Taylor admits to Ridge that it was not Pam who was after Rick. She knows who was. Although, Taylor talks in circles, slowly it becomes clear to Ridge  it was Thomas! Taylor nods yes and says he was only trying to step up as a man to protect his family. Steffy talks to Rick by cell and he is anxious for her to come home. Steffy and Thomas exchange words. She tells him to lighten up and let her lead her own life. Thomas apologizes to his dad. He's ashamed of himself, but not for how he feels about that bastard and what he is doing to his sister. Ridge tells Thomas that he wished he could have come to him and discussed this. Thomas blasts that he couldn't. Ridge has another family now and isn't home. He's the man of the house now. Stephanie tells Brooke that she is not going to leave her home until Brooke tells her what actions she has taken to keep her family safe. And she warns her not to expect Ridge back. They might be married, but Brooke has always been second choice. He's back with Taylor now. Rick resents Stephanie being there and they exchange snide remarks. She warns him that somebody is gonna get him and he won't even see it coming. Taylor confesses to Steffy that she is not afraid for her safety anymore. The perpetrator was Thomas. He was trying to scare Rick not kill him. Steffy doesn't believe it. Thomas must be covering for someone. Ridge listens to Thomas pour his heart out how he hates Rick for rummaging through his family of mother and sisters. Ridge hugs him and says he understands. He knows how Rick can push people until they don't know what to do. He's hearing Thomas say things that he has said himself. Steffy confronts Thomas, but doesn't want to hear what he says. She shrieks at him that she doesn't know him anymore. This was not his right to do this, to dictate who she sees and who she doesn't. He cries that somebody had to stop Rick. She has to stop seeing him now as Thomas won't let that happen - her still seeing Rick.
Ridge: This person who's been after Rick-- Taylor: It wasn't Pam Douglas. Ridge: You sound so sure. Taylor: I am. Ridge: How? How can you know this for sure? Taylor: (Sighs) [SCENE_BREAK] Steffy: It's not terrible. We had dinner. There was no screaming, no yelling, no crying. Rick: Are you alone? You must be. Steffy: My mom had to talk to my dad about something. Rick: And what about Thomas the watchdog? Steffy: (Laughs) It's not as bad as that. (Laughs) Rick: When are you coming home? Steffy: Ugh, I keep asking. Rick: Just tell me where you are. I'll come and get you in a heartbeat. Steffy: Let me work on that, okay? We don't need another big blowout. Besides, you should be focusing on yourself right now. Rick: (Scoffs) Are you kidding? I'm under maximum security out here. There's a cop car out in front of the house. Steffy: For your protection, right? Rick: No, I don't need protection. Look, Pam is in jail. Stephanie and your parents are just using this whole thing to keep us apart. Steffy: My grandmother's been there? Rick: Oh, you have no idea. She's like a tick on a dog. She's trying to get my mother to freak out so she'll grab the kids and head for the hills. It's part of her never-ending campaign to break up her marriage. It's funny. I actually wish her luck. (Laughs) [SCENE_BREAK] Stephanie: I'm not gonna leave until you tell me what precautions you're taking to protect the children. Brooke: (Sighs) The only threat to the peace of this household is you. Stephanie: (Laughs) Brooke: Now go home and just leave us alone. Stephanie: You don't even know when you need a friend. Brooke: A friend? You? Stephanie: Well, who else is here worrying about you and the children? Brooke: When Ridge comes home, we'll discuss the safety of our family together. Stephanie: Ridge isn't coming home. You can marry him every third Monday from now on, because every time there's trouble, he's always going to turn to Taylor and the children that he had with her. [SCENE_BREAK] Ridge: Doc, if you knew who it was, why didn't you say anything? Taylor: (Sighs) After we split up, and I started seeing Nick, and I was going through my own difficulties, you were seeing Ashley, and-- (Sniffles) You were in your own world, and the kids pretty much only had each other. The girls completely depended on Thomas. We were unavailable to them as parents. Ridge: I'm not following you yet here. Taylor: I'm trying-- I'm trying to get there. Thomas looks up to you. He--he wants to be like you. He admires you. You're his role model. (Sighs) You're his identity as a man, and when you said that you didn't want Rick with Phoebe, that's the way he felt, too. Ridge: Okay. He loves you, too. I remember when you got engaged to Rick, he told me that he was actually happy for you. Taylor: (Sighs) Well--well, I didn't give him much choice, did I? (Sniffles) I guess the bottom line is I'm trying say that we made it impossible for our children to be honest with us. They didn't want to say anything ever that would upset us. Ridge: Hey, Doc, we did the best we could. Why are we rehashing this now? Taylor: After our family fell apart... Thomas felt like he had failed in his responsibility as the man of the house. Ridge: Thomas did? Taylor: Because when we lost Phoebe, he--he felt like he should have been able to prevent it. (Sniffles) Ridge: Taylor, why are we talking about this? One person, and one person only, is responsible for what happened to Phoebe that night. Taylor: That's exactly the way Thomas feels. Ridge: Wait a minute. Wait a minute. You're not saying that-- you can't be saying it's Thomas. [SCENE_BREAK] Steffy: Well, at least I don't have to worry about you now. Rick: Who says? Of course you do. Steffy: I mean, since the police are paying attention now. Rick: Well, what if I accidentally swallow some poison, or I fall out of a window or something? Steffy: (Laughs) I'd advise against it. Rick: Well, what if I blow up because I haven't seen you in a long time? (Laughs) Steffy: (Laughs) You know, with dogs, they suggest neutering. Rick: Hey, all right, I'm being serious. It's apparent that I obviously miss you way more than you miss me. Steffy: You're just gonna have to wait and let me show you. Rick: Ahh, that's much better. I can be patient. I love you. Steffy: I love you, too. Look, uh, I-I better go. I'll see you soon. Rick: I hope so. Thomas: Think I don't know who you're talking to? Steffy: Did I give the impression I was hiding it? Thomas: You need to give it up with that guy. Steffy: Why? You know how I feel. Thomas: Look at the situation we're in. Steffy: Only because someone tried to kill him. Thomas: That's your interpretation. Steffy: What's your problem? What do you have against Rick that you walk into his place swinging? Thomas: (Scoffs) If you don't understand by now, I-I can't explain it. Steffy: Could you relax for a change? God, you've been wound up for what, the past year? Well, Dad's back. Thomas: He's not back. Steffy: He's here, and he's loving us, and he's paying attention, and he's out there right now having a heart-to-heart with mom. Nobody expects you to fix whatever's broken. Thomas: Well, what if nobody else can? Look, if you want to make a run for it, now's your chance. Steffy: (Scoffs) [SCENE_BREAK] Brooke: You really live in a dream world, you know that? Stephanie: (Laughs) Me? Oh, I don't know. I stopped, uh, imagining myself stopping traffic, uh, in a bikini years ago. Brooke: (Laughs) I know you don't think I'm very bright, but this fantasy you have about Ridge and Taylor being together-- it's very unrealistic. Yes, they had a wonderful life. They had three amazing children. But that was many marriages and engagements ago. Stephanie: And they also lost a child together. That creates quite a bond. Nothing unites a family-- (Sighs) as quickly as a common loss or a common enemy. Brooke: They're not trying to protect Steffy from Rick. They're trying to protect Steffy from whoever's trying to harm Rick. And now that Pam's under arrest-- Stephanie: (Sighs) Brooke: They will be home soon. Stephanie: Could you just get your head out of the sand for a moment and listen to me, believe me? For the sake of your children, could you just be a little bit skeptical? Brooke: (Scoffs) [SCENE_BREAK] Ridge: Thomas? No. It can't be. Taylor: I started thinking about what Stephanie had told me, that they had found fibers that matched the kind that Pam was crocheting with. And then I put it together that she gave Thomas a sweater. It's the one that he was just taking outside just now. Ridge: Is that it? Some fibers? Taylor: I know he did it, Ridge. He told me. Ridge: My son is not a killer. Taylor: He wasn't trying to hurt Rick. Ridge: No, this just doesn't make any sense. Taylor: He was trying to find a way to make him feel threatened so he would not know where it was coming from, and he would run or whatever-- I don't know. He was trying to get his power back. He's already lost almost everything. And he didn't exactly say it, but I could tell that he was just trying to step up as a man and be there and--and protect his family. (Door opens) Thomas: I'm ashamed, Dad, for every minute Aunt Pam sits in jail instead of me. I'm ashamed for letting myself be pushed into things I knew were wrong. But don't ask me for one second to feel sorry for wanting to keep that bastard away from my sister. Taylor: (Sighs) Ridge: I wish you'd felt you could come to me and tell me how upset you were. Thomas: How could I lay that on you? You're not part of the family anymore, not really. Taylor: Thomas-- Thomas: Yeah, I know you say he'll always be there for us, but the reality is he has another family to look after now. Looking after this one is my job. Taylor: No. No, that is not just one person's job. We all look after each other. Thomas: And how were you doing that when you got caught up with Phoebe's boyfriend? How were you doing that when you were too busy crying over the daughter you lost to keep Rick from hitting on Steffy? Ridge: All right, that's enough. Can Thomas and I have a minute alone, please? (Door opens) [SCENE_BREAK] Brooke: I can't even think. You've been haranguing me so long, my ears are ringing. (Door closes) Rick: Stephanie, did your car blow up, too, or something? Do you need a ride home? Stephanie: Certainly not from you. Rick: (Scoffs) That's very funny. Look, I don't appreciate being stalked by you, okay? Stephanie: (Chuckles) What an ego. I'm not the least bit interested in you, junior. My business is with your mommy. Rick: Well, Steffy wouldn't be too thrilled that you've been harassing us all day. Stephanie: You don't even know where she is. Rick: I just got off the phone with her. Stephanie: If you really cared for her, you'd stay away from her. Rick: Well, you and I have a very different definition of caring. Stephanie: You're so arrogant. Brooke: (Sighs) Stephanie: Someone wants you dead. They're gonna accomplish it, and you aren't even gonna see it coming. [SCENE_BREAK] Steffy: Can you make out these initials? Taylor: Hmm. Is that a "B" or a "T"? (Laughs) Steffy: I think it's a "P." You think they're still together, whoever they are? Taylor: I don't know. Love always feels like it's never going to end. Steffy: (Sighs) Taylor: I wanted to tell you I'm sorry about what happened at Rick's. Steffy: (Sighs) Thomas isn't. Taylor: You know that saying, "still waters run deep"? Steffy: If you mean Thomas, everybody's deep, Mom. Taylor: Well, your brother doesn't really like to show what he's feeling. He feels like he has to be strong for all of the women in his life. That would be us. (Sniffles) Steffy: Throwing punches isn't strong. Taylor: Well, sometimes people feel like they need to resort to violence... Steffy: Yeah-- Taylor: When they feel powerless. Steffy: Yeah, Mom, you let him. Taylor: Well, there are a lot of things that I'm going to have to find an answer for that I've caused. Steffy: (Sighs) Look, Mom, um, I understand you think I'm in danger back home, but-- (sighs) Taylor: I don't anymore. Steffy: What? Taylor: (Sighs) Nobody's trying to kill Rick. Steffy: Then why are we here? Taylor: The car exploding and the fire-- I definitely know it wasn't Pam. Steffy: Who was it then? Taylor: (Sighs) (Whispers) It was Thomas. [SCENE_BREAK] Ridge: Obviously, you're unhappy with us. And, yeah, maybe some of the choices your mother and I made-- Thomas: Dad, I'm not trying to put this off on you and Mom, but you didn't raise me to wait for somebody else to act in a crisis. I have to do something, even if it's wrong. So I did, and it was. Rick disgusts me. He used Phoebe, seduced Mom, and now it's Steffy. Phoebe is dead because of him, but does that stop him? He's sick! And maybe standing by watching his sickness made me a little sick. And I'm sorry for what I did. But I still think he belongs in hell. But maybe I do, too. Ridge: No, son. I understand. [SCENE_BREAK] Stephanie: Okay, I've said everything I can. Brooke: (Sighs) Stephanie: Don't ever say that I didn't warn you. Rick: Good. Good night, Stephanie. Brooke: Did it occur to you that nothing's happened since Pam's been arrested? There's been no threats, no problems, nothing whatsoever. So doesn't that tell you that maybe they have the right person? Stephanie: Well, doesn't it tell you nothing has happened because you have police protection? Once they leave, what happens? Rick: Pam was arrested because the police have rock-solid evidence against her. Stephanie: You know, you should consider the possibility that there are many, many people that would like to see you dead, and when one gets caught, there's a whole line that can step right into place. Brooke: That is a horrible thing to say. Stephanie: Yes, I know it is. And there's a whole world of fibers out there. Sweet dreams. (Door closes) [SCENE_BREAK] Ridge: It's happened to me, too. Rick knows how to push you until you don't know who you are anymore. Thomas: You know, people like him shouldn't even be tolerated by their parents, their relatives, coworkers. But nobody did anything. It's like he was feeding off the women in our family, and everybody just stood by and watched. He had to be stopped. I had to do something. I just did it all wrong. Ridge: (Sighs) Thomas: You're ashamed of me. Ridge: No. I'm hearing you say things I've said myself. Thomas: You know, I guess I let him feed off me, too, turn me something I don't want to be. Now I have to take Aunt Pam's place in jail and be disgraced. The only sister I have left will hate me. There had to be a right way to protect us, save Steffy from Rick. (Sighs) I just never found it. Can you, Dad? [SCENE_BREAK] Steffy: Thomas. Taylor: Yes. Steffy: He told you this? Taylor: Yes. Steffy: I don't believe it. Taylor: I don't want to believe it either, Steffy. Steffy: It's not true! Taylor: I'm afraid it is. Steffy: He's covering for someone. Taylor: No, Steffy. No, he's been pushed. He's been pushed way beyond his limits, more than he could possibly endure. Steffy: This-- Taylor: Sweetheart, he felt like Rick was trying to take advantage of all of us-- Steffy: Mom, this is insane. Taylor: And he had to be stopped. Steffy: This is insane. He wouldn't do those things. Taylor: He wasn't trying to hurt Rick. He just wanted to scare him off. That's all. He's been carrying a huge burden, sweetheart. Steffy: No. No, I-I trusted him. I trusted him. He wouldn't have done those things to me. He wouldn't. Taylor: Your brother-- your brother would do anything. He would say anything for you. He would do anything he had to to protect you. You're the only sister he has left. You're the sister he loves so much. He loves you that much. Steffy: (Sniffles) Taylor: Steffy! [SCENE_BREAK] Ridge: We can't live Steffy's life for her. Thomas: But, Dad, he violated my mother. And what he did to Phoebe-- I mean, just taking everything from us and humiliating us-- (Door opens) Steffy: Who are you? Taylor: (Sighs) Steffy: I don't even know you anymore. Thomas: Steffy, I'm your big brother, and I love you so much. Steffy: Oh, what you did isn't love. This isn't love. I don't want to hear it. Thomas: I know it was wrong. I got carried away. I'm sorry, Steffy. Steffy: Oh, my god. My own brother. My own brother. You tried to kill the man that I love. Could--you blew up his car! You set his house on fire! My God, I can't believe you would do something like this. God, you knew how much he meant to me. Thomas: I told you to end it. I begged you. You said you were going to, but you didn't. When someone you care about is hurting themselves, you don't just stand by and watch, Steffy. Now you say you're in love with Rick after what he did to Phoebe, how he used our mother? That's sick. It's like a sickness you can't control. Somebody had to step in. Steffy: You had no right. You backstabbed me! Thomas: I had to step in. I had to do something. He had to be stopped from hurting our family. You're not gonna see him anymore, Steffy. I will not let that happen.