Wednesday, October 24, 2007, Episode #5173

Felicia has some advice for her father.

At the Forrester mansion, Eric tells Felicia that Stephanie came home last night. Felicia hopes that her mom didn't run into Donna. Eric assures her that he made sure that didn't happen, because he wants to tell Stephanie in his own time and own way. Felicia suggests that he not tell Stephanie at all, since it's not too late for him to just give up on Donna and patch things up with Stephanie. "Mother is the glue that holds this family together," Felicia insists, unable to believe that Donna is a better match for her dad. Eric disagrees and warns Felicia not to interfere. Felicia asks him to at least consider that he was happy with Stephanie at one time. Eric starts to tell Felicia that things happen with a large family and a successful business, but Felicia tells him that he can't have it both ways. Eric concedes that he has to make a choice, but he won't do that until Stephanie apologizes to Brooke. Felicia asks if her mother knows about that condition. Eric informs her that he told Stephanie last night, and Stephanie seemed serious about apologizing to Brooke. In fact, he thought it would have happened already, since Stephanie was headed over to Brooke's last night when she left here. Maybe it didn't go too well, Felicia surmises.

Bridget brings her mom home from the hospital.

Bridget brings Brooke home from the hospital. Brooke is still a bit sore and is woozy from the pain killers, so Bridget sits her down on the sofa. Brooke insists that she's starting to feel better, but Bridget tells her to take it easy and have some chicken soup so the soreness will pass after a few days. She then tells Brooke that she might be anemic for a few weeks due to the loss of bone marrow, so she's prescribing an iron supplement that should be washed down with orange juice, since the vitamin C will help Brooke absorb the iron. Still a bit out of it, Brooke tells Bridget how shocked Ridge was when he found out that she was the egg donor for Taylor's baby. Bridget guesses that Ridge was surprised that Brooke is the baby's mother, but Brooke insists that Taylor is the mother, as she kept telling Ridge over and over. Bridget says she can understand why Ridge might have a head time believing that, since this baby ties Brooke to Nick once again. Brooke says that she'll do whatever it takes to prove that she has no claim to Nick and Taylor's child, because she has no intention of giving up on Ridge.

Bridget goes to get her mom something to eat and returns with tea and a sandwich served on a fancy silver platter. When Bridget comments on serving the meal up on a silver platter, Brooke flashes back to the rape and cries out. Bridget asks what's wrong; Brooke tells her that Andy had claimed that Stephanie had "served her up" to him on a silver platter. Bridget apologizes for her choice of words. Brooke then takes out the spare house-key that Andy used to gain access to the house. Bridget is surprised her mom still has that and asks Brooke when she last saw Beth the rape counselor. Brooke insists that she doesn't need counseling. Bridget disagrees. Brooke then flashes back to how Stephanie came by shortly after the rape, deriding her for having a parade of men going through her bedroom. She recalls telling Stephanie that she didn't seduce anyone, but Stephanie was skeptical. "Shut up!" Brooke cries out. Bridget asks her mom what's wrong, urging Brooke to open up about her feelings. "You need to talk to someone, or they're never gonna go away," Bridget insists. Brooke replies, "They'll never go away if people keep bringing it up," evoking a sigh from Bridget.

Stephanie wants to talk to Ridge.

Ridge is at home, recalling how Brooke told him that she was the egg donor for Nick and Taylor's child. The doorbell rings and he's surprised to find his mother on his doorstep. Stephanie asks if she can come in, but Ridge tells her that there's nothing there for her. Stephanie is pleased that he didn't just slam the door in her face. Ridge tells her not to read too much into that. He guesses that she knew what she did given how she fled town once she found out what happened to Brooke. Stephanie tells him that she left town to get help. Ridge counters that Brooke needed help, too, and now she's getting it. Stephanie is glad to hear that; she tells Ridge that there's nothing he can say to her that she hasn't told herself or that her mother hasn't said. Ridge asks if she's been with his grandmother and Aunt Pam since she left. Stephanie tells him that Chicago was just the last stop on a trip to do some soul searching given her huge lapse of judgement. Ridge finds it hard to believe she can so casually call what she did a "lapse of judgement." Stephanie insists that she didn't mean for Brooke to be raped. But Brooke was raped, Ridge insists, unsure if he'll ever be able to forgive his mother for her part in the rape. Stephanie insists that she can change and promises not to interfere in his life.

Ridge tells his mother to stay away from Brooke.

Stephanie tells Ridge she heard about his engagement to Ashley and congratulates him. Ridge tells her that ironically, the rape has brought him closer to Brooke than ever, which has given him something to think about while Ashley is in Europe. Stephanie says that it's his choice to make and says that she wants to speak to Brooke, but Ridge makes it perfectly clear that he doesn't want her anywhere near Brooke. Stephanie insists on talking to Brooke, not so much to apologize as to explain her actions, but Ridge tells her that her actions have already traumatized Brooke so much that she sought help from a rape crisis center and still has a lot of anger and fear to work through. And while the counseling is helping, Ridge fears Brooke will never heal until she can deal with all the fear and trauma she's feeling.

Eric drops by to see Brooke.

Eric drops by Brooke's house with some work and finds her out of sorts. She explains that she had a medical procedure last night and she just got home, but she's sure she'll be fine tomorrow. Then she can work on this tomorrow, Eric states. Brooke bets he only came by with the work as an excuse to check on her. Eric admits that he did, because Stephanie is back. When he asks Brooke if Stephanie has been by yet, Brooke says she hasn't, and she thinks that's a good thing, because she doesn't want to see Stephanie ever again. Eric is surprised, because he thought she wanted to confront Stephanie. Brooke says she doesn't know if she'll ever be able to face Stephanie, especially if Stephanie will just say "I'm sorry" for her own sake. "Please, just keep her away from me. If she was standing there right in front of me, I don't know what I might do," she begs.

Bridget goes over to the mansion to see her father, but Felicia says he is gone and is over at Brooke's, to warn Brooke that Stephanie is back. Bridget is glad their father is with Brooke, since she's sure it won't be pretty if her mom runs into Felicia's mom. Felicia says that Brooke and Stephanie are bound to see each other eventually, but Bridget thinks it's too soon for it to happen now.