Wednesday, January 02, 2008, Episode #5218

Donna worries about Eric's plans.

Donna and Storm anxiously wait for Brooke to return. When Donna frets about Brooke's plan to ask Stephanie for help, Storm realizes that his sisters' desire to help him might make them guilty of obstructing justice. Before Donna can answer, the doorbell rings; it's Eric, who wants to talk to Donna. Storm excuses himself to give them some privacy. Donna tells him not to leave the house, since they're not done talking. Once Storm leaves the room, Eric asks if everything is OK. Donna tells him there's been a break in her dad's case, but she can't talk about it. Eric tells her that he's on his way to serve Stephanie with divorce papers; he thinks it's better that he does it rather than send a process server. Donna asks why he's doing that now. Eric is surprised, as he thought she'd be happy. Donna says that she is happy, but she wonders if they should wait a while. Eric doesn't understand why she wants to wait, as she's always been anxious for him to end his marriage. Donna tells him that Brooke is over at the house trying to make peace with Stephanie, and she fears his bringing the papers now might upset that. Eric suggests that making peace with Brooke might leave Stephanie in a good mood, and if not, it shouldn't matter anyway. Donna adds that her reasons have to do her dad's case, but Eric reminds her of their promise not to let her father's arrest affect them. He asks Donna to wait for him at Forrester, since he has a surprise for her once he's done with Stephanie. "Whatever happens, we can handle it," Donna half-heartedly sighs. Eric tells her not to forget that and leaves.

Brooke orders Stephanie to tell the police that she remembers who shot her.

At the Forrester mansion, Brooke orders Stephanie to tell the police that she remembers who shot her, and it was not Stephen or Storm. Stephanie says that she can't lie to protect someone dangerous like Storm. Brooke argues that Storm isn't dangerous, but Stephanie counters that Storm shot her and intentionally set up his own father to take the blame, and she fears that Storm might try to shoot her again. She understands that Brooke wants to protect her family, but she can't do this. Brooke reminds Stephanie of her promise to do anything to make amends and insists that this is what she wants. She explains that Storm regrets his actions and was even ready to confess, but she convinced him to wait until she came here with her request. Stephanie states that Storm is dangerous and shouldn't be walking the streets. Brooke agrees that her brother needs help, but he won't get that in prison. Stephanie asks Brooke if Storm might be using her by asking her to come here and plead on his behalf, but Brooke affirms that it was her idea to come her, and Storm even tried to dissuade her. Stephanie still refuses to help the man who shot her. Brooke can't believe that Stephanie still refuses when she said she'd do anything to earn her forgiveness. "I'll do anything to save my family!" Brooke proclaims. Then tell Storm to put his affairs in order and confess, Stephanie responds, or else she'll have turn him in. She promises to plead for leniency if Storm is convicted. Brooke can't believe she was stupid enough to believe that Stephanie would help anyone but herself and storms out.

Katie and Donna are stuned by what Brooke tells them.

Katie arrives at Brooke's just before Brooke returns home. Brooke tells her sisters that she couldn't convince Stephanie to help them, even after reminding La Forrester of all the pain her past lies caused their family. At least she tried, Katie assures Brooke, and they're still no worse off than they were. "I hope not," Brooke mutters. Donna and Katie ask what that means, so Brooke tells them that she slipped in the heat of trying to plead their dad's case and told Stephanie that Storm shot her. After she realized what she did, she tried to appeal to Stephanie's sense of decency and family unity, but Stephanie feared that Storm is dangerous. Donna thinks Stephanie is the last person to call anyone dangerous. Brooke recounts how she told Stephanie that sending Storm to jail won't benefit either of their families, but Stephanie still insisted that Storm turn himself in to the police. As Katie and Donna try to accept that, Storm comes in; having heard Brooke's last comment, he thinks he has no other choice but to confess and wants to say his goodbyes to his siblings first. Brooke hugs him and sobs that she's sorry. Storm hugs her and tells her not be sorry, since he's sure she did her best. Besides, he had already made up his mind before she got here that he had to confess, and now he sees that he was right. The fact is that their dad doesn't deserve to be in jail, so he has to get Stephen out.

Storm is ready to confess.

Donna asks if there's any other way, but Storm doesn't see any alternative. Brooke wishes she could have gotten through to Stephanie, but Storm fears Stephanie would have held it over their heads for years and suggests they're better off if he confesses. Katie weeps that she doesn't want to lose her brother. Storm tells her that he'll always be with them in their hearts. They don't need to be together physically to be a family, he proclaims, and he's ready to take responsibility for his actions and turn himself in. All three Logan sisters gather around their brother in a group hug and tell him how much they love him. That said, Storm is ready to go the police station. The girls want to go with him, but he doesn't want a long goodbye at the jailhouse. He tells Brooke to stay with the kids and tells Donna to go be with Eric while Katie drives him to the police station. They've done all they can for him, he insists, and now it's time for them to move on with their lives. Brooke and Donna are both in tears as they watch Storm and Katie walk out the door, and they offer each other a comforting embrace.

Eric gives Stephanie the divorce papers.

Eric arrives at the Forrester mansion. He explains to Stephanie that he rang the doorbell rather than use his key since he knew Brooke was coming over and didn't want to interrupt by just walking right in. Stephanie confirms that Brooke was there earlier to talk about earning her forgiveness. She sees the envelope in Eric's hand and asks what it is. When he tells her that she probably already knows, Stephanie shakes her head in disbelief and pleads for him not to do this. He quietly asks her just sign the papers, but she insists that his affair with Donna won't last and that their marriage doesn't have to end. "It does," Eric solemnly declares. Stephanie argues that filing those papers will make everything public, but Eric argues that it already is public and doesn't think it's fair to anyone to drag this out. She reminds him how happy he was being there on Christmas. Eric apologizes if his actions that day gave her the wrong impression. He admits that he'll always be happy in this house, with his family, because the life they shared will always be dear to him, but Stephanie doesn't see how that could be if he's divorcing her. She insists that she'll do anything to save their marriage, but Eric tells her that he's moving on. Realizing that Eric intends to marry Donna, Stephanie shakes her head in disbelief. Eric reminds her that they haven't been happy together in a long time, but Stephanie still can't believe he's ending their marriage over an affair. She says she can't do this now, so he leaves the papers on the table and leaves.