Control Part 6

…Thorne pauses and then walks back towards Brooke’s hospital room. Looking in her window again, the same scene greets him. No, I don’t believe this. Why now? Turning, Thorne quickly runs from the room. After punching the down button for the elevator for the third time, Thorne starts pacing back in forth. I have to get out of here. Where’s the stupid elevator. Just as Thorne is about to take the stairs, the elevator arrives…

Katie, Rick and Bridget exit the elevator, arms laden down with food, flowers, and cards for Brooke. Katie and Rick are laughing at something Bridget has said. As they start to exit, they notice Thorne.

Katie glares at Thorne suspiciously. “Thorne, what are you doing here. You were supposed to wait for her to call you, not barge your way up here. My sister specifically stated she didn’t want to see you.”

“Yes, and now I know why.” Thorne spits out his answer.

(Extremely worried) “What are you talking about?” Katie glances at Brooke’s room and then back towards Thorne. “Kids, I’m sure your mom is hungry. Why don’t you start unpacking the food while it’s still hot? I’ll be right there.”

“All right.” As Rick and Bridget leave they pass uneasy looks with their Aunt.

Katie waits until the kids close Brooke’s door. “Thorne, you have no right to be here.”

“Yeah, that’s quite obvious from what I just saw.”

Katie just looks at Thorne, noticing he seems shocked and sad at the same time. “What did you see?”

(Sarcastic) “Oh nothing. (Sadly) You know this just serves me right. After everything I put her through I had no right to expect her to wait for me. I just thought we could put everything behind us and get back together. I guess I forgot I’m not the only one who would want her in my life.”

Katie is totally confused. “Thorne, what…”

(Interrupting) “Look Katie. I really can’t go into this right now. I need to have a long overdue conversation with someone. Bye.” Thorne walks past Katie and enters the elevator.

Once the elevator doors close, Katie quickly goes to Brooke’s room. What is going on here? What did he see? Entering the room, understanding comes across her face, and she chuckles.

“Are you going to let us all in on the joke?” Brooke has composed herself by now. “Because I could really use a laugh.”

Katie just stares at her sister. “Well, we ran into Thorne as we were getting here.” “That’s what the kids said.”

“Yes, he came up here to see you.”

“No he didn’t. I just hung up on him not fifteen minutes ago.”

“Yes, well, obviously he didn’t want to end your conversation and so came up here. He must have just peeked in the window. Guess what he saw?”

“Well if you’re laughing it can’t be that I’m pregnant.”

“Nope, but you do get a second guess.” Katie meaningfully nodded at someone else in the room.

Brooke looked over at her visitor, and then laughs. “Oh my god, he thinks that we…”

“Yup.” Everyone in the room started laughing as well.

“Oh, it serves him right. Thanks, Katie, I needed that. Come on, let’s dig into this food. I’m starving.”

With a determined look on his face, Thorne exits the hospital and strides over to his car. He drives directly to Forrester Creations, runs to Ridge’s office, enters, and slams the door behind him.

Hearing the slam, Ridge looks up from his desk. He is surprised not only to see Thorne in his office, but with an angry look on his face. Ridge rises to greet his brother. “Thorne, how are you? You look tired. How’s Macy?”

“Macy will be fine. You should be worried about yourself.”

“What? What do you mean?”

“Ridge, we need to have a long talk. And I want you to promise me that no matter what, you will tell me the truth.”

“Thorne what’s wrong? Taylor told me you and she talked. Are you ok?”

“No, Ridge, I’m not ok. And I haven’t been for over a year, and no one seems to care.”

“What do you mean?”

“Ridge, you never answered me. If I ask you something do you promise to tell me the truth?”

Ridge starts to worry. “Thorne, I’ll try. What is it?”

“I guess that’s the best you can do.” Thorne pauses and starts to pacing the room. Taking a deep breath he finally confronts his brother. “Ridge, this is the most important thing I have ever asked you. What really happened in Venice?”

For a minute Ridge just stands there. “Thorne, where is this coming from? You know what happened in Venice, you saw it with your own eyes.”

“That’s not an answer Ridge. You know, I never asked you about it before, it was too painful. I married Macy, you and Taylor seemed to work out your problems, and the subject never came up again. I just wanted to forget about it. But that’s impossible to do now. (Thorne starts to raise his voice.) Well, I want the truth, NOW!”

“Why? Anything that happened is in the past. Everything has happened as it should have. It should be forgotten.”

Thorne looks at Ridge incredulously. “Oh really. Is that what happened? Well for your information, my marriage to Macy is over with. (Ridge is shocked) That’s right. I told her I wanted a divorce. So what happens? Macy drinks, drives, and causes an accident, which places both her and Brooke in the hospital. Is that what should have happened? I don’t think so.”

Ridge walks over to his brother and places a hand on his shoulder. “Thorne, I’m so sorry. You know none of those events could have been foreseen. Are you sure it’s over with Macy? (Thorne nods) What happened, you two love each other so much?”

Thorne shakes off Ridge’s hand. “That’s where you’re wrong. I never loved Macy, at least not the way I should have in order to marry her. I never stopped loving Brooke.” Ridge is stunned, and a little worried. Thorne just stares at his brother. “Now, what really happened in Venice?”

(Trying to stall) “I still don’t understand why that matters.”

“Because I just spoke to Brooke.”

Ridge is shocked. As far as he knows, there has been no communication between Brooke and the rest of the Forresters. “How…”

“Easy, I told her, through Megan, that I didn’t care if she fired me or not. I managed to convince her to call me. (Resumes pacing) I was so happy when I heard her voice. You have no idea how much I’ve missed it. (Ridge unconsciously nods his head in agreement) So, I finally tell her that things are over between Macy and me, and that I never stopped loving her. You know, for a second I thought she was happy. And then I ruin everything by putting my foot in my mouth. I continued to say how we both made mistakes, her pursuing you in Italy; me marrying Macy on the rebound because I thought that’s what was expected of me. I told her I forgave her and I knew she could forgive me. Do you know what she said then?” Ridge can guess but says nothing. “She said how could I really love her, but not trust her. She AGAIN stated that she was completely over you and you set her up in Venice. She just got angrier and angrier. She ended our call reaffirming how she never wanting to speak to me ever again, and if I tried, she would fire the entire family. So after all that, I have to ask you, what really happened? Because I can’t believe that if she pursued you, like you led me to believe, why would she keep denying it?”

Ridge just shakes his head. “Thorne, Brooke never would have made you happy. We all know that, me, Dad, Taylor, Mom, the entire family. Deep down, even you know the truth. That’s why we did what we did. We had to make you see that she would never give up loving me or wanting me.”

Trying not to throttle his brother, Thorne just clenches his jaw. (Slowly and succinctly) “I repeat, for the last time, what did you do?”

Seeing no way out of it, Ridge finally relents. “We set it up so that you would see Brooke and me together, in her room.”

“Who’s ‘we’?”

“Me and Taylor.”

“And who’s idea was this? Yours? Or Taylor’s?”

“Neither, it was Dad’s.”

“So I suppose that all of the ‘problems’ you and Taylor were having back then weren’t real?”

“No. We did that to convince Brooke I might be available again. To make you see the truth.”

“So you did set her up.” Thorne starts to look ill.

“Thorne, we may have set the stage, but you did see us on the bed together.”

(Sarcastic) “That’s right. I’m sure she forced you there and you had no say in the matter, right?”

“Not exactly.”

“Ridge, I need to hear what ‘exactly’ did happen.”

Ridge sees no way out of it. “Ok, I came on to her first. I brought up the past, when we were together. She resisted at first, but in the end, we did kiss, on the bed.”

“Did she ever resist you?” Thorne stares at his brother, who doesn’t answer. “Ridge, answer me!”

“Yes, she resisted, at first. She said she loved you and was going to marry you. But I broke her down. You saw the end result.”

(Sarcastic) “Well congratulations, your plan worked. You ruined not only my life, but Macy’s as well. (Thorne starts pacing back and forth) I can’t believe this. I fell for it all right. Even when I came back to L.A., Brooke tried to tell me she was set up, but I didn’t believe her. (Thorne stops pacing and glares at Ridge again) I can’t believe I was so stupid. I knew you and Dad would have done anything to break us up, but I guess I didn’t want to believe my own family could be so cruel. You know, Taylor truly was your secret weapon. But I guess you already know that. Everything you and Dad had done before the Venice trip didn’t work. You must have been really desperate; convincing me and Brooke that you and Taylor were splitting up, Taylor telling me that you loved only Brooke. That she was leaving you. She played on every insecurity that I ever had. Even the ones I didn’t want to admit to. I guess having a psychiatrist for a wife really pays off. She got into my mind and made me doubt everything about my relationship with Brooke. You should tell her she did a job well done.”

Ridge doesn’t know what to say. He is about to speak when Thorne continues. But Thorne’s words are directed more to himself than to Ridge.

“Brooke was right. How could I have told her I loved her and then not trusted her? I told her I was different from the other men in my family, but I’m just like them. She trusted me to never hurt her. SHE never doubted me even after seeing me with Macy all those times. SHE waited for me in the pool house confident that I wouldn’t go through with that farce of a wedding Mother set up. But what happens the first time there is any question about her feelings for me? Do I trust her and our love? (Thorne remembers Ridge and directs his next comment towards his brother) No, I behave and treat her JUST LIKE YOU DID!”

“What do you mean?”

“Oh, how about the innocent kiss you saw between Brooke and Grant at the cabin? You never confronted her about it to get her side. The truth. No, you took mother’s word and instead of proposing to the woman you claimed to love, Brooke, you humiliated her in front of the entire world when you proposed to Taylor at the fashion show. (Ridge looks a little guilty) So, does that ring a bell? You believed Mother when you knew she hated Brooke and would do anything to sabotage your relationship. Well I did the same thing. I believed everything you and Taylor told me. I should have remembered that you wanted to break us up, and had tried to do so many times already.”

“Thorne, what does it matter now? Even if things didn’t work out for you and Macy, we still proved our point. Brooke will never be able to get past her feelings for me.”

“Well, that’s where you’re wrong.”

“What do you mean?”

“It means that after Brooke hung up on me I went upstairs to see her. I couldn’t understand why she was so angry with me. I looked into her hospital room and saw her in the arms of another man.” Ridge just stands there, shocked. Thorne sees his expression, and laughs a little. “So much for the irresistible Ridge, huh?”

Back at the hospital everyone is finishing dinner.

“Kids, thank you very much for dinner. You showed up in the nick of time. I was almost about to eat hospital food.” Brooke smiles at her children.

“I guess we aren’t the only ones who saved you today.” Rick looked over at their other dinner guest.

“Giovanni, I do say, you have impeccable timing. Who knows what would have happened if you hadn’t been here.”

“Brooke, my friend, I will always be here for you. I just can’t believe that he did it again.”

“I know.”

Bridget was confused. “Did what again?”

Brooke looks over at her and smiles. “Oh, see me and with another man, then run off without an explanation. It must be a Forrester trait. First Ridge, then Thorne does it twice. Although this time, I’m glad.” Brooke turns her attention to her son. “Rick, let this be a lesson to you.”

“Don’t worry, mom. I hope I never behave like my brothers. If I ever do, please, someone, slap me.”

Bridget smiles. “Oh, I wish I had that on tape. Don’t worry Rick, I will be happy to comply with you wishes.”

Rick looks over at his sister with a smirk on his face. “Fine, you get the job. But, remember, only if I behave like them. But you can’t enjoy it… too much.” Brooke, Katie, and Bridget start to laugh.

Giovanni is still a little upset, though. “Yes, well, Thorne shouldn’t have made you so upset to begin with. If I hadn’t found you crying, I wouldn’t have needed to comfort you. It’s his fault he looked in here and saw a friendly kiss. He not even supposed to see you. If that idiot wants to misinterpret what he saw, I say forget about him.”

“I totally agree.” Brooke shook her head emphatically. “In fact, I never want to talk to him ever again.” Katie, Rick and Bridget hear what she says; they just don’t believe her words. They know that no matter what, Brooke loves Thorne, even when he acts like an idiot. “Please, let’s just forget about stupid Forrester males for now.” Brooke glances over at her son and smiles. “Present company excluded.”

“Hey, I may be a Forrester male, but I’m not stupid.” Rick pauses as everyone gives him pointed looks. “Ok, I may have been stupid when it came to a former wife of mine, but you have to admit, I’m a lot smarter now, though. Right?” Rick breaks out into a huge cheesy grin.”

“Yes, you are wiser now, and a much stronger man.” Brooke hugs her son; glad he can now joke about Amber.

About an hour later, everyone starts to leave.

“Mom, Rick and I are going to head home, but, we’ll see you tomorrow. Hopefully you can come home.” Bridget and Rick give their mother a hug.

Giovanni also gives Brooke a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “I’m glad you are going to be fine. Call me if you need anything.”

Katie stops Giovanni. “Giovanni, wait a minute. Can you give the kids a ride back to the house? I want to stay here a little while longer.” Katie gives a meaningful look at Brooke.

“Yes, Katie, no problem. Come on Rick, Bridget. Let’s go.”

“I’ll be home soon.” As soon as everyone leaves, Katie silently sits in a chair next to Brooke.

After a few moments Brooke breaks the silence. “What? I hate it when you just stare at me not saying a word.”

Katie takes Brooke’s hand. “Are you going to tell me how you are really feeling?”

“Katie, there’s nothing…”

“Brooke, you may be able to fool some people, but not me. And not your kids. No matter how much you try to hide it, we all know you’re in pain. What happened with you and Thorne?”

Brooke sat there for a minute refusing to answer. But, seeing the concern in her sister’s eyes, she breaks down again. Katie just moves onto the bed and holds her as she cries.

Back at Forrester Creations, Ridge just stares at his brother. “What are you talking about? What man?”

“What’s the matter Ridge, jealous?”

“No, of course not.” Ridge does look a little upset. “Why would I be jealous?”

“Oh, I don’t know. How about the fact that Brooke has moved on, without you, again. Why don’t you finally admit it?”

“Admit what?”

“Admit that it drives you crazy when she finds happiness without you. Admit that you love Brooke. You may be married to Taylor, and be in love with her, but a part of you will always love Brooke. And if you can’t have her, you don’t want anyone else to have her either. What? No answer?” (Ridge says nothing) Fine, don’t admit it. Just tell me everything that happened in Venice. I need to know. From her reaction, and what you won’t say, I now have a pretty good idea what really happened, but I need to hear it from you. (Thorne pleads with his brother) If you care about me at all, tell me!”

Ridge finally gives in. “I don’t know why it matters so much to you. But ok, I’ll tell you.” Through flashback Ridge truthfully tells Thorne everything that really transpired between him and Brooke in the Venice hotel room. When Ridge finishes, Thorne just stands there. “Thorne?”

Thorne says nothing at first. He is still trying to take in everything Ridge just told him. “Who else knows what really happened?”

“Just me and Dad.”

(Surprised) “You didn’t even tell your own wife?”

“No, I didn’t feel it was necessary.”

“That’s funny. You know what? A few hours ago Taylor and I had a really interesting conversation. You know what she feels is the basis for a healthy relationship? Honesty. She told me that the two of you don’t have any secrets from each other. How do you think she would react if I tell her what really happened? (Ridge looks ill) That’s what I thought. Have you ever been honest with anyone? Look, I don’t care about your marriage to Taylor right now. I just need to know why? Why you had so little regard for me, Brooke, or Macy.”

“Thorne, you know why. You belong with Macy. I’m sure you can still work things out with your wife. It never would have worked out for you and Brooke no matter what. Besides, it would have killed Mother if she ever found out about the two of you. She would have had another stroke.”

Without a word, Thorne walks over to his brother and punches him in the jaw. Ridge quickly falls to the floor. “Shut up. What gives you the right to play with people’s lives like that? And stop using our mother to guilt me into doing what you and Dad want. Mother is strong; she is the strongest person I know. She could have handled any situation, if the family worked together to tell her. (Ridge slowly stands) But no, you just decided that the feelings Brooke and I had for each other didn’t matter. You two did everything in your power to come between us. And I made it so easy for you, didn’t I. I take responsibility for rushing off and marrying Macy, but you and dad better take your share of the blame as well. And I do blame the two of you. I love Brooke, I never stopped loving her. I have hurt her more than I can ever put into words. But I’m going to do everything I can to win her back. And I’m not going to stop until I do, so you and Dad better get used to it.” Thorne exits Ridge’s office, and heads to his car. I just have to figure out how.

Holding his jaw, Ridge just stares at the door Thorne just went through. After everything that has just happened, Ridge can only think of one thing. Who is Brooke involved with? Thorne never did tell me.

Back in Brooke’s hospital room, she has just finished filling her sister in on her entire conversation with Thorne.

Katie collects her thoughts before speaking. “Brooke, I understand how you feel, but it doesn’t change the situation.”

“What situation?”

(Exasperated) “Brooke, even after everything you just told me, I know you still love him. (Brooke doesn’t answer) Granted, he acted like an idiot, and I don’t expect you to forgive him right away, (Brooke takes a breath, about to interrupt her sister, but Katie stops her) but tell me you weren’t happy when he told you his marriage was over and that he loved you, and wanted to be with you. (Brooke just sits there) You can’t, can you. Besides, in case you forgot, (Katie smiles) you’re pregnant with his baby.”

“Of course I haven’t forgotten that. How could I? Besides, that has nothing to do with anything.”

“Brooke, I know he hurt you. But you know most of your problems are with the rest of the family, not Thorne.”

“Yes, and Thorne will always be part of that family. And his family will come first. He believes them over me. He just proved that tonight. Look, I can’t keep doing this. I refuse to have my heart broken one more time.”

“What if he doesn’t place his family before you?”

Brooke thinks it over a minute, but shakes her head. “Katie, it will never happen. I just want to put all of this behind me. I can’t think about it anymore. I can only worry about my children. They are the only ones who matter.”

“And the father of the one you are carrying doesn’t? (Brooke just looks over at the wall) Brooke, it’s just me. Just admit that you still love him.” When Brooke refuses to look at her, Katie gently takes hold of her face and forces Brooke to look at her. “Brooke, I know you are just being stubborn, but I’m not leaving until you tell me the truth.”

“Katie, it doesn’t make any difference. Things will never work out between us. Too much has happened already.”

“Fine, it won’t work out. But just admit how you feel about him. Admit it to yourself.”

A few tears fall down her face. (Very softly) “Fine, I still love him. Even after all he’s done to me. (Slightly louder) But it still doesn’t change anything. We can’t work things out.” Brooke starts to cry again. Katie just holds her sister; glad she finally admitted her feelings. You never know Brooke, especially if your family helps you. Besides, I’ve been meaning to have a talk with Thorne, anyway. It’s time he knows everything the Forresters have done to the two of you.

End of Part 6

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