Friday, August 08, 2008, Episode #5373

Katie remembers her time on the beach with Nick.

Katie is on the phone in Eric's office, leaving a message for Donna about Eric. She ends the call and tries to dig into her work, but she's distracted by thoughts of her talk with Nick last night. She holds her stomach as she recalls Nick telling her that her baby is part of some larger plan. Pacing around the office, she remembers her night with Nick on the beach in Catalina when she told him she felt like they created something magical there. Katie then leaves to get some paperwork and returns shortly after. After closing the door behind her, she stands there, flashing back to that moment on the beach again. "It's perfect, you, this day. I wouldn't care if it were my last," she remembers telling Nick as they sat by the fire. As she recalls getting passionate with Nick while professing how precious the miracle of life is, she holds her belly again and sighs. Katie then walks over to Eric's desk and picks up a photo of her, Nick and Bridget from the wedding. She smiles as she gazes at the photo.

Bridget can't understand Nick's reluctance.

At the Marone mansion, Nick is looking at that very same wedding photo, saying, "We'll get through this. We will figure this out." Bridget comes down and is surprised to see her husband still there. Nick tells her that he canceled his meeting to be there when she got up and asks how Eric is. "He's getting worse," she says, worrying that her father's chances of coming out of the coma diminish as his body continues to fail. She's not giving up hope, but nothing is helping, and she can't deny that the odds are against her dad. "Even if he comes out of the coma," she sighs as she clings to her husband, "chances are he won't be the man I knew." As they sit down on the sofa, Bridget changes the subject and asks Nick again if they can talk about Katie being Jack's godmother. Nick doesn't want to talk about it, as he he wants to focus on Bridget and what's going on with Eric. Bridget tells him that she's also worried about Katie. She fears that Katie is slipping into a dark place and needs something positive to focus on, and what could be better than being Jack's godmother? All they have to do is ask Taylor. Nick isn't sure if this is something Katie even wants, but Bridget is sure Katie would be honored to be Jack's godmother.

Nick assures Bridget that he's there for her.

Nick gives Bridget a massage to ease her stress and tells her to stop worrying so much about her dad and Katie. Bridget reminds him that she's worried about him, too, pointing out that he was tossing and turning last night like something was bothering him. Nick says that he was just lonely without her, but Bridget points out that he was still restless after she came home and came to bed. Nick thinks back to his talk with Katie where they agreed to hold off on telling Bridget about the baby until they were more sure about the baby's chances. Bridget sees that Nick is deep in thought and asks what's wrong. He tells her that he worries about her because of what she does to others, so he doesn't want to see her get hurt. "No matter what happens, no matter whatever we have to go through," he assures, "just know I'm your husband, and I'm here for you, and I love you." Bridget says that she doesn't need to be reminded of that and they kiss. Bridget then rests her head on Nick's shoulder as he holds her close on the sofa. "We can so do this," Nick says aloud, reassuring his wife that they can face anything together. He's confident that their marriage is strong enough to pull then through the tough times, whatever it takes. They kiss again.

Ridge thinks he hears Eric's voice.

At the hospital, Ridge sits by Eric's bedside, with Brooke standing behind him. Ridge notes that Eric is getting worse, just like Bridget says. Dr. Patrick confirms Bridget assessment that Eric would die without the ventilator bringing oxygen to his brain. Ridge asks if they would leave the ventilator on. Dr. Patrick says they wouldn't, but they could perform a tracheotomy to access Eric's windpipe through the front of the throat and keep him alive indefinitely. Until he recovers, Brooke surmises, but Dr. Patrick says that the odds of recovery diminish after a few weeks in a coma. He wishes he had better news. Ridge says that they need to know what they're facing and thanks the doctor. After the doctor leaves, Brooke walks over to Eric's bedside and kisses him on the forehead. She then turns to Ridge and gives him a reassuring hug before leaving to give him some time alone with Eric. "I can't stand seeing you like this," Ridge tells a comatose Eric, lamenting that Eric was always the fighter who encouraged them and gave them something to believe in. He prays for some sign that would given them a reason to believe now, even though he knows it's hard for his dad. Suddenly, Ridge hears Eric say, ""Let me go, Ridge." Ridge rushes to Eric's side and sees that Eric is still unconscious, but he hears the disembodied voice again speak, this time saying, I'm tired, son." Ridge pleads for Eric to hold on, but Eric's voice says, "I'm ready." Ridge doesn't think he can do what Eric is asking, but the voice states that he's the only one who can do this. "Please, son, let me go," the voice pleads.

Brooke tells Ridge that he must have been dreaming.

Brooke comes back, so Ridge tells tells her that he heard Eric's voice in his head, pleading for him to help. "He doesn't want to fight anymore," Ridge insists. Brooke tells him that he's so tired that he must have dreamed that he heard Eric, but Ridge insists that he heard his father calling for help. Dr. Patrick returns, so Brooke goes out to talk to him, leaving Ridge alone with Eric.