Thursday, September 13, 2007, Episode #5144

Private Investigator Ed gives Ridge some advice.

Private Investigator Ed asks Ridge if he's sure about the number on Andy's phone. Ridge replies that he surely knows the number for the phone line his mother always uses in their family home. Ed asks Ridge about Stephanie's relationship with Brooke. Not wanting to consider that his mother helped Brooke's rapist, Ridge recalls that Andy was a lawyer and wonders if his mother called Andy for help with the custody battle. Ed sadly informs him that Andy was a corporate lawyer. Ridge still refuses to believe that his mother could be involved with Andy, but Ed suggests that he at least consider it. Ridge points out that Ed doesn't even know his mother, but Ed counters that everyone knows how much Stephanie hates Brooke after seeing Stephanie on "The Rich Ginger Show." Ridge still isn't convinced. Since Stephanie's phone number was found on Andy's phone, Ed suggests that Ridge ask Stephanie how she knows the man, in the hopes that they turn up something useful. "In my business, you learn to expect the unexpected," the P.I. advises.

Eric is shocked by what Ridge tells him.

Ridge goes to the Forrester mansion, where he recalls Andy's taunts about how his "helper" served Brooke up on a silver platter and tipped him off about Brooke's spare key. Eric comes in and asks Ridge what's wrong. Noting that the recent news photo of Brooke is missing from that day's paper, Ridge asks Eric if Stephanie saved it. Changing the subject, Eric scolds Ridge for missing Thorne's wedding, although he admits he's proud of Ridge for reuniting Brooke and her kids. Getting back to the newspaper photo, Eric asks what's so important about a photo of Brooke dining out. Ridge replies that Brooke wasn't dining out. Eric advises Ridge to let go, since Brooke's entitled to live her own life. Ridge tells Eric that he can't let go, because Brooke was raped! Ridge then tells Eric the whole story, asking his dad to please keep this to himself. Eric guesses it's too late for the police, since Andy is dead, but he wonders what Brooke needs. What Brooke needs, Ridge explains, is to feel safe, and the way to do that is to find the person who served Brooke up to Andy on a silver platter. Ridge then tells Eric how he and his P.I. checked Andy's cell phone and found a familiar phone number several times - the number to Stephanie's phone here. Eric can't believe that Stephanie would have helped a man like Andy. Ridge doesn't want to believe it, either, but all the signs suggest that she spoke to him. Not wanting to leave Brooke alone with Andy's accomplice still at large, Ridge excuses himself and heads home.

Felicia suggests that Brooke call the police once they find the accomplice.

At Ridge's house, Felicia waits with a nervous Brooke for Ridge to return. When Felicia tells Brooke not to speculate about what's going on with Ridge and Andy's cell phone, Brooke points out that Felicia has no idea what she [Brooke] has been going through. Felicia concedes that point. Brooke is glad Ridge has been there for her. Felicia agrees that Ridge will always care for Brooke, but Brooke thinks it's more than just caring. But right now, she only wants to think about finding Andy's accomplice. Felicia suggests that Brooke call the police once they find the accomplice, to make sure that sicko pays for what he did. Brooke doesn't want to think about it until that person is found. Knowing her brother as well as she does, Felicia is confident that Ridge will find the person, but she fears that Ridge might take the law into his own hands when he finds the guy. Brooke agrees that they can't let that happen after what happened with Shane. That just adds to the reasons that Brooke has to press charges, Felicia speculates; she knows her brother will do anything to protect the people he cares about, but he'll back down if he knows Brooke intends to press charges against Andy's accomplice. Brooke thinks about how she was ready to go to the police to press charges against Andy, just before Andy was killed. Then Andy was killed, but she still has nightmares knowing that Andy's accomplice is still out there. "You're right; when he's found, I'll go to the police," Brooke agrees.

Brooke tells Bridget that children are an incredible gift.

Bridget drops by to check on her mom after a busy day at the hospital. She apologizes to Brooke for not coming sooner as she heads to the living room. Bridget stops in mid-sentence when she sees Felicia, but Brooke tells her that Felicia knows about the rape. Bridget is glad her mom is able to talk about what happened. Felicia tells Bridget that she's so sorry about what Brooke had to go through. Felicia then looks to Brooke and guesses that they've said everything they need to. Brooke agrees, so Felicia tells Brooke to take care of herself and leaves. Bridget seems surprised at how civil Felicia was, and she's even more surprised that Brooke opened up to Felicia. Brooke concedes that it was something she needed to do, but she'd like to talk about something else now. Agreeing to move on, Bridget asks about the kids. Brooke says that the kids' happy faces make her forget about everything else, so she's grateful to Ridge for bringing them home to her. Bridget asks where the kids are now; Brooke tells her that they went to art class after school with Aly, and Thorne's taking them all to dinner after. Bridget is pleased to know how close the kids are, and she's even more pleased that Ridge brought the kids back to her mom. Brooke agrees that children are an incredible gift. "I'm sure," Bridget stammers.

Bridget gets emotional when responding to Brooke.

Seeing how upset Bridget is getting from talking about the kids, Brooke says she's sorry. Bridget says it's OK and wonders if she's even meant to have children. Brooke thinks Bridget is young and has plenty of time to have kids; she points out that she can still have children at her age, not that she's planning to have any, so she's sure Bridget can have kids, too. She admits, however, that she worries about Bridget being the doctor for Nick and Taylor's baby. Bridget tells her mom not to worry, since she at least knows what it's like to carry a child inside her. Thinking about Nicole brings tears to her eyes, but she tries to brush that off as part of life. Brooke agrees that positive things can come out of terrible events, but she worries about Bridget feeling so alone. Bridget says that Hope and R.J. are lucky to have Brooke for a mom, just as she was lucky in the same way. Brooke laughs at the remark and thanks Bridget for saying it, since it made her forget her problems. "You're a wonderful girl," Brooke states. Bridget asks Brooke how long she's going to stay here. When Brooke hints that she doesn't know, Bridget guesses that Brooke would stay here forever. Brooke admits that she would, since Ridge has helped her so much through this ordeal, and she bets that's made Ridge recall what they shared. She doesn't think Ashley can compete with that kind of closeness or history. Bridget rolls her eyes at the thought and hopes her mom doesn't get hurt again hoping to be with Ridge. She makes Brooke promise to be careful. Brooke says she will.