Friday, April 04, 2008, Episode #5283

Ashley wonders what's going on between Ridge and Storm.

In the hallway outside the fragrance lab, Ridge tells Storm that his legal services are no longer needed and gives him 15 minutes to leave the building. Storm argues that Eric runs the company, so he'll leave when Eric tells him to. Pointing out that is his family's business, Ridge snatches the legal papers from Storm's hand, tears the papers up and again tells Storm that he's fired! Ashley comes out of the lab and asks what's going on. Ridge says it's nothing, but Ashley sees the torn papers and asks what happened, since she thought they were on track when Storm showed her the papers earlier at lunch. "You two had lunch?" a shocked Ridge asks. When Ashley confirms that they did, Storm asks Ridge if that's a problem. Before Ridge can answer, Ashley is paged to a meeting with the packaging director, so she tells the men to play nice and asks Ridge to lock up the lab when he's done. Once Ashley's gone, Ridge turns back to Storm and orders him to stay the hell away from Ashley!

Ridge tells Storm to get out.

Stepping into the lab, Storm states that who he sees is none of Ridge's business, but Ridge disagrees, since he knows that Storm's the pathetic individual who shot Ridge's mother and framed his own father for the crime. That's why he wants Storm out of this building and out of his face. Storm contends that this is all about Ridge thinking he's so much better than the Logans. Ridge counters that it's not about Storm's family and is all about Storm himself, who's an angry, disturbed man. Storm argues that everyone's done something they're not proud of and reminds Ridge how Shane McGrath died, but Ridge brushes the comment aside and again orders Storm out! He tells Storm to stay away from Ashley, and from Hope and R.J., too, since he won't risk seeing Storm near anyone he cares about. "Are you gonna run me out of town like your mother did to my parents?" Storm asks. Ridge thinks that's a good idea and suggests that Storm go stay with his family in Europe. Asserting that Ridge always needs to win, Storm suggests they reverse those roles and shoves Ridge in the chest, so Ridge responds by punching Storm in the jaw and pinning him to the ground. Holding Storm down, Ridge gives him one minute to get out before Ridge has security show him out. An angry Ridge then walks off, leaving Storm to pick himself up from the floor.

Storm asks Ashley out for dinner.

Ashley returns to the lab and finds that Storm is still there. Storm covers that he and Ridge just had a little discussion, but Ridge had to go back to his office. Ashley asks Storm if there's anything she can do for him. As a matter of fact, Storm responds, she can have dinner with him tomorrow night. Since her daughter Abby is out of town, Ashley agrees. As Ashley goes to answer the phone, a pleased Storm mutters to himself, "So you think you can tell me what to do, huh, Ridge?"

Rick encourages Taylor to call Nick.

Rick drops by to see Taylor, knowing that Phoebe is at the dorms, since he has something to do that can't wait. Taylor asks what he means, so he tells her that she's going to call Nick and ask to have Jack over overnight. Taylor is more concerned with what would happen if Phoebe was here. Rick doesn't think Phoebe would question his coming over knowing how supportive he's been of her mom, but he wants Taylor to know that he's not going to push her into a relationship if that's not what she wants. Still, he knows how alone she's felt without Jack, and he feels that she has a right to be with her son. That's why he wants her to call Nick to ask to take Jack for the night. "And if Nick tries to stand in your way," he vows, "he's just gonna have to answer to me." Taylor thanks him. Rick then stands by as she calls Nick and asks if she can see Jack. Nick tells her to come over now and spend time with the boy, but Taylor says she'd like to see Jack overnight. Nick is unsure, but Taylor assures him that she's not drinking and her home is safe. She promises to check in if Nick will only allow her to have one night with Jack, so Nick agrees. After she hangs up, an excited Taylor thanks Rick for coming through for her (although all he did is give her a pep talk and convince her to call Nick). When Taylor goes to leave, Rick asks if he can come with her. Taylor says he can as long as he doesn't stare at her longingly in front of Nick. Rick promises not to make any waves. Taylor just hopes that Brooke won't be there. Rick agrees and they get on their way.

Bridget fantasizes about Nick.

At the hospital, a bespectacled Bridget looks at a photo of her and Nick and smiles as she flashes back to recent times she spent with Nick. She decides to call Nick, who thinks it's Taylor calling back. When he realizes it's Bridget, he guesses this is his day for calls and explains that Taylor is taking Jack for the night. Bridget tells him that she was calling to see if he needed help with Jack tonight, but she guesses he doesn't if Taylor is taking the baby. Nick hears his doorbell, so excuses himself to answer it. Bridget starts to say something to Nick before he ends the call, but then she says it's nothing and tells him that it was good to hear his voice. "You, too," Nick says as he end the call. Bridget then looks at the photo again and fantasizes about a romantic night with Nick; he's in a dress and he's in his sailor's uniform, and there are candles and champagne to set the mood. Nick starts to dance with her and holds her close as he asks her to marry him. Bridget responds by kissing him. As the fantasy ends, Bridget takes the photo of her and Nick, puts it back in her purse and leaves.

Brooke is surprised that Nick is letting Taylor take Jack overnight.

Nick answers his door and finds Brooke there. She tells him she wants to talk to him and asks how long he thought it would take for her to get the news. Nick asks her how her wedding plans are going, but she tells him that she and Ridge still have issues to resolve. Brooke then rails at Nick for getting involved with Bridget again and asks, :Do you have any concerns for my feelings?" Nick reminds her that he and Bridget are adults, but Brooke can't look at him knowing he's seeing Bridget. Nick reminds her that he would be with her had she stepped up when he put his heart on the line, but she didn't. He then asks if there's anything else she wants. Brooke says she brought something for Jack, so Nick asks what "Cliff" would say about that. She tells him that RIDGE has forbidden her from associating with him or Jack, but she disagrees, and that's why they're not married yet. However, she's sure Ridge will come around. She asks where Jack is; when Nick tells her that he was just preparing a bag so Taylor could take Jack overnight, Brooke asks why'd he'd let Taylor, who is still unbalanced, take the baby. Nick tells her that Taylor is doing better, but Brooke argues that Taylor still isn't stable. Nick asks why she'd say that, so Brooke tells him that Taylor is seducing Rick to get back at her!

Nick tells Taylor that he changed his mind.

The doorbell rings again, so Nick guesses it's Taylor. Sure enough, it is Taylor, so Nick invites her in. Taylor tries to be cordial to Brooke and tells Nick that she'll just get Jack and get on her way, but Nick tells her that he's changed his mind about letting her take the baby overnight. Taylor asks what changed his mind, so he tells her that Brooke told him about the "situation" with Rick and asks if she's involved with Rick. Taylor fumes at Brooke's judging her, especially after everything Brooke did to ruin her marriage and take her son away. Brooke asks Taylor if she plans to stop seeing Rick, but Taylor doesn't care to even have this conversation and turns to Nick. "Haven't I been punished enough?" she asks Nick as she pleads for him to just let her have one night with her son. Brooke insists that Taylor isn't leaving this house with the baby.