Chapter 4: The Women

As Bart Simpson went into his office building, he was troubled by what had transpired the night before at his parents place. Never in his life had he ever intended on hurting Lisa, the way he did. Today, he was going to set things right and hopefully it would go well. Going inside his door he, suprisingly found the waiting room to be vacant. Jessica-free. He found a note on his door from his colleague, Skylar Farris, that she had called in sick.

Damn. He thought. Bart really had hoped he could bring this all to an end. Tomorrow would have to be it then.

Opening the door to his office, he was struck with another surprise, his office wasn't unoccupied.

"I'll be damned…Laura Powers?"

Bart was amazed by what he was seeing. The girl he fell for seventeen years ago, who dropped out of high School when her mother was busted for illegal steroid use and was never heard from again, sitting right here in his office. Her long auburn hair, still shoulder-length, and her eyes still a piercing hazel color. She wasn't alone, though. Sitting in her lap, asleep, was a baby-girl. Laura's bad-girl image never escaped her adult years, dressed in Levi's and a black leather jacket, Bart felt like she was trying to pull off a Dark Angel's Jessica Alba, image.

Laura both starred and smiled as Bart went around her and sat at the opposite end of his desk.

Bart smiled as he looked at her, her older years have not taken away what he had seen when he was ten years old, she was still beautiful.

"Wow, little Bart Simpson, a big-shot lawyer now. Until I saw your ad in the yellow pages, I never would've guessed." She said smiling.

Bart grinned, "Neither would I. I take a look in the mirror each and every day and am surprised each and ever time. What's happened with you?"

Laura sighed, "Well, after dropping out, I did a little volunteer work at the Springfield Home Health Center, mainly organizing paper work and doing a little computer work, I also did a little waitressing on the side."

Bart nodded, "Most of us guessed you joined a rock band, or something. What's going on with you now?"

Laura shrugged, "Well, about two years ago, a friend of mine got me interested in real estate. I took some classes at the Civic Center in downtown Shelbyville and got my license. I met my husband through a sale and then a year ago we had little Gloria." She smiled at the little thing rested in her lap.

Bart smiled as the girl clutched her mother's shirt as she dreamed.

"So, what has you come to see me?" Bart asked, "Or was this a drop by visit?"

Laura shook her head. "No, it isn't. Don't get me wrong, I did want to see you again, but, my real reason for being here is my lousy cheating husband."

Lisa, Alex, and Maggie were in downtown East Springfield, looking at properties. Early, that day, Alex suggested the three of them get out of the house, seeing as how Lisa and Maggie were still in bitter moods since two nights before with their fight with Bart. Walking through the district, they had found two buildings that met both the space and the region of the district that would satisfy Alex's needs. They called up the realtor of the first property. He was there in a matter of minutes.

"Hi, Brian Ferguson, G.E.T Jyped Reality, which of you beautiful ladies are interested in this building?"

Alex raised her hand.

Mr. Ferguson took them through the entire place and to Alex it looked promising.

"How's the electricity?" Asked Lisa as she switched on a light switch.

"No! Wait!" Shouted Mr. Ferguson.

Suddenly, a huge amount of sparks emitted from the switch and a fire broke out.

Later, the three of them stood outside of the building as the fire department came back from clearing the electrical fire.

Lisa suggested that maybe the second one would be better, even though it was a little out of Alex's price range and was a three-story building.

Calling the office, she was disheartened to hear that not only the realtor was out but that someone else had made an offer on the property. Lisa reassured her that she may have a chance. They asked the office when the realtor would be available, they told her that she was in the area and said that they would contact her.

The three got a call from her and told them she would meet them in the Springfield courtyard.

In the Springfield Municipal Court, Bart was pacing back and forth in front of a witness who was on the stand in Nelson Muntz's case. The man before him was a Walter Feinzer who claimed that Nelson aggravated the plaintiff to strike back at Nelson.

Bart cleared his throat, "So, let's get this straight, Mr. Feinzer. You're not only telling me, but you're also telling this court, that you not only saw Nelson start this fight, but that you weren't drinking at this bar on dollar night?"

The man looked side to side then nodded.

Bart went back to his table and produced a paper, "Your Honor, defense's exhibit "A", Mr. Feinzer, do you recognize this?"

The man took the paper and reluctantly nodded.

Bart waived the paper towards the Jury box, "This is a police report that Mr. Feinzer was arrested the same night for public urination at the Springfield Mall, having a blood alcohol content of 1.1. Mr. Feinzer, does this sound like a person who didn't drink that night? Besides perjuring yourself, is there anything true to what you saw that night?"

Mr. Feinzer closed his eyes and shook his head.

The Judge had the bailiffs' escort Mr. Feinzer out of the courtroom.

"Does the Plaintiff have any other witnesses?" Asked the Judge.

The Lawyer shook his head.

"Then the court dismisses the Jury to deliberate and await their decision as we have a two hour recess." The Judge banged his gavel.

During the break, Bart was outside the courthouse eating a quick snack. Slurping on his blueberry Squishee, he looked up as he saw Laura, minus her baby, walk up to him.

"Wow, Bart. You're pretty impressive in there."

Bart smiled, "Well, I get this job right sometimes."

Laura smiled as she crossed her arms, "C'mon, don't be modest. You're a great lawyer. And, I think, It'll be very good for me to have you represent me in my custody battle against my husband."

A man approached Bart.

"Excuse me, Mr. Simpson, they're about to start again."

Bart nodded and excused himself from Laura and went back inside the courthouse.

When Bart arrived, the Judge nodded the Jury Foreman who raised the paper he was holding up high.

"Mr. Foreman, would you care to read the verdict?"

The Foreman nodded, "Yes, your honor, in the matter of the case Cecil Terwilleger Vs. Nelson Muntz we hearby rule in favor of Mr. Muntz.

Nelson pointed at Cecil and shouted, "Haw haw! You lost, dingle-berry."

The judge dismissed everyone and Nelson turned to Bart.

"Good job, Simpson, there were times there I was worried."

Bart shrugged, "Eh, those come and go. Maybe sometime you and I can get a drink to celebrate?"

Nelson nodded, "Maybe, anyway, smell you later, Simpson."

Nelson then left Bart, while Bart put his papers into his brief case. Walking out, he, again, was approached by Laura.

"Hey." She said.

"Hey." He returned.

"Do you want to get some…" She didn't finish as she clutched her side and drew out a buzzing pager.

"Damn." She said loudly. She turned back to Bart, "Sorry, Bart, but, do you think we could maybe have some coffee later?"

Bart nodded, "How about you meet me at the Jazz Hole in, say, three hours? I need to go home and take a shower, those courts aren't well ventilated."

Laura nodded, and the two of them went their separate ways.

Alex and Lisa were the only ones waiting for the realtor. Maggie had to leave for a Jazz Step class. Sitting there, they waited for thirty minutes until a woman showed up with a black business suit.

Lisa recognized her immediately.

"Laura? Laura Powers?"

Laura took a step back in surprise, "Wow, Lisa? Boy, this is an odd string of re-occurrences."

Sitting down with them Lisa introduced Laura to Alex and the two discussed the building Alex was interested in. Laura told Alex that if she wanted to best the offer, she might consider getting a loan. Alex had expected this, she felt a little disappointed but she was confident that she could still get the property. The rest of the time was spent of Lisa and Laura reminiscing about the time when Laura babysat her and Bart the night when Moe came and attacked Laura's then short-term boyfriend Jimbo Jones at the Simpson's house.

When they had finished their lattes, Lisa asked Laura, "So, Laura, what've you been up to lately?"

Laura told them about what happened when she dropped out of High School and her job struggles, up to her divorce with her husband.

"I've been talking with your brother about handling my custody battle against my jerk of a an ex-husband. I don't want my daughter being raised by him and his bimbo."

Lisa sighed, "So, you've seen Bart, huh?"

Laura was surprised by Lisa's take on the news of her brother. Lisa explained about the latest feud that they had.

"So, little Miss Perfect, has come back to Springfield. My Mom use to call her the child version of what my Dad's fantasies."

After saying goodbye, Alex sighed and shook her head, "Wow."

Lisa looked at Alex in surprise, seeing as how she was really quiet during their meet with Laura. The conversation consisted mostly of Lisa catching up with Laura.

"Is everything alright, Alex?"

Alex shook her head in awe, "I'm still finding out more and more about your brother that surprises me. In High School, I had painted him as an entirely different person. Learning more and more about him, it's like he's a complete stranger."

Bart was feeling very good today. He won another case and had met a woman he hadn't seen in over thirteen years. He was feeling so good, in fact, that it didn't bum him out that Laura called to cancel the meet they had planned. Looking at his clock, sitting inside "Jimbo's", he realized it was probably a good time to head for home. Taking a cab, he reached his home in a matter of minutes, going up to his floor he was welcomed with an all to familiar smell...the smell of the lilac. Low and behold, there, standing next to his door puffing on a menthol cigarette, was Jessica.

Bart felt his heart pounding as his mind raced with how to approach this ordeal.

Jessica looked up, and gave a seductive grin. She extinguished her smoke, and walked up to him.

Bart felt his whole body go stiff as she fingered her hands up his shoulder up and around his neck.

She then leaned close to his left ear and whispered:

I've missed you, Bart Simpson. Want to have some fun?

Bart closed his eyes and then reopened them.

"No, Jessica, I can't. I've had a really busy day and really want to go to bed. So, good night." He really didn't have the energy to talk to this woman.

Jessica shrugged and left and then said over her shoulder, "Don't think you can escape me, Bart. After all, I know where you live and work. Bye."

Bart shuddered after hearing her say that.

He went inside his home and heaved a loud sigh. He then looked at his answering machine and noticed he had two messages.

Pressing the first one:

Bart? Hi, this is Laura. I was wondering when I could get together with you to talk about my case. Hope you're doing well, Gloria says hi. See ya.

Bart shrugged and made a mental note to call her. Then the second message came on:

Hi Bart, it's Gina. Long time no hear, huh? I know you don't really want to be hearing me, but I really wanted to call you. I'm out of jail, work release, actually, and I really would like to see you again. I'm ok if you don't want me as your girlfriend anymore but I couldn't bear to have you in my life at all. I need you, Bart Simpson. I'll see if I can see you at a break tomorrow, take care huh? Bye.