Fandom: NCIS
Pairing: none
Length: Nine Lives: 39,478; Melius: 11,442
Author on LJ: none that I could find
Author Website: Fanfic.net
Warnings: major character death in alternate ending
Why this must be read:

Author's Summaries: (Nine Lives): "Well...looks like...I've...finally...run out...Boss," he gasped quietly in the direction of the small opening. "And what is it you've run out of DiNozzo?" The gruff voice sounded just that bit scared, and rightly so. Tony smiled grimly. "Al...mosts." --- and (Melius Cras Fore): "This... this was no one's fault," he said hoarsely. His answer was met with a soft, toneless laugh that set his teeth on edge. "Is that so? Well, if your conscience is so clear Mr. Semper Fi, why is it you can't even bring yourself to look at me?"

A prime example of the fantastically well-written gems on fanfic.net, Nine Lives and its alternate ending will tear your heart out, play with it a little bit, then fix it, even if you read the alternate ending with its tragic ending. This fic and its alternate ending were so powerfully emotional that I literally felt it in my gut. My heart clenched at the angsty misunderstandings, at the overall tragedy of the situation, and at the team's desperate efforts to save two (or what they thought were two) of their own.

On top of all the evocative emotions, Bondgirl also gives us a fast-paced race to save fellow humans and a teammate who is trapped below tons of steel and concrete. The way the talk each other through the pain and have the occasional misunderstanding are so very human and touch on how we all may act in a similar situation.

Then there's that alternate ending.... Just wow.... If you're not a fan of character death, then I would probably avoid this; the original story provides a much happier resolution. However, you would be robbing yourself of an emotional journey to healing and dealing with loss that will leave your heart in the dust, but happily so. I'll admit I probably cried enough tears to fill the Great Salt Lake of Utah with even more salty water. :)

Nine Lives and its alternate ending
Melius Cras Fore

Fandom: The Magnificent Seven
Pairing: None
Length: 7488
Author on LJ: farad
Author Website: Farad on WEC and AO3
Why this must be read: It's a coda to The Trial, naturally following the passing of Obediah Jackson. Losing Nathan's father stirs ghosts in the cemetary for the others: The ghosts of What If and the ghosts of old memories. All seven share history and secrets, reflecting on their fathers and families, and what's led them to become the men they are.

"One hell of a turn out," Buck said quietly. "Nathan should be proud."

"Reckon he is," Chris said, picking up his glass again. "More for his papa, I hope. Obediah was a good man - damned good. Reckon Nathan knows that."

"Hope so," Buck agreed. "Finding out your pa's worth his weight - well, reckon that's something."

Chris caught his eye and held it. Buck hadn't known his pa except by reputation and that hadn't been good. When Obediah had come into their lives, he'd felt the undercurrent of worry in his old friend, worry for Nathan and for them all. In this collection of men, fathers were in short supply and good fathers were a treasure.

"Nathan found some answers he needed," he said shortly. "And maybe the rest of us found some faith in Travis."

All Soul's Passing on WEC

Osiyo; I am maerhys and I am driving the van for Supernatural fandom this month. I am getting a late start but I have plenty of fic to rec in the next two and a half weeks. While Sam/Dean is my OTP, I will also be reccing rare pairs (especially anything with Jo Harvelle) and gen fic, which I have a deep, abiding love for too. I often start my runs with an epic that I especially love and this month is no different.

Fandom: SUPERNATURAL
Pairing: Sam/Dean [AU; not related]
Length: 115,000 words in 13 chapters
Author on LJ: lavinialavender & brosedshield
Author Website: freac_camp

Why this must be read: Let's start with the summary: Our story takes several steps away from canon. Dean Winchester is an only child. Mary died November 2nd, 1983, but neither in a fire nor on the ceiling. Five-year-old Sam is deported to a concentration camp for monsters. But the core remains the same. This is a love story.

Every once in a while, a story will surface that I decide out of hand is just not for me — usually because of the warnings or some other aspect I decide will not work for me. Following that pattern, I never should have taken a second look at the this masterpiece but the combination of time and more time pushed me to take a look. And, I am so grateful that I did because this is truly one of the best stories I've read ever and I am in awe at the work and energy the writers put into the world-building, characterizations, and plot twists.

Further, I am beyond pleased that this is a truly horrific tale that does not back down from being terrifying on several levels — there's no sensationalizing the violence and despair here. It's presented with details that callback to not so distant past and an uncertain future that I am sure many readers can relate to, and thus there is the real horror as presented in classics like 1984, Brave New World, and Parable of the Sower. This is an epic that defies category as it is not just horror, alternative universe, drama, romance, hurt/comfort or angst. It is every category due to the nuanced details that twine together to thread through a story that is, in so many ways, timeless, and has a universal appeal. It is about Sam and Dean, yes, but more than that, it's delves into who they are with and without each other and the men they are becoming as this world brutalizes them in different ways. I really cannot recommend this enough.

Take time with it, read the warnings, but trust that nothing is included to titillate through gore-porn and there are no easy answers. This is just book one, and I am waiting in a runner's crouch, ready to grab book two as soon as these ladies finish posting it [it's a WIP now]. A true gem in Supernatural fan fiction, fan fiction in general— a true gem of writing and story-telling power and elegance.


A Monster By Any Other Name

Fandom: LIFE ON MARS
Pairing: Sam/Gene
Length: 9,000
Author on LJ:petronelle
Author Website: Petra at DW
Why this must be read:
Petra has one of the best understandings of how Sam and Gene could work that I've ever seen. Game Theory involves Sam trying to negotiate a relationship with Gene without it being designated as a negotiation as such. Sam shows Gene what he needs and wonders how much he can say without being seen as insane--or more insane than people read him as being anyway. 

Game Theory explores Sam and Gene's power dynamics via some of the hottest power play and consensual pain play (like what we see in canon, only more, and with fantastic insight into the why) I've ever seen. She also incorporates one of my favorite things, an analysis of Sam and Gene work dynamics compared to Sam and Gene bed dynamics. She also captures their humor in the face of all the more serious relationship dynamics, which I love because Gene *would* make a joke about Sam cross stitching in the middle of discovering the ins and outs of what works for them and why. 
( Excerpt )

Game Theory

Fandom: STARSKY & HUTCH
Pairing: none
Length: 20k
Author on LJ: not known
Author Website: HERE
Why this must be read: It's a story about how some people just don't understand :)

See, there's no reason for people to get concerned about things that don't involve them. Especially when they don't know the facts. Especially when they don't know what they're talkin' about. Especially when, given all of that, they expect you to take them seriously.

I lost a good friend because of it. Someone who was starting to become special. But some things just can't be forgiven. Some things can't even be considered for forgiveness. Some things are just downright wrong and nothing that's said can ever make 'em okay again.

Sacred Place by Charlotte Frost

Fandom: THE MENTALIST
Pairing: Jane/Lisbon implications
Length: 12,882
Author on LJ: Not sure they have one
Author Website: On AO3
Why this must be read:

For those of you who read sixthlight's AMAZING steampunk (that's right: steampunk) Mentalist AU, "What You See Is What You Get," I am absolutely ecstatic to report that there is now a sequel!

And for those of you who haven't read "What You See" (which was recced here last year), I highly recommend both stories: the world building is incredibly fun, entertaining, and comes crosswise to the characters we're familiar with with just enough IC-ness to engage in some truly excellent character study. Along with electrick lights, magic, and the possibility of demons. Honestly, it's amazing. Go leave heaps and heaps of feedback to encourage the author to continue the series. We'll all benefit.

(I do recommend that those who haven't read "What You See" start there first: otherwise you'll miss some of the references in "Body Language." Both are absolutely worth the time.)

Body Language (Is a Complicated Thing>

Fandom: THE PROFESSIONALS
Pairing: Bodie/Doyle
Length: Ficlet
Author on LJ: bistokidsfan77
Author Website: A Mobile Ghetto, Swiss Roll and Thou
Why this must be read: Because it's a bittersweet, dark-sea surrounded, wee snatch from their lives, and because you can feel the rain on their faces and the grimness all around - but you can feel Bodie and Doyle too, and they're both tugging at your hearstrings... Something about this gets to me every time - it's just gorgeously atmospheric and well worth a read!

Excerpt:
He sat on the muddy embankment, slumped over with his arms clasped around his middle, closely guarding the object of his freedom. The only sound was the rain striking ground and water. The stench of the river floated over all.

The three men paused, and Doyle glanced at them. Murphy motioned for him to go ahead, and Tommy nodded. Ray took a deep breath, then sauntered over and sat down next to Bodie.

Daring the Sea