A shrink is always a shrink!

When Ridge and Taylor arrived at the boutique, Rosa was already waiting for them, impatiently.

"Thank God! Ridge, please get this fury out of here! She's in the staff room right now." While Ridge hurried there, Taylor first took care of Rosa, who was completely unnerved. She got her a glass of water and instructed her to sit down and relax. Once Rosa was in a calmer mood, Taylor asked about Lynn.

"She's doing better! I was able to calm her down so far and then I sent her home. I hope she stops worrying." Rosa looked anxiously at Taylor. "What about you and Ridge?"

"It's all good, we worked it out! I mean, I was pretty disappointed in him, but he explained himself and we made up. Deep in my heart I know, he didn't mean to hurt me. It's just a bad old habit, but he promised me, he will work on it." Rosa was relieved.

"I'm glad everything is okay again between you guys. I was really worried."

"You don't have to be. Nothing is going to break us up that easily and certainly not Brooke. Her involvement in this mess is reason enough for me to make up with Ridge. Because I'm definitely not going to let that woman think, she can break up our relationship just like that!" Rosa nodded in agreement.

"I know I said she couldn't be that bad, but now I really understand you!"

"Speaking of which, I'm going to check what's going on with those two right now." Taylor was now walking towards the staff room, she could hear Ridge and Brooke arguing. When she entered, Brooke's mood did not improve at all. Ridge had just made it clear to her that her behavior had been absolutely unacceptable and that she should never dare threaten any of his staff again. He showed her the way to the door.

"I have said everything. I want you to leave now! And don't you dare show up here again!" Taylor saw Ridge quiver with anger. She stepped up to him and put her arm around him. Brooke, however, wasn't about to give up so fast.

"Can't we talk about this? Why don't you let me explain? This wasn't all my fault, your so-called assistant just tried to kick me out and..." Ridge had finally enough. He reached for his phone.

"If you're not out of here in two minutes, I'm calling the security!"

"Ridge, listen to me! Okay, I may have overreacted a little bit but you might as well teach your employees some manners." Ridge looked at his watch.

"One minute and 30 seconds!"

"This is silly, now put your phone down and let's talk in a reasonable way."

"One minute!" Taylor now interjected.

"Brooke, get it through your head, it's over! Just leave Ridge and me alone and go!"

"Ridge! Are you going to let her talk to me like that?!"

"Thirty more seconds!"

"You're making a big mistake Ridge!" Enraged, Brooke stormed out of the room and out of the boutique. Taylor looked at Ridge in awe.

"Wow, I never knew you could be so adamant and harsh. I've got a chill myself."

"It was time to make a statement!"

"Definitely! And I think she got the message. I'm proud of you!" She fell into his arms and snuggled against him.

"Good! Mission accomplished!" Rosa peeked in through the door. She had witnessed Brooke's exit. However, when she saw Taylor and Ridge entwined in an intimate liplock, she discreetly withdrew.

Ridge said goodbye to Rosa and Ted a little earlier than usual. He wanted to prepare a surprise for Taylor.

"I guess you have some making up to do!"

"Let's just say I want to show her how much I love her."

"Good I think you own her that. You can call yourself a lucky man. I wouldn't have forgiven you so easily."

"I know. I don't take Taylor's forgiveness for granted. Oh and sorry again about Brooke."

"It's okay, I just hope we will never see her again. I really don't understand, how could you ever choose that fury over someone like Taylor? I mean, that woman practically invented hysteria!?"

"Believe me, Brooke wasn't always like this, even if she was completely out of line today. She has her qualities, too." Ridge waved after them and was gone.

"And you have to admit, she is a very attractive lady!" commented Ted.

"You men are all alike!" Rosa rolled her eyes. "I guess I know what 'qualities' Ridge was talking about."

When Taylor came home, her mouth dropped open in surprise. The table was lovingly decorated with candles and roses. Ridge stepped toward her.

"Hey, there you are. I allowed myself to take care of dinner tonight. We're having your favorite menu from 'Chez Pierre'!" Taylor was extremely pleased.

"That's very sweet of you!" He gallantly led her to the table and pulled out her chair. During their meal he was the perfect gentleman, Tayor enjoyed his attention and his efforts to make up for his mistake. But one question haunted her mind. "Have you heard anything else from Brooke?"

"No! I hope she's finally getting on a plane and going home!"

"Yes, indeed that would be the best for all of us." He reached for her hand.

"I'm really sorry about how this all went down. I know I made a huge mistake. Even though it sometimes takes me a little longer, I've learned my lesson. Next time I will handle the situation far differently."

"Well better late than never! I know you Ridge and I know even if your decision was wrong, you actually meant well. I just want you to promise me one thing, Take me seriously and don't treat me like a little girl in a fantasy world. I want to share everything with you, the good times and the hard times and if there's an issue that is bothering you, I want you to include me, not that you shut me out!"

"I promise you, no more secrets! At least none involving Brooke or any other trouble. I'm just glad you're giving me another chance. I couldn't have stood to lose you over it!" She sat down on his lap.

"You're not getting rid of me that fast! I love you!"

"I love you too Doc!" He wrapped her tightly in his arms. "I'm so relieved we're okay again."

"Well, not quite yet! One important step is still missing in our reconciliation." He looked at her questioningly.

"Oh yeah, and what's that?" She kissed him passionately and whispered something in his ear. A big smile spread across his face. They got up and blew out the candles at the table. He led her into the bedroom. They kissed more and more fiercely and couldn't get rid of their clothes fast enough. In a night filled with love and passion they proved to each other any dispute was forgotten.

The next afternoon, Ridge unexpectedly showed up at Taylor's office.

"Hey Doc! I've got some good news." Taylor was surprised and curious.

"I hope they are very good news if you're distracting me here at work." She stepped up to him, Ridge pulled her to the couch with him.

"Believe me, you're going to love hearing this. I was on the phone with Dad earlier. Brooke's back in LA." Taylor sighed with relief.

"That is indeed some really good news. With such good news you may barge in here anytime. I just hope we have some peace from her for a while now." Ridge hugged her and stroked her hair. Taylor noticed Ridge's mind was far away. She tapped him on the forehead.

"What's going on in there right now?"

"I was just thinking...Dad told me Brooke was pretty upset, hurt and outranged. He said I was maybe too rough with her."

"Ridge, you weren't too hard on her. You just told her what had to be told. It's Brooke's problem if she can't handle it."

"Yeah of course, it's just...even though I don't love Brooke anymore and her behavior here really annoyed me, it just bothers me that she's so down now... I can't stand it when someone is miserable because of me." Taylor stroked his cheek affectionately.

"Oh Ridge, you always want everyone around you to be fine and you always feel responsible for everyone. I think that's one of your qualities I love so much. But believe me, you can't help Brooke with this. She has to go through this on her own and you should be very careful how you deal with her in the near future. The be for you to reduce all contact with her, except of course when it comes to RJ, and that's for Brooke's own good." Ridge glanced at her suspiciously. "I'm not saying this because I want to keep you away from Brooke, but a breakup or the fact that your ex-partner has a new relationship is always a painful experience, especially if you still love this person. In a situation like this our emotions take control of us and we don't think or act rational. The one left behind is often not ready to let go and move on for a long time, but he/she is flooded with feelings and these are feelings of disappointment, pain and anger. But you have to get through this emotional chaos so that at some point you are free and able to concentrate on your own life again. I speak from my own experience and not just as a psychiatrist." Ridge grinned and gave her a rather mocking face. "Okay, maybe there's a little psychiatrist babbling included. What I try to say is Ridge I've been in that situation many times, every time you went back to Brooke, you still tried to comfort me. You told me you will always love me and we'd go through this together and that's what made it so hard for me to get away from you. That's why I never managed to free myself from my feelings towards you, there was always this voice inside me whispering that you still love me and that one day we'll be together again. Please don't take this the wrong way, but it would have been much easier for me if I could have been angry with you, if I could have hated you. My point is I know what Brooke is going through. You have to give her a chance to get away from you, to get rid of her longing for you. I know this is a very hard road and honestly I don't think Brooke is ready to go down that road yet. But if you try to care for her now, you're just going to raise false hopes in her and then the situation is going to become a lot more dangerous. And you shouldn't forget Brooke is not alone, she has her family, she has her kids and her sisters. She has her own support system and you should have faith in them that they will be there for her and help her through this" Ridge listened very carefully. Everything Taylor said made sense.

"Maybe you're right!"

"Of course I'm right!" She smiled mischievously at him.

"Have you forgotten already? I'm a world-renowned psychiatrist!"

"I thought you weren't talking to me as a psychiatrist."

"You know, a shrink is always a shrink." Laughing, he pulled her close.

"And you're my favorite shrink!" They sank into a heartfelt passionate kiss. Ridge hugged her even tighter and his hands ran longingly along her body.

"Ridge!" He showed no reaction. His lips moved to her neck.

"Ridge!" With a vestige of self-control, she gently pushed him off her. "We're here in my office, my assistant is just one door apart and all around us are my colleagues sitting in their office. I really don't want to put on a show for everyone." Ridge pulled her close again and kissed along her ear.

"I thought all the rooms are extra soundproofed so that no conversations could be overheard."

"Yeah, but still, I don't wanna give them any wrong impressions. After all, I'm still their boss." She gave him one last kiss and stood up. She sat back down at her desk. Ridge stepped up to her.

"All right, I don't wanna ruin your reputation. But at home, you have no excuse!"

"Who says I need one!" Taylor was reaching for a file, but Ridge slammed it in her face.

"No way Doc! You're done with work today. I'm going to whisk you away right now, for a walk on the beach. The weather is beautiful and you need some fresh air pretty badly. You're very pale around that sweet little nose of yours."

"Are you the doc now?"

"At least I know what you need! A walk along the ocean, your feet in the water and your head in the wind. And if you're a good girl, you might get some ice cream!"

"Mmm, Sounds good Doctor!" She gave him a tender kiss. "I'll be done in a minute!" She disappeared into her little adjoining room and came back a moment later completely changed. She had undone her hair, in soft waves it now framed her face. She wore a light green sleeveless dress and she had refreshed her makeup. Ridge whistled appreciatively.

"Wow. Do you have a magic locker in there or what?" He put his hands around her waist. "I'm just glad you don't present yourself like this to your patients. Otherwise I'd be sitting on your couch like a watchdog all day." Taylor laughed and wrapped her arms around him.

"Oh, Ridge. You know I only have eyes for you!"

She kissed him with passion. Ridge poked her in the ribs.

"Hey, we're in your office!"

"Touche!" Ridge pulled her with him.

"Come on, let's get out of here. I want to walk down the beach with you, hold you in my arms and make all the men jealous."

"Ridge Forrester, sometimes you really are impossible!"