Recs Extra: The Ones that Got Away
Time to air a dirty secret of mine: there are stories that I enjoy so much that I have read them multiple times even though they have never been finished. And call me crazy, but I wanted to share some of them.
If, like me, you enjoy this kind of exquisite torture, look under the cut for some wonderful fics that died before their time.
So freaking good it kills me they aren't finished:
"All This Time" by megan1300 (megan0013)
[PG-13, Tony, McGee/Ziva, past Tony/Ziva]
Summary: He wants to scream at her until his voice is raw; to shake her and make her understand the depth of her betrayal.
KEW note: This is a prime example of a fic that was going places. In just three chapters it managed to pack in an awesome action scene, romance, jealousy, great scenes between Tony and Abby and Tony and Vance, and a hell of a cliffhanger.
"China" by Cath1
[PG-13, ensemble, (eventual Tony/Ziva though not in the finished chapters), case fic]
Summary: The NCIS team investigate the murder of a lonely petty officer.
KEW note: This is a solid fic by a strong writer that reads very much like an NCIS episode, but it's the interesting victim and the theme of longing that bumps this a cut above your average case fic. Definitely one I wish had been finished.
"Blank" by Prissy and Bregan
[PG-13, Tony/Ziva, Ziva/Damon Werth, future fic, takes off from canon after 6x25 "Aliyah"]
Summary: Saleem stands over Ziva with insidious intent in his eyes. Her knife gleams in his hand. She can barely pray to live for another day. Waking up, it is ten years in the future. Her mind is blank and she doesn't remember life after her aliyah to Israel.
KEW note: This is a very original fic where the writer deals with the events of the end of season 6 in a completely different way and time, and does a fantastic job of creating a fully formed, multi-layered world. This story has lovely, long, meaty chapters and I only wish there were more of them!
"Transitional States Part 3: Slouches Towards Bethlehem" by Rigil Kent (rigil_kent)
[NC-17, Tony/Ziva, AU from 4x03 "Singled Out", livejournal link]
Summary: Eighteen months after the end of the undercover operation that blew up in their face, life has settled into a routine for Tony and Ziva ... but things are about to change dramatically.
KEW note: If only, if only, if only this trilogy would one day be completed. I respect the author for not wanting to write an epic for a show he no longer particularly enjoys, but these stories are so good and so action packed and balance the use of all the characters so well that it's a great shame that this one is on the scrap heap. It's a great shame that only two chapters of part 3 ever got written. (P.S. Parts 1 and 2, which are self-contained stories, are complete and are highly recommended. They're also required reading for this to make sense.)
"Sicarii" by PegasusUnbound
[R, Ziva, set after 6x25 "Aliyah"]
Summary: It was like she'd once told McGee . . . there is only so much torment the human body can endure. No one can hold out forever, not even Gibbs. Not even her.
KEW note: This is the story that I hold out most hope for, because the author did warn that moving abroad would interfere with its posting, but it has been nearly a year since the last update. The writing starts out good, but then continually improves so that the last chapters are some of the most impressive writing I've ever seen in a fanfic.
A couple of other unfinished stories that I liked:
"All of My Regrets are Nothing New" by GRACE5
[PG-13, Tony/Ziva, Tony/Jeanne, set during season 4]
Summary: Ziva and Tony end up in a difficult situation and they both have tough choices to make.
"Growing Up" by fmd-jade
[PG, Tony/Ziva, McGee/Abby, future fic]
Summary: People get older, they grow up, grow more mature. Or so you'd think. But trying to handle a normal life can be rather challenging for our favourite agents.
P.S. Even though these stories probably won't be finished, don't forget to leave feedback on the existing parts. And hey, you never know.
If, like me, you enjoy this kind of exquisite torture, look under the cut for some wonderful fics that died before their time.
So freaking good it kills me they aren't finished:
"All This Time" by megan1300 (megan0013)
[PG-13, Tony, McGee/Ziva, past Tony/Ziva]
Summary: He wants to scream at her until his voice is raw; to shake her and make her understand the depth of her betrayal.
KEW note: This is a prime example of a fic that was going places. In just three chapters it managed to pack in an awesome action scene, romance, jealousy, great scenes between Tony and Abby and Tony and Vance, and a hell of a cliffhanger.
"China" by Cath1
[PG-13, ensemble, (eventual Tony/Ziva though not in the finished chapters), case fic]
Summary: The NCIS team investigate the murder of a lonely petty officer.
KEW note: This is a solid fic by a strong writer that reads very much like an NCIS episode, but it's the interesting victim and the theme of longing that bumps this a cut above your average case fic. Definitely one I wish had been finished.
"Blank" by Prissy and Bregan
[PG-13, Tony/Ziva, Ziva/Damon Werth, future fic, takes off from canon after 6x25 "Aliyah"]
Summary: Saleem stands over Ziva with insidious intent in his eyes. Her knife gleams in his hand. She can barely pray to live for another day. Waking up, it is ten years in the future. Her mind is blank and she doesn't remember life after her aliyah to Israel.
KEW note: This is a very original fic where the writer deals with the events of the end of season 6 in a completely different way and time, and does a fantastic job of creating a fully formed, multi-layered world. This story has lovely, long, meaty chapters and I only wish there were more of them!
"Transitional States Part 3: Slouches Towards Bethlehem" by Rigil Kent (rigil_kent)
[NC-17, Tony/Ziva, AU from 4x03 "Singled Out", livejournal link]
Summary: Eighteen months after the end of the undercover operation that blew up in their face, life has settled into a routine for Tony and Ziva ... but things are about to change dramatically.
KEW note: If only, if only, if only this trilogy would one day be completed. I respect the author for not wanting to write an epic for a show he no longer particularly enjoys, but these stories are so good and so action packed and balance the use of all the characters so well that it's a great shame that this one is on the scrap heap. It's a great shame that only two chapters of part 3 ever got written. (P.S. Parts 1 and 2, which are self-contained stories, are complete and are highly recommended. They're also required reading for this to make sense.)
"Sicarii" by PegasusUnbound
[R, Ziva, set after 6x25 "Aliyah"]
Summary: It was like she'd once told McGee . . . there is only so much torment the human body can endure. No one can hold out forever, not even Gibbs. Not even her.
KEW note: This is the story that I hold out most hope for, because the author did warn that moving abroad would interfere with its posting, but it has been nearly a year since the last update. The writing starts out good, but then continually improves so that the last chapters are some of the most impressive writing I've ever seen in a fanfic.
A couple of other unfinished stories that I liked:
"All of My Regrets are Nothing New" by GRACE5
[PG-13, Tony/Ziva, Tony/Jeanne, set during season 4]
Summary: Ziva and Tony end up in a difficult situation and they both have tough choices to make.
"Growing Up" by fmd-jade
[PG, Tony/Ziva, McGee/Abby, future fic]
Summary: People get older, they grow up, grow more mature. Or so you'd think. But trying to handle a normal life can be rather challenging for our favourite agents.
P.S. Even though these stories probably won't be finished, don't forget to leave feedback on the existing parts. And hey, you never know.