Fandom: THE WEST WING
Pairing: CJ/Danny
Length: 25,486 words
Author on LJ: n/a
Author Website: fanfiction.net profile
Why this must be read: Because it's an exciting and realistic in-depth look at the first Bartlet campaign - the one we saw very little of - written by someone who knows what they are talking about when it comes to presidential campaigns in the United States. It is, indisputably, almost as good as the show itself.

Campaign Snapshots

Fandom: FIREFLY
Pairing: None
Length: ~220 words
Author on LJ: lunabee34
Author Website: AO3

Why this must be read: In this dark look at five what-ifs that canon offers, Lorraine gives the reader short but vivid snapshots of scenarios that (thankfully, I guess) never went down in the series.  This "Five Things" is chilling but truthful, and the last bit will stick with you especially.

( But this was before he'd seen her, pinned to a chair like a dead butterfly, twitching and moaning in the blue glare of the laboratory. )

Five Things That Never Happened to Simon Tam

Fandom: STAR WARS
Pairing: Dooku, Palpatine, Obi-Wan Kenobi; not really pairings … yet.
Length: ~ 1,000 words
Author on LJ: ansketil_rose
Author Website: her lj page
Why this must be read:

Because it's hilarious, a little cracky but all-too-plausible. Ansketil draws on familiarity with Les Liasons Dangereuses, which I don't pretend to understand - but you won't need to, either. This epistolary fic (part on of an ongoing series) works just fine as long as you have seen the films. The first installment features a back-and-forth between Count Dooku and his master, but you won't be able to stop at just one …

Dark Liasons I

Fandom: SHERLOCK BBC
Pairing: John/Sarah, Sherlock/John UST
Length: comment fic in two windows
Author on LJ: lettered
Author Website: Master List of Fic on LJ (this isn't there)
Why this must be read:
This fandom has the best kisses. This is an odd one. It's Sherlock watching John kiss Sarah, from the shadows, and thinking.
Just thinking, mind.
It works wonderfully as a Sherlock POV story, too, which also enrich the fandom. He's such a fascinating character through whom to write.


( John is very straight )

Square Root of Negative One on moony's Sherlock BBC Kissing Meme

Fandom: STARSKY & HUTCH
Pairing: none
Length: 44624 words
Author on LJ: not known
Author Website: HERE
Why this must be read: Another AU from me this month. What would happen if Starsky wasn't a cop? Would Fate still bring them together? Would a bond form between them and still be as strong?

Hutch closed the distance between them and laid a hand on Starsky's shoulder.

"I'm sorry. That must have been horrible for you. I can't imagine what it was like."

Starsky shrugged and smiled tentatively. "Yeah, well, we all have our own demons to fight, I guess."

The blond looked into indigo eyes. "Yeah, I guess we do."

Starsky met the blue eyes and nodded slowly. He could sense the weight of the other man's thoughts. Memories swirled in bits and pieces between them. Disturbing images whirled in his head, images of another bedroom, and ropes biting into wrists. He caught a flash of pain and a shame that was buried deep in the other's soul. A name rose unbidden in the detective's mind, burning with hatred and loathing: Forest. He longed to ask what it all signified, but in deference to the budding friendship, held his tongue. There would be time for revelations later and if Hutch wanted to tell him, he would. Instead, he stepped away, breaking the contact, and smiled.

Rejected

Fandom: STARSKY & HUTCH
Pairing: none
Length: 900K, yes, this story is LONG
Author on LJ: not known
Author Website: HERE
Why this must be read: Hutch is in his lowest low. He lost everything and what he still had he sold to his Owners. His body, his soul, his past and future. There is only one person who could save him. But it is Hutch’s next assignment – to kill the Other and be rewarded with the greatest prize – heroin. The story begins when Hutch kills Starsky. It’s NOT a death story.

Deep within himself, the Other felt these strange, unfamiliar thoughts swamp his mind, and underneath, making tentative cries for attention, was a sensation that could only be described as an unused feeling. It struggled into life as an emotion -- genuine and real. And he felt the stirrings of deep concern for another human being. Not just an interest for selfish, ulterior motives, but a compassion for someone who had suffered to the same degree as himself and was still suffering.

The next words he spoke, he wanted to count. No easy platitudes would do, and yet he was unpracticed in words of kindness and compassion. Finally, he said in gentle softness, "I once helped you fight your addiction -- I can do it again."

Decorated for Death

Fandom: THE PROFESSIONALS
Pairing: Bodie/Doyle
Length: ~72,000
Author on LJ: kittyfisher
Author’s Stories: Automated Hatstand; The Circuit Archive
Why this must be read: “Paper Flowers” is an AU Case fic, filled with angst, action and some of the best writing around. Ray is not in CI5, but Bodie is. Unfortunately the story is only available as a zine from Gryphon Press (contact info below)

Ray Duncan is a former Met policeman determined to bring to light the corruption that forced him out of his job. Desperate for money to finish his expose he takes up the offer of cash for a tumble with one W.A.P. Bodie and finds himself, against his better judgment, enthralled.

( excerpt )

CI5 agent Bodie is on an undercover assignment and is also investigating police corruption tied to guns and drugs. This puts both men on a collision course that leads to many misunderstandings. Ray is captured and badly treated. Bodie frets. After his rescue, Ray wants nothing more to do with Bodie until there is a Cowley intervention. Ray begins to work with Cowley to bring his captors and Bodie’s gun runners to justice. The case is progressing and so is the healing of the relationship, but these are the lads, so…

( excerpt )

This is an extremely well written story. The emotions experienced by both characters are almost painful to read. The characterization is perfect. Ray is as stroppy and stubborn and difficult as we expect him to be, but we also see the softer, vulnerable side of him. Bodie is, well… Bodie! He’s charming, a bit self-centered, heavy handed and uncomfortable in trying to make things right between Ray and himself. But we see his other side too, his worry and caring for his partner.

This is a terrific story and I highly recommend it!

( Gryphon Press )

Fandom: NCIS
Pairing: None. Gen. Tony DiNozzo-centric.
Length: 6,400 words
Author on LJ: kaylashay81
Author Website: http://www.kaylashay.com/
Why this must be read: I love this fic, plain and simple. It's told from an OC's POV, namely Tony's old elementary school teacher. She recalls several very memorable moments she shared with Tony as a child. Please be aware that Tony's father doesn't really come across as a loving person, but this story was written before we were introduced to Senior on the show, so here be warnings for allusions to some child abuse. This is not at all the main focus of the story, however. This fic is all about a wonderful OC who has made such a huge impression on Tony as a child that he still keeps in contact with her through the years, sharing tidbits of his life with her. His letter to his teacher is absolutely adorable and written perfectly in character, and the OC, Mrs. M, is an absolute delight.

( Excerpt: )

Five Moments to Remember

Fandom: THE WEST WING
Pairing: CJ/Josh
Length: 89,257 words
Author on LJ: n/a
Author Website: profile
Why this must be read: Other than the author's excellent grasp of characterization? This story is based on the premise that CJ is a sort of female counterpart to Josh. Both are politically brilliant, psychologically high-strung, and romantically inept, which makes a relationship between them plausible enough but surely doomed. It's a demonstration of the author's skill as a writer that the entire story takes place between the scenes and therefore doesn't contradict canon. A prequel which focuses on the beginnings of the relationship (set during the first campaign) is in the process of being written and is definitely worth reading as well.

The InBetweens (and prequel)

Fandom: WATCHMEN
Pairing: Laurie/Jon
Length: ~700 words
Author on LJ: acidicfog
Author Website: Unknown
Why this must be read: Because of the lovely, detailed writing, the strange sense of calm it evokes, and the delicate balance it strikes between human and inhuman ways of seeing the universe. It's just beautiful.

Jupiter