Fandom: BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
Pairing: Faith/Buffy
Length: 10,783 words
Author on LJ: lettered
Author Website: none
Why this must be read: Basically, after the end of canon (show, not comic), Buffy and Co are fighting the good fight in the UK when Faith somewhat accidentally acquires wings. It sounds odd, yes. And it is, really, but in a good way, and it's a lot of other things, too. There are some lovely character insights in this story, and I particularly like the way everyone has evolved and grown up in ways that fit organically with their histories and where they are in their lives now. However, I have to say that the strongest selling point of this fic is the witty, snappy dialogue. To die-hard dialogue junkies like me, the dialogue in this story is a pure hit of the really good crack.

( read an excerpt )

Hope Has Wings (But Faith Has A Broadsword)

Fandom: Terminator / Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
Pairing: None
Length: ~1k words
Author on LJ: daria234
Author Website: AO3
Why this must be read: Written for a "comfort food" prompt, this short fic examines John's relationship to his favorite dessert--and, underneath it, his mother, his machines, and his inability to get to just be a kid. John's one of the human characters I'm interested in least in the Terminator universe, but this is one of those fics that makes me rethink my stance.

( Maybe it was because the last place they lodged, it was mostly squirrel meat and Saltines. )
 
Cold Comfort

Fandom: DUE SOUTH
Pairing: Benton Fraser/Ray Kowalski, Ray Kowalski/Stella Kowalski
Length: 12K
Author on LJ: pearl_o
Author Website: fic on AO3
Why this must be read:

Pearl_o writes very good stories and very good porn, interweaving intense emotions into sexual settings with dexterity. This is an 180 degree story, flipping Ray Kowalski's life from one defining moment to the other. I love stories in which Ray Kowalski is a grown up.

Don't Say the Word

Fandom: HIGHLANDER/DOCTOR WHO
Pairing: Methos/Doctor, Methos/Duncan
Length: 2,500 words
Author on LJ: fractured_sun
Author Website: fic index on lj
Why this must be read:

This story has the most unusual Methos origin ever.

Endless Circles

Photographic Evidence by Annabelle Leigh (NC17)
Fandom: The Sentinel
Pairing(s): Jim/Blair, Jim/omc(past), Blair/omc(past)
Length: 1st page 14,987, 2nd page 13,367
Author on LJ: not available
Author Website: http://annableigh.tripod.com/the_library.htm ; http://annableigh.tripod.com/contents_page.htm
Why this must be read: I would not normally put the warnings first, but in this case I feel I must warn off anyone who would be offended by the many serious topics this story contains. Here is a list of what I found ‘triggery’ or possibly seriously offensive. This contains; child pornography, child sexual abuse, consensual sexual contact by minors, extreme child beating and abuse, extreme homophobic language, and homophobia and violence between Jim and Blair.
So if you are still reading this I Will go on to say that I would only recommend this story because it is So strongly and well written. The topics brought up in this story are controversial but in this story the powerful way they are used to get across the points are what makes this a recommendation worthy story.
Sometimes a story comes along that can touch a person with its words. There are stories on another fandom I have read that in their own way have helped me heal on certain levels and in certain ways. I can only hope that someone finds the same from this powerful story. That is part of why I am highly suggesting this story.
Summary: by author: Originally published in CTYS 14
At a crime scene, Jim finds evidence of Blair's youthful indiscretions, and it forces him to confront painful and long forgotten events from his own past, as well as to navigate his feelings for his Guide.
Link: http://annableigh.tripod.com/photo1.html
Photographic Evidence