Tuesday, September 19, 2006, Episode #4896

In the hospital, Bridget tries to calm a frantic Phoebe, who worries that Shane still isn't in his room yet after surgery. Bridget guesses that Shane is still in recovery. Phoebe wishes they would hear something; she frets that her accidentally cutting Shane's hand could keep him from earning his living as a carpenter. Bridget is confused, since Phoebe said earlier that Shane was a gardener. Phoebe explains that Shane had fallen on some bad luck and was gardening on the side to pay some bills. But he uses his hands for his work, so Phoebe prays that Shane will be OK after the surgery and some physical therapy. Bridget isn't sure, since this isn't her area, but she offers to find Shane's doctor to see what she can find out. While Bridget goes to find the doctor, Phoebe calls Taylor and tells her about the accident. Taylor tells her daughter that she'll call a cab and be right over.

Shane worries about his hand.

When Shane is brought to his room, Phoebe anxiously asks if the surgery worked. Bridget checks Shane's chart and sees that there is a small chance of scar tissue or nerve damage, but the surgeon foresees a full recovery for Shane with physical therapy and rehab. Bridget tells Phoebe that she has to go and asks if Phoebe will be OK; Phoebe tells her that Taylor is on the way, so she's sure she'll be fine. She thanks Bridget for all her help. Once Bridget is gone, Phoebe asks Shane if he can hear her; Shane starts to come out of it and asks what happened to his hand. Phoebe tells him that his hand will be good as new after some physical therapy. She tells him how sorry she is that her stupid attempt to cheer him up hurt him so badly. She would never have been able to forgive herself if the doctors couldn't fix his injury. She promises to be there for Shane for as long as it takes. Shane appreciates the offers, but he's used to taking care of himself, so he doesn't think there's much Phoebe can do. Phoebe wants to at least call his family, but he tells her that his family is in Atlanta, and they don't talk much. He thinks Phoebe is sweet to offer to help, but he doesn't want her playing nursemaid for him out of guilt. Phoebe replies that she'll feel guilty if he doesn't let her help, so "Nurse maid Phoebe" is reporting for duty.

Taylor and Phoebe offer to help Shane.

Taylor arrives and asks how Shane is. Shane says he's fine, although he's a bit overwhelmed by the attention. Phoebe tells her mom that the surgery hopefully worked. Taylor tells Shane that she's so sorry about this, especially after he was nice enough to worry about her privacy at the house. Phoebe is surprised to hear that Shane was worried about her mom's privacy. Taylor explains that Shane warned her to be wary of anyone who might be peeping around the backyard. That makes Phoebe feel even worse about what she did. She assures Shane that they'll take care of everything. The doctor comes by to check Shane's hand. He thinks the surgery went well, so he sees no reason Shane won't regain normal function his hand after months of physical therapy. Shane frets that he can't be out of work for months. The doctor advises him to file a claim for worker's compensation, but Shane doubts his employer will cover this. He doesn't even know how he'll pay for all this. Taylor tells him not to worry, as she'll take care of all the hospital bills. Phoebe agrees that's the least they can do; in fact, since Shane won't be able to take care of himself with only one hand, she asks her mom if Shane can stay with them while he recovers.

Brooke worries about Bridget's plans.

In the Forrester CEO's office, Brooke tries to reach Bridget by phone. She leaves a message for Bridget to call her. Nick sees how worried his wife is; Brooke admits that she didn't want Stephanie to know this, but she's worried about Bridget's planned trip to Africa. She loves her daughter, but she knows that Bridget tends to run away when she can't deal with something, and she fears that Bridget is taking this trip to put some distance between herself and Nick. Nick asks what she wants to do. Brooke isn't sure; she recalls seeing Bridget having Nicole's urn and blanket out at the beach house the other day, so she fears that Bridget is still having trouble coping with losing Nicole. She guesses that Bridget really misses Nicole. "We both do," Nick responds. And that's what bothers Brooke: she knows Nick and Bridget would have stayed together had Nicole lived, so she fells like she benefited from her daughter's loss. All the joy she feels from her marriage is at Bridget's expense.

Bridget assures her mom that she's not running away.

Bridget arrives and asks her mother what's wrong. Brooke replies that she heard about Bridget's plans to go to Africa from Stephanie. Bridget admits that she intended to tell Brooke about her plans herself, but she got tied up when Phoebe came into the hospital with her injured gardener. Phoebe seemed all shaken up about the accident, so Bridget wanted to stay with her for a while. Brooke is glad that Phoebe and the gardener are both fine, but she's more concerned about Bridget. She starts to cry. Bridget assures her mom that she'll be fine in Africa, but Brooke explains that she's actually worried about Bridget's reasons for going. She fears that Bridget is running away to avoid being around Nick. Bridget says that she's not running away; she's just taking advantage of an opportunity to help African children who are suffering much worse than she is. She may not have been able to save Nicole, but maybe she can help those children. Brooke admits she's just concerned, since Bridget ran away to Copenhagen last time to deal with her issues, but nothing had changed when she returned. And nothing may change this time, either, Bridget admits. But at least she might get a change of perspective, so she has to try. Brooke admits that she's being selfish; with Rick so far away, she enjoys having Bridget around and will miss her if she goes. Bridget hugs her mother and looks at Nick over Brooke's shoulder as she replies, "I'm really going to miss you, too."

Nick asks Bridget if going to Africa is the answer.

Brooke gets a call from Sally about an emergency in shipping, so she goes to attend to that. Alone with Nick, Bridget says that she should be going, too. Nick offers to walk her out, but she says she'll be fine. Nick tells Bridget that there are better ways to avoid him, especially since a lot of people need her here. Bridget thinks she can do more good in Africa than she can here. Nick fears she's leaving because of what happened between them and suggests telling Brooke the truth. Bridget reminds him that they agreed never to tell her mom, but Nick points out that Brooke loves her. And her mom will hate them both if the truth comes out, Bridget surmises, which is why she thinks it's better that she goes. With her away, Nick can focus on his marriage, and not on how he almost ruined it. Nick doesn't see their recent night together that way, but Bridget thinks he should. She saw that might as a beautiful goodbye to the life they could have had together. She loved him and wanted to be his reason for living. But if that was how it was meant to be, than Nicole would have lived. She can't change that, but she can make the best of it, for herself and for others worse off than she is. She hugs him and wishes him and her mom the best.

When Brooke returns, Bridget is gone; Brooke asks Nick if he got through to Bridget, but Nick thinks Bridget's mind his made up. Despite his efforts, Bridget still intends to go to Africa. Brooke tells him that she was thinking about it as she went downstairs, and she sees now how going to Africa might be good for Bridget. Of course she'll miss Bridget, but maybe this trip will help Bridget rebuild her self-esteem and even find a man who's as interested in helping people as Bridget is.