Friday, April 18, 2008, Episode #5293

Felicia consoles an angry Pam.
As Felicia calls for the vet, Pam stays by Tiny's side. When Dr. Crocker, the vet, calls from the parking lot, Thorne has security bring her up and goes to the elevator to meet her. Felicia waits with Pam and Donna in Eric's office while the vet examines Tiny. Minutes later, Thorne brings Dr. Crocker to the office after the vet has examined Tiny. Dr. Crocker asks what happened. Donna tries to explain how she fed the dog lemon bars to keep him from barking at her and guesses that Tiny just overate, but Pam insists that Donna is lying about what she did to Tiny. The doctor admits that this could be a case of overeating, but she asks Pam if she's been giving Tiny his medication for his heart, since Tiny has a serious case of dilated cardiomyopathy. Pam says that she gave Tiny the pills at night, but she didn't give him the pills during the day since he needs to walk after taking the pills. The doctor concludes that Tiny suffered from a case of congestive heart failure, but Pam refuses to believe it and insists that the pooch will be fine. "He's gonna be fine, right?" Pam asks, but the vet says she's sorry. As Thorne goes with the vet to make arrangements, Felicia tries to console Pam, who weeps over the loss of her best friend. Donna tries to tell Pam she's sorry, but Pam tells her that she hasn't even begun to be sorry!

Donna tries to tell Pam she's sorry.
Donna says that she doesn't want to fight, but Pam insists that Donna wanted Tiny dead. Donna reminds Pam what the vet said about Tiny's heart, but Pam points out that Tiny was fine until he was alone with Donna and fumes that Donna has gone too far this time! Donna tells Pam that the vet said it was lack of medication, but Pam accuses Donna of poisoning Tiny. Donna insists that she's really sorry about what happened to Tiny, but Pam says that she will never forgive Donna for this!

Katie's chat with Nick is cut short.
At the Marone mansion, the doorbell interrupts Nick and Katie's little chat. Nick answers the door and finds a messenger there with a package for him from Taylor's attorney. Nick opens the package and finds that it contains Taylor's psychological evaluation, which states that Taylor is perfectly stable. Nick hopes this bodes well for Taylor's being able to be with Jack, although he wonders what this will mean at the hearing tomorrow.

Taylor asks Rick to read her evaluation.
At the Bel Air mansion, Taylor is on the phone with a patient when a now-clothed Rick brings in some sandwiches. Taylor explains that she was rescheduling some appointments, since she doesn't feel like helping others when her own is such a mess, but Rick doesn't think it's wrong for her to want to see her son. The doorbell rings and Rick goes to answer it; he finds the messenger from Taylor's attorney there with the same envelope he brought Nick. Taylor tells Rick that the envelope contains her court-ordered psychological evaluation. Rick tells her to open it, but Taylor asks him to do it for her. Rick opens the envelope, reads the papers and smiles; he tells Taylor that the hearing resumes tomorrow, and based on the report he just read, he thinks she'll finally have her parental rights reinstated like she wanted. Taylor tells Rick that she never again wants to be in a position like this where other people have power over her. She tries to thank Rick for supporting her but fumbles in finding the words. Still, she makes it clear to Rick that all this is happening because of him. Rick tells her not to talk that way, but Taylor insists that it's true, and she declares that she won't let anyone ever tell her that he doesn't belong in her life. Rick doesn't think they should have to defend their relationship, although he does ask if they can honestly say that none of their feelings for each other have anything to do with his mother.

Brooke is stunned by Nick's reaction to the evaluation.
Back at the Marone mansion, Katie speculates that Brooke won't be happy when she hears about Taylor's evaluation. Nick insists that Brooke just wants what's best for Jack, but Katie asks if he's sure about that. Right on cue, Brooke shows up to find out if Nick got a copy of Taylor's evaluation. It just arrived, Nick tells her, and it answers the question that was asked. Brooke reviews the report and is stunned when she finds that it doesn't include anything about Taylor's relationship with Rick. Nick reminds her that this is a professional opinion and not an expose, but Brooke suggests that Taylor used her professional experience to tell her shrink just what he wanted to hear. She finds it odd that she's the only one who's bothered by how Taylor's relationship with Rick might hurt Jack. Nick insists that Taylor would never hurt that baby, but Brooke argues that Taylor has done all she can do for Jack, so it's time for Nick to let go and just keep sole custody of Jack. Nick reminds her that it wouldn't be healthy for him to raise Jack alone, but Brooke points out that he won't be alone. She admits she might feel otherwise if Taylor's behavior was less erratic, but since it isn't, she doesn't see how she can keep her distance.

Nick rejects Brooke's suggestion.
"Are you suggesting that I share custody with you?" Nick asks Brooke. Brooke tells him that they don't have to have any official rules, but she doesn't see why that would be so crazy. Nick asks how Ridge would take to that, but Brooke insists that Ridge has made some concessions about Jack. Besides, this isn't about her and Ridge. It's about giving Jack a dependable home with people who love him, and she thinks Jack would find that right in this very room. Katie agrees (although she of course doesn't mention who in this room should provide that home for Jack). Nick tells that he knows she's not crazy about Rick's involvement with Taylor, and honestly he isn't happy about it, either. But he doesn't think that's a psychiatric symptom, so he suggests that they give this a rest. Brooke disagrees, so Nick asks if she's telling him to cut Jack's mother out of Jack's life. "The problem here is that you've stopped thinking of Taylor as Jack's mother," Katie adds, "and she is." Brooke accuses Nick and Katie of ganging up on her, but Katie asks Brooke why she's making this all about her. Brooke argues that Rick and Taylor can never provide a stable environment for Jack, and she suggests that those two getting together would be her worst nightmare.

Rick proposes to Taylor.
Back at the Bel Air mansion, Taylor gets some linen for Jack ready for the laundry. Rick tells her not to worry, since they are already clean, but Taylor wants everything smelling fresh when Jack gets home. She asks Rick if he's telling her to stop because he thinks she's setting herself up for disappointment. Rick tells her to stop second guessing herself every time something goes right, but Taylor says she can't help questioning anything something good comes her way. She uses her feelings for him as an example, since she keeps asking herself, "Can this really work?" She concedes that he's the only one who accepts her for who she is. Rick tells her that he does that because he loves her, no matter what anyone else thinks of their relationship. He thinks they're the only one who can put a name to who and what they are. Taylor isn't sure how to label their relationship; they're not lovers, but they're more than friends, so she asks if they really need to put a name on it. Rick thinks they do, since this feels right. He slides off the couch, gets down on one knee and asks Taylor to marry him! Stunned, Taylor says that she doesn't know what to say. Rick says that she only has to say one word: "Say yes," he urges. Taylor looks at him, unsure how to respond.