Tuesday, March 06, 2007, Episode #5012

Stephanie tells Ridge to go with her to Big Bear.

Stephanie barges into Ridge's office while he's doing a fitting. She insists he stop what he's doing, since Phoebe and Rick are still seeing each other and are on their way to Big Bear! Ridge doesn't see how that's possible, since he and Phoebe have an understanding. Stephanie explains that she overheard Rick and Phoebe on the intercom; she tells Ridge that Phoebe is lying to him, and so is Brooke! Ridge reminds her that he won't tolerate any more of her attempts to drive a wedge between him and Brooke. She tells him to forget Brooke and think about his daughter, especially since Brooke is encouraging Phoebe to act on her feelings for Rick. Ridge tells her again to stop bad-mouthing Brooke, but she tells him that she heard Rick confirm to Phoebe that Brooke was covering for them. Ridge wants to know exactly what she heard; she tells him to come with her to Big Bear and she'll give him the details on the way. Ridge agrees but insists on driving. On the way, Stephanie gives Ridge the lowdown on what she heard on the intercom. Rick fumes that this is all Rick's fault, but Stephanie suggests that it's Brooke's fault for lying to him. Ridge doesn't want to hear any more of her bashing Brooke. Stephanie suggests he reconsider; she knows there's a lot at stake with his wedding tied to their grand opening, but she thinks he should call off the wedding, Ridge insists that his future is with Brooke, but Stephanie asks what kind of future he can have with someone who is lying to him.

Brooke asks Nick if Taylor is there.

In Taylor's room at the Marone mansion, Nick tells Taylor that he's already made his feelings for Brooke clear, so he suggests that she hold onto that, no matter what Stephanie says. Taylor, however, can't help but wonder how he would feel if a newly-available Brooke showed up on his doorstep. She tries to get him to tell her how he felt when Stephanie hinted that Brooke and Ridge might be having problems. But before Nick can answer, the doorbell rings again, so Nick goes to answer it. This time, it's Brooke; she knows she should have called first, but Hope heard about his accident and wanted him to have a DVD of her performance in a school play. As she gives Nick the DVD, she sees a purse and assumes it's Taylor's. Nick confirms that Taylor is upstairs resting. Brooke tells him she's sorry, since she knows how he felt about the Marlin. Nick then tells Brooke about Stephanie's visit, including La Forrester's contention that Brooke's relationship with Ridge would fall apart over Brooke's support of Rick and Phoebe. He suggests that she watch her back. Brooke thanks him for the warning but thinks she should be leaving. Nick asks her to level with him about what's going on; Brooke says it's nothing, but Nick doesn't buy that. "It's nothing to you!" Brooke states; she appreciates his concern, but this is her and Ridge's problem. Nick is just sorry that Stephanie turned on her, as he predicted. Brooke agrees, but she tells him that Ridge warned Stephanie that she would lose him if she kept up this abuse. Nick goes to check on Taylor; Brooke asks Nick if she can use his phone, since her cell battery is dead. He tells her to go ahead.

Brooke calls Ridge, who is still in the car driving up to Big Bear with his mother. Brooke asks if she should pick up something for dinner, but Ridge tells her to drop everything and meet him up at Big Bear. He already asked Catherine to watch the kids and is now on his way to the cabin already, since Rick and Phoebe are planning to rendezvous there. He intends to put a stop to this now! As she hangs up, Brooke asks herself, "Rick, what were you thinking?"

Taylor still wants an answer to her question.

Nick goes up to Taylor and tells her that Brooke stopped by to give her a DVD of Hope's school play. He also tells her that he warned Brooke about Stephanie's visit earlier, but Brooke wasn't that concerned. Taylor takes that to mean that Rick and Phoebe aren't seeing each other, but Nick tells her that Ridge suspects the kids are still seeing each other, Nick reminds Taylor of her earlier question about how he felt; he asks her, as his former analyst, how she thinks he feels. Taylor says that still doesn't answer her question about how he'd feel if Brooke and Ridge split up. Nick says it doesn't matter, since he's not here because Brooke's not available. Rather, he's here with Taylor because he wants to be.

Phoebe is glad to have time alone with Rick.

Rick and Phoebe arrive at the Big Bear cabin. Rick starts a fire and lights some candles while Phoebe finds some blankets. They snuggle on the couch and make out. Phoebe asks Rick how he started a fire so quickly. He replies that he learned to "be prepared" as a Boy Scout, although he doesn't think he was prepared for her. Phoebe says he surprised her, too. Rick says she surprises him all the time, like she did when she decided they should come here. Phoebe admits that was smart, although she hates sneaking around all the time. Even so, she thinks it's all so exciting. Rick agrees. He asks if she wants to go hiking, go skiing or play board games, but she just kisses him. When they pull away, Phoebe admits that she's starting to like sneaking around after all. Rick just wishes they didn't have to hide from her family. He goes to put another log on the fire, but she has a better way to keep warm in mind. Rick likes her idea, but before they can get into it, they hear a car approaching. Phoebe thinks he's teasing her, but then they hear Stephanie's voice and hide under the blankets on the couch.

Rick is stunned that Stephanie spied on him and Phoebe.

Stephanie and Ridge enter the cabin. After Ridge calls out Phoebe's name, her head pops out. When Ridge says he saw Rick's car outside, Rick pops out, too. Ridge asks Phoebe if she's OK; when she says she is, he tells her that they'll be leaving now, but Phoebe says she's not going. Ridge turns to Rick and asks what he was planning when he brought Ridge's little girl up here. Rick doesn't think Ridge will believe a single word he says; Ridge points to the candles and the fire and asks what he's supposed to think. He accuses Rick of defying him for the very beginning. Phoebe tells her dad that Rick tried breaking things off at the beginning, but she wouldn't let him. She assures him that they didn't to lie to him. No one was supposed to know, Rick asserts. Of course not, Ridge fumes, since they didn't want to risk anyone catching them in the act here. Stephanie tells Rick that she heard everything he said on the intercom, including what he said about his mother. Rick can't believe that Stephanie spied on him and Phoebe and asks Ridge why he has to treat his daughter like some common criminal. Ridge is glad his mother told him what was going on here, since he can only imagine what might have happened had he not arrived when he did. Nothing would have happened, Rick asserts, saying that nothing would have happened to Phoebe that she didn't want to happen. Ridge tells Rick to shut up!