Monday, May 08, 2006, Episode 4802

Bridget tells Dante that she can't marry him.

At Dante's place, Bridget is stunned as Dante gives her an engagement ring. He says that he's loved her from the day they met, but she wasn't ready. Now things have changed; she said tonight that she's ready, so he hopes she'll agree to be his wife. They go outside on the patio, where Bridget gazes at the ring. Dante asks if she likes it. Of course she does, she replies. It's beautiful. But she thinks this is so sudden, as they've never discussed marriage before. But they've talked about being a family, Dante reminds her. That was about being parents to Dino, she responds. But it's become more, he states, as their relationship changed when she moved in. Bridget reminds him that she's not divorced yet. That doesn't keep them from being engaged, he says, pointing out that they can take their time to deal with the legal issues with Stephanie and Felicia, and to plan the wedding. Bridget hands him back the ring and says she's sorry. She then heads back inside, and he follows.

Dante doesn't seem happy with Bridget's reaction.

Bridget apologizes to Dante. She wants to move forward with their relationship, but she's not ready to jump into marriage. She feels like that would be jumping to the end of their journey. Dante argues that marriage will be the beginning of their commitment to each other, but Bridget points out that it hasn't been that way for her. She thinks she needs something less intense right now. Dante apologizes for misunderstanding, but she says that he's not completely wrong. They are getting closer, she agrees, and that's been great. That's why she doesn't want to rush into anything, so they can enjoy each other and see where this goes. They then kiss, but over Bridget's shoulder, Dante doesn't look happy.

Brooke has a surprise of her own for Nick.

Nick and Brooke are on the Marone Jet, where Brooke has slipped into a pair of Marone coveralls. Brooke jokes that this isn't what she had in mind when he said he had something for her to slip into. He quips that he thought she should be prepared to get a bit dirty. As he hands her some champagne, she says she's never been afraid of that. She puts down her glass and strips off the coveralls, revealing her pink bra and panties. WOW, Nick replies. Brooke's glad he likes it and starts kissing him. Brooke then steps away, while Nick prepares the bed. Brooke asks if he can come over to the bathroom and help her pull her hair back. Nick quickly comes over; as he helps her with her hair, she asks if he smells the perfume she just put on. Nick takes a whiff and says he likes that. They start to kiss, and she starts to remove his shirt. Nick reminds her that this isn't a commercial plane, so they have a bed. Really? she asks as she closes the door and turns on the OCCUPIED sign. When their induction into the Mile High Club is over, they're both clearly moved. Brooke tells Nick that he's the sexiest man she's ever made love to in an airplane; he thanks her for the honor. They both laugh at how the other's hair got messy. He then tells her that she's the sexiest woman he's ever made love to in an airplane; she thanks him for that honor. They kiss again as Nick closes the door and turns the OCCUPIED sign back on.

Nick has some strawberries for Brooke.

When they finally come out, Brooke calls Katherine to check on the kids. She's glad to hear that everything is OK, as she had this strange feeling something was wrong. Nick comes over as she hangs up and offers her a strawberry with cream. He asks if she feels better. She guesses she does and supposes that it was an emotional day with her leaving Forrester. Every time she was happy, he says, Stephanie was there to ruin it, so it will take time to get used to not having that happen anymore. Brooke says she has to keep reminding herself that she now has a great man who is completely devoted to her, so there's no more looking over her shoulder. And she has a mother in law who respects and adores her, Nick adds, feeding her another strawberry. She smiles and says that's good, too. They kiss again and wind up snuggling in bed, where Brooke tells Nick that she's relieved that Stephanie is finally out of her life. Nick hates to say this, but he bets Stephanie feels the same way. Brooke doesn't even want to talk about that stubborn old woman. She just wishes she realized sooner that Stephanie would never accept her. She then kisses Nick on the cheek as the lie down to go to sleep.

Ridge lies unconscious on the office floor.

In the basement office at Forrester, Stephanie frantically calls out to an unconscious Ridge. When he doesn't respond, she calls an ambulance and tells Ridge to hold on. Thorne comes rushing in and says that the ambulance is there; he saw it in the lot, and security told him the call came from this office. He sees Thorne and is stunned. The paramedics rush in, and Hector has them put Ridge on oxygen and hooks up an EKG machine. After getting the pertinent information about Ridge's collapse from Stephanie, Hector radios the hospital that they have an incoming Code 3 with a non-responsive MI. What the hell is that? asks Stephanie Hector tells her that as far as they can tell, Ridge is having a heart attack.

Christian hopes Ridge can hold on.

Ridge is rushed to the hospital, where Hector briefs the ER doctors and nurses. As the doctors get to work, Christian enters and spots his brother. He asks Hector what;s going on; Stephanie instead tells Doc R that Ridge had a heart attack. Christian steps in to get info about Ridge from the ER doctors, who explain that they need to get Ridge into the Exam Room, where a surgeon is waiting. Stephanie wonders if Ridge is OK. Christian tells her to stay here while he goes with Ridge, so he can let the family know Ridge is doing. After getting scrubbed and getting into hospital blues, Christian goes into the room and asks how Ridge's blood pressure is. It's holding steady, a nurse replies. The surgeon asks if the family has been told, but Christian says there was no time. Someone should tale to them, the surgeon says. Christian asks if it's worse than they thought. Ridge was lucky to make it onto the operating table, the surgeon says. Christian sees that Ridge needs another clamp; as the surgeon puts the clamp in. Christian tells Ridge to hold on. Stephanie almost lost one child, Christian says, so he can't let her lose Ridge now. As the surgeon wraps up, Christian commends him on his good work. They'll see if is, Christian says. Christian says that Ridge was lucky to have made it this far, so maybe his luck will hold out. he hopes for Ridge's family's sake that it does.

Thorne tells Stephanie that what happened isn't her fault.

In the waiting room. Thorne tells Stephanie that he left Eric a message. She tells Thorne that Ridge is an surgery for an emergency procedure. Thorne assures her that Ridge is strong and will pull through, but she fears that this is all her fault. She and Ridge were arguing after Brooke packed her things and left Forrester, she explains. he says that she and Ridge argue all the time, but she says this time was different. Ridge felt like he had lost the only person he loved in the world, Brooke, and he blamed her for it. His last words were that she had ruined his life, she recalls. Ridge told her over and over what Brooke meant to him, but she never listened. Thorne sits her down and tells her not to talk like this. This is not her fault, he assures her. Christian comes out and tells them that Ridge is out of surgery and in recovery; he would have come sooner but he thought Stephanie would want him to stay with Ridge. She thanks him and asks if this was a heart attack. It was, Christian says, but that was a symptom of a larger problem: Ridge has a serious cardiac defect called an 'Aortic Dissection' where there was a tear in the wall of the aorta. Stephanie asks if it's genetic; Christian explains that it's usually connected to high blood pressure, but a sudden spike in blood pressure could cause it. That causes a potentially fatal chain reaction where the aorta could rupture if it's weakened enough. Fortunately, they got to Ridge in time.