Thursday, February 09, 2006, Episode #4742

Note from Scott: While I usually try to keep my updates focused just on the show itself, without my opinions, I just had to stop for a minute to compliment all the actors on the episodes around the hospital this week. A loss like Bridget's and Nick's is never an easy one to portray, but the B&B cast pulled it off. And I have to add a special shout out to Ashley Jones (Bridget) and Jack Wagner (Nick) as the grieving parents, and Lesli Kay as the sick, yet supportive Felicia, being there for her sister despite her own pain, since they were at the forefront through all these episodes.

Sally has some bad news for Ridge.
At Forrester, Dante finds Ridge outside the CEO's office and asks what Ridge wants to do with an outfit. Ridge says he'll take care of it. Hanging up the phone, Sally asks Ridge if he talked with Eric or Brooke today. He says no and asks where they are. Sally doesn't know all the details, but she does know that Bridget is in the hospital, and it concerns the baby. Hearing that, Ridge rushes off to get to the hospital.

In the hospital, Nick and Bridget still grieve the loss of Nicole. Felicia reminds them that they have a son now; she knows that when Dominick is old enough to know about angels, he'll know he has an incredible angel named Nicole looking out for him. Bridget holds Dominick tighter, but she can't look at Nick, who is fighting back his own tears. Bridget keeps rocking Dominick and tells Felicia that she's glad that the boy is here, but Felicia thinks that her sister can use some time alone with Nick. As Bridget hands Dominick to Nick, the baby cries; Nick hands the baby to Felicia and gets a nurse to wheel them out. Once they're gone, Bridget wonders if she's meant to be a mother. Nick tells her not to talk that way, ever. Clinging to her husband, Bridget cries about the loss of her little girl. Nick says that he should never have left her alone. But everything was fine, Bridget says; Felicia was here, so he went to get her things. But her water broke suddenly, and Dr. Caspary brought in a neonatal team. The room was filled with experts for one tiny... she asks if she can call the baby a person. Yes, Nick agrees. Bridget tells him how the experts worked for a long time, but then the room went quiet. Nicole looked so old, like she'd waited a lifetime to see them and just couldn't wait any more.

Dr. Caspary comes in and tells Nick how sorry she is. Nick thanks her. The doctor asks if she should call a priest or funeral director. Bridget shakes her head no. Nick says that if they have a service, it will be in private. The doctor suggests that families sometimes want photos, but Bridget doesn't want just pictures of today to remember. Nick asks if they can get some copies of the sonogram; the doctor says that she'll get her office to send a set. Nick then has one more request: he'd like to see his daughter.

Felicia answers questions for the family.
Out in the hall, the family has questions for Felicia, who is still holding Dominick. Brooke asks if Bridget is OK. Medically, Felicia says, she is. Thorne thinks Felicia has had a long day and offers to take her son to lie down, so he can be away from all this sadness. Jackie thinks that's a good idea, so Thorne takes Dominick to find a quiet room in the nursery where the baby can lie down. Jackie says that this is the saddest thing. Brooke wants to see Bridget, and Eric agrees to go in with her.

Brooke tries to comfort Bridget.
Brooke and Eric come in and find Bridget alone, holding the blanket with Nicole's name to her chest. Brooke comforts her daughter with a hug and sobs with her. Eric tries to give Bridget a smile, but he's teary eyed, too. Bridget cries to her dad that her daughter is gone. She feels like nothing will ever be the same. Even though everyone will expect her to forget, Nicole will always feel like a real child to her. Brooke says that they will all honor Nicole's memory.

Nick shares a tearful moment with his unborn daughter.
Dr. Caspary escorts Nick into a dark room with nothing but a sterile table with a tiny body bag. The doctor asks Nick if he'd like to be alone. He silently nods. The doctor tells him to take all the time he needs. He tells her that his daughter was a person. She had a name. The doctor puts her hand on his shoulder and says that baby had everything, except time. She then leaves the room. A tearful Nick then inches toward the table. Steadying himself, he kneels by the table and opens the body bag. He is silent for a moment, but then, still sobbing, he tells the lifeless form that she will always be his little girl. He zips the bag back up, still sobbing, and buries his face in his hands.

Massimo brings Felicia something to wash her meds down with. She asks how Dominick is; Thorne assures her that she needn't worry, as her son is sleeping like an angel. Ridge steps off the elevator and approaches the group. He asks about Bridget. Everyone is silent, so he asks about the baby. Massimo silently shakes his head, looking down. Ridge asks where Bridget is. Thorne tells him that she's in her room; Eric and Brooke are in there with her, and Felicia was with Bridget when it happened. Ridge is glad to hear that, but he only has one question: where was Nick?! Don't, Mass urges his older son. Thorne leads Ridge away, as Felicia tells Massimo that she's sorry for his loss.

Massimo and Jackie offer support to their son.
Nick comes back to join the group; Jackie immediately goes to hug and comfort him. Massimo joins in, asking what he can say at a time like this. Nick puts his hands on his parents' shoulders and states that he had a daughter. She had a sweet face, just like her mother. She was so beautiful. Soon after, Jackie tells Felicia that Mass and Nick went to get Dominick for her. Felicia suddenly remembers the gift she brought Bridget for the baby, which is still in the room. She asks Jackie to go get it, but Jackie thinks they should leave it, as Bridget will have so few keepsakes.

Dante learns of Bridget's loss.
Dante walks up and overhears this part; he asks if Bridget lost the baby. When Felicia confirms, Dante notes that Bridget must be devastated. It's terrible for her, Jackie says... and for Nick. Of course, Dante says, apologizing. Jackie thanks him and asks Felicia to tell Mass that she will meet them by the car. Dante asks if Bridget is OK physically. She is, Felicia responds, but the baby just came too soon. She tells Dante that the family is with Bridget right now.

Ridge and Thorne slip into Bridget's room.
Ridge and Thorne quietly slip into Bridget's room. She sees them and breaks down again. Eric makes room for his sons to come closer. Ridge hugs Bridget and tells her it's not fair. It's all wrong. But she did good. She says she didn't. She should have listened to... He says that she did everything right. Brooke joins in and tells Bridget that she gave Nicole everything a child needed. She was everything her little girl could want, Thorne says, but her little girl just couldn't... she just couldn't be what Bridget wanted. But Nicole tried, Bridget says. Yes, Brooke agrees, and that's what kids do. They'll break their hearts for you, and you just have to love them for that. Sobbing, Bridget says that she does. She loves her baby so much. She then falls into her mother's arms.

Eric reminds Nick that the family is there for him and Bridget.
Nick comes in and sees Ridge and Thorne there. Ridge puts his hand on Nick's shoulder and greets him. Nick looks at Ridge, then at Thorne and at everyone and thanks them for being here. Where else would they be? Thorne asks. They're family, Eric reminds Nick, offering an embrace. Brooke gets up from the bed so Nick can sit by Bridget, who asks Nick if he saw her. Stroking her hair, he says he did. Bridget is glad. Nick whispers that he is, too. Bridget cries that they are never going to see her again. It's so hard to think of, since she misses feeling Nicole inside. She feels like half of her is gone. Eric says that they are all made of pieces of each other, and it's not love unless... he pauses and continues, unless you give some part of yourself away. Thorne says that he wishes he could give Nicole his eyes to see Bridget with. Ridge wishes he could give Nicole the words Bridget is saying right now. Brooke adds that each of them gave Nicole a piece of their heart, so she'll never be gone when they're all together. Bridget takes her mom's hand and kisses it, and she holds Nick's hand in the other hand. Ridge and Thorne then place their hands on Eric's shoulders, as Eric places his hand on Nick's. Bridget lays her head on Nick's shoulder as they come together as a family.