Friday, January 6, 2006
At the hospital, Jack told John that the doctor said John was doing well. John complained that he wanted to go home and that he has a feeling that people aren't telling him something. Jack took John for a walk and told him not to worry about it.

Meanwhile, Gloria questioned Ashley about the events preceeding Ash getting arrested, and shared that John had left the night of his accident without telling her where he was going. Ash urged her not to pester him with questions. Glo again asked Ashley about the gun, and Ash insisted she got it from the drawer. Later, Jack reported that John's been asking questions and he isn't sure how much longer they'll be able to keep things from him. After, Gloria began to get a bad thought about what had really happened the night of Tom's murder. "Please tell me I'm wrong," she begged Ashley.

Paul, finally getting a clue, went to the farmhouse to find Lauren. In the bomb shelter, the ladies accidentally opened a gas vent when they went to remove the beam. Sheila awakened Lauren, who'd passed out, so they could continue their escape; surprisingly, she helped Laur get to safety. Lauren crawled up through a vent and was relieved to hear the sweet sound of Paul's voice calling to her. Paul stuck his hand through some nasty cobwebs (yuck) to get to Lauren, but it seemed to be too late for Sheila, as the rest of the ceiling caved in.

Nicholas chastised Phyllis for taking off without telling Daniel first. Phyll replied that she'd been on a business trip relating to the spas; she then gave a baffled Nick the details of her experience (he looked confused over her yammering over her herbal steam). Nick again stated that they need to stay away from each other. "Starting right now," she agreed, as they just stood there looking at each other. Finally, Nick went to leave, explaining that he wants to work things out with Sharon. Phyllis understood and encouraged him to "go for it."

Fakety-fake Sharon put on her sunniest smile and congratulated Victoria on her engagement to Brad. A sincere Victoria asked Sharon for help with Abby, namely how to get the kid to relate to her during Ashley's crisis. Victoria suggested that they all go out to do something fun. Sharon advised her sister-in-law to not make a big deal out of the engagement at this time. Vicki was grateful that she had someone to talk to and actually gave Sharon a hug.

Brad and Victor agreed that they both wanted to support Ashley during her ordeal. Both men thought the other had a hidden agenda. Victor urged him to postpone his engagement to Victoria.

Michael went to the chapel for Lauren's memorial service, thinking to himself how "wrong" it was that he was there. He began laughing and crying at the same time as he tried to compose himself and ... wow. Okay. Yes, this is a memorial service, but the over-the-shoulder-bedroom eyes-glamour shot of Lauren wearing a lingerie top is ridiculous. They should've just gone with a "regular" portrait because Lauren's beautiful on her own. Regardless, Michael began speaking to the over-the-shoulder-bedroom eyes-glamour shot of Lauren wearing a lingerie top about how he envisioned what their life would've been like had she not fallen in love with him. "I don't think I was truly happy until I met you," he went on. Mike broke down, sobbing, as he wondered how he's supposed to move on without her. He then looked up when he heard someone at the door ... and turned around to see a grungy Lauren smiling at him.

Neil gave Daniel Lily's "breakup" letter, but Daniel couldn't believe it was for real. "That's it, baby, light's out, game's over," Neil gleefully told him. "I suggest you read that letter again, and this time be a man and accept it." Jeez, Neil, way to kick a man when he's down. Daniel was sure Neil made Lily write it and insisted on hearing it from her. Neil refused and returned Daniel's gift to Lily to him. Later, Daniel showed Phyllis Lily's breakup letter, explaining that her parents made her write it. Phyllis didn't believe that Lily would do something she didn't want to and assured Daniel that he's tough enough to get over it.

Nick went home and called for Sharon. As a sexy-sounding sax blared (say that three times fast), Sharon emerged, dressed in a slinky, black, lace number (which, disturbingly, looked kind of like the get-up Lauren was wearing in her portrait.). Nick, looking into Sharon's eyes, reached for her hand, then pulled her close. She stroked his cheek (in slow-mo), and leaned in for a kiss (also in slow-mo. Does that make it better somehow?). He then lifted her up — as if he were a romance novel cover hero — and tossed her onto their couch. Off came his shirt next — yeah! — and he crawled on top of her.

Thursday, January 5, 2006
Kevin called to check up on Michael, but Mike insisted that he's hangin' in there. But was he really? Maybe not as he listlessly doodled Lauren's name on a piece of paper and ... Hey, this recapper has the same pen! Anyway. Ashley soon arrived and asked to discuss the Tom murder case. Mike questioned her about any secrets she's keeping, but she evaded the question.

Jack informed Gloria that Ashley went to see Michael. Glo was confident that if Michael were Ash's lawyer, he'd be able to get her off. Later, Jack advised Ashley not to rethink her defense. Ashley brushed him off and went to visit a hospitalized John. Later, Gloria questioned Jack about where John kept his gun ... and revealed that she'd never seen Ashley get it. When Ash emerged from John's room, Gloria was waiting for her. "I think we have to talk," she began.

J.T. and Paul continued to wait for Sheila to answer one of Scott's messages. "I can't shake the feeling that we are missing something here," Paul sighed, citing the understatement of the year. Soon, the lightbulbs above their heads began to finally flicker and Paul made some calls about the suspicious farm house that had random lights going on.

Meanwhile, over in Casa de la Catfight, Sheila and Lauren continued to bicker and squabble as they fought to escape from the bomb shelter. Pushing against a beam (How on earth was Sheila doing this with a seriously injured limb and not passing out?), the ladies tried to free a path for themselves (though one has to wonder if removing the beam that seems to be holding everything together is a wise move). As they worked together, Lauren reminded Sheila that she's never going to forgive her for anything she'd done (Again, is it wise to anger the person who's helping you escape?). Of course, when they finally shifted the beam, the whole ceiling began to fall in — in slow-mo, no less. Can we just say ... Duh!

At the coffeehouse, Sierra was confused when Devon asked her to not tell Daniel that he's there. Devon revealed that Neil is making him give Daniel a faux breakup letter from Lily, but that Lily had actually written a second letter saying she wants to stay together. Sierra urged him to give Daniel the real letter (meaning the non-breakup one), and didn't want to lie to Lily. Just then, Daniel approached them, demanding Devon give him news from Lily. Devon insisted that he didn't have any, but Daniel didn't believe him. Later, Devon refused to deliver it so Neil said he'd do so.

At Newman, Yolanda eavesdropped as Neil and Dru discussed her. Dru was wary about how Yolanda got the job there. Soon, Yo busted in, playing dumb as she happily bubbled about her job. When Dru refused to let her do some small tasks for her, Yolanda stated that maybe she shouldn't have taken the job.

Phyllis called Nicholas and asked why he'd called and then hung up. Nick reported that Nikki was angry about Phyllis leaving town and standing her up. Phyll shared that she was actually on Nikki's doorstep at that moment. An annoyed Nikki then came to the door: "I'm sorry to interrupt, I didn't realize my doorstep doubled as your personal phone booth," she snipped. Phyllis apologized and explained that she'd been out checking out some spas.

At the gym, Victor took out his frustrations on a punching bag. Nick stopped by and they agreed that they're upset over Brad and Victoria's engagement. Nick — thinking of his liaison with Phyllis — then began asking his pop some seemingly-cryptic questions about how far "the acorn falls from the tree." Later, things became awkward when Nick came home and found Phyllis there.

Kevin urged Michael to attend Lauren's funeral service. Michael again angrily insisted to his brother that Lauren is alive and that he'd feel it if she's dead.

Wednesday, January 4, 2006
Brad reamed out Ashley for getting arrested for Tom's murder. "Why would you put yourself in that kind of danger?" he wondered. After, Paul Bunyan (sorry ... that would be Victor dressed in fur and plaid) stopped by to offer his support. Later, Jack told her that they're all there for her, but that she should be wary about Victor's intentions. Jack was certain that John would soon get his memory back.

Nicholas fumed over Victoria and Brad's engagement, and didn't believe that Carlton really loved his sister. Sharon agreed that it was a bad idea for them to wed. Sharon then asked why Phyllis had missed her meeting with Nikki, but Nick couldn't give her an answer.

Christine questioned Michael about how he and Ashley had set Tom up, and warned him that it could be proven that Ashley had a motive for murdering Tom. Michael offered to take over the case, but Chris refused, saying she'd only quit the case if Ashley fired her. Chris was hurt that Michael wouldn't fill her in on the entire truth. "You have come so far from the Michael I first knew," she reminded him. "You're actually now one of my best friends in the whole world ... but ever since Tom came into town, you're acting more like the old Michael." "I'll never be that man again," Michael stated, then pulled her into a hug. Aww. After, Michael called Ashley. As he waited for her to come over, he thought of Lauren.

In the bomb shelter, Lauren and Sheila continued to scrape and grunt (and glare at each other), as they desperately tried to escape. The ladies rehashed how much they hate each other. Sheila offered up a sob story about her sorry childhood. Later, Lauren played shrink, encouraging her rival to talk about herself. Sheila refused, and instead insisted on using a particular instrument to try to get them out of there.

At the coffeehouse, Neil informed Devon that Lily agreed to write a letter to Daniel breaking things off. Devon was concerned about how Daniel would react, but Neil was certain the teen would get over it. Wussy Neil then recruited Devon to be the messenger; Devon reluctantly agreed, while Neil and Dru celebrated the end of their daughter's relationship. Neil was pleased that Sharon had gotten Yolanda a job at Newman, but Dru worried Yo would screw up and make them look bad. Neil pointed out that this would mean that Yolanda would soon move out.... Outside of Crimson Lights, Daniel worried that his mom was in trouble, but Nick assured him that Phyllis was fine. Daniel then went inside and eagerly asked Devon for news on Lily.

Sharon went to see Brad, who was busy working out (Seems this guy exercises way more than he actually deals with business when he's at the office. Trust us, you're beautiful, Brad. Now get to work! ). Sharon told Brad that he shouldn't wed Victoria because he doesn't love her. Brad told her to mind her own business. Sharon wondered if him telling her that she was the woman of his dreams had been a lie; Brad insisted that he could be in love with two people — just as she was. "When you chose to stay with Nicholas, I chose Victoria," he argued. "What am I gonna do, sit around, wringing my hands, pining away for months?" "Months? You didn't even wait a whole day!" Sharon spat. (Um, what did you expect him to do?). "I'm just glad I found out what a lying bastard you are now!" she finished. Ouch!

Tuesday, January 3, 2006
Paul tried to convince Michael to have a memorial service for Lauren to lure Sheila out of hiding.

Lauren busted a gas line in the bunker (hate when that happens). She helped Sheila to the vent so she could get air. Lauren vowed that she wouldn't die in "this hole" with Sheila and started prying away at the vent. Lauren needed help, but that meant she will have to untie Sheila...

John came to, but didn't remember the events leading up to the accident.

Brad reported to Nikki and Victoria that Ashley was arrested for Tom's murder. Brad was concerned that now he may become a full-time dad, and asked Victoria if she wanted to back out of their engagement. Brad then went home to break the news to Abby, but Ashley came home before he could. Ashley asked Victoria to leave, and she and Brad explained what happened to Tom.

J.T. told Mac he wants Kevin and Scott to move out, but the coward wanted her to tell them. Kevin overheard everything, then went to Michael's and asked if he can move back.

Nikki broke the news about Ashley to Victor. She gave him another headline: Brad and Victoria are engaged! Victor rushed to the hospital where he ran into Jack. Jack was cagey when Victor asked about John.

2005 recaps