Monday, September 08, 2008, Episode #5392

Katie wonders how Bridget will react to Nick's news.

At Brooke's house, Katie munches on some pistachios and flashes back to a time when she and Nick shared a bag of the nuts and tossed the shells on the floor. She guesses that Nick is telling Bridget about the baby right now and imagines what Bridget's reaction will be. In her mind, she pictures Bridget angrily pulling away from Nick and running off, leaving Nick to take a swig of scotch from a glass before smashing the glass against the wall. Looking out the window, Katie flashes back to her night in Catalina with Nick and prays that Bridget can forgive her and Nick. Holding her belly, she looks skyward and begs, "Please love this baby."

Bridget is stunned by Nick's revelation.

On board the Shady Marlin, Bridget asks Nick to tell her what happened between him and Katie on Catalina. Nick gets out of bed and reminds Bridget how Katie decided to stop taking her medication on the island and just end her life there. He did his part in making Katie feel loved when they thought she was dying, but they never dealt with the fact that she wound up living. Bridget infers from his tone that he resented having to play Katie's savior and apologizes if she said or did anything to make him feel that way. Nick tells her that she might resent him once she learns what he did that day. He confesses that he got caught up in the moment with Katie, but he assures Bridget that it had nothing to do with his commitment to her. Bridget suddenly gets the picture and asks Nick, "Did you sleep with her?" Nick confirms that he did. "How does that have nothing to do with your commitment to me?" Bridget seethes, fuming at how foolish she was to trust him when he told her he had changed. Nick insists that he was just trying to make Katie happy when they thought she was dying, but Bridget demands to know how Katie's happiness involved sex. She argues that she wanted something sweet, innocent and pure for Katie, and she has no idea how he took that intent as a green light to have sex. She can't believe that her aunt and the man who claimed to love her would have so little respect for her that they could think they could cross that line. "How could you do this to us?" Bridget rails.

Nick drops another bombshell on Bridget.

Nick assures Bridget that he never wanted to hurt her. "Then you should have kept your pants on!" Bridget charges, shaking her head in disbelief at the idea that she stood at the altar with Nick and Katie both staring her in the face knowing they were keeping this from her. She asks Nick why he is confessing to her about this now, since there were plenty of opportunities when he could have told her before. "What changed?" she demands to know. Weeping, she wonders if Nick expects her to just let him go explore his feelings with Katie based on their past history. "It's not going to happen!" she vows. Nick tries to assure her that he doesn't want to run off with Katie. He got caught up in a moment and he's sorry about what happened, but it has nothing to do with his love for Bridget. Bridget concedes that he loves her, but she doesn't think he respects her. "I don't care about your moral justifications. This should never have happened!" she rants. Nick tells her again that he made a mistake. "Then why didn't you just tell me?" Bridget asks. Nick answers, "She's pregnant with my child." The revelation shocks Bridget even more.

Ridge learns that his mother saw Donna in bed with Owen.

In Eric's hospital room, Stephanie tells Ridge that Eric momentarily awakened. Thrilled, Ridge asks what they do now. Stephanie explains that the doctors advised them to wait, but she is confident that Eric is on the road to recovery and wants to bring him home so he can recover in familiar surroundings. Ridge offers to call Donna, but Stephanie tells him that she doesn't want Donna involved. Ridge reminds her that they have to consult Donna since she's Eric's wife. Stephanie states that Donna forfeited those rights and reveals that she saw Donna in bed with Owen. She tells Ridge that she wants to get Eric home where he belongs but doesn't want "that bitch" anywhere near him.

Donna reluctantly agrees with Ridge.

Donna and Owen are still in her bed kissing. Donna pulls away and tells Owen that she can't do this. Owen asks if she really wants him to stop. She tells him that she's just not ready yet, because Eric is still the love of her life. They're interrupted by a call on her cell phone from Ridge, who asks her to come to the hospital right away. Donna asks if something is wrong with Eric, but Ridge says that he needs to talk to her about something else. Donna says she'll be right over. Ridge tells Stephanie that Donna is on her way. Stephanie asks him to handle this, as she doesn't trust herself in the same room with Donna. Soon after, Donna arrives and meets Ridge in the hall outside Eric's room. Ridge reminds her that the Forrester spring line is debuting in Paris this week. Normally, either he or Eric would be there, but he no longer works for Forrester and Eric obviously can't go. So someone else has to represent the company, and he can't think of anyone better than Eric's devoted wife, the acting CEO. Donna balks at the idea of going while Eric is still hospitalized and suggests that they send Rick, but Ridge thinks she needs to be there to prove she's the CEO she claims to be and suggests that she take Marcus and Owen with her. Donna says that Marcus is needed in L.A. but agrees to take Owen. She thanks Ridge for bringing this to her attention and offers to discuss bringing him back to the company when she returns. Donna then goes to say goodbye to Eric before she leaves. Once she's out of earshot, Ridge hopes to himself that Eric is well and free of Donna by the time she returns.

Stephanie vows to bring Eric home.

Ridge tells his mother that Donna agreed to go to Paris. Pleased, Stephanie tells him that the Forrester jet is waiting to take Donna abroad. Meanwhile, she has Eric's release papers ready and will forge Donna's signature so they can get Eric home as soon as Donna is on her way. Ridge warns his mother that forging Donna's signature could come back to bite her given her reputation at the hospital, but she's willing to do whatever it takes to get Eric home where he belongs with his family that loves him. "While Donna is away, Dad will wake up with the woman who truly loves him by his side," Ridge predicts.

Eric lies silently as Donna says goodbye.

Meanwhile, Donna tells a sleeping Eric about her trip to Paris. She assures him that she doesn't want to leave him, but she's doing what's best for the company. "I feel so lost without you," she sobs as she strokes his face, praying for him to come back to her. She then recalls how he told her to move on without him, wondering how she'll know if he will ever wake up. She's willing to wait for him forever if need be, but at the same time, she knows he would want her to be happy if he wasn't coming back to her. She then tearfully kisses him on the lips and strokes his face, bidding him goodbye. [Strangely, even though the nurse told Stephanie in the last episode that Eric is just sleeping, he doesn't stir at all when Donna kisses him or touches him.]