And now another story written as the The Professionals was originally being aired in Britain. This is a case fic, and a long one. It has action, undercover work, an attempt to bomb CI5 HQ, a raid on a major British tourist attraction, and all of that as the background to the lads trying to come to terms with their feelings for each other.

Fandom: THE PROFESSIONALS
Pairing: Bodie/Doyle
Length: 418kb, 71295 words
Author on LJ: lil_shepherd
Author Website: EPS at AO3
Why this must be read:For the moment in the hotel almost exactly halfway through the story when.. no, I really can't spoil it that much!

Action of the Tiger is set directly after the events of Lillian Shepherd's gen story Tiger by the Tail, which revolves around an escaped Krivas attempting revenge. It probably does help to have read Tiger by the Tail first, but I hadn't, and I found Action of the Tiger easy to pick up. It picks up as CI5 mop up after the events of the first story.

( Some time after the mopping-up is finished, though... )
This is a long story, and there is all sorts to enjoy in it. I am particularly taken by Doyle's single-mindedness and determination as he chases Bodie to the coast, and how he manages to get Cowley out of the way - I can just see Cowley's disbelief as he realises he's been tricked. I like the dialogue: not just Bodie and Doyle together, but each of them with other characters, whether long-suffering parents or rattled arms dealers. The casefic element is intricate and the separation of the two during the investigation provides plenty of scope for further complications - and complications there are. And I love the choice of location for the final action scenes.

Action of the Tiger is not available online but is another good reason to get the Proslib CD.

Fandom: THE SENTINEL
Pairing: Jim/Blair
Length: 1680 words
Author on LJ: xparrot
Author Website: http://www.xmagicalx.net/
Why this must be read: - This is set in the minutes between Blair being declared dead and Jim reviving him; the spirits are talking, telling Jim that the wolf is dead, the guide must be trusted, if one guide isn't trusted another must be chosen...

This was written in 1998, which I think makes it one of the fix-its written after the series was cancelled and before season four was announced. These fix-its always fascinate me, and I love the way this one is forcing Jim to take a good hard look at his relationship with Blair.

Affirmation of the Wolf

Fandom: GUNDAM WING
Pairing: Heero/Duo if you squint
Length: ~2,000 words
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: Author's Page on shinigami & wing
Warnings: deathfic
Why this must be read:

Author's Summary:Heero finds a small collection of photos in his desk.

I first read and saved this story in 2001 when I was still in the childhood of my fandom experience, and it has stayed with me through all these years and fandom obsession switches. The format in which it's written and the emotion that format conveys is just so rich and heart-wrenching. As Heero peruses the 15 pictures that sum up Duo's life and remembers his friend and loved one, the reader is swept up into the power of memory, grief, and remembrance. Heero's pain is very well written with D. C. Logan's potent writing skills. I was swept up in the strength of this piece years ago, still am, and just know you will be too.

Fifteen Pictures of Duo