Carrie Comes Home to See John, and Rachel Admits She *Does* Remember Something from EJ’s Shooting

Alex is working at his spiffy new CEO desk when Belle shows up at his office — in an official capacity. She’s there about Philip. Alex reluctantly starts talking about what happened, and how he may have been able to stop this drug theft business, since he saw Kevin talking to Philip, Steve and Shawn.

Alex doesn’t get why Philip pulled off the heist, but then Belle helps him understand that he did it for Bo, too. His intentions were good. He wanted to make amends with Xander by saving Bo. Right now, though, she needs to focus on bringing whoever assaulted Philip to justice. She knows what the police don’t know about Xander’s motives. And Alex knows, too.

“Do you think Xander’s guilty?” Alex pleads the Fifth, but Belle convinces him he’ll have to talk sooner or later. Alex tells her about seeing Xander coming from the Salem Inn yesterday morning and was behaving oddly around the same time Philip was attacked.

He’s kept his mouth shut, feeling like he owes Xander after keeping secrets from him. Besides, they don’t know Xander did it — but if he did, Alex doesn’t know how he can keep working for him. If Philip doesn’t wake up and Xander goes down for it, what happens to the company? Not just DiMera, but Titan, everyone who works for them, the hospital…

Belle just sighs and tells him to call her if he talks to Xander, then leaves.

Abe Knows Kate’s Hiding Something

In the hospital, Kate worries about Philip, but Roman reassures her that he’s looking better and will wake up. She tells her husband to head home and get breakfast started and she’ll meet him after talking to Philip’s doctor.

Abe and Paulina drop in and run into Kate, saying they came to see John — but they also ask about Philip. Paulina can’t believe the cops let Xander go, but Abe knows that without a motive or opportunity, the DA can’t establish a case.

Paulina leaves to grab coffee, and Abe takes the time to ask why Kate’s so convinced Xander attacked Philip. “What aren’t you telling me?” Kate sees Philip’s doctor and runs off before answering.

Johnny Makes Roman Suspicious

Roman heads over to the pub to meet with Johnny and they talk about how tough it is seeing Grandpa John and Philip in the hospital. Roman tells Johnny that Eric’s on the way, and Johnny adds that Will is, too — and he thinks his mom and Sydney are trying to get a flight.

After his mom’s last visit, though, he’s not sure he’s living up to John’s example — or Roman’s. Roman sits down and tells Johnny no one’s blaming him for taking time to process what he found out. And now he’s back with Chanel, trying his best to live up to his name, Roman adds.

Johnny seems a bit reassured, gets up to grab coffee, then sees the gun lockbox is gone. He asks Roman what happened to it. Roman moved it since the gun disappeared when EJ was shot. And when he reminds Johnny that he told him about the gun when it disappeared, Johnny storms out after insisting he didn’t shoot his dad.

EJ and Kristen Learn About John

EJ’s home, calling Brady, hoping to talk about the hospital vote, but he gets hung up on after Brady tells him about John. Kristen comes in just in time to overhear that something happened to John and demands to know what.

EJ doesn’t know much besides that the explosion has left John near death’s door. Kristen sits down in shock. “Oh, no, no! Please, God. Not John.” EJ awkwardly offers comfort. “There, there.”

They get into John and Kristen’s history a bit, from being her first love, to trying to pass EJ off as her son to keep him, to transferring her feelings onto Brady. But Kristen isn’t the only one mourning — Rachel will be devastated to learn about her grandfather.

But getting good news about her Grandma Rachel could be just what she needs… EJ counters that getting good news about the hospital is just what he needs. Kristen snaps at him that she can’t deliver Brady’s vote and calls her brother out for his callousness, despite his claims to change.

EJ, though, insists he knows how much John is needed by his family, despite their past. He’s already hurt Johnny enough, losing his grandfather would be unbearable — and EJ’s not allowed to be there for him.

After EJ leaves, Kristen grabs Rachel and sits her down to talk about Grandpa John. Rachel looks upset as she learns what happened, but when Kristen asks if she wants to talk, Rachel tells her she doesn’t feel good. Her stomach’s hurt ever since the tea party. So Kristen gently suggests she’s not sick, she’s upset.

Kristen grabs a drink for Rachel, then tries talking to her about the bad dream she had after her birthday. Rachel puts the drink down. “I heard a gunshot,” she says. And no, not in her dream. In real life.

Carrie Visits Marlena and John

Marlena’s by John’s bedside, marveling at how many visitors he’s gotten, and how loved he is. She wanted to be angry with him for jumping into danger, but it’s who he is: A hero. “To me, to Bo.” And then Carrie walks in and adds, “To all of us.”

The two embrace as Marlena breaks down sobbing. Austin stayed behind to be there for Noah’s graduation, but Carrie insists she couldn’t be anywhere else. She thinks back to how John stepped up as a father, even though he barely knew her, and we flash back to her as a child when John tells her about Marlena’s “death.”

Back in the present, Carrie insists that his greatest power wasn’t being a superspy, but being a dad. Thanks to John, she’s got two amazing dads. The two then happily recall their first meeting when Carrie was five, and the joy she brought to Marlena and John’s lives. Ever since, Carrie’s been Marlena’s daughter — and John’s as well.

“Family is who sits in your heart,” Marlena insists and they hug again, crying. Carrie reminisces some more about John stepping up, even when she hit puberty, from buying her first bra to teaching her how to drive. We flash back again to a Christmas with just the two of them while Marlena was thought dead.

In the present, she gently touches John’s hand and insists he’s Superman. He moves it slightly and Carrie and Marlena look at each other in wonder. Abe knocks gently and enters, thrilled to see Carrie.

Abe Visits John

After a heartfelt greeting, the ladies leave him alone with John for a bit. Abe sits and tells his friend that he has to stick around — too many people love him. Especially Marlena. Abe was here from the moment John arrived in Salem and saw the entire love story unfold.

We flash back to John talking about his and Marlena’s love with Abe after the Kristen debacle, and preparing to propose to her. And John asking Abe to be his best man. In the present, Abe says he’s honored for standing up for John and his enduring love. They’re family and always will be, Abe says.

Out in the reception area, Marlena introduces Paulina to Carrie, who then leaves to get coffee. Paulina tells Marlena to go home to get rest and they’ll let her know if there’s any change. But Marlena refuses to go anywhere and heads back to the room.

Johnny and Belle run into each other — literally — in the square, both distracted. Belle takes the time to say she’s glad her last words to her dad were, “I love you.” You don’t want to leave anything unsaid with your dad, Belle suggests, which prompts Johnny to blow up and go off about how evil EJ is.