Victor stopped by the tack house to see how Claire was doing. Cole appeared and explained that he was there to spend quality time with his daughter. Claire reported that she was doing well, but Victor pushed to know how she was really feeling, given the ordeal her aunt had put her through. She conceded that it hadn't been easy, and she'd had a nightmare the night before about still being trapped in the storage locker. Claire shuddered at the thought of never seeing Cole and Victoria again, especially since she'd learned what it was like to have a real family.
Cole regretted that he'd failed to keep Claire safe, but she swore that he wasn't responsible for Jordan being a monster. Claire refused to waste any more time thinking about her aunt, noting that Jordan didn't get to keep ruining her life. "Damn right she doesn't," Victor affirmed. Claire implored them to believe her when she said she would be okay. Claire wished the authorities would hurry up and find Jordan's body, and Victor imagined that the strong currents had taken Jordan out to the middle of Lake Michigan by then. Victor promised that Jordan would never be back again.
Victor noticed that Cole had been spending lots of time at the ranch, and he jokingly asked if Cole was moving in. Cole asserted that he wanted Claire to know that she could count on him. Victor requested to speak with Cole privately, and Claire headed out to meet Victoria. Cole steeled himself for a warning of some kind. Victor inquired whether something had changed in Cole's relationship with Victoria.
Cole admitted that he and Victoria had reconnected and gotten closer, and he recounted that Victor had been against the idea at one time. Victor appreciated that Cole seemed to be very protective of both Victoria and Claire. Cole called Claire a chance at joy that he'd never expected. He added that he loved both women very much, and he was willing to stick around as long as they'd have him.
Cole hoped Victor would be honest with him about his aunt's death, since he sensed there was something more going on. Victor told Cole to trust him when he said everyone knew all there was to know. Cole suspected it was a dodge to protect them from something. Victor reasoned that if Jordan were alive, he'd have a security detail on every member of his family. Victor insisted that Jordan was dead, so Cole could stop worrying.
In the wine cellar, Jordan yelled for Victor. She bet he'd planted cameras and a listening device in there. "Am I your favorite new reality television show?" she asked with a cackle. She anticipated she was going to disappoint him because she wouldn't drink herself to death. Jordan bellowed that she was much stronger than Nikki or any of them, and she suggested that Victor ask her what her poison was. She proposed that if he wanted her to drink, he should at least join her, since she wasn't going to die there alone.
"Bastard thinks he can beat me!" Jordan growled, and she pledged to show Victor. She suddenly grimaced and began frantically trying to brush something invisible off her arms. She covered herself with a blanket and screamed for Victor to stop the spiders. She reached through the bars of her cell and grabbed the vodka bottle. "Just one swig," she told herself.
At Crimson Lights, Jack greeted Nick and asked if there was any news about how Nikki was settling in at rehab. Nick reported that Victor had dropped her off, and she'd been nervous but determined. Nick mentioned that his dad had told him how Jack had gotten Nikki to seek the help she needed by drinking with her and hitting up his old dealer for pills. Nick wondered if had only been about saving Nikki and not about Jack falling off the wagon. Jack lamented that Nikki had given up, and he would have done anything to get through to her in that moment.
Nick pointed out that Jack had sabotaged his own sobriety by taking the pills. Jack explained that it had been a necessity to help a friend in danger. He admitted he might have gone too far, but at least he had succeeded. Nick was grateful that his mom was in rehab and that Jack seemed to have made it out to the other side. Jack swore he wasn't going back down the rabbit hole. Nick thanked Jack for what he'd done for Nikki and her family, but Jack was sure Victor didn't share Nick's gratitude. Jack was concerned that his decision might have destroyed any progress he and Victor had made.
Nick shared that Victor had been wrecked when he'd found Jack and Nikki together. Jack recalled that Nikki had worked hard to shield her family from the worst of her addiction, and the prior evening had been the worst. Jack accepted that Victor blamed him, but Nick suspected that his dad would soften once he realized Nikki was getting the help she needed because of the crazy risk Jack had taken. Jack thought Nick underestimated Victor's ability to hold a grudge. Nick promised that he would always have Jack's back.
Victoria entered the coffeehouse and hugged Jack to thank him for what he'd done for her mom at the risk of his own sobriety. Jack asserted that Nikki had chosen to get the help she needed, and that was the end of the story. Claire arrived, and Nick welcomed her home. Jack commended Claire for stopping by to see Harrison, and Claire called the boy her buddy. Jack mentioned that Kyle and Summer had been struggling to find a new nanny, and he wished they could find someone who connected with Harrison the way Claire did. Victoria suggested that Claire throw her hat in the ring for the job.
Victoria recalled that Claire had said she might like to work with kids as a vocation, and Claire and Harrison had bonded after everything they'd been through. Claire couldn't imagine a better job than taking care of Harrison, but she doubted Summer would be on board. Victoria noted the attitude Summer had shown toward Claire, and Nick confirmed that Summer was having a difficult time adjusting to the new addition to the family. Jack offered to speak with Kyle and Summer about the possibility, and he headed out. Victoria encouraged Claire to go for the job. "Time to look to the future," Claire declared.
At Adam's apartment, Adam told Sally that his video call with Connor had been tough at first, and he'd said all the wrong things out of desperation. Adam bemoaned that there was a steep learning curve with figuring out how to deal with OCD, but Connor had seemed to be more comfortable and confident, setting boundaries and telling his parents what he needed. Sally brightly pointed out that the boy was letting them in and not keeping to himself. Adam revealed that Connor had schooled him and Chelsea on words like "disassociation" and "reassurance," but he wished the guidance had been about video games and soccer moves.
Adam groaned that he had seen in his son's eyes how badly Connor wanted to get better, and Sally encouraged Adam to let Connor see that he was holding onto hope. Adam complained that he felt like an observer who was letting an outsider look after his kid. Sally inquired whether Connor felt empowered, and Adam recounted that Connor thought the school personnel understood him. Sally figured that both Adam and Connor were feeling their way through it. Adam confided that it felt like Connor was moving on without him and leaving him behind.
Sally sympathized that it was a normal reaction for Adam to be afraid of losing his son. Adam insisted that it wasn't about him but about getting Connor well. Adam regretted the time he'd spent blaming himself when his focus should have been on Connor. Sally assured him that she was there to be his anchor, and she inserted herself into his arms. She continued that he could tell her the things that he couldn't say to anyone else, and she urged him not to hide from her or push her away. Sally asserted that it was her job in Connor's recovery to be there for Adam so he could be there for his son.
Adam and Sally lounged on the couch after having sex. He murmured that he was happy she was there and that she put up with him, although he hated that they'd lost time because he'd been an idiot. She reasoned that they'd needed to be apart to realize that they wanted to be together, but they'd gotten out the other side and had become a much stronger team. Sally assured Adam that he would get through the situation with Connor. Adam muttered that he just had to go against his instincts and try not to lose his mind.
Adam resolved that he couldn't just talk the talk, and he had to follow through -- especially if he and Chelsea went to see Connor. Adam indicated that Connor's doctors thought the boy might be ready for a visit. Adam was all for it, but he wasn't sure about where Chelsea's mind was. He explained that he'd been very upfront about his feelings, but he sensed that Chelsea felt like she had to compensate by stuffing down hers. Adam fretted that the last time Chelsea had hidden her feelings, it had almost cost her life. Sally asked him to promise to have more faith in Chelsea and in himself, since they were both stronger than they thought.
At Society, Chelsea showed Billy the daily emails she received from Connor's team, providing glimpses into her son's day. Billy enthused that it was nice to know Connor was doing regular kid things. Chelsea shared that she checked her inbox all day long, and she just wanted to hold Connor and make sure he was okay. Chelsea wailed that she was so spent and anxious that she could barely breathe, constantly worried that she was going to do something that would set Connor or her back emotionally.
Billy assured Chelsea that she was doing the best she could. She griped that it was a full-time job to rein Adam in so he didn't lose it in front of Connor or the doctors. Billy reasoned that Adam was an adult, and Chelsea couldn't control him, so she had to free herself from that burden. He added that she was doing everything she could to take care of herself, and Adam had to do the same for Connor's sake.
Chelsea acknowledged that Adam was a great father who could and would figure it out. Billy reminded her that she was the strongest person he knew. She recognized that it wasn't her job to keep Adam on track, nor was it Billy's job to do it for her. Billy insisted that they were two different things, since he loved her and wanted to be there to listen and to support her. He swore that there was no place else he wanted to be. They kissed.
Chelsea requested Billy's advice about the doctors' suggestion that Connor might be ready for a visit. Chelsea considered going that weekend, but she worried that perhaps Connor didn't want to see her or that she'd undo all the progress he'd made. Billy implored her to trust the doctors and not overthink it, since the doctors would be there to support both of them if anything went wrong. Billy figured it would be part of the healing process for Chelsea, Adam, and Connor. Chelsea asked what she would do without Billy, and he cooed that the good news was that she didn't have to worry about that.
Later, Billy and Chelsea stopped by Adam's place, and Adam panicked that something had happened. Chelsea confirmed that Connor was okay, but she wanted to talk to Adam about a decision she'd made. Sally prepared to leave, but Adam requested that she stay. Chelsea revealed that the doctors had approved a visit with Connor, and she thought she and Adam should go together. Adam agreed. Chelsea cautioned that they had to be able to hold it together, and Adam firmly replied that it was what Connor needed and deserved.
At the Athletic Club, Ashley's "Ms. Abbott" alter assumed control as Ashley joined Alan at a table and brusquely apologized for pushing back their meeting. She hoped she hadn't kept him waiting long, and he replied that he hadn't minded waiting for his charming dining companion. Ashley signaled for the server, and Alan voiced surprise to hear her call it a "meeting" after the night before. He'd expected it to be less business and more pleasure, but she asserted that she was done playing games.
Alan noted that Ashley seemed less comfortable with him than she had been the night before, and he wondered if he'd done something wrong. Ashley apologized for overstepping by being flirtatious, and she chalked it up to all the Champagne they'd consumed. Alan insisted that he'd enjoyed the time they'd spent together, and he was content just being there with her in her hometown. He hoped she would show him the sights of Genoa City.
Ashley told Alan not to pretend that he was there as a friend, since they both knew Traci had asked him to visit as a psychiatrist. Ashley claimed that she'd made light of it the night before, but she didn't like it, and she wanted it to stop. Ashley clarified that he was only there because Traci was worried about her, and she admitted that she'd thought it had been a good idea in the beginning. Alan said he'd understood Ashley was open to receiving help from him, and his interaction with her had been friendly in the past, but it no longer seemed to be the case.
Ashley confirmed that she'd been open to speaking, but she felt it was forced and contrived because her siblings had influenced Alan's perspective of her. Ashley spat that they thought she was unhinged, and it was insulting that they were treating her like a problem they needed to fix. Alan pointed out that she'd been afraid of what was happening to her. Ashley planned to handle her issues on her own terms. She calmly told him that there was nothing for him to do because she was fine.
Alan reiterated that friends should be honest with one another, and he felt the need to be honest with Ashley. He warned that he wasn't anywhere near sure that she was fine. Ashley clucked that it was a shame that Traci and Jack had made Alan see things that weren't there. Alan pointed out that Ashley's demeanor had changed drastically since the day before, and there was something unfamiliar about her. Alan recalled that she'd been playful and interested in his professional take earlier, but that day, she was cool, deflective, and even indignant, as if she felt threatened that he was there.
Ashley conceded that she'd teased Alan a bit, and she urged him not to feel insulted just because she didn't feel like playing that day. Alan wondered where they stood if she was no longer interested in his professional opinion. Ashley flatly replied that she regretted her flirtation, and there was no reason for him to stay in town. She groused that he was always studying her, and she preferred that he moved on to his conference in Vienna if he was going to keep scrutinizing her. Alan protested that they'd just gotten their wires crossed, but Ashley curtly said she didn't think so. She wished him safe travels, and she sauntered out.
At the Abbott mansion, Diane picked up a wedding photo of her and Jack, but she quickly set it back on the mantel as Jack walked in. He handed her a cup of coffee from Crimson Lights and asked how she was doing. She reported that she'd been reading with Harrison in his room, but he'd fallen asleep. Diane inquired how Jack was feeling, and he replied that it had been good to get fresh air and a fresh perspective.
Jack recognized that Diane was upset, and she testily reiterated that he'd spent all night in a hotel suite with Nikki Newman and taken pills as a recovering addict. Jack called it a strategic move, but Diane ranted that it hadn't made it any less dangerous, and his refusal to admit that was alarming. Jack said he was sorry, and Diane demanded to know if he was sorry for what he'd done or sorry that she was mad. He questioned what it would take to lessen her anger.
Ashley arrived home and ordered Jack and Diane not to tiptoe around her because it was annoying. Jack asked if Ashley had seen her friend from Paris that morning. Ashley informed him that they'd had breakfast together, and she'd told Alan to go attend his conference in Vienna. Jack wondered why she'd cut the visit short. Ashley snapped that Alan saw her as a patient and not as a friend because Jack and Traci had put Alan up to covertly psychoanalyzing her. "That failed," Ashley defiantly proclaimed.
Jack swore he and Traci hadn't conspired against Ashley, and he argued that Ashley had been on board with Alan's visit before he'd arrived. Ashley huffed that she'd had a change of heart, and she didn't need Alan there. Jack preferred that Alan stay a little longer, but Ashley retorted that it was tough. Jack offered to be direct, since Ashley didn't want him walking on eggshells. "You are not well, Ashley," he asserted, adding that their family would do everything they could to make sure she got the help she needed -- no matter what it took.
• Sally asks Audra how to know when it's time to cut and run
• Alan tells Traci that Ashley has more then one personality at play
• Lily and Devon feel betrayed by Jill and vow to return the favor