Fandom: HEROES
Pairing: Peter Petrelli and Adam Monroe, Molly Walker/Micah Sanders
Length: 6,488 words
Author on LJ: seaouryou
Author Website: Fiction Tag on Livejournal
Why this must be read:

So at some point Adam Monroe escapes from his prison, and is put under Peter Petrelli's charge. Naturally, things don't turn out so well. I enjoyed this because it was fun, and funny, and the cameo appearances by all the other Specials also amused. -cm

"This is an adjustment for both of us." Peter went on, "Since you're going to be living here, I got something to make the transition easier." He reached into one of the bags. "Ta dah! A chore wheel!" he said with a flourish.

Adam stared at him. "This is my hell," he whispered.

"Oh, come on," Peter said, clearly put out the chore wheel hadn't put a smile on Adam's face. "I know you haven't gotten a chance to be out in civilization since the seventies. Aren't you excited about all the amazing new technology? Cell phones, digital television, the internet..."

"I was excited about indoor plumbing, the cotton gin, and refrigerators," Adam said blandly. "But after a while humanity stops 'amazing' you."

House Arrest

Fandom: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA 2003
Pairing: Baltar/Head!Six, Baltar/Caprica
Length: 500 words
Author on LJ: carnography
Author Website: fic list
Why this must be read: Because it's an awesome look at Head!Six, and there aren't enough of those. Since we know Baltar's Six as a walking and talking being with a strange sense of humor and a weirdly masculine idea of appropriate clothes, it's hard to depict her as the higher being she's supposed to be. This Six is really scary. Give it a shot, you can read it quickly.

Gaius would be absolutely terrified if he could see her - see her for what she truly is.

A monster, he might call her. Flaming sphinx with six wings - an ancient horror equivalent to those abominations that stalk Colonial myth - the Lamia, Scylla, Echidna.

Job 1:7

Fandom: MAN FROM UNCLE
Pairing: none--to quote the author: "no slash, except what you want to see. (It's gen the way most of my gen is gen.) And a dash of (unresolved) het, because really, this is Napoleon Solo we're talking about."
Length: ~8.000 words
Author on LJ: xparrot
Author Website: X-parrot on AO3
Why this must be read:

My last rec was a look at Illya as he's preparing to impersonate Colonel Nexor in "The Gurnius Affair". Making Perfect shows us the aftermath: Napoleon trying to come to terms with his feelings; not a simple thing at all. How do you forgive a hurt that shouldn't need to be forgiven; how do you work with a partner whose hardness you flinched from, even as you know it's what saved you.

Back in New York, even a date with Terry the photographer ( a pitch perfect set piece--smooth operator meets Carnaby Street bird) can't distract Napoleon from thoughts of San Rico. He goes home and is forced into a confrontation with Illya, waiting for him at his apartment. An Illya who wants something from his partner but isn't sure what to ask for, just as Napoleon isn't sure he has it to give. This is a finely observed, subtle story of a parnership, a friendship that seemed inviolable, and that may, despite Napoleon and Illya's best intentions, have reached the final breaking point.

Napoleon rubs his hands over his face. "It can be your turn on the table next time," he says.

It usually is, Illya retorts, but only in Napoleon's head; aloud, he says nothing. When Napoleon drops his hands, Illya is still watching him.

He's still listening; he knows what he's supposed to say, but he isn't saying it.

Napoleon very rarely gets truly angry; the headaches aren't worth it. Rarely enough that he's not sure that the slow burn building behind his eyes isn't only the pressure of a premature hangover. He's never been angry with Illya before, that he can remember.

This isn't the satisfying righteousness of towering rage; it's unpleasant: bitter like bile, sick-making. For an insane second he wishes Colonel Nexor were still alive, so the rancor could be aimed at him, where it is deserved.

Making Perfect

Merry Christmas in July! We’ve arrived at another fabulous comm, due South Seekrit Santa ( archive here). I love gift fic/art, and this fandom has an abundance of creativity to share.

Fandom: DUE SOUTH
Pairing: Vecchio/Kowalski
Length: guesstimate of around 5k
Author on LJ: sionnain
Author Website: sionnain_fics
Why this must be read:

Because no one writes Ray/Ray like sionnain! This was the fic I received last year, and I can’t tell you how often I’ve re-read it. It’s full of wonderfully snarky banter, genuine affection and caring, pop culture references and hotness (including RayK sucking on RayV’s cross!)! Perfectly them, and a joy to read.

( and so it begins… )
Situation’s Tolerable

Fandom: DUE SOUTH
Pairing: Caroline/Bob
Length: really rough guesstimate of 3000 words
Author on LJ:ifreet
Author Website:fic here
Why this must be read:

Here's another dSSS rec. Why do I love it? Because we get to see Caroline’s version of the afterlife, the choices she made there, and why. It’s beautifully written, and I could see it all so clearly. Heartbreaking at times, and a wonderful read.

( and so it begins… )

Thirty Years of Snow

Fandom: NCIS
Pairing: Gibbs/Abby/Tony
Length: One-Shot
Author on LJ: TaylorGibbs
Author Website: http://www.squidge.org/peja/cgi-bin/viewuser.php?uid=4217
Why this must be read: TaylorGibbs is the author that got me hooked on the NCIS fandom. This story combines smut with spot on characterization perfectly. I am blown away by every story that I read. I would rec them all if I could, but I am sure other people have recommended stories by this author in the past. This story took my breath away. It was amazing. I hope that you enjoy it.

Starting Something

Post a comment below to take a turn pimping The Professionals fandom!

A week in advance of your assigned month you will be notified with a reply to your comment. During that time, you agree to post a minimum of 1 fic per week in the following format:

Subject: Title by Author (Rating)

Fandom: YOUR FANDOM
Pairing: (no abbreviations, please)
Author on LJ: (if applicable)
Author Website: (author's fics, if available)
Why this must be read:

Emphasis should be on fics that you feel are especially outstanding and accessible examples of your fandom, e.g. it plays on a repeated theme in the show, it's a fandom or a personal favourite, it was a controversial fic, it's good smut. Whatever.

Warnings are not required beyond what the author has posted on their own stories.

Thanks for playing and remember, kids! Without you, the crack_van will run out of gas!!

(snerk)

Post a comment below to take a turn pimping the White Collar fandom!

A week in advance of your assigned month you will be notified with a reply to your comment. During that time, you agree to post a minimum of 1 fic per week in the following format:

Subject: Title by Author (Rating)

Fandom: YOUR FANDOM
Pairing: (no abbreviations, please)
Author on LJ: (if applicable)
Author Website: (author's fics, if available)
Why this must be read:

Emphasis should be on fics that you feel are especially outstanding and accessible examples of your fandom, e.g. it plays on a repeated theme in the show, it's a fandom or a personal favourite, it was a controversial fic, it's good smut. Whatever.

Warnings are not required beyond what the author has posted on their own stories.

Thanks for playing and remember, kids! Without you, the crack_van will run out of gas!!

(snerk)

Fandom: HEROES
Pairing: Nathan Petrelli/Peter Petrelli
Length: 5,726 words
Author on LJ: fiorediloto
Author Website: Fiction Masterlist on Livejournal
Why this must be read:

In a deleted scene in the Heroes DVD, Nathan mentioned at one point a treehouse where he got Peter drunk for the first time. This is the story about what happened. It's a lovely, melancholic look at the brothers, at a Peter that's different from Nathan but still a Petrelli, and a Nathan that can't find it in himself to truly say no. -cm

Peter’s got his eyes closed and his breath is regular, so much so that for a moment you suspect he’s fallen asleep on your shoulder. Peter can sleep anywhere, can doze off in the time normal people devote to relax the mind thinking about large open spaces and flying in the sky. You’ve seen him fallen asleep in no longer than a minute or two in your car’s passenger seat, back from a dinner together and once from school, in the middle of the afternoon. That time you surprised yourself looking at him for so long, from the slightly parted halfmoon of his lips to the hand languidly resting on his thigh, that just for a well-trained reflex you didn’t crash into the car before you. When Peter woke up with a start, bouncing back against the seat because of the seat belt, your heart was pounding so hard in your ears you feared he could hear it too, and understand.

The Memory of Trees

Fandom: BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
Pairing: Giles/Anya
Length: 2,855
Author on LJ: [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com]
Author Website: fic masterlist
Why this must be read:

Because watching as Giles goes through all the reasons he shouldn't get romantically involved with Anya, but in the end falling for her anyway just pulls at my romantic heartstrings in exactly the right way. Beautiful piece, that you should all give a try.

You think you're safe. You think that a man at your age with your past would walk unaffected on these paths, not falling into the traps. I'm too old, you assure yourself. I'm through with this sort of play. Because you know the trite lines by heart now, know that everything you touch falls apart.

A Better Fate

Fandom: The Magnificent Seven
Pairing: gen, Vin and Ezra
Length: 1k
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: Helen Adam's fic at blackraptor

Why this must be read:

Other than Nathan being a stretcher bearer and learning his medical skills, 'War Between the States' is not really discussed in canon, thus giving some interesting fodder for backstories of the other seven. In this story, the ever astute Vin notices Ezra not quite enjoying the July fourth festivities as much as the others and approaches him to talk about it. I really enjoy the way the two men read each other and bond over shared backgrounds in this story.


Union