Simpsons Porn Story: Death of a Simpson Chapter 11

A/N: Yes, I know it’s been a while since I last updated but here’s the next chapter, at last. I just started a new troubleshooting job for Apple this week and with working Mon-Fri again it might be difficult to find time to finish this up but I’ll try my best. Thanks again for your review, Narfy, I’ll be getting to your story here soon.

Chapter Eleven: Regrets

Lisa hefted her saxophone case on top of the chest-high counter of the nurse’s station and caught the attention of the three women working behind it. Behind her, Maggie glanced from room to room trying to figure out which one her brother was being kept in while Homer and Marge stood, silent with anticipation. The nurse sitting nearest them blinked slowly a few times.

“You are here to visit…?” she inquired politely.

“My son…” Homer said with a saddess he rarely expressed for Bart.

“He just got out of surgery with Dr. Hibbert a short time ago, his name is Bart Simpson,” Lisa told the nurse to fill in the blanks from Homer’s inadequate description.

“He’s right over there, bed number five. Remember to be quiet, there are a couple other patients here tonight.” The woman paused and thought for a moment. “Wait, aren’t you the girl I saw on the news earlier, the one who was kidnapped?!”

“Yes… and I’d like to see my brother, please. Would it be alright if I brought this in?” Lisa tapped a finger on the sax case.

“My goodness! That’s your brother in there? I’m so sorry… if there’s anything I can do, just ask. This must be so terrible for all of you…” She turned to her fellow nurses for support who each nodded their sympathies. Lisa looked at her sax hopefully and grinned when the women nodded their agreement and motioned that they were zipping their lips.

“Thank you!” Lisa turned to her family and led them into the small room indicated by the nurse.

They each let out a tiny gasp upon entering and each member of the family found a place around the bed. Bart’s pallid face was only just visible behind a dazzling array of tubes and wires. The symphony of machinery that surrounded them beeped and hummed with a seemingly random rhythm. Every sort of electronic monitoring system imaginable was present which only served to heighten the tension in the air, it was like they were going to crush him under the weight of it all.

Lisa stood at the foot of the bed and couldn’t help but notice his resemblance to someone already prepared to be buried. Her legs shook and she suddenly wished she had somewhere to sit down. Looking to a corner of the room she spotted a few chairs intended for visitors and quietly sat down in one, placing the saxophone case in the seat next to her.

“Oh, my special little guy…” Marge cooed and she touched his face gently with her shaking hand. “He’s so cold and clammy…”

“He’ll be fine, honey. Dr. Hibbert said so,” Homer remarked while he gazed at his son. “In the morning we can go home and things can get back to normal.”

“I hope so, for all our sakes, Homey.” Marge muttered as she continued to fuss over Bart’s limp body.

Maggie soon became frustrated with the height of the bed compared to herself and searched for something to stand on. She spotted the chairs in the corner and saw that Lisa was beginning to assemble her sax.

“You gonna play, Lisa?” Maggie approached with her hands clutched together in front of her in an almost pleading gesture.

“A little. It’ll help calm me down.” Lisa stopped and regarded her sister. She remembered reading once that music was supposedly beneficial to those recovering from a serious injury. It could also help those around the one in trouble, she reasoned. “You wanna try?”

“Me? I’ve never played a musical instrument before.” Maggie looked slightly uncomfortable at the suggestion, then sad at the realization.

“You have to start somewhere. Come on, it’ll be fun. I promise!” Lisa patted the cloth-covered chair next to her after sliding the now-empty case underneath it. “Here, use this to keep your balance.”

Maggie looked at her sister blankly. ‘She hasn’t acted like this in ages…’

“Trust me. You’ll want it, this old thing gets heavy.” Lisa continued while she finished attaching the top of the instrument and adjusted the reed to it’s tried and true position. It was a very tempting argument despite the obvious difficulty Maggie would have with playing it.

“Okay!” Maggie folded and flung herself into the waiting chair. “What first?”

Lisa carefully showed Maggie how to hold it, balanced perfectly against the L made at her hip while seated and the proper posture that would allow for maximum lung capacity. This was important, she explained, because you would never be able to keep up on the faster songs if you had to stop for breath every few measures. Maggie nodded her understanding but still found it extremely difficult to make the horn produce any noise. Whenever she felt like giving up Lisa would take the sax and demonstrate exactly what she’d been describing and it would make much more sense. By the time she got tired she was already able to produce several distinct notes and had almost completed her first scale.

“Ouch, my mouth and lips hurt,” Maggie commented as she rubbed her cheeks. “Why don’t you just play for a while?”

“It takes some getting used to, but very good for a first try!” Lisa beamed at her sister. “Now, what should I play?”

After a moment of thought, Lisa nodded and launched herself into a soft, soulful song that seemed to fill the room effortlessly. No one complained, not even Homer, who actually seemed to be enjoying himself as he tapped his foot along with the music. As she fell into the spirit of the song she started adding her own little innovations, subtle scale changes that would disappear before you even realized they were there, a few harsh notes that would catch you off guard, but in a good way. The complexity of the piece built to a shattering climax that lingered long after she’d run out of breath. The silence that followed was then broken by an unexpected voice.

“Lisa… enough sax already…” Bart mumbled from the bed.

“Bart!” Maggie grabbed her chair, threw it up against the bed and leapt on top of it. Bart’s face flickered with life for a moment before he sighed and fell back asleep with a content smile. Maggie slumped into a squat, sighing heavily. “Ohh…”

“That’s a good sign, angel! He’s strong, just like his father!” Marge assured her.

“Yeah. He’ll be on his feet in no time. Nothing beats the old Simpson stamina!” Homer let his hand fall on Maggie’s shoulder while the other was raised into the air, balled up defiantly, and he grinned down at her. She paused, then matched her father’s grin.

“Sure. You’re right, he’s going to be just fine.”

“So, what now?” Lisa asked Marge while returning the sax to its case.

“Well, I wouldn’t want to disturb his sleep. The Lord knows he needs it after what he’s been through. Besides, we’ve put the staff out enough letting us in here so late, we should get going.”

“I don’t want to go home,” Maggie stated.

“I agree,” Lisa added. “Why don’t we just go spend the night down the hall? Surely no one will object. We’ll be close enough that if anything happens we’ll know right away and Bart will be able to get the sleep he needs.”

“Well then, we’d better get going.” Marge shooed the family out of the room before returning to Bart’s bedside and smoothing the hair out of his face. She left a light kiss on his forehead and headed to the door, dimming the lights on the way out. They nodded to the nurses as they turned back down the hall and minutes later they reentered the deserted visitor’s lounge. Homer’s face lit up.

“Ooh! A television! That’ll help distract us!” He looked around for a remote, then sighed and walked over to switch it on manually. The familiar face of Kent Brockman filled the screen and all four Simpsons immediately noticed the poorly concealed bruising around his mouth.

“This is local anchorman, Kent Brockman, reporting live from the scene of our evening’s broadcast. As we’ve been discussing, behind me lies the former studio of deceased funnyman and station colleague, Herschel Krustofski, better known to the world as Krusty the Clown. Earlier tonight we brought you coverage of the search for missing teenager and social conscience, Lisa Simpson. We are happy to update her status from ‘lost’ to ‘found’ folks! Police were unable to comment on the fortunate rescue or on the exact happenings inside this facility, but we did manage to get some information. It is believed that escaped convict and attempted child-murderer, ‘Sideshow’ Bob Terwilliger, was found dead inside just hours ago after police recieved an anonymous tip leading them to this location.”

A hand appeared from off-screen and handed Kent a sheet of paper. After reading for several long moments, he shook his head sympathetically and looked back into the camera.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I’m sorry to have to report this, but it appears that in a cruel twist of fate, young Bart Simpson, brother of the formerly missing Lisa Simpson, was admitted into Springfield General Hospital a few hours ago. His condition is described only as critical…”

“Aww… TV’s failed me again…” Homer lamented before losing his temper. “I’ll show him critical! Yarg!”

His foot connected solidly with the television screen and a loud –pop– filled the room, followed by a steady, angry hiss until the screen finally went blank.

“D’oh!” he grunted and got himself back under control.

“Is that why you were in jail, Dad?” Lisa asked her father disapprovingly. “Did you hit him?”

“He had it coming! Lousy, rotten, soul-less, good-fer-nuthin scumbag wouldn’t leave us alone!” Homer huffed.

“Sit DOWN, Homer.” Marge commanded, her patience wearing thin for the evening.

“Yes, dear,” his expression switched to one of supplication.

“Oh, Dad… you know better than that,” Lisa said, smiling slightly to cheer him up.

“Yeah, I do,” Homer answered with a sly grin, then muttered, “Still worth it, though.”

“How did they know Bart was here?” Maggie puzzled as she turned to Lisa with a confused look on her face.

That bugged Lisa as well but she didn’t have a clue as to how they could’ve found out so fast.

“You don’t suppose… Allison…?” Maggie cringed at the thought, even as she spoke it out loud, and looked guilty for even suggesting it.

“I’m not even going to dignify that with a response, you know she would never do anything so crass as that. Allison is a friend, Maggie, please stop doubting her.”

“But…” Maggie started but trailed off. She couldn’t bring herself to argue the point, and while it was the only thing that made sense to her that didn’t mean it was correct. She just didn’t have all the information so there was no way she could toss around hurtful accusations like that and she knew it.

“We’ll find out more in the morning,” Lisa said with finality and pulled her legs up towards her chin, curling up as comfortably as possible in her seat. No one else seemed to want to talk and slowly they all managed to find positions that would allow for some rest.

In the back of her head, Lisa was far from sleepy, however, and her mind raced with the events of the day. To think that only last night she was preparing for her first day of high school and she still hadn’t been there. Bob’s face flashed into her mind and she suppressed a shudder at the last image she had of his body. So many things had happened, and not just to her. Her mother was a nervous wreck, and her father had been sent to jail for clobbering a sleezy reporter. Her sister was a murderer and Bart was struggling for his life a short distance away. Would he truely make it through the night? Should she hope for it or let him have some peace? She wondered if whoever may have been listening up top had heard her prayer earlier and recognized that it was the first sincere one she’d made since the age of eight.

Before she knew it, the rhythmic sounds of her family’s breathing overtook the quiet of the room and she realized the others had managed to drift off to sleep somehow. Lisa cracked open one eye and confirmed this before carefully sitting up and stretching her limbs. The movement made her aware she needed to visit the restroom immediately and she found her way down the hall to the appropriately marked door. Several minutes later she exited the room and stopped in the middle of the hall. She glanced back towards the way she’d come and considered her options. Would she be able to get to sleep or should she try to visit Bart one more time?

It couldn’t hurt if she wasn’t seen and then, hopefully, she could get to sleep. Silently she crept down the hall watching for the edge of the nurses station. As she approached she noticed there was only one nurse on duty now, the others must’ve gone on break or home for the evening. At least that would make it easier to get in unseen. She waited patiently until the nurse’s back was turned before making her move and within a few seconds she was at Bart’s door and then inside before she could be noticed. With a deep breath she leaned against the door and calmed herself from the momentary excitement. Normally she didn’t do things like this, at least not without Bart around. But tonight was special, and to be fair he was around.

Having gathered herself, she made her way to the chair Maggie had left at Bart’s bedside and, after failing to find anything better to do with herself, plopped awkwardly down into it. She watched him for several more minutes and started to become lulled by the constant chatter of the machines. Mentally shaking herself she resolved to try talking to him.

“Hi, Bart…” she whispered. “I wonder if you can hear any of this… I… don’t know what to say… where to begin. I just don’t want you to feel like you’re alone in this. We’re here for you, all of us. Mom, Dad, Maggie… me.”

Lisa leaned onto the bed, propping her chin on the palms of her hands. Thinking hard, Lisa tried to find the right way to phrase what she suddenly felt needed to be said. ‘Before it’s too late.’ Again she recalled her surreal dream from earlier and this helped her to find her resolve.

“I can’t help but feel that what’s happened to you… is somehow my fault. I knew you were right all of those years ago… about Krusty…

“Please, Bart. Forgive me for being such a coward. I couldn’t stand by you back then, as much as I now wish I had. Just look at what happened! I let my pride keep me from being your only support and for that I can make no apologies.” Lisa fell silent for a moment.

“Remember when Grampa died? He talked about it forever, but then… he was just… gone. Dad cried like a baby for a week and it was so hard on all of us.” Lisa bit her upper lip and wiped away a tear at the recollection. “It kinda feels like that now, only alot more intense, you know? It’s impossible to imagine a world where you aren’t around. You’re right here.”

Lisa clasped his icey hand in hers.

“You’re still alive. Right here, in front of me. But the thought that soon, maybe tommorow? You might not be… it… it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever been asked to accept.”

“I remember the good times we used to have, Bart.” She fell into her memories, more out of the need to keep talking than anything else. Or maybe it was the only way she could keep talking. Lisa looked at him, his face sunken into the pillow and layered with tubes. “Remember military school? You were there for me when I needed you the most. I remember that time you risked everything on your broken leg to save me from Mr. Flanders when you thought he was going to murder me. It wasn’t long after that we spent a week sleeping over at the Flanders’ trying to help Rod and Todd through the loss of their mother, remember how they cried themselves to sleep? We stuck together on that one, there was no other way. Or that time I was being picked on by Nelson and his friends? I remember how you stood up to them, Bart, don’t ever think otherwise. Today was no exception. When I saw you standing up to Bob… it almost felt like back then… I can never thank you enough for all you’ve done for me.

“I’m not sure who I’m trying to convince here, but… I guess what I’m trying to say is… thank you for being the person that you are. I wouldn’t have you any other way. What you did for me today I will always remember, right alongside all the other times you’ve stood up for me. Just… try to pull through this. Not so much for us, but for your own sake. You have so much to offer the world. Maybe not for your mind, but we need more people with hearts like yours out there. It won’t let you sit back and watch someone suffer needlessly. I think that’s why you’re always getting into trouble over such stupid stuff. Even your pranks have softened over the years. Perhaps… you are finally coming to realize their futility.”

She fell silent once more and leaned up to kiss him on the forehead. With a hopeful expression on her face she started to get up and leave when Bart’s eyes popped open and he stared directly into her face.

“Lis…” he croaked.

“You’re.. awake?” Lisa’s face burned bright red. “For how long?”

“Since… you started blubbering… about Grampa…” Bart said with a weak laugh. “It’s alright… what happened? Where’s Bob?”

“He’s gone, Bart. Dead.”

“How?”

She bit her lip again, drawing just the tiniest trace of blood, struggling to decide whether she should tell him the truth.

“M…Maggie shot him.”

“What?” Bart shifted and coughed when he tried to sit up higher on the bed.

“She had Mom’s gun, the one she keeps in her purse ‘for emergencies’. But they can’t know! I told everyone Bob shot himself. After what happened to Burns all those years ago no one would believe it was an accident!”

Bart eyed her suspiciously.

“It wasn’t.” Lisa confirmed his unasked question. “She knew what she was doing, there’s no denying that. But Maggie was only doing what she thought had to be done, Bob was coming for me next.”

“It’s… okay, Lisa. I won’t tell anyone.” Bart coughed again, a little more forcibly. “I’m glad it’s finally over. Now… why can’t I move?”

“You’re still heavily medicated from the surgery.”

“Surgery?” Bart’s eyes widened and the heart rate monitor next to him jumped momentarily.

“Bob shot you, remember? They had to get the bullet out before it could do anymore damage.”

“Oh… thanks for being honest, I guess.” Bart clutched at his bandaged chest. He looked up at Lisa, his eyes rimmed with tears. Seeing his expression, Lisa realized she was being rather blunt. She decided to change the subject, but the first thing that came to mind was a question she’d been refusing to ask for years. ‘I may never get another chance if things don’t work out…’

“What happened to us, Bart?” The words, however soft, fell like lead from her mouth. Bart screwed up his eyes, trying to catch up with her abrupt reversal of moods and she suddenly wished she’d kept it bottled up inside a little longer.

“Wha’d’you mean?” he replied, equally soft. Well, there’s no turning back now.

“Why don’t we hang out anymore? Do stuff? Like in the old days…”

Bart shifted again, his expression now showing understanding and a hint of regret.

“I’ve asked myself that dozens of times… I don’t really know…” Bart said, suddenly serious.

“Was it something I did? Or said?” Lisa asked.

“No, I honestly think it’s all been my fault, Lisa. Ever since Krusty… well, you know… died… no, was murdered…”

“He was, Bob admitted to me that he did it,” Lisa said gently. Bart’s eyes flashed with anger for a split second before he realized it didn’t matter.

“Thanks.” Bart said sincerely before continuing his chain of thought. “I’ve noticed how much worse I’ve been to you guys lately… it sickens me to think about it.”

“It hasn’t been that bad, you have your good days and your bad.” Lisa couldn’t bear the thought of Bart trying to take all of the blame for their problems in the past. Thinking quickly, she decided to ask her original question again, phrased slightly more optimistically.

“We used to have so much fun, can things ever go back to the way they used to be?”

“I doubt it… too much has happened since then… we’ve changed so much…” Bart’s eyes softened for the first time since his childhood hero had been brutally cut down. “But, maybe we could… start fresh?”

“That’s a wonderful idea, Bart!” Lisa smiled spontaneously, nodding her agreement.

“I’m sorry for what I said yesterday. It was my fault you got kidnapped, not yours. If I’d just given you that stupid ride to school then none of this would’ve happened… I’m sorry.”

“Bart… you couldn’t have known what Bob was planning. If anything it’s mine for failing to see this coming. I’ve been keeping an eye on him for years and I knew he was probably back in town but I didn’t say anything because I knew what it would do to you.”

“I know you were. Maggie and I found your news clippings in Murphy’s old album.”

“How did you… know where to look?”

“Maggie… did most of the work. She found it… on your bookcase. Then pieced it all… together…” Bart’s breath was becoming slightly more labored as he tried to articulate his response.

“Be careful, you’re still too weak to be getting so worked up.” As Lisa reached up and wiped away the sweat beading on his forehead, she noticed his skin felt hot to the touch.

“I take… it back… Lisa. You know, what… I said earlier? Your room… is definately more welcoming… than this… place. I’m scared… Lisa…” Bart ignored her suggestion and frantically attempted to sit up again while gasping for air. His face suddenly drained of color and he began coughing uncontrollably. When he pulled his hand away from his mouth it was splattered with a bright red mucus.

“That’s-” he managed before collapsing onto the floor at her feet.

A/N: Yay, a cliffhanger! That’s all for now, please review when you find a chance and I’ll try and update as soon as possible! Should be about 2 chapters left unless something drastic changes at the last moment.