Dear Readers-
I am thrilled with the overall support for this story. I got eight reviews and voting for the poll on ExtremeReba was unanimous to continue this story. I got new author alerts and new readers have added me to their list of favorite authors. Thank you so much! The only thing that I have to decide now is how to proceed with my story updates. I will have a new poll on my profile page on FF and on my ExtremeReba post. I need your feedback in making this decision. I am still working on my other story, Believe in Love Again for the time being with shorter chapter updates.
Thanks for continuing to read my stories and letting me know that you still want to read more chapters. Keep leaving me comments and reviews. I love reading them. Your reviews make me smile. It keeps me writing. Here it goes…
Characters I don't own: Reba McKinney-Hart, Brock Hart, Kyra Hart, Jake Hart, Cheyenne Hart-Montgomery, Van Montgomery, Elizabeth Montgomery, Barbra Jean Booker, Henry Hart, and any other characters from the Reba cast.
Characters I do own: Anyone not part of the Reba cast – original characters developed for this story include: Parker Harrison, Timothy, Faye, Daniel Hammond, the mysterious gunman, Mr. Martin, Lucy Wright, and Kevin Thomas.
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Now on with the story-
I don't own the TV shows of Reba or Drop Dead Diva. I also don't own any of the characters in this story from Reba or Drop Dead Diva. They belong to the writers of the REBA TV show and DROP DEAD DIVA TV show. I also do not own the rights to any of the songs and lyrics that I use in this story. Those are the property of the artists involved. I also do not own the rights to any television show or movie reference that I use in this story. Those are the property of the Hollywood creative teams involved in their production. I will be changing some release/airing dates of the titles used to fit in with the story.
This story takes place in the fall of 2007 when the Reba show would be in season seven. All of the characters from Reba are the same ages that they are in my other stories in the "Love Again" series.
This chapter will consist of scenes that will be in regular font, not italicized font. I use the italicized font to distinguish between author's notes and regular scenes. I use bold font when things need special emphasis.
Previously-
Later, Faye went to find Brock/Daniel. He was standing by the window, looking out at the view.
"What are you still doing here?" she asked.
"Where else would I be?" he responded.
"At home, with Barbra Jean."
"I'll get there. Like you said, I'm comfortable here."
"I miss him, Faye. Brock was not the best person in the world, but I still miss being him. I miss that life. I know that I'm Daniel now. Brock is gone and I know that I have to let go. I just don't know how."
"You're grieving."
"For myself. Does that make me self-absorbed and selfish?"
"No. It makes you human," he smiled at her and she hugged him.
"I guess I'm not such a bad guy after all."
"Maybe. You do have potential," she quipped back.
Summary: Brock is learning how to become Daniel. He wants Reba back and he's going to have to work hard to become a better person and hopefully win her love all over again. Barbra Jean is moving on with a date with the wealthy widower. Cheyenne is bonding with Kyra over their mutual grief. Van is helping Jake through his grief by being a positive male role model in Brock's absence. Jake is dealing with the loss of his dad so soon after his parents got back together. Reba is confused. Kevin is trying to make a play for Reba. She sees something in Daniel's eyes that she can't quite understand. She is drawn to him. He's decided to keep working at the office. He sees the benefits of being so close to Reba, working with her day after day.
How will this chapter begin? How will Brock cope to having to live his life as another person? How will Brock live as Daniel without being able to be a father to his kids? What is Reba's reaction to all of this? Will she ever find out that Daniel is really Brock?
What happens next? Stay tuned to find out! Keep reading to find out more!
The answers to the questions above will be revealed as you read the story. Here is Drop Dead Hero!
Now on with our story-
Brock stared at himself in the mirror. Well, he stared at himself as Daniel in the mirror. Barbra Jean brought him a cup of coffee. He's running late for work.
"I'm never gonna get used to him. It's so strange to look in the mirror and not see my own face staring back at me."
"I don't see what the problem is. You traded up into a better body. The offer is still on the table if you wanna try to take that body for a test drive with me." Barbra Jean said, as if her suggestion wasn't in the least bit outrageous.
"No offense, Barbra Jean, but I'm not interested. I want to be with Reba. She's gonna question our relationship when she finds out that I'm livin' here. I don't want her to think that Daniel is anything like Brock as far as that goes. I want to be able to tell her that I've never had sex with you and that I'm not interested in you like that."
"Brock sweetie, I'm sorry to tell you this, but we've already had sex and we've got a five year old son to prove it."
"See, this is where I get off on a technicality. Brock cheated on Reba. Brock had sex with you. Brock is the one who married you and created a child with you. Look at me. I'm not Brock anymore. I'm Daniel and Daniel has never done any of those things so I get a clean slate."
"Whatever!" Barbra Jean grumbled. "You'll be interested enough when you realize that Reba will never be interested in Daniel romantically. She's in love with Brock. She's been in love with Brock for decades so she's not gonna turn to you so easily. Such a waste of a good looking man, if you ask me. You better be prepared to put your libido in cold storage for awhile. That's okay. I'm not sure that Stormy Clearweather should be seen in public with Daniel Hammond anyway." she proceeded to turn away from him before he could respond. "Hey, by the way, I'm selling the tanning bed!" Barbra Jean yelled as she walked away.
Brock went in search of Barbra Jean to confront her about it. "Why? Wait, I see. You wanna punish me."
"No. I need the money to support my child. We don't need the tanning bed. It was Brock's. Reba wasn't particularly fond of how you turned yourself into what she calls "an orange manatee with a big head". If you want a fresh start, then you better start getting in touch with the inner Daniel." she explained.
Brock/Daniel didn't want to fight with her. She had a point. "Good idea."
Just then, Henry came into the hall. "Good morning, Daddy. Are you two fighting again?"
Barbra Jean giggled. "Good luck explaining that to Reba."
Brock/Daniel ignored her. He focused his attention on Henry. It was strange how aware the boy was. He seemed to know that Daniel wasn't a stranger. He easily accepted the explanation that his parents gave him about what had happened to Brock. The three settled into the new living situation easily.
"No. We're not fighting. We were talking about Mommy selling the tanning bed. Mommy says that we don't need it anymore."
"Really? You don't need it anymore?"
"Nope. I'm changing a lot so things will be different."
"Good. I like you this way. You play with me more now."
Brock was choked up at Henry's words. His brush with death opened his eyes to his relationships in the family. His cell phone rang. It was Timothy. He was late for a meeting with a client. Timothy was upset at having to cover for Daniel at the office. Brock/Daniel had to hurry off to work. When he arrived, Faye gave him a hard time for being late as well.
"Hey, it's been a week since you were shot. Maybe you should start showing up on time. You are not your own boss anymore." Faye commented.
"I know it works around here. You are an assistant. I have an assistant. I am someone's boss so stop gettin' on me. You're not the boss of me." Brock/Daniel responded.
"Really?" Faye looked angered at his words. Who did this guy think that he was?
"Your words. You were sent here to help me as my guardian angel."
"It's thrilling to be your cosmic babysitter." Faye shook her head. "It's been a week. I should see a little less Brock and a little more Daniel."
Timothy rushed up to greet Brock/Daniel. "Come on, the client is waiting for you. Do you remember Lucy Wright? She's waiting for you in your office." He had a cinnamon roll one hand and a cup of coffee in the other.
Brock/Daniel shook his head. "I've still got the amnesia. Sorry." He took the cinnamon roll and cup of coffee that Timothy offered.
"Lucy Wright is here to buy a house. She just got a divorce and she needs a place to live. She's got three kids."
Brock/Daniel paused to look at Reba, who was working in her office. Timothy hit him with a file folder. "Dude, stop scoping out the widow! Her husband died like a week ago. There's no way that she'd been interested in you like that."
Kevin walked by and heard the exchange. "That's right. I've had my eye on that pretty redhead for some time now. We had dinner together a week ago. If anything, she'll be dating me in no time at all."
Timothy scoffed. Brock/Daniel took one last look at Reba before walking on towards his office.
Later, Brock/Daniel met with Parker Harrison, the owner of the real estate company.
"How are things going with Mr. Martin?"
"Great. We've narrowed down his choices. I think that he'll have a property selected by the end of the week."
"This client is very important. Be sure to keep him happy. We don't want to lose him to Dolly Majors. Mr. Martin is a very prestigious member of the River Oaks Country Club. He's a lawyer and he can send a lot more clients our way."
They were walking by the conference room, where Reba and Kevin were meeting with clients. Brock/Daniel looked pensively at Reba. Parker noticed that Brock/Daniel wasn't paying attention, but was looking at Reba instead. "Are you listening to me? Look, Daniel, we've all noticed that you've been acting a little strange, so if you need help, get it. We can't have any mistakes with clients like Mr. Martin."
Barbra Jean walked into the office and went up to Brock/Daniel's office. She was met by Timothy, his assistant. "Can I help you?"
"You're Timothy, right?"
"Have we met?"
"Your boss described you."
"Okay, so what do you want?" Timothy said, glancing at the goofing looking blonde.
"I need to see B-, uh, Daniel." Barbra Jean stammered.
"I'm sorry, but he doesn't want to be disturbed.
"Oh, I don't want to disturb him. I want to talk to him." Barbra Jean proceeded to enter Brock/Daniel's office as if she had every right to.
Brock/Daniel was sitting at his desk, eating lunch and working at his computer.
"Surpri-i-ise!" she greeted cheerfully.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
"I brought you lunch." She pulled things out of her bag. "Chicken breast, celery, and a snack for later. You've got to maintain your gorgeous new body."
"I'm really busy, Barbra Jean." Brock/Daniel wasn't sure how to respond. He was grateful for Timothy's interruption.
"Daniel, you have an open house in fifteen minutes. Did you forget?"
Later, Barbra Jean suggested to Brock/Daniel that they go out for some fun. She got Kyra to babysit for Henry.
"This is so much fun, Brock! Sorry, I mean Daniel." Barbra Jean said, gleefully. She was on her third drink.
"Oh, my God, there's Reba and Lori Ann. What are they doin' here?" Brock/Daniel pointed out.
"I didn't know that they were going to be here, I swear, although it would be interested to see Lori Ann's reaction to meeting you."
"No, it wouldn't. The woman hates me and besides that, she's a man-eater."
"No, sweetie. She hates Brock and you are fond of telling me how you aren't Brock anymore. Daniel's got a hot body and she's gonna wanna make a move on you. This is gonna be fun! Let's go say hi."
"No way! The woman has given more rides than a Ferris wheel. I'm not eager to jump back in that line. Just the thought of that woman flirting with me is sickening."
"I'll be right back. Okay? I have to use the little girls' room."
Brock/Daniel sat there, trying not to look at Reba. He remembered the first time that they met. It was funny because Reba sat there, thinking about the exact same thing.
Flashback- Reba was at Terry Holliway's bar. She had just gotten a margarita from Terry, who was tending bar. She was out having fun with Lori Ann. When she turned around, she bumped right into a guy, spilling her drink all over him. "Aah! Oh, my God! I am so sorry." She was embarrassed and he was the most gorgeous guy that she had ever seen. He was tall with sandy blonde hair and blue eyes. He didn't even seem to mind having the drink spilled on him. They both stood there, looking into each other's eyes and smiling.
"I'm Brock." He was wearing a gray button-down shirt and blue jeans. Then he delivered his come-on line- the one that Reba would always remember, the one that was so totally Brock. "Sweetheart, you wear those jeans better than any woman I know. How about a date?"
Flashback ended.
Reba smiled and ordered another drink. It didn't matter to her how much she drank that night. She just wanted to let go of all the stress in her life. She wanted to forget about the last six months for a little while. She knew that Brock's death wouldn't be hitting her so hard if they hadn't reconnected. He had been living in her house in a bedroom right next to hers. Day after day, it became obvious that they still had feelings for one another. When they finally acted on those feelings, Reba ran into a gamut of feelings from wanting to take things slow to wanting to take him back in her bed as her husband.
They settled on a middle ground. It took them one month to admit that they still had feelings for one another. It took them four months to build into serious dating. After that, they had spent the next month expressing their love for each other physically whenever possible. Reba wanted to set a good example for the kids by not sharing a bedroom until they were married. They hadn't even discussed marriage yet, but she knew that he was getting close to proposing to her and she had the ring from his pocket as proof. Why couldn't he be a normal ex-husband? It hurt because she had to mourn his loss twice, once during the divorce and again after his death.
It occurred to her that she was also mourning what might have been. That made her mad. Why did he do this to her, making her feel this way again when they didn't have a future together? She knew that it was ridiculous to blame Brock for dying, but she couldn't help it. The first time she felt this sorrow, it was over a toaster and now it was because of a cup of coffee. She wasn't paying attention when she turned around. It happened again. She spilled her drink all over some poor guy. When she looked up, she saw that it was Daniel.
He gave her a smile that sent her heart racing. She decided that it must be from too many margaritas. She'd worked with Daniel for over a month and never had this type of reaction before, except for when they had one moment a week ago after the funeral when he caressed her hand lightly with his fingers just like Brock used to. She remembered what he said about helping each other through the grief. She pulled him over to a table to sit down. They spent some time catching up. She hadn't really talked to him all week because she was so busy with work and the kids.
They talked about work. Reba was amazed how nice it was to be able to talk with a guy about her work and actually have him be interested. She couldn't even get Brock to do that. It was nice to actually have something in common with a guy. She'd never had that happen before. Most of the guys that she'd dated didn't actually work in the same job field as Reba so they didn't have as much in common. She was so wrapped up in her thoughts that she didn't hear what he was saying to her next. "I'm sorry. What did you say?"
"Have dinner with me?"
"Thanks, but I've already had dinner." she quipped.
"Have dinner with me. Tomorrow night."
Reba thought about the offer, but she didn't know if she was ready. She knew that Daniel knew about her grief, so maybe it wasn't like a date.
"I don't know. My ex-husband died a week ago."
"Ex-husband. I thought that you said that he was your boyfriend."
"It's a long, long story."
"Come on, I don't bite. I understand what you're going through. And you had dinner with Kevin last week. I'm pretty sure that he bites." He flashed another smile to her.
She laughed for a minute. "I get what you saying, but remember I had dinner with Kevin and Parker last week."
"You do not want me to go into why that's even worse. I ended up taking a bullet for that womanizer."
"Okay, dinner tomorrow night. Maybe I'll explain that long, long story to you."
Barbra Jean rushed up to them with Lori Ann by her side. "Oh, hi, Reba. I wanted to introduce you and Lori Ann to my friend, Daniel."
"We've met, Barbra Jean. We work together." Reba responded.
"Well, Lori Ann, this is my friend, Daniel Hammond. Daniel, this is Lori Ann Garner."
Lori Ann was looking him over from head to toe and clearly liking what she saw. "Can I buy you a drink?"
"I'm flattered, but I already have a drink. Thanks. I just wanna sit here and talk to Reba a little bit more."
Lori Ann was stunned. She'd never been turned down before. She'd dated a lot of men in her time. She'd seduced a priest and dated Brock, even though he had a massive crush on Reba. She wondered just what had happened to her mojo. Reba realized how upset Lori Ann was. She didn't let it show, but Reba had known her too long not to recognize the signs.
"His wife died not too long ago." Reba whispered in Lori Ann's ear.
"Oh, that's okay. Maybe I'll see you again sometime." Lori Ann said to Brock/Daniel. Lori Ann walked away.
"I should go. We came here together. I'll see you at work tomorrow, alright?" Reba excused herself to go find Lori Ann.
Brock confined his drinking to two. He was Barbra Jean's designated driver. After he dropped her off at her house, he went back to Daniel's apartment. He looked around. It was clear that Daniel and Brock didn't have much in common. They were two totally different men. He heard movement in the apartment. It turned out that he scared the heck out of Faye, who was holding a wooden baseball bat in her hands.
"You scared the heck out of me. What are you doing here?" she asked him.
"This is Daniel's apartment. Well, my apartment now."
"I thought that you moved in with Barbra Jean."
"I came to get a few things."
"What things?"
"Is that really your business?"
"You are my business, Daniel."
"I need some clothes. I didn't take much out of here when I moved into Barbra Jean's. I'd like to have my own clothes from Reba's, but that would be too difficult to explain. Don't ya think? Why are you here, Faye?"
"I needed a place to sleep and your company doesn't pay assistants the big bucks."
"How did you get in?"
"I used the key under the mat. For the record, I'm human when I'm on Earth so I have to have a place to eat and sleep. I need my beauty rest so I can keep up with you. So, is it cool if I stay?" she asked hesitantly.
"Why should I care? Everything in this place isn't really mine. The man in the pictures isn't really me. I'm nothing like this guy. This isn't my life." Brock/Daniel explained. Faye listened and nodded. "I'm getting what I need and I'm not coming back. My life is where I am, with Barbra Jean and Henry. This way I can keep an eye on Reba and our kids."
Brock/Daniel had a frustrating day at work. Parker got on him because one of his clients changed his mind and decided to deal with Van at Steve Norris' real estate company. He had two open houses and neither of them produced any results. Reba ended up canceling dinner with him that night. He went home to Barbra Jean's house, tired and frustrated.
Barbra Jean was clearly happy to see him. "Yay, you're home early. Let's sit down with a nice beer and we'll talk about your day. Then you can spend some time with Henry. I can make us some dinner and we can sit down like a family."
"Barbra Jean, I'm not in the mood. I've been playing Daniel all day. I don't wanna play house with you."
"Daniel, when you moved in here, you said that you want to help me with Henry because you wanted to be his father. I'm offering you the chance to do that. A chance that you wouldn't even be getting otherwise."
"BJ, I appreciate your help, I do. But honey, this is not gonna play out like you seem to want it to. We are not a couple and we are not ever gonna be a couple again."
Barbra Jean's face was crestfallen. "I give up. You wanna be Daniel on this single pursuit of a life that you can never have, fine by me. You have to realize that was Brock's life. Reba was Brock's girlfriend. She loved him and she is not gonna get over her loss just like that to be with a stranger like you."
"I can't believe that you said that to me. I don't wanna hurt ya. I just wanna be friends like we were when we decided to get divorced."
"Don't you get it? I want Brock back every bit as much as Reba does."
"I'm right here, honey. Like I told ya before. I'm still Brock."
Barbra Jean started crying. "All I see is Daniel and Daniel is a stranger to me."
"I'm not sure if this arrangement is gonna work out. I don't know if I should continue to stay here with you." Brock/Daniel went upstairs to his bedroom and shut the door.
The next morning, he awoke bright and early. He actually arrived at work on time. Timothy greeted him with coffee and he was surprised when he walked into his office and found Reba waiting for him.
"Do you have a minute?" she asked.
"Of course."
"I need to speak with you about something."
"Anything. I'm here for you. You should know that."
"I need to talk to you about last night. I had a really bad day here at the office. My kids called and asked to have a family dinner. We don't have too many of those anymore. They need my attention a lot more since their father died. I didn't know how they'd take it if I turned them down and told them that I was going out to dinner with a guy from work. I'm so sorry."
"It's okay. It really is. We can go out to dinner another time. Are you okay? I know that you've suffered a loss. Anyone knows that you can't easily get over that overnight."
Reba's eyes watered. "I'm sorry. You're right. My heart is still with Brock and it shouldn't be. It wasn't supposed to be like this. I wish that I was just a normal ex-wife. That way, this wouldn't have to hurt so much. If I was smart, then my kids wouldn't be hurt so bad right now. They were given some they've wanted for so long and they got the rug pulled out from under them. It's not fair."
"Reba, I've got to get to an open house in a few minutes."
"Wait. Before you go..." She reached out and touched his hair. "You got something..." She pulled something out from his hair. "You had a cheerio in your hair."
"Yeah. Um, breakfast of champions." he replied awkwardly. He grabbed his files and they left his office together.
When he arrived back at Barbra Jean's house after work, Henry was waiting for him. "Are you and Mommy fighting again? She says that you're gonna leave again. Please don't go, Daddy. Jake said that he'd play basketball with me after dinner. I want you to play with us."
"It's gonna be okay, buddy. I'm gonna talk to your mom." Brock/Daniel hugged Henry and went in search of Barbra Jean.
Barbra Jean was in the kitchen, making dinner. "I am so sorry. I don't want it to be like this with us. Henry has been upset ever since last night."
"I get it. It's hard on all of us. Reba canceled dinner with me yesterday. Every one of us is going through a loss. We've lost a life together and we somehow have to find a way to make this work so we can still be a family like Reba and I were before, after the divorce. Can we do that, Barbra Jean? Can we adjust to the way that things are? I'm still me, but I'm Daniel too. It's hard because we have to explain to others why I'm here. Henry wants me to play with him and Jake after dinner. How do I do that? What will Henry say to his brother about me?"
"I'd like us to be good friends. You and Reba were best friends. I'd like to be close to you like that. It's hard because you're the only man who's taken me seriously as a woman in years. You're such a great guy. I miss having a relationship like we had before. I'm out in the dating world and it's hard. I'm a single mom and I'm not any man's type. Most of the time, men use me and leave. I'm scared of losing you."
"I will never let you down. I told you that when you told me that you were pregnant with Henry. I'm gonna take care of you and Henry. You just need to have more confidence in yourself. You're beautiful and successful. Stormy Clearweather is a local celebrity, right?"
Barbra Jean smiled. Brock opened his arms to hug her. "Don't move out, Daniel, please. You should be here for your kids. Henry is here. Jake and Kyra are right next door. They miss their father."
"And he's right here. Brock's soul is right inside Daniel's body. I'm not going anywhere. Now what will Henry say to Jake about me?"
"We'll think of something."
Okay, so the story ends here for now. Brock is still coping with how to become Daniel. He wants Reba back and he's knows that it's not going to be easy. He has to let her deal with her grief. Barbra Jean is learning how to move on. She is luckier than Reba because she knows that Brock is still with them and he is helping her to move on with her life. Henry is learning how to deal with his parents' living arrangement and new relationship as friends. Reba is helping the kids learn how to deal with Brock's absence from their lives. Henry is trying to help his brother to have a new relationship with Brock/Daniel. Reba is confused. Kevin is still trying to make a play for Reba. She sees something in Daniel's eyes that she can't quite understand. She is drawn to him. He's still working at the office. He appreciates the benefits of being so close to Reba, working with her day after day. He looks forward to the day when Reba is comfortable enough to go to dinner with him.
To be continued...
What happens next? Stay tuned to find out!
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