Beyond the Gates: Beyond the Gates Recap for February 12, 2026: Joey wouldn't play gossip for Leslie and Tomás picked up the cluephone

Here's what went down Thursday, February 12, 2026 on Beyond the Gates when Vanessa gave Nicole the permission she wasn't giving herself, Shanice told two men what time it was, and Bill broke up Hayley and Lynette's slumber party.

What happened on Beyond the Gates

Tomás's Spidey senses finally started to tingle on Beyond the Gates | Image: CBS

On Beyond the Gates, Nicole met with Vanessa, who had been busy because, for her escort service Heart Attach, Valentine's Day was the equivalent of Christmas. Vanessa wanted to know the status of Nicole's love life; the psychiatrist felt that things were progressing, though she was bothered by how upset Carlton had been to see her out with Kial. The widow McBride remarked that mens' testosterone spiked when it came to other men around their women, but Nicole acknowledged that not only was Kial unfazed – he was multitalented. Vanessa giggled and proclaimed that she had known Kial would be satisfying in bed.

After wondering if Carlton's stung reaction should be bothering her, Nicole asked Vanessa if she were a ho for juggling two guys. “Have you met me?” Vanessa replied breezily. Vanessa lauded Nicole for exploring her post-divorce freedom and pointed out that Nicole had been up front with both Carlton and Kial; Nicole was a consenting adult and owed no one any explanation. Nicole conceded that Vanessa was being more gracious with her than she had been upon learning about Vanessa's relationship with Joey.

Vanessa recounted how she and Doug had come to an arrangement after Donnell and Deanna had gone off to college, getting her needs met outside the marriage after Doug buried himself in work and gambling. Nicole absorbed Vanessa's advice to “try it all” until she had enough – and especially until she found the one person who ticked all the boxes. Vanessa encouraged Nicole to be open to every possibility presented to her.

Carlton came into the hospital grumpy and took it out on Shanice, which Ted witnessed. Ted pulled his partner aside and told him it was inappropriate for him to cut any employee down the way he had. Carlton realized his mistake and offered to apologize, admitting only that he had had a bad night – and not while out with Nicole. Ted didn't want to hear details, and Carlton swore he could do his job.

Ted then approached Shanice, who remained cool and formal. He brought Shanice to his office and explained how he had set “Dana” straight about trying to sabotage his relationship by planting panties in his room. Shanice was more concerned about Ted's upset over Nicole being out with Kial and recalled that she'd had a long-ago boyfriend who couldn't get over her ex – that experience made Shanice determined to never again be anyone's second choice.

Ted concurred and agreed that he hadn't responded well to Nicole's arrival with Kial. But the fact that Shanice had abandoned their date indicated that she cared, and he confessed that he cared, too. The plastic surgeon felt he and the nurses supervisor were building something special and asked for another chance to show that Shanice was the only woman he wanted. Shanice answered by giving him a kiss.

Returning to work, Carlton continued to be salty with Shanice, so she stopped him and reprimanded him for not being able to separate the personal from the professional. Whatever he was sorting through, Shanice held firm, Carlton would have to do it on his own time. Meanwhile, Nicole visited Ted and wanted to talk about how he'd disapproved of her wardrobe – and her date. “You don't get to judge me,” Nicole asserted, and Ted was in alignment. He said he had just been shocked by Nicole's multilayered reinvention; he promised that he wouldn't stand in Nicole's way. The former Mrs. Richardson was glad to hear that and was willing to confide that whatever journey she was on, she was just starting.

Leslie popped in on an annoyed Joey, who correctly observed that they hadn't had a meeting scheduled. Joey grumbled that he wouldn't be able to get Leslie out of any new trouble she was in, but the reason Ms. Thomas wanted to talk to him “off the books” was due to a private matter. Leslie proceeded to pepper Joey with questions about Marcel, his past, and the state of his marriage. Joey cracked that his only contact with the boys in blue was when they wanted to take him in, and he was astounded that Leslie wanted his help doing recon so she could date a man. “I feel like I've been sucked into a circle of hell I never knew existed,” Joey sighed.

Letting down her wall a bit, Leslie said that she needed someone to talk to that wasn't her daughter. Joey suggested therapy – too bad Leslie had burned her bridges with Nicole by sleeping with her husband, Joey grinned. Leslie turned on the charm and purred that she and Joey were kindred spirits...just as Vanessa walked in. Joey excused himself, and Vanessa advised Leslie against simply showing up for further unsolicited meetings. In response, Leslie deemed Vanessa insecure and crowed that she had her sights on a different man, anyway.

Once alone with Joey, Vanessa regretted having brought Leslie into their world, but he preferred to discuss Valentine's Day. Did Vanessa want to go out? Vanessa cooed that she had her own plans for a “quiet night in”...during which she vowed to surprise him.

At the law firm, both Caroline and Tomás were anxious regarding a sudden meeting Bill had called, especially because Bill had seemed pissed when he ordered it. Yet, Bill was at the hotel spoiling Hayley with a bacon-and-egg breakfast – though he couldn't partake because he was still on his elimination diet. Hayley said her face still hurt, but it had helped having Bill's arms wrapped around her all night. She played up how “scared” she had been during the attack and smirked to herself when Bill said there was nowhere he'd rather be than with her.

Bill did have to go to the office, though, and he wanted her to text him every hour. After Bill left, Hayley immediately summoned Randy, who was shocked to see his cousin's bruised face. When she said she'd been mugged, he realized there was a new scam, but also that Hayley couldn't have punched herself. Hayley admitted that Lynette had come up with the plan, which had Randy incredulous. He growled that Hayley had finally gotten herself behind the gates, only to invite back that which they had been trying to get away from.

Though Hayley was inclined to trust Lynette, Randy was adamant that Lynette had only ever been out for herself, especially after having to learn to lie and cheat to get away from her abusive mother. Randy called Hayley bringing Lynette into their scheme against Bill a “$10 million mistake” and stalked out.

Bill was in a no-nonsense mood at his desk, with Tomás and Caroline having to take the brunt of it. The underlings expressed their concern about Hayley, with Bill frowning that the coward who had assaulted his wife was still out there. However, when Bill explained how Lynette had chased Hayley's attacker away, Tomás wondered aloud what the women were doing together in the first place.

Tomás had a hard time accepting that Hayley had simply brought Lynette case-related documents in person. After Bill exited, Caroline scolded Tomás for not following protocol; he was supposed to have the envelope in question delivered by a trackable messenger. Tomás replied it was his understanding that Caroline was arranging for one, and the two realized that Hayley had gotten past them for some reason.

Navarro sensed something was amiss, particularly because “his” case had suddenly been pulled from him and was being handled pro bono. Caroline suddenly took issue with Tomás complaining about having to take on a different suit; she also fumed that fellow worker Pauline should have gotten the junior partner promotion over him. Tomás clapped back that Caroline had gotten a Mercedes from the boss for her birthday, then calmed down and accepted that they had each earned their place at the firm. It was just that Hayley seemed far more invested in Lynette than she should be. Caroline considered that Hayley might be looking for a friend, since she had none outside of the company.

Lynette swung by the hotel, wanting to see how Hayley was holding up. She was wowed by the fancy accommodations and noted that somehow Hayley always seemed to hit the jackpot. Hayley saw her “stolen” engagement ring on Lynette's finger and wanted it back, but Lynette claimed it as commission and said that it would only arouse suspicion if Hayley suddenly had her jewelry in her possession again.

Hayley let it go, and Lynette was pleased to learn that Bill had been a “perfect doting husband” since he believed Hayley had been mugged. Hayley said she and Lynette were now even since she had let her punch her in the face, but Lynette smiled that they were “not even close” to even. Despite the fact that Hayley had made her legal bills disappear, Lynette now wanted Hayley to convince Bill to make her whole embezzlement case disappear.

Mrs. Hamilton was gobsmacked and relayed that even she didn't have that kind of pull with Bill – and if she did, it wasn't like Bill had the power to snap his fingers and dissolve a lawsuit. Hayley offered to get Lynette into a hotel like hers instead; Lynette took the offer, but just as she did, Bill entered the room, worried because he hadn't received his hourly text from Hayley. The lawyer saw Lynette and wanted to know why his client was with his wife.

Beyond the Gates airs weekdays on CBS and streams on Paramount Plus.