John is in and out of his mercenary mode throughout the month of November 2000 as he tries to remember his past life with Princess Gina (Hope). On top of that, having been diagnosed with a hole in his heart, Baby John is fighting for his life at the hospital. Marlena is infuriated as John tries to walk the fine line between Hope/Marlena and Brady/Belle/Marlena. This infuriates Marlena and she unwittingly takes her anger out on Brady. Brady and Belle were playing on the train tracks the day that baby John was admitted to the hospital, when Belle’s foot got caught in one of the tracks. Both she and Brady freaked when they noticed the oncoming train barreling down the tracks. Brady grabs a pipe to free Belle’s foot and shove her off the tracks just as the train is passing. She bangs her head on the pipe and is knocked unconsciousness. Brady, who is in a panic, carries Belle out to the road, where John and Marlena are just passing by on their way to the hospital to see baby John. They had been fighting because Marlena failed to fill the gas tank earlier that day and now there was an emergency (being baby John). Belle is in bad shape. She has a fractured skull and of course, Marlena verbally attacks Brady who takes off from the hospital. After placing Belle into a controlled coma and performing surgery, the doctor reports that she will indeed recover. Baby John, however, may not live.

The next day, John decides to take Marlena out to Tuscany. He has spent the better part of the day wining and dining her in an attempt to make amends. Meanwhile, Roman has put an APB out on Brady for Belle’s accident. Brady is being tailed all over town, even as he attempts to disguise himself in a Ninja costume. He is furious because he believes that this was Marlena’s doing and his dad supported her wishes. He decides that he will surprise Marlena and his dad at Tuscany’s. John is already suspicious of Marlena’s intentions as he catches her and Roman (who is there with Fay) sharing knowing glances. He begins to give Marelena the 3rd degree when Brady bursts in and and threatens Marlena with his sword. Roman springs into action and attacks Brady. Roman and Brady are duking it out at Tuscany when John snaps into mercenary mode and whips Roman around. The cops arrive arrest the two unfortunate souls, John and Brady, for the brawl.