The miracle of Phoebe!

Chapter nine!

Despite Brooke's resentment and resistance, Ridge decided to stay with Taylor and the kids and continue to sleep in the guest room. Thomas and Steffy were very happy about his decision. Taylor was also grateful he was with them and they were dealing with this crisis together.

Steffy had to spend the night in the hospital due to the tests. In the morning, right after breakfast, she sneaked to the recovery ward to check on Phoebe. Bridget spotted her there.

"Steffy?! What are you doing here and so early? Aren't you supposed to stay in bed?!"

"But Phoebe needs me now!"

"What Phoebe needs most of all right now is her rest! Just like you! You have some examinations coming up today. You should take it easy!" Bridget pulled Steffy away from the window. "Come on, I'll take you back to your room!" Steffy reluctantly freed herself.

"No, thank you! I can go by myself!"

"But promise me, you go straight to your room, I'll be right back and then I don't want to see you here in front of the window!"

"Yeah, all right!" 

Steffy conceded defeat and left the recovery ward. In the hallway, she ran into Rick. He had also intended to visit Phoebe, but a nurse had stopped him and told him he wasn't allowed to see her. Rick was furious that Ridge had actually managed to deny him access to Phoebe. He stormed towards Steffy.

"Hey, good, I see you here! How is Phoebe?"

"Still no change!" said Steffy dejectedly. "Our only hope is the transplant and that she'll get better after the surgery!"

"You really actually want to donate a kidney to Phoebe?"

"Of course, she's my sister, my twin sister, so it goes without saying that I'll do everything I can to help her! I just pray everything goes well!"

"Oh, it will!" Rick tried to build her up. "You probably don't know, but several years ago, Amber donated a kidney to me and everything turned out fine then. I'm sure it will be the same for you guys!" 

"I hope so! I couldn't bear to lose Phoebe and it would be the end of the world for Mom and Dad." Rick's face screwed up when Steffy mentioned her parents. Suddenly, something occurred to Steffy.

"Why did that stupid accident happen? Rick, you were there.. you were driving..what happened that night?" Steffy bombarded him with questions, Rick hesitantly dodging at first.

"Didn't Taylor tell you?" he finally asked.

"Mom? What does she have to do with this?"

"I went to see her and talked to her about the accident!"

"You did?" Steffy responded in surprise. "She didn't mention anything!" Steffy was so confused she didn't notice Rick grinning with unobtrusive satisfaction. He took her by the arm.

"Come on, let's go for a walk and if you want, I'll tell you everything about the accident!"

"Okay!" replied Steffy gratefully.

Taylor sat in the living room talking on the phone with her secretary. She was going over her schedule and asked her to cancel all the appointments for the next few days. Thomas joined her.

"Where's Dad?" he asked her after she hung up.

"He went to Brooke's house to check on RJ. Your little brother is very distraught by everything that's happened."

"Oh, I see!" muttered Thomas. "By the way, I think it's good that Dad is with us right now. In this situation, our family has to be together!"

"Yes, sure!" replied Taylor casually.