In the waiting room at Dr. Alcott's office, Chelsea and Adam engaged with Connor as he repetitively tightened and loosened the drawstring on his hoodie jacket, closely cinching the hood around his face and widening the opening again. Adam assured Connor that his parents were ready to listen to whatever he had to say. Connor, sounding frustrated, replied, "I hate this. I hate the doctor. I hate being here. I hate myself." Chelsea pressed her palm to her chest and cried that it hurt her heart to hear her son talk in such a way about himself because to her, he was the most lovable boy on earth.
Adam turned his chair to face his son and said, "Believe me, I know how you feel. There have been a lot of times in my life where I'm angry and frustrated because things aren't the way I want them to be, and there's nothing I can do about it." Adam assured Connor that his parents would do everything to help him have the best life. While Connor watched highlights of a soccer match on his mother's phone, Chelsea and Adam stepped away to talk.
Chelsea told Adam that Connor's condition had been the same before Adam had arrived, adding that she had done everything possible to calm him and convince him that his sessions with his doctor would be helpful. Connor set down the phone and said, "I can hear you, you know." Adam replied that he and Connor's mom were trying to determine what was going on. Connor was adamant that his parents should take him away from the clinic, though Chelsea reminded Connor that he had told Billy he felt safe there.
Connor expressed frustration with Dr. Alcott, complaining that she did nothing other than ask questions. Adam quietly told Chelsea that they should consider canceling the session because it was a waste of everyone's time. Chelsea flatly refused and insisted that Connor needed immediate treatment. When Dr. Alcott opened the door to her office, Connor pleaded with his mom and dad to take him away. Chelsea gently explained to Connor that treatment was part of the plan, even if it did not appear to be immediately helpful to him. Adam agreed and promised Connor they could see a movie together afterward. Adam told Dr. Alcott he would join the session, so Connor would have the attention of both his parents.
Dr. Alcott asked Connor how he felt and what he thought about learning about his diagnosis. Continuing to fiddle with the string on his hoodie jacket, Connor cried that he did not want to talk about it and did not want to be in therapy. Chelsea and Adam encouraged Connor to share his feelings about himself with Dr. Alcott. Chelsea asked Connor to stop playing with his hoodie and focus on the conversation. Connor, angered, complained that his parents did not understand. Dr. Alcott explained that fiddling with the hoodie strings was a behavior that manifested from Connor's obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD, which the doctor explained was a separate entity from the patient.
Adam asked the doctor to help him and Chelsea understand how they could help their son. Dr. Alcott explained that the goal was to control the symptoms in a way to make them manageable. Dr. Alcott suggested residential therapy coupled with a mitigation technique called exposure and response prevention, abbreviated as ERP. Dr. Alcott noted that the technique required a patient's exposure to images, thoughts, objects, and situations that triggered obsessions and learning ways to confront troubling circumstances instead of pretending the difficulties did not exist.
Eventually, Dr. Alcott explained, the patient would learn not to engage in compulsive behaviors. Adam seemed uncomfortable with the doctor's plan to intentionally expose Connor to situations that would make him anxious. Dr. Alcott assured Adam and Chelsea that a specialist trained to conduct ERP therapy would carefully coach Connor through each step to help reorient his brain.
Dr. Alcott informed Connor that his treatment would be carried out in a school setting like the one familiar to him. Connor replied, "Except that it is not a school, is it? It's a hospital for sick people." Dr. Alcott suggested Connor think of the school as a place of healing. Connor asked the doctor if there was a soccer team he could join. Dr. Alcott explained that other activities besides soccer were offered, though she promised that Connor's coach would keep his spot open for him at his school. Connor cried that he did want to go. Adam informed Dr. Alcott that Connor and his parents would make a decision about the treatment center as a family.
After Adam, Chelsea, and Connor stepped outside the doctor's office, Connor told his parents that attending the treatment center would make him feel like he was crazy. Chelsea explained that Connor's OCD was an illness that was separate from him and that they should learn how to manage the condition. Chelsea reminded her son that she had received treatment at a hospital. After Adam escorted Connor back to his dorm room, Chelsea returned to Dr. Alcott's office. Chelsea broke down in tears and cried that she was not sure she could deal with what was happening.
At Society, Billy approached Ashley after she wandered in, appearing bewildered, and seated herself at the bar. Ashley, giddy, smiled at Billy and said, "Hey, bro, what's up?" Billy replied, "Hey, sis. Everything okay?" Billy recalled that Ashley's life had hit a few rough spots. Ashley assured Billy that she had everything under control. Billy asked Ashley if Tucker was completely and totally out of her system. Ashley replied that she was over Tucker, adding that so was... Ashley ended her incomplete statement abruptly.
Billy replied, "And so was who?" Ashley, growing frustrated, said, "I am saying that I am over Tucker. I mean he's gross, isn't he? The family's over him, and you're over him, right?" Billy said he and the family were over Tucker because he was nothing but trouble and lies. Billy noted that cutting Tucker out had not been easy for Ashley. Ashley, nodding her head, replied, "I did it. I did it."
Billy told Ashley that she did not sound like herself. Sounding defensive, Ashley insisted she was her own person and that she was okay. Billy told Ashley that never in her life had she referred to him as "bro." Ashley laughed it off, explaining that she had tried and failed to be cool. After receiving a text message reminder from Devon about a board meeting, Billy admitted to Ashley that he and Devon were not always in agreement.
Stuttering, Ashley advised Billy not to engage in corporate infighting, adding that it was better to be peaceful, as it would be beneficial to everybody. Mumbling, Ashley quietly repeated that it would be better. Billy again asked Ashley if she was okay. Ashley implored Billy not to worry about her. Billy replied that he would try.
After Billy walked away, Ashley summoned the bartender and ordered ginger ale with a cherry. Ashley, her arms folded close to her chest as if she were protecting herself, whispered, "Boy, that was a close one." After Ashley took her drink and moved to a table, she heard her own voice in her head calling out, "Ash? Ash!" Ashley quietly answered herself aloud and said, "Shut up! No, no, I'm not going back in. Your plan is too dangerous. I'm going to protect her. I can do it."
Ashley plunged her straw into her drink and sipped the ginger ale as she surveyed her surroundings warily. Ashley again heard her own voice in her head. Ashley said to herself in a confident manner, "You know you can't do this yourself. That's not who you are or what you do. This is my department. You need me. You know you do. More importantly, Ashley needs me."
Ashley audibly shushed the voice in her head and said aloud, "No. I've got this." Ashley sent a text message to Tucker. It read, "Forget what I said. I don't ever want to see you again." Ashley lifted the cherry by the stem from her drink and bit the cherry off the stem.
At the Newman ranch, Victor, with a business file folder spread open before him, boasted to Nikki that he had managed to get Jordan right where he wanted her due to her overconfidence. Nikki agreed that Victor had turned the tables on Jordan. Victor admitted that Nick's assistance had been invaluable. Nikki sighed and said she was glad it was all over, though she shuddered to think of the risks to her husband and son. Victor insisted he would always take risks to protect his family. Nikki told Victor that Jordan was suffering in a hell of her own making, since she was locked inside a room and cut off from the rest of the world. Nikki recalled that she had lived the same horror, thanks to Jordan.
Victor declared that Jordan was suffering poetic justice for what she had done to Nikki and their family. Nikki told Victor she needed to confront Jordan before the authorities arrested her. Victor replied, "That's ridiculous." Nikki said that she would rather confront Jordan while she remained in a vulnerable place rather than in a courtroom or a jail. Nikki assured Victor that Jordan would be unable to harm her, and she promised not to attempt to strangle Jordan. Victor expressed concern that facing Jordan might trigger Nikki to drink again. Nikki disagreed, insisting that facing her tormentor could give her the strength to stay sober, reclaim her power, and put her nightmare behind her.
At Crimson Lights, Kyle, Summer, and Harrison chatted with Victoria and Claire. Summer said she could not believe that her grandparents had not yet introduced Claire to them at a family dinner. Summer and Kyle listened intently as Victoria, admitting she had not been forthcoming, told them that she and Cole had believed they'd lost Claire shortly after birth, later learning that someone had intentionally deceived them. Victoria glanced at her daughter and happily noted that Claire had searched for and found her parents, a kinship proven by DNA testing. Victoria noted that the Newmans, including Claire, were eager to move forward as a family.
Kyle asked about the person responsible for Claire's disappearance. Victoria insisted that the person did not deserve attention. Kyle asked Claire about her hospitalization. Claire assured Kyle that she was fine, adding that her family had been supportive. Summer replied, "Why do I get the feeling that there's more to the story that you aren't telling us?" Victoria replied that some specifics should be saved until another time. After a moment of silence, Harrison said, "Why did everyone stop talking?"
Claire picked up her cup of hot chocolate, walked toward Harrison, and asked him how many marshmallows he had. Harrison said he had four. Pretending to be slighted, Claire remarked that she had only two and teased that she had been cheated. Harrison was amused. Kyle and Summer looked on as if they were aware that Claire's distraction was her way of hiding something. Summer told Claire that she could not have fallen into a more loyal and more loving family. Claire agreed that her family had been amazing. Victoria told Claire that her words made Victoria happy.
Kyle and Summer were eager to hear about Claire's future plans, recalling that she had once been Nikki's assistant. Victoria interjected that Claire could decide for herself. Claire said she had discussed with Nikki the possibility of working with children. Claire explained that she appreciated a child's inquisitive nature. After Victoria received a message from Victor summoning her and Claire back to the ranch, they left.
Kyle, Summer, and Harrison entered the Abbott home. Kyle asked Harrison if he had enjoyed going out for hot chocolate and getting a new book. Harrison nodded and replied, "Claire's funny, too." Harrison asked when he might see his friend again. Summer explained that Claire might be too busy to schedule a visit soon. Kyle asked Harrison to go upstairs and choose a game he could play with his parents later. Harrison claimed that he and Claire could team up and beat both of his parents.
After Harrison went upstairs, Kyle told Summer it was good to see Harrison smile again after he had been surly with the nannies they had interviewed. Kyle recalled that Claire had said she was interested in working with kids. Summer noted that Claire was having to rebuild her life from scratch. Kyle suggested they consider Claire whenever they needed a sitter. Summer mentioned Claire's lack of training and references. Kyle recalled that Claire had quickly bonded with Harrison, adding that she'd had a solid résumé when Nikki had hired her to be an assistant. Summer agreed to talk to Nikki, though she reminded Kyle that trusting someone in an office setting was different from trusting that person to take care of one's child. Summer expressed reservations based on Victoria and Claire's refusal to talk about what had happened.
Victoria and Claire rushed back to the Newman ranch. Victoria asked her parents if something was wrong. Nikki, irritated, asked Victor why he had summoned Victoria to intervene. Victor told Victoria that Nikki intended to confront Jordan. Nikki insisted she confront Jordan to let Jordan know that she had failed to destroy Nikki or Nikki's family. Nikki cried that it was the only way for her to regain her power. Victoria offered support for her mother's plan. Claire voiced support for Nikki, too, and she offered to accompany Nikki when Nikki confronted Jordan. Victoria said she would join her mother and daughter.
Victor told Nikki that confronting Jordan was a bad idea, adding that she did not even know where Jordan was being held. Victoria told her dad that she, Nikki, and Claire deserved a chance to face Jordan and tell her that she would never have control over them or anyone else again. Victoria declared that Jordan should suffer for stealing her daughter, terrorizing her family, and burning down her house. Nikki told Victor that she, Victoria, and Claire all needed closure. Victoria assured Victor that the three of them together could offer each other protection, agreeing that Victor's security guard could accompany them as long as he did not interfere. Victor remained wary of the plan.