EJ’s Celebration Is Cut Short and Stephanie Finally Gets Her Hands On a Gun

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Gwen’s back at the mansion for her toiletries and a drink. And despite EJ’s annoyance, he tells her about Theo’s experience with Lexie. They did it! She’s back! But EJ’s all worried about Chad being back and sniffing around for the truth.

Gwen, it turns out, doesn’t know who else EJ has waiting in the wings, so she flat out asks if Chad’s partially right and Abigail is one of those other test patients. EJ doesn’t want to tell her who the others are. (Which is not at all a “No!”) Rolf calls to give EJ good and bad news: Lexie’s moving, yes, but there’s no change in her consciousness. They can’t fail, though!

Does Chad Want Something from Gwen?

Chad, Jeremy and Julie all catch up and the Horton house is packed to the gills. Plus, Jack and Jennifer are coming back to see the grandkids. Now that he’s back, Chad figures he should apologize for doubting Jeremy and see how he’s doing post-kidnapping. Jeremy turns that to Stephanie and Alex and Chad fills him in a bit on their bumpy relationship. Jeremy is very interested.

Chad heads out to grab a pizza and runs into Gwen in the square (literally), knocking her coffee (at night??) all over her. He congratulates her on the divorce and promises she’s better on her own, away from the mansion.

They’re actually more than civil — almost kind with each other! But Chad tries asking if Gwen heard anything about EJ’s research while she was at the mansion, so his kindness may have an ulterior motive.

Can Javi and Leo Be Friends?

Leo rambles on to Cat at the hospital on his way to get his head examined. For his concussion. That may or may not explain him blabbing on about Chadwick and Javi and their returns and how miserable it is and maybe he could get an invite to Stefano’s will reading? Cat will pass the request on, but she (and we) doubts EJ will agree.

She then has to take a call from Rafe, conveniently timed just as Javi walks in, all decked out in his EMT. They make awkward small talk until Leo starts blurting out questions about the “new guy” and invites Javi to dinner to talk. As friends. He babbles on until Javi cuts him off and declines the invitation, wanting a clean break. Bye, Leo!

Should Stephanie Have a Gun?

Steve and Kayla visit Stephanie, pie and gun in tow. That’s one heck of a combination. Stephanie, as you can imagine, is more excited about the gun. Kayla waxes on nostalgically about her first time holding a gun, and Steve walks Stephanie through all she’s going to learn to use it.

Steph’s ready to get ready then and there! It’s only slightly awkward as they sit talking across the table, while Kayla watches from the couch. Stephanie doesn’t like the idea of the gun being unloaded in a safe, but yeah, yeah, she understands. When Steve goes to get the gun safe, Kayla checks in on how Stephanie’s doing and gets a rundown of her struggles with Alex.

In the Show’s Final Moments

Cat heads over to EJ, and they go over the will reading plans and so far Tony, Anna, Chad, Kristen and Rita are all yeses. Stephen Hawk was a no, and Megan is unreachable. They’re really talking this up with even Cat excited at how “wildly entertaining” the reading will be, so the show better deliver! But then probate court calls EJ with shocking news: a codicil for Stefano’s will was filed.

Jeremy’s on the phone with someone (Joy. It’s Joy.) saying he’ll pick her up in the morning. Steve walks Stephanie through a few more things, then promises to get her out to the shooting range tomorrow with him and Brady. Her parents leave and Stephanie immediately does what she’s not supposed to and gets the gun out and loads it. Hello, accidental shooting story, here we come!