Tuesday, December 09, 2008, Episode #5456

Ridge and Steffy console each other.

At Taylor's, a saddened Ridge sits in the living room when Steffy comes home and joins him on the sofa. Ridge tells her that he told Taylor about Phoebe. Steffy wishes she had been there to help break the news to her mom, but Ridge says it wasn't her responsibility. Feeling like there's a gaping hole inside her, Steffy asks what they'll do without Phoebe. Ridge says that they'll treasure her memory and keep her with them forever. Steffy asks where her mom is. When Ridge explains that Taylor went up to her room, Steffy wants to go to her, since she doesn't want her mom to be alone now. Ridge urges her to give Taylor some time alone to grieve. Steffy wonders how Taylor will get past this. Ridge says that they'll all be there for Taylor, including him. Steffy asks about Brooke, so Ridge tells her that he and Brooke have put the wedding on hold. Steffy recalls how she had a bad feeling at the party; it was like she knew when Phoebe left her because of the bond they shared as twins, even though they had been apart for some time. Ridge is glad she got one last chance to reconnect Phoebe before the tragedy. Steffy asks Ridge if he was with Phoebe when she died. When he says he was, Steffy asks if Phoebe was peaceful. "She was very peaceful," Ridge assures. Steffy is glad her sister wasn't alone. "She was surrounded by the love of her family," Ridge insists. Steffy asks where Phoebe is, since she wants to see her sister one last time. Ridge agrees to take her.

Brooke protects Rick from Stephanie's grilling.

On the terrace at the Forrester mansion, an anguished Stephanie continues to grill Rick with questions about the accident, since she can't understand why Phoebe is dead. She asks if anyone else was hurt. Brooke says that Rick was, but Rick says he's fine. When Stephanie asks about the other driver, Rick states that there was none. Realizing that Rick lost control of the car, Stephanie rails at him and orders him to tell her more. Brooke urges Stephanie to ease up, as Rick is in shock, but Stephanie demands to know why her granddaughter, who was alive and happy earlier today, is now dead. She asks Rick why Phoebe was in his car. When Brooke says that Rick was driving Phoebe to the party, Stephanie is surprised, since Rick is the last person she'd expect Phoebe to ask for a ride. Rick tells her that Phoebe had some things to say to him. "To you? Or about you?" Stephanie asks. Both, Rick replies, but Stephanie wants more details. "She was pissed at me!" Rick exclaims, but that fails to appease Stephanie. Brooke tells Stephanie to stop giving Rick the third degree. While there will be a time for these questions, she concedes, right now they should be praying for Phoebe and the family.

Once Stephanie leaves, Rick tells his mother that nothing will be the same now that Phoebe is dead. He fears he'll never make this right. Brooke tells him that there was nothing he could have done, but he insists that he could have stopped the car, or asked Phoebe to get out before leaving the parking lot. Had Phoebe refused, he would have just stayed in the parking lot. Brooke assures him that Stephanie didn't mean to sound so accusing, but Rick disagrees. "Her granddaughter got in the car with me, and now she's dead," Rick bemoans. Brooke tells him not to do this to himself, but he insists that he broke Phoebe's heart and then killed her.

Ridge and Steffy arrive at the morgue.

Ridge and Steffy arrive at the morgue, where they look for someone to help them find Phoebe. They see an attendant in a room full of gurneys and ask if she knows where Phoebe Forrester is. The woman tells them that Phoebe is there and offers them her personal effects. Once Ridge signs for them, the woman hands him a plastic bag and expresses her condolences. Alone in the room with the sheet-covered gurney, Ridge and Steffy start to sift through Phoebe's things. They find her purse, shoe, makeup and jewelry inside the bag. As Steffy recognizes a bracelet she lent Phoebe for the night, she breaks into tears. Ridge then finds the barrette he bought for Phoebe in Sydney. Steffy recalls how Phoebe always wore it, since it made her feel connected to their dad. "I know," Ridge sobs.

Steffy cleans Phoebe up.

Steffy pulls the sheet off Phoebe's face and weeps as she sees the blood and scratches. She takes off her scarf, wets it in a nearby sink and starts to clean Phoebe's face. "She's beautiful, isn't she?" Steffy asks her dad, who says that Phoebe will always be beautiful. Steffy asks if she can have a moment alone with her sister, so Ridge leaves the room.

Steffy looks for a sign from her dead sister.

Alone with her sister, Steffy sobs, "Why did I let you leave? Why didn't I make you stay?" She wishes she would have made Phoebe go the party with her, since her twin would still be there. "What am I gonna do without you?" she cries, recalling how she and Phoebe always shared everything and were always there for each other. Now she feels like part of her is dead, and she'll never be the same again. But still, she feels like Phoebe is still there, so she begs her lifeless sister to send her a sign that she's still there in her heart. "Please, just give a sign," she weeps as she rests her head on Phoebe's body.

Stephanie talks with Ridge about the tragedy.

Outside, Stephanie arrives and finds Ridge waiting for Steffy. Ridge tells his mother that Phoebe's gone. Stephanie says that she knows, since Eric told her. Ridge tells her that Steffy is inside saying goodbye. Stephanie gently asks Ridge if he was there when Phoebe died. Ridge tells her how he found his sweet little girl, who had been thrown from the car. He thought he shouldn't touch Phoebe, but he had to hold her. So he did, and then she died in his arms. Consoling her eldest son, Stephanie tells him that it was good that he was there for Phoebe, but Ridge wonders how good it was if he couldn't protect her. Stephanie tells him not to think that way, but Ridge can't help it. He reflects that he drove on that road a thousand times, but never once did he think that it would be the place where he'd find his little girl lying in a ditch. Stephanie tells him that some things are just unthinkable. Recalling that "accident" was one of the very first words he and Taylor taught Phoebe, Ridge wonders how an "accident" could have taken her from them.