Wednesday, April 25, 2007, Episode #5045

Stephanie calls a custodian named Tom to Ridge's office to deal with the blood-stained rug. She shows Tom the red spot on the carpet and then shows him a bottle of red ink, claiming that the stain was made by Ridge accidentally spilling the ink on the rug. She asks Tom if he can remove the spot, but Tom tells her that the ink is indelible. Feigning concern that the "accident" ruined Ridge's rug, Stephanie asks Tom to throw the rug away, although she hates the thought of just tossing the carpet in the dumpster. Tom says that the rug is small enough to fit in the building incinerator, so he offers to bring the rug there. Stephanie thanks Tom as he picks up the rug and carries it out.

Stephanie tells Ridge to put Shane's death behind him.

Ridge arrives, confused about why he's even here when he doesn't feel like working today. Stephanie advises him to keep up his normal routine, but Ridge can't act normal after killing Shane McGrath last night in this very office.He replays the events leading up to Shane's death in his mind as his mother tells him that she's trying to protect him, so she needs him to calm down and do as she says so he won't fall apart now. Ridge laments that he can't pretend that nothing's happened, but Stephanie instructs him to do just that and put this behind him. She explains that she located Shane's car and had it towed away. Ridge frets that someone might look through the car and find Shane's personal items, since they might check the records and learn whose car it was. Stephanie points out that the car didn't even have license tags, so she doesn't think it was registered. Ridge worries that Shane might have borrowed the car, so its owner might still look for it or report it missing. Stephanie reminds him that Shane felt that no one would miss him if he killed himself.

Ashley tells Ridge that she thinks she knows why he cancelled their date.

Before Ridge can answer, Ashley pops in and asks Ridge if his business emergency from last night is under control. Stephanie says that everything's fine. Ashley asks if she can talk to Ridge alone, so Stephanie excuses herself and leaves. Ridge asks Ashley if she came to talk about their date. The date that never happened, Ashley confirms. Ridge apologizes for having his emergency suddenly come up. Ashley doesn't think there was an emergency and asks Ridge to be honest with her, pointing out that he didn't even call her himself to cancel. Ridge says that he didn't have her number in his cell phone. That's because he left his cell phone here, Ashley points out, asking Ridge not to lie. She suggests that he's just having a hard time moving on with his life, so he canceled their date at the last minute. Ridge flashes back to his mother telling him to put this thing behind him. Ashley tells Ridge that she can tell that something's wrong and asks what it is: Ridge responds by passionately kissing Ashley! Stephanie passes by the door and peeks in; once she sees the kiss, she smiles with a pleased look on her face.

Taylor tells Nick how she can still carry his child.

At the Marone mansion, Taylor tells Nick that she has a plan to give him a baby, even with her fertility problems. Nick assumes that she's talking about adoption, but Taylor explains that she's talking about in vitro fertilization, where she and Nick would choose a egg donor whose egg would be fertilized by Nick's sperm. The egg would then be implanted in Taylor's womb so she could carry the child to term, just like it was her own egg. Nick doesn't like the idea of having a child with a stranger, but Taylor suggests that they find an educated woman who looks like her and shares her interests and background to donate the egg. Nick is still bothered by the process, which seems so clinical and not at all personal; he thinks having a baby should be very personal, with the child representing the best of both parents. Taylor suggests that he's hesitant because he's more disappointed than he wants to admit about her not being able to give him a child. She thinks the in-vitro procedure is the best option for her under the circumstances. Seeing hos disappointed Taylor is by his lack of interest, Nick agrees to get some more information, even though this seems so complicated. Taylor says that she will do almost anything to give him the child he so desperately wants, so Nick agrees to give this process a try. Taylor thanks him over and over and kisses him.

Bridget worries about her mother.

At the hospital, Bridget is with Brooke, who has just completed her fertility testing. Bridget tells her mom not to be in such a rush to get home and to wait for the doctor. Brooke guesses that Bridget is annoyed about her taking these tests to see if she can have another child. Bridget admits that she is worried, because she thinks it makes her mom seem desperate that she wants to have Nick's child just because Taylor can't. Brooke confesses again that she made a mistake by not having a child with Nick when they were married. But it's not too late, since Nick and Taylor aren't married yet, so Brooke is willing to grasp at even the slightest chant that she and Nick can rebuild their lives together. Bridget advises that Brooke took quite a few tests, and they have to wait for all the test results to determine if Brooke can get pregnant. She says that she put a rush on Brooke's tests and can try to speed them along some more if Brooke wants. Brooke thanks Bridget and tells her not to worry, but Bridget explains that she worries when Brooke goes to extremes like this and thinks Nick and Taylor would worry, too.

The doctor has a chat with Brooke.

After Bridget leaves, Dr. Caron, the fertility specialist, comes in to check Brooke out before sending her home. Brooke asks when they'll have the test results. Dr. Caron explains that they may have some preliminary results soon, but because they did so many tests, she recommends waiting for all the results first. Brooke asks if they can put a rush on the tests, but the doctor tells "Mrs. Marone" that the tests take time, although she can understand how anxious Brooke is. Still, she doesn't want to speculate on Brooke's fertility until they see the actual test results. Brooke thanks the doctor and tells her that she's not "Mrs. Marone" anymore since she and Nick divorced some time ago. The doctor says she'll put in an order to update the records. Brooke tells the doctor to just call her "Brooke." With that settled, Dr. Caron goes to sign Brooke's discharge papers so she can go home.

Brooke tells Bridget not to worry.

After the doctor leaves, Bridget returns, and she's still worried about her mother going through all these tests. Brooke says that she needs Nick to see that she's serious about giving him the life she should have given him when they were married, but she sees Bridget feels she's going to extremes. Bridget hopes her mom sees for herself how extreme her actions are, because Brooke is having a baby just to revive her relationship with Nick. She knows Brooke shared a deep connection with Nick, but she fears Brooke is setting herself up to be hurt and disappointed by going so far with this. Brooke thinks Bridget should be having this talk with Taylor, not her.

Nick again tells Brooke that it's over between them.

A while later, Nick is on his way out the door of the Marone mansion when he runs into Brooke, who asks if he can please give her a little time to finish their conversation from last night. She asks if everything is OK with him and Taylor now that they know that Taylor's eggs aren't viable. Nick says he and Taylor are fine, but he feels funny talking about private stuff like this to Brooke. Brooke reminds him that she can give him a child, but Nick still feels odd talking about medical matters to her. Brooke says it may be a medical matter for Taylor, but she knows it's an emotional matter for him, which is why she's had tests and... Nick is stunned that she still thinks she can have a child with him when he's engaged to Taylor. Brooke tells him that she made a mistake when she turned down his request to have a child together, and... Nick stops her and tells her that he and Taylor will have a child through in vitro fertilization, which is why all this stuff with Brooke has to stop. Brooke thinks he's just saying this because he's scared that she'll hurt him again and promises that she'll never hurt him again. Nick agrees that she won't, because he's committed to Taylor, which is why he's urging Brooke to let him go. "I can't," Brooke says. Nick replies, "You can; you've done it before." He agrees that they're both looking for the same thing, but he found his answer with Taylor, which is why it has to be over between him and Brooke.