Our Joe manages to get killed at the same time and in the same fashion as a Joe in an alternate universe. Unfortunately, fate/the-powers-that-be/what-have-you get confused and mix the Joes up when they come back to life.
AU Joe is only too happy for the switch because his Nicky has been dead (you know, the final one) for years. He doesn't care about our Joe and tries to fool everyone for as long as he can. But Nicky & the guard figure out the switch and AU Joe isn't willing go back to his universe. Even if this Nicky is mad at him he's still alive.
Obviously our Joe doesn't much like where he ended up either.
+The Joes can speak to each other in dreams ++AU Joe sneaks a kiss outta Nicky before they discover the swap and Nicky is pissed +++The universes are different in other ways too which is completely up to the writer
Joe/Nicky -- Alternate Universe Drama
AU Joe is only too happy for the switch because his Nicky has been dead (you know, the final one) for years. He doesn't care about our Joe and tries to fool everyone for as long as he can. But Nicky & the guard figure out the switch and AU Joe isn't willing go back to his universe. Even if this Nicky is mad at him he's still alive.
Obviously our Joe doesn't much like where he ended up either.
+The Joes can speak to each other in dreams
++AU Joe sneaks a kiss outta Nicky before they discover the swap and Nicky is pissed
+++The universes are different in other ways too which is completely up to the writer