crack_van | Pause Before You Take a Bow by talkingtothesky (PG)

Fandom: LIFE ON MARS
Pairing: Sam/Annie
Length: 405 words
Author on LJ:talkingtothesky
Author Website: Link goes to memories on the lifein1973 comm.
Why this must be read:
This is the fic I *needed* to read after the last episode of Life on Mars (contains spoilers for the last ep). It's got that wonderful combination of incredulity mixed with understanding, love, and daring humor that characterizes Sam and Annie's relationship and provides excellent insight into Sam's mind, showing us what he's consciously thinking about and the sights he's taking in as well as his sense-memories. It's also lyrical and understated and accomplishes so much in a short space. When you're done with this piece, I highly recommend reading her other work--she's written marvelous Sam/Gene and Sam/Gene/Annie as well.

The sun shines. She folds her arms around the coat she’s carrying, looks at him with a mix of sympathy and wonder, as though she’s surprised he still exists. Sam’s beginning to wonder at that, too.

Somewhere at the back of his mind there’s a voice, calling, and the momentum of a fall. Just echoes, faded imprints of a life that never was at all. How long will it take him to forget completely?

Pause Before You Take a Bow