Ridge tells Brooke that he missed her, even if was just for two days. They make love but Brooke is then distracted with other things on her mind. Ridge makes the analysis that Thomas is so much like him at that age, and it's the same woman who lit a fire under him too. Taylor questions Thomas about his time in Paris and with Brooke. She wants to help him with anything that he wants to talk about. He resents her wanting to psychoanalyze him. He's her son, not her patient. Nick is concerned when the doctor tells him that he found a spot on his lungs. It is not something to be ignored and he'd like to run a Cat Scan. Stephanie is expecting Ridge to take her home and is surprised that it will be Nick instead. He tells her about his physical and finding the spot. She cajoles him about this long tube he will be put into. She advises him to just close his eyes and don't open them and think of a good golf game. Taylor tells Thomas that this is not a subject she likes to talk about. But she knows what could have happened during all those years that she was gone and Brooke took care of him. She knows he must feel like she as his mother rejected him. It can affect many things to come. He opened his heart and let Brooke in and trusted her. She became the ideal female figure in his life. He thinks it is all psychobabble and wants to drop it. She does not need to control his love life. Nick tells Stephanie that the test wasn't as bad as he thought. They'll find nothing and all will be okay. She tells him that it would help if he gave up those cigars. He realizes he has not asked about her health. He's happy to hear that the doctor's are pleased with her progress. He thinks it is amazing that she is holding up so well under all of this. She makes him promise that he will keep his follow-up appointment. He has to take care of himself. Ridge pours champagne in bed and thanks Brooke for all she has done for Thomas. It bothers her when he keeps saying that the sales are going through the roof. He scoffs .imagine if they really crossed that line.
Brooke: (Sighs) Ridge: (Sighs) Oh, I missed you, Logan. Brooke: It's only been a couple of days. Ridge: Yeah, but it feels a lot longer. Brooke: Yeah, it does, doesn't it? Ridge: You must be exhausted. Brooke: (Chuckles) Ridge: Paris, press conferences, and all that over what, two days? Brooke: Mm-hmm. I never want to go through that again. Ridge: I think, from now on, any trip to Europe with you and Thomas should maybe be allowed, uh, a week. Brooke: No. No, I-I don't want to do that either. (Sighs) I just don't want to be away from you, not even for a couple of days. Ridge: So you did miss your husband? Brooke: (Chuckles) Yeah. Ridge: Not quite the same being on that plane without me, huh? Brooke: No, it-- it wasn't. It wasn't the same. [SCENE_BREAK] Taylor: Thomas. (Gasps) Oh, my goodness. You're back! Oh. Thomas: Oh, wow. (Chuckles) Taylor: Mm, I'm so happy you're home. Thomas: Mom, I wasn't gone that long. Taylor: Oh, no, whenever you're gone, it-- it feels like forever. Thomas: Oh, thanks. Taylor: So how was Paris? Thomas: Beautiful. [SCENE_BREAK] Nick: A lung spot, huh? It doesn't look like much. Doctor: Well, it didn't show up on your last x-rays, but they were taken over a year ago. Have you had any respiratory problems, coughing, trouble breathing? Nick: No. No. How serious is this? Doctor: It's not something we should ignore. Nick: How do you get it? Doctor: Well, the three usual causes are infection, inflammation, or a tumor. Nick: Tumor? Well, which one is it? Doctor: I want to run some tests to determine that. I'd like to do a cat scan. Nick: When? Doctor: Today if possible. Nick: Oh, Doc, listen, my day is brutal. I... unless, of course, you need to do it today. Doctor: I'll schedule it. Nick, this isn't the time to worry. This is the time to get some answers. Hopefully, the CAT scan will give us those. Nick: Yeah. Thanks. Doctor: The results should be in tomorrow. I'll be away, but I can have my colleague Dr. Lewis give them to you. Nick: That's fine. Doctor: Here's her card. I'll make the arrangements. Stephanie: Nick? Nick: Stephanie. Stephanie: (Chuckles) I-I-- well, this is a surprise. I was--I'm actually expecting Ridge. Nick: Oh, he went to the airport to pick up Thomas and Brooke. I, um, I am taking you home. Stephanie: Well, that's very sweet of you. Nick: (Chuckles) Stephanie: I'm ready whenever you are. Nick: I think I'm gonna need a little longer. I had a physical. That's why I'm here. Stephanie: Oh, so you're not through yet. Nick: No. No. Actually, I have one more test. Stephanie: Is there anything wrong? Nick: My chest x-ray showed that I have a spot on my lung. (Scoffs) So they want to do a CAT scan. [SCENE_BREAK] Taylor: How was your flight? Long? Thomas: No, not too bad. Taylor: Well, I didn't even know that you left. I... (Sighs) You didn't even say good-bye to me. Thomas: I'm sorry. I--it was last-minute. Taylor: So who went? I-I know that Brooke went. Thomas: Just the two of us. Taylor: Nobody from P.R.? Nobody from marketing? Thomas: (Chuckles) There was no time. We got the call from Paris, and the next thing I knew, we were on a plane. Taylor: Just you and Brooke? Thomas: There was a pilot, Mom, and a copilot. Taylor: So what did you, uh, talk about? It's a really long flight. Thomas: Just business. Taylor: Really? For nine or ten hours? Thomas: We slept a lot, too. Taylor: And the same thing the entire way back? Thomas: Yeah. We were both pretty exhausted. Taylor: Oh. Well, what did you think of Paris? Did you like it? Thomas: You-- you didn't see the press conference feed? Taylor: Oh, yes, I did. Yes. Thomas: What did you think? We nailed it, didn't we? Taylor: The reporters definitely seemed very intrigued. Thomas: Really? Well, we thought it went pretty well. Taylor: Well, to tell you the truth, Thomas, um, I found it very disturbing. [SCENE_BREAK] Stephanie: Did they give you a time for the CAT scan? Nick: Uh, no. Sometime today. Hey, you don't have to wait around here for me. I'll call and get you a car, okay, Stephanie? Stephanie: No, no, no. I'll wait. I'm not in any rush. Nick: You don't have anything to do? Stephanie: Whatever I have to do will get done. I'm gonna keep you company. (Coughs) (Telephone rings) Nick: Well, it is kind of nice having you here. Stephanie: Good. Nick: It makes me feel a little better. Can you keep a secret? Stephanie: Maybe. Nick: I've never had a CAT scan. Stephanie: (Laughs) There's nothing to it. They just put you in this long, cigar-like tube... Nick: Yeah? Stephanie: Lay you flat, take a glorious picture in high resolution of your lungs. Nick: Hmm. Sounds simple. Stephanie: There's a trick to it, though. Nick: What? Stephanie: And I'm serious-- keep your eyes closed and don't, under any circumstances, open them. Think of something wonderful, like a great golf game that you played. Nick: (Laughs) Instead of all those nasty, terrible things they may find in there. Stephanie: Honey, whatever they find, they find. You'll be able to handle it. Doctor: Mr. Marone? We're ready for you. Nick: Oh, okay. Stephanie: I'll be right here waiting for you. Nick: (Chuckles) Stephanie: I might even say a prayer or two. Nick: (Chuckles) Okay. Thank you, Stephanie. Stephanie: You're welcome. [SCENE_BREAK] Thomas: Mom, it was a press conference. Taylor: So it was strictly professional? Thomas: Yes. Taylor: Thomas, can I talk to you about something? Thomas: Not about Brooke, I hope. Taylor: No, this is about you. Thomas: Your adult son who doesn't need a lecture on how to behave? Taylor: No, I'm not lecturing you. I just want to talk to you. I-I want to help. Thomas: With what? Taylor: With whatever, anything, anything that you want to talk about, anything that might be bothering you. Thomas: Mom... (Sighs) Taylor: I know you're an adult. I get that part, but, Thomas, I understand you. I know you better than anyone. I know everything about your history. Thomas: W-what does that have to do with anything? Taylor: Everything. It's what I do for a living. I'm a psychiatrist, and it's pretty much based on the fact that who you are today as an adult has everything to do with your childhood. Thomas: I really don't feel like being psychoanalyzed by my mom. Taylor: That's not what I'm doing. I'm just trying to talk to you. I just--I want to talk to you, you know, unless you find that threatening. (Sighs) Thomas: It's not threatening. Taylor: Do you know what an Oedipal complex is? Thomas: It's when you fall in love with your mom. (Sighs) Taylor: Or someone who may be like a mother figure to you, because maybe they were someone who replaced a mother you lost. Thomas: Mom, come on. [SCENE_BREAK] Ridge: Something's on your mind. Maybe you and I should get away for a few days. Brooke: Yeah. (Sighs) Maybe a few weeks? Ridge: Uh, that would have to wait. Brooke: Until after the Taboo campaign is finished. Ridge: I think Thomas would probably need a break by then as well. Brooke: He has so much energy-- more than I'd like to think about. Ridge: You have given him so much, Logan. None of this would have happened if you hadn't partnered up with Thomas. Brooke: I just want what's best for him. Ridge: You've given him that-- the best business partner he could have ever hoped for. You know, I think about him now. I see so much of myself at that age. You know, what's amazing is the same woman lit a fire under me. [SCENE_BREAK] Thomas: You still here? Taylor: You didn't think you could get rid of me that easily, did you? Thomas: (Laughs) A guy can hope. So you think I have an Oedipal complex? Taylor: Thomas, I don't know if you understand this is difficult for me also, you know? This isn't a subject that I really enjoy talking about. But when I was gone from you all those years, I know it wasn't difficult just for me. It was--it was very hard for you. Thomas: How do you know? You weren't there. Taylor: Because I know how much a little boy needs his mother. Thomas: I had Brooke. She was great. Taylor: Yes, I'm sure she was, but... I'm the one who took care of you from the day you were born. I... I bonded with you. We--we were mother and son. We had a very healthy relationship when I disappeared from you, and I know that that had to be horrifying to you. That had to feel like you were abandoned by your own mother. Thomas: Mom... (Scoffs) Mom, that's-- that's not your fault. Taylor: That's the adult Thomas talking, but the little boy Thomas-- there's no way he could have possibly seen that. See, when a child... (Sighs) When they lose their mother suddenly, it... it actually feels like they've--they've been rejected, you know? And it causes trust issues, especially with women. It --it's unavoidable. Thomas: That's not how I remember it. Taylor: When the mother is removed from a child's life at an early age, it has very damaging effects. It--it can affect many things for many years to come, and when Brooke took over, she took my place, and I know that you-- you probably just-- you didn't want to trust her right away. I'm sure you thought, well, my mother already left me, so why would I trust her? And it took time, but eventually, you needed a mother, and you opened your heart, and you--you let her in, and you trusted her. I know that was hard for you to do, but you... (Sighs) You did what every little boy does. You fell in love with her, and you got attached to her. And she became your ideal-- the ideal female figure in your life. And I'm sure you became very possessive of her. Thomas: Possessive? So you think those feelings never went away, that I still see Brooke as this ideal woman that I have to possess? Taylor: I'm not saying anything. I'm just telling you to think about it. Thomas: It's psychobabble. Look, Mom, I know you're concerned, but you don't have to be. I'm in control of my life, especially my love life, so can we drop this? It's driving me nuts. I'm tired and--and jet-lagged, so if you don't mind, I'm gonna go up to my room, okay? I love you. [SCENE_BREAK] Nick: Hey. Stephanie: How did it go? Nick: Ah, well, it wasn't as bad as I thought. I'm fine. They're not gonna find anything. Stephanie: What are you talking about? They've already found a spot on your lung, but my guess is it's probably just scarring... Nick: Yeah. Stephanie: You know, from a virus or something... Nick: Right. Stephanie: That you had a long time--years ago. Of course, it doesn't help that you smoke those cigars. Nick: Well, at least they're not cigarettes. Stephanie: Honey, anything that you smoke only increases the chance for lung cancer. I wish you'd stop. Nick: Okay. Stephanie: I know. I know. I sound like a nag, but... Nick: No. Stephanie: I wouldn't want anybody to go through what I went through. Nick: Whoa. Whoa. Stop where you are, please. I haven't asked anything about you. How are you? What did the doctors have to say? Come on, Stephanie. Sit-- sit down. Tell me--tell me what's up. Stephanie: Well... (Chuckles) The doctor's are very pleased with my progress so... Nick: Well, that's-- that's great to hear. Stephanie: Yeah, well, I'm a great patient. I take my medication. I get plenty of rest. Nick: (Chuckles) What kind of medication are you taking? Stephanie: It's an oral chemotherapy drug. Nick: Are there any bad side effects? Stephanie: You can get a rash occasionally, you know, sometimes on the face, but women are lucky. They get to cover it up with makeup. Nick: (Chuckles) Right. What about that brain thing they did? Stephanie: The gamma knife surgery? Nick: Mm-hmm. Stephanie: Well... (Sighs) They're just waiting to see that it all worked. Nick: I'm just--just amazed at how you're holding up through all of this. Stephanie: (Laughs) What choice do I have? Nick: I just don't think I could handle it as well as you are. Stephanie: Well, I hope you don't have to. But if you do, you will. Nick: Yeah. I don't even like to talk about cancer. Stephanie: Well, who the hell does, Honey? The trick is to catch it early enough, because that makes a big difference. Nick: Yeah. Well, that's not my problem here anyway. Stephanie: You're worried, but it's okay. Nick: Come on. I'll take you home. Stephanie: You don't want to talk about this? Nick: I don't think there's anything to talk about. Stephanie: Okay. I will respect that. I just want you to promise me that you will keep the follow-up appointment with the doctor. You gotta take care of yourself. Nick: Thank you. [SCENE_BREAK] Ridge: Time to celebrate. Brooke: (Sighs) I'd love to just curl up here with you for the rest of the day. Ridge: We can do that, too. Brooke: Yeah? Ridge: To the sexiest woman in the world... Brooke: (Chuckles) Ridge: And all of her achievements-- my happiness, my life, and especially everything you've done for Thomas. (Glasses clink) Brooke: (Sighs) Ridge: It's funny. Every fashion reporter I've talked to, they all want to ask the same question-- what does it feel like watching your son romance your wife? Brooke: Thomas isn't romancing me. Ridge: I know that. But the world just seems to want to spin its own tale. It's funny how this has excited the public's interest-- wondering if... you and my son will cross the line. (Chuckles) And the sales-- oof. The sales-- I've never seen anything like it. Off the charts. Totally crazy.