Title:  For All Is Vanity

Author:  Waddles52

Summary:  After his encounter with a gorilla, Mulder 

suffers some consequences.

Spoilers:  Post-ep for Fearful Symmetry

Rating:  PG

Category:  MT

Disclaimer:  Just for fun.  Not for profit.

Archives:  After_The_Fact, others please ask.

Feedback:  Would love to hear from you at 

Waddles52@wmconnect.com



Mulder and Scully walked slowly toward the car.  

Sophie was dead and they had done what little they 

could do to console Willa Ambrose.  The loss of the 

gorilla that was like a child to her had left her 

devastated.  To top it all off, it looked like she 

would be facing manslaughter charges in the death of 

Kyle Lang, another person that had once been so 

important in her life.



"Sometimes this job sucks," Mulder thought as he 

stumbled when he reached the road.



Scully reached out to steady him.  "Mulder are you 

okay?"



"I'm fine, just tired," he sighed.



"I want the paramedics to look you over.  You were 

unconscious for a while you know."



"Yeah, Sophie clocked me pretty good, but I think I'm 

okay."



He leaned against the car in an effort to stay on his 

feet.  He really didn't feel all that great.  If the 

truth were told, he had a concussion.  He knew all of 

the symptoms and he was suffering from most of them, 

but he just wanted to file the charges, write up the 

report and go home.  The first order of business, 

however, was to persuade his stomach to keep its 

contents where they belonged.  He swallowed, trying 

his best, but this time his best wasn't good enough.  

Up it came in all of its embarrassing glory.



"Couldn't this happen in a more private place?" he 

thought as he heaved in front of the police, news 

crews and bystanders and worst of all, his partner.  

He was on his way to the hospital for sure.



Before Scully could even reach him, his head began to 

buzz and flashes of light began to dance in his 

vision.  Oh-oh, he was on his way down.  Look out 

below, Fox Mulder was down for the count.



Mulder woke up in the emergency room with a headache 

the size of Texas and a stomach that was still 

threatening to expel its contents.



"Oh, shit," he groaned.  "Ow!"



Even talking caused his head to feel like an 

explosion was imminent.



"Mulder, I'm so glad you're okay," Scully said 

sarcastically as she moved to his side.  "When will 

you learn to tell me when you're really hurt?"



Mulder could tell through his blurred vision that 

Scully was more concerned than mad.  "I honestly 

thought I was okay.  It hit me all at once."



"Well, you've earned yourself an overnight stay for 

observation."



"No, we need to get the case written up and closed," 

he protested weakly.



"The police have filed charges and taken Willa into 

custody.  I will file the preliminary report and you 

can put the finishing touches on it when we return to 

DC."



"But . . ."



"No buts, Mulder.  I don't think you can focus enough 

to sign your name on release papers, let alone write 

a report."



Mulder sighed heavily.  "You're right.  My stomach 

doesn't feel so good."



Scully grabbed a basin just in time.  "I'm going to 

talk to the doctor about prescribing something for 

your nausea," she told him as she gently wiped his 

mouth.



"Thanks.  How is Willa holding up?"



"Not well.  I don't think she even realizes how much 

trouble she's in right now.  The loss of Sophie has 

really thrown her for a loop."



"I really think she's a decent person, you know?"



"Yes, Mulder.  I know, but her love for Sophie 

overpowered her good sense."



Mulder moaned.  "Can you get me something for pain?  

My head is threatening to explode."



"I'll see about a Tylenol suppository.  Will you be 

all right for a few minutes while I talk to your 

doctor?"



"Yeah, I'm . . ."



"I know.  You're fine," Scully finished for him.  

"Somehow that statement doesn't fill me with 

confidence.  I'll be right back."



"I'll be right here waiting for your return."



"You'd better be," she threatened.



Mulder tried to ponder Sophie's last message while he 

waited for Scully to return.  "Man help man," he 

mumbled.



That could mean so many things.  Had Sophie's 

abductors been trying to give her a message to share 

with the world?  His head hurt too badly to think any 

more.  He closed his eyes to wait for Scully's 

return.



Mulder went to sleep after his meds were administered 

and didn't fully awaken until noon the next day.  

Scully was seated beside his bed, busily tapping the 

keys of her laptop.



She hit save and shut it off.  "Welcome back, 

sleepyhead.  How do you feel?"



He took a few seconds to assess his condition.  

"Actually, I feel much better."



"Good.  If you can keep some food down you'll be 

released tonight."



"I am feeling a little hungry.  Bring it on," he 

smiled.



Mulder was released and spent the evening resting 

under Scully's watchful eye.  He felt stronger as the 

hours went by and by morning he was ready to go home.



They made a stop at the police station and visited 

Willa at the jail before they started their journey 

home.



Willa was depressed and was indifferent to her fate.  

With Sophie gone, the prospect of the next few years 

in prison didn't seem to faze her.  They said their 

goodbyes and hit the road, eager to reach the airport 

and their flight home.



Mulder drove in silence.  Scully didn't attempt any 

conversation either.  Mulder was still mulling over 

Sophie's message.



"Man help man.  It would be nice if the world would 

work together to stop the senseless slaughter of 

animals and each other.  Realistically, it will never 

happen," he thought glumly as the car traveled away 

from the town.



Neither of them noticed the quote on the sign in 

front of a church as they passed by.



"Man has no pre-eminence above a beast:  for all is 

vanity.  Eccl. 3:19."





End