Thursday, December 13, 2007, Episode #5207

Ashley tells Felicia what she saw.

In the lab at Forrester Creations, Ashley recalls the embrace she witnessed between Nick and Brooke. Felicia comes in and comments on the storm blowing outside; seeing the look on Ashley's face, Felicia asks if everything is OK. Ashley says she isn't sure and asks Felicia how she feels about Ridge and Brooke. Felicia admits that she never believed that those two were destined for each other until Ridge broke up with Ashley to go back to Brooke, but she also knows that Ridge wants to make his relationship with Brooke as long as Brooke doesn't see Nick. Ashley then tells Felicia how she followed Brooke to the Marlin last night and saw her and Nick in an embrace. She couldn't hear what they said, she explains, but she knew when she saw the embrace that Ridge isn't getting the full story from Brooke.

Felicia offers support to Ashley.

Felicia asks if Brooke being with Nick was about the baby, but Ashley isn't sure. She also isn't sure if she should tell Ridge. "You could have called Ridge immediately and told him," Felicia points out, "and you didn't." Ashley admits that's true. She guesses she wants to cut Brooke some slack because of everything going on with Stephen's arrest, but she still intends to keep an eye on Brooke, and she vows to let Ridge know if she Brooke keeps seeing Nick. Felicia agrees and says she'll be there to back Ashley up.

Thorne worries that his mother is hurting.

Thorne checks on his mother at the Forrester mansion. Stephanie confides that she feels in exile there, since this place used to be the hub of the family, but now she only gets short visits from her kids, and Eric isn't here. Thorne promises to bring Aly by soon and bring Felicia and Dino with him. Stephanie thanks him and asks if he saw Eric at work. Thorne says he did, wondering where this is going. Stephanie admits that she had hoped that Eric would come to his senses about Donna once he saw the video of Stephen, but she guesses that Eric doesn't think it's fair to let children suffer for the sins of their father. Thorne sees that his mother is hurting without his dad, but he also knows that Eric says he cares about Donna, and it sounds like he means it.

Eric comes by to see Stephanie.

Just then, Eric stops by and asks Stephanie how she is. When she says she'd have rather seen a suitcase in his hand when he walked in, Eric guesses she's back to her old self and asks how her doctor's appointment went. Stephanie wonders why he even bothers asking. Eric says he still cares, and he doesn't think she deserved to be shot. Stephanie asks if she deserves what he's doing with Donna. Eric asks if that means he should leave; Stephanie tells him to stay, because she's not too proud to beg him to come back, even if it means they're not sharing a bedroom.

Stephanie wants Eric to come home.

Thorne takes that as his cue to leave. Eric quips that Stephanie drove their son off, but Stephanie said he had to get home since he's baby sitting Hope and R.J. tonight. Eric felt like Thorne was uncomfortable. Stephanie thinks their son felt sorry for her, but she doesn't want or need sympathy. As thunder rumbles outside, Eric assures Stephanie that he's making a future with Donna. Stephanie thinks the thunder indicates that someone doesn't like that idea and asks when he's going to decide to come home for good. Eric says he's made his decision, but Stephanie still can't accept that, especially since he still claims to care about her. Stephanie then looks back at the photo of Stephen's hand shooting her, thinking this is what the Logans are capable. Eric points out that what Stephen did doesn't reflect on his children and thinks Stephanie of all people should know that children can forgive their parents for all kinds of sins. "You compare that man to me? He's a lunatic!" Stephanie seethes.

Charlie goes over evidence with Brooke and Storm.

Brooke and Storm are at the police station, where Lt. Baker and Charlie go over the video evidence of the shooter's hand from Jake's computer. Storm argues that the video is too blurry to be conclusive, but Lt. Baker points out that experts will testify that it's Stephen's hand in the video. It's still circumstantial, Storm asserts, and there's no physical evidence linking Stephen to the crime. Lt. Baker and Charlie are sure that they have their man, so Storm vows to prove them wrong. He thinks Lt. Baker should be out there looking for the real shooter instead of using this video to rattle his cage. Brooke cuts in and asks what they need to do to get Stephen out on bail. Lt. Baker says that's not going to happen, since Stephen violated his bond by confronting Stephanie. Storm points out that Stephanie intentionally came to Brooke's house to confront Stephen, so La Forrester obviously isn't afraid of Stephen. Lt. Baker laughs that Stephanie isn't afraid of anyone. Storm again insists the police have the wrong man. "Prove it," Charlie challenges. Storm says he doesn't have to, since that's the police's job, and he guarantees that his father will be found not guilty in court.

Donna and Katie disagree.

Brooke and Storm then head to Brooke's house, where Katie and Donna have decorated the living room for a surprise birthday bash for Storm. Brooke breaks the news to her sisters that the judge revoked their dad's bail; Katie isn't really surprised, since she thinks Stephen is guilty, but Storm asks her not to presume, because he just can't accept that their dad was the shooter. Donna scolds Katie for starting this, but Katie points out that she wasn't the one who mentioned their dad. Brooke tries to calm everyone down, but Storm blames himself for not being able to get their dad out of jail. His sisters tell him to worry about that tomorrow and focus on his birthday tonight. Storm reluctantly agrees, although he still thinks there is something funny about this case that he can't but his finger on. That comment invites more debate among the siblings about their father's guilt.

Storm thinks back on how he felt when Stephen walked out.

Suddenly, the lights go out. Brooke tells Storm where to find some candles, which sparks reminiscing about how Storm used to calm Katie down when she was afraid of the dark as a kid. Katie recalls how he made everything OK, just like he's doing now for them and even for their dad. Storm still wishes he could defend their father better and get him cleared. Katie asks if they should be defending their dad if he's actually guilty. Donna tells Katie to stop talking like that, but Katie doesn't think they really know what their father is capable of, especially if he thought he was trying to protect them after abandoning them years ago. The siblings finally stop their bickering long enough to bring out the birthday cake, but Storm doesn't feel in a festive mood given what their dad is going through. Katie, Donna and Brooke tell Storm to forget about that for now and blow out the candles, since this is his night. Storm begrudgingly tries to blow out the candles and laughs when he realizes that these are those no-blow-out candles. Storm suggests they forget about opening the presents and looking through the old photos and yearbooks his sisters assembled, since he's not in a partying mood. But when Katie decides to leave if they're not going to celebrate, Storm asks her to stay, because he's enjoying just having them all together for a change. Donna thinks it will be better if they weren't fighting, and Brooke agrees that they need to pull together. They finally cut the cake, with Donna saving a piece to bring to Stephen in jail. Brooke sees that her brother is still upset and assures him that they'll get through this. Donna agrees and tells Storm that he doesn't have to worry about them so much anymore, since they're not kids anymore. Storm guesses old habits die hard and recalls how he used to resent their father for walking out on them. He remembers how he thought he'd never forgive Stephen for leaving, but now he sees that being angry wasn't the answer. And even now, he doesn't want to let anyone down, including their dad, which is why he can't give up. It's important to him because he loves his sisters so much and doesn't want them to worry about their dad or Stephanie or anything else. "I'm not gonna let anything come between us," he promises. Brooke, Donna and Katie tell Storm that they love him and will always be grateful that they can depend on him any time.