[FF] Looking For Help (Kealey/Open)

He had no clue what to try next. Without the good Doctor Grey around, there was really no way to prove that he was really who he said he was. There was noone that he could even ask about whether it would be possible to get switched back to normal. Would he be stuck like this for the rest of his life? Would he have to make new friends or regains the friends that knew him in his other body? How would Raina take it? Could their love really survive a blow like this? There were so many questions racing through his mind and he could actually feel the panic continueing to build and grow into what had to be some sort of panic attack. His heart was racing and he could almost feel the sweat that was pushing out toward his brow.

It didn't happen suddenly, but slowly and methodically the emotion slowly began to dissipate. He was still confused over the whole situation that he was in but the panic, despair, and everything was still going away. It was still there, and he could feel it in the back of his mind, but it was no longer at the forefront. It was manageable and controllable and mentally Luke breathed a sigh of relief. He had always prided himself on being able to maintain some sort of control and it looked like some of that training had come with his mind to this new body.

Suddenly a soft voice spoke up from his left and Luke turned to look at the advancing woman. Suddenly he felt like a teenager. He had romanced various women over the years and his sonar and sense of touch had told him how beautiful they must be, but none of that compared to the color and vibrancy that suddenly stood before him. While not having the striking red hair that immediately drew the eye to Raina, the woman had beautiful blond hair that curled and frame her face prettily. Her lips were full and their slight curve combined with the expression in her brilliant blue eyes made it clear that she was really concerned.

"I... don't know." He said in the slightest feminine voice that he detested so much. Turning his gaze back out the window Luke felt his shoulder slump ever so slightly. "It's been a crazy day. Craziest I've ever experienced."

And it was slowly getting even crazier. Without the wayward emotions to completely shatter his self-awareness, Luke was beginning to realize that he could feel something within himself. Something that in one way that was completely new and yet all to familiar. Allowing his head to drop in something of a defeated gesture he looked down at his hand. Why was there the nagging feeling that he had the ability to escape from all of this. The ability to enter a place of perfect peace. Shaking his head to clear away the strange thoughts, Luke looked back up and focused his brown eyes on Kealey's striking blue ones.

"Have you ever had a crisis of identity? Not really knowing who you are or what you're meant to do?"

She was being so understanding and it just made Luke want to trust her or at least talk to her but a part of him was still holding back. The only two people he had really opened up to in the past was Raina and Sara but something told him that Kealey would be understanding. "No... I can't just trust a stranger." He lectured to himself, about to shake off Kealey's offer of a table when suddenly she offered her name.

"Luke, Luke Ja..." He began absently as he stared out the window before his voice trailed off. "I mean... Juka Miami. Pleasure."

He could feel the flush rising in his cheeks and then his shoulders slumped even a little bit more. "Maybe I should take you up on that offer, but you're not going to believe a word I say."

A few moments later, after Luke had bought himself a soda as well as whatever it was that Kealey might like, he found himself sitting at a table in the aquarium directly across from the pretty blond. It was an extremely strange experience since all around him were posters reminding him of his girlfriend and her beauty. Each one seemed to point an accusing finger at him asking why he would confide in some other woman instead of the love of his life?

"She's my girlfriend." He said without preamble with his eyes fixed on one of the posters. "She's given me swimming lessons, we've got out to lunch and dinner, been to canada, and even went to Paris for a weekend trip one time. But the sad part is she can't even recognize me now."

It was a strange story that probably sounded just as strange in Luke's ears as it had to sound to Kealey. She was probably already classifying him as some sort of psycho stalker and fantasy man. In fact, if she wasn't already looking for the nearest security personnel he'd be surprised.

"My name is Luke. This body's name is Juka Miami. Last night I went to sleep in my own body and then this morning I woke up in this one."

Lifting his hands, Luke massaged at his temples as he closed his eyes against the bright light. Even though this body happened to be used to seeing color like this, his mind sure wasn't. How could he even begin to explain what sort of shock and overload this was for his system?

"Crazy... I've got psycho. That's how it sounds, isn't it."

There was no way he could sound any crazier unless he was babbling on about little green men and body snatchers. "But I am talking about body snatchers... great." Luke realized in embarassment. Yep, there was no doubt about it. Kealey obviously on had two choices. One was to get up and walk away without ever looking back and the other was to call over security. Lifting his drink to take a sip, Luke came extremly close to spitting it back out in shock when Kealey said that she believed him.

"You believe me?" He asked in a slightly squeeky voice after managing to swallow down his carbonated beverage. How in the world had he found a woman that would actually believe him? Was she a psychic too or something? Had he somehow stumbled across the exact sort of person he was looking for without even realizing it? Just the fact that she believed him was enough to begin building up a small bit of hope. Maybe there was a chance he could get through this.

Clearing his throat to try and get this bodies voice back to being a little bit normal sounding, Luke did his best to focus on the questions that Kealey was tossing his way. "I've never met or heard about a person named Juka but I have no way of telling you whether I've ever seen them before. My real body is blind so there are very few people I could even recognize except by their voices."

Leaning back in his chair, Luke fell silent for a moment. The last question was far more difficult to answer. Luke Jacobs was head of a multi-million dollar international company and had publicly announced to the world he was a mutant. Plenty of people had reason to become Luke whether it was to simply enjoy what they saw as the good life or instead to destroy what Luke had.

"I don't know Juka would personally have a reason to be me but there are enough other ones out there. Some don't like me because I have a mutant girlfriend and others don't like me because I'm a mutant myself. There's really no way I can say for sure."

The fire of hope, though beginning weakly has a strength that can overcome most anything. The strength of confusion, desparation, and fear was slowly dwindeling as the flickering flame of hope slowly grew.

"Uh... no. I didn't even think about calling my own place. I should have thought of that first, huh." Luke said, a touch of embarassment entering his voice as he realized that he hadn't done something that really should have been so obvious. Probably it had something to do with the fact that he hadn't noticed a cell phone or regular phone in the apartment. There probably was one hidden somewhere in the place but he just hadn't noticed it.

"And it was a shock waking up this morning but... what do you mean it's not all it's cracked up to be? Seeing?" Luke asked with a slightly raised eyebrow. Turning away from the blond, Luke scanned the room, just taking it in for a moment. Seeing through someone else's eyes was deffinately scary and unnerving but at the same time it was something magical. For a man that had never had the opportunity to see colors and shapes the way everyone else did it was a special opportunity.

"I don't know. I'm not going to say that being able to see is worth all that I'md ealing with but at the same time... see, I was born blind. I've never seen color like this. I couldn't even imagine what it was like and now I actually have a chance to see just like everyone else." Turning back around his eyes focused on Kealey once more. "People have tried to describe things to me... Raina, my girl-friend, has tried to explain what her red hair looked liked or what the blue of the ocean is but now I can actually understand what she's talking about. Just like with your blond hair, I've heard people describe it but this is the first time I get to see it myself. Everything's just so beautiful and, and I wonder how many people take it all for granted."

It was a rambling statement but Luke didn't know any other way to say it or describe it. Shrugging somewhat embarassed, Juka's face gave a small smile. "Uh... you wouldn't have a cell phone I could borrow, would you?"

Memories... if he changed back that's all this would. Distance memories that gave him a fleeting taste of how the rest of the world lived. There would be no gazing into Raina's eyes and telling her how beautiful she was, there would be no more appreciation of sunrises or sunsets, and flowers would have their scent but not their vibrant color. All of that would have been bearable except for the thought that he couldn't return Raina's gaze eye to eye. It was hard to accept and it left a slightly bittersweet taste in his mouth but Luke knew that it was right. He had been born blind for a reason and this change was just a fluke. He should enjoy it while it lasted but he needed to be willing to return to life as usual when it ended.

"Silver lining... now I finally can appreciate the meaning." He replied quietly offering the best smile he could, "And it would be great if I could borrow some change. Maybe I can catch my doppleganger before he goes crazy from being blind."

A short time later Luke found himself standing in front of a pay phone. After depositing in the right currency he dialed the number and held the receiver to his ear. The ringing went on endlessly without answer and so finally Luke just pressed the coin return switch.

"He must be gone already. What do I do now?" Luke asked as he turned back around and offered the change back to Kealey. Perhaps by some miracle this woman that had done so much for him already would know the next step to take. Maybe she could continue to be his saving angel until he finally returned to his own body.

Eavesdropping on his emotions? If she could do that, then it meant she must be a mutant like he was... or at least, like his actual body was. While not quite as good as a telepath, her being able to sense emotions was definitely helping the situation. "Thank you... again. I think your 'eavesdropping' might actually be helping." Luke offered with a small smile.

As Kealey spoke up once more, she again showed her wisdom. Simple things that Luke should have thought of from the very beginning had been eluding him. Of course he should go back to his house! How in the world could someone that's new to blindness ever be expected to get out of his bedroom much less his apartment?

"If you have the time, I'd appreciate the company. I guess you're kind of helping me stay grounded right now." Luke admitted, the smile settling a little more firmly in his expression. The feeling of hope was growing stronger and while the confusion and even fear still remained at the edges of his mind, it was far easier to focus on the positive side of things with Kealey nearby. She was just a good person and maybe that was all he really needed right now. A good person that could help him deal with whatever came along.

"I'll be more than happy to give you cab fare to get back to your job when it's time. I, uh, live comfortably."

Well, that was true when it came to Luke's original body at least. He had been able to access a small portion of the funds while in this Juka body but that couldn't last. He had to get back into his own body if he wanted to continue his relationship with Raina or even continue his work in the family business.

"But what if I'm like this forever? Will I have to start over? Start over with work and with relationships?"

On the one hand it was a scary thought but at the same time a part of him was somewhat intrigued. Had fate stepped in and given him a second chance at life? Another opportunity to see what he could make of himself? To see what kind of love and happiness he could discover? It was something he would certainly have to think about over the next few days or weeks.