Tuesday, January 29, 2008, Episode #5237

Nick has a surprise for Taylor.

Taylor is trying to compose herself after Rick's departure when Nick comes in. Surprised that her husband is home, Taylor covers that she just put the baby town and pretends she's in a good mood for her husband. Nick informs her that he thought she needed a little more support in her current circumstances, so he called for backup - and Taylor is elated when Nick calls out to his backup and James walks in. Taylor rushes to give her friend and mentor a big hug.

Taylor assures James that she's fine.

James tells her that he couldn't wait to meet her beautiful son, so Taylor brings Jack down so James can meet him. When Taylor explains that she and Jack have been through so much bringing him into the world, James reveals that he knows that Brooke is Jack's biological mother. Taylor grows upset, but Nick explains that he thought it best for James to know everything if he's going to help. Taylor nervously tells Nick that it's fine; she's glad he called someone like James who can give her the kind of support she needs. While James asks Taylor how she's coping given her history with Brooke, Nick realizes he has to get back to the office and asks James how long he can stay. He's glad when James offers to stay as long as he can to help Taylor and leaves the old friends and colleagues to chat.

James asks Taylor if she's been drinking.

Once Nick is gone, James asks Taylor again how she's dealing with the truth of Jack's maternity. When James shares that Nick confided about his fears that she's drinking again, Taylor is surprised that her husband would tell James and assures him that she's fine. James asks if she'd tell him if there was a problem. "Absolutely," she replies, assuring him that she has everything under control.

Katie assures Stephanie that Donna will break up with Eric.

In Eric's offices, Katie assures Stephanie that Donna will break up with Eric. Stephanie hopes so, since she'll make sure Storm is thrown in prison if Donna doesn't come through. Katie insists that Donna will do what's best for Storm and their family. Stephanie puts forth that they'll find out if Donna is capable of putting someone else's needs before her own. Fed up with Stephanie's constant bashing of her sister, Katie retorts that Donna isn't the tramp Stephanie she thinks she is. She admits that she and Donna deal with things in different ways, but they both share the same concern for the family, so she's sure Donna will do the right thing. If she doesn't, Stephanie warns, then Storm is going away for a long, long time. After Stephanie leaves, Katie wonders why she hasn't heard from Donna yet and decides to check up on her sister.

Eric is stunned to learn that Storm shot Stephanie.

In his hotel suite, Eric is stunned to learn that Storm shot Stephanie. He asks Donna to tell him exactly what's going on, so Donna explains how Stephanie threatened to throw Storm in jail if she didn't break up with Eric. A confused Eric asks how Storm could have been the shooter, since he recalls that Storm was on the phone with the police at the time of the shooting. After Donna explains how Storm pulled his crime off, a furious Eric wants to call the police. He's incensed that Storm is running around acting like the Logan family's big protector after carrying out such a cold and calculating way plan to shoot Stephanie. Donna begs Eric to believe that Storm was pushed over the edge and doesn't deserve to be in jail. She knows Storm needs help, but she fears he won't get the help he needs if Stephanie has him thrown in prison and worries that he might not even survive being behind bars. Eric understands what's she saying, but he's not sure if he can just overlook the fact that his wife's shooter is running around free. Donna knows she should have told him sooner, but she was torn over Stephanie's demand that she break up with him to keep her brother free. Steamed that his wife would use information like this to get what she wants, Eric realizes that Stephanie hasn't changed one bit. Donna agrees that she hates being manipulated, too, but she doesn't know if she has any other choice but to go along with Stephanie's demands.

Donna prays the Eric's plan will work.

Eric asks where Storm is; when Donna explains that she and Katie urged their brother to go back to Europe to visit their dad, Eric hopes Storm listened. He has an idea, but it will only work if Storm is somewhere far away while he tries to pull it off. Donna asks if he's going to see Stephanie. Eric says that he is, but he has an idea how they can use this opportunity to beat Stephanie at her own game. Donna offers to leave L.A., but Eric tells her that won't be necessary. He explains that he's going to tell Stephanie that he's seen the light and has come to realize that she was right about Donna all along. He'll then fire Donna from Forrester and move back in with Stephanie. Donna pleads with him not to do it, but Eric informs her that he has no intention of sharing a bed with Stephanie. His plan is to move back in and do just enough to convince Stephanie that her blackmail plans succeeded. Donna asks if it will work. Eric thinks it will. Since the idea of telling the truth is such a foreign concept to Stephanie, he's sure she'll never suspect that Donna told him everything. That will give him time to show Stephanie that their marriage is just an empty shell, and he's sure Stephanie will let him go once she sees that, leaving him free to be with Donna. Hoping Eric is right, Donna embraces him and prays that his plan will work.