Tuesday, April 15, 2008, Episode #5290

Ashley thanks Ridge for checking on her last night.

Ashley drops by Ridge's office to thank him for checking on her last night after her date with Storm. She tells him how the date went creepy when Storm insisted on driving her home and then tried to wrangle an invitation inside once they got back to her place. Even though she didn't invite him in, it was still disturbing, and she even got three voice mails from Storm before she left for work this morning. Hearing that, Ridge feels justified in telling Ashley that Storm shot Stephanie, but he asks Ashley if she can keep that little tidbit to herself; he explains that Brooke would worry herself sick if she found out that he told someone the truth about Storm. Surprised at the request to keep this under wraps, Ashley asks why Storm isn't in jail right now. Ridge tells her about the deal his mother made with Brooke to keep Storm out of jail. Ashley doesn't understand why Stephanie would agree to such a deal. Ridge explains that his mom hoped she might win Eric back by showing a little mercy. Ashley is still surprised that Stephanie agreed, although she now sees why Ridge would want to protect both his own family and his fiancee's by hiding the truth.

Ridge confides in Ashley.

Ridge explains that he and Brooke see Storm very differently; Brooke insists her brother is fine psychologically, but he feels strongly that Storm is a dangerous man who hates everyone who crossed him, particularly his own dad and the Forrester family. Still having trouble accepting that Stephanie hasn't used this information to blow the Logan family apart, Ashley asks Ridge if his mom's OK. Ridge explains again that Stephanie is still hoping that Eric might come back, as unrealistic as that seems. Ashley doesn't think she'd be able to keep her mouth shut had she been the one who was shot, but she agrees not to say anything as Ridge asked. Ridge thanks her. Ashley asks Ridge how this latest stumbling block has affected his relationship with Brooke. Ridge confides that things have been strange, which is why he's glad to have such a good friend like Ashley. He was really worried about her last night, so he hopes she'll steer clear of Storm. Ashley says she will. The two of them admit that they still have a soft spot for each other.

Rick has an idea to help Taylor.

Taylor is anxiously pacing around her house when Rick drops by. Taylor explains that she couldn't sleep last night since she kept thinking about Brooke's threats to take Jack away. Rick tells her that he's sorry to hear that, but he thinks he has the answer to her problems with his mother and hands her some papers. Taylor reads through the papers and asks if she's reading this right. Rick confirms that she is. He explains that he met with the Forrester attorneys last night after hearing about his mother's threats, and they're confident that this document will neutralize his mother and get Taylor in a position where she can get Jack back. All they need to do is get Nick to sign the papers. Taylor asks if he thinks Nick will sign. Rick isn't sure, but they'll never know if they don't ask. He wants to believe that Nick is still a good man who wants to do the right thing for his son, so he hopes Nick will agree to sign once he hears about how Brooke has been acting. Taylor thanks Rick for all his help. Rick reminds her of his promise to support her and to help her fight for the chance to see her son, no matter who gets in their way. Taylor tells Rick he's incredible and says that she loves him.

Katie tells Nick about her talk with Bridget.

Katie drops by the Marone mansion with some pistachios for Nick. She tells him how she ran into Bridget on the way out last night, and Bridget mentioned her theory that she [Katie] has a crush on Nick and warned her aunt Katie to back off. Nick asks if Bridget was right about the crush; Katie laughs that it's not true, because she thinks he's an egocentric jerk. "That's the Katie that I know and love," Nick quips. The two are about to dig into the bag of pistachios when Brooke drops by. Katie marvels at Brooke's sense of timing; Brooke counters that she wasn't expecting to find Katie here. Nick asks Brooke why she's here, so Brooke tells him that she needed to talk to Bridget and assumed that her daughter would be here. She wanted to find out how things were going with Nick. Hearing Jack crying, Katie goes into babysitter mode and goes to tend to the baby. Brooke asks if Katie is really here to babysit Jack. "Not really," Nick replies. Brooke asks what he means, but Nick suggests she ask Katie directly and offers her a pistachio. Getting back to her reason for stopping by, Brooke asks if Bridget is staying here. Nick explains that she isn't, but he and Bridget are taking things slow, with no commitments.

Brooke asks Nick to let her be part of Jack's life.

Katie comes down with Jack, so Brooke asks if she can hold the baby. Nick agrees, so Katie hands the baby to Brooke. While Brooke marvels at how peacefully Jack sleeps, Katie asks her sister if there's anything else she needs since Bridget isn't here. Brooke says that she also needs to talk to Nick about Taylor, since she thinks that Taylor's pursuit of Rick to get revenge shows that Taylor still isn't stable. Katie rolls her eyes, but Brooke insists that Taylor is not stable enough to care for the baby and asks Nick if she can spend more time with Jack. "Excuse my French," Nick asks, "but what about the meathead?" Brooke tells a surprised Nick that Ridge is trying to come to terms with her relationship with Jack. which Nick assumes is the latest on a long list of disappointments for the dressmaker. In any case, Nick doesn't think Ridge's feelings matter. As far as Brooke's role in Jack's life goes, Nick feels that's up to him and Taylor, since Brooke signed her parental rights away. Brooke reminds Nick that she promised to stay out of Jack's life when he was still married to Taylor, but things have changed now. She insists that she needs to be a part of Jack's life, and that's something Nick can address as long as he has full custody. "If you care about me at all," she pleads, "you would at least give me the chance to try to be a mother to Jack."

Taylor asks Nick for help.

After Brooke leaves, Katie discusses her sister's request to be part of Jack's life with Nick. Katie is sure Ridge would split a gut had he heard Brooke's passioned plea just now. Betting that Nick would have been thrilled to hear those words from Brooke months ago, she asks how he feels about it now. Before Nick can answer, the doorbell rings. Saved by the bell, Nick answers and finds Taylor and Rick there, asking for his help. They quickly explain to Nick about Brooke's threats to Taylor to keep Taylor away from Jack, and Rick shows Nick the papers he had drawn up. Rick pleads with Nick to sign these to protect Taylor's rights, since he thinks Nick knows how determined Brooke can be when she sets her mind on something. Nick flips through the papers and asks if he understands correctly; he thinks this is a statement from him to the judge asking to have Taylor's half of joint custody of Jack reinstated. That's right, Rick and Taylor confirm. Nick tells them that he has one major issue here; he didn't have this document drawn up, so he doesn't know what exactly he could be signing. Taylor assures Nick that there is nothing underhanded here. She thinks he's seen that she's been getting better, so his signing the document will just affirm that belief so she can take the necessary steps to make sure Brooke doesn't block her from seeing her son. She knows Brooke wants to portray her relationship with Rick as something sordid, but it's not, and she and Rick haven't even been intimate.