All of port Charles was praying for Connie Falconeri's family everyone hoped for a miracle or at least justice for Connie. Falconeri she was in a coma never expected to wake up. Olivia was watching over her the day of A.J's trial as she had been since the shooting. Olivia was swapping the bouquet of wilting red roses in the glass vase next to her bed with fresh sunflowers when she heard a knock on the door. Then swiveled around to see her son Dante Falconeri standing in the doorway.

Mother and son fumbled for something to say then after failing to grab hold of any words with their tongues. So, they settled for mutual acknowledgment of shared loss with a loving embrace. "Any change?" Dante whispered.

Olivia let out a shaky sob "No…"

"Sh" Dante hushed her trying to soothe her he stood strong like a stoic warrior picking up the fragments of life after a long battle." we will get through this" Dante's words were steady and confident it felt like a lie but sometimes a little lie is better than the truth.

Olivia broke the hug then she changed the subject "Does the trial end soon?" The statement was phrased as a casual question but sounded like a pop quiz with only one clear answer.

" Yes," Dante replied simply as his gaze trailed after Olivia while she sat down next to Connie Olivia wiped the last of her tears away. "I promise A.J will rot in prison for the rest of his worthless life" he vowed through gritted teeth.

Olivia was about to say he sounded like Sonny when Connie woke up screaming. Olivia was caught off guard by the shocking outburst. However, rather than panicking she went straight into mother mode "it's alright sweetheart you are safe now."

These comforts seemed to fall on deaf ears Connie ceased yelling, in fact, she was utterly silent. Pulling her knees up to chest Connie was suddenly bombarded with memories as vivid and painful as plunging a hand into boiling water. "I was shot" Connie murmured under her breath still confused.

"Yes that's right" Olivia whispered softly.

"Don't worry" Dante interjected. "A.J can't hurt you anymore."

" A.J?" Connie repeated in confusion. "He didn't shoot me Ava did."

" What?" Olivia gasped.

" Why?" Dante blurted out.

She squeezed her eyes shut her staining to peel back the fog corrupting her memory. "I overheard something I was not supposed to... I don't remember what. Olivia's face twisted with outrage and horror. She clenched her jaw to resist the urge to say a great many things that would bend God's ear.

Dante's mind was whirling he was so taken aback it was as if all the air had been sucked out of his lungs. then the realization that an innocent man was on trial for a crime he did not commit hit him like a ton of bricks. "I have to get to the courthouse to stop the trial!" Dante called already halfway down the hallway.

The judge banged her gavel to signal court was in session. "Has the jury reached a verdict?"

" Yes, your honor" answered one of the 12 people holding A.J Quatermaine's life in their hands. A.J rose to his feet with his heart in his throat.

" How does the jury find the defendant?"

"Not guilty."

For a split second the court went deafeningly silent before erupting into hateful jeers and joyful cheers. "Am I dreaming?" A.J mumbled in bewilderment flooded with blissful relief to the point of being so light headed and dizzy he needed to sit down.

A.J's reprieve came to a screeching halt when Sonny flew into a blind rage. "You will pay for this you son of a bitch!" Sonny as he barreled for him with a gun a stunned guard apprehended Sonny but not before he shot A.J in the neck.

Dante charged in a moment too late hearing a gunshot as he was charging through the doors to find Monica Quartermaine kneeling down next to her son tears streaming down her face as she wailed in desperation "call 911!." She cried out over and over again while trying to staunch the blood gushing from his neck. Elizabeth was trying to assist as best she could but her hands were shaking like leaves while she attempted to cover the wound with her scarf.

Meanwhile, Sonny was glaring down at A.J with bottomless hatred that cannot be described in words. "Burn in hell" hissed Sonny as he towered over A.J.

A.J. Looked up and Sonny helplessly I don't want to die yet the bleeding man thought as he lay there are unable to say anything. His mind drifted to thoughts of his son Michael. What about all the things I missed all the things I'm going to miss if I die here? he struggled to keep his eyes open. The world was blurry and pulling farther and farther away he can still hear his mother crying for him but she sounded miles and miles away than everything went dark...

"The truth rarely pure and never simple."- Oscar Wilde.