Oh sh_t

work - in - progress

NOT COMPLETE

Oh Sh_t!

S050E01 taken in a different direction

"Jane."

A startled Jane looked up from her desk and clutched at her heart. "Luke."

The guardian angel took a deep breath and forged ahead. "Well, I have some bad news for you."

"Yeah, I destroyed my wedding, and my fiancé is missing. I'm up to speed." Jane summarised for him. But what he said next stopped her dead in her tracks.

"Jane pressed the return button."

"WHAT? What are you talking about?"

"Old Jane has been watching you from up there, and she hasn't been happy."

She needed more clarification. "So, wait. Old Jane, the real Jane is is down here?"

"That's not all."

Upset, Jane bit out, "What else could there possibly be?"

Luke winced a bit as he continued. "There's a chance her soul went into Owen's body, and that's why he disappeared."

"So old Jane's soul went into Owen's body... Are you kidding me?!!" Jane was moving beyond upset.

"Nothing's confirmed. But Owen passed out, maybe flatlined around the same time Jane pressed the return button, and now we can't seem to locate her soul or his body."

"Luke, how could this have happened?!"

"She figured out what you did and did the same thing. It's like lightning hitting the same place twice. Oh, and just a heads-up she is pretty pissed off at you for screwing up her life."

Jane's voice was rising. "What?! ahaha! Okay. All right. Slow down. See, because when I was put into this body, she was still wearing granny panties and collecting cat art. She bought drugstore makeup, and and a wild night out was online scrabble."

"Hey, I'm just the messenger, okay? Now, my guess is she'll probably go to places most comfortable to her."

"Okay, okay. All right. Did you check her old condo?"

"It's now a Jiffy Lube."

The meaning of what Luke has just explained finally dawned on Jane. "Wait a minute. If old Jane's soul is in Owen's body, then that means that Owen is... dead?"

"If her soul is in his body, then he's gone."

Jane exhaled. "Oh. my. God." Her voice started rising again. "What kind of guardian angel are you, Luke?"

Then she looked up and slipped out another, different "Oh. my. God."

Luke, following the direction of her horrified expression turned around and visibly paled.

Standing in the doorway, a gaping Teri was holding back an ashen Grayson and ... Owen.

"Oh, shit!" Jane breathed under her breath, but the deathly silence meant all of them heard.

"Jane, what the hell is going on? What do you mean when you were 'put into this body?'" Grayson reacted first.

Luke gulped.

"Does this explain your sudden amnesia after the shooting?" Teri blurted.

Owen chimed in next. "Old Jane? And why would she be in my body? Yes, what is going on?"

Jane, wide eyed, put her hand at her forehead. Her mind was racing. Oh my God, Oh my God, where do I begin?

"I knew it! The similarities were just too many. Dying at the same time on the same day. And the way you say the same kinds of things. Knowing so much about me..." Grayson seemed elated as he connected the dots.

Jane groaned softly. She had always wanted Grayson to know the truth. Just not like this, not now, with this audience. She looked up into Owen's eyes.

Although Owen was hurt, he could see the panicked bewilderment in her eyes and he stepped forward.

"Jane, are you okay?"

"I... I... " she was taking rapid shallow breaths. She stepped towards him. "Owen, I'm so sorry! I wanted to tell you before we got married, but Luke convinced me you would think I was crazy and..."

"Jane, darling, tell me what?" Owen reached out and stroked her hair.

She took a deep breath, but it was Grayson who answered. "She's not Jane. She's Deb Dobkins. In Jane Bingum's body."

Grayson's fiery stare threw Jane off even more.

Teri could see her boss was close to a break down, and although she was dealing with her own shock at the revelation that Jane wasn't exactly Jane, she stepped in.

"Okay, okay, time out guys. This is too much for Jane... Deb.. Jane.. oh, whoever the hell she is. I'm getting her some water. Behave"

Grayson and Owen stepped back a little, concerned by how pale Jane looked. She seemed ready to pass out any second.

Teri came back with the glass of water and shoved it in Jane's hand. "Drink."

Obediently Jane took a few sips.

Luke stepped forward. "I..."

"Shut up, Luke!" Jane snapped. "You've done enough damage in my life. Guardian angel my ass!"

Luke winced.

Turning back to Owen she continued. "It's true. I am Deb Dobkins, in Jane Bingum's body. Jane Bingum and Deb Dobkins both died on 26 July. Only I, Deb, didn't accept that and managed to press the return button on my guardian angel's computer. And yes, I know that sounds crazy." Jane was shooting daggers at Luke with her eyes at that last bit.

Grayson growled. "So why, when I asked you out to dinner that time and gave you every opportunity to come clean did you evade my questions and then call Owen over?"

"I couldn't tell you! Last time I tried a car ran you over! Luke made very sure I remembered that, and then HE texted Owen." an emotional Jane responded. Looking at Owen, she continued, "I'm sorry Owen. I know this all sounds nuts."

Owen felt pained. This was the woman he fell in love with and was going to marry a few hours ago and now it seemed like he never knew her at all.

Jane approached Owen, her hazel eyes wide and hurt. He didn't have much resistance against those eyes.

"I love you, Owen. I'm so sorry that kiss happened." She missed Grayson's wince.

"It was just my memories of what I had with Grayson rushing back when he admitted how he felt about me, as Jane. I love you. I still want to marry you."

Grayson couldn't lose this woman twice. "Jane! Deb! Think about this, baby, please. I can't lose you again."