Thursday, April 17, 2008, Episode #5292

Katie promises to be there for baby Jack.

At the Marone mansion, Nick stares at the torn custody papers and vents to Katie about the mess the custody issue has become. Nick wonders if he did the right thing by not signing, since he's keeping Jack from his mother. Katie assures him he did the right thing, since he has to keep his son safe. "Safe from his own mother?" Nick asks, pointing out how bothered Taylor was by his decision not to sign the papers earlier. Katie thinks Taylor's anguished reaction just shows how unstable Taylor still is. She points out to Nick that he doesn't have to choose between Taylor and Brooke as to who should share custody, since he can always keep sole custody until he feels Taylor is ready. Katie reminds Nick that both Taylor and Brooke have issues with him and with Jack that would keep them from being good influences on Jack, so she suggests that he send them a wake-up call to show them how foolish they've been by keeping sole custody. "But Jack needs a mother," Nick points out. Katie counters that Jack has a mother, one who just can't care for him now. Nick fears that will leave Jack wanting, since he can't care for Jack while he's fighting a custody battle. Katie tells him that he won't be alone, since she'll be there to help him.

Nick asks Katie what's wrong.

Nick reminds Katie that neither her sister nor Taylor will be too thrilled if he keeps sole custody. In Brooke's case, Katie points out, he'd be making a deliberate, well-thought-out decision. She loves her sisters, but they're known for impulsively jumping into things without thinking about the consequences, and that's what Brooke is doing here. Nick senses something else bothering Katie and asks what it is. She tells him that she's worried about him and about Jack, but she's also worried about Taylor after what happened here earlier. The only thing is, she still can't get her mind around the idea of Taylor being with Rick. Nick agrees, since he and Taylor aren't even divorced yet, and Rick is just a kid. Katie wants to hope for Jack's sake that Taylor and Rick's relationship is real, but she worries about what will happen to Jack if it isn't. Holding the baby, Katie tells Nick that Jack has become special to her, and she compliments Nick on how committed he is to his son. She thinks it's a pleasure to watch him with Jack and be around them - and around Nick in particular. Taking Nick's hand, Katie gazes into his eyes and tells him, "I'm not impressed by a lot of people, but I'm impressed by you. I'm very impressed."

Taylor thanks Rick again for his support.

Taylor and Rick return to the Bel Air mansion. Taylor fumes about how much it hurts that Nick wouldn't sign the papers. All she wants is to be with her son, but Nick obviously thinks she's too crazy to care for her child. Rick tells her that Nick is the crazy one, not her. He apologizes if he pushed too hard in his bid to reunite her with her son, but she tells him that he's the only one who seems to care about her. Rick suggests they go for a swim to clear their heads and goes to change. When he comes back wearing just his swimsuit, he has Taylor's bathing suit with him, but she's not in the mood as she's worried about the situation with Jack. Rick assures her that the judge will hear her out, but Taylor asks how she can convince a judge she's OK when she can't even convince her ex-husband, the man who vowed to love her forever. She starts to wonder if Nick is right, but Rick tells her not to think that way. Taylor worries that she won't hold up through a custody battle, especially if she's forced to share custody of Jack with Brooke. Rick promises not to let that happen, since he'll be right there beside her fighting his mother. He wishes Nick has signed the document, but the judge is the one who will decide who gets custody, and he's sure the court will give more weight to her psychiatrist's official evaluation than to Nick's twisted opinion in deciding if she's a fit parent. Taylor worries that they don't know what the official evaluation says, but Rick is sure it will work in her favor. Taylor thanks him again for his support.

Rick wants to make love to Taylor.

Taylor asks Rick how wise it his for him to take her side over his mother's. Rick tells her that it's not about her or his mother, but about what's best for Jack. He wants Jack to have the peaceful, uncomplicated life growing up that he didn't, and he's sure Jack will have that life if Taylor just keeps doing what she's doing and doesn't freak out. Rick knows the ordeal has been hard on them, but at least it brought them together. Taylor tells him that she wants to believe him and she loves him, and they start to kiss. Taylor tells him to put some clothes on, but Rick laughs that he would rather see her take her clothes off. Taylor tells him to stop, but he says he can't help it, since she drives him wild. He lovingly tells her how he feels when he looks at her hair and her eyes and everything in between. It makes him want to make love to her so badly that he feels like he's bursting at the seams. Taylor says she wants to make love to him, too, but the time isn't right. They have to consider how Phoebe, Jack, Brooke and Ridge will react before they take that step. Rick tells her that he never felt this way before. Taylor responds by kissing him passionately.

Thorne and Felicia smell something odd.

Felicia and Thorne wait in Eric's office for Donna, so they can sample Ashley's new fragrance. When Donna arrives late and fires off a quick approval of the fragrance within seconds, Thorne and Felicia ding her for her "prima Donna" attitude, but Thorne then smells something else besides the fragrance coming from the reception area. The Forrester siblings rush outside and find that the smell is coming from Tiny, who lies on the floor getting sick with Pam kneeling beside him. As Pam frets over her sick pooch, Madison goes to call the janitor to clean up. Thorne tells Pam that they have to get Tiny out of there and get him to the vet if he's sick. Madison returns and reports that the janitor is on his way, so Thorne tells her to keep any clients in the building away from the area. Pam offers to take Tiny down to the loading dock, but Thorne and Felicia tell her that she has to get the dog out of the building and keep him out from now on. Pam sobs that she can't be away from her baby, but Thorne and Felicia stand firm. Thorne steps away as the janitor arrives to clean up. Donna pokes her head out of Eric's office to see what's going on and Pam sees her. "You did this to my baby!" Pam cries out.

Donna is stunned by Pam's accusation.

As Pam charges into Eric's office, Donna tells her to close the door to keep the smell out. Pam tells Donna to admit what she did to Tiny. Donna says she will once Pam cops to all Donna's recent mishaps. Pam argues that her pranks just cost Donna a few days of a perfect exterior, but that didn't warrant Donna poisoning her dog for revenge. Donna tells Pam that she didn't do anything to Tiny. She just threw the dog some lemon bars to shut him up when he wouldn't stop growling. Pam seethes that Donna should have known that Tiny's sensitive stomach can't take lemon bars, since Pam told Donna that earlier. Pam bemoans that what Donna did was cruel and blasts that Eric deserves so much better than the likes of Donna. Donna tells Pam to give it a rest and accept that Eric wants her and not Pam's poor, pathetic sister. Pam fumes that Donna, as usual, only thinks herself and doesn't give a damn about what happens to Eric, his family or his company. Donna retorts that she doesn't know if she should be laughing at Pam's ranting or calling security. Pam tells Donna not to even think about calling security, since this isn't just about Stephanie anymore. Now it's personal!