A/N So Mayor Wilkins, an illogical puzzle that thanks to a scenario laid out by a reviewer on a previous story, I have an idea for how to deal with him that actually makes sense. I just hope I can translate it into a good story. Right now though, Mayor Wilkins is going to be playing games with the Scoobies. Not fun for them games, fun for him games. And while they will get hurt, physically and emotionally, no one is going to die, exactly. Hmmm.

But some of the ways the Mayor is going to play with them might make some of them wish for death, at least in passing.

I want to thank Syg for all the great feed back and ideas he's given me, some of which will be showing up in this story.

######

Willow woke up not long after and the doctors immediately began to evaluate her. The results were a mixed bag.

"Her intellect is intact." The doctor began his explanation after Willow insisted he could tell her friends, after all she was 18 and capable of making decisions for herself.

This statement was a relief to the Scoobies, because Willow without her brains? Unthinkable.

"But we won't know for awhile what the long term effects are and they can vary a great deal. They can include seizures, which could cause additional damage, muscle weakness as signals from the brain may not get through as clearly as in the past. Fainting episodes, headaches, nausea, breathing difficulties, vision problems, possible difficulty in speaking or swallowing. She'll have to be carefully monitored and have a number of tests done regularly. And a third blow to the head is something she might not ever come back from. Recovery is going to take months, I'm afraid."

The doctor left after they assured him they didn't currently have any questions for him and the group discussed where they went from here. A discussion that included Wesley, who had berated his doctor into letting him use a wheelchair to get out of bed for awhile.

"I'm actually in better shape than you are, Willow, as I suffered no head trauma. I passed out from pain as it seems I have a total of eight damaged bones. Two cracked vertebra, my arm," he held up his right arm, which was in a cast, "and five cracked ribs. I'm lucky the ribs were only cracked as broken ribs could cause their own problems, not to mention what a broken back could have cost me. Before we do anything else though, Willow, you can't study Magic anymore. I think you know why."

"Yeah, seizures, headaches, dizziness. I could go on, but all of it can affect concentration and that's a big no-no in Magic. As it is, I won't be able to finish teaching the computer class, it'll be weeks before I'm in any position to teach it again. Snyder is just going to have to suck it up and actually hire someone. It'll be all I can do to keep up with my own classes so I can graduate on time. I still hope to go to college, hopefully this fall."

"Don't push it." Oz advised. "You'll get there eventually and will be able to do a better job if you're healthy when you do."

"And if you decide you need an option, we can talk." Xander told her.

"Not yet, right now that seems like the easy way out and what's happened to me is something I can recover from, it'll just take time, that's all."

"And if you start building an army of techno vamps it'll attract the attention of the Watcher Council." Wesley said dryly. "I understand you not wanting to be alone for centuries because of your condition and it's tempting to change others, just judge carefully. You're essentially the progenitor of a new race. Like the immortals in the books, you need to establish rules to govern your behavior and that of anyone you change. My advise is to choose wisely."

Xander nodded. Sooner or later, it was going to happen, he'd face the choice to change someone and he had to do it carefully.

"Well, on another note, Balthazar and his cult actually are now exist. I made sure of it. But something weird has happened."

"What would that be?" Wesley asked, making a note to notify the Council of Balthazar's confirmed demise

"The warehouse he was holed up in was on the news a little while ago. Someone set it on fire. They're reporting it as arson and stating nobody has died or been injured by it."

"Well, no humans anyway." Cordelia replied. "And don't demon bodies usually turn to goo anyway?'

"Most, yes." Wesley confirmed. "But given the number of warehouses this town has, it seems a strange coincidence that this particular warehouse has been destroyed."

"Someone else may had a beef with him." Faith suggested. "And found out where he was hanging out and decided on a more thorough means of ensuring no more blobby demon."

"While there is no evidence to support that hypothesis, it does seem the most likely." Wesley agreed.

"Any possibility it's one of those the enemy of my enemy is my friend things?" Buffy asked.

"A potential ally?" Wesley mused. "Possibly, but since we have no idea who they are, for now a mystery. We'll just have be alert for any information."

While the Scoobies were discussing their current situation Mayor Wilkins was beginning his first game to entertain himself during the countdown to his Ascension. A life changing event was about happen that would rock Buffy's world as Mr Trick carried out the second set of orders his boss had given him, once he'd finished burning down Balthazar's hideout.

One that would make one person regret they'd ever met her.