On today’s Days of Our Lives, Javi helps Leo zip up his suitcase in his Salem Inn room, only to break the news that Rafe and Gabi don’t know he’s moving in. Leo starts to panic, but Javi just laughs that it’ll be fine — they love their cousin. He hands Leo a key and says he’ll meet him “at home.”
At the Hernandez house (complete with a snazzy new establishing shot) Gabi gets home and is snippy with Rafe, saying she’s stressed over EJ kidnapping him. Then she tells Rafe that Belle is sleeping with EJ, so there won’t be justice, and he gets why the DA recused herself now. He heads out to the police station to check in on things, assuring Gabi that EJ’s not getting away with anything.
Javi shows up with suitcases and casually tells Gabi that they’re just Leo’s things, he’s moving in. “Over my dead body!” She runs through Leo’s crimes against Will and Sonny. People don’t change. Leo’s a monster who cracks jokes and disarms you until he screws you over. Gabi tells her cousin that he’s a serial monogamist, and Javi blurts out, “I’m in love with Leo!” Just as he walks in.
When Gabi tells Leo to leave forever, Javi says he’ll go pack his things instead. They’re living together somewhere, he loves Leo. Fine. Gabi lets him stay, conditionally and lays out ground rules. Hurt Javi, he’ll answer to her. She grabs her purse and leaves. Alone, Leo wants to be sure Javi is sure of this. He is. He loves Leo. “You love me?” Leo loves him, too. They kiss.
Jada Flips Rachel and Kristen
Paulina meets with Jada in her office, where she learns the cops may have a witness: Rachel Blake. She’s sure Rafe was being held at Aremid, then tells Paulina about her encounter with EJ in the DiMera tunnels. Rafe was surely there, and EJ panicked when Jada came down and moved him. Paulina tells her commissioner that she’ll never get a DiMera to turn on another DiMera.
Rachel Blake’s not a DiMera, Jada points out. They can flip her.
Kristen’s sitting, looking worried on the couch when she pulls out her mom’s gun. Rachel walks in and asks if she’s going to give it back. And if not, maybe they should mount it over the fire. “Rachel lives here…” No way. Fine, Rachel Blake says, but at least keep it since it’s a family heirloom and Kristen lives in a nest of vipers.Kristen points out that she’s a DiMera, and her mom could have taken her away from there at any time. “But you didn’t!” Rachel gets upset and Kristen softens and says she’s thrilled to have her back in her life — but they can’t get reckless. Jada’s sniffing around. “I’m not concerned,” Rachel shrugs. Kristen will protect her no matter what. That’s what family does.
Kristen sends Rachel upstairs to lay down, but Jada stops them both by waltzing into the mansion. “It’s considered quite rude to just stop by someone’s home unannounced,” Rachel tells her. Jada cuts to the chase and wants Rachel’s testimony about Rafe. If she talks, she could save herself. Otherwise, she’s going down with EJ. That’s a promise. Rachel goes down, or Kristen helps bring EJ to justice.
EJ and Kate Trade Threats
EJ storms into the pub and heads straight for Kate. “How dare you tell my son about exactly how he was conceived!” She never wanted to, Kate snaps, Johnny pushed until she opened up. Then she lets slip that it was Roman who let EJ’s secret slip, and he flips out. EJ’s about to go throttle “that Irish relic,” but Kate stops him, warning him that he’s already on thin ice with the police.
“Actions have consequences, EJ, even if they come decades later.” This is all EJ’s fault. He hired Arnold to take over Rafe. Again. He was tempting fate by working with the other man who assaulted Sami again. But what EJ did is so much worse. “You’ll never forgive Roman? Well, let me tell you, Roman will never forgive you! And neither will I!”
EJ accuses her of doing this for payback, but Kate yells at him that she’s not as sadistic as him. Then she lists through all the other crimes and games played against Sami that she left out — but maybe it’s time for everyone to know. Salem has forgotten what he did and who he is. But she hasn’t.
“And you think I have?!” EJ screams in her face. Hate him, but Johnny never needed to know the truth. Kate will rue the day she opened her mouth. He suggests returning the favor and reminding everyone of all the horrible things Kate’s done. Maybe he’ll just destroy Kate’s kids. So many sons to pick from.
“You lay one finger on any of my children and I will kill you myself.” EJ leaves and Kate throws a glass off the table with a scream. Paulina pops into the pub, and asks if everything is alright. No. “EJ just threatened my children.”
Rafe Offers Johnny Support
Johnny’s out for a jog, but stops to think of his conversation with Kate. He calls Sami and leaves a message. Rafe runs into him on his way to the Bistro, and Johnny’s happy to see his former stepdad instead of Arnold. They both know Johnny’s dad is responsible. He just wishes he can help find the proof. When Rafe points out that proof means EJ is going to jail for a long time, Johnny’s perfectly happy to hear that after what he did to his mom.
Rafe thinks he’s talking about Arnold, but Johnny tells him about EJ raping his mom. Rafe pauses, closes his eyes and sighs. “So you know about that, then.” He’s known since before he married Sami. Johnny demands to know why he wasn’t told.
Rafe apologizes, but says it was Sami’s story to tell, not his. Johnny says Sami was just trying to protect EJ, not him. She married him twice. How could she build a life and have a child with that kind of man?! Rafe points out that Sami is still his mom, and she’s still the victim. Don’t lash out and create more trauma. He agrees with Johnny’s questions, though, and doesn’t have the answers. But Sami loves Johnny dearly. They hug, and Johnny continues his run after Rafe promises him he’s not alone.
Kristen Agrees to Turn
In Jada’s office, Kristen’s on the phone with Melinda saying she’s needed. Jada enters and hands Kristen an immunity deal for Rachel. Kristen tosses it down and says her mom had nothing to do with EJ. Will she gamble with her mother’s life, Jada wonders. Will she let her end her life in a cold, dank cell? She just wants Kristen to throw EJ overboard.
Kristen sighs, snatches the immunity deal from Jada’s hand and snaps, “Fine.” But she’s having a lawyer look this over. Great. Don’t take too long, Jada warns.
EJ Has a Plan for Rachel
In the show’s final moments, Rafe runs into a frantic Gabi in the square, who’s been trying to get a hold of them about their idiot cousin and Leo. She is freaking out, but Rafe just shrugs. “Whatever. We’ll deal.” He’s got bigger worries, like Johnny learning about his conception. Gabi doesn’t seem surprised, but notes that “EJ really is the gift that keeps on giving.”
EJ gets home to pour himself a drink, jumping when Rachel makes a comment on drinking this early. He calls her “Mother Blake” a few times until she yells at him that she’s not his mother. She’s Kristens. And her daughter will keep her safe, even if it means making EJ pay.
“Where is my sister?” EJ demands. He tries sweet talking Rachel into telling him what’s going on and it works. Kristen and Jada are making arrangements for her to tell the authorities about keeping “that poor, handsome man in my attic.”
Lovely, EJ says. Suddenly he thanks Rachel for the warning, heads to the safe, grabs the memory serum and tells Rachel she won’t be testifying against anyone.
