Friday, July 13, 2007, Episode #5102

Dorothy tries to explain to Brooke.
An excited Brooke demands to know where her children are. Dorothy explains that she had to step in since neglect was suspected. Brooke argues that what happened was an accident. Stephanie chimes in that it was Brooke's bad judgement by leaving Nick in charge that has Dorothy concerned, and she warns that Brooke might have another breakdown if she doesn't calm down. As Stephanie shows the firemen out, Dorothy tells Brooke she's sorry things came to this, but Brooke doesn't want any phony sympathy and only wants her kids back. She thinks Stephanie, having taken Ridge away, now wants everyone to see her as unfit mother who can't raise her kids. Dorothy says that's not so; she just sees Brooke as an overwhelmed parent with issues to deal with, which is why she's placed the kids in Ridge's custody for now. Brooke is relieved that the kids are with Ridge, but she still sees Stephanie as the real threat - a woman who would do anything, including faking a heart attack, to keep her son from Brooke, and a woman who now wants to take Brooke's kids. Dorothy sees no conspiracy, since she and Stephanie have served on many boards together. Realizing that Dorothy and Stephanie know each other, Brooke accuses the social worker of being Stephanie's "in" with child services. Dorothy claims that she's just doing her job based on what she saw with Brooke leaving the children alone, and then leaving them with a man who left his lighter behind. She then tells Brooke that there will be a hearing in the morning to determine the kids' future. Brooke tells Stephanie and Dorothy that Ridge will never let them take her kids from her and storms out.

Ashley offers assistance to Ridge.
Ridge brings Hope and R.J. to his house, where Ashley has peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and cookies waiting. As the kids rush to the table for some food, Ashley tells Ridge that the kids seem OK after the fire. Ridge agrees that kids are resilient, but he still worries after what these two have been through since last night. Ashley asks Ridge if Brooke wanted him to take the kids. He tells her that Child Services placed the kids with him for the night. Then Brooke doesn't know? Ash inquires. She does by now, Ridge guesses, which means all hell is breaking loose at Brooke's by now. Ridge then takes the kids upstairs to get them ready for bed; while the kids get into their PJs, he comes down to give Ashley the details about what happened since he arrived at Brooke's. He admits that he didn't want to separate the kids from their mom, but he had no choice. He just hopes Brooke understands that. Ashley sympathizes and reminds him that they have to focus on the kids right now. Ridge thinks he should go check on the kids, but before he goes, he thanks Ashley for being there for him. She assures him that everything's going to be OK.

Nick thinks he knows what Stephanie is up to.
In Taylor's office, Nick gets a call that he thinks is from Brooke, so he answers it and says Taylor is running behind and he'll be headed to the house soon. When he realizes that it's not Brooke, but rather someone calling about the fire, he rushes over to Brooke's and is surprised to see Stephanie and Dorothy there. He asks Stephanie if the kids are OK. "Yes, but no thanks to you," she remarks. He asks if the kids are upstairs. "No," Dorothy replies. Nick asks the social worker who she is; when he learns Dorothy is with child services, he asks what's going on. Dorothy tells Nick that she knows he has a history with those kids, including almost letting Hope drown once. Stephanie adds that he must have not learned his lesson from that, since his carelessness caused more harm tonight, and she hands him back his lighter. Telling Nick that he caused enough damage tonight, Stephanie tells him to go home. When Nick realizes that the kids aren't there, he accuses Dorothy and Stephanie of trying to take Brooke's kids away. Stephanie denies it, but Nick doesn't buy it. Dorothy reminds Nick of how those kids were traumatized last night, but Nick attributes that to Donna, since Brooke would never leave her kids alone. But it happened, Dorothy argues, as did the fire tonight.

Stephanie tells Nick to accept that Brooke is in trouble and needs help.
Nick agrees that his lighter started the fire, but he doesn't think that means Brooke put the kids in danger. Stephanie tells him to wake up and see that Brooke is in trouble and needs help. Dorothy agrees and thinks Nick should be just as concerned about Brooke as they are if he's really her friend. Nick counters that the only thing that concerns him is that Dorothy is even here, taking her cues from a woman who hates Brooke so much that she'd try to keep Brooke from her children. Stephanie scoffs at the accusation, but Nick glares at her and tells her to be honest for once. He knows full well that this isn't about the children's safety and that it's all about Stephanie's vendetta with Brooke. He orders Stephanie, "Look that woman in the eye and tell her right now that you would do anything to get Brooke Logan away from your family, even if it meant stealing her children right out from under her nose!"

Brooke pleads with Ridge...
Upstairs at his home, Ridge watches the kids sleep, lamenting what's happened to their mother. He flashes back to his earlier confrontation with Brooke after putting out the fire and reflects on what Brooke has done. Downstairs, Brooke comes in and, seeing Ashley, asks Ms. Abbott where Hope and R.J. Ashley tells her that Ridge is upstairs taking good care of the kids, which Brooke immediately takes as a criticism of her own parenting skills by Ashley. She assumes that Ashley agrees with Stephanie and declares that she and Ridge will fight both Child Services and Stephanie on this. At the top of the stairs, Ridge listens and then comes down, announcing that the kids are asleep. Ashley excuses herself so Ridge and Brooke can talk alone. Once Ashley leaves, Brooke begs Ridge to help her. Ridge tells his "Logan" that he never wanted it to come to this. Brooke says she never thought it would, either; she admits she's been emotionally distraught lately, but the one things she knows is that she has to focus on her kids, which is why she wants to take them home now. Ridge tells her again that the kids are asleep. Brooke thinks it will be OK if they wake them so they can go home, but Ridge disagrees and tells her that the kids are staying here. For the night, Brooke assumes - but then she wonders if Ridge means something more and in on his mother's plan to keep her from her kids.

...but Ridge won't let Brooke take her kids home.
Ridge tells Brooke to stop being paranoid and admit that his mother is just concerned about her grandchildren, but Brooke can't do that after everything Stephanie has done to her over the years. Brooke argues that these kids mean everything to her, so she needs them. She admits she's had some problems, but she's dealing with them. Ridge suggests that she take a break while she gets her life together. Brooke can't believe he's asking her to "take a break" from her kids and takes his comment to mean that he's on his mother's side! Ridge tries to tell her that there are no sides, but Brooke takes that to mean that he thinks, like his mother, that she's a raving lunatic who can't raise her children. She warns Ridge that she won't just blindly do his mother's bidding, even if he tells her to. Ridge tells her that he can't let her take the kids, even if he wanted to, because CPS gave him temporary custody. But even if it was up to him... Brooke cuts him off and asks in disbelief, "You wouldn't let me have them, would you?" She then exclaims, "You son of a bitch!" asking how he can do this to her. She angrily declares that she'd expect this from his mother, but never from him.