Thursday, October 18, 2007, Episode #5169

Ashley isn't pleased by what she finds in her tub.

Ashley arrives at her hotel suite in Paris. After tipping the bellhop, she settles in and starts to undress. She then goes into the bathroom when she sees Rick taking a bath in her bathtub! Ashley nervously asks what Rick what he's doing in her suite. He reminds her that it's Forrester International's suite. Ashley agrees and points out that the people at Forrester International are expecting her, since she came over to interview French chemists to work on the "Felicia" fragrance so they can save on tariff fees. Rick insists that he didn't know that and explains that he he's here for a surprise visit to International to assess how bad the damage to the division was while it was in Nick's hands. Ashley recalls him saying he was going to do that, but she doesn't remember the part about his being in her bathtub. Rick reminds her that he gave up his apartment in Paris when he moved back to L.A., so Ashley suggests that he break out his credit card. Rick suggests that they not argue about this and notes that room service is bringing breakfast, so he recommends that Ashley join him.

Rick tells Ashley that he hopes Ridge isn't playing games with her.

After breakfast, Rick and Ashley get dressed and prepare for their respective meetings Ashley suggests that it might not be wise for the two of them to walk in Forrester International together with their suitcases. Rick playfully asks if she's afraid they'll start a rumor that will make her fiance jealous. Ashley tells him to stop, because this isn't a game to her. Rick replies that he knows it isn't, but he hopes her fiance will say the same thing.

Katie gives Ridge a warning.

And speaking of her fiance, Ridge is still at Brooke's house, waiting for her to return from her impromptu meeting with Bridget at the hospital. Katie comes home and is surprised to find Ridge there. He explains that he and Brooke were doing a photo shoot here when she had to go out, so he stayed to help with the kids. Katie doesn't really buy that explanation once she spots lipstick on Ridge's collar and asks what's really going on. Ridge tells her that Bridget called Brooke up and asked to see her ASAP. Still skeptical, Katie tells him that he can leave now, since she can take over the baby sitting duties, but Ridge tells her that Brooke asked him to stay. Seeing where this is headed, Katie warns Brooke that they have to be careful about how they treat Brooke after everything Brooke's been through. She knows Ridge has done a lot for Brooke, but she doesn't want to see her big sister take Ridge's attentions the wrong way. Ridge asks what she means by that; she reminds him that he's not available, at least not in the way Brooke needs to be. "I could be a lot of different places right now," Ridge replies, "but I'm here."

Bridget explains to her mother.

At the hospital, a confused Brooke asks Nick and Bridget what she has to do with giving Nick's baby a life saving bone marrow transfusion. Bridget asks Brooke to remember when she underwent fertility tests months ago, recalling how Brooke chose to donate her eggs to research once she realized she wasn't going to use them. Brooke remembers that, since Bridget said at the time that she and all the other female residents were donating eggs to the project as well. Bridget explains to Brooke how the hospital records at the time still showed Brooke's last name as Marone, so there were two sets of eggs labeled "Marone" on the day of Taylor's in-vitro procedure. And when Bridget, instead of Dr. Caron, came to request the eggs for implantation, the tech thought she was talking about her mother's eggs, and... A light bulb goes on in a shocked Brooke's head as she realizes what Bridget is saying. "I'm the donor?" she asks. As Nick confirms that she is, Bridget suddenly realizes that they have another option. As Brooke's daughter, she bets that her bone marrow would be compatible and could be used. Since she's younger and could heal faster, she offers to donate the marrow the baby needs, but Nick thinks it's best that they use Brooke as the closest match. "Will you do this?" he pleads. Brooke tells him that he doesn't even have to ask. Nick hugs her and whispers, "Thank you."

Nick checks on his wife.

Nick goes to check on Taylor and finds that she's asleep, so he asks the nurse to tell his wife when she awakens that everything's going to be OK. He then goes down to the operating room where Dr. Caron is preparing to extract Brooke's marrow. The doctor tells Nick that he can't be here, but Nick reminds her that he can easily own this hospital and the doctor's red Mercedes with one quick call to his lawyer. Brooke asks the doctor if she can be there when they give the baby the bone marrow, but Dr. Caron says that's just isn't done. "It'll be done tonight," Nick informs the doctor.

While Dr. Caron does the extraction, Nick goes to check on his son. Standing by the incubator, he quietly prays for the baby. "Don't take him," he sobs as he looks at this son. Dr. Caron comes in and tells him that the procedure went well and she has the marrow they need, so she's ready to start the transfusion.

Taylor wants to meet the donor to thank her.

While the procedure is going on, Bridget stops in to see Taylor, who asks where Nick was. Bridget tells her that Nick will be back soon. Taylor asks about the surgery, so Bridget tells her that it's probably happening as they speak, since the donor was close to a perfect match. Taylor asks how the donor is doing; when Bridget says the donor is in recovery, Taylor wishes she could go down and meet her. She knows there's a confidentiality clause, but she's really like to thank the woman personally for doing so much for her and Nick. She can't believe she'll never get to thank the woman who saved her baby boy. Nervous about where this is headed, Bridget steps out of the room, leaving Taylor confused as to what's going on.

Ridge tells Katie he's made a decision.

Back at Brooke's house, Katie goes upstairs to bed, but she comes down soon after to see if Brooke's home and finds that Ridge is still there. Ridge offers to call Brooke, since she should have been home by now. Katie asks Ridge to please listen to her. She tells him that she meant what she said earlier about being sensitive to Brooke's feelings. She's sure it hurt Ridge to watch Brooke run back to Nick, but she thinks it's clear that it's over between Brooke and Nick, and that Ridge is the one who Brooke wants. She'd love to see Ridge take Brooke back, but if that's not going to happen, she doesn't want to see her sister hurt. "You have to decide," she tells Ridge, who answers that he already has. Katie asks for his decision, but Ridge keeps it to himself and simply says, "Good night, Katie."