unfitforsociety

Supernatural

The Accompanist by gretazreta
Absolutely stunning. Teen!Dean as secret pianist, but in a way that suits him and makes sense of his character. This is full of love for music, of Dean's love for Sam (and Sam's for Dean), of tragedy, and the strength to live through it. Achingly gorgeous. Highly recommended.

Bubbles by dreamlittleyo
Wee boys blowing bubbles in the backyard! *heart*

Call It the Blues by utsusemia
"Hey, if it's gonna happen, we should at least go in style." / "In a sixty seven Chevy Impala on a deserted stretch of highway in some shitkicker town, Mississippi?" / "Listening to Blind Willie Johnson." / "Listening to Blind Willie Johnson." / "Sounds about right." Dean plays the blues and Sam only hates what he loves. Sharp look at the boys post-4.22.

Carrion Comfort by pandarus
So there may be a little snag in the plan to have Dean kill Lucifer. Lovely and plausible (if a bit too British in places) coda to Lucifer Rising. (Wincest)

Dead Soldiers: An Oral History of the End Times by fryadvocate
Fantastic story of the war between Heaven and Hell, as told by primary sources who lived through it, all of them outsider POV on Sam and Dean. Absorbing and achy. (In the style of "World War Z")

Dean Is All Right by miss_annthropic
Two missing scenes from "The Kids Are All Right." Oh, Dean. *sniffle*

Dorsum ad Dorsum by kellifer_fic
Fantastic AU in which John is able to save Mary on 11/2/83, but the Winchesters still don't manage to have a happily ever after. Bleak and sharp and true to the characters in heartbreaking ways.

Dreams of War and Liars by concernedlily
Interesting, achy story in which Dean takes a small detour into an alternate universe and sees just how much further Sam could fall. (Wincest)

Five Guns Dean Winchester Used to Have by rivkat
Exactly what it says on the tin. Really nice look at Dean through his relationships to guns, because they are clearly his weapon of choice. I especially like the section on the Colt.

I Carry the Suitcase of My Grief in Both Hands, Ma by withdiamonds
"Sometimes people suck, Sammy." He sounded so defeated. The exhaustion of this whole past year shone in his eyes. / Sam knew that people sucked. It's not like he and Dean had ever had any illusions about the dark and evil things in the world. They'd never been allowed to have any. But Dean had faith in people, thought they were worth saving. / It made Sam angry when Dean was disappointed. / "Sammy?" Dean's eyes were sad, his defenses brought low by someone who hadn't done something as simple as treasure the life that was entrusted to her. Her job. / "Okay," Sam said. "Yeah." Heartbreakingly lovely look at Sam and Dean post-Mystery Spot, as Sam tries to deal with everything that happened in Broward County, and how little time he has left to save Dean. (Wincest)

Impostor in This Country by embroiderama
[...] her ignorance had never felt like bliss, and she would never take it back. Fantastic look at an AU Jess.

Metaphysical by cjmarlowe
Long (78K word!) highly enjoyable AU that sets Sam and Dean in 1905 San Francisco (to start), in a steampunk universe, and retells the first season of the show (sort of). Very, very cool.

never my intention by killabeez
It's really over. The weight that came off his shoulders made him dizzy, made him want to lie back down on the bench seat and let the sun come up over him and cry like a fucking baby for a while, because who was left to see him? Castiel and his angel buddies were gone, for good as far as Dean knew. There wasn't a soul around for miles. If he wanted to lie there for a while and bawl his eyes out, he'd earned it. / In the end, the tears wouldn't come, but the relief stayed with him, washing over him in slow waves, and he lay on the cool leather, eyes closed, and felt about a million years old, so tired he wasn't sure if he'd ever move again. After the apocalypse is averted, Sam and Dean find their way back to each other. Lovely. (Wincest)

Paradise by the Dashboard Light by rivkat
Something weird's going on with the Impala, but Dean figures it out. Adorable.

Perennial by roque_clasique
Sharp look at Sam hunting on his own at Stanford, and the cracks in his relationship with Jess.

Scraped Knees and Bandaids by maychorian
Sam Winchester was a tough-as-shit adult hunter, and he didn't need anyone. / Except for sometimes. Aw, Sammy. Dean is so his mommy, and sometimes you just want your mommy.

~*~

Castle

The Thing About Mornings by fialka
Here's the thing about mornings: when you wake up, you have no idea if it's going to be the last. The last time you look in the mirror as you put on a little makeup, just enough so that you look like you've had more than three hours sleep. The last time you put your badge on your belt, and your gun in the holster in the small of your back. Last time you drink a cup of raw sewage instead of the good coffee from Castle's machine, because you still won't admit that yes, sometimes it's nice to have nice things. Beckett gets shot and Castle has to deal. Lovely.

~*~

Dark Angel

Behind Masks by miss_annthropic
Lovely look at Max and Alec after their conversation about Ben.

Love's Not A Competition (But I'm Winning) by amathela
"What do you think you're doing?" she demands, keeping her voice low. / He shrugs. "Your game, Maxie." / "It's not a game." / "Could have fooled me. I'm just playing along." / "There's playing along," she says, "and then there's being obnoxious." Tasty, tasty Max/Alec.

My Favorite Plum by azephirin
Adorable bit of domestic Max/Alec schmoop.

~*~

Firefly

Canary in a Coal Mine by 2ndary_author
Poignant, sharply observed story of Simon realizing that his old life is gone, that he's not the same man he was on Osiris; it has a palpable weight to it, like the boxes Simon rifles through. "Sometimes, wild birds will attack the more exotic ones," Simon had explained, just as his father had explained it to him when he'd started keeping them as pets. As a child, Simon had figured that heaven must be pretty much like the east balcony, where Father kept gloriously plumed pets in giant rosewood cages amid small fountains and greenery. As an adult…well, it was still a pretty thought. "Their bright colors attract predators to food sources and—" "They're different," River interrupted, her voice low but fierce enough to silence the others. "They're brighter. And stranger. They've been places, and they remember things. The other birds, the dull ones—they're jealous."

The Edges of Things by Jane St Clair
River and Simon have a vivid fantasy life. Sharp, sad, believable take on how Simon and River might rationalize what they do.

Full Circle, or, Two and a Half Loves for River Tam by carmarthen
"Love is a chemical reaction in the brain," she says, instead, miserably. "An involuntary interaction of pheromones and neurotransmitters." / Inara laughs her gentle Companion laugh and offers River a tea biscuit. "That's not very comforting when you're in love, is it?" Gorgeous, achy look at River learning about love.

Gather Me a Home by siriaeve
He learns to make do with what he's given, mostly; bunking down on old straw mattresses, helping to teach some of the kids from the Core how to fight, choking down food that's just this side of palatable. But Mal keeps a hold of some things from before, refusing to carry one of the regulation firearms everyone was given in their first week's training. Lovely look at Mal, during and after the war.

a theory of relativity by paperflowered
Lovely look at River's relationships with various members of Serenity's crew.

Touched, or Eight Fragments by lunabee34
Sometimes, when Serenity stops on a moon closer to the Core, Inara buys a burlap sack full of onions, a thick slab of strong cheese, and loaves of stale bread. Then she and Shepherd Book slice the onions so thinly she can read the maker's mark on her knife through their concentric rings. / Inara's eyes water, and she wipes them on the sleeve of her kimono, or else the finely woven handkerchief the Shepherd tucks beneath her bracelet with gentle fingers. His eyes water as well; they both look as if they are grieving a loss, but the galley is loud with their laughter and the metallic noises of their knives working. / Inara coats the skillet with rendered fat, and the onions' acrid bite turns rich and sweet in the recycled air. Beautifully clear, sharp look at Inara and her relationships with Serenity's other inhabitants.

~*~

Crossovers

Star Trek Reboot/Star Wars/Dune/Discworld

People Who Repair Quantums, or Five Planets The Enterprise Never Visited by ignipes
"So you're a drug-addicted messianic cult dedicated to drinking your own distilled urine so your descendants generations down the road can grow palm trees. How's that working out for you?" Awesome set of mini crossovers. Gets the voices just right.
*

Star Trek Reboot/Firefly

Symmetry in Orbit by betweenthebliss
Pavel has been waiting all his life for a friend like this. Between classes they debate derivative theoretics outside in the Academy's regal shadow, Pavel stretched out beneath a tree, River pacing barefoot with blades of grass tickling her ankles. The table in the alcove facing the ocean on the fourth floor of the library becomes theirs; they study until late at night beside the open window, listening to the sounds of the sea. On the weekends they take the BART to the beach, sharing a pair of headphones to tune in to the Vulcan Science Academy's weekly podcast, and Pavel walks in the surf with his pant legs rolled up, while ahead of him River dances joyfully with the waves. Chekov and River being BABY GENIUSES together at the Academy. *hearts*

~*~

Star Trek XI (Reboot)

A, E, I, O, U, and Always Y. by florahart
Adorable Kirk/McCoy with them being all BFF-y and encouraging the gossip about them on board the Enterprise.

At a Window by magstopia
"Your mother sounds like a wise and kind woman." His eyes fluttered shut as he nodded. "Her son is a reflection of all that is good in her." Beautiful and moving look at Uhura (and through her, Spock) after the battle of Vulcan.

delta delta vega by zarathuse
"So basically," Bones says, "it's just going to be you and a bunch of guys living together, and hanging out with each other all the time, and showering together, and getting trashed with each other every night, and then passing out next to each other." / "Yeah!" Jim beams enthusiastically behind his stupid glasses. / "Isn't that a little…homoerotic?" Kirk tries to start a frat at Starfleet Academy. Hilarity ensues. Even funnier if you've ever actually spent any time with fratboys.

Family by schweinsty
James Tiberius Kirk does not need a family. Lovely look at Kirk becoming captain and everyone else meshing to become his crew.

5 Times Kirk Didn't Spit It Out and One Time He Did by briecheesie
Exactly what it says on the tin. Lovely. Because Kirk ♥ his crew. (and Bones especially.)

Four Consequences of the Unexpected and Unlikely Friendship between James T. Kirk and Nyota Uhura by trisfic
When all else failed, Jim always came back to the Vulcan thing. Nyota didn't quite know why. She accused him of racism, which he reasonably countered with the fact that he had it on very good authority that he himself was capable of sustained emotional intimacy with her very boyfriend ("Oh really? This is the argument you're going to make, to me? He almost nervepinched you three times yesterday"). He had amply demonstrated his complete lack of discrimination when it came to his own partners, sometimes resulting in hungover mess hall discussions about his exciting new career of adventures among the stars. After a while she began to suspect Jim just found the word "Vulcan" to be really funny. Kirk and Uhura form an unlikely friendship. Uhura is awesome, Kirk is hilarious, and Scotty has a cameo that made me die with laughter.

From the Greek "xenos" by pogrebin
Nyota's favourite is a short paper written when Grayson was quite young. It is about the language of taboo and exclusion. Things unsaid, and things unsayable. Though the taboos themselves may differ, linguistic methods for dealing with them do not. Grayson postulates, rather cheekily, that euphemism and elision are universal phenomena. This is why Nyota Uhura picks xenolinguistics: the ways in which different cultures communicate might differ, but the ways in which they fail to communicate do not. She finds it strangely comforting that language makes them all alien to each other. Brilliant, sharp look at Uhura.

I Love You Like I Love Pizza by igrockspock
Gaila loves Jim Kirk the way she loves pizza: that is, more than everything else, but not to the exclusion of everything else. This is both adorable and amazingly sense-making.

In A Moment Close To Now by thistlerose
"I'm taking you out," said Jim, "if I have to sedate and drag you. Put the bourbon away. Get changed. Into something nice. Not too nice, though. Don't want anyone to think we're on a date." His sudden grin showed his teeth, almost blindingly white against his tanned skin. / "It's my birthday," McCoy said. "Shouldn't I be allowed to do whatever the hell I want?" / "You have to celebrate. Years from now – if you don't get burned to a crisp by a solar flare or sucked out of an airlock – you'll look back and wish to God you'd done something exciting for your thirtieth birthday. I know you will, because I'll be there and I'll keep reminding you." McCoy and Kirk are oblivious bffs who are really in love. Aw, boys.

in her aspect and her eyes by liviapenn
Spock and Uhura have an encounter in a bookstore. There is poetry and flirtation. Lovely.

Linguistics 101; or, Thirteen Ways To Say I Love You by loneraven
"Show them cross-cultural commonality, show them how we're all different and the same, show them how linguistic groups express themselves, in short: tell them how to proposition the galaxy. Ways To Say I Love You, 101." / Spock raised an eyebrow. "Nyota, while I fully endorse your objectives, I think this plan would be unwise." / "Not at all," she said, primly, standing up and clearing away the dishes. "All the ways to say, 'I love you'. It'll be a hit. I'll do you some research." Uhura/Linguistics=OTP! Really lovely look at Uhura and through her, the crew of the Enterprise.

A Long Way to a Terrible Joke by rawles
"Spock, seriously. You and Uhura. How did that happen?" Kirk finally asks the question. This is adorable.

The Love Boat by chaletian
"I think it's great that Starfleet doesn't have non-fraternisation rules for starships." Hee hee hee! It's almost like "La Ronde" for ST:XI, except hilarious, not depressing.

Lunch and Other Obscenities by rheanna27
Utterly wonderful look at how Uhura and Gaila became friends.

The Proper Treatment of Sexorexia by igrockspock
Gaila does not get her new roommate at all. They've been at school 3 whole weeks now, and she hasn't had sex with anyone. Not even once. She wonders if she should do something. Sex is as important as food, after all. If her roommate were anorexic, she should definitely try to help. Sex anorexia (sexorexia?) is probably just as bad and life-threatening. Plus, it seems to put her roommate in a really bad mood. The situation definitely calls for action. But what should she do? Gaila, attempting to become friends with Uhura.

Sooner or Later by r_becca
Really lovely Kirk/McCoy, with pining.

these old walkin' blues by ignipes
There's a heart of gold beneath McCoy's curmudgeonly exterior and here are five short glimpses of it. *sniffle*

~*~

Supernatural

and all things nice by kellifer_fic
Dean didn't think he would ever have been in a position where Sam having boobs wasn't the worst thing about a curse. A funny, sweet twist on the usual "one of the boys gets turned into a girl" trope.

At the start of all things by dotfic
Just like Palo Alto, only the fire is blinding and cool, and Dean has to work harder, use his full body weight to shove, muscles in his arms straining, pulling Sam towards the crypt door. In Palo Alto, he'd been able to lift Sam. *sniffle* Oh, boys... Lovely, achy coda to 4.22.

Bounded in a Nutshell by teand
Sam and Dean, in the aftermath of averting the apocalypse. Oh, boys. *smishes them*

Coin by whereupon
Outside the sky is the same steel grey of the tray that housed the body, and Dean is still too pale. Sam wants to know what it was, wants to know why. Wants to know if he remembers now, if he remembers being torn apart, having his heart ripped from his body. If he remembers choking on his own blood and how long it took to die. / It's not fair that Dean won't tell him. Dean did it for him and won't tell him anything, denies that he remembers, pretends the nightmares are nothing. / Dean did it for him and he won't let Sam help at all. Sharp, heartbreaking story set after Yellow Fever; good look into Sam's head in early season 4.

Got Your Back by embroiderama
Dean worries himself sick after the shtriga attack on Sam. Should be read with the sequel, Getting Home, which features wee!Sammy as the best little brother ever. Oh, boys...

Hairstreaks and Metalmarks by innie_darling
Kids are disappearing, so Dean goes undercover to find out what's taking them. Lovely and melancholy.

Hard As It Seems by lavendergaia
Mary is sorry too. She's sorry every day that she wakes up alone and wonders what life could be like if she didn't let her pride overwhelm her happiness. Mary doesn't take the deal. Smart, painful and true.

Have a Sip in the Sunshine by apgeeksout
Kentucky has a Derby, Sam has a birthday, and Dean has a betting philosophy. Sigh. A happy moment before Sam leaves for Stanford. Oh, boys...

I wanna see the others on the big top five by irnan
Here's the thing: Dean really likes Bruce Springsteen. It's a terrible thing to admit for someone who wears a battered leather jacket and drives a Chevy Impala and has this Midwestern drawl thing goin' on that he can't seem to get rid of, although he's also the first to admit he's never tried too hard, but the fact is that liking Springsteen makes him, as Sammy would put it, a walking cliché of an American blue collar working class guy, and Dean hates being a cliché. Dean, in a record store, musing about music and life.

Jig Is Up, News Is Out by desertport
Sam has always prided himself on Not Freaking Out. Dad hands you a Glock and says be careful not to shoot your brother when you take down the closet monster? Well, either you freak out or you don't, and Sam had not. Adorable post-Nightshifter coda in which Dean is, well, Dean and Sam is certainly not freaking out.

Legerdemain by dreamlittleyo
"I don't know how I'm doing it," he says. His shoulders are stiff as he shrugs. "Some kind of subconscious suggestion, maybe? All I know is the world is suddenly bending over backward to give me what I want." Dean snorts and says, "Dude. If these are your secret desires, you're even more boring than I thought." Aw, boys. Sam's powers come with an unexpected side effect they both have to deal with. Lovely. (wincest)

Like you used to do by kathickers
really lovely look at girl!Sam, growing up and circling away and then back to Dean, always back to Dean. I enjoyed this a lot. The line's getting shorter and she starts getting butterflies in her tummy. She thinks about going to play on the swings instead, but Dean had told her that tummy butterflies only flutter when they can't breathe, and if she just takes a few big breaths, they'll settle down and go back to sleep. She takes four big breaths before it's her turn to climb the ladder. (girl!Sam/Dean)

others can pick and choose if you can't by ephemerall
It scares her sometimes how little she can get enough of Dean, and it terrifies her to think about what that means for the rest of her life. Lovely bit of girl!Sam/Dean, just prior to her leaving for Stanford.

Outside the Storm by vanillafluffy
Sam and Dean come down with the flu, and John isn't quite sure how to deal. Lovely look at the boys when they're young that also ties into the larger world of the show.

Sam's Best Friends He Doesn't Know About by clex_monkie89
It's lovely to think about all the people Sam's helped helping him out in their own ways, while he's at Stanford.

Shop Life by infraredphaeton
Jack is the cool older uncle that Darryl never had, has been since he'd skulked his way into Jack's shop at the age of thirteen, totally determined that whatever had killed his aunt sure as shit wasn't gonna kill his little brother. Jack'd taken one look at him, raised an eyebrow, and said, matter of fact, "werewolf?" Cool outsider POV futurefic. Ignore the dialogue formatting issues.

so many of them by velvetine01
Soft, slow, lovely first time fic. (Wincest, rated R, but I think it's a pg-13 at most)

This Is How It Is by cofax7
Time moves forward. Some things change: other things don't. That's how life is, when the world doesn't end. Oh, I needed that after 4.21. Sam and Dean, after it's all over, finding each other again. Oh, boys...

Walking Backwards by paxlux
All the traveling without hunting makes Sam nervous. As if he's guilty of shirking something. As if he's forgotten something. As if he's forgetting. Achingly gorgeous look at Sam on the road as he makes his way to Stanford.

with chains upon my feet by velvetine01
Dean doesn't remember when Sammy got this beautiful. He could swear it was an overnight occurrence, like she went to bed a lanky teenaged girl with flat hair and a flatter chest, and woke up with more curves than a coke bottle and a silently defiant expression plastered on the stricter lines of her face. The soft, babyish curve of her jaw turned razor sharp like her cheekbones, the slow slope of her brow set with in permanent concentration are all new, are all damningly pretty in their own way. Sharp, achy girl!Sam/Dean UST.

With Wandering Steps and Slow by patita_fea
"Why'd you come to me?" / "Because I thought you would let me." / "And if I hadn't?" / Anna takes a moment before she answers. "I never thought it through that far." / Dean rolls his eyes in disgust. Achingly lovely look at Dean in the aftermath, from Anna's POV.

you and me and the pillows make three by wanttobeatree
Because pillow forts are ALWAYS the right answer, even when you're dealing with the apocalypse. Aw, boys.

~*~

So I apparently have a weakness for gen team humor fic in this fandom. And McCoy, but I knew about that part.

Star Trek XI (Reboot)

and you take me the way i am by londondrowning
It's kind of strange, being friends with a woman, with no sexual charge underneath it. Jim doesn't have that much experience in making friends. Especially not with a woman. But Bones is cranky and sarcastic, and she can trash talk him all day long, but underneath the gruffness, he knows that she likes him. Knows she respects him, and it's more than mutual. Excellent girl!Bones/Kirk story - they're BFF and something more. ♥

A Brief History of Lt (j.g.) Gaila Aboard the USS Enterprise (NCC 1701) by taraljc
Exactly what it says on the tin. Lovely. For a character who was barely in the movie, I love all the fic about Gaila.

cut and fucking paste by crimsonclad
"Why did you never inform me of-- of what you know about me?" Spock doesn't get flustered too often, or vague, so Jim reluctantly guesses that he's talking about the potentially creepy erotic dreams he's been having for, oh, six months. / "Hey, not about you! Exactly! Most of that is about...you know, the other you. Grandpa you. And it isn't me, anyway, it's the dead long lost me who was exactly like me in every way." Hee! The mindmeld is fucking with Kirk's head. I enjoyed this a lot. And its sequel, edit: "Mr. Scott. What is the one thing I hate more than anything else in the entire universe?" / Cringing, Scotty's eyes turn even more apologetic than before. "Having your pain and personal life being made into fodder for the shipwide gossip mill, sir?" / Jim feels his expression turn baffled. "Dude, have we met? No, fuck, I hate being left out of the loop, you know that! Look, I get that the crew wants to gossip about their senior officers. That's cool-- fun tradition. But Scotty! I thought we were Delta Vega bros forever! We almost got tattoos together! Forward me all the good stuff, okay? No one's going to get in trouble, jeez. Unless they say racist shit about Vulcans, because, you know, fuck that noise." / Scotty frowns. "You-- want to be in the loop. Of gossip. About you." Hilarious.

the doctor is out by malleablyfic
Some people, when they study medicine, develop a mild form of hypochondria. It's understandable. Suddenly being informed of all the myriad ways you could die - of all the ways the human body can break down - well, it can be a little disconcerting. McCoy never considered himself particularly soft, though there are certain things - flying objects (particularly being in them), snakes, constricted spaces and clowns - that rattle him and do fit the symptomatic bill for being dubbed "phobias". Which is of course ironic given his current situation - working in a small, constrictive flying thing with a bunch of clowns. Damn space. Damn Starfleet. Damn it all to hell. I enjoyed this look at McCoy a lot (could use a good beta).

First Time by moryssa
Lovely look at Uhura and Gaila's friendship.

the fistbump is non-optional by mekosuchinae
"In brief, Mr Spock," Kirk said. "Can you bust us out?" / Spock sighed. "Correct," he said. "I am capable of 'busting us out.'" / "Dude," Kirk said, hefting his fist. "Fistbump." / "I apologize, Captain, but I must refrain," said Spock. "I have seen where your hands have been and until you have sterilized the effected areas, preferably on a subdermal level, I do not wish to be in contact with any portion of your anatomy." Ahahahahaha! *dies* Kirk, Bones and Spock in rare form.

A Formal Dance in the Bowling Alley by loneraven
Wonderful look at the crew of the Enterprise, through the eyes of their new captain. Great Kirk voice, too.

Four Times Jim Kirk and Lenore McCoy Didn't Fuck by telesilla
girl!Bones pegs Kirk. *glee*

his keeper by mekosuchinae
Bones has to rescue Kirk after a drunken night out. Hilarity ensues. Really gets McCoy's voice right.

How to Avoid Kicking Puppies and Other Valuable Lessons in Leadership by sparky77
Kirk slouches in his chair and sighs. McCoy will give him this; the man is a champion at slouching. There's something about the way he slouches that seems to be saying, 'I could be sitting straight, but the universe just couldn't handle the awesomeness of me being fully upright in this chair.' It's a lot to say in just the way he sits. It's impressive. Ahahahahahaha! Kirk tries to be an authority figure, with hilarious results.

It Takes A Village by chaletian
"Live with it, Captain. You got any idea of the paperwork Starfleet'll make me fill out if you die on this godforsaken tin can? I'm keeping you alive till you're eighty." / "Fine, mom," says Jim, and McCoy scowls. / "No more swords." / There's always more swords. Adorable look at life on the Enterprise from McCoy's POV. And its various sequels: Birds Do It, Bees Do It, Even Post-Pubescent Russians Do It, in which Kirk attempts to give Chekov The Talk and hilarity ensues. There's more hilarity in Faites Vos Jeux // Rien Ne Va Plus: It's not like anyone on Enterprise has a gambling problem – except maybe Scotty and his incomprehensible belief in his own talents at poker – but there's always someone willing to take a bet Hee! And This Story Is Not Humorous, which is about Spock, learning to fit in (not that he'd admit he was doing any such thing). Spock reflects, as he mounts the transporter pad, that he is aware of many of the 'in-jokes' on Enterprise. It is a novel experience. He is not sure how he feels about it.

Me And Crazy Janey by cidercupcakes
Hot, cute girl!Kirk/Bones story.

Murphy's Law of Jim Kirk Diplomacy by _seven_crows
"Gonna stitch me up?" asks Kirk. / "That's the plan," says McCoy. / "Without anesthetic?" / "You see any anesthetic?" asks McCoy. "If it makes you feel any better, it won't hurt worse than anything that's already happened to you." / "Somehow that's not very comforting," says Kirk, wincing as McCoy begins to stitch. After a diplomatic mission goes wrong, Kirk, Spock and McCoy wait in a damaged shuttle for the Enterprise to pick them up. Lovely, funny look at the growing friendship between them.

notes on captaining a starship by calapine
"I want to know every detail about my ship, Lieutenant, every nuance, every quirk. I want to be able to find my way round blindfolded and know what speed she's going by the vibrations in the deck-plating. And that includes knowing how the communications console works." Adorable look at Kirk learning to be a captain.


Paradise Found by skywaterblue
There were a dizzying number of Federation ships and stations she was passed through, one human hand guiding her shoulder to her next caretaker. They were all women, though, that she remembers - that and at the time she thought they must all be different species to be so many colors. She doesn't even remember their names because it was back when English still sounded like gibberish and they hadn't found a portable translator unit that knew Orion. Lovely, achy backstory for Gaila.

Parts of a Whole by schweinsty
His friends have got his back. He doesn't need more of a guarantee than that. Lovely look at the crew of the Enterprise.

Taking the slower path (we'll get there in the end) by black_eyedgirl
He is somewhat reluctant to admit it, but he and Spock still aren't actually friends. Jim doesn't fight with him any more – they work together well enough on the bridge, and there have been no punches thrown since that first time. When he turns to Spock after Scotty (or, God help him, Chekov) has explained something that would be incomprehensible even without the accent, Spock translates. He's even lost about fifty-percent of the mild condescension. Jim can deal with the other fifty-percent; he's had enough women berate him for his arrogance to understand a healthy pride in your own abilities. Wonderful look at Kirk's first year as captain of the Enterprise, and his growing friendship with Spock. I especially like the crew interaction.

Things Unsaid by idea_of_sarcasm
Four times Spock Couldn't Say 'I love you'; One time he tried (and one time he did). Utterly gorgeous look at Spock and his relationships through the years.

A Thousand Words for Snow by taraljc
Vulcans have no word for "lover". Gorgeous meditation on language and love from Uhura's POV.

The Word for World Is-- by laurajv
Humans would've named the planet New Earth and the places things like New Africa or New Russia. Vulcans did no such thing; they named the planet Vik: the well in the desert. They named the continents Ashv'cezh, Laktra, and Vrekasht: Revenge, Grief, and Outcast. Lovely meditation on how the Vulcans might rebuild.

~*~

Crossovers

Supernatural/Criminal Minds

Defect by kikkimax
Late season 3 AU. To keep himself out of trouble, Dean lets himself get caught by the FBI. So much awesome in this story. Dean bonding with Reid and Gideon and flirting with Garcia. *hearts* And its awesome sequel, Hell, and Back, in which Dean's not doing so well upon his return from hell, and Sam thinks talking to Jason Gideon will help. I enjoyed both of these stories a lot.

*

Supernatural/Harry Potter

January Girl by parenthetical
Highly enjoyable SPN/HP crossover, where the war against Voldemort isn't over and while Dean's on a hunt (while Sam's at Stanford), he runs into Luna and ends up teaming up with her on the search for a horcrux. Really wonderful characterization and interaction between them (a little British for Dean in places, but not too jarring).

~*~

Sarah Connor Chronicles

Eschatology by charlie_d_blue
John still see echoes of Cameron everywhere. Not just in the face of Allison, which he can barely stand to look at; a face so full of emotion and movement that it grates on his nerves, sends shudders of wrongness down his spine. The girl from Palmdale is a constant reminder that Cameron stole Allison's skin, that she is (was) a changeling, a kind of advanced Frankenstein that was only ever crafted after living flesh. It troubles him that even after everything, he still considers that body Cameron's, that somewhere deep and visceral, he feels that Cameron's right to that shape and form supersedes Allison's own. Chilling, perfect look at John in the world after the s2 finale.

Every Time Is the First Time by vehemently
THERE ARE AS MANY DEREKS AS THERE ARE POSSIBLE FUTURES. John knuckles sleep out of his eyes. "That's a lot," he says out loud. INFINITY IS A LOT, says the intelligence. John, on the run with Cameron (and John Henry), and he keeps sending Derek back. Fascinating and fantastic. And not a little chilling.

~*~

Bones

five things Booth thinks about when he's driving home at night by fahye
Even the crappiest days come to an end. So now he's on his way home listening to the engine sing steak steak steak with occasional interjections from the indicator which sound like beer beer beer because there's a bottle waiting for him at home, too, a bottle of ice-cold beer that's going to hit the back of his throat before it has time to warm up even the tiniest bit. Awesome look at Booth, and through him, Brennan.

~*~

Iron Man

Firefighter by awanderingbard
"You must be Pepper Potts. You are very tall. I like your shoes. You could probably kill someone with those heels. Come in." / He turned and walked away. She followed after him, her shoes echoing loudly in the cavernous space. / "Virginia," she said, hurrying to catch up. "Virginia Potts." / He stopped, suddenly and she nearly ran into him. "Are you sure? 'Cause I thought Obi said 'Pepper'. I like Pepper. Pepper is cute, it's fun. It sounds like a 1930's detective's girlfriend. Pepper is the reason you got this interview." / "Pepper is a nickname," she explained. "You can call me Pepper, if you want, sir." / "Don't be ridiculous," he said. "That would be completely unprofessional. I'll call you Miss Potts." Pepper's job interview. Adorable.

~*~

Middleman

The Juice Box (Truth Bomb) Debacle by cereal
"You are far, far from an open book, ace. I'm just saying, it doesn't worry you that I could ask, oh, say, about girls? You wouldn't flinch?" / "If these girls were a part of the San Dimas Junior High Student Council Spirit Death Squad, I may very well flinch a little. They are tougher than they look." A truth bomb goes off in the locker room, while Wendy and the Middleman are stuck inside. Adorable.

~*~

Calvin & Hobbes
Theories About Nuclear Winter by hollycomb
Oh my god, this story - I got sniffly several times, because it's so true to who Calvin would grow up to be - sad and inevitable except totally not because of who he is and how he doesn't fit in school, and Susie waiting and not wanting to wait, loving him and not wanting to love him. And his efforts to make it work, all the while knowing what a fuck-up he is, are heartbreaking and hopeful all at the same time. Fantastic. Highly recommended. In fact, you should go read it now. I'll wait.

"I had detention," he says, sliding across the machine and closer to her. The color of her hair is enough to convince him that the world was actually designed to make him happy after all. He can't even come up with a word for it; it's dark but warm, and it's hers so it's perfect. This has definitely never happened to him before.

"Of course you did," she says.

"You don't get it," he says. "I'm fighting the forces of evil to be with you."

She smiles so big that the roof seems to blow off, and he grabs her shoulders sort of involuntarily. She laughs.

"That's the first thing I've heard you say in two days that actually sounds like you," she says.

~*~

Supernatural

Be Washed of Your Sins by azephirin
"Samuel Winchester, I baptize you in my father's name. Be washed of your sins and begin a new life." // "Amen," says Sam Lovely.

Desert Day by sinatro
Spare, sad, and lovely look at teenage Sam.

Happy Ending by chash
Ahahahahaha! Hilarious meta-fic tag for a hilariously meta episode.

I Found the Safest Place to Keep All Our Tenderness by chash
Heartbreaking, sharp coda to 4.16. Dean's never been fragile before.

I Knew That There Could Only Be One Outcome by chash
AU where Sam and Dean are conmen (well, for a living, not to pay for hunting) and Sam has a really frustrating crush on Dean and then Bela enters the picture and hilarity ensues. (Wincest)

let the walls around me burn by katriel1987
Sam will - and does - go to any lengths to save Dean. Very cool story.

a little bit of fly right down by kalquessa
For Dean's money, you don't need wings or jet engines or any of that crap to fly. All you need is some empty interstate, a successful hunt in your rear-view mirror, some Zeppelin, a brother asleep on the seat next to you, and a '67 Chevy Impala with the windows rolled down. Beautiful, achy series of vignettes about Sam and Dean and flying.

Meidung by july_july_july
Sequel to Rumspringa (previously recced), from John's POV. *sniffle* John may be a dumbass, but at least he knows he's being a dumbass.

Nowadays by celtic_cookie
Coming off nearly a year crisscrossing the southeast and Texas will leave a guy with a certain twang to his voice that makes the Stanford legacy boys look straight through him. Sam signed up for elocution classes. Sam, making himself over for Stanford, and then again during season 1. Lovely.

Riptide by minim_calibre
Mary was a hunter, until she was not. Mary, becoming a civilian. Lovely and achy.

Running with Scissors by dreamlittleyo
Dean always chooses scissors, and Sam finally figures out why. Lovely. *sighs happily* (wincest - the author rates it R, but I'd call it PG at most for some kissing)

transfixed but not transformed by i_speak_tongue
Anna visits Dean in the hospital, and brings him some small comfort. Lovely.

words for snow by wanttobeatree
"You drank demon blood," he shouts through the keyhole. "You owe me a million first showers for that shit. You owe me foot rubs. You should be out here right now baking me a fucking cake." Gorgeous, funny, bittersweet and hopeful story of Sam and Dean after they've stopped the world from ending. (wincest)

Working Man by southwindow
Lovely coda to 4.17, in which Dean and Sam exchange their stories of normality. Just what the end of the episode needed. Sigh.

Your Kiss Left Me a Bloody Mess by withdiamonds
Five times Dean kissed Sam. Utterly heartbreaking and true.

~*~

Sarah Connor Chronicles

the mermaids singing, each to each by siriaeve
Catherine Weaver reads The Little Mermaid to her daughter. Sharp look at Weaver, gets her chilly pragmatism just right.

Seven Sunday Mother-Daughter Mornings by hradzka
Sharp, chilling look at the world where Catherine Weaver has won, and Savannah is grown up.

~*~

Middleman

The Bellicose Doppelganger Auter-ization by jengrrrl
Absolutely hilarious story in which Lacey is kidnapped and Wendy and the Middleman have to save her. Clever and quippy, just like the show.

It's All About the Cream Filling by monimala
"What's it like when you 'long'?" Somehow, she pictures elevator music and cartoon hearts flying through the air, but she's not about to tell him that. Incredibly sweet and yet not sappy Wendy/Middleman fic.

The Modern Courtship Conundrum by sloanesomething
Ida frowns. "Don't think I was activated yesterday, missy. I see what's happening here. You just keep in mind that you and the Middleman are professional partners – he's Batman and you're Robin, and that's the end of THAT story." // "You've clearly never read a Batman comic," Wendy mutters. Utterly adorable Wendy/Middleman fic.

The Ursine Therianthrope Divination by kaneko
After leaving the Navy, he went back to civilian life and became the kind of man he'd always admired. There was nothing complicated about it. He didn't cuss. He called women 'ma'am' and men 'sir'. Every time he bought milk instead of beer, it was a choice - but it was a simple choice. // And when he was recruited to the Middle organization, the role fitted over his new self like a glove. This story is sheer elegance in its simplicity! I mean, it's absolutely fantastic, with great MM-WW interaction, and a wonderful backstory for this Middleman. Wonderful. Highly recommended.

we're the umbrella (in a rain of fire) by _seven_crows
"So, let me get this straight: an evil government supercomputer derived partly from scraps of technology gathered from failed supervillain plots and partly from salvaged alien technology far beyond our puny human comprehension has gone crazy, created itself a body, developed a random and inexplicable fixation with the samurai bushido code, and vowed to destroy this honorless world and all its insignificant inhabitants. Does that sound about right?" // "Not only does it sound right, Dubbie, but it sounds like some of the best synopsizing I've ever heard," says the Middleman. "Frankly, I'm impressed." Five times Wendy and the Middleman saved the world. Sounds just like the show. Adorable.

~*~

Leverage

Catch Me If You Can by dotfic
After The Second David Job, Hardison tracks Parker down. Adorable. *glee*

The Epiphany Job by shrift
Alec tried very hard not to think about all the information that was out there, currently being denied him. All his email, television shows, new comics issues, the games, and news about expansion packs. It was going to be impossible to catch up on all his RSS feeds if they didn't get power back soon. It was enough to give him the shakes. Utterly adorable and in-character first time Hardison/Eliot. ♥

Faint Heart Never Won Fair Lady by hackthis
"I wish they still made Jell-o pops," she says, holding two red popsicles over her shoulder. // When he turns around, Hardison's giving Eliot an unwrapped popsicle. "What ever happened to Jell-o pops?" Eliot says. // Hardison sighs, slurping on his popsicle. "Jell-o pops were the bomb." Parker decides to ask out Maggie (Nate's Maggie, though Parker disputes that). Hilarity ensues. Mostly Parker/Hardison/Eliot banter, which is awesome.

Friends are a lot like plants by amaresu
Adorable story in which Parker asks Hardison for some advice on how friendship works.

It's All So Clear to Me Now by fools_game
They hung out at Hardison's mostly. Eliot was paranoid and messy, and Parker wasn't set up for guests, but Hardison had his great big shiny loft and way more space than anybody could possibly need. // They watched spy movies a lot, heist and action movies, mostly for the entertainment value. The night they watched the fourth Die Hard movie, Parker laughed so hard she slid off the couch and giggled helplessly into her knees, Eliot had to excuse himself to the bathroom every twenty minutes, and Hardison got extremely drunk and swore a lot. Lovely look at the team through Parker's eyes.

when come back bring pie by liviapenn
"I'll come!" Parker repeated impatiently. "Then you'll be cooking for three...? And Hardison doesn't have to put out...? Unless you want to," she said, and Alec did not even know what that look in her eye was. "Do you want to? Is this awkward? Should I uninvite myself? I could just stay home. I have Hot Pockets." // "Oh, Jesus Christ," Eliot burst out, and so that was how everybody ended up invited to Alec's for Thanksgiving, except for Nate, who was probably gonna get all his calories for the day from a bottle of Scotch, and Sophie, who explained that it wasn't her holiday anyway. Utterly adorable Parker/Hardison/Eliot, with PIE.

~*~

Firefly

Fair in Love and War by 2ndary_author
"But I’m not the type to marry a man can’t find his way back to me. So you’d best stop sulking and decide if that’s like to be a problem." / "I would’ve, you know. I always will," Wash says, finally. / "Would’ve what?" / “Found my way back. " Wah! Wash! *sniffle* This is a lovely look at Wash and Zoe just post-War Stories.

~*~

Dark Angel

The Farthest Thunder That I Heard Was Nearer Than the Sky by alyse
She didn't want to fight with him, not tonight. Not even with the energy - electricity - singing through her. There were other things she wanted to do instead; vague, unformed thoughts she didn't examine too closely. But not fight, not tonight. Flight, maybe. Or fuck. Thunderstorms and racing through the street - Max and Alec and hot, hot transgenic sex, with all their baggage attached.

From A to Z II: D is for Date by nickeldime_17
A few years after "Freak Nation," Max gets an invitation to Logan and Asha's wedding. She ends up taking Alec as her date, and has an epiphany. Quiet and lovely. *dreamy sigh*

You're a War I Don't Want To Lose by ranalore
Fuck Manticore for everything but this, the adrenaline flowing and her green-eyed boy smiling at her like the most beautiful dare in the world. Sharp, smart, in character Max/Alec kissage. *hearts*

~*~

Life

Destination Unknown by romanticalgirl
Ficlet about Charlie and Dani in the aftermath of the finale. It happened just like this. *nods firmly*

Hand Picked by romanticalgirl
Ted didn’t believe in conspiracy theories. He didn’t believe in aliens or fake moon landings. He believed things were what they appeared to be, because it was easier that way. Charlie made it clear that things weren’t always what they seemed. Ted and Charlie, becoming friends in prison.

~*~

Burn Notice

Life After by lyl_devil
After a plague decimates the US, Michael finds himself basically running post-apocalyptic Miami. Very cool story. Could use a good beta - there are some inexplicable typos and tense issues, but not enough to stop me from reading and enjoying.

Robin Hood of South Beach by boosette
Michael, Fi and Sam banter over the morning news, in which they figure prominently after foiling a bank heist. Highly enjoyable, sounds just like the show.

~*~

Bones

moments like these (and many in between) by torigates
Brennan used to think there were a number of ways this could happen between them. In the end, when it comes down to it, really comes down to it, there’s only one: when Brennan kissed Booth, he kissed her back. Lovely, hot first kiss between Booth and Brennan. Really gets her voice right. *happy sigh*

~*~

Battlestar Galactica

But You And I, We've Been Through That by butterflykiki
Laura and Kara watch over their people. Lovely. (finale spoilers)

~*~

Crossovers

The Outsiders/Supernatural

Outside by baylorsr
Ponyboy knew that everyone thought it was Soda, that it had been the last straw and that he was just broken now, in some fundamental way that couldn’t be fixed. Well, he knew that’s what Darry thought, at least, and Darry was the only person whose opinion mattered in the least to Ponyboy anymore. But it wasn’t Soda. Well, at least not directly. Ponyboy takes up the hunting life. Melancholy and beautiful.

~*~

Supernatural

About That Story by debbiel66
I really enjoyed this look at Sam from the POV of Mr. Wyatt, the teacher in Afterschool Special. Feels really true to both of them.

Animal Farm by rinkle
Sam gets turned into a fluffy duckie. Dean deals. Adorable.

The Arithmetic of Damnation by cjmarlowe
Today is not my thirtieth birthday, no matter what your calendar says. I might look thirty, and my joints and skin and teeth might feel thirty, but I'm not thirty. Today I'm seventy years old. Forty years is forty years no matter where or how you spend it. Oh, Dean. Short, but packs a real punch.

Burn Your Life Down by zooey_glass04
Dean does manage to change things in 1973, and Mary gets her safe, normal life. For a while. Really interesting AU version of the Winchesters, and how they come back to hunting in the end.

Come Hell or High Water by mimblexwimble
He doesn't know what Dean's thinking. This saving people thing, this hero complex, isn't new, but it's grown to disturbing levels. Sam doesn't know where it'll end, or with what, and at this point, he's not sure what Dean's intentions actually are: save as many innocents as he can, or get himself killed in the process. Dean's unravelling and Sam doesn't know how to fix it.

The Drowning Chain by july_july_july
Fifty yards turned out to be kind of a long way down. It wasn't until yard number ten that Dean started to re-think his plan. At yard twenty, he remembered it was a little late for that. At yard forty, he decided that if he pulled this off, it was totally gonna be worth it. Just for the story. Yard forty five: he straightened up, pinched his nose shut with his left hand, and closed his eyes tight. Fantastic, heartbreaking story of Dean v. a sea monster.

Easy as Pie by pandarus
"Well how was I supposed to know, Sammy? It was pie! A hot chick giving away free pie!" // "Free evil pie." // "Pie, Sammy," protests Dean, plaintively. "Pie!" he sounds like he's been betrayed by his one true love. Utterly adorable.

Good Morning by toldthestars
Short, lovely meditation on how Sam and Dean deal with having a sexual relationship. (Wincest. obviously.)

Holding Pattern by innie_darling
Adorable missing scene from Phantom Traveler. Dean's ordeal with air travel is not quite over yet.

Never Speak of This by sabaceanbabe
Lovely, melancholy Dean/Bela coda to Red Sky at Morning.

that karma thing by whereupon
Bite me, Cthulhu. Sam and Dean hunt a sea monster, but what makes this story is the lovely Lovecraftian narration. (Wincest, which feels completely unnecessary, but it's g-rated so...)

Unbroken Chain by topaz119
After the end of everything, Sam takes Dean to Europe. Lovely.

When You Think He's Half Asleep by teand
"You got quite the rumble in the engine there, big guy. Oh yeah, that feels good, doesn't it." Sam could feel the tips of his ears start to heat up. His brother was on his lap being felt up by a state trooper. Okay, his brother was currently a cat but somehow that didn't help. Dean gets turned into a cat. Hilarity ensues. Well, hilarity for us. After the first few minutes, Sam's not really laughing.

Wordsmith by erinrua
Sam + Dean + guns + target practice = love.

A Yarn by the_oscar_cat
Dean knits. *heart*

your home becomes a freeway by ephemerall
She's not sure what she's doing here with them, now, because there's no real reason to be. There isn't anything on her radar for now, and they don't have a job that needs her kind of help. If she's honest with herself, she's here to be near them, mostly Sam, but she's never been good with honesty, anyway. Ruby, and her place, or lack of one, with Sam and Dean. Sharp and heartbreaking. (Sam/Ruby, Dean/Ruby, Sam/Dean)

~*~

Crossovers

Narnia/Lord of the Rings

Ere Yet We Loose the Legions by bedlamsbard
Highly enjoyable and workable LotR/Narnia crossover. The Uruk-hai pursue Eomer's eored into Narnia. High King Peter is not pleased.

*

Firefly/Supernatural

Time When . . . by tassosss
Wonderfully warm and hopeful story of how Zoe gets knocked up (by Dean Winchester!), and how that changes everything. There's some minor Zoe/Dean (obviously), but it's not about that at all. More of a Firefly story than a Supernatural one, could be read without knowing SPN canon, really. Lovely. (Could use another beta pass.)

*

Leverage/Supernatural

Love Bipolar by nilchance
Young Parker meets the Winchesters. I really enjoyed this.

The Zuul Job by harriet_spy
Adorable snip of a Leverage/SPN crossover - Bela and Parker are after the same artifact. It goes about as well as you'd expect.

*

Supernatural/The Graveyard Book

They are not all saints by ultraviolet9a
Fantastic crossover with Ihe Graveyard Book, gets Silas's voice just right.

*

Supernatural/The Time Traveler's Wife

Barefoot Girl by kalquessa
Lovely, delicate, moving crossover with The Time Traveler's Wife, which I haven't read, but this worked for me anyway. Dean and Alba's many meetings.

~*~

Indiana Jones

like midnight by medie
Lovely, delicate missing scene from Indy IV. There's plenty of blame to go around and she's not pushing any on him. Not with a boatload of it ready to land on her.

~*~

Leverage

The Underwire Job by brown_betty and emeraldwoman
Parker goes to Eliot for help in wooing Hardison. Absurdly adorable and practically perfect in every way. ♥ ♥ ♥

~*~

Life

It goes like this, the fourth, the fifth by eglow23
Her prince steps away from her and as the paramedics move in she realizes she was wrong: he's not the prince, he's the witch, come disguised as a sweet old woman selling fruit. He's going to hurt her father. He did this to me! she shouts, and it comes out feeble and shaky but it seems to do the trick. She fades away again, dreaming of poisoned apples and a cursed corset that squeezes the life out of her. Excellent, fucked up Charlie/Rachel.

~*~

Veronica Mars

too soon too strong by obv_hot_mess
Interesting AU in which Keith dies young and Veronica grows up a PCHer. Sharp and lovely and full of good old Veronica/Weevil UST.

~*~

Bones

The Art of Off-Topic by fivil
Sweet ficlet in which Zack tries to connect and Angela helps. Lovely.

~*~

The Cutting Edge

the ugliness you see (to the left, the fallout) by bantha_fodder
He loves her more than the ice, and he sniffs her, just to prove it. Awesome Kate/Doug fic. What more do I need to say?

~*~

Dark Angel

The Here and Now by azephirin
Mmm...heat fic. Hot and sweet and a little funny, just like Max and Alec.

~*~

Gilmore Girls

I Don't Know Why Sometimes I Get Frightened by shaye
Luke and Lorelai attempt to go on a date. It goes about as well as can be expected. Adorable and sounds just like them. "I think," Lorelai panted as Luke's hand snaked under the hem of her spaghetti-stained top, "maybe we should just skip the dating and go straight to the kissing next time."

~*~