Brooke goes even further!

Taylor had to brace herself against the wall. Her emotions were running wild. She was drenched in sweat and shaking all over. She would have liked to rush into the guest house, take Jack and run far far away. But she had to stay calm, she couldn't lose her composure. That would have helped Jack the least of all. She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths. She slowly counted to ten. After she calmed down, she pulled herself together and knocked on the door. Brooke opened her.

"Hi Taylor, Ridge already texted me that you were on your way. But you really didn't have to hurry like that. You know how much I love being with Jack." Taylor stepped into the house and took her son in her arms.

"Oh I was just finishing up doing the groceries anyway and surely you have plenty to do. I don't want to bother you any longer than necessary. Hey Jack, are you all right? Mommy's back! Yes mommy is back!" She emphasized the word 'mommy'.

"Jack is not a burden to me at all. On the contrary, I would like to be with him more often!"

"Actually Jack is not a challenge cup, that you can keep passing around. Anyway, thanks for watching him." After she left the house, she took another deep breath. This situation had taken more out of her than she could actually bear. She put Jack in his car seat and drove off. During the ride she was still so agitated, it was difficult for her to concentrate on the traffic. She was relieved when they finally arrived home. Jack had fallen asleep. Gently, she carried him into the house and laid him in his crib. Softly she stroked his head with her fingers.

"Don't worry Jack, you are my little boy! Brooke can't hurt us at all! Mommy won't let you down, I promise!"

Later, Taylor had just made herself a salad, there was an energetic knock at the door. Ridge, visibly upset, rushed past her into the house.

"Was that really necessary Taylor, can't you let it go?" She looked at him, uncomprehending and irritated.

"Hi Ridge, I have no idea what you're even talking about?!"

"Now cut the act. I was just at home and Brooke was still there. She was devastated and at her wits' end. I could barely calm her down. Can't you just leave her alone?!"

"I don't know why you're ambushing me like this. But I certainly didn't do anything to Brooke!"

"Oh, you didn't? Don't lie to me, I saw it with my own eyes. You've completely lost your temper again."

"I don't know what Brooke told you, but it was nothing Ridge. I got there, picked up Jack and left. That's all. Besides, I'm not the one of us going crazy here. I think there's something about Brooke, you should know!"

"I don't want to hear anything from you, especially not another story about Brooke. I know how you feel about her, you think she's the devil. But that's no reason to get violent with her again."

"Me violent?"

"Don't deny it! Brooke told me everything, you shoved her full force against the wall just because she asked you if she could see Jack more often. I saw her bruises with my own eyes, so you don't have to fool me."

"Ridge, please trust me! Not a word of that is true. I did not verbally or physically assault Brooke. She's just claiming that because she wants to make me look like the bad guy. I swear to you, I didn't do anything to Brooke. Also, I wanted to tell you..."

"I'm not interested in what else you have to say. I'm very disappointed in you. I would have thought you had more decency!" With those words, he left Taylor standing there and slammed the door behind him.

Taylor was shocked. She couldn't believe Brooke had defamed her so cruel. She wondered if perhaps she had noticed Taylor eavesdropping on her or if this had been her plan all along. Completely distraught, she picked up the phone and called Felicia. But she only reached her voicemail. She left a message asking her to get back to her urgently. All night, Taylor couldn't sleep and pondered the situation. Ridge had never been so angry and she realized as long as he was convinced she had attacked Brooke, she couldn't tell him about the actual incident at the guesthouse. Brooke would deny everything and he probably wouldn't believe a word she said. She had to win back his trust first.

The next day, Felicia stopped by.

"I'm sorry, but I got home very late and I didn't want to call then because I thought you were already asleep."

"I didn't sleep all night!" Taylor told Felicia what had transpired yesterday. "I know why Brooke is spinning all this intrigue against me. She wants Jack for herself. She wants to start a new family with Ridge, including Jack! She wants to make Ridge think I'm an unfit mother so he takes him away from me!"

"What?! You've got to be kidding me! The woman has completely lost it!"

"But the worst part is, she told Ridge some scary story about me going after her again. She even showed him some bruises as proof. Ridge was here last night acting like Rumplestiltskin. I tried to make him understand that I didn't do anything. But he doesn't believe a word I say. He's completely on Brooke's side."

"That means you didn't tell him what you overheard?"

"I didn't have a chance at all! He wouldn't have believed me anyway. I don't know what to do." Taylor could no longer hold back the tears. She was at her wits' end. Felicia took her in her arms reassuringly.

"Hey, everything is going to be okay. I'm with you, we'll get through this together!"

"Thanks! I certainly don't want to lose Jack! I wish I would know what else Brooke is up to. She will never rest until she achieves her goal!"

"That's not going to happen. Even though Ridge is really mad at you right now, he knows that you're a good mother. He would never take Jack away from you. Maybe I should talk to him?"

"I don't know! He knows about our deep friendship and that lately you've been having your problems with Brooke too. I'm sure he won't believe you any more than me. No, I've got to get through to Ridge, so he trusts me again and realizes what's going on with Brooke."

"The best thing would be for Brooke to reveal herself. Maybe we should trap her and secretly record her."

"I don't think that would work. You can say a lot about Brooke, but she's not stupid."

"In any case, you should avoid any encounters with Brooke. You can't put yourself in the firing line any further."

"How am I supposed to do that? She's there every time I drop off or pick up Jack?"

"Maybe it would be best if I take Jack to Ridge and home or at least accompany you. You definitely can't be alone with Brooke." Taylor was very grateful for Felicia's support. It did her good not to have to go through this situation alone.

In fact, over the next few days, Felicia was always there when Taylor was with Ridge. Even otherwise, she tried to be in his office as much as possible to avoid Brooke being alone with Jack. A few days after the incident, Felicia used a lunch break to talk quietly with Ridge. She tried to convince her brother not to believe everything Brooke told him and to trust Taylor. However, he was still firmly convinced Taylor had attacked Brooke. Felicia tried to dissuade him from that conviction.

"You weren't there, so it's Brooke's word against Taylor's and I've talked to her. She assured me that nothing happened and you have to admit yourself, Taylor wouldn't lie. If it really did happen like Brooke says, Taylor would admit it." Ridge had to concede Felicia was right about that. It wasn't like Taylor to completely deny a mistake. However, he questioned why Brooke would come up with such a story, if there was nothing to it. Felicia had to pull herself together very hard, not to tell him about Brooke's actual intentions, but she stuck to the promise she had made to Taylor.

"Brooke can't stand Taylor any more than the other way around. Maybe she just wanted to spite her for letting her see Jack so little. I think she's way too close to Jack. After all, she has a daughter of her own to take care of."

"Brooke adores Jack, that's all, he distracts her from her grief that she didn't get pregnant."

"Still, I think she's getting a little too attached to Jack."

"Come on, she only sees him when he's with me."

"And you're absolutely sure there isn't more to it?!"

"Please not this again. I've told you a dozen times, Brooke and I are not together and we're not getting back together."

"Fine, but you really should speak with Taylor. This silence between the two of you isn't doing anyone any good, at least Jack." Ridge actually made an effort to approach Taylor and was much friendlier to her. Slowly they reconciled.

Brooke entered Ridge's office, she wanted to discuss some details with him about the next fashion show. Ridge was just finishing a phone call. Irritated, Brooke watched him start packing up his stuff.

"I have to leave right now. Taylor just called, Jack's not doing well at all. He's suffering from stomach pain and whines all day. She asked me to come over right away!"

"Why is Taylor calling you, I mean we have enough work here. It's like I always say she's completely inundated with Jack." Ridge didn't have the nerve for Brooke's tirades and just left.

When he arrived at Taylor's, he was more than stunned. The living room looked as if a tornado had swept through the house. Toys and other things were scattered everywhere and the laundry wasn't made. Taylor was in the kitchen with Jack. He heard his crying and whining. Ridge stepped into the kitchen.

"Hey, here I am!" Taylor looked at him with gratitude and relief.

"Oh good, you're here!" Jack sagged in his mother's arms, the pain plain on his face. Tears stood in his eyes. Ridge took him in his arms.

"Hey my little boy, is your tummy bothering you?" With two fingers, he began to massage Jack's belly. "Have you taken him to the doctor?"

"Yeah, he said it's nothing bad, just colic, probably from the change in diet." Ridge cast a sideways glance at his ex-wife.

"Sorry to be so blunt, but you've looked a lot better yourself!"

"Woah, very charming!" Taylor was about to make some tea for Jack, but Ridge took the bottle from her hand.

"You go to bed now and make sure you get some sleep, no wonder Jack gets a fright when he sees you. You could audition for the 'Rocky Horror Picture Show' with that look."

"Are you sure you can handle everything on your own?"

"Yeah, sure! Jack's not the first baby I've taken care of and now go!" Taylor didn't need to be told twice. She staggered upstairs to her bedroom. She was so tired and exhausted that as soon as she was tucked into bed, she fell asleep.

Over the next few hours, Ridge devotedly took care of his son. He carried him around, played with him to distract him or massaged his belly. By night, Ridge was completely exhausted and worn out. Jack was behaving quietly at the moment. He lay in his baby bouncer, Ridge rocked him with his foot while reading him a story. Taylor joined them. After a few hours of sleep, she felt like a newborn. Moreover, she had taken the opportunity to shower extensively. Ridge glanced at her.

"Well, now you look human again!" She pinched his side.

"Thanks for the compliment! But therefore you don't seem so fresh." She leaned toward Jack. "Hey little guy, how are you doing? Have you been giving your dad a good run for his money?"

"You could say that!" She disappeared into the kitchen. Jack had another pain and Ridge took him in his arms again to massage his belly. Taylor returned, holding a plate of sandwiches. Greedily, Ridge squinted at them. He tried to hoist Jack onto one arm, but he immediately started screaming. He didn't calm down until Ridge started patting his belly again. Taylor sat down with them, she couldn't help but grin. Again Ridge tried his luck, but Jack knew no quarter.

"Our son is a real little dictator!"

"Oh come on, he just knows what he wants and especially what he doesn't want!"

"Yeah and he couldn't care less if I starve to death." Taylor took pity on him. She held out a ham sandwich for him so he could bite off.

"Thanks, you're a lifesaver!"

"Oh now don't exaggerate! You're a lifesaver. Seriously Ridge, thank you for coming. I don't know what I would have done without you!"

"Well, that went without saying! Taylor, even though things haven't been great between us lately, I hope you know when it comes to Jack, you can always count on me!"

Ridge spent the next two days with Taylor and Jack. They took turns taking care of the little one so the other could rest. Taylor was very grateful to Ridge for being so supportive. He, on the other hand, credited her for not being too proud to ask him for help. Due to the caring, they became closer again and they got along much better. Still they both avoided the subject 'Brooke'. Jack's colic disappeared and without pain he was much more balanced, happier and no longer whined constantly. Since the weather was nice, they took him to the park. Taylor thought back to the walk a few months ago, since then Jack had grown quite a bit and he was now much more active and aware of his surroundings. They passed the playground again. Jack giggled and laughed as his parents rocked him together. He clearly enjoyed the slide much more. Every time Ridge slid down with him, he crowed with delight and waved his arms. The ducks and swans also elicited more enthusiasm from him this time. Curiously, he watched them swim. Only when a swan waddled onto the meadow and swung its wings, it became too scary for Jack. He buried his face in his mother's chest.

The next day, Ridge went back to the office. A lot had been left undone. Brooke snowed in.

"There you are, finally! I've been trying to reach you all the time. Where have you been? You know how busy we are here right now?"

"Hi Brooke, I've been at Taylor's taking care of Jack with her. The little guy was in pretty bad shape. He kept us very busy. But he's fine now, thank goodness."

"I'm glad to hear that, I really am! But I think Taylor's making it pretty easy on herself, though! Calling you in just because she's not able to deal with the little one!"

"Now don't be so harsh Brooke. Taylor wasn't overwhelmed, she was just tired, which is no wonder when you can't sleep because the kid is screaming. What else was she supposed to do? Wait until she collapses? I'm Jack's father, after all, so it's only natural that she calls me and asks for help."

"I think she relies on you way too much. If it wasn't for you, she'd be completely lost! Why doesn't she get a nanny if she's not capable of taking care of Jack on her own?"

"Taylor is very capable of taking excellent care of Jack. This was an exceptional situation because Jack was sick. Taylor doesn't want a nanny. She wants to raise Jack and take care of him herself. You see, Taylor suffers to this day that she missed so much of Thomas' and the girls' childhood and she regrets leaving the three to the nanny so often. She just wants to do things differently with Jack. I can understand that."

"Well, I think it's pretty selfish and unreasonable and can't go well in the long run. But maybe I'd better stay out of it. What I really wanted to ask you, wouldn't you like to join us for dinner tonight? Hope and I could make our famous spaghetti."

"Anytime, but tonight. Taylor invited me and the kids over for dinner. We want to have a family night again."

"Family night? Don't you think that's a little over the top? I mean, you guys aren't a family. Taylor and you aren't together anymore."

"So what? Still, we and the kids are family and they always enjoy it when we're all together."

"Don't you think you're giving them false hope by doing that and pretending something that doesn't exist?"

"Well first of all, we're not pretending anything and I think Thomas and the girls know the difference quite well. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to talk to Dad." Ridge left his office, Brooke stared after him, annoyed and disappointed. Her eyes fell on the family portrait on Ridge's desk, taken at Christmas. In a fit of anger, she knocked the picture over and left the room as well.

"You only have one family, Ridge! With me!"

Ridge and Taylor had returned to their old familiarity. She was relieved about that. Now she could tell Ridge about Brooke's true intentions and be sure he would believe her and then the haunting would finally be over. She just wanted to wait for the perfect moment to confront him. Ridge would surely realize that it was best for all of them to prevent Brooke from seeing Jack any longer. That thought gave her great release, especially since she had other things to worry about as well. After Jack got over the colic, he started teething. Night for night, he kept her up and she wandered around the living room with him for hours.

Ridge waited with Jack for Taylor to finally pick him up. She was already a half hour behind. He had tried to call her, but had only ended up with her voicemail. Brooke was also there, once again fuming about how incompetent Taylor was and how unreliable she had become lately. That's when Taylor rushed into the office.

"I'm so sorry, but I was just going to lie down for a minute and then I totally overslept." Ridge gave her a reassuring hug.

"Take it easy, it's not a problem. Did Jack keep you up all night again because of his teething?"

"Oh yes! Why does it have to hurt so much when kids get their teeth! I hope I didn't keep from something important?"

"No, not at all! And if you ever want me to take Jack for a night, let me know."

"Thanks, I'll do!" Taylor left with Jack. When Brooke and Ridge were alone again, she looked at him disapprovingly.

"You're just way too understanding, Ridge! After all, lately it happens all the time that Taylor doesn't keep appointments or forgets them or supposedly oversleeps. She seems very erratic and distracted."

"She's not sleeping well because of Jack, that's not unusual."

"I wonder if it's really just because of that." Brooke hesitated "I mean….didn't you notice anything?"

"What should I have noticed?"

"Well, I had the feeling..." but then she shook her head "...no forget it! I don't want to say anything wrong! I don't want there to be trouble again."

"Now tell me! What do you think?"

"I just got the impression….could it be...that she's drinking again?" Ridge stared at Brooke in complete bewilderment.

"What makes you think that? That's completely out of question, Taylor would never do that! She went through hell when she had her problems with the alcohol and she's glad she got over it all. Why would she start doing it again?"

"After all, she's pretty stressed right now, and you know how great the risk of relapse is, especially with alcohol and just now I had the impression she was beside herself."

"No, that's ridiculous! She wouldn't do that. Okay, it's all a bit tough for her, the first year with a baby is no bed of roses, but for her to drink again, that's bullshit!"

"But it would explain her erratic nature and that she's constantly late. You told me just yesterday that the last time she should drop Jack off at Stephanie's, she just didn't show up and when you checked on her, you found her fast asleep."

"She had been up all night again, caring for Jack. That could happen to anyone!"

"And all the other things? I noticed for example she chews gum or sucks candy all the time lately. She hasn't done that before. I really don't want to accuse her of anything, but if she really is drinking again, Jack is in a lot of danger. Something could happen any time. Maybe you should take Jake, I mean for longer!"

"Now give me a break Brooke! With due respect for your concerns about Jack, but that would be totally exaggerated. Jack is totally attached to his mother and she would never do anything to harm or endanger him. Believe me, you're wrong Brooke and now stop it!" Brooke realized she wasn't getting through to Ridge and dropped the subject. She grabbed her papers and left the office. "I'll convince you Ridge! You will see, I'm right!"

A few days later, Brooke appeared at Taylor's house.

"Hello Taylor, may I come in for a moment? I really need to talk to you." Taylor would have loved to slam the door in her face, but then Brooke would have complained about it to Ridge. So she forced herself to smile and invited Brooke inside.

"Sure, come in. Would you like some iced tea?"

"Oh yeah, thanks!"

"So what's this all about?"

"I want to ask you to give up your reservations about me and let me spend more time with Jack. I mean it would also be a help for you if I would take care of him on a regular basis." Taylor glanced at Brooke with a sneer.

"You know what Brooke, I'd rather abandon Jack somewhere in the wilderness and let a pack of wolves take care of him other than put him in your care."

"How can you even say that? I love Jack and I'm just trying to help you?"

"Save it, okay! You might be able to fool Ridge with your sweet, innocent fad, but not me. I know exactly what you're up to! So let it go. If you see Jack, when he stays with Ridge, that's one thing but I'm not willingly letting you have MY son." They looked at each other belligerently.

"Oh, by the way, speaking of your son, did you hear that? Is that Jack crying there?"

"It can't be." Taylor reached for the baby monitor, which didn't make a sound.

"I'm pretty sure you should check it out. Maybe the baby monitor is broken or the battery is dead."

"Alright, fine, I will check!" Taylor disappeared.

"There was nothing there, Jack is sleeping peacefully."

"Oh really, then I must have misheard myself." She poured herself another glass of iced tea. "It's really hot today! Don't you want some too?" She poured some tea into Taylor's half-empty glass. "You should drink enough in this heat! I was just reading the other day that women our age don't drink enough." Taylor gave her an ironic look.

"Surely!" Taylor reached for her glass, accidentally bumping against the coffee table. Brooke, who had her feet propped up against it, winced and dumped some iced tea on her blouse. "Oh, I'm sorry. You might want to go to the bathroom and get those stains out."

"Thanks for the advice, I never would have thought of it on my own." Brooke disappeared when she stepped back into the living room, she just saw Taylor empty her glass. All at once, she smiled with satisfaction. "Well, I'd better leave now. As I said, I'll ask you to think about it. I'd really enjoy spending more time with Jack." She turned on her heel and left the house.

"Not in this lifetime!" muttered Taylor after her. She heard Jack's squawking through the baby monitor. He must have woken up. Later, she sat relaxed with him in the living room and together they built a big tower.

"Jack, will you help mommy building a tower? Which brick should I take, the red one or the blue one?" There was a loud ringing and knocking at the door.

"Who could that be? Maybe it's your daddy?" Ridge had planned to come over later. But when Taylor opened the door, she recoiled in shock. Standing there were a man and a woman in suits, as well as a police officer and two paramedics. The woman held an ID card under her nose.

"Good afternoon. Are you Dr. Taylor Hayes?"

"Yes, that's me."

"My name is Miranda Smith, CPS Child Protective Service! May we come in?"