Hey! I was on my way back to the garage after taking the van in for a wash (I swear that was pizza sauce on the seat, not blood! And that was NOT a bullet hole in the back quarter panel, I got sideswiped by some THRUSH jerk, honest! A little bondo will fix it right up, the detail guy promised me!) Anyway, I thought we'd stop for one more before I have to go turn in my keys.

Thank you all for joining me for the tour, I hope you had as much fun as I did, and thank you as well for making my very first turn behind the wheel of the surveillance crack_van a wonderful ride.

Remember, WE NEED DRIVERS!!! To keep us current and in rotation, we need to have drivers in place! Volunteer! I DARE YOU! I double dog dare you! And it is just so easy! All the Van Recs are listed for easy searching at the delicious page! Come on, it's FUN! You know you want to! (Come on! they let me drive! Do It!)

You will have plenty of time to get your lists of favourites in order since we have a couple drivers in place, so sign up and have some fun. Just remember to clean out the pizza boxes from the backseat and fill the tank with fuel before returning it to the garage.

Sign Up: UNCLE Motor Pool

Fandom: THE MAN FROM UNCLE
Pairing: Napoleon/Angelique
Length: 30-40,000 words
Author on LJ: lcorn
Author Website: MFU Archive
Why this must be read: Hey! I read het sometimes. Ok, not often, so you know it must be good if I am reading it, since we all know that I'm a girl who loves me some slash. I enjoy this story because Illya is a gem. He is snarky and gives Napoleon no end of hell for getting distracted by the femme fatale as he always does. This is an engaging casefic and the last scene is perfectly wonderful, poor Napoleon! Linda has been recced many times in the van, and with good reason, here is one more to enjoy.

In Vino Veritas

And please remember, if you enjoy this story, a comment to the author is all the payment they get! Show them some love!

I've had a fabulous time showcasing GO fics this month. One final story to finish off the month, then the Bentley goes back in the garage for a little while - let's not make it too long, though, okay? Small fandoms need volunteers too. Thanks for reading; hope you enjoyed the stories!

Fandom: GOOD OMENS
Pairing: Aziraphale/Crowley
Length: ~ 4500 words
Author on LJ: the_con_cept
Author Website: AbstractFics on Insane Journal
Why this must be read: Anyone who's ever had to endure an office Christmas party with a bunch of people they don't really know and don't really like knows they're Hell. Apparently, we have Crowley to thank for that special holiday tradition - he takes credit for inventing the office party. He even wrote a handbook for it. So, how poetically just when Hell decides to have a party and follow the handbook to the letter - of course, Crowley doesn't want to show up alone, so naturally it seems like a good idea to take an angel with him. To Hell's holiday party. What could possibly go wrong?

( 'What’s wrong? What’s wrong? Hell’s having a Christmas party, that’s what’s wrong!' )

Read the story:
The Holidays are Hell - Part 1
The Holidays are Hell - Part 2


Don't forget to feedback the author - it doesn't matter how old or new the story is. Authors love to hear from you!

Fandom: LIFE ON MARS
Pairing: Sam/Gene
Length: 900 approx.
Author on LJ: argyleheir
Author Website: memories at lifein1973
Why this must be read:

Because Argyle is a brilliant writer with a real talent for lyrical, evocative prose and I recommend you check out all her other work. This piece, my final rec before handing over the keys to the van, manages to pack a real punch in a small but beautifully crafted package. It captures the physical intimacy between the two men, but goes far beyond that to give glimpses into their past - and future - as told by the scars on their bodies. Give it a go.

Pillars of Salt

Thanks for joining me for this month's ride and don't forget: if you read something - anything - you like, please leave a comment for the author :)

Fandom: MARVEL COMICS
Pairing: None
Length: 3700 words
Author on DW: gloss
Author Website: Glossings: Fanfic by Glossolalia

Why this must be read: This is an AU in which Bucky, Captain America's partner, was Nisei: a second-generation Japanese-American. His life was poisoned by American racism and stupidity. He went to war against America's enemies, driven by his anger. The story is powerful, and the ending is magnificent.

Trembling on with steady aim

Fandom: BANDOM
Pairing: Travis McCoy/Matt McGinley
Length: 3k
Author on LJ: gigantic
Author Website: New Words
Why this must be read:

I have a confession to make: I am a glutton for rare pairs. The Big Themes is the first Travis/Matt story I ever read, and once I did I fell for this pairing hard.

Gym Class Heroes doesn't tend to get a whole lot of love in fandom outside of pairing Travis with the other members of the Cobra Starship supergroup--not that this is a bad thing! It's just surprising to me. Travis and GCH's drummer Matt have been friends since high school, when they met in gym class one day (presumably thanks to alphabetical order) and bonded over drums. Travis released a (kick ass) solo album a couple months ago and Matt is drumming (and occasionally filling in on guitar) for his tour. They also take great pictures.

But I digress.

This is about the comfort and familiarity that comes from two guys who've known each other for almost half their lives. It's about who they are in the present and a little bit about the ways they helped each other get there. It's about friendship and love, not necessarily just the romantic kind but the familiar kind. To me this story is like the fic equivalent of snuggling up with your favorite blanket.

And the sex is pretty hot and a lot of fun. Definite plus.

( Excerpt )

The Big Themes

Fandom: MARVEL COMICS
Pairing: Pepper Potts/Tony Stark
Length: 26,000 words
Author on LJ: obsession_inc
Author Website: obsession_inc at Archive of Our Own
Why this must be read: Something happened to Tony Stark and Pepper Potts. Christine Everhart is assigned the story. As she digs into what happened, revelation builds upon revelation in a beautifully paced story with a killer ending.

Concession