Weekly Recs 9/10/10
This edition includes stories posted through about 00:00 Zulu yesterday (or today, I guess); sorry I couldn't get it posted until now!
Completed Stories:
(Mostly newly-completed stories, plus some old ones if I haven't read them before.)
"Differtus" by Zaedah (zaedah)
[NC-17, Tony/Ziva, ~1,050 words]
Summary: Cobwebs aren't known for their erotic properties.
KEW note: A fantastic piece of closet smut wrapped in humor. A brief note on (lack of) impartiality: I usually compile weekly recs without regard to character, pairing, author, archive, or any other factor besides how good I thought a story was in comparison to others published during the same week. This would have made the list regardless, but it's dedicated to me, and so it's with particular gratitude to Zaedah (and a good bit of blushing that she interpreted my innocent suggestion this way) that I include this story.
"Molecular" by LittleSammy (littlesammy)
[PG, McGee, Abby, Tony/Ziva, ~ 1,400 words, alternate link]
Summary: In which Abby watches too many BBC documentaries, McGee clearly doesn't, and Tony and Ziva do it like they do on the Discovery Channel. (And it's not what you think right now.)
KEW note: I could never build an entire story around a little-known fact about geckos, but LittleSammy can.
"A Place Called Perfect" by Caliente (hellokatzchen)
[PG, McGee, Abby, ~700 words, alternate link]
Summary: Abby and McGee walk Jethro. They have a reversal of roles as she talks about the future and he tries not to think about it.
"Hot Hot Heat" by Caliente (hellokatzchen)
[PG, ensemble, ~450 words, alternate link]
Summary: The hottest day of summer means the team's about due for another air conditioning failure.
KEW note: I love the humor of everyone falling apart while Gibbs keeps his cool.
"Open Doors, and Other Invitations" by shrift
[NC-17, Gibbs/Tony, ~6,350 words, alternate link]
Summary: "Despite all appearances to the contrary, Tony knew how to ignore things. It used to be one of his best coping mechanisms."
KEW note: Great dialogue in this piece. (Finder's credit to georgiesmith, who recced it first.)
"Friday Night Double Feature" by Cecile-in-Summertime
[PG, Tony, Ziva, set sometime during season 7, ~3,000 words]
Summary: "Tony figures that as long as neither of them says the word date, they're not breaking Rule #12."
KEW note: I love this author for pulling a fake-out on the readers--by the time the curtain drops, it's not the fluffy story the beginning suggests.
"In Transit" by jelenamichel (jelenamichel) *NOW COMPLETE
[PG-13, Tony/Ziva, set in late season 7, ~59,000 words]
Summary: An investigation takes the team to Pearl Harbor as Tony and Ziva try to navigate their 'relationship', Gibbs tries to look the other way, and McGee tries to get a clue.
KEW note: Chapter 17 added. A very nice epilogue that balances the fluffy emotions with a great Tony vignette.
Works in Progress:
(Stories in this section will be carried over week to week as long as I continue to follow them or until they are completed or abandoned. Recent updates will be noted.)
"A History of Smoke and Mirrors" by ama_blue *NEW
[Bones, PG-13, Booth/Brennan, Booth/OFC, set post 5x22 "The Beginning in the End"]
Summary: "You strike metal against metal for long enough, sweetie, you're supposed to catch a spark. Even us non-scientists know." A post-finale fic about a whole lot of things that never really change, and some things that do.
KEW note: Pick of the week. Part one (of two) posted. Broken up into two journal posts for length, so make sure to click through to read all of it. I'm absolutely floored by this piece, so layered with details of anatomy, archaeology, and emotion, and I'm eagerly awaiting the conclusion.
"Rag Doll" by cheekymice (cheekymice) *UPDATED
[PG, Tony-centric, alternate link]
Author's Summary: Tony finds himself cut off from the rest of the team when Vance sends him on a difficult and unpleasant undercover assignment.
KEW note: Chapter 10 added.
"Symbiosis" by Zaedah (zaedah) *UPDATED
[PG, McGee, Tony/Ziva]
Author's Summary: "The thing that sticks a hook in McGee's gaping mouth in the midst of the unannounced programming is that Tony doesn't seem surprised."
KEW note: Chapter 20 added.
"Visto y No Visto (Eyewitnessing)" by heirofloki *UPDATED
[PG, Ziva, Tony]
Quote: Cuando su jefe le pregunta por qué, Ziva no puede más que encogerse de hombros. En cualquier otra ocasión habría tratado de parecer menos desubicada, mas dueña de si misma. Pero la situación la ha tomado tan de sorpresa, que las palabras se le escapan en todos los idiomas que conoce.
KEW note: Chapters 2, 3, and 4 added. Note that the chapters are not linked together.
"Half a World Away" by Squinttoyou *UPDATED
[Bones, PG-13, Booth/Brennan, set post 5x22 "The Beginning in the End"]
Summary: The world is a big place, but it's not that hard to stay in touch.
KEW note: Chapters 56-63 added. I like the short chapters of this story, and every time I think I'm losing interest it sucks me right back in.
"The Right to Serve" by McStories (mcstories)
[NC-17, ensemble, past McGee/OMC, casefile]
Summary: A Marine appears to have been murdered simply for being gay. When the victim is linked to a member of his team Gibbs is forced to tackle Don't Ask Don't Tell head-on, and it leads him somewhere he never thought he'd go.
"Rule Zero" by timewalker05
[PG-13, ensemble, casefile]
Summary: When a body shows up with 'Rule 40' carved on it's chest, it appears that there is a killer on the loose with a personal connection to Gibb's team.
"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.
"Topsy Turvy" by Bob Rhynoplasty (bobrhynoplasty)
[PG-13, Tony, Gibbs, pre-series, sequel to "Slaughter House"]
Author's Summary: Tony knew that he would meet Gibbs again, he just hoped it would be under better circumstances...
"Heartbeats" by wildskysong
[PG-13, ensemble, supernatural]
Summary: "Does it hurt?" She asked him, her living green eyes meeting his dead ones. "Being dead, I mean." He smiled a little, his eyes far away, and before he could answer, he slipped away, his glowing outline melting into the air.
"Regency" by Trinity Destler (trinity_destler)
[PG, ensemble, set after 3x4 "Hiatus", alternate link]
Author's Summary: In the fallout after "Hiatus" the team copes, Tony leads, and it isn't at all like they expected.
"The Impractical Heart" by Pough
[PG-13, Tony-centric]
Author's Summary: When a tiny virus sweeps through Tony's body, leaving catastrophic results, his team remains vigilant.
Ongoing Stories:
(These stories follow the events of canon or are collections of one-shots and therefore could continue indefinitely. Recent updates are noted. Stories will roll over from week to week until I stop following or they are abandoned. )
"Conversations" by Embolalia *UPDATED
[PG, Ziva, Gibbs]
Author's Summary: A series of one-shot conversations between Ziva and Gibbs over the course of the show.
KEW note: Chapter 93 added.
"What's Past is Prologue" by Caliente (hellokatzchen) *UPDATED
[PG-13, McGee/Abby, set during season 7, alternate link]
Summary: A series of unrelated add-ins or 'un'-scenes during season 7
KEW note: Chapter 14 added.
"Touch and Go" by nancystagerat
[R, Tony/Ziva]
Summary: Suggestive Tiva one-shots, the first involving live weapons & willing partners in an impromptu booty-call, the second a baseball game & one very cold water bottle, the third a private reading of a very specific book, & the rest you'll have to read on for!
"Still and Always, McGee" by Malvolia
[G, McGee/Abby]
Author's Summary: Sometimes you have to give something up to safeguard something you want more. A series of one-shot missing McGee and Abby moments, starting with their break-up.
"Something More" by CSIGurlie07
[PG-13, Gibbs/Ziva, takes off from 5x12 "Stakeout"]
Author's Summary: The ever-evolving relationship between Ziva and Gibbs. Unusual, unorthodox, and totally right. It started with a stakeout, and nothing will ever be the same.