Tuesday, February 24, 2009, Episode #5508

Ridge refuses to budge where Rick is concerned.

In Ridge's office, Brooke reminds him that Rick saved his life and asks him to let Rick back into the company. She knows Rick made a mistake, but none of them are perfect. Ridge feels that his situation is different since he lost a daughter because of Rick. Brooke assures him that it wasn't intentional, but Ridge still feels that Phoebe is gone because of Rick, and Rick's actions since that night by pursuing Steffy haven't done anything to change his mind. That's why he has to protect Steffy. He knows Brooke wants him to accept that Rick can change, but he just can't believe that. Brooke reminds him that Rick pulled him back up onto the roof today after he fell, but Ridge doesn't think Rick did that out of the goodness of his heart. He's sure Rick intends to milk his turn at playing hero to get back in everyone's good graces. Brooke makes one last plea for Rick, insisting that there's something redeemable in her son, but Ridge refuses to see that and asks Brooke not to push Rick on her. He can't have Rick working here and pursuing Steffy. "I'm not going to waver on Rick - not now and not ever," he asserts.

As Rick packs up his office, an anxious Steffy comes in and asks what happened between him and her dad. Rick tells her that her dad followed him up to the roof and they argued, but everything is fine now. Steffy thinks the argument will just make things worse for him now, but Rick tells her that there might actually be a chance for him to stick around Forrester after all. Steffy asks if that's really possible. Rick tells her that he'll get into the details later, but he doesn't want to risk being seen with her until he finds out if he can stay at the company. Steffy objects, but Rick peeks out into the hall to make sure no one is coming and then motions her to the door. Steffy has a lot of questions, but Rick simply says that he feels hopeful for the first time in a long time that they might have a chance to be together. Steffy wants to stay and ask some more questions, but Rick sends her on her way.

Steffy learns that Rick saved her dad's life.

Steffy goes back to the shipping office, where Ridge comes to see her. Once Ridge tells her about what happened on the roof, she frets that he could have been killed and wonders why Rick didn't say anything to her about it. Ridge realizes that Steffy has seen Rick. Steffy says that she was worried for him and Rick, since she knew that he was following Rick, but Ridge argues that Rick knew he was supposed to stay away from her and didn't listen. Steffy says that Rick just wanted to tell her that he was rejected by the Army, But Ridge thinks that the whole enlistment deal was just a ploy to get noticed. Steffy disagrees and reminds him that Rick saved his life. Ridge tells her that Rick shouldn't have been anywhere in the building. He vows to protect her from Rick, no matter what it takes.

Rick asks Brooke for her support.

Rick goes to see Brooke, who is wiping a tear from her eye. She explains that she was just thinking of how he saved Ridge's life and is proud of him. Rick hopes that Ridge would be doing the same thing, since he'd like to see his relationship with Ridge change, but Brooke tells him that Ridge still wants him to stay away from Steffy. Rick wonders what it will take to change Ridge's mind, since saving Ridge's life obviously wasn't enough. He can't believe that Ridge would make his own daughter and wife suffer this way. The whole thing frustrates him because he wants to be working at Forrester with his parents, but he knows Brooke had to cut him loose because she was being pressured by Ridge. "I need your support more than ever," he pleads. Brooke sighs that she's stuck, since she can't bring him back given how her husband feels about him. Rick reminds her that her husband would not be alive if it wasn't for him. He's being kept out because of Ridge's obsession, and it's like all his work at Forrester International doesn't matter. He guesses that he just has to accept that when it comes to a choice between him and Steffy, Ridge's daughter is the one who will stay. Brooke tells him that she has to talk to someone and asks Rick not to lose hope that things will work out. Brooke leaves and Rick smiles.

Alone in his office, Rick flashes back to saving Ridge. He says to himself that there may yet be an answer to the fact that Ridge thinks this company isn't big enough for the two of them. A Forrester employee comes in to tell him that his mother just went to see Steffy, just like he figured. "Excellent," Rick responds. Ridge comes by and asks Rick what he's doing there. Rick sarcastically replies that he's waiting around to see if Ridge needs saving again, implying that Ridge isn't grateful for the fact that Rick saved his life earlier. Ridge tells Rick that things never would have gone this far if Rick had just listened and stayed away from Steffy. Rick can't believe that his saving Ridge's life made no difference. Ridge says that Rick just did what any decent person would, so he should stop trying to milk the opportunity to stay in the company. Rick points out that his mother still wants him here. Ridge understands that Brooke, as a mother, made a plea for Rick, but that doesn't change the fact that Ridge lost a daughter. The two men again argue about what caused Phoebe's death and about Steffy's desire to be with Rick. Rick blames Ridge for his losing a job that he loved and deserved, but Ridge thinks the only thing he deserves is a ticket out of there, since he'll never work here as long as Steffy is here. "You got that, little Ricky?" Ridge asks.