Days of our Lives Recap, September 30, 2025: JJ triggers Theo's PTSD

Here’s your Days of our Lives recap for what happened on Tuesday, September 30, 2025.

What happened on Days of our Lives

At the police station, Jada called JJ for an update on the looting situation in the square. JJ confirmed that the situation was under control. As Jada ended her call, Theo walked into her office with Paulina. Paulina confirmed that the power company was working on the issue. When Paulina realized she had forgotten her phone at her office, Theo offered to retrieve it. “Be careful out there,” Paulina said.

Jada stressed to Paulina that the looting situation was under control. “Hopefully things calm down now that you’ve put an order in for a curfew,” Jada said. Paulina talked to the power company, and she confirmed a blown transformer had caused a power surge at the hospital. “[The construction crew] must have overloaded the system,” Paulina said. Paulina complained that the problem was likely because EJ had attempted to use a shortcut to save money.

”If I find a way to prove it, I’m gonna sue the pants off of EJ and that hospital,” Paulina said. When Jada muttered that EJ never suffered any consequences, Paulina chuckled. Paulina told Jada that EJ had called 911 from a trapped elevator at the hospital. Paulina explained that EJ had escalated his situation to her office, and she had told emergency services to let EJ wait.

As Theo walked through the darkened square, JJ called out, “You can’t be out here! There’s a curfew!” Theo flinched as he fought a panic attack. JJ ordered Theo to turn around. When Theo did, JJ apologized. “I didn’t realize it was you,” JJ said. “Would that have made a difference?” Theo asked. Theo argued that JJ had assumed that he was “up to no good.”

When JJ noted that he was enforcing the curfew, Theo disagreed. “You’re just doing exactly what you did before. It’s a good thing you didn’t have a gun in your hand this time, Detective Deveraux. Or I could be dead right now,” Theo said. When JJ stressed that he was not going to shoot Theo, Theo countered that JJ had sounded “worked up.” Theo said he had frozen because of his PTSD, and he argued that JJ was repeating past mistakes because of his bias.

Theo explained that he was out during curfew because he was on his way to City Hall to get Paulina’s phone. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know that,” JJ said. “You didn’t know because you didn’t ask,” Theo muttered. Theo refused to accept JJ’s apology. JJ offered to escort Theo to City Hall, but Theo refused his help. “Ever since you came back to town, you’ve been distant and weird, and I thought something might be wrong,” JJ said. Theo told JJ he was angry that JJ had decided to return to the force.

“I thought you were my friend,” Theo said. Theo asked JJ why he had not talked to him before he rejoined the police. Theo reminded JJ that JJ had quit the force because he had not trusted his judgment as a cop. “What changed?” Theo asked. “I wouldn’t have come back to the force if I didn't think my judgment had improved,” JJ said. Theo noted that it was clear from the evening’s events that JJ’s judgment had not improved. “You took a situation that could have been easily resolved, and your immediate instinct was to escalate. Just like the night you put a bullet in my chest,” Theo said. Theo walked away.

At the police station, Jada asked Paulina if Theo was okay. The lights turned on. Jada started to talk about her meeting with Theo about his concerns when he walked in. “And tonight proves my concerns were warranted,” Theo said. Theo argued that JJ’s racial bias had not improved. Jada asked what had happened, but Theo said he wanted to go home. In the square, JJ stared at his police shield.

Belle woke up in the hospital elevator, and EJ greeted her. “The universe is punishing me for ever getting involved with you in the first place,” Belle grumbled. “You really regret being with me that much?” EJ asked. Belle said yes. EJ called for help again, but emergency services told him to wait. As EJ started to berate the worker, Belle groaned.

”Leave them alone! This is not an emergency, and you know it. You can’t control the universe, no matter how much you think you can,” Belle said. Belle argued that EJ’s temper tantrum was not helpful. “Or perhaps you don’t mind being stuck with me as much as you pretend to be,” EJ suggested. Belle threw EJ’s jacket in his face. When Belle said she wanted nothing to do with EJ, he reminded her that she was at the hospital because she had wanted to talk to him. Belle argued that her father’s last wishes had nothing to do with EJ. Belle made fun of EJ’s ego.

”There’s an attraction between us that doesn’t quite seem to go away, no matter how hard either of us tries to fight it,” EJ argued. Belle said EJ’s actions during Johnny’s trial had killed any affection she had had for EJ. “I’d completely deluded myself into thinking that you’d changed,” Belle said. EJ called Belle stubborn.

“Sami was right about you, just like everyone I ever, ever talked to about you. But did I listen? No,” Belle said. Belle started to cough and then wheeze from her asthma. Belle blamed EJ’s cologne. As Belle used her inhaler, she realized it was empty. EJ wanted to call 911 again, but Belle insisted that her attack was under control. Belle blamed the stress of being around EJ for her attack. “What if I promise that I’ll accept that you and I are over for good? Would that put you more at ease?” EJ asked. The lights came on, and the elevator started to move.

Once out of the elevator, Belle said she felt better, and she left. EJ’s phone beeped with a text from Gwen. “The electrician screwed up and caused the power outage. Call me!” the message read.

At Cat’s apartment, Chad and Cat snuggled up on the couch after having made love. Cat told Chad that their night together had surpassed her expectations. “Do you have any regrets?” Cat asked. Chad said no. “Tonight was perfect,” Chad said. Cat admitted that this was the first time that she had slept with someone since her car accident.

”It’s just hard to get close to people,” Cat said. Chad thanked Cat for having trusted him. “Since Abigail, I just had a really hard time getting close to people,” Chad said. Chad admitted that he felt like he could be himself with Cat. “Who would have ever thought that it could be me that you could get close to?” Cat said. Chad told Cat he did not want to hear any more apologies. “Tonight is about new beginnings,” Chad said.

After Chad and Cat dressed, Chad called Leo for an update on the blackout. Chad told Cat that Leo had discovered that the source of the blackout might have been the hospital construction site. Cat asked Chad if he was worried that the town would blame EJ. “No. Honestly, I’m worried about where my brother is going to place the blame,” Chad said. Cat noted that EJ had been kind to her so far.

When Cat noted that she was more intimidated by Julie than EJ, Chad joked that Julie likely had met her match handling the kids in a blackout. “I hope they don’t give her too much trouble,” Cat said. Chad called Julie to check on the kids.

“[Julie] said Thomas had been a bit off, that he was strangely quiet,” Chad told Cat. “Maybe he’s just missing his dad,” Cat suggested. Chad talked about the need to talk to his kids about his relationship. “After tonight, I don’t want to hide it anymore,” Chad said as he clasped Cat’s hand. Chad noted that it was better to suffer the wrath of his family with the truth than sneak around and get caught.

Xander and Sarah curled up naked in his bed, and they ate ice cream. Sarah admitted that she felt guilty that she had not gone over to the hospital for the blackout. Xander said he was glad that Sarah had decided to stay with him, because of where it had led.

“Being here like this with you, I just feel like the luckiest man alive,” Xander said. Sarah kissed Xander. “I’m so glad we had this breakthrough,” Sarah said. Sarah insisted that they still needed couples therapy, but Xander countered that the sex had proved they could work through their problems on their own. “Sex has never been our problem, Xander. Being open and honest with each other, that’s a different story,” Sarah said. Sarah asked Xander why he wanted to back out.

Xander admitted that he was worried that Sarah might see him as a monster again. Sarah noted that she had only thought of Xander as a monster because she had wrongly believed Xander had beaten up Philip. “You are not the only one who is going to have to own up to mistakes,” Sarah said. Sarah argued that her secret about Philip had nearly destroyed their marriage.

”Why do we have to rehash it all again in therapy?” Xander asked. Sarah explained that they needed to work things out in a healthy environment in order to sustain a long-term relationship with one another. Xander agreed. As Xander and Sarah clasped hands to wish for the blackout to continue, the lights flickered on. Xander urged Sarah to let Victoria stay the night rather than wake her up. “And you should too,” Xander added. “I’d really like that,” Sarah said.

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