Tuesday, September 16, 2008, Episode #5398

Ridge talks with Brooke about Eric.

Brooke sits with Rick on Forrester's rooftop sky lounge and tells him that she couldn't stop thinking about baby Jack and Taylor last night. Rick urges her to give Taylor some time. When Ridge comes over, Rick leaves to meet Bridget. Brooke embraces Ridge and asks how Eric is. Ridge replies that Eric is doing well thanks to Stephanie. He knows Brooke wants to see Eric, but he thinks they should wait until Eric calms down, especially where Donna is concerned. Brooke tells him that Donna insists that the whole thing with Owen was a misunderstanding, but Ridge doesn't buy it, especially since Stephanie first saw Donna with Owen the other day. But for now, he doesn't want to dwell on Donna. He just wants to focus on what a great day it is for their family now that Eric is back, and the key to keeping him back is to protect him from anything stressful -- like Donna! Ridge reminds Brooke that Eric explicitly said that he doesn't want to see Donna, but Brooke suspects that Stephanie decided that. She reminds Ridge that Donna loves Eric, and she truly believes that Donna being in bed with Owen was a mistake. Ridge tells her that he saw Eric wake up thanks to Stephanie, and he thinks that was the closest thing to divine intervention he ever saw. And after the way Eric hyperventilated after seeing Donna with Owen, he thinks keeping Donna away is for the best. Brooke concedes that Ridge has to protect his father, but she asks him to agree that if Eric wants to see Donna, "it will be his choice, not Stephanie's." Knowing that nothing will keep Donna away if Eric wants to see her, Ridge agrees.

Rick and Bridget go to see their father.

In Eric's bedroom, Stephanie senses that her ex-husband has something on his mind. "Donna," Eric sighs despite Stephanie's attempts to change the subject. Thorne calls up on a walkie-talkie that Rick and Bridget are there to see Eric, so Stephanie goes down to greet them. While they wait for Stephanie to come down, Rick tries to talk to Bridget about Nick and Katie, but Bridget asks him to forget about that and focus on their dad. Stephanie arrives and tells Rick and Bridget that Eric will be happy to see them. Bridget asks if Donna is up there, so Stephanie explains that Donna isn't going to be allowed anywhere near Eric. When Bridget asks why not, Stephanie tells her and Rick about catching Donna with Owen. Bridget and Rick are shocked, especially after the nights Donna spent at the hospital by Eric's bedside, but they understand why their father would not want to see Donna given the disturbing sight he saw. Stephanie instructs Rick and Bridget to avoid even saying Donna's name when they go up, as they don't want to upset Eric. Rick and Bridget agree, so Stephanie ushers them upstairs.

Eric is glad to see Rick and Bridget.

Rick and Bridget enter Eric's room. Bridget goes over to Eric first, hugging him and tearfully gushing about how glad she is that she'll have her daddy around for years to come. "I will be here," Eric weakly assures her. Rick tells his sister to give him his turn and crouches down to give Eric a big hug. "You had us worried for a minute," a smiling Rick states. "One minute?" Eric asks, leading Rick to joke that it might have been five or even ten minutes. Rick then tells his dad that Brooke wants to see him, but she wanted to be sure he was well enough first. "Now," Eric firmly states. Rick says that he'll go tell his mom while Stephanie watches with concern.

Brooke upsets Rick.

When Rick gets back to the Forrester sky lounge, he overhears Brooke leaving a message for Nick to call her about Jack. As Brooke hangs up the phone, Rick asks her what she thought she was doing leaving that message just now. Brooke insists that they have to help Jack. Rick reminds Brooke of her promise earlier to give Taylor some time and asks if she is thinking of seeking custody of Jack again. Brooke insists that she's not trying to get custody, but she does intend to help Jack. She thinks Jack is suffering because he's not getting what he needs from his mother. Rick tells his mom that she can't do anything about that, but Brooke disagrees. "I am his mother, too, and I'm going to be there for him," Brooke vows.

Donna tells Marcus what happened with Eric.

At Brooke's house, Donna tells Owen about what's going on with Eric. She begs him to believe that she still loves Eric and to understand that Owen was just comforting her. Marcus believes her, but he also sees that Owen has fallen hard for her. Donna tells Marcus that she'll deal with Owen. In the meantime, she would like Marcus to deliver a letter she wrote to Eric. Marcus suggests that she wait a few days until things settle down, but Donna thinks she has to do this now since she has no way of knowing what Stephanie and her children are saying about her to Eric. Marcus agrees to take the letter and leaves. On his way out of the house, he runs into Owen by the door. Owen insists that he never meant to hurt Donna, but Marcus doesn't want to hear it. He informs Owen that Donna has something to tell him, but he suggests that Owen wait to hear Donna out and then leave - this time, for good!

Owen isn't happy with what Donna tells him.

Owen goes inside and sees Donna, who tells him that the Forresters kicked her out of her own house. Owen says he's sorry. Donna tells him that he's a wonderful man who has done so much for her, but she needs him to remember that she is still a married woman. Owen asks her to at least admit that they shared something special. Donna tells him that things would be different had Eric not survived, but thankfully he did, and now she needs Owen to help her explain to Eric that the kiss he saw was just an attempt to comfort her. Owen tells Donna that Eric's family won't let her anywhere near Eric, and he doesn't even think that she needs the Forresters. Donna insists that she doesn't want to end her marriage, and she tells Owen that she's sorry if knowing that hurts or disappoints him. Owen says that he's both hurt and disappointed, since he thinks she deserves better than to be kicked out of Eric's life by his family. Donna doesn't care, since all she wants is her husband back, but she doesn't think she can get him back while Owen is around. That's why she is asking Owen to please leave her alone and let her focus on her sick husband. Owen refuses, as he believes that the feelings between them are real and aren't going to go away. "I'm not leaving," he declares, "because I love you." Donna tells him again that she loves her husband. Owen tells her to go ahead and go back to Eric if she feels that way, but before she goes, he has something for her. He pulls her into a passionate kiss.

Marcus reads Donna's letter to Eric.

Marcus arrives at the Forrester mansion and barges past Thorne, rushing up to Eric's room. As Thorne calls for security, Marcus enters the room and is thrilled to see Eric in his wheelchair. Eric smiles as Marcus comes over and gives him a big hug. Marcus then tells Eric that he has a letter from Donna that explains things and offers to read it. Eric nodes in approval, so Marcus starts to read the letter, but he's forced to stop when Thorne arrives with a security guard to escort Marcus out. Marcus begs for a few more minutes. Thorne won't hear of it and has the guard show Marcus the door, but he doesn't notice that Marcus gave Eric the letter. Once Marcus, Thorne and the guard, Eric reads the letter. "I will never give up on us, Honey Bear," Donna proclaims in the letter.