Days Recap: Days of our Lives Recap, January 7. 2026: Peter wakes up and crashes out

On Days of our Lives today, Wednesday, January 7, 2026, Kate gives Bonnie news, Alex and Xander clash, and new developments may crack open the crypt case.

What Happened on Days of our Lives

Bonnie’s (Judi Evans) book was the hot topic on Days of our Lives. \Image: Peacock

At the Brady Pub, Justin and Bonnie stopped by for breakfast and enthusiastically greeted Roman and Kate. The returning couple regaled Kate and Roman with stories about their holiday trip exploits. When Justin announced he had a work appointment and left, Kate pulled Bonnie aside and said she wanted to discuss something. With a smile, Bonnie agreed that she had the same thought.

Later, as Bonnie enjoyed her “greasy” breakfast at a separate table, Roman and Kate talked New Year’s resolutions: namely, to love and value each other. Roman observed how Kate was looking at Bonnie like “a fly caught in a spider’s web.” Kate told him about Bonnie’s romance manuscript and admitted she still hadn’t read the novel.

When Kate joined Bonnie at her table, Bonnie quickly surmised that Kate wanted to talk about the manuscript she’d snuck into Kate’s office. Kate asked why Bonnie had taken up writing again after the publication of her memoir. Bonnie gushed about how her school teachers and classmates had always told her she’d had a natural talent for writing, beginning with her early story, “Super Pickle versus the Evil Chicken.” Kate curtailed Bonnie’s rambling, so Bonnie concluded that she’d had a lot of time on her hands and had decided to revisit her old passion. She grew giddy at the prospect of publication and excitedly asked Kate what she’d thought of the book.

Kate dashed Bonnie’s hopes by confessing that she could not publish or even read the manuscript because it was “unsolicited.” Moreover, Titan already had an overabundance of romance authors. Bonnie was disappointed, but Kate gave her renewed optimism when she offered to put Bonnie in contact with other publishing houses. Bonnie departed, heartened by Kate’s encouragement. Kate met back up with Roman and filled him in on the meeting; she claimed she hadn’t wanted to completely leave Bonnie dejected since writing seemed to be important to the other woman.

Hope from Alex

At Titan, Alex spotted Bonnie’s manuscript on Xander’s desk and asked if it was any good. “Stranger things have happened,” Xander quipped. When Xander asked if Alex had made any big plans for New Year’s Eve, Alex told him about the engagement. Xander assuaged Alex’s fear that he’d made Xander feel bad because of the situation with Sarah, and he genuinely congratulated Alex. Things soon got tense, though, after Xander brought up Stephanie’s lagging book sales.

Alex wanted to give the second novel more time to take off, but Xander believed Stephanie should ramp up her book tour for promotion. Alex put the kibosh on that idea and went a step further by attempting to cancel the book tour entirely. He told Xander about the threatening letters Stephanie had been receiving. While Xander was sympathetic, he insisted he could beef up security for Stephanie because the success of the book was vital to Titan’s future. Alex remained steadfast, so Xander invoked Stephanie’s contract.

An angry Alex accused Xander of “selling your soul” for money. Xander shot back that he was the one tasked with saving the family company and Victor’s legacy. Alex acknowledged Xander’s determination and suggested Stephanie remain in Salem and write another romance novel. Xander let him know that the decision wasn’t ultimately up to Alex; it should be Stephanie’s decision to make. Alex vehemently vetoed looping Stephanie in as well. Xander warned him that trying to run Stephanie’s professional life wouldn’t end well for Alex.

Like a Phoenix

At the hospital, Jada removed Kristen’s handcuffs and told the former prisoner she’d been granted bail. After cautioning Kristen not to leave town, Jada left. Kayla updated Kristen on her infection, which had been cleared up with antibiotics. Kristen looked forward to leaving the hospital, but she dreaded what came next for her brother.

Kayla asked if any of the other DiMeras would be present when Peter’s life support was removed. Kristen said it would just be her, as she didn’t want to put the rest of the family through any more turmoil. Justin joined the women and got Kristen to sign papers making her Peter’s medical proxy.

Later, Kayla and Kristen convened in Peter’s room. Kristen grew emotional and asked Kayla if there was any hope for Peter. She called Peter a fighter and confided she’d have trouble living with the guilt if Peter died. Kayla gently told Kristen that a recovery was very unlikely given the severity of Peter’s injuries. Kristen didn’t know what else to say to her brother, except that she had faith she could help send him “home” if it was his time to go.

Kristen gave Kayla the go-ahead to take Peter off his life support. But when Kayla completed the task, Peter’s monitor suddenly sprang to life. Kristen hopefully asked if Peter was alive, and a stunned Kayla admitted he was indeed a “survivor” as he was breathing on his own. Kayla briefly left the room to get Peter’s treatment regimen restarted, and she encouraged Kristen to talk to her brother in an effort to wake him up.

Kristen obliged and expressed her love and her hope to Peter. When she began to walk away, he grabbed her arm. Kristen rushed back to her brother’s side, while he tried to speak. She urged him to save his strength and then apologized for what she had done to him. She compelled him to understand that she couldn’t let him hurt innocent people. Peter, gasping in pain, drew his sister closer and responded, “I’ll see you in hell.”

Kristen recoiled in disbelief and asked Peter what he had said. He repeated the sentiment and forcefully pushed Kristen away. He yelled at her to get out of the room. A visibly hurt Kristen eventually complied.

The Alamain connection

At the police station, Rafe met with Jada to go over the details of the DiMera case. They considered the family very lucky since the antidote for the poison had been discovered outside the crypt. Jada informed Rafe that the hidden camera found inside the crypt had been sending signals to a remote location: Alamainia. Jada and Rafe theorized about Vivian’s potential involvement in Peter’s scheme. Perhaps Stefan and Vivian had been working with Peter to secure the DiMera fortune before Stefan’s death…unless reports of Stefan’s death were greatly exaggerated, Jada suggested.

Rafe didn’t outright dismiss the idea that Stefan could be alive, despite the photo of his headstone and the death certificate. In fact, Rafe still considered it suspicious that the certificate had only been filed recently. He vowed to get to the truth for Gabi’s sake. Both Jada and he wished they could question Peter and get the real story. Their wish appeared to be granted when Kayla called and told them Peter had recovered.

Peter's progress

Back at the hospital, a man dressed in scrubs and a mask approached a sleeping Peter and injected his IV line with the contents of a syringe.

Meanwhile, at the nurses’ station, Kayla talked with Justin about the miraculous turn of events with Peter. While she was happy Kristen had her brother back, Kayla felt for Kristen knowing that Peter likely faced a future behind bars. Kristen, still shell-shocked, came up to Kayla and told the doctor Peter had regained consciousness and had then promptly ordered Kristen to stay away from him.

Just then, an alarm sounded. Kayla realized the alert was coming from Peter’s room and raced off, with Kristen right behind her. From the corridor, Rolf – in scrubs -- watched with a sinister smile.

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