Wednesday, May 10, 2006, Episode #4804

Jackie answers the door after playing dress up with Hope.

Stephen drops by Brooke's house to see his daughter and is surprised to find Jackie, wrapped in a red feather boa and wearing a tiara, answering the door. Stephen bows at the waist and greets "Her Majesty." Jackie explains that she was playing dress up with Hope and wound up as a cross between a queen and a stripper. He tells her that she looks beautiful as she invites him in. Stephen asks where his daughter is; Jackie's pleased to tell him that she's watching the children while her son took Brooke to Cabo! Very nice, Stephen comments. Jackie says that she and the kids have been up since dawn, so she needs to put them down and have some coffee. She asks him to join her. He smiles and says he'd like that.

In the hospital, Ridge is still in bed, again muttering Brooke's name. At the same time, a startled Brooke awakens in Mexico and calls out Ridge's name.

Eric has questions for Christian.

Stephanie and Eric enter Ridge's room and learn that there hasn't been any change. Stephanie sits by the bed and tells Ridge to wake up. Christian pops in; Eric asks Christian if he's spoken to Dr. Plotnikov? Christian says that he has, and the doc mentioned that they had some concerns. Stephanie asks why Ridge hasn't come to. Different patients react differently to anesthesia, Christian explains. But Dr. Plotnikov didn't find any physical reason, Eric states. Stephanie wonders if Ridge might not want to wake up, since the person he really wants isn't here. She desperately tries to reach Brooke again, but she again gets no answer. She wonders why Brooke hasn't called, since she left a message last night. Eric asks if she explained what was happening. Stephanie says she didn't, as she thought she'd explain to Brooke when she calls. Eric reminds Stephanie how she and Brooke had words when they last met, ending with Brooke quitting Forrester; given the tension at that time, he thinks she has to leave Brooke a message explaining what happened to Ridge. Stephanie, however, still seems reluctant. Eric and Christian step outside, leaving Stephanie in the room with Ridge. She calls and leaves another urgent message for Brooke to call.

Stephanie frets about what might happen if she can't find Brooke.

Outside, Taylor and Thomas arrive, followed by Hector. Eric and Hector make the introductions between Hector's brother, the doctor, and Ridge's ex-wife and son. Taylor asks how Ridge is. He's stable, Eric says. Taylor asks if Christian is Ridge's doctor; he's just a family friend, Christian replies, and Dr. Plotnikov is Ridge's cardiologist. He fills Taylor in on Ridge's condition. Taylor and Thomas want to see Ridge, so they head for the room, where they find Stephanie inside. They exchange hugs. Taylor sits by Ridge's bed and tells him how much they love him. Thomas asks Stephanie about the fight she had with his dad, which he his mom told him about. Taylor assures him that the fight had nothing to do with what happened. But it did, Stephanie says. Taylor can't believe that and states that Ridge was probably predisposed to this at birth. Stephanie tells Ridge again that she's so sorry. Eric enters and leads her out so Taylor and Thomas can have some time with Ridge. In the hall, Stephanie again says this is all her fault. She didn't listen to Ridge, and now Brooke isn't here when he needs her. Eric is sure Brooke will come when she gets the message. But if she doesn't, Stephanie frets, then Ridge will die!

Brooke is stunned and surprised by Stephanie's message.

Meanwhile, Brooke and Nick are waking up in Cabo, exchanging smiles. Nick kisses her on the cheek and asks how she slept. What does he think? she asks. He suggests that they stay in bed all day, but when she turns to face him, he senses something wrong. She says that she still feels like something's up in L.A., so she'd like to make a quick call home. He reminds her that his mother has the number if anything happens, but she'd still feel better if she called. Nick gives in and lets her call. When she gets her cell phone, Brooke sees that she has a message; she plays it and is surprised to hear Stephanie saying, "I need you." Nick sees the confused look on her face and asks what's wrong. When she tells him about the message, they both wonder why Stephanie would need her after years of trying to get her out of the Forresters' lives. Nick suggests to Brooke that Stephanie finally realized, once she was gone, just how much she knew about the company. But Stephanie never appreciated her before, Brooke points out. Nick tells her to let it go. Brooke says that she will as Nick wraps his arms around her neck and kisses her forehead. Just then, the phone rings: Brooke sees from the caller ID that it's Stephanie. She angrily answers, but Stephanie cuts her off. She knows Brooke is angry with her, but she needs Brooke to listen. Brooke says that she's done listening to her! She warns Stephanie not to call back, because she won't pick up next time. Stephanie calls for her to wait, but Brooke hangs up!

Taylor and Thomas wait by Ridge's bedside.

In Ridge's room, Taylor sits by Ridge's bed, telling him about how well the twins are adjusting in London. Thomas interrupts and asks his mom what his dad and grandma were fighting about. It was about Brooke, Taylor admits. She then steps outside where Eric is waiting. Taylor asks him how Stephanie is holding up. Not very well, he admits, pointing out how his wife blames herself for all this. Taylor asks why, so Eric explains how Brooke quit Forrester. Taylor is stunned that Brooke actually left and guesses that Ridge took that as his whole future walking away from him. Eric then explains how Ridge blamed his mother, claiming that she ruined his life and took everything that he really loved. But that didn't cause Ridge's heart condition, Taylor states. Stephanie thinks it did, Eric explains, because she felt that this wouldn't have happened if she had accepted Brooke and let Ridge make his own choices. He might have collapsed anyway, Taylor notes. Eric agrees, but he states that Stephanie is still determined to make it up to Ridge, especially after she heard him call for Brooke in his sleep last night. "Brooke," a resigned Taylor sadly comments.

Hector tells Ridge's family to keep thinking positively.

Christian checks with the attending nurse and finds out that the cardiologist was there, but he was called away on an emergency before he could speak to the family. Christian offers to find the doctor. Meanwhile, Eric calls Stephanie to find out where she went, while Thomas thanks Hector for helping his dad. Taylor asks Hector if he responded to the call. He did, he says, since Stephanie called 911 as soon as it happened. Thomas asks if his dad was awake when Hector got there. Not really, Hector replies. Still, Taylor says, he helped save Ridge. Hector's just glad the doctors kept Ridge's heart from rupturing and advises them to think positively. Right on cue, Christian comes over; he says he spoke to the cardiologist, who is worried that Ridge isn't responding as well as they would have liked by now. They're doing everything medically possible, Christian assures them. Except, Taylor notes, finding the one thing that might make a difference: Brooke.

Back in Cabo, Brooke still can't believe Stephanie's gall to call her, after abusing her for all those years. Now she walks away, and Stephanie still comes after her. Nick asks if Stephanie said what she wanted, but Brooke doesn't really care what she wanted. She picks up her cell phone; Nick asks if she's calling Stephanie back, but she says she's calling home, so the two of them can enjoy themselves. Back in L.A., Jackie is upstairs putting the kids down for a nap, so Stephen hears the phone ring and answers it. Brooke's surprised to hear her dad, who tells her that he came by to see her and found out from Jackie that she was in Cabo. She asks where Jackie is, so he tells her that she's upstairs putting the kids down. Brooke's relieved to hear that, as she feared something was wrong. Stephen offers to get Jackie, but Brooke says he doesn't have to. She just wants him to know that Stephanie might be calling or looking for her, and she doesn't want Stephanie to know where she is. Stephen asks what's going on, so she tells him how she quit Forrester, and Stephanie has been hounding her ever since. Mum's the word, Stephen promises.

Nick asks Brooke to see the unconditional love in his eyes.

Brooke then hangs up and tells Nick that everything's fine, so she's all his. They start to kiss and they make their way to the bed, but she still can't help but wonder what Stephanie wanted. Nick tells her to forget about the woman who tortured for years, who probably can't stand that she's finally happy. Brooke knows that, but she still can't forget how badly she wanted Stephanie to like and respect her. Nick tells her to look into his eyes and tell him what she sees. Love, she says. Unconditional, undeniable and pure, he says, as he reaches for her. Soon after, Nick gives her a back massage as she tells him not to stop. He asks when it's his turn. She replies that she needs it more. He hopes she's not about to say the 'S' word - as in "Sssssssstephanie!" he hisses She laughs and says that she doesn't want to hear that name or even think about that woman. She just wants to think about him, she whispers. Good, Nick replies and they kiss again.