Index by Rec Reason, Part 1

[house_what_if]

House "What-If" Rec List - Index by Rec Reason

This is Part 1 of our Index by Rec Reason. It covers the first half our twelve Rec Reasons. View Part 2. Part 1

On the House "What-If" Rec List we share some of our favorite House, M.D. fics, 'verses, and authors that form a genre we call "What-If." Here are all our recs, indexed by rec reason.


Notes:

• What-If: This rec list is focused on a genre we call "What-If." In our review of the literature, several categories presented themselves. Stories range from wildly fantastical to essentially realistic, but all depart significantly from canon reality.


• Recs: We've chosen our top few rec reasons for each work, and listed them alphabetically. Of course, these stories have additional facets that led us to share them with you.


• Data: Use the sidebar at right to view our recs by by title, by category, by rec reason, by word count, by date, or in the  author directory. The main rec list (by title) has the most detailed information per entry, but we deliberately left out pairings. Don't judge a fic by its pairing; jump in and savor the storytelling.


• Links: Why so many links per fic? Stuff disappears, and we like to be prepared. Plus, it gives you the opportunity to read and leave feedback where you feel most comfortable, no matter how long ago fics were written. We also encourage you to contact authors directly via their journals to let them know you read their work.


• Lost and Found: If you encounter any broken links or have trouble locating fics, please contact us by PM. Thanks.

Brainglue

Engrossing, compelling, and you can't stop reading. Even long after you've read them, scenes and stories stay with you, and may roll through your mind for days at a time.

• Asphyxiation [ LJ] [AO3] by _ares
  • Companion piece: Asphyxiation [ LJ] by lit_luminary
  • Sequel: In High Seas [ LJ] [AO3] by _ares


• Bang, Bang… (that awful sound) [ LJ] by jezziejay


• A Better You [ LJ] [AO3] by daasgrrl


• Blur [ LJ f-locked] [DW] by bookgodess15


• Bytecode (You Are Still in the Matrix Remix) [ LJ] [AO3] & DVD commentary [ LJ] by thedeadparrot


• Deathwatch [FF] by Tidwell


• Doctor House Takes a Vacation [ LJ] [FF] by Tidwell


• The Fate Machine [ LJ: 1 2] [FF] [DW: 1 2] [m4b] [mp3: 1 2] [mp3: 1] by triedunture
  • Companion Piece: La Máquina del Destino [ LJ] [DW] [mp3] Spanish translation by theviciouslily & youretheartist
  • Prequel: Random Selection [ LJ] by hobbit_feets


• A Gentle Knock at the Door [LJ: 1-17 18-43 44-61 62-67 68-79 80-85] [FF] by zeppomarx
  • Gentle Knock DVD Extras [ LJ: 1 2 3] by zeppomarx & TrooperCam & Priority
  • Sequel: Patient [ LJ: 1-4 5-7 8-10 11-20 21-23] [FF] by zeppomarx


• Half Life [ LJ] [FF] [AO3] by oldblue


• Have a Heart [ LJ] [FF] [AO3] [DW] by menolly_au


• Karma on the Mississippi [ LJ] [FF] [AO3] [DW] by srsly_yes


• Letters of Transit [ LJ] [FF] by nightdog_barks


• A Long Slow Fade [FF] by Tidwell


• Looking Glass 'verse [ masterpost] [masterpost] by nightdog_barks & blackmare & menolly_au & hannahrorlove


• Missing Pieces [ LJ] [DW] by pwcorgigirl


• One and One and One is Three [ LJ] [AO3] by daasgrrl


• The One Where It All Ends [ LJ] [AO3] by deelaundry
  • Sequel: Unicorn Hunter [ LJ] [AO3] by deelaundry


• The Oracle [ LJ] by fee_folay


• Pencils Are Dangerous (WIP) [ LJ] by alex51324
  • Companion piece: The Kindness of Strangers [FF] by KathainBowen


• Post-Trauma [ masterpost] by alex51324


• Rebuild the Bridges in Your Mind [ LJ] [AO3] [DW] by st_aurafina
  • Companion piece: Doctor Robert Chase's Queen on the Money Playlist [ LJ] [DW] by st_aurafina


• Template [ LJ] [ LJ] [AO3] by nightdog_barks


• The War Against the Gabes [ LJ] [ LJ] [AO3] [DW] by nightdog_barks


• Water from the Moon [ LJ] [DW] by pwcorgigirl

Characterization

Depth and believability of character portrayal, including a well-defined "voice." Consistently in-character within the story's 'verse and/or based on canon.

• Adagio e Dolce [ LJ] by barefootpuddles


• After Hours [ LJ] by nakannalee


• After the Fall [ LJ] [DW] by pwcorgigirl


• Afterlife [ LJ] [DW] by pwcorgigirl


• The Better Angel [ LJ] [ LJ] [FF] [AO3] by nightdog_barks


• A Better You [ LJ] [AO3] by daasgrrl


• Clash of the Titans [ LJ] [ LJ] [FF] by ahedonia


• Comes a Day [ LJ] [AO3] by deelaundry
  • DVD Commentary [ LJ] by deelaundry


• Cross Over [ LJ] by alternatealto


• Crossing Night [ LJ] by alternatealto


• The Culmination [ LJ] [DW] by nowadventuring


• The Cure for Boredom [ LJ] [FF] [DW] by mer_duff


• A Cure in the Country [ LJ] [AO3] [DW] by nightdog_barks


• D5/Wingman 'verse by srsly_yes
  • D5 [ LJ] [FF] [AO3] [DW]
  • The Wingman [ LJ] [FF] [AO3] [DW: 1 2 3 4]
  • DVD Bonus Feature: House's Checklist [ LJ] [FF: included in The Wingman] [AO3] [DW]


• Detroit Ragtime [ LJ] [mp3] by triedunture


• The Devil and Greg House [ LJ] by barefootpuddles


• Doff Thy Name [ LJ] [FF] by vampmissedith


• Carry Me Home [ LJ] [ LJ] [ LJ] [ LJ] [AO3] [DW] [DW] by nightdog_barks


• Enchanted Design [SQ] by jaryn_


• Everyday Superheroes/Power Generation 'verse [ masterpost] by hannahrorlove & yunafire & akire_yta, with fan art by admyrrek


• A First Class House [ LJ] [ LJ] [ LJ] [AO3] [DW] [DW] by nightdog_barks


• For Every Closed Door [ LJ: 1 2 3 First Interlude 4 Second Interlude 5 6 7 Third Interlude 8 9 10 11 12 Fourth Interlude 13 14 Epilogue] by starlingthefool
  • Commentary: For Every Closed Door, ch. 11 [annotated] [ LJ]
  • Commentary: The Massive Post-Mortem [ LJ]
  • Sequel: Welcome to the first day of the rest of your (after)life. [ LJ]


• Gardening at Night [ LJ] [DW] by pwcorgigirl


• Goodnight, My Love [no longer posted online] by euclase


• Ides of March [ LJ] [ LJ] [FF] by finding_jay


• If by Moonlight You Come to Me [ LJ] by genagirl


• In a Heartbeat [ LJ] [FF] [AO3] [DW] by blackmare, with contributions from nightdog_barks


• Imbued Superpowers 'verse [masterpost] by hannahrorlove & deelaundry & phinnia


• It Don't Mean a Thing [ LJ] [DW] by karaokegal


• It's a Dangerous Game [FF] by pokeitlikejello


• A Joy Forever [FF] [AO3] [mp3, m4b] by usomitai


• Kryptonite [ LJ] [DW] by yarroway


• Letters of Transit [ LJ] [FF] by nightdog_barks


• The Loss Adjuster [ LJ] [FF] by moose_mcmoose


• Man in the Mirror [ LJ] by yarroway


• Mind Over Matter [ LJ: 1-11 epilogue] [FF] [SQ] by npkedit


• Moving Forward [ LJ] [FF] [DW] [AO3] by menolly_au


• No Little Charity [ LJ] [FF] [AO3] [DW] by perspi, with a Hidden Bonus Track by blackmare
  • DVD Commentary: No Little Charity [ LJ] [DW] by perspi
  • Companion piece: The Jealous Lover [ LJ] [AO3] by nightdog_barks
  • Companion piece: Transference [ LJ] [DW] by lit_luminary


• Northern Light [ LJ] [AO3] [DW] by nightdog_barks


• Of A Feather [ LJ] [AO3] [DW] by yarroway


• An Opening Door [ LJ: 1-7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27] [FF] [AO3] by tailkinker_au (menolly_au)


• Piano Man [ LJ] by animagiblender


• Pirate's Booty [ LJ] [FF] [AO3] [DW] by srsly_yes


• P.L.O.T Device 'verse by alex51324
  • Chase and the P.L.O.T. Device [ LJ]
  • Sequel: House and the P.L.O.T. Device [ LJ]


• Post-Trauma [ masterpost] by alex51324


• The Princess and the Peeved [LJ: 1-115 116] by cuddyclothes


• Reboot [ LJ] [FF] [AO3] [DW] by srsly_yes


• Rebuild the Bridges in Your Mind [ LJ] [AO3] [DW] by st_aurafina
  • Companion piece: Doctor Robert Chase's Queen on the Money Playlist [ LJ] [DW] by st_aurafina


• Regarding House [ LJ] [FF] [AO3] by flywoman


• Sleeping Man 'verse [ masterpost] by maineac, with companion pieces by zeppomarx, cindy_lou_who8, & deelaundry


• The Room at the End of the World [ LJ] [DW] by pwcorgigirl
  • In the Ruins [ LJ] [DW] by pwcorgigirl
  • til the sun breaks down [ LJ] [DW] by pwcorgigirl


• Sunday Brunch [ LJ] [FF] by zeppomarx


• Tea and Impossibility [ LJ] by vitawash24


• This Place [ LJ] [FF] by downuptime


• Two Ghosts, Sitting Around Talking [ LJ] [AO3] by nightdog_barks


• Untitled [the pony one] [ LJ] by vitawash24


• The Whitney Street Mystery [ LJ: 1 2] [FF] [AO3] [DW: 1 2] [SQ] by t_eyla


• World of Weeping [ LJ] [FF] [AO3] [DW: 1 2 3 4] by mer_duff, with fan art by hllangel & aolian, & alexwhitewell
  • Prequel: Elemental Forces [ LJ] [FF] [DW] by mer_duff

Dialogue

Witty repartee, snark, impassioned speeches, silly interchanges, and the like. Often involves humor and strong characterization.

• After Hours [ LJ] by nakannalee


• Are You There, God? It's Me, House: Or, The One Where They're Twelve Year Old Girls [ LJ] by ceruleanshipper


• The Better Angel [ LJ] [ LJ] [FF] [AO3] by nightdog_barks


• Clash of the Titans [ LJ] [ LJ] [FF] by ahedonia


• Creature of the Night [ LJ] by alternatealto


• Douglas [AO3] [DW] by sam_storyteller


• Enchantment's Perils [ LJ] [DW] by pwcorgigirl


• For Every Closed Door [ LJ: 1 2 3 First Interlude 4 Second Interlude 5 6 7 Third Interlude 8 9 10 11 12 Fourth Interlude 13 14 Epilogue] by starlingthefool
  • Commentary: For Every Closed Door, ch. 11 [annotated] [ LJ]
  • Commentary: The Massive Post-Mortem [ LJ]
  • Sequel: Welcome to the first day of the rest of your (after)life. [ LJ]


• Inanimation [ LJ] [AO3] by daasgrrl


• It Don't Mean a Thing [ LJ] [DW] by karaokegal


• Mind Over Matter [ LJ: 1-11 epilogue] [FF] [SQ] by npkedit


• Not Angels [ LJ] [AO3] by deelaundry


• Nothing [ LJ] by daisylily


• Of Capes and Cod [AO3] by st_aurafina


• Rematch [ LJ] by daisylily


• Reboot [ LJ] [FF] [AO3] [DW] by srsly_yes


• Two Ghosts, Sitting Around Talking [ LJ] [AO3] by nightdog_barks


• Wild, Wild Horses [ LJ] [DW] by yarroway

Emotion

Moving, poignant, or evokes a strong emotional response in the reader.

• Adagio e Dolce [ LJ] by barefootpuddles


• After Hours [ LJ] by nakannalee


• After the Fall [ LJ] [DW] by pwcorgigirl


• Afterlife [ LJ] [DW] by pwcorgigirl


• and you're trying to smile [ LJ] [AO3] by bittereternity


• As the Crow Flies [ LJ] [FF] by empath_eia


• Asphyxiation [ LJ] [AO3] by _ares
  • Companion piece: Asphyxiation [ LJ] by lit_luminary
  • Sequel: In High Seas [ LJ] [AO3] by _ares


• A Better You [ LJ] [AO3] by daasgrrl


• Carry Me Home [ LJ] [ LJ] [ LJ] [ LJ] [AO3] [DW] [DW] by nightdog_barks


• Comes a Day [ LJ] [AO3] by deelaundry
  • DVD Commentary [ LJ] by deelaundry


• Cross Over [ LJ] by alternatealto


• Crossing Night [ LJ] by alternatealto


• Deathwatch [FF] by Tidwell


• A Different Point of You [ LJ: 1 2 3 epilogue] [DW: 1 2 3 epilogue] by alternatealto


• Doctor House Takes a Vacation [ LJ] [FF] by Tidwell


• Duck Duck Goose [ LJ] [FF] [AO3] [mp3] by nightdog_barks
  • Ugly Duckling [ LJ] [AO3] [DW] [mp3] by nightdog_barks
  • Sitting Duck [ LJ] [ LJ] by fayding_fast


• Eucatastrophe [AO3] by euclase


• The Fate Machine [ LJ: 1 2] [FF] [DW: 1 2] [m4b] [mp3: 1 2] [mp3: 1] by triedunture
  • Companion Piece: La Máquina del Destino [ LJ] [DW] [mp3] Spanish translation by theviciouslily & youretheartist
  • Prequel: Random Selection [ LJ] by hobbit_feets


• For Every Closed Door [ LJ: 1 2 3 First Interlude 4 Second Interlude 5 6 7 Third Interlude 8 9 10 11 12 Fourth Interlude 13 14 Epilogue] by starlingthefool
  • Commentary: For Every Closed Door, ch. 11 [annotated] [ LJ]
  • Commentary: The Massive Post-Mortem [ LJ]
  • Sequel: Welcome to the first day of the rest of your (after)life. [ LJ]


• Found [ LJ] [DW] by jezziejay


• Half Life [ LJ] [FF] [AO3] by oldblue


• Ides of March [ LJ] [ LJ] [FF] by finding_jay


• In a Heartbeat [ LJ] [FF] [AO3] [DW] by blackmare, with contributions from nightdog_barks


• Levayah [ LJ] [DW] by jezziejay


• A Long Slow Fade [FF] by Tidwell


• Ningyo [ LJ] [DW] by yarroway


• No Little Charity [ LJ] [FF] [AO3] [DW] by perspi, with a Hidden Bonus Track by blackmare
  • DVD Commentary: No Little Charity [ LJ] [DW] by perspi
  • Companion piece: The Jealous Lover [ LJ] [AO3] by nightdog_barks
  • Companion piece: Transference [ LJ] [DW] by lit_luminary


• Of A Feather [ LJ] [AO3] [DW] by yarroway


• Pencils Are Dangerous (WIP) [ LJ] by alex51324
  • Companion piece: The Kindness of Strangers [FF] by KathainBowen


• The Room at the End of the World [ LJ] [DW] by pwcorgigirl
  • In the Ruins [ LJ] [DW] by pwcorgigirl
  • til the sun breaks down [ LJ] [DW] by pwcorgigirl


• Sleeping Man 'verse [ masterpost] by maineac, with companion pieces by zeppomarx, cindy_lou_who8, & deelaundry


• Standoff [ LJ] [LJ: 1 2 3 4 5 6] [FF] [AO3] [DW: 1 2 3 4 5 6] by nightdog_barks


• The Stump and the Butterfly [ LJ f-locked] by californiaquail


• Tea and Impossibility [ LJ] by vitawash24


• This Place [ LJ] [FF] by downuptime


• The Waiting (is unbearable) [ LJ] [ LJ] by wanttobeatree


• Watermark [no longer posted online] by euclase


• World of Weeping [ LJ] [FF] [AO3] [DW: 1 2 3 4] by mer_duff, with fan art by hllangel & aolian, & alexwhitewell
  • Prequel: Elemental Forces [ LJ] [FF] [DW] by mer_duff

Humor

Makes us laugh. Often involves dialogue.

• 5 Things that Never Happened at Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital [ LJ] [AO3] [DW] [other] by tptigger


• Clash of the Titans [ LJ] [ LJ] [FF] by ahedonia


• Creature of the Night [ LJ] by alternatealto


• Cure [ LJ] [AO3] by alternatealto


• Douglas [AO3] [DW] by sam_storyteller


• Here's A Little Agit For The Never-Believer [ LJ f-locked] by hannahrorlove


• Not Angels [ LJ] [AO3] by deelaundry


• Nothing [ LJ] by daisylily


• Of A Feather [ LJ] [AO3] [DW] by yarroway


• Of Capes and Cod [AO3] by st_aurafina


• The One Where They Get Turned into Penguins [ LJ] [AO3] by thedeadparrot


• The Princess and the Peeved [LJ: 1-115 116] by cuddyclothes


• Rematch [ LJ] by daisylily


• Teddy House [ LJ] by alex51324
  • Teddy House Ficlet [ LJ] by alex51324


• Two Ghosts, Sitting Around Talking [ LJ] [AO3] by nightdog_barks

Imagery

Vivid descriptions evoke atmosphere, mood, tension, or add depth.

• As the Crow Flies [ LJ] [FF] by empath_eia


• Asphyxiation [ LJ] [AO3] by _ares
  • Companion piece: Asphyxiation [ LJ] by lit_luminary
  • Sequel: In High Seas [ LJ] [AO3] by _ares


• Detroit Ragtime [ LJ] [mp3] by triedunture


• If by Moonlight You Come to Me [ LJ] by genagirl


• (if chase dreamed of fairytales) [no longer posted online] by ayalesca


• Images (WIP) [ LJ] by alternatealto


• Left of West 'verse [masterpost] by hannahrorlove
  • Companion piece: West of the Fields [ LJ f-locked] [DW] by hannahrorlove


• Minotaur [ LJ] [ LJ] [AO3] [DW] by nightdog_barks


• Missing Pieces [ LJ] [DW] by pwcorgigirl


• Ningyo [ LJ] [DW] by yarroway


• Nor Any Voice of Mourning [ LJ] [ LJ] [ LJ] [ LJ] [AO3] [DW] [DW] by nightdog_barks


• The Room at the End of the World [ LJ] [DW] by pwcorgigirl
  • In the Ruins [ LJ] [DW] by pwcorgigirl
  • til the sun breaks down [ LJ] [DW] by pwcorgigirl


• Standoff [ LJ] [LJ: 1 2 3 4 5 6] [FF] [AO3] [DW: 1 2 3 4 5 6] by nightdog_barks


• There, and Back Again [ LJ] [AO3] by alternatealto


• The Waiting (is unbearable) [ LJ] [ LJ] by wanttobeatree


• Watermark [no longer posted online] by euclase

Continue to Part 2 of the Index by Rec Reason.