whatever you want as long as you howl it in pleasure," he shot back, smirking at him.

Stella looked at him.  Then she knocked him and Mac out.  "Better.  Now I can implement my plans without whiny men.  So, Horatio?"  He chuckled, shaking his head but dishing out some of the food for himself.  "We were serious.  We could use your skills and experience in the bond.  I will tell you it can drive you nuts sometimes when the boys are playing."

"Or when any of the quad is having sex," Tony offered. "Got me on a crime scene twice in one day."

"Greg told Catherine something about power surges," Stella reminded him.

Speed looked at her.  "You weren't a virgin, it wasn't your first time, and you don't feel that much emotional output from them," he said flatly.  "That wasn't a power surge."

"That was you broadcasting how good it was," Tony finished with a grin.  "Not that I minded.  Danny is a great lover from what I remember."  Speed nodded at that.  "Better than me?"

"About the same.  Different styles, same end result of me needing a frantic nap."

"Oh, good."  He grinned at Horatio.  "It's gotten better but you'll get bleed through now and then."

"Fortunately you won't have the problem that Tipsy did when she was pregnant and hearing each and every remark in each and every Bane's mind," Speed offered with a smug look.

"No, if I get pregnant, Miss Rosenburg is going to pay," Horatio said dryly, stuffing his mouth.

"There was a girl from Hufflepuff who figured out how to do that for the twins," Stella assured him happily.  "We've got the spell around here somewhere."

He looked at her, staring her down.  "Not.  Possible.  I'd never do it voluntarily."

"We'll keep that in mind the next time you start acting like Gibbs," Speed promised, getting his own glare.  "So, Horatio, join with us?  Try to calm us down?  Be the voice of reason and sanity for Tony and Danny?"

"I'd end up telling you how to do it all the time," he said dryly, stuffing his mouth again.

Speed shook his head. "Not that I can't ignore it."  He leaned forward, pulling his wand and chanting a quiet spell.  "Here, take."  Horatio reached over to take his hand, feeling the bond.  "Now, think."  Tony and Stella both sent smutty thoughts at him, making him blush.  "Guys, not like that.  Thank you, pervs."

"Not my fault.  I had fun at the sex shop with Catherine earlier," Stella defended.

Horatio swallowed and released Speed's hand.  "No wonder you get distracted now and then."  He finished his dinner while he considered his options, the others giving him the time and room to think.  He stood up.  "I need to talk to two people, then I'll have my answer."

"Go for it," Speed agreed. "Just don't tell them who and how."

"Agreed," he assured him, disappearing.

Stella looked at her men, then at Tony and Speed.  "Anyone wanna help me tie them down?" she asked with a slightly manic grin.

Tony blinked, then looked at Speed.  "She's been channeling you."

Speed just pinched him and disappeared, heading home.

Tony beamed.  "Sure!  I'm always up for a bit of light bondage."  He finished his dinner then got everyone situated to her satisfaction, letting her do the stripping and binding charms herself.  It was good practice for her.  Then he winked and disappeared, heading home to enjoy it.

***

Stella came out of her shower and dried off, lotioning down before heading out to the bedroom.  Her new toys were brought out, letting her look them over on the foot of the bed.  Danny was starting to wake up, she could feel it.  She turned the smallest one on and licked it before inserting it in him, making him shiver and stretch.  "Shh, just me," she whispered in his ear, leaving him in the body bind.  She found the one she wanted in Don, her favorite one, and lubed it carefully, gently stroking it in and out of his body, waking him up.  She winked when he moaned, arching his hips up into her stroke.  She set the speed control, turning on the vibrating function as well.  He yelped, then just laid there and took it like the man he was.  She moved over, looking at Mac's body. F or this she brought out the 'anal exploration' kit she had bought earlier.  Inside were a few different toys.

She lubed up the smallest probe and inserted it, making him writhe in his magical bindings.  She sent a soothing thought at him before activating it.  Then she moved back to Danny's, releasing him.  "Shh, I'm right here," she promised, stroking over his forehead.  "Can I go up a size?"  He nodded quickly, chewing on his lip to stay quiet.  "You can moan, I like your moans.  They're sweet."  He snickered and let it go, letting himself like this.  She selected his next one and lubed it in her mouth, then gently worked it inside him, making him tense up but that was all right for now.  She found the small ring in the anal kit and turned it on, then fastened it around his cock, making him writhe and dance and wiggle.  She turned it down.  "Sorry, Danny."  She got back to work on the other toy, making him one happy guy.

When he was going well, she moved back to Mac, moving up a size to a real toy.  He was whimpering and shifting.  "It's just me," she promised, setting it to moving gently and slowly, how he probably liked. She released him partway and laid down behind him, another one in her hand.  "I want to see what you'd look like under both our boys," she whispered, making him moan and tense up.  "Let it go, Mac.  I've got you."   She released the other one, setting it on the same light, slow setting, letting it go a few feet away from his head.  They both watched as it 'walked' itself over, Don helping it when it paused.  She turned up Don's to the next higher setting, making him howl as it started to go faster.  "Good boy, Don.  See, look how pretty he and Danny are, Mac."  He let it invade his mouth and she put one of his hands around it.  "That way it won't go too far," she whispered, getting back to work on his other end.   "Just think, you're gonna be so pretty."  She went up to a size like what Don had, making him groan and shift.   She set it a little harder than it had been, about how Don usually had her.  Then she went to tease Don.  She pulled out some of the oil and checked the bottle, smirking at the 'makes your lover last longer' potion in it.  She spread it over his cock, then gently rubbed it in, making him swear and try to get more.  "Awww, does my boy need more?"  He nodded, panting hard.

"He's sensitive to that potion," Danny ground out. "Stella, please!"  She put one oily hand on him, letting him come.  "Thank you!"  He groaned when it kept going and she changed the style of how he was getting it from the toy.  "More?" he asked, shifting. "Please, not like that?"

She took it out and took the ring, leaving him all alone for a minute.  Then she got back to Don, who was sweating.   "You want to, you can come too," she promised.

"Want inside," he ground out.  Danny came over to help him with that, taking over for the hands that were tormenting him.  Stella helped guide him down onto him, making Danny groan and Don wheeze.  "Danny!"

"You're the only one," he reminded him.  Don flipped them over and started to ride him like the toy was still doing him.  Stella switched toys to the next size up, making Don shiver and shake, especially when she turned on both functions.  The poor boy nearly jumped out of his skin on her.  She went back to Mac, making him try to get free. "Mac, you good?"  He shook his head.  She took the toy out of his mouth.  "What's wrong?"

"Need you."  She released him from the remaining bonds and he pulled her closer, having her like he was desperate, which he was.  "I'm not their sex toy," he said as he pushed into her.  "You're mine, not theirs."

"Don and Danny can both be fantastic lovers," she reminded him, smoothing over his cheek with her hand while he found his rhythm.  She tapped the vibrator into going faster, destroying his control.  "Admit to them that you like it, Mac, see if they'll help you out."

"I ...."

Danny pulled off and pounced Mac back onto the bed, taking over control of his cock while Don took out the toy, proving to Mac he belonged under them.   Mac howled and writhed under them, letting go.  They were good at that.  They had synched up.  He reached up to tease Danny's opening but he swatted his hand away.  "No, Mac.  That's a trust thing."

Don leaned down.  "He barely lets me have it," he soothed.  "He can touch," he told Danny, staring him down.  Stella handed him a toy and he guided Mac's hand back there, letting him use that.  "See, just a toy, Danny."  Danny moaned and tensed up, but let it go this time.  He kissed him over Mac's shoulder. "Trust me and us, Danny.  You both gotta trust us more."  He kissed him again.  "Like I'm having you, Mac."

"Let me go."  Don did so Mac shifted, focusing all his attention on Danny for now.  Teasing him, kissing him, touching him, moving slowly down his body to the place that truly tormented him and that got a lot of attention from him and Stella.  Danny was making pleading noises, unable to talk, by the time Mac got done tasting him.  He moved the toy slowly, his own body clearly not near there, and Don shifted him, getting his ass again.  He moaned at that, and so did Danny.

"Hot."

"He is," Stella agreed, leaning on Danny's shoulder.  "So are you, Danny.  Look at how desperate he is to please you."  Danny shook his head.  "He is."

"No.  Not yet."

"Okay.  Can he use the toy?"  He nodded, letting Mac go back to that.  "Let him taste you too, make him do it, Danny.  I know you're an alpha male.  Make him taste you."  She let Danny go free, letting him pull Mac's head back down to his groin, letting him work for his pleasure.  Mac groaned but went back to it.  It was very hot.   Don came with a grunt of pleasure, then went limp on the bed behind Mac.  Danny got free of Mac and put him where he wanted him, taking him for himself this time, making him howl and clutch at the sheets in desperation.  Danny was a lot more forceful than Don had been, Don had only been giving him a distraction and pleasure, Danny wanted to come *now*.  Mac came and Danny came, both of them collapsing back to the bed.  Stella smiled at her boys, getting a bowl of warm water to wash them off with and then to clean all the toys up.  She changed the sheets under them, climbing in behind Mac's panting body. "Shh, I've got you.  Told you you were toy material, Mac."  He shivered.  "Next time, trust me more."

Danny looked at Don, then at Mac.  "I say we get her when we can breathe."  They nodded at that, pulling Stella over to crowd her and give her what she had dished out.  Don used the oil on her and they each selected the toys they liked most, taking a hole.  Stella squealed and wiggled and danced under their hands and toys but it was even better with them when she passed out with a scream of pleasure.  Danny got them cleaned up and the toys into the water, using his wand to send it back into the bathroom. Then he collapsed on top of Don and fell asleep there.

"As long as you don't put an arm around him, he'll sleep like that," Mac offered.  Don grinned and nodded, wiggling some.  It got him poked but he was fine with that. Mac put Stella between him and Danny's back, holding her.  "I really should get you back for making me into a sex toy," he whispered in her ear.  "But this time I'll let it go."

"You make a good sex toy, Mac," Don promised, giving him a slight grin.  "Nearly as good as I do."  He got grumbled at and it was all good for him to lay there and be the body pillow of his lover.  This time.  Next time he'd make Danny cuddle him for real.

***

Speed looked at Horatio ten minutes into the session and shook his head.  "Just disappear now, man.  It's going to get intense. Stella was going to prove to Mac that he was a sex toy for them."

"Now I know why you suddenly disappeared on Ray Jr."  He shifted some and got comfortable.  "Can you block it out?"

"More or less.  We're tied tighter to Danny since he needs us more.  It's easier to block out anyone but Mac, because when his shields go, they go loudly."  Horatio nodded.  "I thought you wanted to talk to someone."

"I did, but I didn't realize how hard it was to quantify it to Yelina."

Speed nodded that he understood.  "The same way I couldn't explain it to you, I had to show you."  They both moaned when Mac's shields fell.  "Like I said, his go hard."  He shifted again.  He felt Tony yelp and sat up, frowning.  He called him, getting an 'I tripped in the dark' back.  "How dark is it at your place?" he complained.  Tony sent back a cocky 'Mac made me fall' and an 'I stubbed my toe on my couch'.  Then he disappeared and a warm, fuzzy mental feeling remained.  "Okay, so that's a happy Tony."  Horatio snickered.  "It's not always like this."

"I realize that. If it were, you'd never get anything done."

"After a few weeks, you start to realize how to block them out.  The exercises do help."  They both swallowed when Mac started to take care of Danny.  "Most of us don't join in on this usually, but...."

"I understand.  I felt the thoughts shooting back and forth between her and Tony earlier.  I thought I was bad as a teenager."

"You probably had nothing on Tony's slutty mind," he agreed.  "When he's in a slutty mood, it's a good thing.  Now, I will say that since Mac doesn't do the exercises regularly, occasionally he will bleed through at a crime scene.  He and Tony got crime scene confusion the other day and ended up helping each other. Gibbs was not amused but McGee was howling in laughter.  I have the feeling Mac's going to be getting the law laid down from Gibbs soon about the exercises being done."  Horatio nodded that it was likely.  "We'll leave it up to you, but you've seen how sometimes we've got to help each other.  We could use a voice of reason and better planning.  Especially with Danny being in trouble this time."  He frowned, Tony's warm fuzzy mental place had been replaced by a not-happy Tony.  He sent a thought at him, not getting an answer.  He sent a stronger one.  Then a phone call.  "DiNozzo, pick up the damn phone," he muttered, listening to it ring.  Tony yelped and went blank.  "That was him being knocked out."  He called Gibbs.  "Someone just knocked Tony out.  He went from warm fuzzy to kinda scared and pissed, then blank.  He had been at home, Gibbs.  No, Stella's treating Mac like a sex toy and he's broadcasting.  No, I'm sure he's gone.  Now, Gibbs."  He hung up and grabbed his wand.  "I'll be back."

"Gun," Horatio said quietly.

Speed nodded, going to get it from the drawer, and he headed to Tony's apartment building.  He saw some guy carrying Tony down the stairs and to a car.  He disabled the car and popped all the tires at once.  "Freeze," he called, coming out of the shadows.  "Put down the federal agent nice and slow."  They dropped him.  "I did say nice and slow, did I not?"  Gibbs drove in and parked, getting out.  "Check on Tony."  Gibbs walked over and checked, then patted him until he woke up.  Tony's mind came back online.  "Hey, Tony, you know this person?"

"No."  He sat up rubbing the back of his head.  "He's mean, boss."

"I know he is."  He grabbed his handcuffs and put it on the suspect, then looked at the car.  He looked at Speed.  "Nice job."

"Thanks.  I thought it'd be handy."  He moaned and clutched the stairs next to him. "Please quit broadcasting?" he begged.

"I'm talking with him tomorrow, kids."  Gibbs led the guy to his car, shoving him in the backseat.  "Be polite to my girlfriend too, dumbass."  He got in and backed out, taking Amanda to drop him off before they went back to their drive and dinner plans.

Speed helped Tony up, looking him over. "Come on."  They headed back upstairs, getting Tony two ice packs, one for his head, the other for his groin to calm him down.  Tony growled and pounced, making Speed a happy boy too.

Down in Miami, Horatio shook his head and relaxed back in the deck chair.  Now he remembered why things were never boring around Speed.  He saw Eric come in and waved him outside. "He's with Tony at the moment."

"We were going to go clubbing tonight.  He coming back?" he asked as he sat down.

"Tony got hit in the head and Mac's broadcasting, badly."  He snorted, the spell was either weakening or they were nearly done.  Nope, they pounced Stella, it was still going strong.  He shook his head to clear it.  "Sorry."

"They offered you inclusion into their mental games?" he asked with a grin.  Horatio nodded.  "It could help.  That way you'd know when Speed was in trouble.  Like he was yesterday at the stickup gone bad when the guy came back."  Horatio stiffened at that. "Ryan got the guy.  Speed covered him. Just another day in Speed's Miami really."

"That stuff happens to him a lot?"

"Now and then.  Ryan was really happy they had uniforms there that time."

Horatio nodded.  "I'll talk with him in the morning.  I hadn't heard about that."

"Oops?" he suggested with a smirk.

Horatio tipped his head, acknowledging that Eric hadn't slipped, but he was going to deal with it.  "What do you think?"

"I think it depends on how much the group in New York leak.  It's gotta be fun having a quad going at it in your head, but distracting now and then."

"You have no idea," Horatio admitted tiredly.  He felt Speed and Tony start and moaned, shaking his head.  "They're helping each other with that issue."

"So, you can come clubbing with me, H.  You obviously have a way about you in the clubs.  I won't even poach this time."  He grinned.  "Come on, you could use the stress relief."

"I could," he agreed, getting up and following Eric out the door.  He locked it, knowing Speed could get in.  "Let me head home."

"Sure.  Meet you there."  Horatio disappeared, Eric went the mundane way.  They'd have fun picking up some easy and quick stress relief and go back to themselves in the morning.

Banks, part 1

Federal agents trooped into Miami's CSI unit, going upstairs silently with their backpacks and notebooks.  The lead one signed them in and presented a list to the receptionist then took the last elevator up.   They were all waiting for him and Horatio was in their way.  He pulled out a paper.  "We were told you were needed on a federal level case so therefore we were going to be able to give our interns their field training here and New York," he announced.

"Interesting.  I hadn't heard about this."  He looked the paper over and groaned. It stated his whole lab, Eric, Ryan, everyone, was coming with them.  "When did this come across?"

"Last night, sir.  Some small part of Interpol needed the help with some international thefts and murders.  Yours and New York's labs were both recommended and accepted."

Horatio knew then who had set it up.  He would be killing Alex Dumass.  "At least one of my staff will probably be staying and most of them are out on crime scenes."

"If that's what you want."

"His sister's ill."

"That's also fine.  I've run the FBI lab's intern program now for ten years after eight in the field."  He presented his credentials.  "When you get back, we'd be more appreciative of you doing case reviews to see who has the better skills."

"If we can.  Let me get my team together.  It'll be this afternoon.  That'll give them a day to get you up to speed."  That got a nod.  "Wait here and I'll get someone to take you on the tour."

"We've got maps, Lieutenant," one female said, her hair in a severe bun.  "We don't want to overtax your staff."

"That's nice but I'd feel better if you took the tour."  He went to call in one of his own trainees, telling them what was going on and what they were to do.  They hurried off to do that while he called everyone on a conference call.  "Get back here as soon as you can.  We're being released from the lab for a federal level assignment.  There's an internship class here from the FBI who're going to be you for the week."

"Can't," Eric told him.

"I've already told him you'd be here, Eric."

"Thanks.  Do they have a babysitter?"

"They have their internship director with them.  There's ten of them.  Today they're taking the tour and all that.  Tomorrow they do it on their own.  They have asked for us to do a case review when we get back."

"I'll look over their shoulders," Eric agreed. "Be back there soon, H."  He hung up.

"Alex is so dead when I find him," Speed offered.  The others made agreeing noises.  "All of us?"

"All of you, including Ryan."

"Yipee," Ryan said blandly, getting a laugh from Calleigh.  "We'll be done soon."  He hung up.

"Alexx just came to gather our bodies," Calleigh agreed.  "Tell them we'll brief them when we get in."

"Agreed."  He hung up while Speed was still muttering.  He went to find the director.  "Your team will be taking over current cases since we'll be leaving tomorrow."

"Of course.  Do you think pairs would be needed or just a single CSI."

"Pairs.  There's three crime scenes.  That leaves you people open."

"Yes, sir."  He smiled. "Thank you for not fighting.  They really don't understand more than the lab at this point. They're all eager and uptight.  The only one who's got an experience is Reeds.  She's the one with the bun and the map.  She transferred from the medical research field.  She wants to move to our Seattle office."

"That's fine.  My staff will be back soon.  We'll introduce you to everyone today and let my team brief you and see what they can get done today."  That got nods.  He walked off again, going to mentally curse at Alex.  And to call Mac in case he hadn't been ambushed yet.

***

Mac walked in and found a lot of people with coats that said 'FBI Intern' on the back.  "What is going on?" he demanded loudly.

"They're taking over our labs while we're out helping on a federal and Interpol investigation," Stella offered from her lab.  "They were waiting on us and went out on our cases with us already.  Danny's got two shadows.  Hawkes has one.  I have two.  Lindsey's got one."  She came out to look at him. "So far they're okay.  They've done the work without complaint. They've got a director over them.  Whoever we leave can watch them."  Mac groaned.  "It's all right so far."

"Alex," he muttered.

"Apparently he was serious about needing us, Mac.  It's got to be a bad thing."  Mac groaned and went into his office, finding it holding someone who was chewing someone a new one.

"Sorry, sir."  She glared at the young man and he hung his head and left.  "Playing in the labs."  She smiled and shook Mac's hand.  "Special Agent Diedre McPherson."

"Detective Mac Taylor. What is going on?"

"We're the other half of the internship class for the FBI's labs.  Since yours and Miami's labs were requested to help with an Interpol case and would probably not be able to attend your duties here for a few days we brought the interns up so they could get their field time in.  This way we don't have to farm them out to sub-labs and listen to them whine about not getting into the field.  We managed to get here in time this morning to go out on morning calls with your staff.  We'll take over for the staff that will be leaving and your remaining staff can yell at them all they want to get them into shape.  I'll be watching over their shoulder.  I run the LA lab."  He nodded once at that.  "Have for six years now."

"Okay.  Will this be overloading my people?"

"No, sir.  Because if they pull shit my foot goes up their asses.  Like the one that was telling dirty jokes."  She moved closer.  "Really, this is better for them.  When we ship them to the our sub-labs for field time, they usually only get handed cold cases and old files to look over.  This way they're actually doing the work.  It'll allow us to separate the field techs from the lab techs.  It also gives my kids the chance to see some of the better CSIs in the country at work.  That way they've got a realistic view of the field.  Even if we don't get much in the way of going out to crime scenes, we do a lot more after analysis, it'll still help them."

"Who's going?"

"That wasn't noted in the paperwork."  She handed it over.  "Here you go. From those on the high setting."  He cracked a smirk at that.  "We did the same to Miami's but they couldn't get an early enough flight so they're being briefed after the techs get in.  It really is good training for them and you're more than welcome to do case reviews when you get back."

"Thank you."  He read through them, then nodded.  "I can accept this," he decided.  His phone rang.  "Taylor."  He listened.  Then he wrote out an address.  "On it.  Have me and whichever CSI is up next responding."  He listened.  "Danny's good."  He hung up, hitting the button to page Danny and sending it mentally to him.  "I'm on a case, who am I taking?"

"You go out too?"

"Of course.  I don't make my staff do things I don't do.  Except trash barges."  She laughed at that and assigned two students to go with him.  He grabbed his kit and headed, finding Danny in the doorway.  He nodded at his two techs.  "Someone snagged a floater while fishing."

"Yummy.  I hope they tossed back the fish."  He followed him. "Come on, kids."  They trooped out.

"But you've already had one case this morning," one of them noted.

Danny nodded.  "And so has everyone else so we're back to my name.  On my desk are about twenty open cases and another ten considered cold.  Welcome to the labs."  He got in and they got into the back of the SUV.  One of them had to squeeze in and he sighed. He looked at Mac.  "Meet you there?"

"Go ahead."  Danny nodded and went to get another car and his students followed.  Mac looked back at his, who weren't shifting.  "You two want to switch?"

"That'll kill more time, sir, and evidence is dying."

"Good point."  He drove off, taking them to that address.  He parked and got out, signing them into the crime scene.  He let them sign their own names under his once he put 'and trainees' after his.  He walked over.  "What do we have?"

"Floating person, detective," the officer in uniform offered.  "Fished out.  He said he caught the wrist and then hauled the rest out."  He pointed at the half body.  "We're not sure if we should get divers."

Mac looked at the body, then nodded.  "Yeah, you should."  That got a nod and he went to call that in.  Danny showed up and signed in.  "We've got a half a body."

"I'll work with the divers once they get here," he agreed, coming over to look.  "Dressed but not well dressed."  He checked her throat once he started taking pictures.  "No bruises that I can see.  Some bloating."

"So it hasn't been long.  We might find the rest of her," Mac admitted.  He checked the incision.  "Or maybe not.  It's sealed."  Danny looked.  "I didn't know you could amputate that far up."

"It's not common but I saw one on a talk show that was done just at her pelvis," one of the students offered.

Mac pressed gently.  "That is in there.  You may be right."  He looked behind him.  "Any chance of a wheelchair?"

"No, detective."  A diver showed up then two more. "Half a body."

One of them looked at him.  "I know her.  She's in that group of homeless that go to my church's soup kitchen," he admitted.  "Ebony, something like that, sir."

"So she's been like this?"

"Yes, sir, but we need to drag the river anyway," he admitted dryly.  "We haven't done it in two weeks.  Our boss said to do it anyway."  He nodded at Danny.  "We catch anything we'll let you handle it.  Our soup kitchen is the Ladle of Hope.  They'd know her there.  She's there almost every day."

"Thank you," Mac said, giving him a smile.  "Do you know what sort of chair she used?"

"Pretty standard.  Light blue. Darker blue backrest.  Looked like she stole it out of a hospital really."  That got a nod and they went to dive in.

"That's good clues," Mac agreed, making notes on that.  He waved the ME in.  "All yours if Danny's done."

"Sure am," he agreed. "Have fun, I'll wait to see if they pull anything up."  That got a nod and he left with his trainees.  They went to talk to the fishermen.  Danny looked at his.  "You gonna be sick, do it somewhere it won't contaminate anything, including the water."  One ran to do that.  "Yeah, bloated bodies are gross, but charred ones are worse," he assured the remaining one, getting a nod.  "Did some field work?"

"Transferred during my rookie year, detective," she said quietly.  "I decided I wanted to be on this end instead of chasing down parking tickets and muggers."

"Plenty of us made that choice."  He looked over as one of the divers came up with a hand raised.  "Already?"  That got a nod.  "How many?"  Two fingers were held up.  "Charming.  Let me suit up so I can get pictures."  He shook his head.  "No why?"

He took off his air hose.  "No, you can't.  We didn't bring you one."  Danny moaned at that.  "We can take pictures and haul them in."  Danny nodded, going to get the camera for him.  "Two tied down, detective.  Tied to old tires so they're pretty shallow."

"Bring 'em tires and all."

"Of course."  He went back down to do that.

Danny looked at the one coming back.  "Report to dispatch that we've found two more floaters, they're coming up with the dive team, it'll be about an hour but we'll need an ME then."  She nodded, calling in to do that.  He looked at the one who had been sick.  "It's gonna be gross.  Get into the top of my case.  Get the little thing of mint balm, put some under your nose.  That's how we do it."  She nodded, doing that.  She found a swab case and held it up.  He looked at it.  "I was looking for that," he admitted. "Put it into the tray.  Must've slipped."  She nodded, doing that.  "It happens when the cases get bounced around."  The divers came up with the bodies, making him grimace.  "Eww, been a while."  Both the kids ran for the bushes this time.  "Welcome to the field," he called grimly, taking the stretchers to help them onto the ground.  "I didn't know we had flesh eating fish in the East River."

"You never know what you're going to find down here," one of them noted.  "We'll do another shore sweep in this area then head in, if that's okay?"

"Yeah.  You find anything, you'll tell me.  Thanks, guys."  They nodded.  "Kids!" he bellowed.  They came walking back.  The diver looked at him oddly.  "Federal lab trainees.  They're going to be all over the lab for the next few days."

"Sure.  Guess someone's gotta get them off to a good start.  They gave you two?"

"Me two, Mac two, Stella two.  Hawkes and Monroe each got one for being so new."  He shrugged and got to work with the pictures. "Someone did you two wrong.  Busted bones," he noted, pointing at them.  He took the camera from his students and got to work cataloging.  "Now, what do you think did it?"

"Something hard, blunt, and square.  Most of them seem to have marks on either side of the bruises I can see," the one who hadn't gotten sick first offered.  She took the camera and put down a measuring square, taking pictures of the ones she could see.  She glared at her fellow trainee.  "You don't get to just watch."  She got to work with them.  The dive team came up with another one.  "Three today?"

"Hey, it was a party.  Same MO?"  The divers nodded.  "Great.  Thanks, guys."

"Welcome, Messer."  They did another check then left to make their reports.

Danny sighed, looking at this new one.  It was going to be a long, stinky morning.  "I hope you guys brought changes of clothes.  Otherwise you're gonna stink all day."  They both nodded at that.  "Good.  Don't just wear the jumpsuits either.  People can tell."  He found something in one's hair and took a picture before gathering it to put it into a small envelope.  "A wise CSI keeps at least three changes of clothes in their locker at all times.  We've had days when that's not enough."  He looked up at the sound of a car, waving at the detective.  "Hey, Maka.  Come see.  Broken and dumped."

"Why me?" she complained dramatically.

"Yay.  Have you heard about our trainees?"

"Yup. Are you going on the Interpol case?"

"Probably."  He found something else and took pictures.  They finished that one then moved onto the second one, by then the ME was pulling up.  "They found a late one, doc," he called.

"Thanks for the warning."  He brought out an extra bag.  "Charming.  Tires and all?"

"If you can please."  He grinned.  "Since they're all missing their feet and all that.  That'll let us gather it there."  He got a nod and Danny finished up with that one, moving to the third body while they bagged the first two and took them to the van.  "Hmm.  Two types of bruises," he noted.  He waved them closer.  "See, another one with hard edges, but this pattern and size is usually baseball bat marks," he instructed.  They nodded and took pictures of them.  "I used to have a folder with types of bruises that were common and other things so I could do a quicker identification. You'll get past that within six months."  They nodded at that.

Maka smirked.  "You two are so cute."

One of them looked at her.  "I don't do cute.  I'm from Jersey, Detective.  I do bitch."  She laughed at that, nodding in appreciation.  She got back to work.  She and Danny shared a look because the other one wasn't keeping up.  He nodded that he had noticed and took pictures of the guy's broken pelvis.  "Do you think it was organized crime related?"

"Probably.  Three guys without feet, bound to tires, beaten with similar objects?  Probably.  Or some odd serial killer."  He gathered something out of this guy's hair.  "Did you find confetti in the second body's hair?"

"No, Detective," they reported.

"Huh.  Got some in his and the first one's.  Interesting."  He put it into his case after writing on it.  Then he snapped his fingers.  "We'll do the rest when he's dry."

"That works for us.  We even gathered the water from the tires in case, Messer."

"Bless ya."  He took the bottles and handed them to the girl who wasn't doing much.  "To the truck."  She nodded, carrying them that way.  He helped gather the water on this one then closed his case, checking around.  He found that one swab case again and put it back with a moan.  "It doesn't want to be processed."

"Jumping beans?" the other tech teased.

"Now and then."  They headed back to the car and back to the station.  He checked with the ME downstairs.  "I'm sending you three with tires instead of feet.  Let me know when you're ready for my trainees if it isn't today, Sid.  Yeah, so we could collect them there.  Ropes were soaked into the ankles too deep to cut.  Figured we'd get it in all one go.  Let me know."  He hung up and headed back through traffic.  "What did we learn on that one?"

"That bloated bodies are really gross," the girl in the backseat offered.  She was ignored.  That was a very obvious statement.

"Confetti in two out of the three bodies' hairs could lead to a signature or a place they were taken or killed," the other offered.  "Or it could've been floating in the water. Did they look similar to you?"

"They did.  I'd say that at least two of them were related or from the same general area of the city since you get a lot of clumping of ethnic groups.  Again, first and third."

"Maybe the second's an in-law," the one in the back offered.

"Could be.  Could be unrelated if this leads back to organized crime.  We'll have to see."  They nodded at that.  "When we get back, you two go see Sid and gather the tires and stuff under his careful watch.  Look for more trace as well.  They'll prep the bodies by washing them, make sure you're done before they do that and that you watch, helping if possible, so you get it all."  They nodded.  "Then shower and change.  Meet me in fingerprints once you've got some off them."  He parked and they got out, heading inside while he got his case and the water after a few minutes.

***

Mac looked at the team later that night.  "Apparently we're being called to assist Interpol.  They're taking most of Miami's lab and some of ours. Sheldon, did you want to come?"

"No.  Not really.  Is this a project from down that short hallway you were muttering about?"  Mac nodded.  "Then definitely not.  I'll stay and run blocking like a sheepdog with a herd."

"Am I going?" Lindsey asked.

"Not this time. They wanted experienced techs," Mac told her.  "Sheldon was offered because of his ME skills.  It was thought we might need some."  She pouted at that.  "It's a robbery/homicide/bank theft ring."  She nodded and sighed.  He looked at Stella, Danny, and Don.  "Do I even have to ask?"

"Nope," Don admitted.  "I got invited specially. The person over the kiddies gave my boss the paperwork personally."

"Wonderful," Danny agreed.  "We all going?"  Mac nodded.  "We sure they can handle it?"

"If not, Sheldon can call us for some long distance help," Mac reminded him.  Danny sighed and nodded.  "Stella, any comments?"

"Will we have time to walk on the beach at night?"

"I hope so.  Hopefully this case won't that long to crack.  Even though it looks like none of the suspects have even heard of DNA profiles."  He grimaced.  "All right, we're being picked up tomorrow at Danny's.  Sheldon, you have all our numbers.  If you can't get through we might be in a non-signal area but I'll make sure to check voice mails pretty regularly.  Don, you handed over cases?"

"Yup. Gibbs sent two trainee agents to take my place.  He wants to make sure they can hack the job since they didn't have any sort of law enforcement experience outside of being an MP.  Are we meeting Gibbs and them?"

"We are, all but Ziva since she's still on injury leave," Mac agreed.  He took a deep breath.  "All right.  We need to gather things we'll need, like books we want to read on the flight and at night, plus pack and those things.  Go do that.  Meet me at Danny's at 0700.  We leave at 0800.  Got it?"  They all nodded.  "Lindsey, I realize your trainee isn't doing things your way, but give her a chance.  She's very methodical.  If you have to, switch off and take one of Danny's."

"Take Christine," he offered.  "She's wanting to be lazy, you could install some work ethic."  She nodded, making note of that.  "The other one?  She's got a good start," he admitted.  "Former PD too.  Left her rookie year.  Stella?"

"Mine are okay.  One's really hot to be a DNA tech but they're handling it okay so far.  That one squealed when we had to take blood samples."

Mac nodded.  "Both mine took notes and helped.  They were respectful and quiet.  It was like they were following a master and sucking in his vibe."  Danny gave him an odd look.  "Speed described his that way earlier."

"I heard."  He shook his head.  "Okay.  Sheldon?"

"Mine is okay," he admitted.  "Not too terrible.  She'll make it but she's really hyper and can't concentrate.  I wanted to suggest ritalin for her."  Mac smirked at that.  "Really.  Six different directions at once."

"So, we've got a Greg wannabe, a spastic boy, one who's not really wanting in the field, and then some really great techs in the making?" Don asked.

"My spastic one has it, but she's got to learn to focus," Sheldon assured him.  "She's lacking that intense focus on the body that we get with training.  She'll make it once she gets that.  The DNA happy one?"

"He'll be happier in the lab," Stella agreed.  "He agreed with me already.  The one that needs to quit being so slow and slightly lazy?"

"A few good nudges.  I'm wondering if she's like a diesel engine.  Slow to start but then zippy and peppy."  Everyone looked at him.  "She's thinking out loud a lot.  She starts by stating the obvious and then moves on," he warned.

"I can handle that," Lindsey agreed.  "I did the same thing for the first few months of my training year.  Then I went to making lists."  She looked at Mac.  "Where are you guys heading?"

"I'm not sure," he admitted.  "It's listed as 'secret' and that's it."

"Bring me back a t-shirt if you can," Sheldon said, grinning at him.

"Sure," Danny agreed.  "One for you too, Monroe?"

"Sure. I can always use another work shirt."  She looked at Mac.  "We done?"  He nodded.  "Then I've got to go bug DNA."  She got up and headed out. "Have fun," she called as she walked off.

Sheldon nodded. "Do have fun.  I hope you get at least one day on the beach."  He left too.

Don looked at Danny then at Stella.  "Meet you at Danny's for dinner?"  She nodded.  "Suits?"

"Jeans," Mac told him.  "Bring one if you want but expect to be in the vaults and things since it's to do with the bank."  He looked at Danny.  "Do we have books on being a CSI like they would use?  I want to bone up on the various methods."

"We can find some," Danny promised.  He stood up.  "Going to the book store."  He called Speed, who said he'd join him.  "Someone get dinner."  He walked out, heading to take the subway that way.  Speed handed him a cup of ice cream when he ran into him, getting a grin.  "Mac wants reference books."

"So does Horatio."  They walked into the bookstore together and the clerks sighed at them.  "CSI and lab related stuff?"

"Potions?"

Danny gave the salesgirl a glare.  "No.  Telling spells, forensic spells, those things."  She pointed at the potions section.  He groaned, looking at Speed.  "Diagon?"

"It's going to be too late, it'll be closed," he offered.  Danny looked at him.  "You know that's not encouraged," he said, licking off his spoon.

"And?"

"Point."  They linked arms, chanted the spell quietly, then cast the apparation charm.  Who needed a time turner when you had some wandless spells that compensated.

The salesgirl blinked. "You can't do that! It's impossible," she called.  Her boss glared at her.  "They did wandless magic to slip time."

"They were yanking you."

"Messer and Speedle?"

He hesitated.  He was a new salesclerk when they had been in school.  He remembered them and their third.  "Probably."  He went back to shelving.  "What were they looking for?"

"CSI stuff?  Fornesics?"

"There's not been much written on that field," he admitted.  "We'd have sent them to Diagon anyway for the more obscure texts."  He went back to shelving. "Time check?"

"Ten more minutes."

***

Danny and Speed landed back in Danny's apartment, sighing in pleasure.  They dropped the two boxes of books and Speed went to get dinner out of the freezer.  His phone rang and he groaned, answering it.  "What?"  He listened.  "Why would you have felt....  Oh.  No, we're back home.  I'm sure.  In the right time and everything.  Thanks for asking, Ryan.  No, I'll be down there in a bit."  He hung up and looked at Danny, nodding at the kitchen.  He got a knowing smirk.  "Got to brief him with Tony and Gibbs," he complained, heading home.

Danny went to finish getting dinner out and started, then he went to pack.  Stella walked in and dropped her bag.  "Hey."

"How did you get back already?  And why did you go blank?"

"We went to Diagon."  He kissed her on the cheek and finished his bag, then dropped it in the living room, then went for potions things.  That got more carefully put down.  Don and Mac walked in together.  "Books are in the boxes.  Watch out for my second bag, it's got potions stuff."  He went back to the kitchen to flip the meat he had browning.  Don followed and kissed the back of his neck.  "Thanks."

"You disappeared?"

"We had to make it before Flourish and Blotts closed," he said quietly.  "We did."  He grinned and went back to work, then poured sauce into the pan and put it into the oven.  "There, give it thirty minutes."  He walked out there, going to pick up some of the books to flip through.

Mac pulled the books out of his hand.  "How did you do that?"

"Wandless time turner."

Mac considered that.  "You can do wandless stuff?"

"We got bored in our sophomore year.   We got into shit like you wouldn't believe," he said proudly.  "That's why we went to handle the demonic thing at the bank.  We studied all the forbidden sections and got into stuff that made some of our teachers shudder in horror when we started to branch out in our papers.  Then Stephi turned us in our junior year for leaving some of them laying around.  We made the headmistress have ulcers trying to monitor what we were doing.  We stole a room in the basement to set up as our private work area.  She still probably can't get into it since Tony and Speed set it up together."  He smiled sweetly.  "Books?"  They were handed back and Danny went to check on dinner while he read.

Don flopped down, finding a few books for curse breakers.  He handed a few to Stella too.  Mac got a few from the second box and they settled in to read for a while, making notes so they could practice.  They each found things that could be integrated into what they normally did.  It would give them a wider range of skills.

***

Speed landed last, looking at the people he had made the portkey for.  "We all here?" he asked.  Gibbs grunted at him.  Tony handed him back his coffee.  "How long?"

"Eight," Don called, waving a hand.  "Anyone need refills?  I made a fresh pot of *good* coffee.  Come and get it before I turn it off."  The coffee addicted went to empty the pot and make sure the kitchen was ready for them to leave.  Don looked around.  "What's the spanking order for Alex?"

"Oooh, me," Willow said, waving a hand.  "I want to spank the Xander."

Ryan looked at her.  "He called us off work without permission."

"Yeah, because the bank demanded someone's got to find the people that've broken into seventeen vaults, killed four goblins, three dragon guardians, and a few curse breakers," Alex said from his chair, where he had managed to appear without anyone noticing.  "Unfortunately, this is an international emergency.  If Gringotts falls or if there's too big of a scandal, most of the Ministries in this world will fall.  They are the backbone of the wizarding world."  He stood up.  "We need help finding and stopping this blight before the Ministries start to fall and we end up with an anarchy situation in some of the less stable countries and that'll start to collapse the more stable governments.  That's why we needed CSI and detective support.  Because I'm fucking clueless about who did it," he admitted dryly.  "That and we know, it is a certainty, that they're using both types of magic in different casters.  It's a mixed team."

"How big of a team?" Willow asked.  "Vampires?"

"Impossible.  The bank's offices all have wards that would forcefully eject any vampire trying to get through the door.  Now, where we're going is a tropical paradise.  It is the physical location of the vaults.  No one will ever find this island. It is cloaked.  It is hidden. It is not on any map.  All the other banks access the vaults by way of portals."  They all nodded at that.  "While we're there, we'll have goblins watching our every move. Any cursebreaker with a clue can dismantle a vault.  We can see what's going on.  The one thing we can't is the blood keys, those are wandless and elven magic.  Which is similar in nature to the chaos magic," he said, looking at Ryan. "Only nature based."  He smiled at that.  "That's how we *know* they're using wandless as well since they've broken into two of them.  One of them mine with artifacts.  One of them Draco's with money."

"How are they picking them?" Mac asked.

"The bigger vaults are all in certain number ranges.  The same as all five digit vaults are complexes instead of single ones.  The bigger vaults are in certain ranges.  We are not sure if they have goblin support or not.  There is a working lab if you need it and think it can help."  He created a portkey.  "Let's go.  Everyone grab on."  Everyone grabbed on and he cast the camp moving spell around their things, linking it to the portkey.  "Horatio, bag inside the circle to quit smashing Willow into Danny," he said quietly.

"The blue bag has potions stuff."

Horatio nodded and put his bag beside it since it was on top.  "The books?"

"Reference on magical CSI stuff," Don offered.  "We all on?"  Everyone grabbed hold.  Willow shifted but they got it.  Xander cast a sticking charm and Speed got sucked closer.  Then Ryan did.  He activated it and they were off.  They landed on the beach.  "Wow."

"Very," Xander agreed happily.  "This way."  He led them through a doorway that looked like it led to a cellar in the midwest.  Once inside, he pressed his hand and wand against a plate.  It lit up and scanned him.  Then a glow went over him.  "Alexander Michal Dumass," he said quietly.  "On special assignment for Case 3."  The doors opened and he led them inside.  "To the left."  They filed in an he counted heads, summoning the missing person who was with the gear.  "Yes, you were invited, Willow."  She traipsed after the others.  He looked up then followed them.  "The red door.  The blue one is for the dragon handlers, Don."  He went through the red door.  "Okay, this is the main exterior lab for Gringotts.  This is where we fix technology to work in the bank.  The computers are that way," he said, pointing.  McGee went that way.  "Pull up Case 3.  That's what you're looking at."  He waved a finger and led them back through the door, which now led to somewhere else. "This is the lab.  It should match up to what you're used to.  We've been working on the blood key problem since so many families' keys have been diluted through the ages, even with the inbreeding among the purebloods."  He looked at them. "The seventeenth vault was broken into last night.  We've tried everything magical we could think of.  Who wants to go down there?"

Mac looked around.  "Danny, Speed, Tony, you go with Horatio.  Stella and I will set up and check the lab. Ryan, Don, Willow...."

"Willow, let's start you with the computer stuff.  Go help McGee.  Concentrate, it's a switching doorway."  She nodded, concentrating and heading back to the other room.  "Ryan, Don, let's let you go too.  There's things that you could notice in your specific areas."  They nodded and followed him back through the doorway.  "See the bright red door?  Walk through it and come out crispy.  These are very mean dragons.  They're all trained to be mean except to two goblins and the handlers.  That's why we think they were killed.  Anything red marked like that is dangerous.  Bank wide."  He walked them to a solid wall and put his hand on it.  "Case 3, CSI support, scan and allow."  The glow came out and scanned them all.  "Authorization Gruinth and Alexander Michal Dumass."  The wall slid open and he walked them down.  "Vault 3548."  He nodded at the cart goblin. "CSI support for Case 3.  A few others are working in the lab.  Get to know them."  The goblin nodded and let them into the bigger cart to take them there.  He looked back at them.  "All the vaults link to this one by way of spells on the rails.  All the attacks, we think, have come through the Paris branch.  With one exception, that came through London.  Paris is the main European branch. Again, that is elven magic, Ryan."

"I can feel the spells.  There's another cart behind us?" he asked, looking.

"No, it's phased around us."  He concentrated.  "It's from Malai."

"Malai is a very small branch," the goblin agreed.  "Only a few families.  We lose profits there most years."

"Yes, but they get cranky and they're all fire specialists," Xander reminded him. The goblin shuddered. "The burning from the last time they threatened to close it is why we keep it open."  He patted him on the head.  "Okay.  We're almost there.  Which goblin is watching us?"

"None.  They don't want to upset their scans and things," the cart goblin admitted. "Security is monitoring from a distance."

"That works for me," Xander agreed, getting out when they landed.  He sighed as he looked at it.  "Mine," he explained. "My work vault.  There was enough stuff in there to take over Gringotts and enough power stored in the artifacts to take down the British Ministry.  We have work vaults for when something is too dangerous to work on in our usual work spaces."

Don looked at him.   "I've seen your two work areas at the castle, Alex.  What do you consider too dangerous?"

"Um, stuffed Gods, the highest of the High Court of demons, things that can open a hellmouth if magiced improperly.  Stuff that we would've handled in Sunnydale," he said dryly. "Some of them date back to when I was your age the first time, Don."  Don moaned.  He opened the vault with a knock.  "It's a magic key instead of a blood key.  It reads my innate magical signature.  Some day, Don will have one of these of his own."  He waved a hand.  "Go for it.  Don't touch anything that's left.  This whole vault should have a red lightbulb."

"Can we dust them for fingerprints?" Danny asked.

Alex looked at him and shook his head.  "Do not touch them.   No matter what.  I can't save you if they eat you.  I'll be more concerned saving the world."

"Okay," Danny agreed, going to start on the vault door with Ryan.

Don stared at the door.  "They warped the power," he said quietly.

"I noticed that," Alex agreed.  "Step to the next one and study."  He moved and did that, frowning.  "That's right, they got that one, and notice it's not a sequential number. Move to the next one up, it's been untouched as far as we know."  Don did that, then studied the others around there.  He came back to the one that wasn't touched, then suddenly grinned and nodded, moving back to whisper in the goblin's ear, getting a nod.  Alex looked at him.  "Find something good?"

"Yeah, they used a lever."  He brought him closer, exposing the spells for them.  "See?"  He pointed at the area.  "That's how they're exposing the locking mechanism, then the wandless person is making them move."

Alex moved closer, tipping his head to the side, then squatting down to study it.  "They are," he agreed, grinning.  "They've definitely got some skills in our area."  He stepped back, looking at him.  "Danny?"  He came out.  "I know you guys did shit out the ass that no one realizes.  How hard was it to find curse breaker spells in New York?"

"Hard.  We barely got stuff on power flows at the school.  The local bookstore didn't have that much either.  We ended up ordering some but even then we couldn't get the training manuals, only stuff on the power flows, breaking spells, making spells and curses, that end.  The other stuff is classified by the bank."

"So it could be a curse breaker or family of one of us," Don said thoughtfully, looking at Alex.  "How many of us could do this?"

"Anyone among us that's passed the first levels.  That's when you learn how to expose spells and warp them backward.  So, no one that flunked out of the first level."  He looked up.  Then at Don.  "Can you tell which way they warped it?  I'm getting the Gringotts standard instead of a more unique style."

Don tested, then nodded.  "So am I.  That's pretty textbook.  It's also hesitant.  There's places where the power isn't smooth, like when you showed me.  It's more like what I started out doing."  Alex looked, then nodded.  "Then again, now that I use your method it's easier."

"It is.  That rules out my students," Alex pointed out.  He looked up again.  "We need a list of the people who still use the first level method of warping and pressing the magic out of the way."  A folder appeared next to him.  "They are on the ball."

"Yeah, but that's a list of how many names?" Don asked, taking them.  "If there's only one on the team...."

Alex frowned and moved to check the vaults.  "I've got two different signatures on the three vaults."  He looked at them.  "Give me twenty to check the others for power signatures."  He went to do that.

Horatio looked at the vault.  "It's very well organized.  I had no idea Alex knew what organized was."  He looked at his temporary team.  "Can anyone find anything that shouldn't belong?"

"I've got sand and cornstarch," Danny offered.  He handed over the samples.

"I've got a fingerprint, maybe," Calleigh suggested.  "Maybe."  She took pictures of it then lifted it, handing over that.  "The wall's a bit rough."

Speed was squatting down to look at something.  "He labeled some of these."  He took pictures.  "We need an inventory."

"Not a clue," the goblin assured him.  "We don't go into here and we're not sure that Dumass still has all his memories from his first life."  He came in and pointed at something.  "That one we confiscated three years ago.  We had to, we ended up draining it."

Alex walked back in.  "No, you drained two of the souls in it and handed it back," he noted dryly.  He reached up, then growled and jumped.  He handed over the book he had rescued off the higher shelf.  "My work journal."  He looked around, then up at the shelf.  "They took my spare wands in here?"

"Probably," the goblin admitted.  "Do you see your power stores?"

Alex looked around and shook his head.  "No, I don't."

"When was the last time you were in here?" Speed asked, looking at him.  "The last date in the journal was sixteen months ago."

"I popped in to put...."  He looked around and pointed. "Those two cuffs in here about eight months ago.  Since then I've only worked at the castle, on site, or with three things that went into Bank Storage for the serious things that *have* to be stored immediately."

"Okay.  Was anyone with you when you popped in?" Speed asked, talking him off to sit on a table, which he checked first.  Probably a good idea with what was labeled as being on it.

"If I remember right, Ron was part of that dig and I brought him down.  He was wondering what we did in these work vaults.  I brought him down to show him the difference in what we *can* work on and what we *store*.  Even though I ride the line because I do have a lot of dark arts experience."  The goblin gave him a 'no shit' look and he glared back.  "No comment from the short people."

"Short people rule the world," Danny assured him, smirking at him.  "Especially this one."

"We keep human slaves for amusement," the goblin said blandly.  "Are there other things you'll need to see?"

"The other violated vaults," Horatio ordered.  "We'll split off for that."  That got a nod and they went to do that, breaking into Stella/Speed, Danny/Eric pairs while Horatio stayed to finish processing this one.  "Alex, does anyone else have access to these vaults?  I know you said part of the lock was a magic signature.  Is anyone else keyed to yours or would anyone know how to mimic it, fake it, or get access around it?"

Alex thought about it.  "Mimic it?  Vaguely.  Yeah, I could mimic a signature.  Theoretically speaking anyway."  Horatio frowned a bit.  "This is bordering heavily on quantum physics and theoretical magic.   It's actually leaning more toward hypothetical magic in this case.  See, long time ago, a Nazi bastard working on their A-bomb project came up with a formula that he didn't know the reason for.  It basically, he said, came to him in that happy half-awake state that you get ideas in.  He thought it was for power transformation and distribution.  Which it is in a way.  It's really more about the quantum reflection stuff."  Horatio nodded slowly at that.  "Now, I flunked algebra, mostly because it's so different from magical math and numerology, but this is a takeoff of the formula that the guys doing cold fusion are working with.  This is like a subset of that math arena.  It's also what your nephew used when he slipped reality streams."  Horatio nodded more firmly at that.  "The various reality streams are different quantum reflections in this theory and that seems to run as a matter of belief really as far as I've read.  Pearls, strings, mirrors, Sliders, whatever your version of alternate reality theories is, it seems to work on the 'believe strongly enough and it's there for you' principle as far as I can tell."

"Ray believed wholeheartedly that he could reach Danny, Speed, and Tony, and his magic made it happen by finding a reality that mirrored the picture?"

"It had to mirror the circumstances.  Them being together.  Them being that age.  The picture acted like a candle for focusing during meditation.  You stare at it hard enough and use it to drop into your mind.  But it burns an image on your retina that follows you down," Xander explained.  "That's why there's a myth that you can go blind doing it that way."  Horatio nodded, understanding it.  "Ray's magic took the focus and found the nearest situation that mirrored it.  To do this to my vault, they had to either know my signature or have something to use as a focus, then they brought it *here* onto themselves or onto something that they used as a key."

"Do most of you learn this?" Horatio asked.

"Yes and no.  We all learn mimics.  It's part of the training because we need the lesser applications to break some types of locks.  I usually start off that lecture by teaching my students house elf magic because their magic flows on that principle.  They *know* they can do anything to please their masters.  To them that's a soul-deep truth and it hinges on how they see magic and how they relate to it.  Ron and Harry are just now starting into mimics."

"How wide spread is that theory?  The higher one?"

Xander shrugged. "It was well published in the journals of the time.  It crossed over into ours so the curse breakers of the day looked it over.  You forget, I'm naturally about ninety, Horatio.  I was around then.  A lot of theoretical stuff came off those bastards.  There's a whole section in the Gringotts library on their stuff.  We all say a prayer for the victims when we walk into it, but it's up there.  That means any higher ranking Ministry member, or one that had permission for private research, any curse breaker, any goblin could've gotten into it."

"All right.  How many would study this?"

Alex shrugged. "It's an individual thing.  I doubt anyone who knows me knows I study the theoretical aspects of magic.  Not even my aunts and students.  I know Bill was shocked when I spouted off theory one day during a training exercise.  I tend to teach the practical and live the practical, but I have the gift of turning the theoretical into the practical for my own use.  That's why I can use the camp moving spell.  You have to dig into the theoretical magical maths for that spell to work.  Most people don't work it out for themselves.  I used it as a project back in my fifth year and my teacher looked over my work, correcting it where needed.  I got it down to the level of a formula, which can then be made into a spell and wand action. Very few others got that one to work.  The same as very few managed to do what Voldemort did and hijack portkeys."

"Could anyone studying arithmancy do this?"

"Nope.  Arithmancy is the lower levels.  Like algebra and geometry both lead back to calculus and whatever's above calc.  Arithmancy is the algebra and geometry of magical math.  In my day, arithmancy was a third and fourth year class and then you moved onto true magical math.  The calculus and theoretical maths."

"Which means they're either very smart and doing the research, around your natural age, or have access to someone's work who did use them," Horatio noted.

"Back in the day, to get into the program you had to have at least magical math one.  So they had to have at least passed an OWL in arithmancy," Alex offered.  "If it's someone with someone's research notes, it'd probably be a student or a child.  Unless it's a fluke and it was found during an auction in the back of a desk or something."  Horatio smiled at that.  "Been known to happen.  That's how Flammel got the stuff for his alchemy studies.  He found a personal journal in the back of a drawer of a desk he bought at auction and realized where they had went wrong in the formula.  That's another magical math application.  How Greg did it at nineteen I have no clue."

Don leaned in.  "He said he took the formula and turned it into potions and worked it out that way through trial and error as a senior project," he said dryly.  "When do I learn house elf magic?"

"Next year sometime, when you quit leaking and you settle down to do the work.  You're still a month behind where you should be, Don."

"Yes, Mom."  He ducked back out.  "What's the one with the slimy, nasty feel?"

"Those are power keys to some of the more pureblood families," the goblin admitted, going to talk to him and remind him why he couldn't tell anyone anything he learned down here. "Ah, that vault. That one takes the heart's blood of a dragon to open.  A living dragon."  Don looked at him. "The 'slimy' feel is the feel of sacrificial magic according to others.  Hasn't he worked on you with that?"

"I'm behind," Don agreed.  "I work full time and do this stuff."  He went to move closer, frowning.   "It's open."

"It can't be."

"It is."  He pushed on the door and it swung open. "See?"  They looked inside and found someone in there.

The goblin moved forward. "Key please?"  The man produced his key, giving him a nasty glare.  "We're checking the more serious vaults today.  I was to be informed if anyone was brought down to this level."  He handed it back. "Thank you.  Did you need help?"

"No, that's fine.  Is there a problem?" he sneered.

"No, we're doing a vault check," Don said, casually leaning in the doorway.  "What dragon did you nearly kill?  The ones at Hogwarts?"

"No," he snorted.  "They're much too impure."  He gathered what he needed and tucked it into his jacket pocket.  "Who are you?"

"Cursebreaker Flack."  Alex leaned on his shoulder.  "And Dumass."  The sneer vanished.

"Someone tried to get into my vault, Dimitri.  You didn't try the dragons at Hogwarts, right?"

"No, my own pet Fireball."  He walked out and the vault closed behind him.  "Were we robbed?"

"I had something removed," Alex admitted quietly.  "That's why they're doing a vault check.  We also found a few dead dragons.  Are you still doing autopsies?"  That got a silent nod.  "Good.  Let him look at the dead dragons."  The goblin nodded, leading him off.  He looked at Don.  "Good instincts," he said quietly.  "Evil bastard of the universe. He's getting too much fun watching the good guys scramble to try his own takeover event."  He gave him a hug.  "Tonight, we're going to do another accelerated learning thing, Don.  I can't have you this behind.  If something happens, I need you able to work with the others to be able to save yourself or my ass."  He nuzzled him on the cheek.  "Get over it."  He walked back into his vault.  "One of the major evil bastards of the universe.  He considers it great fun to watch us good guys scramble and work."

"I've met others like that. They usually pull strings."

"No, Dimitri likes to throw out ideas and watch us freak when someone manages to make them come true in the lesser evil ranks."  He sat on his table again.  "Dimitri came over for the Triwizard Tournament in my generation.  He was Drumstrang's chosen.  I know he's crappy at math magic.  The maze test required some magical math transformations.  Which, definitely not my area.  Transfiguration and Potions I'm hopeless at.  Theoretical charms and that area, that's my shit."

Horatio smiled at that.  "We didn't get that much theory."

"That's because most of the big theories had been changed into spells and categories of spells by your generation, Horatio.  They got to dumb it down for you, and then further dumb it down for Harry and Ron's year.  They didn't even hear about theories until their fifth year."  He shuddered at that. "You probably got some your first or second."

"Inventors and the basis of the categories and spells," he agreed.

"They don't teach theory now because they're all in use," the goblin told him.

"They said that right after I graduated and then gee, someone made the A-bomb," Alex said dryly, glaring at him.  "And then what happened?  We get power and transformation theories out the tail."  The goblin huffed off.  Alex leaned closer. "Technically I'm working on one at home right now.  Thankfully not here and not anywhere in the castle that anyone can find me when I'm working.  I've got it working but two types of locks don't fit into it yet.  Generations of curse breakers will swear at my name for taking some of the glamour out of the job and letting the regular folk be able to do it.  It's based on some ancient works and some new theoretical stuff where we've rediscovered and warped it.  Draco would stop me if he knew."

"I'll keep that secret, Xander.  Are there others doing theory work?"

Xander nodded.  "Yeah.  A few here and there.  Mostly the older generation and guys like Sev.  Maybe Philip with a language theory here and there that relates how languages and magical runes relate and are formed. The present one in that area is pretty pathetic and only goes back to Thinial's runes.  There's too many others out there."  Horatio smiled at that.  "I know, I'm a book nerd at times. Now you know why my baby had to add onto the library."  That got a laugh from the doorway.  "He did.  I still don't like the tower on a tower idea."  He yawned. "That is one bad thing about working down here. You start to feel like you're lacking oxygen after a few hours."  He yawned again.  "Anything?"

"Some. They wore gloves.  Did you put your name in for the Triwizard?"

Alex shook his head.  "I was a year too young and grieving.  It was thought best not to let me.  Even though I could've warped the age line to let me across, I agreed, it wasn't the wisest idea.  Besides, I was being a Future God of Quidditch and busy doing that in those days," he said happily.

"Future God?" Danny snickered.

"There's press clippings calling me that.  That was the same year Marendale joined his team.  Of course, he fell sixteen months later during his first and only World Cup qualifying match.  He went on to create the firebolt and nimbus lines of brooms, plus the Vega one."

"Why didn't he make more?"

Alex grinned.  "I asked him about them.  He said he created the spell matrix while drunk on tequila one night.  He later stored it in a pensieve and it got stolen on him.  That's why it's such a limited run."

"I let someone look at mine but she's still stuck on the layers."

"It's a matrix of spells.  They're woven together like a tapestry, Danny.  Not layered."  Danny's face lit up.  "Yeah, so go study them and recreate it. There's a ten thousand galleon prize if you do.  Plus whoever you sell the rights to."  He looked at Horatio again.  "The upside of the mimicking theory is that they won't be able to uncreate it.  They can destroy the key they made but they can't undo the magic associated with that.  It's got to be anchored too firmly.  If they tried it could rip a black hole or a reality hole."

"That does give us a place to start.  Can we detect a key like that."

Xander considered it.  "I'd have to grab some of my earlier works out of my other work vault and read tonight. Let me think."  He got up and went to the ledge, looked down, then jumped down onto another set of tracks.  He walked for a while, then grabbed the one above him and pulled himself up and onto them.  He kept going, taking a right, then three lefts, then another right.  He patted the dragon in front of the gateway.  "I know, I haven't been here in a while.  How are you, dear?  Still being cranky with the spouse?"  The dragon glared at him.  He smirked.  "I told you to quit fucking around on my son," he said with an evil smirk.  "Since he's dead....  Have fun with that."  She tried to toast him and he pulled his wand, making her back off.  "Thank you.  Getting into my other vault."  He walked through the gateway and into a very pink corridor.  He walked up the tracks, then hopped down onto one, went three feet, then floated himself up three levels, then stepped onto the ledge.  A cart goblin stopped beside him.  He looked at him. "Mine."

"Which one are you?"

"Dumass."  He got into his vault complex and went to his workroom, finding the three books he needed in there, plus one that would hopefully help him with the stymied theory work he was doing at home.  Then he spotted a new journal.  "Who was in here?"  He grabbed it, looking at the note holding his place.  "Hey, I managed to break space and time for a few hours," he said proudly, grabbing something out of his desk and stuffing it into his pants pocket before walking out.  He closed the vault and headed back, walking around the dragon as he read.  Going this direction he could concentrate really hard and end up on the same ledge with the portal spells but it never worked getting to the gated vaults for him.  Part of the protective magic.  He walked back in and hopped back up onto his table, nudging something with his behind.  He looked. "Aww.  For Don?"  The small doll nodded.  "Sure.  Tonight, boss."  It disappeared.  He got back to work.

Danny looked over his shoulder. "Not all locks have keys.  Some have pushbuttons and some have gears," he said quietly.  Xander's whole face lit up and he kissed him soundly, then he disappeared back to the castle to finish up what he was working on.  Danny shook himself free of the stunned feeling.  "Wow.  No wonder he got to sleep with half the world."  He went back to work, considering it.

***

Xander smugly walked into the lab, handing Danny a folder.  "I gave you partial credit as an inspiration source," he said, giving him a hug.  "Very, highly theoretical."  He walked on and put a book in front of Horatio. "Yes, you can."

"How?"

"I'm not sure.  You can build a detection spell that could.  It won't be easy and we'll have to know if they're warping dimensions, realities, or time and space to build it."

"How would we find out?" Mac asked.

"Play connect the dots.  How many of those people would still be alive in other realms?  How many of them would be accessible by someone in modern times to get something that would give them a signature?"

"None," Stella admitted. "I can't even get a radiation signature off you most of the time, Alex."

"Yup.  With age comes shielding.  You should try it."  She blushed and got back to work.  "Really, like tonight.  I'm doing lessons tonight.  We're all going to be doing accelerated learning apparently."  He looked at Horatio.  "If the answer is what I think it is, it's probably time and space.  Which is really hard theoretical magic at the larger scales you'd need.  Because one of those people died out when I was an infant."  That got a slow nod from everyone.   "Okay, long theory short, to mimic the signatures to get past the magic keys, they'd have to create a mimic.  The only way they can do that is with Einstein's theory of Equitablenss, subset q specifically.  That book is so unheard of, no one in the muggle world even *knows* about it.  Doing that means they'd have to create an anchor to mimic the signature on.  Which can be destroyed but not uncreated.  Horatio wanted to know if we could build a detector."

"How do you know theories when you couldn't pass algebra?" Willow asked timidly.

"Because it has nothing much in common with arithmancy or magical math.  I did pretty good in those but algebra was like speaking a foreign math language to me."  He shrugged and grinned.  "It happens.  Some decade we'll run into aliens who believe two plus two equals five and a quarter."

"But that would be wrong," she noted.

"To you.  Who says that on their world, in their math, it isn't right?"  He looked at Horatio again.  "If I'm thinking correctly, they're breaking time and space to do it, which would also explain how security didn't catch them.  A time turner's one thing, doing decades is another.  They're lucky they haven't created a paradox yet.  Which is why Danny can't put that theory out for another five years."

"I wondered why you dated it five years from now," Danny offered.  He put it beside him.  "Breaking time and space that way is really hard.  Speed and I can do it like a time turner, for a few hours."

"I accidentally did it once by a week," Willow offered.

"Yes, I remember praying to the Goddess that you be fixed and sent back," Xander said dryly.  He looked at Horatio again.  "So, finding out how they're breaking it would give us a major clue.  Because stealing their wands wouldn't give you what you need.  You need a physical magic match, from the body.  That usually takes a still-living internal organ or a very intense scan that can't be done overnight."

"How intense?" Mac asked.

"It'd be like mapping the nervous system on a body by hand, without any machines, by using a tuning fork."

Don shuddered at that image.  "Okay.... so we've got an idea.  The who is up in the air.  Any idea why?"

Stella nodded. "Yeah.  Looking at what was stolen.  Money and things that hold power.  I asked one of the goblins if the greater majority of these all appear in the same rite.  He said three of the eighteen do but that's it.  One of them is in common with a few things."

"The Orb that has some of Dawn's power," Alex agreed dryly.  "It's like the black dress of power."

"Can it be used to slip time?" Speed asked.  Xander shook his head. "You're sure?"

"Realities, not time. Or dimensions really."

"So what could they use it for with what they have?" Horatio asked.

Xander looked at the list, then grimaced.  "Opening hell on earth?  But that's pretty easy to do.  Calling something up to bring it to earth maybe?  Again, not that hard.  I've seen kids who've done it by accident."   He looked at the list again.  "We've got a bunch of stuff that people associate with Athena but aren't really.  Mostly misrepresentations and the like.  They're probably not that stupid. She's not that forgiving and she liked women more."  He kept going.  "Maybe they're trying to wake or bring back a pantheon?  Which again, not that hard.  We woke up a god by accident in Malgadesh."  He considered it.  "Those are my best guesses."  He looked at them.  "I can have the artifact's sheets pulled so you can look them over."  Horatio nodded at that so he went to have that done by one of the goblins, bringing them back in a stack.  "Here we go, all but a few from mine because there was no known reference of them."

"Why do they call this one case 3?" Don asked.

"Because two other times someone's managed to steal out of a vault and get away with it.  Well, one broke in and exchanged some stuff and left other stuff," he admitted.  "A contemporary of Merlin's.  That's how we found the storehouse by Stonehenge. They think he had some of the lost knowledge that let him move the earth around him.  The other was a ship moving the spells to the New World back in the 1600's and they used the stuff they rescued from the ship they sank to break in.  They were basically our version of pirates."

"One of the ships at the castle?" Mac asked.

"No, they robbed the British."  He went back to looking at the sheets.  Then he moved to get post it notes.  "Purple for Gods, yellow for demons, white for power storing."  The little doll appeared again.  "Don, you're getting initiated tonight."

"By?"

Alex looked at him.  "Come on."  He led him off, taking him back through the lab to the room where their God was waiting.  He sealed the door and leaned against it, safely out of harm's way.  He knew the stronger a curse breaker was the more they wanted to fall on their knees to suck Loki's cock, and he knew he was about third next to the balls of their god.

Loki, or Professor Armwrench at times, looked at him.  "Fourth on that scale.  You forgot the wife."

"I thought you married her to use her," he said, quirking a small grin.  "Something about snakes and...."  Loki glared at him. "Sorry."

"Behave, or at least try.  He needs this so he can finish his education and attune himself to the net of us."  He pulled a small bottle out of his waistband, exposing who he really was to Don.

"Pr...professor?" he asked, stunned by the glow.  "No, uh-uh.   You're not Armwrench."

"Oh, but I am. Who better than me to teach a bunch of horny teenagers sex ed," he noted dryly.  "Plus I get to pre-mark most of mine before they can get cults and dragons."  He looked Don over, seeing the desire that he was holding back.  He gently and temporarily blocked the bond, watching as he fell to his knees. "As I thought.  The power is strong in you, even if you don't work in the field.  You're still mine.  No matter what else you are, you are mine, Donald."  He uncapped the bottle and drew his mark on Don's forehead, letting it soak in.  Don moaned at that.  "Say it."

"I'm yours."

"Good boy."  He smiled at him and capped the bottle then reduced his profile back to normal 'professor' levels.  He put one leg over the arm of the chair he was sitting in and leaned in the other direction.  "What you feel is natural.  The stronger one of you is the stronger the desire to please and serve me.  As is natural.  You were mine from birth.  No matter what other faith you have, know that I watch over you as well."  He smiled and stroked through his hair, integrating that knowledge but hiding it so he wouldn't be too concerned by religious thoughts.  "You are mine."

"I'm yours."

"Good. I do approve of your relationship.  The do well for you, Don.  The same as I'm disappointed that you've been slacking off in your studies.  You will correct that tonight, Alex."

"Of course.  Him and Stella.  Doesn't mean I can do transfiguration very well."  His mentor sighed and looked at him. "At least I'm being honest."

"You are."  He looked at Don again.  "Do you understand more now?" He nodded.  "Good boy.  Now, go help find those who have fouled my name and essence."  He removed the block, smiling at him.  "Thank you for indulging me, Don."

"Welcome, Professor." He coughed and got up.  "Um...."

"It's normal.  Draco likes to growl at him for it," Alex promised.  "How high up the list is he?"

"Tied with the terrible trio."  He looked at him, smirking slightly.  "Tell Harry he has my blessing since she's family anyway."  He waved a hand and disappeared.

Don shook his head and looked at him.  "Was that...."  Alex nodded.  "And he just...."  He touched his forehead at the nod.  "Is it soaked in?"

"As it did for all of us."  He winked.  "Expect to see Ginny in a professional capacity now and then too."  He nodded. "Let's go, before you make them worry more."

"Danny's gotta be muttering," he agreed.  He looked at him.  "What am I learning tonight?"

"What you should've done on your own and then I'm going to make you and Stella work your asses off."  He put an arm around his student's shoulders as he walked him back to the labs.  "All done."  Mac, Stella, and Danny all glared at him. "He was safe.  Our patron saint wanted to see him."

"The doll?"  Horatio asked.

"Our patron saint," Alex repeated.

"Armwrench is a saint?" Speed asked dryly.

"Only to cursebreakers," Don noted dryly. "I'm fine."  Danny came over and stared into his eyes, then flipped him really hard on the forehead.  "Ow!"

"What's that?"

"What we all wear, Danny.  It'll be gone withing a few minutes.  All cursebreakers go through this, it helps keep down the chaos.  By the way, he likes you guys together."  He called Harry over the tattoo, giving him that message.  He got a groan back.  He looked at the clock on the wall. "It is well past time for lunch.  Let's head to the hotel and do that then come back here after a quick walk around?"  They nodded and followed him to the rooming house the goblins kept.  All their stuff was already there, put away, and there were house elves waiting to wait on them hand and foot.  "Okay, here we are."  He led them inside.  "On the other side of the inn is a village you can wander for local color.  No one there can get here."  He handed out metal divots on necklaces.

"This is the key to get back in here and back into the bank.  You lose it, they're going to sew every orifice shut and then watch you die slowly and horribly.  Not kidding," he said at Don's chuckle. "We can't prove it but we think it may have happened in the past.  All right, girls up the left staircase, boys up the right staircase.  Those of you in a relationship figure out where you're sleeping.  There's three house elves, they're here to spoil you rotten.  One even gives great massages.  Go eat lunch, come back in three hours with new ideas."  He clapped his hands and got out of the way, going to his usual room.   Once in there, he got multiple reports, including on what killed the dragons.  He read that one and the contents lists of the other vaults over, then sent them to Horatio's room.  Since he was single he was hopefully relaxing instead of trying to do something.  Alex decided to settle into the bed and call his boys, see how they were dealing.

***

Harry landed and looked at his coach.  "Alex has the most inconvenient timing," he noted impatiently.

"He does, kid.  They're going to ask questions."  Harry showed him his tattoos.  "I've seen those.  You're a Bane?"

"In many ways," he agreed dryly, cracking him up and making him nod.  He sent a thought to the leaders of the group, telling them that Alex had nearly made him fall and he had clutched his arm in front of the press. He needed to tell his coach something.

Tipsy showed up a few minutes later with Ron and kissed him on the forehead. "We got praised in public for our good works during the war, Harry.  It's not like you're outing the secret.  Only for yourself."  He nodded.  "Don't proclaim it unless they ask, but yeah."  She grinned.  "What *was* that cryptic message about anyway?"

"Professor Armwrench likes Abby and myself together."

"I think you're terminally cute," Ron offered.  He grinned.  "Then again I hear that a lot too."  Tipsy nodded at that.  "You'll hear a bigger stink because she's not fully one of us."

"Good point."

"Plus, remember, all heirs must be conceived in the big bed in Draco and Alex's room," she said happily.  "He'll have to set your bed up as being just as good."

"He already did," Ron assured her, patting her on the back.  "Okay, let's go."  Harry nodded, grabbing his bag and towel, plus his brooms, walking out with them.

"Mr. Potter!" someone yelled. "Why did you grab your arm?"

"My uncle was passing on a note of interest."

"Your uncle?" one of the other reports asked.  "How?"

Harry looked at Ron, who shrugged.  Close enough.  He rolled up his sleeves to show his tattoos off.  They all gasped.  "What?  Did you think I was a death eater, people?  Really! That would've been the stupidest assumption yet."  He let down his sleeves and went back to walking away.

"I heard you've got a girlfriend," a male reporter called.  "What's her name?"

"Abby, leave her alone please.  She works in the muggle world."

"Is she a muggle?" the reporter demanded.

Harry stopped to look at him.  "No, she's a nature path witch.  The kind that helped us terribly a lot during the war.  Unfortunately I didn't know Abby then.  She's a beautiful girl who makes me be less shy and who wants me to be myself.  Yes, we're dating.  That's as fast as we're going right now, mostly because of you lot hunting me all the time."

"Plus your work schedule," Ron reminded him.

"True, plus my incredible work schedule.  Now, you're making me late for practice with Uncle Alex.  Do you mind?"  They backed off. "Thanks.  Leave Abby alone."  They disapparated once they hit the edge of the shields, heading for the castle.  He shook his head and pulled out his cellphone to call her. "Abby, love, press hounds just pounced me about my tattoos and you, love.  I told them to leave you alone, but well, they are the blight of the universe at times. No, I told them you were a nature path witch and that you needed to be left alone since you worked as a muggle.  I hope they won't tell anyone there.  Are you there alone?"  He smiled.  "Tell Ducky I said hello and I'll pop around for tea today if you wanted."  He beamed.  "Excellent.  Let me change.  I'm sweaty."  He chuckled.  "Uncle Alex called while I was in practice and the reporters were taking pictures for the upcoming season.  Hmm?  Oh, Professor Armwrench approves of us. Called us cute.  Well, actually that is but I can't let that out over the airwaves.  One never knows who's listening.  Love you.  See you soon.   Yup, if I can."  He hung up and went to go shower and change, then talk the house elves into making some peach scones he could bring Ducky.

Ron and Tipsy shared a look, then shook their heads. Looks like the family's ballroom would be having another wedding besides Dawn's soon.

***

Harry carried his packages into the NCIS building, smiling at the guards he knew.  "My people made Ducky some treats," he said happily.  "Oh, reporters might come bother Abby.  Thanks to the name thing, they caught us out walking the other day."

"That's fine, Mr. Potter," he said with a smirk.  "Agent Gibbs likes us to bash reporters for him.  We can do it for her."

"Oh, good.  Excellent really.  I wanted to earlier when they jumped to assumptions.  Catch a tattoo on a bloke's arm and start asking if he's a death eater."  They laughed. "I quite rightly wear my marks that proclaim me to be a Bane."  They laughed louder.  "So, we're having tea in her lab or in the morgue?  Do we know?"

"Her lab probably, Harry.  Let me scan those."  He ran them through the x-ray and smiled at the one small package.  "Well.  Pretty."  Harry blushed at that.  "I think she'll love it."  He handed them back and went to get the elevator for him.  "There you go."

"Thanks, Charlie, right?"  He smiled and nodded.  "Thanks.  I hope she adores it like the ice cream I got her for dinner the last time."  He blushed and got onto the elevator, heading to the lab.  He walked in and she squealed, coming to take the packages.  "Um, well, one's not for Ducky, but for you, dear," he offered, kissing her on the cheek. "I warned the guards about the blight of reporters too."  She smiled and he grinned back. "Want tea now?"

"Sure."  She went to put on water and call Ducky. "Harry's here.  You have presents and I have a present."  She walked out and found one of the guards bothering him.  "What are you doing?"

"Is he signed in?"

"Yes, I was watching the security camera.  They did sign him in at the front desk."

"How did he get here?"

"The same way he usually does.  Why?"  He glared at her.  She glared back. He turned into a lizard. "Ooops."

"Could've been me, dear," he soothed.

"Or me," Draco said from the doorway.  He strolled in and floated the lizard onto the desk, then looked at her.  "We must chat, future niece."  She blinked at that.  "Some family obligations."  Harry moaned.  "And things he's not thinking about."

"Just an FYI?" she suggested.  Draco nodded.  "That's fine.  Ducky, Draco came too."

"Splendid.  I went to school with a lot of young men like Draco," he said happily, smiling at him.

"He's going to embarrass me horribly," Harry pouted.

Ducky patted him on the back.  "True love is often like that, Harry.  Here you go, Abby, you make the tea for us.  I'll get us another cup."

"I can make one," Draco assured him with a smile.  "Need the practice anyway really."  They all laughed at that.  "I do, our house elves spoil me rotten while Alex is gone."  They all went into Abby's lab and sat down, him turning a styrofoam cup into fine bone china, and watched as Ducky unwrapped his gifts.

"Peach scones.  Thank the elves for me, Harry. I've missed these."  He unwrapped the next two as well.  Sandwiches and coffee cake.  The last one he scooted toward Abby. "Since he said one was yours, that should be it, my dear."

She tore into it with a grin, then squealed as she pulled out the heavy iron circlet with ruby cross on it.  "Oh, this is beautiful work!"  She let Harry hitch it on.  "A bit tight, but I'm sure I can get a small chain to fix that."

Harry tapped his wand and it expanded, hanging more loosely around her neck.  "Found it on the dig in Rio.  Just got done cleaning it a few months back and I thought it'd look smashing on you, Abby.  I was right."  She hugged him and gave him a light kiss.

"Thanks," he said with a blush.  "Small history on it, not pleasant.  It was thought to belong to a leading wizard's slave concubine.  His favorite woman, higher loved than his wife.  That's how he marked her.  Even though I know I'd rather be your slave, I thought it would look good on you."

"Awww."  She settled into his lap to cuddle and kiss him. "You don't have to be a slave, Harry.  Now, what did Uncle Alex say?"

"Professor Armwrench thinks we're cute together."

"Is that all?"

"He's our patron saint, Abby," Draco said firmly. She stared at him.  He nodded.  "So that is one thing.  He usually, according to the histories the bank keeps, doesn't care but for him to come out and say that you two are well suited or cute together is a high mark of favoritism."  He poured tea, making Ducky smile.  "There you go."

"Thank you, Draco. Which one was Armwrench?"

"Tall, thin, dark hair, pale skin.  Charming laugh," Harry offered.

"Wears a lot of embroidered pieces or brocade," Draco offered.  "Favors gold and brown a lot this last year."

"Oh, yes, I believe I saw him in Alex's library the last time we were over. It's adorable that Loki watches out for you boys so personally."

Abby stared. "You're kidding?"

Harry shook his head.  "He's our Patron Saint," he said quietly.  "He protects all cursebreakers, usually from ourselves."

"Wow.  That's like a major thing.  This could change philosophy and religious thought for generations to come."  He put a hand over her mouth and shook his head.  "Fine, I can't tell?"  He smiled and shook his head. "Poo."

"I know but he needs to try to stay inconspicuous."

"Wait, what was he doing in the castle's library?"

"Trying to keep Alex from doing something stupid," the boys said in unison. She burst out in giggles.

"Alex is unfortunately one of the highest of the high cursebreakers according to power and accomplishment," Draco said, sounding a bit proud.  "That means that chaos loves him ever so much more than the rest of us.  It's necessary."  He sipped his tea.

"Often," Harry agreed.  "But they got this new cult of his stopped.  Wanted to deage and go fight demons," Harry told her, making her cackle and hug him.  "I'm not kidding.  Don's cult is rather fun though.  Oh, Draco, you might want to make sure one of the New York ones knows that the procreation spell managed to make it into public hands somehow.  It's loose in the wizarding world."  He shuddered at that.   "Gruinth said he wants to have it banned in Britain as dark magic.  He's trying really hard."

"It's not, just disturbing to think about," Draco noted.  He looked at Ducky, he had some respect for the older man.  "Someone, thanks to Potter's blunder, managed to find a way for me to have my own heir with Alex."

"Surrogate?" he suggested.

"Myself."  He spluttered his tea.  "Exactly.  Now you know why certain grumpy beings that like to give my mate assignments halfway around the world don't like it."

"Oh, I dare say."  He considered it.  "Is it hard?"  Harry shook his head.  "How did this come about?"

"The papers were starting to speculate that Dawn was pregnant because she was buying baby gifts for the twin's first set of twins.  I, in my nicest fashion, called them up to protest on her behalf so Ron wouldn't kill the reporter this time, and said no, the twins were pregnant."  Draco moaned at that.  "The paper printed it just that way and they had to correct it so that their *wife* was pregnant but one very nice Hufflepuff woman figured it out so they wouldn't overtax their wife."

Ducky moaned at that.  "Why do they like Ron and Dawn?" Abby asked, sipping her tea.

"Because he helped me.  My first interview, they asked to see him.  Amazed him to no end when he started to get more fanmail than I did.  I'd get letters of support and he got mash letters."

"Which was how he and Dawn finally got together.  A pair of panties with an indelicate lipstick print on them got sent.  She drug him off to the closet to protest, and McGonagall caught her about the third octave up her range of screaming in pleasure," Draco finished, sipping his tea. "They were engaged that day."

Abby giggled at that.  "Sometimes you guys are so old fashioned."

"Yes, well, we are British.  We are the backbone of the European groups.  Stodgy and Victorian much of us are, but oh well."

"Thankfully Alex lets some of us move ahead.  Though, he's working on something."

Draco nodded.  "A theory. He said it'll make all of us scream for generations at him while on the job."

"Interesting.  About?" Harry asked.

"He won't tell me.  He thinks I'll stop him."

"Ah."  Harry nodded.  "So, harder locks and traps?"

"Quite possibly."  Someone, an older male, walked in.  "Another agent?"

"Temporary boss.  Yes, sir?"

He frowned at her and stomped that way.  "Who are these people?" he asked in a quiet, demanding voice.

Harry stared him down.  "Since she was clear, I brought her things for tea and some presents from home for Ducky," he said at his most regal.  He sipped his tea and put his cup down.  "I am her boyfriend Harry.  This is my coworker Draco, he and Abby have worked on something in the past, and I'm sure you know Ducky since nearly everyone seems to."  The man gaped.  "We did sign in.  Charlie's seen me a few times when I've come over to take her to lunch or pick her up for a walk or some such."

"I...  Are you American?"

"No, British.  Why?  I'm told it's not illegal to court someone who lives over here yet.  Nor make them happy and squeal either."  He went pale.  "I'm also not in intelligence.  Actually, Draco and I work with antiquities at a bank and with a group that rescues antiquities from dangerous or combat riddled areas."

"The film from Iraq," he said, his brow furling.

"That was sent to me by my uncle and I handed it to her and Gibbs," Harry agreed. "She's also helped Draco set up his family library."

"Oh.  Well, I'm sure she has work to do."

"Nope," Abby admitted.  "I'm clear until someone brings me something. It was this or proofread a paper and Harry's very sweet.  He even brought Ducky treats from home."

"Let me know the next time you're missing home and I'll have some sent over.  They're horribly bored just spoiling us," Draco pointed out.  He finished his tea and put his cup down.

"They're the ones who sent me that fantastic strawberry angel food cake with the strawberries already inside," Abby reminded him.

"Yes, I remember, that was heavenly," he agreed happily.  He looked back at the temporary director.  "I'm afraid I'm also clear until I get my consulted autopsy later on today.  I'm sure Mr. Palmer will come find me when it comes in."

"Fine.  Don't make this a habit," he ordered, then walked off.  He checked with security but both visitors had signed in and her boyfriend was well known.

"Charming reaction.  Thank you for not hexing him, Draco," Ducky said dryly, smirking at the younger man.

"Waste of energy really."  He smiled at him. "More tea?"

"Please."  He let them refill their cups, watching as the couple cuddled.  "Are your aunts really that bored?"

"Oh, yes.  Nagging and bored.  Very nagging and bored.  Though, Aunt Ephania is still quite blushing whenever she talks about your charming nature."  Ducky smiled at that.  "I dare say she'd tie you down if you came back over for a bit."

"I must consider my mother, Draco."

"She takes care of four other aunts and the herd, Ducky.  Your mother and her dogs would simplify her life."

"Point.  I'll talk with Mother tonight about dating that nice, younger woman."

Abby looked at him.  "She's only four years younger, Ducky.  You make it sound like a scandal."

"Not hardly.  She's from an excellent family and quite a good cook."  He broke off a piece of his coffeecake and nibbled on it, smiling.  "Mother would still have to approve."

"I'll call her for dinner?" Draco suggested.

Ducky sat up.  "That might be most welcome.  Yes, let me call the house first."  He grabbed the phone and called his mother's keeper.  "Ah, how is she?" he asked because his mother was screeching in the background.  He smiled, she was having problems with the fairies in the house.  "Well, do tell her to get pretty, I'm bringing home a nice woman to dinner.  Yes, Ephania.  She's a beautiful woman."  He smiled.  "That's fine.  Thank you."  He hung up.  "We must do something about the brownies that moved in.  They keep setting off mother's fits."  He sipped his tea.

"Leave a small offering and a note for them," Harry offered.  "North corner of the kitchen. Explain that she's fading mentally and not quite all there sometimes, and others she's fully capable. Ask them to please watch over her without making the dogs go insane.  Because it seems, from what Abby told me, that they're setting off the dogs, which sets her off."

"Interesting.  I'll have to try that tonight.  Thank you, Harry."  He smiled at him.

"I thought it was the east corner," Draco said, looking at him.

"Remus said the north when we had problems with the one in his kitchen.  Anyway, fruit, bread, and milk."  Ducky nodded at that.  "You can even sit and wait to talk.  Tell them you wish to talk about your mother.  They do love to listen.  As does Ephania.  She was repeating one of your stories the other day to one of the unicorn foals."

Ducky blushed at that.

"That's a true sign of love," Abby agreed, smiling at Harry.  "The same as moving out of your comfy environment and buying a computer so you can talk to me is."  She kissed her boyfriend soundly, making him blush and stutter.

Draco smacked him on the head.  "Every now and then he needs a kickstart, Abby."

She hugged the poor head to her.  "It's all right.  I'll never abuse you."  He relaxed against her shoulder, kissing it gently.  "My boy."

"Yours," he agreed. He pulled her back into his lap to cuddle some more.  He really did like this cuddling thing a lot.  No wonder Alex never got out of bed with Draco!

Table of Contents

Banks, part 1

Beginnings of a New Group. 2

Wheeeee! 33

Bumpy Roads To Hell. 50

That's What Friends Are For 71

She's Always A Woman To Me. 94

My Stuff. 110

Quidditch. 124

Dinner Dates. 138

What's Not To Love?. 157

Bonds of Brotherhood. 173

Training Grounds. 188

Planning. 220

Hide and Seek. 242

The Sulky Prince...ess. 265

The Sulky Boy. 285

The Thug. 296

My Cult Is Fun. 324

Vacationing Pets. 338

Cures for Moodiness. 354

The Start of Something Bad. 368

Not Quite What I Was Going For 387

Oh, Mac. 408

Animal Magnetism.. 431

Picnic With The Family. 459

Girl Toys and Boy Toys. 471

Banks, part 1. 487