Doug’s at work, reassuring the thugs he owes money to that he’ll get it to them when Holly comes running in to study for the GED exams. He thinks that maybe the time for passing his GED has passed, but Holly assures him she can help.

They sit after Doug’s shift is over and get down to business. He wants to start easy, so they begin with poetry. He’s a big fan of the realists, but things get a bit awkward when he quotes Ralph Waldo Emerson: “Your heart has to learn how to be alone if you can’t be with the person that you love.”

After a brief break, Holly asks how his new job is going. Well enough, but he ran into Julie and it didn’t go well. But he’s going to get her necklace back, whether she wants it from him or not. Holly thinks that will win Julie over, but Doug doesn’t. He betrayed her and took advantage of her.

He’s going to try talking to Melinda, but Holly suggests turning to Tate’s grandpa. John’s a PI and he’s coming home tonight. Maybe, Doug says, then calls it a night so he can check some leads and Holly can study for finals.

Marlena and Gabi Celebrate Ari’s Birthday

Marlena shows up at the Hernandez house to celebrate Arianna’s birthday with Gabi. It’s just the three of them, though. Javi’s ticked at Gabi and Rafe’s out of town for the FBI. They jump right to blowing out the candles and dig into the cake.

Marlena is sad Will and Sonny can’t be here — they were planning a party back home — but Ari hurriedly waves that off. She just missed her mom. Marlena says she talked Ari’s dad’s down, so she could be here for her birthday, then fly home for graduation.

About that… Ari tells them she’s not graduating. Gabi starts freaking, but Arianna assures her she finished everything, she just doesn’t want to graduate in person. It’s “performative.” Then she flatters Gabi and successfully distracts her. She’d like to stay through the summer.

Gabi’s thrilled, but Marlena clearly knows something’s up. They get to the gift giving, then Marlena says her farewells to get back home before John. Arianna feigns being tired and says she’ll turn in early, despite Gabi wanting to spend more time together.

They say goodnight and… Gabi goes up to her daughter’s room to find it empty. Ari snuck out and headed to Small Bar, where she runs across Doug. She eyes him up, then tells him it’s her birthday and he can help her celebrate.

Steve and Shawn Get a Lead

Back at John and Marlena’s, Brady’s trying to talk to Belle, who’s barely noticing him while searching through her computer for info on Kevin’s roommate, Asher. Over at Black Patch Steve and Shawn are searching through the Dark Web for a lead on the drug. Shawn finds that Asher bought an expensive car that he shouldn’t be able to afford.

Belle, meanwhile, finds out that he was booked on possession and Hope was the arresting officer. She calls Shawn and suggests his mom may be able to help him. Shawn hangs up and calls her.

She remembers him because he went to preschool with Zack. He hung out with a bad crowd and did drugs, and Hope sent him for treatment to turn his life around. Steve wonders if that actually took. They then trace Asher’s fake name he used to buy drugs in high school to a name Steve found on the Dark Web.

He sets up a meeting after determining the drug being offered is Versavix, then summons Dr. Russell with the news. They’ll get the drug back for him if he lets them take a dose for Bo. Steve promises that if things go south, they’ll take the hit. “Fine,” he agrees, and they head out.

They head to the derelict warehouse, where Dr. Russell is horrified to learn from Shawn it’s an obvious meth lab. “Don’t those places just randomly explode??” (Well, that’s foreshadowing if we ever saw it…)

Steve has an idea, runs off, then returns to say he can’t find a way in. Before they can get any further, Hope calls Shawn with the news that they’re bringing in a priest to give Bo his Last Rites. Steve tells him to go before he loses his chance to say goodbye, but Shawn refuses to give up. They’re too close.

Belle and Brady Fight Over EJ

Back at the Evans home, Brady and Belle talk about Tate and Sophia a bit, then turn to Belle’s “moonlighting with Shawn” as they set up for John’s welcome home party. He wants to know if this means they’re on good terms, which Belle says they are, but Brady’s going to have to accept she’s with EJ now.

That gets onto the topic of the hospital, and Brady insists Belle won’t sway her on voting for EJ. “OK… but will Kristen?” She knows what Kristen offered at Rachel’s birthday and the two start arguing over EJ possibly kidnapping Rachel Blake. Maybe he did, Belle says, but that was BEFORE. He’s different now and trying to make amends.

“Wow. You have got it bad, sis.” Brady points out that EJ’s change wasn’t big enough to bring Rachel back. The man can only change so much. Belle, in turn, points out that he should vote with what’s best for the hospital, not some vendetta. Besides, Xander just beat Philip within an inch of his life.

More: Revisit Will’s emotional coming out

Maybe, Brady deflects. He counters that EJ’s tormented their family and it would suck for their mom to work with him. They eventually apologize and return to John’s welcome home, just before Marlena gets home.

She has bad news, she tearfully tells them. Roman called with the news about Bo.

In the Show’s Final Moments

Holly’s checking her phone in the square when she makes a face, pauses, looks behind her, then shrugs and moves on. She was right to be worried, though. A strange man is following her.

More: Is this there hope for Xander?

Gabi panics and calls JJ asking for his help. Ari isn’t anywhere in the house. “Where on earth could she be?” It turns out, she’s in Doug’s hotel room, wrapping up a birthday celebration in his bed. She’s new in town, and — Doug finally mentions her phone’s nonstop notifications and Ari grabs it to see Gabi blowing it up. She puts it on Do Not Disturb and they go back at it.

As Belle and Brady are taking in the news, someone gets to the front door. The three get excited, turn towards the door and yell “SURPRISE!” For Paul. John’s fine, he assures them, he just had to make a pit stop.

Over at the meth lab, Steve and Shawn are determined to get in, when a figure in a hoodie walks up. Steve starts laughing and bumps fists. “I told you I had an idea!” Dr. Russell asks who that is and Steve tells him. “Let me introduce you to John Black. You can always count on him to save the day.” (Sadly, we’re pretty sure we know how he will die now.)

On the next Days of Our Lives, Hope and Ciara comfort one another and Kayla brings Marlena up to speed.