Tuesday, May 16, 2006, Episode #4808

Eric assures Bridget that Brooke will get through to Ridge.

In the hospital hall, Bridget asks Eric if he's spoken to the press about Ridge. Not yet, he replies, but he knows he'll have to soon with all the calls they've gotten. Bridget asks what's going on inside the room. Eric isn't sure and doesn't even know what to hope for. Nick seems skeptical, too, Bridget notes. But if anyone can get through to Ridge, Eric says, it's Brooke. After Eric steps away, Stephen brings Bridget some coffee, but she politely declines. He knows she has every reason to doubt him, but he wants to make amends to her as well as Brooke, to prove that he's changed. She suggests that the family focus on Ridge right now. He tells her to do that, while he looks after her mother. He just doesn't trust Stephanie's sudden change of heart about Brooke. Bridget thinks it's about time Stephanie came around. If it's real, Stephen agrees, but what if Ridge recovers? He asks Bridget if she really believes that Stephanie has completely accepted Brooke overnight, because he doesn't.

Jackie tries to reassure Nick of Brooke's love for him.

Nick paces the hall as he tells Jackie that he won't let Stephanie do this to Brooke. Jackie doesn't think it makes sense that Stephanie would accept Brooke after years of trying to drive her away. Nick wishes Brooke felt that way. Jackie tells him that Stephen felt that way, too, but he's having second thoughts, so maybe Brooke will, too. But Stephanie just handed Brooke the acceptance, approval and respect that Brooke always wanted, Nick points out. With the price being that Brooke has to go back to Ridge? Jackie asks. That's what Stephanie hopes, Nick replies. Jackie tries to assure him it won't happen. Stephanie laid it on heavy, he states, pushing all Brooke's buttons. Jackie assures him that there are no buttons to turn off Brooke's love for him, so she's sure he has no reason to worry.

Bridget tells Nick that Ridge needs her mom.

Bridget takes Nick aside and suggests that her mom might be just what Ridge needs now. But Stephanie wants her mother and Ridge together as a couple, he points out, for the future of the Forrester family. So Stephanie is ready to accept her mom, she states. He tells her that Stephanie has handed Brooke the keys to the kingdom and rolled out the red carpet. Her grandpa said Stephanie's attitude had changed, she notes. Whatever they want to call it, Nick says, he wants no part of it.

Stephen tries to reassure Jackie.

Stephen stands with Jackie at the other side of the waiting area, watching Nick and Bridget talk. He thinks Nick doesn't look happy. She tells him that Nick's even more suspicious of Stephanie's attitude than they are. He hopes that Nick's relationship with Brooke isn't at risk. Jackie doesn't think so, but she worries about the impact Stephanie's behavior might have on Brooke. How could it not? Stephen asks; even he's never seen Stephanie act this way. Jackie says that Stephanie has pretended to be Brooke's friend before. But that's not how it feels now, Stephen says. Jackie agrees, but she feels that it's unthinkable for Stephanie to reach out to Brooke just as she and Nick are starting their life together. She worries that Stephanie might reunite Brooke and Ridge. Stephen doesn't think that will happen. Even if it doesn't, Jackie fears that Stephanie's efforts will make trouble for Nicky. Stephen assures her that Nick can handle it, but she's just sick of all the hurdles thrown in Brooke and Nick's way. Their children will be fine, Stephen assures her. They'll make sure of it. Wherever he came from, Jackie says, he better not even go back.

Ridge awakens to find his "Logan" by his bedside.

Ridge opens his eyes and mutters, "Logan." A tearful Brooke says that she's here. And she's not going anywhere, Stephanie says, telling him that he's going to be fine thanks to Brooke. She tearfully thanks Brooke, who asks Ridge how he is. He's been better, he mutters. Stephanie tells him that he had heart surgery, but he doesn't remember, so Stephanie reminds him about their argument after Brooke left Forrester. Brooke says that she never thought it would come to this; if she had never left Forrester... Stephanie tells Brooke that this is her fault, for never accepting Brooke. She thinks back to Ridge telling her that she took his life away, and he was right. That's why she's brought his life, his Logan, back to him. She finally sees that the two of them belong together, and she hopes Ridge will give her the chance to prove that she means that. Brooke thinks getting well should be Ridge's top priority, but Stephanie thinks Brooke's just being here is the best thing for him. Brooke apologizes to Ridge for not being there for him. He mutters that he thought he lost her. She says that she came as soon as his mother told her what happened. Stephanie adds that Brooke rushed back from Mexico just to be with him.

Christian fills Ridge in about the surgery.

Eric and Christian come in and are thrilled to see that Ridge is awake. Brooke did it, Stephanie tells them as Christian calls for Dr. Plotnikov. Bridget bolts in, with Nick right behind, and asks what's going on. Eric tells her that Ridge made it. He responded as soon as he heard Brooke's voice, Stephanie says. Nick stands in the doorway, looking at Brooke. Dr. Ramirez asks to have some room. He tells Ridge that the cardiologist is on the way, but he'd like to check Ridge out now. He asks if Ridge remembers what happened. When Ridge says he doesn't, Christian tells him that the surgery was a success and the cardiologist will fill him in later. Ridge says that he only remembers Logan. That's why they brought his Logan home to him, Stephanie says, pointing out that the two of them share an unbreakable bond. Nick looks tense as Brooke holds Ridge's hand. He goes over to Stephanie and says, "We need to talk." She looks annoyed, so he adds, "NOW!"

Nick has words with Stephanie.

Stephanie and Nick step into an exam room, where she asks what he wants to talk about. He only has one thing to say to her: he tells her to stay away from Brooke! Even if Brooke's buying her act, he isn't. Stephanie says she's sorry, but she's not concerned about his feelings. Nick tells her to forget his feelings and consider Brooke's feelings for him. She thinks that remains to be seen. So she, Ridge and Brooke will be one big happy family? he asks. If Brooke is the woman Ridge wants, she replies. He thinks she's lying, but she says he point of view has just changed. So she loves Brooke? he asks. She loves her son, she responds, but she never could accept that Brooke could make Ridge happy, and that broke Ridge's heart. Nick asks what she takes him for, because he knows how she operates, and he also knows how much she hates Brooke. She wants her son to be happy, she says, and if that means he wants Ridge in his life, then she'll fight just as hard to put Brooke in it as she did to keep her out.

Christian leaves Brooke alone with Ridge, who asks if he scared her. She scared them all, she says. She had this feeling that something was wrong that just wouldn't go away. "You came back," he says. She says that he came back to her, and she's relieved. She didn't know how to tell RJ that he'd lost his father, and she can't imagine life without him, either.

After Brooke leaves, Nick comes into the room, looking for Brooke. Ridge just rolls his eyes. Nick notes that Ridge is improving and tells Ridge how Stephanie interrupted his and Brooke's vacation, just to bring Brooke back to him. He doesn't know if it helped, but he knows two things. The first is that Ridge is doing better, which is a good thing. The second is that even though Brooke shares history and a child with Ridge, she's moved on with Nick. Ridge just rolls his eyes at Nick.

Brooke stops by the nurse's station and asks if anyone has seen Nick. Stephanie sees her and asks if Ridge is sleeping. Brooke says she wanted to give the rest of the family time with Ridge. "But he needs you now," Stephanie says. Brooke says that Dr. Ramirez said Ridge was improving. "Because of you," Stephanie says. She's just sorry she never gave Brooke the credit she deserved, personally or professionally. Brooke says she isn't looking for credit, especially where Ridge is concerned. Stephanie says no medicine in the world could have cured Ridge, because he didn't want to live without Brooke. Brooke points out that Ridge has his kids and his work, but Stephanie doesn't think that can compare to how Ridge feels about Brooke. She always thought that Brooke's relationship with Ridge was about sex, but she saw the deep passion in that room and felt the electricity in the room when Ridge opened his eyes. Brooke agrees that it was incredible.