Monday, April 17, 2006, Episode #4787

Nick asks Megan what she's doing in his mother's office, especially since the boutique has been closed since his mother's arrest. Megan explains that Jackie had placed some recent orders with Forrester. She assumed Jackie would be out on bail soon and didn't want her coming back to a backlog of work from those orders. Nick tells her that his mother was denied bail, which is why he's here; he was hoping to find something in his mother's files to help clear her. He points out that the office was locked when he arrived, so he wonders how Megan got in. She tells him that she borrowed a set of keys that Jackie left with Eric. Unfortunately, her efforts were for naught, because Jackie's computer isn't here. The Feds seized it for evidence, Nick reminds her; Megan admits she should have thought of that. Nick guesses he should get to checking the files to see what he can find and thanks Megan; he knows most people would run when there's a scandal like this. He guesses that kind of loyalty is why Brooke thinks of Megan as one of her best friends. Megan gets a guilty look on her face and then leaves.

Felicia hopes her mother stays out of things between her and Bridget.

At the Forrester mansion, Stephanie is thrilled as Felicia and Christian share the news of Felicia's latest test results. Bridget comes in and is equally thrilled about how wonderful it is that Felicia's white blood cell count is almost normal. Felicia asks where Dominick is; Bridget replies that Dante took him for a walk and hopes it's not a problem. Why would it be? Felicia asks. Christian thinks Felicia should be getting back to the guest house to rest, so they say their goodbyes and head back. Once they get back, Christian checks Felicia out and sees her blood pressure is elevated. She attributes that to her hunky doctor, but when Dr. R. presses her, she admits that she's worried about Bridget. She knows how much the baby means to Bridget, which is why they agreed to work things out. She just hopes her mother is staying out of it.

Stephanie asks Bridget to let Felicia spend more time with the baby.

Sure enough, at the main house, Stephanie asks Bridget if she's happy about Felicia's news. Of course, Bridget replies, wondering why Stephanie would even ask that. Stephanie says that she can see where Bridget might be conflicted about the baby. Bridget says that Dino still needs her, since she's bonded with that child and has committed to making a home for him with Dante, just as Felicia wanted. But that was when Felicia was dying, Stephanie says. Bridget tells her that she and Felicia have agreed to raise Dino together, although they still have to work out the details. And while they do that, Stephanie notes, Bridget has become as close to the baby as his own mother. Bridget recalls how Stephanie tried to warn her not to get close to Dino, and now she understands why Stephanie did. Stephanie says that she was concerned, and still is. Is she? Bridget asks, suggesting that at least part of Stephanie must wish that she [Bridget] would just go away so Felicia could raise her son. Stephanie says it's not like that. She's just trying to be sensitive to Felicia, but Bridget thinks it's more. Stephanie reminds her that they don't know how much time Felicia has. Since Felicia's test results can change in six weeks or even six months, Stephanie hopes Bridget will let Felicia have every minute she can with the baby.

Bridget says she can't let go of Dino.

Bridget guesses that as usual, it comes down to a case of what Stephanie's daughter needs versus what she, as Brooke's daughter, needs. She doesn't know why she thought it would be different this time. Stephanie says that she's not taking sides. She wants the best for both Bridget and Felicia, and she knows how Bridget feels about the baby, but... But Stephanie doesn't think she can be Dino's mother, Bridget guesses, so she should just step back and let Felicia raise the baby alone. The only thing is, that she's the one who will be there if Felicia is gone in the future, not that she would ever want to even think about that. It's just that Stephanie is sounding like she's not needed, while she thinks she still has an important part to play in Dino's life. Of course she does, Stephanie says. But under the circumstances, can't she just let go a little? Bridget says that she can't; she doesn't want to take away anything from Felicia, but the baby has won her heart, so she begs Stephanie not to ask her to let go, even a little. Stephanie says that she understands and gives her a hug.

Brooke tells Massimo that he doesn't want her as an enemy.

At Marone, Massimo is taken aback by Brooke's warning. He asks if she has any proof to back up her accusations. She says that she hopes she never does, because Nick will hate him forever if it turned out that he had anything to do with Jackie's arrest. Mass asks if she thinks he's that cold-hearted. Brooke says that she knows he sees her relationship as something that will destroy the Marone empire, and he would so anything to keep that from happening. Even if he has to sacrifice Dominick or his mother? Mass asks. Brooke says she doesn't want to be his enemy. Mass doesn't want that either, since he knows she loves his son. But he truly believes that she should be with Ridge and not Nick, and he asks her to admit that to herself. Just then, Ridge pops in. Massimo takes that as a sign; he reminds Brooke how much she's loved Ridge in the past and thinks this is the perfect time for her to work things out with Ridge. Ridge asks Mass if he thinks this is helping him; Mass says that he just wants to use the opportunity to bring the two of them face to face, to deal with the pain in their hearts. He just hopes Brooke will not complicate this by dragging Dominick into it. Brooke says she's not the one who dragged Nick in, she he was there for her when... "When I wasn't," Ridge breaks in, reminding Brooke that he's apologized for that a million times, but she still feels like she's been abandoned. That's why he's done something that will clear this all up. Brooke tells Ridge again that her future is with Nick, even though she knows he and Massimo have a hard time accepting that. Ridge tries to stop her, but Brooke tells him that there's nothing else to say or do. She begs him to please accept her decision and leaves. Once she's gone, Ridge says that she's wrong, because there is something he can do, and he's already done it.

Nick confides his frustrations in Brooke.

Brooke heads home, where Nick arrives soon after. He tells her that he couldn't find anything at Jackie M to help his mother. He's just frustrated that anyone could think of his mother as a criminal. Everyone at Jackie M and Forrester knows that, Brooke assures him. Speaking of Forrester, Nick tells her that he ran into Megan at the boutique, hoping to clear up some work so his mother won't be inundated when she's finally released. Brooke says that was thoughtful of Megan, but it's not surprising given how Megan feels about Jackie. Nick still thinks there's something he's missing and wishes he could find it. He doesn't know how there could be an accounting problem, since his old man was so thorough in setting the company's finances up. Speaking of his father, Brooke tells him of her visit to Marone, where she told Massimo that nothing would come between her and Nick. She tells Nick that she means that and kisses him. Nick guesses that his pop has met his match in her. Brooke says that she doesn't want to come between him and his father, especially if it costs him his ties to the Marone legacy. Nick assures her that she's the only family he needs. When they're together like this, everything else... He stops and kisses her again. He then says that has to find the proof that ties his father to his mother's woes; somebody has that proof, but who?

Ridge asks Massimo for a favor.

Back at Marone, Ridge asks Mass for the use of the Marone jet for a trip to Paris. Mass thinks he's planning a romantic getaway for Brooke and thinks the timing is perfect, since Dominick is caught up in his mother's problems. Ridge says he does have a plan, but it doesn't involve any getaways. It will, however, let him win Brooke back. Just then, Mass gets a call on his red phone. Mass picks it up and tells the person on the other end that he can't talk now. Ridge asks if it was "W" calling for advice again. Whoever it was, Mass says, they understand his need to put his family first. Family MUST always come first, Mass states. He knows it might seem like it, but he assures Ridge that progress is being made. Ridge says again that he has a plan. Mass tells him to get to it and make Brooke his.