A/N: Well, I'm glad you guys liked my finale. This is my last chapter. You guys don't have to worry about looking for my sequel. I'm just going to add those chapters to this fic. So this will be a two in one fan fic. It's just easier that way for me somehow. But here is the chapter. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: refer to all other chapters!

Chapter 20

Journal 4

The first thing I thought when I woke up was that I was starving and in desperate need of some good food. I guessed I was so hungry because I had been out cold for so many days…or hours. Heck! I had no clue how long I had been in that deep, meditative sleep. When I first woke, I couldn't even remember how I had even gotten there. All I knew was that my stomach was demanding for my attention.

I looked around the room and soon became confused. I expected to wake in the Titan's infirmary, but like always, I was someplace else. It didn't even surprise me this time. I was getting used to my oh so crappy luck.

The new room was your normal hospital room. I hate hospitals. It was bland with no personality at all. It was dark and stuffy too. I wanted to open a window to breath in fresh air to clear my mind, but of course there were none. I didn't know if that was on purpose or not.

Like all hospitals, this one had that sticky hospital smell that was a mixture of ointments and death. Every hospital had that cold, stagnant feel of death hanging dreadfully in the air. It gives me the creeps every time. It just makes me want to get the heck out of there as quickly as I could. I seriously hate hospitals.

A heart monitor was at my side, quietly beeping to the same steady beat of my heart. It was strange. I couldn't remember what had happened. I stared at my heart rate, thinking back to before my black out.

The memories came flowing back to me in a great rush of flashes. I rubbed my forehead afterwards and gave a groan. Some of them had been pretty graphic. I was lucky to even be alive and functioning. I really should have been a pathetic vegetable. For the first time in weeks my luck had kicked in.

For a few more minutes I just sat there on the crisp hospital bed. I finally got sick of sitting and thinking, so I jumped off and landed on the floor in a crouch. Boy was I sore from being motionless for so long. It was nice to stretch and get my heart rate up again.

I walked to the closed door and looked into the hallway before silently stepping into it. The half lit hallway was empty and cold. Because my bare feet were now freezing, I thought about just going back to bed. I rolled my eyes at the dumb thought and continued my exploration of the hospital.

It was clearly late at night or early morning. I was able to sneak my way all the way to the first floor where the receptionist desk was. The woman there looked to be bored to tears. She was in the middle of a very important solitaire game on her computer.

I searched her messy desk full of the papers, used candy bar wrappers, and empty fast food coffee cups from behind her. I was looking for the date or a calendar, pretty much anything that would tell me how long I had been out.

Suddenly I spotted a small, day-by-day calendar in the glow of the computer monitor.

"Three months!" I gasped in surprise. Big mistake.

I had scared the crap out of the woman player her card game. She swirled her chair around with a loud scream. We both screamed for no reason, maybe just from surprise.

Everything was a whirl after that. Nurses and doctors came to investigate who had screamed. They soon got the story of me waking up and put me back in my room, much to my dismay. I felt like a small kid getting sent back to bed. Well, I was back to the world of the living, where the adults didn't give a crap about anyone younger than 20.

My nurse came in a few hours later. Those few hours were miserable on my part. Because of my three month nap, I was wide awake and couldn't sit still. It was like someone gave me caffeine pills. I spent it doing pushups, kicks, and any other karate move that would fit inside the room. Five hours later, my body refused to go anymore, so I switched to my mind. Hour later, my whole bed was levitating five feet in the air. I wonder if I could someday move a whole building.

Anyways, the nurse walked in to see me twirling my TV's remote in the air with my powers. The young brunette gave a short scream of alarm at the sight. I winced at the sudden sound and lost my focus on the object. It came down and knocked me on the head before clattering to the floor.

"Sorry," I muttered, my cheeks flushing red.

"No, its okay," she said with an embarrassed giggle. "I don't regularly see my patients levitate things."

"I've been restless and hungry for hours!" I said while spotting the tray she was carrying. "Please tell me that's breakfast!"

The nurse gave another perky giggle that was on the border line of being annoying. She gave me the tray and watched for a second as I dug into my long awaited meal. Usually hospital food sucks, but this tasted so good because of the long wait.

I was I the middle of my breakfast when I noticed the nurse was still looking at me. I gave her a strange look, hoping it would get me an answer from her.

"Your dad will be so thrilled to see you awake again!" She said sweetly after catching my look.

Suddenly the food didn't taste so good. I swallowed and tried not to look that shook up as I asked, "My father?"

"Don't be silly!" she giggled. "You know, your dad, Slade Wilson. Are you okay, Gene?"

I choked on my cereal when she said his name. After a second of panic, I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. I ran a hand through my hair and thought quickly as to what to do.

"I'm great!" I lied to her with sappy cheerfulness. "Just couldn't remember for a second. Hey, um, when do you think he'll be here to pick me up?"

"He just called," she answered. "He'll be here in two or three hours. I'm sure you're so excited!"

"Ecstatic," I said, hanging desperately onto my cheesy fake smile.

"Well," the nurse said, "I have your clothes on that chair over there." She winked at me before adding, "And don't go levitating things again, young man." She waved while walking out of the door. She was almost too sweet to me. I guess lately I've just gotten used to being the punching bag. Its hard to get used to kindness when all you're served is cruelty.

"Can this day get any more annoying?" I asked myself. One thing was for sure, I wasn't going to leave this place by Slade's side with a smile on my face. It was kind of creepy that I had been known as his son for three whole months.

Just like old times, I quickly kicked my brain into action. I had less than three hours to prepare for Slade's arrival. I pulled on my civilian cloths and welcomed the feeling of wearing something not so breezy. Did I mention I hated hospitals?

I pulled some strings and managed to get the nurse to bring me some extra food for the "ride home". I didn't know where I needed to go. All I knew was that I wasn't going anywhere with Slade. He was the one who had plunged my life into chaos. I would have to be crazy to actually want to be his little clone slave for the rest of my life.

Slade suddenly came in without any announcement. I was glancing at the newspaper I got from the nurse while stuffing the extra food into a backpack when a shadow slid silently over the fine printed paper. I froze and looked up to the doorway. There was a long silence between us as we stared at each other as if put on a pause.

"Where would you go?" Slade asked intently.

I narrowed my eyes at him before answering, "Anywhere. Why would I tell you anyway?" I went back to my quick packing stiffly. Slade moved toward me. I looked back up and created a black wall to prevent him from coming closer.

"This is childish, Gene," Slade said in his usual calm way that drives me insane. I always feel so stupid around the man.

"So," I retorted. "I'm a kid. Let me be on for once."

"I'm not here to take you anywhere," Slade said. "I know you would never comply."

"Well, at least you aren't stupid," I said with the roll of my eyes. I folded my arms and stared at him coolly. "What do you want then?"

"To make a deal," Slade said, getting right to the point. He would have gone on but realized I had already blocked him out. "Listen to me," he ordered. "Do you really think running like this will make things better for yourself?"

I shot him a piercing look of disgust at this. My gut told me he was speaking pure truth, but I was too stubborn to accept his words. I didn't want to listen to him because whenever I did, it always ended in something terrible. I didn't want to deal with anymore pain.

Slade took a step toward me to force me to listen to him. I looked up from my packing with fear flashing through me. I created a force field in front of me to prevent his outstretched hand from grabbing my own. He simply ducked under it and seized my wrist in a vice grip. Before I knew it, my back was shoved against a wall with both my arms held by Slade.

"Let me go!" I hissed at him. I glanced over to the chair across the room while muttering my mantra under my breath. I wasn't able to finish it, though. Slade put a hand across my mouth and narrowed his eye at me. I looked up at him as a spike of chill shot up my spine. I resisted the urge to shiver as my fear swirled around me.

"You still need to learn your place," Slade said coldly down to me. "You are in no position to call the shots. I'm offering you something to straighten your damned life out. Either listen to all of it or leave…now."

He let me go and took a step back. He looked down at me and folded his arms in front of his chest, waiting for my answer. I glared daggers back up at him, being as defiant as I could toward him. I didn't even say anything as I walked past him and grabbed my backpack. I turned my eyes toward the tiled floor and walked briskly to the door.

For no apparent reason, I stopped at the doorway. I didn't want to trust Slade. Everything in me told me to walk away and be done with him and the life he had planned for me. My pride wanted to kick his butt out of my life for forever.

But something in me had put some doubt in my feelings. A hint of reason was yelling that what I was doing was stupid and rash. Running from everything wasn't going to solve my emotional problem. I wanted to learn how to use my powers and find out where Zach and Rose were. I was dense to believe that I could do that all by myself.

With a shaky sigh, I slowly turned back toward Slade. My eyes stayed pinned on the floor. I didn't want to guess Slade's feelings anymore. My back leaned against the wall, and I waited for Slade to speak. A long silence swept across the room like a crisp winter breeze. Even though I hated to do so, I raised my eyes and looked into his.

"The Titans and I thought about what to do with you for a long time," Slade began. "They were not going to allow me to take care of you, and I wasn't going to give my creation to them as well. We finally decided to let you take care of yourself." Slade looked over to me, and I could tell he was smiling when he saw my eyebrow raise in question.

"Go on," I said reluctantly.

"We finally decided on letting you go on a long scavenger hunt, as you may call it," Slade said. "You let us track you while you go out around the world doing random jobs that can be as simple as working in a restaurant in China for a month, to learning how to use your powers to lift a building. At random times we will check up on you, but most of the time you will be alone."

"This costs money, you know," I pointed out. "A flight ticket alone to somewhere outside the States is pretty pricey."

"That is why we would give you this," Slade said smugly. He took out a small plastic card that at the first glance looked like a credit card and held it up for me to see from a distance.

I held up my own hand and smiled slightly as I forced the card from his fingers with my powers. He didn't give me any outward hint of annoyance, but I could clearly feel the small spike of heat flash throughout the room to indicate his hidden irritation. Lately, I could read a vibe so nicely that it was almost like looking into someone's inner thoughts. It was easier when I had been around someone long enough. I had been around Slade long enough to read him pretty clearly.

"Nifty," I said as I looked over the card. "Credit card?" I asked him with a grin.

"Something like that," Slade said as he crossed his arms again. "It will give you enough money for each job you are assigned. At the beginning it will give you a little extra to get you comfortable with everything."

"Enough for first class?" I asked with my grin getting wider. The thought of having everything from food to travel for free was making me almost giddy. This deal was beginning to spike my interest.

"If that is to your liking," Slade said slyly. He knew all too well that he had me hooked with this.

"Keep going," I said. I sent the card back to Slade. The man quickly caught the card and put it back away in his belt. "There has to be more for me. What can I say, I'm a bit selfish."

"Very well," Slade said. "The folder, Project: Mockingbird will be given to you if you do this."

"The one from the smelly dirt cell?" I asked in surprise.

"Yes," Slade answered with a nod.

"Care to explain?"

"You need to know the history about yourself," Slade answered with a nonchalant shrug. "Raven said knowing your past will help you with your powers. But I won't give it to you all at once. After a few jobs you complete I'll give you another section of it."

I mulled this new information around in my head as I chewed on my bottom lip. What he was offering me was all to my liking, but I still didn't know what to think. Like I've written before, I wasn't used to being treated so nicely, especially when it was coming from Slade. It made me so suspicious. But I really hate being that way. It was like I wasn't capable of trusting someone.

"What about Zach and Rose?" I asked quietly. "Where are they? I'd like to talk to them about this."

For a second Slade only stared at me, thinking wisely on his next few words. I swallowed the lump in my throat as I watched him. From his body language, I could tell something was wrong.

"You're not going to like this, Gene," Slade said. "The Titans had to take all of you to the hospital because the Tower's infirmary wouldn't hold all of you. The doctors were able to keep all of you alive. You only lived because you put yourself in a healing coma."

"Then what happened to them?" I asked.

"The second night, someone came into the hospital," Slade said emotionlessly. "They managed to kidnap Zach. The Titans were only able to get out of there with both you and Rose. We don't know who the ones who took Zach were, but the Titans are looking for the kidnappers."

"And Rose?"

"She's still in a coma state," Slade answered.

"Well, where is she?" I asked. "I could help her! I could…"

Slade quickly cut me off. "No, Gene. Right now you do not have enough experience with your powers. Raven has tried to awaken her, but not even she can do so."

"I need to see her, though!" I said. My mind was reeling. "Please tell me where she is!"

"Not now," Slade said with a stern shake of his head.

"What? Why?"

"If you agree to this deal and complete your first job, I will tell you where she is located," Slade said.

I glared in revolt as what he just said hit me hard. "Are you bribing me into this deal? I'm not some thing you can manipulate!" I yelled. "You think making me do what you say for Rose will motivate me?"

"It will," Slade said simply. I growled in deep frustration at this because the man was right. The light bulbs above us exploded with my flash of released emotion. I knew he was smiling under his mask when he asked smugly, "You never liked to follow the rules, did you?"

"You've always been impossible," I said with the roll of my eyes. After a small silence between us, I turned my eyes to the ground and said quietly, "Have it your way. It's a deal." I wasn't stupid. The deal was pretty much my only option at this point. It was my stubbornness and unwillingness to give up that was taking the beating here.

"Good," Slade said. He didn't express any of it vocally, but I had to grind my back teeth together to prevent my pride from exploding when a wave of triumph splashed momentarily over me. The man took out the card again and held it out toward me, his and the Titans' gift to try to amend my already demented life.

I reached for it hesitantly, but Slade pulled it back sharply before my fingers could even touch it. I glared daggers up at him for playing with me like that. "What other twist is there to this dumb deal?" I asked venomously. I was in no mood for jokes or hidden treachery. All I wanted to do was leave the dang hospital.

"No twist," he said calmly, "Just forcing you to be polite, Gene." I could smell his smugness now. It was an awful stink that almost made me shrivel up my nose. The pungent smell didn't last long, though. It was soon back to the heavy odor of hospital.

"You got to be kidding me," I said in disbelief. I gave him a small, wry smile of skepticism, expecting one of his look-a-like robots to pop out from nowhere with a camera.

"If you want it," Slade said slyly, "You'll have to say the magic words."

"Azarath, Mentrion, Zinthos," I retorted. With a swift pull of my hand, the card left his and was soon in my own. "You don't deserve politeness," I said to him.

"Fair enough," he said. He clasped his hands behind his back and looked down on me coolly before saying, "You're first assignment is to fly to Uganda, Africa. There, you will be sent specific details about what you will have to do while you are there. If you work hard enough, it will take you less than two months to complete this assignment. Here is your communicator." He held out the device, and I took it without thinking too much upon it. My mind was still on another subject.

"What do you mean by two months?" I asked in bewilderment. "How long are these assignments? I don't have time to dally in voodoo tribes in some place in the boonies in Africa!"

"Patience is the first thing you need to learn, boy," Slade said as he bent down into my face. "Two weeks where you can't understand or be understood will teach you the wisdom to be quiet and wait. It will be a good teaching."

"I hate you, you know that?" I asked loathingly. More light bulbs were threatening to break.

"Yes, all too well," Slade answered emotionlessly. I felt nothing as he said in dead beat monotone, "Have fun."

End of Journal 4

A/N: Well, that's it for Project: Mockingbird. I'm guessing the first chapter of my sequel will be up either next week or the week after that. It will have less Slade and more Titans. The plot is much different and I'll introduce more characters and action. I believe it will end up better than this fic. I'm excited! But please give a review for this fic's final chapter! It has been fun! See all you in my next fic!