Tuesday, September 09, 2008, Episode #5393

Ridge introduces Dr. Siefert to Rick.

Dr. Siefert helps Stephanie and Ridge get Eric settled in at the Forrester mansion, where he can recover in familiar, comfortable surroundings. Rick comes in, having come from the hospital, and is stunned to see his dad is home. Ridge and Stephanie introduce Rick to Dr. Siefert, who explains why they brought Eric home. The doctor leaves to make some calls. Rick is thrilled to hear that his dad's chances of getting better have improved and bets that Donna must be thrilled, but Ridge tells her that Donna is in Paris for the debut of the spring line. When Rick asks if Donna knows, Ridge and Stephanie duck the question. Rick wants to call Taylor to get her opinion on this new coma specialist who is treating his father. Stephanie assures him that Eric's well-being is most important to her, which is why she arranged for Eric to be here at home where he could be with his family as he recovers.

Taylor and Rick worry that Donna is being kept in the dark.

Soon after, Taylor arrives at Rick's request. As Taylor watches Dr. Siefert work with Eric, she agrees that their being able to bring Eric home is a good sign. Rick wants to call Donna to at tell her, but Ridge points out that Donna is on the jet on her way to France. Rick reminds Ridge that there is a phone on the jet, and Taylor agrees that it's odd that Donna hasn't been told. Stephanie tries to play up how wonderful it is that Eric is home, but Taylor isn't totally sold on how quickly things were done. Rick asks Taylor what she knows of this Dr. Siefert. Taylor confirms the doctor's reputation as a well-known neurologist. Rick is glad that this guy isn't a quack, but he still finds it suspicious that Donna is being kept in the dark. Taylor agrees, especially since Donna is the person authorized to make medical decisions for Eric. Stephanie states that she is only concerned with Eric getting better, so she doesn't really care about the legalities. She knows she is doing the right thing. Rick says he wants to see a healthy Eric as much as any of them, but he doesn't like how this is being done behind Donna's back. Stephanie and Ridge then reveal that Donna is cheating on Eric with Owen. Rick doesn't believe it, so Stephanie tells him that she saw it for herself. Taylor wonders if Stephanie misinterpreted what she saw, but Stephanie stands firm that she knows what she saw. "Now you understand why we don't particularly give a damn what Donna thinks," Ridge states. Stephanie is just glad Eric doesn't know about Donna's infidelity, since he couldn't handle it.

Stephanie sits by Eric's side.

Taylor tells Ridge that she's glad to see Stephanie back to her old self, taking charge of things. Ridge agrees that his mom is doing what's best for his dad, who will wake up and realize who the woman he belongs with really is. Meanwhile, Stephanie sits by Eric's bed, praying for Eric to come out of the coma. She tells him that the only expectation she has is that he's going to come back to them, and nothing else matters.

Nick tries to explains his actions.

Aboard the Shady Marlin, Bridget fumes as Nick tells her that Katie is pregnant with his child. "Are you in love with her?" she asks. Nick insists that he is in love with his wife, but Bridget says that's not an answer because they are through! Nick tries to reason with her and asks her to think of Jack, but that only makes Bridget realize why Katie turned down her request to be Jack's godmother and asks Nick how far along Katie is. When Nick tells her that Katie is through her first trimester, Bridget is hurt and demands that Nick take her back to the marina pronto. Nick turns the boat around and docks, but he tries one more time to explain to Bridget what happened. Bridget tells him that there is no explanation for this. She reminds Nick that she knows what it's like to lose a child having lost Nicole, so she can't believe that Nick and Katie would have kept her in the dark had Katie miscarried during her first trimester, and she's especially sickened because she and Nick were making plans to have a child of their own. Nick asks her to come home with him where they can think about this, but Bridget insists that their marriage is built on lies and storms off the boat. As she drives away, she nearly gets into an accident. Nick tries to call her, but she doesn't answer.

Katie frets that she hasn't heard from Nick or Bridget,

Meanwhile, Brooke is at home with Katie, who frets that they haven't heard from either Nick or Bridget. Brooke fears that Bridget will be heartbroken when she finds out the truth, because Bridget won't be able to forgive Nick's infidelity. Katie agrees. Brooke suggests that Bridget proved after her first marriage that she can live without Nick and fears that Bridget will never be able to trust a man again.

Brooke wants answers from Nick.

Brooke goes to the Shady Marlin and asks Nick where Bridget is. Nick tells her that he doesn't know. Brooke reminds him of his promises before his and Bridget's wedding not to hurt Bridget again after what happened during their first marriage, Nick insists that he loved Bridget then and still does, but Brooke asks if he really thinks Bridget will be able to forgive him. When Nick tells her that Bridget wants to end their marriage, Brooke isn't surprised and asks Nick how he ever thought that Bridget would be OK with him cheating on her and having a baby with someone else. Nick tells her that he was convinced that he could make Bridget understand, but he has to admit that he never saw Bridget look the way she did when he told her the truth. "I really don't know what she might do," he warns.