Chapter 15: Mission: Implausible

A/N: Just to warn those who are faint of heart, that there is quite a bit of violence in this chapter, but all tasteful and still good within the Teen Rated spectrum. If you're a bit squeamish about violence, even if it's mild like this, I advise you to either not read the end or you can wait and read the next chapter, which will discuss about what had occurred here without going into the details this one does.

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At first, Bart wasn't sure how well Maggie's plan would carry out, but for the following three days, everyone was coming up to either Bart, Alex, Lisa, or Maggie and telling any of them on what they have seen of Jeremy Hawthorne.

So far, the only thing noticeable that had been seen with Jeremy was a brown leather satchel that he kept a constant eye on. When anyone came within three feet of it, he quickly brought it closer to him. This news gave hope to Bart, as it was probably a sign that those pictures were in that satchel.

However, much to the glee that was found to this news, Bart soon got word from Maggie that she had just received another letter. This one was a deadline for the money.

It was decided that another meeting was needed to decide the next course of action that should be taken.

Some of the people thought that if Bart did pay the man then this would all go away, but Lisa reminded them of what had been written on the Simpson's lawn, that, this wasn't a quick-fix problem.

"I STILL say we should take the guy out and send him packin!" Said Nelson.

"Has anyone found out yet if they know who Jeremy's accomplices are?" Asked Maggie.

No one answered.

"C'mon people! We only have until tomorrow to come up with the pictures or we're going to have to a problem!" Exclaimed Lisa.

Otto raised a hand, "Uh, weren't we going to raid the dude's motel room or is that still on hold?"

Everyone started to murmur that question also and all turned to Maggie and Lisa for an answer.

Lisa didn't like the idea of breaking into his room, because if they weren't careful enough they could leave evidence that they were there and Jeremy would have no choice but to carry out his plan.

Maggie seemed to agree with this and thought for a moment before answering.

"Yes and no. I think now would be the best time to see if those pictures are in their but to pick the people to go with us to search, is tricky. All those who want to take part in this raise your hand."

Half the room in Moe's raised their hands.

Lisa looked over the crowd and in her mind thought of the best candidates to do this job correctly.

"Ok," she said as got up from her seat and she pointed to each individual, "I want Martin, Nelson, Milhouse, and Sherri and Terri to come with us. The rest of you, try and find out if you can separate Jeremy from his satchel, long enough to see if those pictures are in there."

Everyone nodded in agreement with his or her assignments and the meeting was thus closed.

While the others left, Lisa stayed to confer with Maggie.

"This is really a long shot, you know. I'm not sure if we're going to find them there."

Maggie nodded. "Yeah, I know, but I think it's either this or try to find a new town for Bart and Alex."

Both knew that neither wanted the latter.

Bart had decided to spend time with Homer while Alex was with Marge, looking at wedding dresses. Both of them wanted their minds taken off of what has happened over the past couple of days.

Bart still wasn't sure that spending it with Homer was the best idea, though.

The two of them were at the Springfield dump looking for a new couch to replace the other which had grown something unidentifiable.

They had spent over an hour and were starting to get under the suspicion of the Dump Master.

"Youse guys find what'cha needed?" He asked.

Bart heard from a far Homer yelling in triumph and he turned back to the guy and nodded.

Homer returned shortly and the Dump Master took out a clipboard.

"Ok, I needs your names."

"What for?" Homer asked.

"Well, it's part of the policy of this place that we don't give anything out for people with criminal histories." The guy answered as he took out a pen.

"Simpson, Bart." Bart told him.

The Dump Master nodded and then turned to Homer, who was nervously looking at his watch and then looked up.

"Oh, uh, my name's…Steel, Stainless Steel." Homer said, slowly.

The Dump Master looked at Homer; unsure of the answer he was given. He then shrugged and put away his pen.

Thirty minutes later, they had the couch on top of Homer's car, the idea to which Bart still disagreed about.

"Dad, I'll say it again, you've put to much weight on your shocks, it's going to mess up the car." Bart said as the two got in.

"Relax, boy. This old beauty is capable of anything." Homer said, stroking the dashboard.

About five minutes later, much to Bart's annoyment on how he was right about what he had said prior; smoke emitted from the tires as they drove back to the Simpson's home.

Alex, at the same time, was having disagreements with Marge, on the dress she wanted.

"Are you sure you want this one, Alex? It's a little…suggestive." She said; looking at how far down the neckline went.

Alex sighed as she looked at others.

"Well, it's within my price line and it looks great. I don't want any meringue."

Marge made her murmur and went to the other side of the shop looking at veils, leaving Alex looking at another dress that looked perfect.

Without showing it to Marge, Alex walked to the seller and ordered it in her size.

The two spent the rest of the afternoon with Lisa, who was feeling down, due to finding out that her boss, Karen, had decided to step down from her office and neglected to inform Lisa.

"Oh, Lisa, you know this isn't the end, it's only the beginning. You'll find a new job that'll make you what you want, don't you worry." Marge said stroking her daughter's hair as Lisa was moaning.

Lisa sighed, "I know. I just wish the stupid Senate hadn't opposed her on that "Let's end the "No Child left behind" policy". She had so much going for her."

Lisa wiped away a tear and turned her attention back to Alex and held her friend's hand. "Anyways, I want to focus more on my Sister-in-law-to-be. Please tell me you're going to have me as your maid-of-honor."

Alex smiled and nodded. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

Maggie, on the other side of town, sitting with Alison outside of the Quick-E-Mart, both enjoying a Gellato Squishee, talking about the plans for a bachlorette party.

"Okay, here's what we've agreed upon. One, the lot of us will go to Capital City for the shindig. Two, the men will be plentiful, and Three, booze, booze, and more booze. Right?" Alison asked.

Maggie, who was looking at the ground, looked up to her, realizing she was talking.

"Oh, uh, yeah, that all sounds good."

Alison sighed as she set down her drink. "Your mind's else where, huh?"

Maggie nodded, "That deadline's bothering me, and so far no one has come up with anything on where those photos are."

Alison nodded, "I feel so sorry for those two. I was hoping that Jessica was the last thing that they would have to worry about. Hopefully, this Jeremy will stumble somewhere and you guys will be able to get those photos away from him and send him back to where ever he came from."

Maggie smiled at Alison, "Yeah, I hope so, too."

The two then reverted back to their original conversation.

Bart and Homer greeted Alex and Marge when they arrived home.

With the exception of Lisa and Maggie, who called in telling them they wouldn't be able to be there for lunch, the rest of the family and Alex had sandwiches.

Marge still went on and on about how happy she was, even under the black cloud they were in, that Bart was getting married.

"Yeah. Hopefully you'll be able to make this one through, boy. Unlike those strippers that you proposed to over the years." Homer said, laughing.

"Aw, Homer." Marge said groaning.

Bart scowled at his dad. "Way to paint me in a good picture to my fiancée, Home-boy."

Homer, realizing the error of his comment tried his best to change the subject.

"Oh, uh, heh, sorry. So, uh, Alex. When will that fancy dress store, of yours, is going to open?"

Alex smiled, "Well, I decided to hold off the Grand Opening till after Bart and I get married. It'll be sort of a wedding present for both of us." She then took Bart's hand and squeezed it.

"That is so sweet." Marge said as she took everyone's plates away.

Bart got up and went to the kitchen to help out Marge with the dishes as Alex told Homer on what kind of selections she was going to have for both men and women.

In the kitchen, Marge gave Bart a huge hug and kissed him on the cheek.

"Have I told you how proud I am of you, Bart?" Marge asked.

Bart smiled, "Oh, once or twice, I guess."

Marge smiled; the two of them then went right on to scrubbing the dishes.

Meanwhile, at Moe's, Lisa was organizing the people she hand selected, and was getting them prepped for the searching of Jeremy's motel room.

Handing out latex gloves, Lisa gave them each instructions while she did.

"Alright, tonight's the night. According to Otto, Jeremy's going to the Springfield Racetrack while we're doing this, so we need to be in and out in no more than an hour. Milhouse, I want you to search all the drawers in the room. If something isn't looking odd or sticking out, DON'T go through it, got it?"

Milhouse nodded.

"Sherri, Terri, I want the two of you to rummage through all the garbage outside of the room, try to see if there's anything that looks as though Jeremy would have hidden something in it."

Both Sherri and Terri nodded.

"Martin, I want you to go through everything that's been written on, look for anything that's been scrawled on and report if you find anything such as a location or a phone number."

Martin handed back the gloves. "I'm sorry, Lisa, but I'm allergic to latex."

Lisa groaned and pulled out some rubber dish washing gloves, having anticipated someone giving that response.

The last person was Nelson.

"And Nelson, I want you to lift up the furniture and see if Jeremy's been hiding the photos underneath them or if he has them taped to the bottom of something."

Nelson nodded, "Sure thing, Hot Stuff."

Lisa turned a shade of red as everyone started giggling.

"Not here." She said, through gritted teeth.

Nelson scratched his head in embarrassment as he realized what he blurted.

Soon, everyone was packed inside Martin's Areostar Van and they arrived at the Super 8 earlier than expected.

"Okay people, lets move!" Lisa yelled as everyone then clambered out of the van and went to his or her respective positions.

Martin, who was dating the woman who worked as a cleaning lady at the motel, took out a keycard and they walked right into room.

Inside, Lisa noted on how well kept the place was. Even the bed looked like it hadn't been slept in yet.

Milhouse went straight for the drawers and quickly opened them one by one calling out as he did.

"Nope, nope, nope, dirty Mags, nope, nope…" He then went to the bedside tables and did the same, still coming up empty.

Nelson lifted up the corner of the chairs and gently laid them down against the foot of the bed while he inspected the bottom.

"Nothing." He said and then repeated the same process with the others before scrunching himself under the bed to look under there.

Lisa had designated herself as foreman of this whole operation. She was going to make sure that they left no hint of their being there. So far, nothing was made to look as though the place had been searched.

"Hey, Lisa! I think I've found something!" Martin called out and everyone was soon next to him to see what he had discovered.

Lisa took the napkin, which had been folded into a triangle and was hidden inside the motel's complimentary Bible. Inside the napkin was a name.

"Henry Howler. Hmmm, this just might be the person Jeremy's been using to hold the photos." Lisa said. She then took out a small spiral notebook she had with her and wrote down the name and then handed back the napkin to Martin.

"Put this back the way you found it." Lisa said.

Martin nodded obediently.

In the next forty minutes they hadn't come up with anything else, so Lisa told them that they should call it quits and investigate the name they had found.

As soon as they were outside by the van, Lisa addressed everyone.

"Good job, people. Nelson, I want you to go to my sister at her work and tell her of what we discovered. I told her I'd update her if we found anything, ok?"

Nelson nodded and walked away to the street to hail a cab.

Lisa turned back to the rest of the group. "The rest of us should head back to Moe's for a drink and see if we can make any sense of this name."

Everyone nodded and soon everyone was back inside Martin's cramped van.

On the way to Moe's, Lisa's mind was racing with the hope that what they had found would be the key to Bart and Alex's salvation.

Bart and Alex found a moment to themselves as Homer and Marge went off to the store, leaving the house to the two.

Alex decided to put on a movie while Bart went to the kitchen to make some popcorn.

Once they were settled, the two watched "High Fidelity" and munched on the corn, while snuggling closer and closer.

"Promise me this is how it's going to be." Alex said. "Just us, loving every moment of eachother and never getting bored."

Bart grinned, "Oh, really? Then you should change a little, cause, you're pretty damn boring as we speak."

Alex elbowed him in the side, "You jerk, I was being serious."

Bart laughed, "So, I guess I can't make jokes. Is that it?"

"No. You can make jokes, only that can't be made in my expense. But, I can make fun of you all I want, that's the deal." She said grinning at him.

"Is that so?" Bart said, raising an eyebrow.

Alex nodded.

Bart smiled and then leaned over and kissed her.

"Deal." He said.

Alex laughed, "You know, for a lawyer, Bart, you're not a very good one. You need to learn how to tough it out on negotiations and not bow out so easily."

"Ouch, hit it where it hurts, why don'tcha." Bart returned the laugh.

Alex smiled. "Shut up and kiss me again."

Bart did, happily.

Maggie was just about to clean the pool when Nelson came in.

"Nelson! What did you guys find?" Maggie asked as she set aside her skimmer and sat down next to him.

"Just some dude's name. Lisa's going to see if she can track him down and put an end to all of this. Hey, where's the can in this place?" Nelson asked as he squirmed.

Maggie, bitterly, sighed and indicated with a finger to a place down the hall.

Nelson nodded and walked quickly.

Maggie was about to get back to cleaning the pool, when she heard the door open again and turned to see the same man who handed her the duplicate photos.

Jeremy gave a smug sneer as he stopped within seven feet of her.

Maggie was about to call out for Nelson, but decided to wait and see what the man was going to do first.

Jeremy put his hands into his pockets and retrieved a cigarette and a lighter and proceeded to light.

"There's no smoking in here." Maggie said sternly, although, in her mind, laughing at herself for beinf hypocritical.

Jeremy lit the cigarette and put away his lighter.

"You're in no position to give me any lip, Simpson. You broke the rules. Your cronies went through my room."

Maggie found her blood turning cold and small beads of sweat started to build up on the top of her forehead.

"What are you talking about?" She asked.

Jeremy gave a sickly grin, "I'll admit it was a pretty good job. It wasn't until I noticed that my bedside drawer wasn't closed all the way that I knew someone had been there. You're a fool, Simpson. You had a chance to make thing easier for Alex and your brother but you blew it. I've already given my man the heads up and he's going to deliver those pictures to the press tomorrow morning."

Just then, Nelson reappeared and was cracking his knuckles threateningly.

"So, you're the dork that's dissing my friends, huh?"

Jeremy threw his cigarette down on the floor and put it out with his foot.

"You could've made this go all away, Simpson. I hope you like watching the news. It'll be very climatic."

With that said, he turned around and left.

Nelson was about to go after him until he noticed Maggie looking startled and shaking.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

Maggie ran to the phone and started punching in numbers, rapidly.

"We've got make quick with that name. Jeremy told me he's already gone ahead of plan. Who the hell left a damn drawer open!" She said icily; as she waited for the person she called to answer their phone.

Milhouse, you're dead. Thought Nelson as he then sat down.

When Lisa heard the news from Maggie, she felt her whole body go frigid with terror.

"Aw! I'm going to kill Milhouse! I know Maggie; we need to think clearly. Yeah, I'm going to get on that name right away. See you when you get here. Bye." Lisa hung up the phone and then went into the kitchen and pulled out the phone book and went through page after page looking for Henry Howler.

Unfortunately, there were twenty-five Henry Howler's listed in the phone book.

"Damn it!" Lisa said aloud and slammed the book shut as she then started to pace around the kitchen.

Her attention was diverted when she saw a note on the refrigerator that Homer had made that was on a Springfield University stationary paper.

Walking over there, she squinted to make out what Homer had written.

"In case of computer problems, call the "men". Gary, Douglas, and Benjamin."

Lisa thought for a moment and then it dawned on her.

"I remember them! The nerds!" Lisa then went back and picked up the phone book from the floor and looked up Springfield University's number.

Later, Maggie had just came in when Lisa had finished her conversation with the Dean of Admissions.

"Thank you again, Dean." She then hung up and turned to Maggie.

"Good News! I found the nerds!" Lisa said happily.

Maggie looked at her sister, with interest. "You found who?"

Lisa laughed, "I forgot. You were way to young to remember them. When Homer went to college, after melting down a Nuclear Competency Testing van, he had to be tutored by three guys, Gary, Douglas, and Benjamin. When Homer did a prank that got these guys expelled from the campus, he housed them here and they made our lives a living nightmare."

Maggie tried to see where this was going, "Yeah? So, why are you so excited about finding them if they're so horrible?"

Lisa waived a hand, "Don't get me wrong. I just didn't like them staying here. I think if we can get in touch with them that they can help us track down Henry Howler and we can stop him before he gets those photos to the news."

"Well, great! What are we waiting for? Let's go get us some nerds." Maggie said and the two of them got up and headed out the door.

Gary Morris, Douglas Hardwick, and Benjamin Phinneas have been residing in the same dorm since their encounter with Homer. Their excellent success rate with tutoring students has granted them tenure and lifetime room and board from the University.

All, whose hair, Lisa had noticed, was slightly graying.

"Hey, it's the baby duck lover." Gary remarked as he answered the door.

"Baby duck lover?" Maggie looked at Lisa.

"I'll tell you later." She said as she, Maggie, and Gary met with the others.

"So, who's the guy you want us to find?" Asked Douglas.

"Henry Hawk." Lisa answered.

"Hawk? Do you mean "Hell-full Henry Hawk"?" Benjamin asked.

"Who's that?" Asked Maggie.

"He's the sports commentator on channel twelve. He usually come on after Kent Brockman." Added Gary.

Lisa looked at Maggie with glee, "That's it! That's how Jeremy's going to get those photos on the news!"

Maggie wasn't certain. "How can we be sure, Lise? This maybe just a coincidence."

Lisa sighed. She knew Maggie was right. She turned back to the three men.

"What do you know about him?"

Douglas started laughing, "Only that he's the biggest loser at the comic-cons!"

All three of them started laughing, nasally.

"That and he's from LA. Moved to Springfield about a year ago."

This time, Maggie agreed with Lisa that this was their man.

"Where does he live?" Asked Lisa.

Right at the Tornado Taunter Trailer Park, or the triple "T" as it's sometimes called." Benjamin said.

"Which trailer?" Asked Maggie.

All three of the guys looked at eachother.

"Uh, we don't know." Said Gary, sheepishly.

"Why not?" Asked Lisa, trying to hide her disappointment.

"Well, you see, we kind of have been, well, put on a restraining order from him." Douglas said, bashfully.

"What! Why?" Asked Maggie.

"We've been harassing him, his wife, his sons, about how he knows next to nothing about Spider Man. That idiot thought Spider Man's secret identity was Hal Jordan."

The three men broke out again into another nerdish laugh, only until they saw the glares that were coming from both Lisa and Maggie.

"Could you find out if he has a mailing address, that should alone let us find out which trailer is his." Lisa said.

Gary scratched the back of his head, "Actually, we've tried that. He has all of his mail sent to him at the studio, so, again, we can't."

Maggie took Lisa aside.

"Lise, I thin we're going to have to find some way into the studio, don'tcha think?"

Lisa sighed, "I think you're right, seeing as how there's no way to stop him before he goes there, this is it."

Bart and Milhouse were up for an all night bender, which was what Bart needed.

Although, even though Alex had told him she was fine with it now, Bart felt a little guilty for drinking again, yet this time it wasn't out of self-destructiveness.

The two were at Moe's for three hours before Bart felt he had enough.

Saying goodbye to Milhouse, Bart called a cab and went back to his apartment to sleep off his buzz.

Coming back to his apartment, Bart felt, very alone.

He hated this feeling; he was soon drawn into nostalgia and remembered when Alex had spent the night here and he had gotten the courage to give her that ring. That ring and himself.

Reflecting on this, Bart smiled as he thought more and more on the idea of him becoming a family man. He then pictured himself, losing his hair, just like Homer, and Alex growing her hair up through the roof, like Marge. He then drew it farther and imaged them having a son, not unlike himself who he would choke when he got annoyed with him.

Could he really do all that? Could he really take that next step and do what was necessary when it was needed?

Bart sat down on his leather sofa, thinking long and hard.

He then remembered on how much his parents loved each other and then thought about those three words Alex had said to him when he proposed.

"I'm all yours." She had said.

Bart smiled. Again, those words meant everything to him and he was willing to live the rest of his life to hear those words over and over again.

I can do this. He thought. I want to do this. This, is what I want.

Bart turned on the TV and watched the reruns of the Krusty the Clown show, right up till he fell asleep.

Bart fell asleep, smiling.

Around four six o'clock, the next mourning, and much to the bitterness of everyone who was called, Lisa and Maggie rounded everyone up at Moe's.

They told everyone what they had found out and the plan they needed to carry out.

"Those pictures must never meet the studio executive's hands." Lisa said. "If we fail at that, the news must not be broadcasted. This is it, guys. This'll be our last chance to stop Jeremy's plan to succeed."

Everyone, sleepily, murmured in agreement.

After getting everyone drunk on caffeine, Lisa led the group over to the studios and they waited outside next to the building, while Maggie tried to think of a way for the lot of them to get passed the guard.

"We could always bribe him with booze." Moe said.

"Nah, let's just rush him. He'll never be able to catch all of us." Nelson said.

Lisa shook her head at all those suggestions. "I don't think any of those would work."

The, an idea came to Maggie.

"Follow me." She said.

Everyone filed in a line behind her and she walked the group to the gate, where the guard looked at everyone suspiciously.

"Do you guys work here?" He asked.

Maggie smiled, "Why yes. Yes, of course."

The man lifted up the barrier and saluted them.

"Right this way, please."

Once they were inside and away from the gate, Lisa pulled aside Maggie.

"Maggie, how did you know that'd work?"

Maggie grinned, "I remember Bart telling me how HE got in here seventeen years ago. I though it was worth a shot to try it again."

Lisa smiled and the group then headed off to Studio B.

Inside, Kent Brockman was adjusting his microphone, in his lapel, as he was waiting for his raspberry Danish.

"I've said this before and I'll say it again, I'm not doing the news without my Danish. You people have got to learn."

One of the studio hands scoffed, "Yeah, sure, whatever, Kent."

Kent was handed the news report just as his Danish arrived.

"Let's see, no I'm not going to read that, or that, no, not even this one. That one's a keeper. What? Are they kidding? Hmmm. Wow! This ones big!" Kent exclaimed as he looked over the report with a red felt tipped pen.

Across the room, Lisa, Maggie, and the bunch made their way around, until Lisa stopped a studio gaffer.

"Excuse me, but can you tell us where the news' studio executive is? It's rather important."

The guy scratched his brow and then pointed to a squat man drinking with the crew.

As Lisa walked up to Him, Maggie, and the others, decided to head up to the control room.

In there, large images were shown on various screens.

The only man in the room was a squeaky voiced teen who smiled at all of them.

"Hi! Are you here for the tour?"

Maggie thought for a moment and then nodded.

"Well, let me show you around. Over here, in this corner, is where I take my nap, and over here…"

"Where do they put the stock footage?" Asked Maggie, interrupting the guy.

"Oh, that. There's a knob on the control panel that organizes them into order for the show."

Maggie pointed at a dial, "This one?"

The teen nodded.

"Can I see?" Maggie asked and she sat down and started turning the dial.

On a separate screen, going through them, she stopped at the one they were looking for.

"This one's going on the air today." The teen said.

"Say, anyway you could…not show it?" Maggie asked.

"What? Why?" He asked.

"Please." Maggie said and against her normal judgement put her hand on the guy's leg.

He then smiled broadly.

"Why, yes, of course. But, under one condition."

Maggie knew she shouldn't have done what she did. "What condition?"

He then leaned over and whispered into her ear.

Maggie's eyes went wide and then she looked sadly toward the ground.

"Alright." She said.

Meanwhile, Lisa stopped in horror as she saw the lights go down and the camera's light turn red.

She saw the group head toward her and she rushed to them.

"Hey you guys! They're starting! We gottta…"

A studio hand shushed her and Maggie laid a hand on her shoulder and whispered into her ear.

"Don't worry. It's been taken care of."

Lisa and the others stood and watched as things progressed.

Back at his motel, Jeremy opened up a bottle of champagne as he turned on the set.

"And now, here's your host, Kent Brockman!" Said the announcer.

"Good Morning Springfield, today five hundred Cambodians, that were once reported missing, were found alive in a sports shoe making shop in New Jersey. The owner of that shop has yet to comment. In other news, a demented madman who claims he is repeating the same day over and over has kidnapped Puxatawney Phil. This kidnapping has led to a car chase, which is still on going. Our most breaking news today, however, is something alarming! One of our town's most prominent figures, of the people, has been dating someone who is, how shall we say, the down and dirty type."

Jeremy poured himself a glass as he grinned.

Yeah, the type that's going to be working for me, again. He thought to himself.

Kent Brockman continued, "Before we name names, we have footage of that person ready for you prude and righteous people. Here it is."

The screen above, to the right of Kent, showed Kent himself in a Jacuzzi, drunk, and with a cross dresser.

Jeremy got up from his chair and growled in anger.

"How!" He yelled. "It was fool proof!"

Back on the set, a lot of snickering was heard.

"What's so funny?" Kent asked. He then looked up at the image.

"What the hell? How did you guys get that! They told me there wasn't any film in the camera!"

Kent didn't say anymore as Jeremy, in rage, through the champagne bottle at the set which bursted into sparks.

That's it. She's going to have to choose. He thought bitterly and then stormed out of the room.

Back at the Studio, during commercial break, Kent was arguing with his executives while Lisa and the others were high-fiving eachother.

Looking around, Lisa didn't see Maggie.

"Hey, have any of you seen Maggie?" She asked.

Nelson, Moe, Barney, Milhouse, and Sherri and Terri all shook their heads.

Up above in the control booth, silhouetted by the light, Maggie could be seen kissing the squeaky voiced teen.

When she returned, she refused to tell Lisa where she had gone, but simply stated, "Sometimes, in the entertainment business, you've got to kiss up to a lot of people to get things done."

With Maggie were both the photos and the written document on Alex and Bart. Going outside the studio to a garbage can, Maggie took out her lighter and burned both the documents and the photos into the trash.

Milhouse wiped his glasses as some of the ashes flew at him.

"There. That's the end of it." Lisa said. "Mission accomplished."

Everyone didn't say anything for a moment and then Moe started looking around.

"Say, while we're still here and all, do you think maybe we could go see the premiere screening of the new Itchy and Scratchy trailer? It's supposed to be the real one and not one of those others that jerk ya around without giving you any insight on the movie."

Lisa smiled, "You guys go ahead. I think Maggie and I'll head home and deliver the good news to our family."

While the others went their way, Lisa and Maggie strolled out of the studios.

Alex was talking with the last of the developers on the lighting for the offices and was about done. She was eager to get back to the Simpson's house and find out if they prevented that broadcast from happening.

Getting her purse, she was halfway down the flight of stairs when she was met by her worse fear.

Standing there, at the landing, grinning up at her was Jeremy.

"Hello, doll." He said, showing yellow teeth.

"Jeremy, get the hell away from me." Alex said as she took a step backwards.

Jeremy proceeded up, slowly.

"Aww, c'mon. Is that anyway to greet your dear old business partner?"

Alex felt her adrenaline pumping as she kept on backing upwards on the steps.

"Ya know, you can be quite the pain in the ass, sometimes. You leave LA without a single goodbye and I track you down to this rat's nest, engaged to a whore-mongering shyster, and you won't as so much as say "hi" to me. Isn't that a shame."

"You know why I left, Jeremy." Alex said and she cursed herself for sending everyone home so early.

"Was it really that terrible, Alex? We were making good money, both well-fed, nothing to slow us down, nothing. You don't really think that I wasn't going to introduce you to the big people, huh?"

Jeremy was getting closer and Alex knew that she was either going to have to turn and run or, at least, B.S. the guy enough, until Bart came, who was picking her up.

"You made me believe a lot of things, back then. I was young, poor, and stupid. All of which, I'm not now. I'm better off without you, Jeremy."

Jeremy sighed, "I thought that at one time, too, ya know? But then, in an airport bar, I saw that guy of yours on trial for sexually harassing a poor innocent girl. And I thought, "Am I really going to let, dear Alex, throw her life away, for this creep? Hell no. She belongs with me! Me and the fashion kings of Hollywood! Don't you agree?"

As Alex took another step up, she saw, in the corner of her eye, a wrench, that the plumber left behind. Knowing the pros and cons of using such a thing to defend herself; Alex knew, though, it was at least something.

"C'mon, Alex. We've had good times, you and me. Remember? There was that time, that…"

Alex quickly bent over and grabbed the wrench and held it out in front of her.

"No, Jeremy. There were never "good times". You manipulated; brain washed, and corrupted me. I'm staying right here, and if you are wise, you'll get the hell out of my life and stay out."

Jeremy shrugged, "Well, okay, if that's how you feel."

He then turned but stopped.

"But if I can't have you, no one should." He then turned around and darted straight for Alex.

Alex held the wrench out and swung it hitting Jeremy squarely on the jaw.

Jeremy shoved her to the ground as he rubbed his jaw.

Alex felt the wrench go flying from her hands and land several feet away from her.

As Jeremy was still tending to his mouth, Alex turned over and got up and ran with all she could through the room to head to the opposite stairwell.

Jeremy was close behind as she could hear his ragged breathing.

"You're coming with me, whether you want to or not, girl!" He yelled as he came within two feet of her.

Alex soon found the weight of his body run into her and the both of them onto the floor.

Alex practically tried to claw herself away, until she felt her body being pulled and dragged closer to Jeremy.

"Listen now, woman, you should no that I'm not a man who likes to be displeased. So far, you and these dopes have managed to mess things up for me greatly. I've lost my money but I'm not going to lose you, so get up!"

Alex tried her best at an attempt of punching him but only got so far as a few inches from his face before he grabbed her wrist and forced it back down.

"Nah uh, not going to happen." He said. Jeremy then backhanded her across the face.

Alex felt warm tears come to her eyes after that blow had been delivered.

"You're going to come back with me, get up!" He said, harshly.

Alex knew she had only one other tool at her disposal and she had better use it.

Thrusting her leg upwards, she nailed him right in the groin.

Jeremy gave a loud groan of pain and fell backwards, clutching his area.

Alex got herself up and made like a bat out of hell as she ran down the second flight of stairs and outside to the crowded streets.

She decided to go further and went across the street to a deli where she leaned against the building and rubbed her bruised face.

"Alex?"

Alex looked up in fear only to find, in her relief, that it was Lisa and Maggie who were behind her.

Turning around she was met by their gasps as both looked at her in shock and confusion.

"Alex, what the hell happened to you! What happened to your face?" Maggie asked as Lisa rushed inside the deli to ask for some ice.

Alex sat down and shuddered.

"Jeremy. It was Jeremy." She said as Maggie sat down next to her and held her.

Lisa soon returned with a cup full of ice and she took out a handkerchief from her purse, put the ice in it and then tied it up into a ball.

"Here, put this on your cheek. Oh, Alex, what happened?"

Alex slowly told them what had happened over the past ten minutes.

Maggie looked down, "We should have had someone to guard you, in case this would've happened. I'm sorry."

Alex smiled, "Why are you sorry. I know him beating me up isn't good, but you foiling him is. I want to thank the both of you from stopping those pictures for being aired. It means a lot to me."

Both Lisa and Maggie tried their best to smile.

Soon, Maggie got up.

"I'll be right back." She said.

Walking away from the others, Maggie brought out her cell and she dialed quickly.

Ever since she was in high school Maggie had people who told her that they'd look after her, no matter what trouble she got herself into. Especially if it was someone who was harassing her.

Bart's friends were her friends too, they, in some way, were like her other family.

"Nelson? It's Mags'. Listen, I've got a "rabid dog" I need you and the men to take care of."

While Maggie was away, Lisa was sitting with Alex and she unfolded the entire story on how they got into the studio and managed to stop the production. Although she couldn't say HOW they did it, seeing as Maggie was still reluctant on telling her, she still tried her best as she told Alex.

Alex smiled, "Poor Kent. Kind of sucks for him, but he needs a little humiliation now and then."

Lisa laughed and nodded.

Maggie soon returned and sat with the two of them.

Alex suddenly turned red and both Lisa and Maggie looked to where she was looking and saw Bart, in his car, at a traffic light, waiting for it to turn green.

"Oh no." Maggie said.

"Don't worry, I'll tell him you're in the bathroom, Alex and that you told me to tell him that you'll see him back home, don't worry."

"Thank you." Alex said as she pressed the ice against her face.

Lisa walked over, across the street to Alex's building where Bart was parked.

Bart was listening to Twisted Sister's We're not gonna take it, when Lisa approached.

Seeing Lisa, Bart turned off the music.

"Hey, Lise! How'd it go?"

Lisa smiled, "It went great, actually. We managed to pull it off, so you're going to have to get ready to thank a lot of people at Moe's, you know."

Bart nodded, "Yeah, I'll do that. Say, have you seen Alex? I was supposed to pick her up right about now."

"She's in the bathroom at the restaurant that we're eating at. She asked me to ask you if it'd be alright if she went home with us and that the two of you catch up later?"

Bart shrugged, "Sure, it's okay. Tell her I said…" Bart found his voice left him as he looked past Lisa and saw Alex across the street, sitting with Maggie, her face all bruised up.

Lisa, at first, didn't know why Bart stopped in what he was saying and then it hit her.

"Bart?" She asked.

Bart's eyes didn't leave Alex, even when, in a flat, serious tone, he asked Lisa, "Was it Jeremy, who did this?"

Lisa swallowed hard. "Bart, please don't…"

"Was it, Lise." He asked again, this time more rigid.

"Yes, but Bart…" Lisa began, but Bart didn't stay to hear it. Instead he pulled out and thundered down the opposite street.

Lisa ran back to the others.

"I tried, but he saw you! I think he's on his way to Jeremy's!" Lisa said, in a frantic tone.

Maggie got up, "I'll see if I can beat him there. See you guys later!" Maggie then rushed for the car.

Alex found herself crying and Lisa held and patted her hand as she helped Alex up and then hailed a cab.

Bart found it hard to let go of the steering wheel when he arrived at the Super 8. His eyes were, venomously, staring directly at the window, where he could see Jeremy walking around in his room.

His mind full of brutal, vindictive, thoughts, Bart had no other plan for tonight than to make the guy hurt as bad as he hurt Alex.

When he finally got out, Bart marched directly to the door and then saw a bag of bottles someone had laid out for the morning recycling collection.

Picking the bag up and holding it to his side, Bart knocked on the door of the room.

Staying out of view of the peephole, Bart stood at the side of door until Jeremy opened it and Bart delivered a hard right jab to the man's stomach.

As Jeremy belted over, Bart swung, with his left hand, the bag full of bottles, up, hitting Jeremy right in the face and knocking him over onto his back.

Even though Jeremy was struggling to evade him, Bart wasn't going to let the guy have the luxury. Bart belted him several times in various parts of the body until Jeremy seized a pause in Bart's attacks and kicked out, with his leg at Bart's left knee sending Bart to the ground.

Bart, losing the bag as it went to the other side of the room, quickly got up.

Jeremy, panting hard, reached over to his leather satchel, which was lying on the floor, and brought out a gun and pointed it directly at Bart.

Bart suddenly realized why the guy was so content on having the bag with him at all times. It was a means of protecting himself.

Jeremy wiped away the blood that was coming from his cracked lip.

He smiled, "Well, I guess she's right, Simpson. Maybe Alex is better in life without me. Then again, maybe she's better off without you, too."

Jeremy then fired his gun.

All Bart heard was a loud noise. He then felt something sharp and painful coming from his chest and looked down to see a red stain that kept on growing.

Looking up, Bart noticed that both Jeremy and the room were slowly turning black and spinning at a rapid speed.

Jeremy watched as Bart fell with a thud to the floor.

Now that he's out of the way, Alex should be easier to deal with. Jeremy thought as he picked himself up off the ground and headed to the door, which swung open.

Nelson, Jimbo, Dolph, and Kearney were standing at the entrance. Nelson had brass knuckles, Jimbo, a set of bike chains, Dolph, a knotted rope, and Kearney had a two-by-four.

Jeremy held his gun up in front of him only to have it swatted away by Nelson.

"Well, men, we have a rabid dog that needs to be put down." Nelson said as he and the others moved in on the shaking Jeremy Hawthorne.

Moments later, Maggie had arrived watching the four guys drag the bashed up form of Jeremy, who was making low breathing sounds, but didn't appear to be conscience. Numerous bruises, cuts, splinters, abrasions, and welts were visible on what had once been his clear face.

To Maggie, he looked more like a Picasso painting.

Nelson shoved him inside the police car, which had came before Maggie had, and he then gave the officer a wad of cash.

"Make sure he gets a 24 hour a day, constant, companion. Transfer someone from OZ, if you have to."

The cop nodded in agreement.

Seeing Bart's car, Maggie went to the others.

"Where's Bart?" She asked.

Jimbo, Dolph, and Kearney looked away, while Nelson put a hand on Maggie's shoulder.

"Uh, Mags', just so you know, an ambulance is on its way. The dude isn't looking too good."

Maggie's eyes grew wide with fear.

"Why? What happened!"

Nelson tried both to explain and then to hold Maggie as she tore from his grip and went running to the Motel room.

Coming to a complete stop at the entrance, Maggie looked in every direction inside until she spotted what she feared most.

Lying on the floor, face down, in a small pool of blood was the form of her brother.

Maggie took small steps toward him and then found her legs completely useless as she fell to the floor beside her brother and then she collapsed on top of him as she cried out loud in agony.

To be continued…