Pro Patria Mori, by taurenova. (PG-13)

[jantalaimon.livejournal.com]

Sorry for yesterday's little coding mishap with my rec, which has since been rectified. I recced and ran, and apparently copying and pasting from Word into LJ is a terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad idea. I usually use GoogleDocs when I'm ficcing---and now I know it was the right decision! *shiny grin* Anyway, on to today's Life on Mars rec!

FANDOM: Life on Mars
AUTHOR ON LJ: taurenova
AUTHOR’S FIC SITE: fandomatemylife
PAIRING: Sam/Annie, Gene/Sam UST (loads and loads of it)
WHY THIS MUST BE READ: Because it is, quite simply, one of the most brilliant fics I think I’ve ever read. I was left speechless after having read it. taurenova has such a gift for plot that it’s really quite fascinating. A lot of people (myself included) find it much easier to write dialogue, but taurenova is incredibly impressive in that she’s an impressively well-rounded writer---and nowhere is this better evidenced than in this fic. Written for the LoM Ficathon 2008, it’s a two-parter (mainly because of LJ’s length restrictions on posting), and is 16,000 words in total. Her prompt was World War One!Sam, Annie and Gene, love triangle, and this delivers on all possible fronts. It is grand and sweeping and positively epic in nature---and I'm not just saying that because it's long. It's written so well I almost swore I could smell the munitions whilst reading.

EXCERPT:

London to Edinburgh train, England, October 1917

The train compartment was a shade too chill for Gene's liking and he shifted his right leg restlessly in discomfort. Sam seemed oblivious to the crisp air, sitting as still as a statue with a stiff back. Like he was at attention on his seat, his crisp sling holding his broken arm close to his chest. Gene couldn't stop himself from staring and would give no excuse if asked why he was doing so.

“This isn't right,” Sam insisted, finding the thread of a day old conversation. He stared out the cold window as the countryside rolled past. Gene watched his profile, sharply shadowed by the diffused sunlight, and felt something ache in his chest.

“I'm sorry, Tyler,” he said, retreating behind a screen of formality. “It's for your own good, man. To rid yourself of the demons that are following you.”

“Couldn't I just lose myself in whiskey as you do?” Sam asked, his eyes piercing Gene's careful façade. The words were almost as cold as the compartment. Gene felt again the irrational stab of anger that Sam had caused in him the first time they met. He let it slide wearily, knowing Sam had won that battle long ago. Instead he reached a hesitant hand across the space between them and touched Sam's knee.

“I don't want you to follow my path,” Gene said, voice low. “Just because one of us chose it, doesn't mean we both should.”

Sam stared at Gene's hand until he withdrew it and then switched his gaze to Gene's face. Gene forced himself to hold the gaze, hoping his eyes showed nothing of the tumult of emotion within.

“You're right,” Sam said after a long moment. “You're always right eventually, Guv.”

Gene knew he shouldn't let the word affect him – but it had become so connected to the other Sam; the one that looked at him with something more, something new. Something tightened in his chest and he forced himself to look away, casting his own eyes on the rolling countryside. Sam shifted and a moment later pressed a hand briefly to one of Gene's.

“I mean it, Captain,” Sam said, his voice familiar again. “Thank you.”

Gene tilted his head to see Sam smiling at him and simply ducked his head in reply, becoming again the Captain Hunt his Lieutenant needed.

Pro Patria Mori

Comments

[mikes-grrl.livejournal.com]

GOD this is SUCH a fantastic story! Thank you thank you for reccing it. Given how unusual AU stories are in LoM, it is wonderful to lavish this rare gem with love and attention!

[twigged.livejournal.com]

Instead of repeating title info in the body of your post, you need to include the fandom. Please use the template that's provided!

[jantalaimon.livejournal.com]

Eep. Sorry! We've got a de.li.cious bookmark list of all LoM fics that have been recced here and I copied and pasted from one of the previous entries. Evidently copying and pasting is a bad idea. Fixed, and thanks for your patience! Fixing my previous entry now too, and hoping I won't prompt your further intervention as I steer us along this month! :)

[tiggymalvern.livejournal.com]

The link gives a page not found for me, has done since yesterday :-(

[jantalaimon.livejournal.com]

Fixed. Another unwitting victim of C&P from Word, I'm afraid! Please give it another shot? :)

[tiggymalvern.livejournal.com]

Finally, I got the time! Thanks for the rec :-)