Fandom: THE PROFESSIONALS
Pairing: Bodie/Cowley
Author on LJ: grey853
Author Website: Grey's Corner

Why this must be read:

This time, we are to move on a step: there will be an explicit sex scene! (in fact, there will be two). But, I think, if you are not ready now, you never will be. So, let's get to the core of the matter.

The story begins immediately after "Need to Know"; Bodie and Doyle have been gassed by the stunt grenades used by the KGB men (according to the scheme set up by Cowley) and, at the moment, seem to have recovered alright but, later in the evening, Bodie appears to suffer of a delayed, yet violent allergic reaction to the gas, and his condition is so disquieting that a remorseful and worried Cowley decides to take the problem in hand personally. He knows Bodie hates hospitals (who like them?) and, for once, the old man is willing to do his sick agent a favour: allowing him to stay at home, providing he had a "minder". And who would be the minder, can you guess?

What occurs afterward between them is not too hard to imagine. There is little doubt that Cowley has risen to the occasion and that Bodie himself is far from being averse to the trip, though wary and uncertain about his boss' real intentions and disturbed by former experiences of abuse in his past life. In this situation the "ruthless old bastard" proves to be unexpectedly understanding and caring.

"I don't want to scare you, Bodie."

"I'm not afraid."

"Aye. Me either. Terrified more like."

Startled, Bodie's head turned to look into the eyes so close to his. "But why?"

"You're a dangerous man."

"So are you."

"True, but I know what I want, and that means taking a risk. I want you to know I'm not taking it lightly."

Bodie has indeed to know what he wants before to give his "minder" an answer and his life a decisive turning point.

Grey is, as far as I know, the first author to have used the Bodie/Cowley pairing in the third part of her trilogy (Ghosts, Shadows and Cages) and this story is the first independent one based purely upon this fascinating (at least for me) topic. Written in a gentler and, somehow, lighter tone, but with the same load of repressed emotion, it was the inspiration for the Jane Carnall's darker and more angst bent story I recced previously (though both have a happy ending) So, it opened the door to a fanfic matter I'd wish to be much more abundant.

Minder

Title: The Panic In Me
Fandom: Star Trek: Enterprise
Pairing: Tucker/Sato
Author on LJ: azarsuerte
Author Website: Probable Impossibilities
Why this must be read:

For all the times I've recced Trek on here I don't think I've actually recced a fic for this pairing which amuses me because if I have one that's guaranteed to get my interest on Enterprise, this one's it. Azar hasn't written Enterprise in years but what she did write was utterly fantastic and her view of Trip and Hoshi chief among those. I'm not a big fan of 1st person fics even though I've written my share of them. I find them harder to get into and harder to believe but looking at the situation post Vox Sola (this is a post ep-story) and getting to see it through Trip's eyes...she mixes just the right amount of angst, humor, attraction and charm...this is the Trip we know and love in a situation we only wish we could have seen on screen.

The Panic In Me

Fandom: STARGATE SG1
Pairing: gen Jack, Daniel
Author on LJ: redbyrd_sgfic
Author Website:  Redbyrd's Stargate Fanfiction
Why this must be read: 

Did anyone else think Vala hijacked the Prometheus too easily?  Yeah, Jack wasn't so impressed either - not with his Marines incompetence or with Daniel's "flirting".  He decides they all need to brush up on their skills a little.  A two part story: part one is the dressing down, part two is the training exercises.   A humorous story that emphasizes a lesson the Goa'uld have yet to master: don't underestimate the archaeologist.

"Oh, yeah." Reynolds remembered.  He thought about Jackson's list of women to avoid. "So what do you do if you want a date?"

Jackson's eyebrows rose. "In the abstract, you first ascertain that the woman in question is human, not a Goa'uld, not possessed, not a murderer, criminal, insane, NID agent, reporter or agent of a foreign power trying to collect intelligence," he said. "Then you're good to go. If you're asking how *I* get a date, I don't. I go save the world or find something interesting to translate until the urge passes. It's a lot less complicated."

Performance Review

then go read the next part: Training Exercise

Fandom: FIREFLY
Pairing: Mal/River
Author on LJ: mollita
Author Website: Voyeuse.net
Why this must be read: Dark, sad, hopeful, tragic, and rather touching - the concept transcends a mere hook-up. This one kicks you in the teeth right out of the gate, and spends the rest of the story putting what's left back together, slowly, living up to the title's Chinese namesake of 'healing effect'. The interaction is top-notch, and Mal's POV busts my little heart. The voices are perfectly post-BDM, flowing naturally with nary a halt, and heartbreakingly tender with the aches and pains and battle scars - of both Miranda and of the events within the story itself.

( Excerpt )
Liao Xiao, by Molly

Fandom: SMALLVILLE
Pairing: Clark/Lex
Author on LJ: hergerbabe
Author Website: Hergerbabe's Improper Place
Why this must be read:

How many ways do I love this story?

1. It's epic. Well, 20,000 words, give or take a couple thousand. Epic-ette?;
2. It's plotty. See above;
3. It's schmoopy; and
4. :bounces: the boys have a psychic connection!

Connection