Wednesday, March 18, 2009, Episode #5524

Stephanie urges Brooke to take her head out of the sand.

At Brooke's, Stephanie wants to know what precautions are being taken to protect the children. Brooke is tired of discussing this with Stephanie and asks her to leave. She informs La Forrester that she and Ridge will discuss the kids' safety when he gets home, but Stephanie says that Ridge isn't coming home; she points out that he's with Taylor, like he is any time he's in a crisis. Brooke tells Stephanie that she's dreaming if she believes this fantasy of Ridge and Taylor being together. She admits that Ridge and Taylor shared a wonderful life and three kids, but that was all in the past. Stephanie insists that a common loss, like Phoebe's death, can bond two people and bring them back together. Brooke doesn't want to discuss this anymore and insists that Ridge will be home soon, especially now that Pam's been arrested. Frustrated, Stephanie urges Brooke to take her head out of the sand and listen to her, for the sake of her children.

Taylor tells Ridge about Thomas.

In the cabin, Ridge asks Taylor if she's sure that Pam didn't attack Rick. Taylor says she is. Ridge asks why she didn't tell him if she knew something. Taylor talks about how they were in different worlds when she was with Nick and when he was with Ashley, so the kids turned to each other for support, and the girls especially looked to Thomas. Ridge asks what this has to do with anything. Taylor tells him that Thomas looks up to him and wants to be like him, which is why Thomas echoed his dad's sentiments about Rick after Phoebe died. She sees now that they didn't let their kids be honest with them after they broke up. Ridge asks why she's bringing this up now. Taylor explains that Thomas considered himself the man of the house after they ended their marriage, and that led to his blaming himself when their family fell apart after Phoebe died. Ridge still doesn't get it, since only one person (Rick) was responsible for what happened to Phoebe. Taylor says that it's important for to understand how Thomas felt. Suddenly, the light bulb goes on in Ridge's head; "You're not saying it's Thomas?" he asks. Taylor explains how she first became suspicious after she noticed the fibers on Thomas' sweater were like the ones Stephanie said were at the crime scenes. Ridge thinks that's hardly enough to convince him that their son did this, so Taylor informs him that Thomas admitted everything to her. Ridge can't believe it. Taylor explains that Thomas didn't mean to hurt Rick and just wanted to scare him.

Thomas warns his sister to stay away from Rick.

Outside, a gloomy Thomas sits and watches as Steffy calls Rick. Rick asks where she is so he can come and get her. Steffy tells him to focus on himself, but he thinks he's fine with a police car outside watching over him and Pam in jail. He just wishes Stephanie wasn't using this to keep him and Steffy apart. Steffy is surprised her grandmother is involved. Rick tells her that Stephanie has been like a tick on a dog, trying to do a number on his mother to break up Brooke's marriage to Ridge. They then tease each other about how much they miss each other before saying their goodbyes and ending the call. When Steffy hangs up, Thomas comes over and tells her that he knows who she was talking with, and he thinks she should give up on that guy. Steffy asks what he has against Rick anyway. Thomas thinks something must be wrong if she doesn't know how he feels by now. Steffy tells him to relax; he doesn't have to be so wound up anymore because their dad is back and is paying attention to them. Thomas doesn't look convinced. Steffy tells him that no one expects him to fix everything that's broken. "What if no one else can?" he asks. Steffy still doesn't get his attitude. Thomas tells her that this would be a good time to make a run for it if she wants and turns back toward the cabin.

Brooke and Rick question Stephanie's concerns.

As Brooke and Stephanie argue, Rick comes in. He asks Stephanie if she's stalking him, but she tells him that she has no interest in him and needs to talk to his "mommy." Rick tells her that Steffy isn't too happy to hear how her grandmother is harassing them based on the phone conversation they just had. Stephanie tells him to stay away from Steffy if he cares about her, but Rick thinks their ideas of "caring" must be very different. Taken aback by his arrogance, Stephanie warns that he won't even see it coming if someone's coming after him. Having said that. Stephanie feels like she's done and turns to leave. As Stephanie walks toward the door, Brooke points out that nothing has happened since Pam was arrested. Stephanie thinks that's because of the police protection outside and asks what's going to happen when the police decide to take that car away. Rick reminds Stephanie that there is a ton of evidence pointing to Pam; Stephanie suggests that he consider that there's a long list of people who'd like to see him dead, since the arrest of one of them could lead to another to step up to the plate. Brooke thinks that's a horrible thing to consider, but Stephanie says it's still the truth. Bidding them "sweet dreams," she leaves.

When Thomas enters the cabin, he sees the looks on his parents' faces and admits that he's ashamed of what he did, but he doesn't feel sorry for wanting to keep that bastard away from his sister! Ridge asks Thomas why he didn't come to him. Thomas says that he felt like he couldn't, since Ridge was too busy with his "other" family to care about them. That's why he had to step up to protect this family. Taylor says that they should have shared that burden as a family, but Thomas doesn't see how she could do her part when she was sleeping with Phoebe's ex-boyfriend or grieving over the loss of Phoebe. Ridge tells Thomas to stop talking like that and asks for a moment alone and asks for a moment alone with his son, so Taylor goes outside.

Steffy is stunned by her mom's revelation.

Taylor finds Steffy outside looking at a tree with initial carved into it and wonders if the people who carved them are still together. Taylor muses that love often seems like it's never going to end. Taylor then apologizes for what happened at Rick's. She explains that Thomas feels like he has to be strong for the women in his life, so he keeps his feelings inside. Steffy doesn't think that excuses Thomas' punching Rick and asks her mom why she let Thomas do that. Taylor concedes that there are a lot of questions in her life she needs answers for. Steffy tries to convince her mom that she's not in danger anymore. Taylor nods and states that no one wants to kill Rick. "Then why are we here?" Steffy asks. Taylor hesitates for a moment and then tells Steffy that Thomas was behind the attacks. Steffy can't believe it and insists that Thomas must be covering for someone, but Taylor assures her daughter that it's true. Taylor tries to explain Thomas' intentions, but Steffy can't cope with the fact that her brother, who she trusted, could do this to her. "You're the only sister he has left," Taylor offers, but Steffy doesn't buy it and heads back to the cabin.

Ridge listens to Thomas' confession.

Back in the cabin, Ridge tries to talk to Thomas, who explains that he saw a crisis in the works and took action. "Rick disgusts me!" he fumes, ranting about how Rick used first Phoebe and then Taylor before moving on to Steffy. He seethes that Rick is so sick that he caused Phoebe's death, and Rick's sickness made him so sick that he had to do something! "He belongs in hell - and maybe I do, too," Thomas sobs. Ridge takes his son in an embrace and says that he understands, since he knows what it's like to have his buttons pushed by Rick, too. Thomas laments that Rick was feeding off the women in their family, but everyone just stood by and let it happen. That's why he had to do something, but he did it all wrong. Ridge is silent for a moment. Thomas asks his dad if he's ashamed of him. Ridge says he isn't; it's just that he's had the same thoughts himself. Thomas frets that his aunt Pam is in jail now because of him, and his sister will probably hate him when she finds out what he did. He just wishes there was a "right" way to protect their family and asks Ridge what that is.