Supernatural Fic Recs (Part 1)
I wasn’t going to do an SPN fic list because I’ve read so much it felt too overwhelming, but I got a request and who am I to deny people the wisdom of my labor? I’ve already cut down over half my bookmarks and I would absolutely re-read any of these…unless it hurts too much to…Hopefully folks new to the fandom will find this useful.
What You’ll Find:
This list is significantly Gen and thematically about family with a smattering of Sam/Dean and Cas/Dean. Also, assume angst and sadness unless specified and copious amounts of Dean!Whump because he’s just a giant ball of man!pain (so sorry Dean!). Majority of fics were written Pre-Season 6.
Categorization:
Part 1: Fics are sorted by season and major milestones when the timing and show knowledge is significant to the story. Cross-overs and pure character studies are also sorted.
Part 2: Everything else is under Other because it’s damn near impossible to categorize SPN fic when fantasy/AU/general mind-fuckery is canon.
Using the List: Summaries are italicized and my comments/tags are not. Starred (*) fics denote personal favorites.
.:Pre-Series:.
Dead Bodies by chaletian (1K, PG, Gen)
“I want you both dead in two minutes, got it?” Slice of life. Wee!chesters. Adorable.
Rumspringa by discat navigare aka july-july-july (3K, R, Gen)
In October of 1995, Dean walked out of an apartment building in Tampa with the clothes on his back and a semi-automatic. Then he walked off the reservation. Companion piece to Meidung. Pre-series. Hurt!Dean. Rebellious!Dean. Followed by “Meidung”
Meidung by discat navigare aka july-july-july (4.5K, R, Gen)
Dean would be home in a few days, maybe a week at the outside. John would put money on it. Companion to Rumspringa.
Don't Ask, Don't Tell by dodger-winslow (8K, PG-13, Gen)
"If we got in a wreck, and Sammy and I were both unconscious and the Impala caught on fire so you only had time to save one of us, who would you save?" Relationship study. John. Teen!Dean
Open Your Eyes by dodger-winslow (8.5K, PG-13, Gen)
I uh … I think I’m hit, Dad." Gratuitous Dean!Whump. Hurt!Dean. Papa!John.
and pray to god i see headlights by hardlygolden (10K, PG, Gen)
“Oh for fuck’s sake," Dad said, "there’s two of you," and that’s when Dean knew they were in trouble. Family. Wee!chesters. Bobby.
Vocabulary by innie-darling (4K, G, Gen)
Given a week to define himself, Sam watches Dean. Character Study. Family.
MRSA by janissa11 (7K, PG-13, Gen)***
It was just a cut,” Sam whispers. “Just a stupid nick. Sick!Dean,
Red Beans and Rice by janissa11 (4K, K+, Gen)
Dean learns to cook, among other things. With sequel Lasagna. Fandom famous.
Lasagna by janissa11 (2K, K+, Gen)
Sequel to Red Beans and Rice. It's been a long time since Dean cooked for Sam.
Behind the Words by Kansas42 (3K, T, Gen)
The beauty’s in the work, in making do with what you got.” Dean angst.
This is Sparta by lovesrain44 (13K, T+, Gen)
Sam finds out that winning a soccer trophy won’t change his Dad’s mind about how the summer should be spent. Dad wants the boys in training, Dean can’t wait to try out that new crossbow, and Sam, he doesn’t want anything to do with any of it. Trouble ensues. Child abuse. Bastard!John.
A Life Less Ordinary by marinarusalka (4K, PG, Gen)
Most of the time, John Winchester thinks he does pretty well, considering.
~Stanford-era~
Fire in the Hole by Big-Pink (~100K, PG-13, Gen)***
After Sam leaves for Stanford, Dean falls hard and John doesn’t catch him. Their long bloody year comes to an abrupt end in the silver mining district of western Nevada, where both father and son must face their worst fears. Hurt!Dean. Complicated familial relationships. An amazing read.
Keeping Things Whole by jdyt (7K, T, Gen)
John checks his voicemail. Canon Filler.
Talk Me Down by mirrordance (17K, T, Gen)
If he was the one I called last night, I might already be dead. Sam had just left for Stanford and cut off his ties, and Dean is running himself to the ground. Gratuitous Dean!Whump and ANGST!
Parts of Speech by mona1347 (3K, PG-13, Gen)
When Sammy left, Dean had to learn all the ways to speak again. Mute!Dean Achy.
Roses in December by ratherastory (~60K, R, Sam/Jess)
AU. “God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December.” Sam has amnesia. Dean and Jess take care of him. Alternate History. Lovely lovely Dean-Jess interaction.
In Restless Dreams I Walked Alone by roque-clasique (7K, PG,Gen)***
Dean's mouth, and what it can't do. Sam leaves. Dean can’t deal. Mute!Dean
No Line on the Horizon by Shtuff (10K, T, Gen)
AU. One-shot. It’s the middle of May when Dean shows up at his door at six a.m. with a huge smile on his face, and Sam knows something is wrong. Achy.
.:Season 1:.
Same Time Next Year by apreludetoanend (2K, PG-13, Gen)
Pilot AU. Some things never change. When Dad goes missing, Dean comes for Sam. Aaarrgh!
A Good Man is Hard to Find by kimonkey7 (~70K, R, Gen)***
Dean keeps his word, and ramifications scatter like salt shot. Secrets, liquor, and bad things. Whump, angst, and banter. Junkie!Dean. Case!fic. H/C. The fic that got me into SPN fic.
Phantom Load by Lovesrain44 (54K, NC-17 for underage, Gen)
Dean and Sam return to Boulder, CO, where they investigate a haunted school. The job seems simple enough to Sam, who has good, although vague, memories of living in Boulder back in 1992, when John Winchester rented a single-wide trailer, and the boys were able to walk home from school together. Dean, however, has altogether different memories, far less pleasant and far more damaging. It's during the investigation that Sam discovers the secret that Dean doesn't realize he's been hiding. Case!fic. Secrets. Childhood trauma. Big Bang.
the night descending by lux__aeterna (~1K, G, Gen)
“What if you’re the shapeshifter?” Sam asks one day. A creepy What-If for 1x06 “Skin.”
At Night by pixel-0 (~2.5K, PG, Gen)
There is no healer to cure Dean. 1x12 Faith Alternate History. Angsty vignette.
In Reverse by Sodakey (~150K, T, Gen)
After Faith, a job has the boys looking for missing hikers in Wyoming. While Sam worries it’s connected to what happened to Dean ten years ago, Dean wonders if Sam would be better off back in the world of normal. Case!fic. Stanford people. Fandom famous.
.:Season 2:.
Torch Song by art_savage (19K, R, Gen)
Children are disappearing in Durango, Colorado. Dean starts to take the case a bit too personally. Set early second season, between “Children Shouldn’t Play With Dead Things” and “Simon Said.” Case!fic. Angst. Latent issues.
Dazzleland by big-pink (105K, T, Gen)***
"Someone goes over Niagara in a barrel. You gonna jump in and try to save them?" - Dean Winchester, Crossroad Blues. Sam's making plans, and they don't include his father or hunting. They might not even include Dean. High school in two time periods. Sam/OFC. Pre-series/S2. Spoilers up to and including 2x09 “Croatoan.” A look at loss. Amazing amazing.
The New Deal by big-pink (80K, PG-13, Gen)
Nebraska isn’t where Dean wanted to spend his last February on earth, but an angry Depression-era ghost makes things complicated. Another fully fleshed out case!fic with plenty of character exploration from Big Pink. Only download available as of 2013.
To Cross the Universe by trolllogicfics (5K, PG-13, Gen)
The man Sam finds strung up in the djinn’s lair is not his brother. Alternate History for 2x20 “What Was and What Never Should Be”. Bodyswap. Brotherhood.
~Post S2 finale: All Hell Breaks Loose Part 2~
For Keeps For Good Forever by candle-beck (~7.5K, R, Sam/Dean)
Dean doesn't tell Sam. OMG hurt. AU after 2x22 AHBL2. Sam POV. Cross-roads!fic.
Dwellers in Silence by dwarfankylosaur (4K, PG-13, Gen)
After Sam kills the crossroads demon, they drive back to their motel room and bolt the door behind them. A creeping sense of “something’s wrong” throughout this atmospheric piece. Time passes.
Tiny A's All in a Row by jwynn (1K, G, Gen)
When it comes for Dean, he's not ready. Post-deal. Lyrical prose; moving and achy. Dean-centric.
Where the Heart Is by kroki-refur (1.5K, G, Gen)
Housewarming, Winchester style. Sort of tag to 2x22 “AHBL2.” Crossroads deal. Sam POV. Slice of life.
Pour Away the Ocean by kroki-refur (~2K, PG-13, Sam/Angst)
Happy ever after isn't really the Winchester way. Spoilers up to 2x22 AHBL2. My notes just say “Holy Crap!” AU. Sam POV.
.:Season 3:.
Hospital Corners by kellifer-fic (~1.5K, PG-13, Gen)
Dean swaps Sam’s pink toothbrush for a purple one that has fairies on it and Sam flips out. Coda to 3x11 Mystery Spot.
The Silver and the Glass by kroki-refur (~2.5K, PG-13, Gen)
Dean's deal isn't the only thing worrying Sam right now. Spoilers up to 3x07. Really awesome speculation!fic with a double-dose of Sam!angst
North of Wednesday by merryish (4K, PG, Sam/Dean)
Sam's behind the wheel before he realizes he doesn't have the keys. Dean does. Coda to 3x11 “Mystery Spot.” Angst. Pre-slash. First Time.
Sam's Journal by sholio (shortish, PG-13, Gen)
The journal was Ellen's idea. Sam after Dean makes his deal. Adorable.
Go Back To Sleep by smilla02 (1K, PG-13, Gen)
A different take on Mystery Spot: in Broward County, Dean dies each new Tuesday and he is aware he does, but Sam doesn't notice. Psychological Horror.
~Post S3 Finale: No Rest For the Wicked~
Dimensions and Verticals by bellatemple (~2.5K, PG, Gen)
Sam accidentally gets Dean out of Hell. The results are something no one could have expected. . . .CRACK! What am I even seeing? Fandom famous.
Trail Magic by bellatemple (4K, T, Gen)
Dean hates camping. There's a very, very good reason for this. Pre-series/post-3x16 “No Rest for the Wicked” AU. Deal!fic Folk Tales. Very Cool.
Stacking Bones by glassshoe (20K+, T, Gen)***
Sam never gave up on Dean, but he didn’t save him either. AU after 3x16 NRftW. Gripping, claustrophobic, horrible, and desperate in true Supernatural fashion. Also, Bobby.
I Got Some Beer and the Highway's Free by musesfool (11K, PG, Sam/Dean)
Sam couldn't help but grin, wide and happy, all frustration melting away at this sign that Dean was here, even if he wasn't all the way back from there yet. Spoilers through 3x16 NRftW. Curtain!fic. Recovering!Dean. Caretaker!Sam.
Lazarus Come Forth by oselle (73K, R for Violence, Gen)***
Dean returns from hell and finds himself alive and alone in the stark landscape of an America that has gone terribly wrong. Adrift in hostile territory and pursued by hell's bounty hunters, he sets out on a desperate hunt to find Sam. Apoca!fic. Under-recognized fic with amazing amazing amazing world-building.
Golden Lights Go Dark Tonight by pixel-0 (5K, R, Gen)
In the beginning, Sam only wanted to save Dean. By the end, everything and nothing had changed. Alternate History. Horror. Dark!Sam.
Animals in Cellophane by smilla02 (3K, R, Gen)
Sam always apologizes for who Dean is, but he never does for the man Sam has become. Alternate history after 3x16/Hiatus fic. Horror.
Hangman is Coming Down From the Gallows by withdiamonds (28K, R, Sam/Dean)
Today is the last day of Dean Winchester’s life. Again. Big Bang. Mind the adult warnings. Engrossing. Mind-boggling. Spoilers up to 3x16 NRftW.
.:Season 4:.
I’ve Seen the Future, Brother (it is Murder) by kroki-refur (38K, PG-13, Gen)***
It’s a crossroads, in the end. Except it’s not the end - that comes later, much later, as it turns out - but it should be. Everything in Dean’s life comes back to this. AU. Spoilers to 4x20 “The Rapture.” Big Bang Epic. Apoca!fic. Just…whoa.
Life Before Death by kroki-refur (5K, PG-13, Gen)***
Dean’s drunk, Sam decides the next day. It’s the only explanation. Angst, Schmoop. Curses. 4x10 “Heaven and Hell” tag.
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? By kroki-refur (3.5K, PG-13, Gen)
Dean sleeps all the time, now. Angst. Broken brothers. Identity, responsibility, and demon powers. Sam POV.
deliver me (into my fate) by mimblexwimble (1K, PG-13, Gen)
Dean’s been seeing him at his lowest for a while now, and it’s only Sam who didn’t realize it. 4x22 “Lazarus Rising” coda.
For This Cause Into This Hour by Sin_of_Pride (~1K, PG-13, Dean/Cas Pre-slash)
When Dean wakes up, he can't breathe. 4x01 Lazarus Rising coda. Angsty and achy.
Seven Times Castiel Saved Dean Before Dean Even Knew He Existed by snarky-kat (~1.5K, PG-13, Dean/Cas Pre-slash)
Castiel watches.
.:Season 5:.
Ipswich Summer by kalliel (5K, PG-13, Gen)
4.5 billion years to make the world, and three seconds to end it. Don't blink. Speculation!fic. Michael and Dean.
The Hope Only of Empty Men by kroki-refur (4.5K, PG-13, Gen)
This is the way the world ends. How Sam says yes. Spoilers up to 5x07 TCCoDW.. Speculation!fic. Psychological Angst. Sam POV. My notes say “whoa.”
The Reality of the Thing Seen by smilla02 (3K, R, Gen)
Dean's not hungry, but he's got flesh covering his bones and he's got blood running in his veins. Coda to 5.14 “My Bloody Valentine.”
Welcome to the Machine by southwindow (2K, R, Gen)
"The truth is, the only thing that can kill an angel... is another angel." Coda to 5.18 PoNR. Speculation!fic.
The Angelic Version of Small Talk by wave-obscura (1K, PG, Gen)
Dean's fucked up, Sam's fucked up, Cas tries to help. Tries. Angst. Tag to 5x14 “My Bloody Valentine.”
~Post S5 Finale: Swan Song~
When All is Lost by apokteino (3K, NC-17, Dean/Castiel)
The end of 5.22 takes a slight AU turn, and Dean takes it out on the only person left - Castiel. Dark. Graphic rape. What is wrong with me? With sequel “When the Road is as Dark as My Fears”
When the Road is as Dark as My Fears by apokteino (25K, R, Dean/Castiel)
Castiel is just beginning to recover from what Dean has done to him when a case arises - and the FBI gets involved. Sequel to When All is Lost”
The Sorrowful Dark Of Hell by BlueEyedLiz (1K, PG-13, Gen)
He’s Sam Winchester but he isn’t. Not anymore. Whatever Sam is now, he still thinks about Dean. 5x22 “Swan Song” Coda. 1st Person POV. Angst.
.:Season 6 & 7:.
These Are Not Real Problems by Annie D (scaramouche) (30K, NC-17, Dean/Castiel)
Castiel used to be a god. Dean took that away from him, and now Castiel's stuck in a hell of his own making. Future!fic, First Time. Very intriguing. Very good. Post-Season 6.
Live for small horizons by dotfic (~1.3K, G, Gen)
It's not giving up. It's just in case. Coda to 6x08 ADGTH. Dean-centric.
Monkey wrench by dotfic (~1.5K, G, Gen)
Ben's not stupid. He's read almost all the comics and he's seen the cartoons and he knows what happens to Robins. Ben POV. Tag to 6x02 TaaHM.
Earth Begins (Sadness Not Yet Intended) by murron (5K, M, Cas/Dean)
Cas didn’t need sleep but he hadn’t known that for a while. Coda to 7.17 “Born Again Identity” Pre-slash, Crazy!Cas. Schoop, Angst.
The Overflow by murron (16K, NC-17, Dean/Cas)
Café owner Tamàs walks his dog near Bockboot reservoir when he stumbles upon a man with no memory. Welcoming the stranger to his home, Tamàs has no idea who he’s dealing with until two FBI agents blow into town, investigating a series of mysterious disappearances.
Home Safe by roque_clasique (~2.5K, G, Gen)
When he had imagined things like this, Ben had thought the house would feel safer with someone like Dean in it... but now that Dean was here, it felt scarier, instead. Ben POV. 5x22 Swan Song coda.
.:Season 8:.
Hands, From Which All Things Are Built by MajorEnglishEsquire (15K, PG, Dean/Castiel)
Castiel travels with the angel tablet and without the Winchesters. One day, Dean gets a text from some anonymous number.(They speak in the language of need.) A post-08.17 Goodbye, Stranger story. Achy and lovely. Reminds me of several Post S2 Sherlock fics.
Ignite Your Bones by murron (7K, T+, Dean/Cas)***
When he finds out that Naomi has put a leash on him, Cas decides to cut himself off from Heaven forever. The decision might kill him but even if it doesn't, he needs to find a reason to go on. So does Dean. Pre-slash. Follows 8x07 “A Little Slice of Kevin.”
Now I Lay Me Down by runsinthefamily (1K, G, Gen)
It has not become easier to ignore Dean's prayers. S8 Purgatory fic.
~Post Season 8 Finale “Sacrifice”~
After the Fall by drsilverfish (~600, G, Dean/Cas preslash)
Cas can no longer use the markers he carved on Dean’s ribs like a homing beacon to guide him. He remembers the number. Of course he remembers it. He doesn’t call it though. Coda to 8x23 “Sacrifice.” Where’s the Angel!fic
Blue-Eyed Soul by outpastthemoat (~800, G, Dean/Cas preslash)
Dean doesn’t know what to expect. Hell, he’s not even sure if there’s anything to expect; when angels start falling out of the sky like sparks from the butt-end of a cigarette, that’s when you know almost anything’s possible in this wide world after all. Coda to 8x23 “Sacrifice.” Where’s the Angel!fic
.: Character Studies:.
The Burning of Paper Instead of Children by coyotesuspect (~4K, PG-13, Gen)
The human body is mostly water. Spoilers for 4.03 “In the Beginning”. Mary character study.
Capacity by kalquessa (2K, G, Gen)
Dean makes it all fit.
With Feet of Lead and Wings of Tin by mcpadalackles (4K, M, Dean/Cas)
In which Dean and Castiel coming together was never anything other than an inevitability, really. [Or, the one where Dean has no idea how much Cas needs him too - until he does, and that's when his world falls apart.]. Direct references to Seasons 7 and 8. Dean POV.
Another Skyline Disappears by musesfool (2K, PG, Gen)
He's never the one who leaves. Spoilers through 1x22 “Devil's Trap” and speculation for after.
Suicidal in the Morning by musesfool (~1.5K; PG, Gen)
Five ways Dean Winchester has thought of killing himself. Achy. vague spoilers through 5.12
.:Crossovers:.
But Water Is Wider by Misachan (33K, T+, Gen)
White Collar x SPN. Neal knows he should have slipped his tracker and run off days ago, when he first heard the howls. Now he's scrambling to keep his old crossroads mistake from bringing everyone down with him, and it's not long before Peter, Dean, Sam, Cas, Jones and Diana all find themselves caught in the web, and Elizabeth finds herself with a choice: rejoin the family she's left behind or save the one she's built. Holy crap! This X-Over worked really really well. Set around SPN S5?
What Comes Around 'Verse by trolllogicfics (35K all parts, T, Gen)***
Dark Angel x SPN. He should have left this city the minute he walked into Crash and saw the double of his brother. Sam-centric.
Burnt Ash and Golden Eyes by trolllogicfics (PG-13, Gen)
Psych x SPN. When Shawn Spencer is six months old, his mother spontaneously combusts over his cradle. Spoilers through 2x21 AHBL1.
What You’ll Find:
This list is significantly Gen and thematically about family with a smattering of Sam/Dean and Cas/Dean. Also, assume angst and sadness unless specified and copious amounts of Dean!Whump because he’s just a giant ball of man!pain (so sorry Dean!). Majority of fics were written Pre-Season 6.
Categorization:
Part 1: Fics are sorted by season and major milestones when the timing and show knowledge is significant to the story. Cross-overs and pure character studies are also sorted.
Part 2: Everything else is under Other because it’s damn near impossible to categorize SPN fic when fantasy/AU/general mind-fuckery is canon.
Using the List: Summaries are italicized and my comments/tags are not. Starred (*) fics denote personal favorites.
.:Pre-Series:.
Dead Bodies by chaletian (1K, PG, Gen)
“I want you both dead in two minutes, got it?” Slice of life. Wee!chesters. Adorable.
Rumspringa by discat navigare aka july-july-july (3K, R, Gen)
In October of 1995, Dean walked out of an apartment building in Tampa with the clothes on his back and a semi-automatic. Then he walked off the reservation. Companion piece to Meidung. Pre-series. Hurt!Dean. Rebellious!Dean. Followed by “Meidung”
Meidung by discat navigare aka july-july-july (4.5K, R, Gen)
Dean would be home in a few days, maybe a week at the outside. John would put money on it. Companion to Rumspringa.
Don't Ask, Don't Tell by dodger-winslow (8K, PG-13, Gen)
"If we got in a wreck, and Sammy and I were both unconscious and the Impala caught on fire so you only had time to save one of us, who would you save?" Relationship study. John. Teen!Dean
Open Your Eyes by dodger-winslow (8.5K, PG-13, Gen)
I uh … I think I’m hit, Dad." Gratuitous Dean!Whump. Hurt!Dean. Papa!John.
and pray to god i see headlights by hardlygolden (10K, PG, Gen)
“Oh for fuck’s sake," Dad said, "there’s two of you," and that’s when Dean knew they were in trouble. Family. Wee!chesters. Bobby.
Vocabulary by innie-darling (4K, G, Gen)
Given a week to define himself, Sam watches Dean. Character Study. Family.
MRSA by janissa11 (7K, PG-13, Gen)***
It was just a cut,” Sam whispers. “Just a stupid nick. Sick!Dean,
Red Beans and Rice by janissa11 (4K, K+, Gen)
Dean learns to cook, among other things. With sequel Lasagna. Fandom famous.
Lasagna by janissa11 (2K, K+, Gen)
Sequel to Red Beans and Rice. It's been a long time since Dean cooked for Sam.
Behind the Words by Kansas42 (3K, T, Gen)
The beauty’s in the work, in making do with what you got.” Dean angst.
This is Sparta by lovesrain44 (13K, T+, Gen)
Sam finds out that winning a soccer trophy won’t change his Dad’s mind about how the summer should be spent. Dad wants the boys in training, Dean can’t wait to try out that new crossbow, and Sam, he doesn’t want anything to do with any of it. Trouble ensues. Child abuse. Bastard!John.
A Life Less Ordinary by marinarusalka (4K, PG, Gen)
Most of the time, John Winchester thinks he does pretty well, considering.
~Stanford-era~
Fire in the Hole by Big-Pink (~100K, PG-13, Gen)***
After Sam leaves for Stanford, Dean falls hard and John doesn’t catch him. Their long bloody year comes to an abrupt end in the silver mining district of western Nevada, where both father and son must face their worst fears. Hurt!Dean. Complicated familial relationships. An amazing read.
Keeping Things Whole by jdyt (7K, T, Gen)
John checks his voicemail. Canon Filler.
Talk Me Down by mirrordance (17K, T, Gen)
If he was the one I called last night, I might already be dead. Sam had just left for Stanford and cut off his ties, and Dean is running himself to the ground. Gratuitous Dean!Whump and ANGST!
Parts of Speech by mona1347 (3K, PG-13, Gen)
When Sammy left, Dean had to learn all the ways to speak again. Mute!Dean Achy.
Roses in December by ratherastory (~60K, R, Sam/Jess)
AU. “God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December.” Sam has amnesia. Dean and Jess take care of him. Alternate History. Lovely lovely Dean-Jess interaction.
In Restless Dreams I Walked Alone by roque-clasique (7K, PG,Gen)***
Dean's mouth, and what it can't do. Sam leaves. Dean can’t deal. Mute!Dean
No Line on the Horizon by Shtuff (10K, T, Gen)
AU. One-shot. It’s the middle of May when Dean shows up at his door at six a.m. with a huge smile on his face, and Sam knows something is wrong. Achy.
.:Season 1:.
Same Time Next Year by apreludetoanend (2K, PG-13, Gen)
Pilot AU. Some things never change. When Dad goes missing, Dean comes for Sam. Aaarrgh!
A Good Man is Hard to Find by kimonkey7 (~70K, R, Gen)***
Dean keeps his word, and ramifications scatter like salt shot. Secrets, liquor, and bad things. Whump, angst, and banter. Junkie!Dean. Case!fic. H/C. The fic that got me into SPN fic.
Phantom Load by Lovesrain44 (54K, NC-17 for underage, Gen)
Dean and Sam return to Boulder, CO, where they investigate a haunted school. The job seems simple enough to Sam, who has good, although vague, memories of living in Boulder back in 1992, when John Winchester rented a single-wide trailer, and the boys were able to walk home from school together. Dean, however, has altogether different memories, far less pleasant and far more damaging. It's during the investigation that Sam discovers the secret that Dean doesn't realize he's been hiding. Case!fic. Secrets. Childhood trauma. Big Bang.
the night descending by lux__aeterna (~1K, G, Gen)
“What if you’re the shapeshifter?” Sam asks one day. A creepy What-If for 1x06 “Skin.”
At Night by pixel-0 (~2.5K, PG, Gen)
There is no healer to cure Dean. 1x12 Faith Alternate History. Angsty vignette.
In Reverse by Sodakey (~150K, T, Gen)
After Faith, a job has the boys looking for missing hikers in Wyoming. While Sam worries it’s connected to what happened to Dean ten years ago, Dean wonders if Sam would be better off back in the world of normal. Case!fic. Stanford people. Fandom famous.
.:Season 2:.
Torch Song by art_savage (19K, R, Gen)
Children are disappearing in Durango, Colorado. Dean starts to take the case a bit too personally. Set early second season, between “Children Shouldn’t Play With Dead Things” and “Simon Said.” Case!fic. Angst. Latent issues.
Dazzleland by big-pink (105K, T, Gen)***
"Someone goes over Niagara in a barrel. You gonna jump in and try to save them?" - Dean Winchester, Crossroad Blues. Sam's making plans, and they don't include his father or hunting. They might not even include Dean. High school in two time periods. Sam/OFC. Pre-series/S2. Spoilers up to and including 2x09 “Croatoan.” A look at loss. Amazing amazing.
The New Deal by big-pink (80K, PG-13, Gen)
Nebraska isn’t where Dean wanted to spend his last February on earth, but an angry Depression-era ghost makes things complicated. Another fully fleshed out case!fic with plenty of character exploration from Big Pink. Only download available as of 2013.
To Cross the Universe by trolllogicfics (5K, PG-13, Gen)
The man Sam finds strung up in the djinn’s lair is not his brother. Alternate History for 2x20 “What Was and What Never Should Be”. Bodyswap. Brotherhood.
~Post S2 finale: All Hell Breaks Loose Part 2~
For Keeps For Good Forever by candle-beck (~7.5K, R, Sam/Dean)
Dean doesn't tell Sam. OMG hurt. AU after 2x22 AHBL2. Sam POV. Cross-roads!fic.
Dwellers in Silence by dwarfankylosaur (4K, PG-13, Gen)
After Sam kills the crossroads demon, they drive back to their motel room and bolt the door behind them. A creeping sense of “something’s wrong” throughout this atmospheric piece. Time passes.
Tiny A's All in a Row by jwynn (1K, G, Gen)
When it comes for Dean, he's not ready. Post-deal. Lyrical prose; moving and achy. Dean-centric.
Where the Heart Is by kroki-refur (1.5K, G, Gen)
Housewarming, Winchester style. Sort of tag to 2x22 “AHBL2.” Crossroads deal. Sam POV. Slice of life.
Pour Away the Ocean by kroki-refur (~2K, PG-13, Sam/Angst)
Happy ever after isn't really the Winchester way. Spoilers up to 2x22 AHBL2. My notes just say “Holy Crap!” AU. Sam POV.
.:Season 3:.
Hospital Corners by kellifer-fic (~1.5K, PG-13, Gen)
Dean swaps Sam’s pink toothbrush for a purple one that has fairies on it and Sam flips out. Coda to 3x11 Mystery Spot.
The Silver and the Glass by kroki-refur (~2.5K, PG-13, Gen)
Dean's deal isn't the only thing worrying Sam right now. Spoilers up to 3x07. Really awesome speculation!fic with a double-dose of Sam!angst
North of Wednesday by merryish (4K, PG, Sam/Dean)
Sam's behind the wheel before he realizes he doesn't have the keys. Dean does. Coda to 3x11 “Mystery Spot.” Angst. Pre-slash. First Time.
Sam's Journal by sholio (shortish, PG-13, Gen)
The journal was Ellen's idea. Sam after Dean makes his deal. Adorable.
Go Back To Sleep by smilla02 (1K, PG-13, Gen)
A different take on Mystery Spot: in Broward County, Dean dies each new Tuesday and he is aware he does, but Sam doesn't notice. Psychological Horror.
~Post S3 Finale: No Rest For the Wicked~
Dimensions and Verticals by bellatemple (~2.5K, PG, Gen)
Sam accidentally gets Dean out of Hell. The results are something no one could have expected. . . .CRACK! What am I even seeing? Fandom famous.
Trail Magic by bellatemple (4K, T, Gen)
Dean hates camping. There's a very, very good reason for this. Pre-series/post-3x16 “No Rest for the Wicked” AU. Deal!fic Folk Tales. Very Cool.
Stacking Bones by glassshoe (20K+, T, Gen)***
Sam never gave up on Dean, but he didn’t save him either. AU after 3x16 NRftW. Gripping, claustrophobic, horrible, and desperate in true Supernatural fashion. Also, Bobby.
I Got Some Beer and the Highway's Free by musesfool (11K, PG, Sam/Dean)
Sam couldn't help but grin, wide and happy, all frustration melting away at this sign that Dean was here, even if he wasn't all the way back from there yet. Spoilers through 3x16 NRftW. Curtain!fic. Recovering!Dean. Caretaker!Sam.
Lazarus Come Forth by oselle (73K, R for Violence, Gen)***
Dean returns from hell and finds himself alive and alone in the stark landscape of an America that has gone terribly wrong. Adrift in hostile territory and pursued by hell's bounty hunters, he sets out on a desperate hunt to find Sam. Apoca!fic. Under-recognized fic with amazing amazing amazing world-building.
Golden Lights Go Dark Tonight by pixel-0 (5K, R, Gen)
In the beginning, Sam only wanted to save Dean. By the end, everything and nothing had changed. Alternate History. Horror. Dark!Sam.
Animals in Cellophane by smilla02 (3K, R, Gen)
Sam always apologizes for who Dean is, but he never does for the man Sam has become. Alternate history after 3x16/Hiatus fic. Horror.
Hangman is Coming Down From the Gallows by withdiamonds (28K, R, Sam/Dean)
Today is the last day of Dean Winchester’s life. Again. Big Bang. Mind the adult warnings. Engrossing. Mind-boggling. Spoilers up to 3x16 NRftW.
.:Season 4:.
I’ve Seen the Future, Brother (it is Murder) by kroki-refur (38K, PG-13, Gen)***
It’s a crossroads, in the end. Except it’s not the end - that comes later, much later, as it turns out - but it should be. Everything in Dean’s life comes back to this. AU. Spoilers to 4x20 “The Rapture.” Big Bang Epic. Apoca!fic. Just…whoa.
Life Before Death by kroki-refur (5K, PG-13, Gen)***
Dean’s drunk, Sam decides the next day. It’s the only explanation. Angst, Schmoop. Curses. 4x10 “Heaven and Hell” tag.
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? By kroki-refur (3.5K, PG-13, Gen)
Dean sleeps all the time, now. Angst. Broken brothers. Identity, responsibility, and demon powers. Sam POV.
deliver me (into my fate) by mimblexwimble (1K, PG-13, Gen)
Dean’s been seeing him at his lowest for a while now, and it’s only Sam who didn’t realize it. 4x22 “Lazarus Rising” coda.
For This Cause Into This Hour by Sin_of_Pride (~1K, PG-13, Dean/Cas Pre-slash)
When Dean wakes up, he can't breathe. 4x01 Lazarus Rising coda. Angsty and achy.
Seven Times Castiel Saved Dean Before Dean Even Knew He Existed by snarky-kat (~1.5K, PG-13, Dean/Cas Pre-slash)
Castiel watches.
.:Season 5:.
Ipswich Summer by kalliel (5K, PG-13, Gen)
4.5 billion years to make the world, and three seconds to end it. Don't blink. Speculation!fic. Michael and Dean.
The Hope Only of Empty Men by kroki-refur (4.5K, PG-13, Gen)
This is the way the world ends. How Sam says yes. Spoilers up to 5x07 TCCoDW.. Speculation!fic. Psychological Angst. Sam POV. My notes say “whoa.”
The Reality of the Thing Seen by smilla02 (3K, R, Gen)
Dean's not hungry, but he's got flesh covering his bones and he's got blood running in his veins. Coda to 5.14 “My Bloody Valentine.”
Welcome to the Machine by southwindow (2K, R, Gen)
"The truth is, the only thing that can kill an angel... is another angel." Coda to 5.18 PoNR. Speculation!fic.
The Angelic Version of Small Talk by wave-obscura (1K, PG, Gen)
Dean's fucked up, Sam's fucked up, Cas tries to help. Tries. Angst. Tag to 5x14 “My Bloody Valentine.”
~Post S5 Finale: Swan Song~
When All is Lost by apokteino (3K, NC-17, Dean/Castiel)
The end of 5.22 takes a slight AU turn, and Dean takes it out on the only person left - Castiel. Dark. Graphic rape. What is wrong with me? With sequel “When the Road is as Dark as My Fears”
When the Road is as Dark as My Fears by apokteino (25K, R, Dean/Castiel)
Castiel is just beginning to recover from what Dean has done to him when a case arises - and the FBI gets involved. Sequel to When All is Lost”
The Sorrowful Dark Of Hell by BlueEyedLiz (1K, PG-13, Gen)
He’s Sam Winchester but he isn’t. Not anymore. Whatever Sam is now, he still thinks about Dean. 5x22 “Swan Song” Coda. 1st Person POV. Angst.
.:Season 6 & 7:.
These Are Not Real Problems by Annie D (scaramouche) (30K, NC-17, Dean/Castiel)
Castiel used to be a god. Dean took that away from him, and now Castiel's stuck in a hell of his own making. Future!fic, First Time. Very intriguing. Very good. Post-Season 6.
Live for small horizons by dotfic (~1.3K, G, Gen)
It's not giving up. It's just in case. Coda to 6x08 ADGTH. Dean-centric.
Monkey wrench by dotfic (~1.5K, G, Gen)
Ben's not stupid. He's read almost all the comics and he's seen the cartoons and he knows what happens to Robins. Ben POV. Tag to 6x02 TaaHM.
Earth Begins (Sadness Not Yet Intended) by murron (5K, M, Cas/Dean)
Cas didn’t need sleep but he hadn’t known that for a while. Coda to 7.17 “Born Again Identity” Pre-slash, Crazy!Cas. Schoop, Angst.
The Overflow by murron (16K, NC-17, Dean/Cas)
Café owner Tamàs walks his dog near Bockboot reservoir when he stumbles upon a man with no memory. Welcoming the stranger to his home, Tamàs has no idea who he’s dealing with until two FBI agents blow into town, investigating a series of mysterious disappearances.
Home Safe by roque_clasique (~2.5K, G, Gen)
When he had imagined things like this, Ben had thought the house would feel safer with someone like Dean in it... but now that Dean was here, it felt scarier, instead. Ben POV. 5x22 Swan Song coda.
.:Season 8:.
Hands, From Which All Things Are Built by MajorEnglishEsquire (15K, PG, Dean/Castiel)
Castiel travels with the angel tablet and without the Winchesters. One day, Dean gets a text from some anonymous number.(They speak in the language of need.) A post-08.17 Goodbye, Stranger story. Achy and lovely. Reminds me of several Post S2 Sherlock fics.
Ignite Your Bones by murron (7K, T+, Dean/Cas)***
When he finds out that Naomi has put a leash on him, Cas decides to cut himself off from Heaven forever. The decision might kill him but even if it doesn't, he needs to find a reason to go on. So does Dean. Pre-slash. Follows 8x07 “A Little Slice of Kevin.”
Now I Lay Me Down by runsinthefamily (1K, G, Gen)
It has not become easier to ignore Dean's prayers. S8 Purgatory fic.
~Post Season 8 Finale “Sacrifice”~
After the Fall by drsilverfish (~600, G, Dean/Cas preslash)
Cas can no longer use the markers he carved on Dean’s ribs like a homing beacon to guide him. He remembers the number. Of course he remembers it. He doesn’t call it though. Coda to 8x23 “Sacrifice.” Where’s the Angel!fic
Blue-Eyed Soul by outpastthemoat (~800, G, Dean/Cas preslash)
Dean doesn’t know what to expect. Hell, he’s not even sure if there’s anything to expect; when angels start falling out of the sky like sparks from the butt-end of a cigarette, that’s when you know almost anything’s possible in this wide world after all. Coda to 8x23 “Sacrifice.” Where’s the Angel!fic
.: Character Studies:.
The Burning of Paper Instead of Children by coyotesuspect (~4K, PG-13, Gen)
The human body is mostly water. Spoilers for 4.03 “In the Beginning”. Mary character study.
Capacity by kalquessa (2K, G, Gen)
Dean makes it all fit.
With Feet of Lead and Wings of Tin by mcpadalackles (4K, M, Dean/Cas)
In which Dean and Castiel coming together was never anything other than an inevitability, really. [Or, the one where Dean has no idea how much Cas needs him too - until he does, and that's when his world falls apart.]. Direct references to Seasons 7 and 8. Dean POV.
Another Skyline Disappears by musesfool (2K, PG, Gen)
He's never the one who leaves. Spoilers through 1x22 “Devil's Trap” and speculation for after.
Suicidal in the Morning by musesfool (~1.5K; PG, Gen)
Five ways Dean Winchester has thought of killing himself. Achy. vague spoilers through 5.12
.:Crossovers:.
But Water Is Wider by Misachan (33K, T+, Gen)
White Collar x SPN. Neal knows he should have slipped his tracker and run off days ago, when he first heard the howls. Now he's scrambling to keep his old crossroads mistake from bringing everyone down with him, and it's not long before Peter, Dean, Sam, Cas, Jones and Diana all find themselves caught in the web, and Elizabeth finds herself with a choice: rejoin the family she's left behind or save the one she's built. Holy crap! This X-Over worked really really well. Set around SPN S5?
What Comes Around 'Verse by trolllogicfics (35K all parts, T, Gen)***
Dark Angel x SPN. He should have left this city the minute he walked into Crash and saw the double of his brother. Sam-centric.
Burnt Ash and Golden Eyes by trolllogicfics (PG-13, Gen)
Psych x SPN. When Shawn Spencer is six months old, his mother spontaneously combusts over his cradle. Spoilers through 2x21 AHBL1.