Rocks and Water by vanitashaze (PG13/Green Cortina)

[fawsley.livejournal.com]

Fandom: LIFE ON MARS
Pairing: Joni Newton, Mrs Newton
Length: 1,430
Author on LJ: vanitashaze
Author Website: LJ fics
Why this must be read: This was a ficathon offering a couple of years ago so I'm reneging on my rule to only include fics from the very early days of the Mars fandom, but it's so good that I can't resist. We're in an AU where Joni survives, where she and her mum do take that trip to Mexico, but where even then, even that far away, Joni cannot escape her past. The closing twist is guaranteed to send a shiver down your spine, and it'll probably be the final straw for Sam's sanity...

All of Warren's people - his rent-boys, rent-girls, bouncers and bent cops and toys - they all dreamed of a better life. A family, they would say, or an honest job, or a lover who wouldn't leave twenties with the bloke at the door. When you stop fucking people over for money, they said, everything changes. It gets better.

Rocks and Water