Hi! I am murgy31, and I am your driver for July. I am a first-time driver, so please bear with me. I am an avid reader of fanfiction, so I hope to give you a diverse selection this month. Today's pairing of the day is Gibbs/DiNozzo.

Fandom: NCIS
Pairing: Gibbs/DiNozzo
Length: One Shot, 2,763 words
Author on LJ: Xanthe
Author Website: http://www.xanthe.org
Why this must be read: There really cannot be enough good things said about Xanthe, in my opinion. She is one of the best authors that this fandom has. Many people were upset over this season as a whole, and some people were upset by the lackluster season finale. One of my favorite things about NCIS is the relationship between Gibbs and Tony. I was hoping for a scene between Gibbs and Tony discussing the events of what happened in Mexico. The show may not have given it to us, but Xanthe did. I hope you enjoy reading it.

Tony's Rules

In keeping with my Gibbs/Tony theme for today, I offer you a father/son fic, that is one of my favs.

Fandom: NCIS
Pairing: Gen, team fic
Length: About 54,000 words
Author Website: FF.net profile, http://www.fanfiction.net/u/1173680/PrincessPatrice
Why this must be read: I must say that I am a sucker for a little Tony whump. I like fics where Tony gets sick and Gibbs has to care for him. This story features the whole team and it realy is a very interesting character study piece.
Each character in this story learns something about himself/herself. It is a multi-chaptered story, so the author does not rush the story at all. It is an enjoyable read.


Therapy

Fandom: HIGHLANDER
Pairing: implied Methos/Duncan, Gina and Robert
Length: 7,200 words
Author on LJ: dswdiane
Author Website: Diane's Fan Fic This story is found at the 2009 hlh_shortcuts

This is the Highlander story you must read when you are in need of laughter and a lift of your spirits.
What do you get when a super strong Immortal is protected by the Methuselah Stone? In this case a humorous adventure at full tilt speed. Starring a cast of the best Highlander characters and references to other dear old fandoms. Laughter is good therapy.

Through A Stone Darkly

Fandom: BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
Pairing: Giles/Faith
Length: ~550
Author on LJ: [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com]
Author Website: stop.look.listen.
Why this must be read:

This is a story that packs a punch, it hits you, and it hits you hard. I loved the symmetry of the prose, the implications of the relationship between the Council and the Slayer, and the author's wonderful characterization of Giles.

They teach you at the very beginning in the Academy, that the Slayer is the priority. A matter of course, since she is the Chosen One (for the moment). Your task is to be everything she needs. Everything and anything (the possibilities are endless, the borders undefined).

They teach you also that the Chosen One is one of many, expendable, a verse in the song, a whisper in the wind, dust.

What does that make you?

Chinese Whispers

Hi there! I'm Dasha and I'll be driving the van for The Big Bang Theory this month. I'm really excited that BBT is finally getting a chance to show its stuff off for everyone. Because BBT has never been featured on Crack Van before, I've written up a fandom overview.

( Cut for lots of images, although not too many spoilers. )

Hi, I'm pervyficgirl and I'll be driving the Marvel Crack Van for July. I tend to favor strong women and rare pairings in this fandom, so those themes will probably make up the bulk of my recs.

Fandom: MARVEL COMICS
Pairing: Falcon (Sam Wilson), Patriot (Eli Bradley). References to Sam/Steve Rogers, but Gen
Length:4,000 words
Author on LJ: adn_heming
Author Website: Just the LJ as far as I can tell.
Why this must be read: This fic is brutal and crushing, just the way any fic dealing with the Civil War should be. It doesn't hold back in showing how the war devastated the heroes, particularly in showing the loss caused by Steve's death. Steve's best friend is trying so hard, all throughout the story, to keep Steve grounded and to honor his memory. And that part of the story is told very well.

But I'm also reccing it because of the voice it gives Eli. Eli is confused but strong here, holding up between what should be a pretty crushing weight of competing legacies and a group of heroes out to make his life miserable. The fic does a great job of showing his leadership abilities and his connection to many different pockets of the Marvel Universe.

This is very much a fic that should be read and cherished for the fantastic characterization of the characters involved.

( Snippet )

Rest Here:

Hearken to the Sleeping King

Hi! I’m mizface, and I’ll be taking the wheel this month. I’m not used to driving large vehicles, so hold on tight! I plan on putting a lot of virtual miles on this baby, taking us a lot of places, and reccing comms as much as fic. And as I have no OTP in this fandom anymore, expect a lot of variances, including slash, gen and het.

The lovely akamine_chan left the van safely parked in the ds_snippets lot, and I think that’s a fine place to start. Weekly challenges means lots of variety, and there really isn’t a better comm for short fic that makes you laugh, cry, shudder, think, and want more.

My first rec (in honor of aka) is a very dark piece.


Fandom: DUE SOUTH
Pairing: none
Length: 300 words
Author on LJ: keerawa
Author Website: here
Why this must be read:

Oh, there are so many reasons to love this: it's frighteningly believable zombie!fic, it's heart-breaking, it packs an enormous punch into 300 words, it's told through a wonderful Huey POV... this list is at least as long as the fic. It's not an easy read (because, hello? zombies!), but it's totally worth it!


Containment Breach

Fandom: DUE SOUTH
Pairing: Fraser/Kowalski/Vecchio
Length: 154, 160, 300 (words each)
Author on LJ: catwalksalone
Author Website: here
Why this must be read:

These three snippets are pretty much the epitome of F/V/K fic for me, and I'm in awe of the fact that catwalksalone did it so well in so few words. Each character has their role in the relationship, and it all makes such perfect sense. Spot on characterizations just make me love it more.

Modern Household Gods

Hello, I'm sc_fossil and I'm driving the Starsky & Hutch van this month. Starsky's given me the keys to the Torino and while the boys are shagging in the back seat, I'll be passing out some S&H luv to keep everybody entertained.

Thanks for reading!

Fandom: STARSKY & HUTCH
Pairing: Starsky/Hutch
Length: approx. 8,000 words
Author on LJ: igbc
Author Website: n/a
Why this must be read: I really enjoy this author's style. She takes me immediately into the story and makes me want to know more. She keeps the boys in character yet lets their emotions come through. I also like the way this is written to reveal how Starsky & Hutch came to this point in their lives, together in a restaurant one night, desperately wanting each other.


Jet lag's a bitch, and Hutch is prone to it. In the past when it got its claws into him, he always wanted to climb into bed and revel in several unbroken hours of unconsciousness before facing the world again. This time he can't even feel it. He flew in from Duluth not thirty minutes ago, and it's late, but he's wide awake, every nerve ending humming. He feels like humming, come to think of it, or hell, singing. He's with Starsky, and Starsky's alive and Starsky hasn't taken his eyes off him once since they got to the restaurant. Hutch has barely touched his drink, but he's higher than a kite.


Homecoming

Fandom: THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN
Pairing: Vin/OFC, Nathan
Length: 11k
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: JIN's stories at Blackraptor
Why this must be read:

What is and what isn't deemed 'acceptable' has changed quite a bit since the days of the Old West yet JIN is able to paint a detailed and understandable picture of the decisions Nathan must make, and his resulting actions, when it appears Vin has fallen in love with a black woman, something Nathan believes will end in bloodshed. And it does....

"It ain't right. You know it."

"What I know is that it ain't none of your damn business, Nathan."

"You're wrong, Vin. It's everyone's business. That's the world we live in. People think - they think they can tell others how t' think, how t' act, how t' love." Nathan paused and took a breath. "That's the way it is. There's some rules you got t' live by, whether you like 'em or not."

With a smirk, Vin shook his head. "I don't live by other folk's rules. Learned a long time ago that the only way t' stay alive was t' live by my own."

Colorblind

Hello there, ladies and gents. I'm tarod5, and I'll be your Supernatural driver this month. While I'm here, I hope to point out some fics that you might not have seen, but that are definitely worth your time. In terms of pairings, you'll be seeing a fairly even mix of Wincest, het, and gen. Now, let's get this show on the road, yes?

Fandom: SUPERNATURAL
Pairing: gen
Length: 4609 words
Author on LJ: kroki_refur
Why this must be read: So, kroki_refur is known in fandom for her angst, and let met tell you straight off that in that regard, this fic does not disappoint. This is the story of one way in which Sam might have said yes. There are a number of excellent "Sam says yes" fics out there, but for my money, this is the best. The writing is sad and strained, and just a bit desperate, with a pitch-perfect Lucifer playing on Sam's guilt. But the best thing, I think, is the way Sam's perceptions start to shift, until his dreams are more real than reality.

( Excerpt )


The Hope Only of Empty Men

Hello! I just got done reccing BSG, and here I am reccing Doctor Who. I like the Doctor, but I love his companions. My recs will cover both old school and new school who, and tend to focus on the companions. Also, I think Torchwood and Sarah Jane Adventures fall under the same umbrella as Doctor Who, so while all of my fics will focus on Doctor Who characters and settings, elements from the other two Whoniverse shows may show up, as they do in today's rec.

Fandom: Doctor Who, Torchwood
Pairing: Jack Harkness/Ian Chesterton
Length: 5600 words
Author on LJ: sam_storyteller and copperbadge 
Author Website: DW
Why this must be read:

I thought, for the first story of the month, that I should start out with something about the First Doctor! Or rather, one of his companions. Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright were the Doctor's first two Human companions. They were teachers who followed a strange young girl home and ended up trapped in a time machine hurtling through time and space virtually at random, because the girl was the Doctor's granddaughter Susan and her home was the TARDIS. After some time, the Doctor did manage to return them home--and what happened next? They'd fought Daleks, lived among the Aztecs, aliens, and prehistoric humans, fought in the Crusades, sold as slaves in ancient Rome--how do you go from that back to being a schoolteacher in an ordinary London school?

According to Sam Storyteller, it doesn't go well, at least for Ian. Jack finds Ian when Ian starts asking around for the Doctor, and recruits him for Torchwood. This fic does an excellent job of capturing Ian's character, and Jack's, and learning to change from the Doctor's methods to Torchwood.

( snippet of text )

Delight of Battle

(Sorry about the multiple postings, LJ keeps eating half of the entry for some reason.)