Paddle to the CSC by Julian Lee (R)

[laylee.livejournal.com]

Fandom: SPORTS NIGHT
Pairing: Dan/Sam Donovan; Dan/Casey
Author on LJ: julianlee
Author Website: The Thwarted Invasion: Julian Lee's Fanfiction with a Grudge

Why this must be read:

I'm borrowing this rec from thefourthvine who recced it in her journal a couple of days ago. But it's such a great story it's worth reccing it twice in one week.

Ever wondered what happened to Casey's white dress shirt? The one he left at Sally's apartment that later found its way on to Gordon's back? The shirt that was the main cause behind Gordon breaking up with Dana because she was more upset about finding out that Casey was sleeping with Sally than she was when he confessed his own infidelity with the statuesque producer?


As for the white dress shirt that started the whole mess, most people assume Gordon threw it out. After all, who'd keep a shirt that led to the calling off of your engagement - especially if it was somebody else's shirt? It must be rotting in a landfill, or languishing in a Salvation Army resale shop, or lining the bottom of Gordon's elegant gas fireplace.

You could call Paddle to the CSC the crossover you have when you don't have a crossover. Julian has cleverly exploited Aaron Sorkin's propensity to reuse the same names over and over and woven a story that combines threads from both Sports Night and The West Wing, as well as a perfectly plausible explanation of what ultimately happens to The Shirt.

Fresh from the funeral of his brother Simon (CJ Cregg's ill-fated Secret Service bodyguard), Sam Donovan unexpectedly turns up in Dan and Casey's office. Being no stranger to bereavement, Dan instantly recognizes a man hanging on by a thread. This then leads to The Three Stooges and, in a round about way via sex, various explanations and some inventive groveling on Dan's part, the fate of Casey's white dress shirt.

As always, Julian's work is by turns hilarious and poignant. Her Sorkonese is spot-on, she has a firm grasp on all the characters and their various foibles, and the resolution is a sweet as can be.

Please, read and enjoy. I know you won't regret it.

Paddle to the CSC

Comments

[lady-smith.livejournal.com]

That is a beautifull little romp.

Would I look stupid if I said I didn't get the title?

very apt title

[(Anonymous)]

The title is from "Paddle to the Sea," a kid's movie wherein a carved canoe is put in the water and sent downstream. On the bottom is carved "I am Paddle to the Sea. Please put me back in the water." The movie follows the journey of the toy from the stream all the way to the ocean.

The title fits the story of the shirt brilliantly. Thanks for the rec!

Re: very apt title

[lady-smith.livejournal.com]

Ah! Okay. Yes, a very apt title.