Fandom: THE PROFESSIONALS
Pairing: Bodie/Doyle
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: None
Why this must be read:

Terrible title but it's a story I return to often. Doyle's struggles are engrossing as he tries to figure out what's gone wrong with his relationship with Bodie and how in the world he can fix it. The entire story is in Doyle's pov, yet Bodie's character is vividly drawn in the terse words he uses to hide his pain and the way he goes about throwing Doyle off balance. And what begins with an ugly scene, couldn't have ended any lovelier.


Boyhole

Fandom: ALIAS
Pairing: Sydney/Vaughn Sydney/Sark
Author on LJ: legalblonde2005
Author Website: Other Stories on Cover Me
Why this must be read: I am always intrigued by rogue Sydney since it adds a different element to the character and also explores her darker side. This story takes on the role of Sydney having let Vaughn die in early season three. She must deal with her feelings regarding his death and in turn decides not to go back to the CIA seeking out her mother.

The writing is sharp and on cue.

Lesser Things

Fandom: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA 1978
Pairing: Starbuck/Apollo
Author on LJ: None
Author Website: Apollolover
Why this must be read: The premise of "Stranded" is typical enough: Apollo and Starbuck are temporarily "castaway on a planet." What makes this story special is that beneath the banter and sex, we get a glimpse of societal pressures and the roles people are expected to play in the tiny, suffocating environment of the Fleet. The end result is a story that is still as hot and enjoyable as you'd expect from HeidiM, but with a slightly gritty feel underpinning everything, and that's the aspect I enjoy most.

Stranded

Fandom: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA 2003
Pairing: Kara/Lee
Author on LJ: None
Author Website: Author Entry at BSG03 Archive
Why this must be read: I love stories about overheard gossip, and with "Flight of the Phoenix," Scooter Kitty presses that button delightfully.

Flight of the Phoenix

Fandom: QUEER AS FOLK: UK
Pairing: Stuart/Vince; Nathan/Christian Hobbs
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: Sue Walsh's stories on Across the Pond

Why this must be read:
This rec is for the Nathan fans out there. (I think he's a doll, although painfully young.) I like this long story (400,000 words) about Stuart and Vince getting together, and eventually taking Nathan into their circle of two. There's an intriguing set of dynamics at work. Well, OK, I admit this series isn't quite finished, but the last part feels like an acceptable ending to me, and this is a long story worth reading. (I'm not as crazy about the detail of Vince's decorating activities in the last few chapters; your mileage may vary. Those who like domestic fic will enjoy it.) There's a brief guest appearance near the end by Brian Kinney and Justin Taylor of QAF: US, but it's not enough to be called a crossover in my judgment.

Three's a Crowd

Title: Sky Marshals: Flight 1412
Fandom: The Magnificent Seven
Pairing: None
Author On LJ: Not that I know of.
Author Website: Debby's Bit Of Fiction
Why this must be read:

So, now that I'm scrambling to catch up in my recs (and finding a good chunk of the stories I'm trying to rec MIA) I had to include this one. As I said in the overview, the Magnificent Seven is unlike most fandoms in that it easily fits a lot of AUs and a lot of Authors have come up with some very ingenious AUs. Debby, with her Sky Marshals AU came up with an excellent one. Prior to 9/11, little was know about the branch of the US Marshals known as the "Air Marshals". We knew in the loosest sense that they existed, that they were undercover marshals who would board planes threatened or potentially threatened and act in whatever manner needed to protect the passengers. The Marshals preferred to stay low key and would have if not for 9/11. In the years since we've found out more but before that, Debby Gerl started writing an alternate universe wherein the Seven were, you guessed it, federal air marshals. I have always been fascinated by such branchs of law enforcement but especially this one. The trust placed in the hands of these men and women is enormous. They board planes with loaded weapons (granted those weapons are loaded with bullets that are specially designed for the job but...) and are tasked with apprehending anyone who threatens the safety of a flight. Even now they try to keep their practices low key and off the radar so as not to alert people. Which invites speculation. Debby speculates wonderfully in this story. She, like so many other authors, creates a world which the Seven easily function in and seem at home in. It's a treat to read to see the Seven in this world and the subsquent stories featuring this world? Definitely what you want to check out.

Sky Marshals: Flight 1412

Title: Captives
Fandom: The Magnificent Seven
Pairing: No
Author On LJ: Not that I know of.
Author Website: Don't know of a personal one for Sue but The Reading Room is where you can find the fic. It's a subsite of The Watering Hole
Why this must be read:

Well, for starters, this is straight Old West. No ATF, no Federal Marshals, no Star Trek just the Seven in their natural environment. One of the main themes that emerges with the Seven is Ezra Standish's reputation for unreliability. He abandoned the Seven in "The Ghosts of The Confederacy" and he always seems concerned about it - as does Chris Larabee - in the early days and the latter days of the show...Sue very brilliantly played on that with this story. Ezra disappears and the town is all too willing to give Ezra up as having abandoned them yet again but...

Nothing's ever that simple and what unfolds is a very shocking story which brings up all kinds of trouble for the Seven. All of the Seven.

Captives