Supernatural - 22 Recs
So iamtheenemy has been guilting me about not posting recs. So here are a bunch of Supernatural recs. It owns my brain. I'm reading other fandoms still, but I love those Winchester boys. As always, if you enjoy, be sure to let the authors know!
Supernatural Recs (22 Recs)
1. The Things You Don’t Expect by alethialia - It’s adorable and funny and wonderful with the family of Winchesters and Sam asking about the birds and the bees. “You’re the father,” Dean pointed out, all helpful-tone and bright smile. Dad shot him a look that said he didn’t appreciate his firstborn abandoning him in his time of need, ungrateful traitor. If all that could be stuffed into a look, which it so could as far as Dean was concerned.
2. Somatic by stillane - This is a look at our favorite Winchester brothers from an outsider’s perspective. It’s clever and wonderful and truly requires two readings to fully appreciate the brilliance of the piece. There’s a considering pause. “He’s tough. Never lets anything stop him.” He snorts. “He’s a total marshmallow, though, under it all. Loves the kind of music that requires spandex and big hair. And his car. It’s really not healthy to be that attached to an inanimate object.” A breath. Then, quieter, “And me. He doesn’t say it, but I know.” That last holds an odd intensity.
3. Lost, Behind by thete1 - This is one of the best brotherly relationship stories I’ve read to date, and y’all know I read a lot in this fandom. I love that it's from Dean's perspective so we see what he's thinking, compared to what he allows himself to say. If Dad was here, Dean's pretty sure he'd do just what Dean's doing right now. That he'd just watch this, and listen to it, even though it's Sam, even though it's *Sam*, and he wakes up just like any of them when you touch him -- fast and perfect.
4. Freedom’s Just Another Word by koyote19 - vignettes, mostly set pre-season that allow the reader to catch a glimpse of the Dean we usually don’t see. If asked, Dean wouldn’t tell you that he died six months before his twenty-third birthday. That Sam leaving for Stanford had ripped a hole in his chest than no amount of time would ever heal.
5. All Out of Sight by whereupon - This is so beautifully written as Dean faces a battle on his own and tries to have faith that Sam will come for him. He wonders if Sam will know when he's gone, if he'll feel anything, psychic wonder that he is and all. He wonders if this is wishful thinking, if this is weakness. He always expected it would happen like this.
6. Things Sam Has Not Missed About This Life by cupiscent - Gah, this is good stuff that gives us a look into all the things that drive Sam crazy. Sleeping in the car. It was bearable for that (all too brief) period where Dad was driving a station wagon, but Sam was too tall to be sleeping in Dean's car before he left for college, and he hasn't fucking shrunk.
7. Someday Never Comes by traveller - It’s John backstory and it’s brilliant. John had been in Khe Sanh the day that his father died; he didn't get the telegram until it was past too late.
8. Haunted by mmarinov - This is a nice, long piece (10 Chapters of Goodness) with an interesting plot and it really manages to focus on the relationship between Sam and Dean. There is quite a bit of Dean getting hurt in the ten chapters and chock full of angst, to be warned, but it’s a good read if you like long pieces. So Sam told him. He probably shouldn’t have, and most likely wouldn’t have if Dean wasn’t being so stubborn. But as it is with brothers, sometimes better judgment isn’t an option. So Sam told him. About what he’d seen. About the figure leaning over the battered body. About…and here he faltered, but was somehow able to eventually dreg out the words…about believing the figure was Dean. And about the shotgun in his hand.
9. Roads to Horizons by berne - Short look at Dean and Sam’s different takes on the same situations. Loved it a whole lot. Dean loves his car, but it’s nothing compared to how he loves Sam. If the unthinkable were ever to happen and Sam dies, Dean thinks that he would quit hunting, take the Impala, and just drive, drive, drive.
10. Paradise Where You Choose It by scribblinlenore - I’m pretty sure Lenore is trying to kill me dead with the goodness, so how can I not rec it? It’s a wonderful piece - quite potent - involving Sam and possible paradise. It’s easy to forget everything else. Sam doesn’t even wonder where Dean is until the third day, and he feels kind of bad about that.
11. We, Who Are the Merciful by fryadvocate - Post Asylum - It has the boys fighting evil and the boys arguing and being brothers. For some reason, Dean's nightmares passed under Sam's radar, soft waves of emotion in a motionless sleep. Sam was not used to waking up to the sound of someone else screaming; it took him by surprise.
12. >The $ 24,000 Question by serenfics - post faith - There’s a little angst in this piece, but mostly I love the snark between the brothers. “Hey, Oprah, don’t you have other guests to interview? Doesn’t Cruise have any nutty relatives that want to weigh in on the whole Tom-Katie situation?” He hated that those words were what came out of his mouth.
13. Don’t Let Me Go by agt_spooky - Post Faith - This is the Gen version of the story and it’s aching and gut wrenching and wonderful to read. (For the Wincest folk, there is a wincest version - http://agt-spooky.livejournal.com/5498.html). His brother was down there alone with that thing, and only one taser left. He had to get back down there. Now. Every fiber of his being was screaming at him that something was wrong.
14. Fighters by wrenscribbles - Post Nightmare - A little ficlet with the brothers sparring and Sam getting pissed off. Hee. Sam surges up with a snarl, he is sick of this, sick of being knocked on his backside in what feels like every dirt lot between here and Saginaw.
15. Tiny A’s All in a Row by jwynn - Post Nightmare - This story bounces between present and past and creates this interesting look at how much Dean loves Sam, even though, in the end, he might not utter those words. When it comes for Dean, he’s not ready. Sam’s out for toothpaste and Dean walks into their room and it’s waiting for him there with a smile.
16. The Wild One by trollprincess - post Benders - an interesting look into Sam’s world at college, where his warrior upbringing still manages to catch up with him. Everything is a weapon if you look at it the right way, and when you're raised the way he was, you're creative in dangerous ways.
17. Midnight Confessions by raconter - post Benders - this is just cute and adorable and both Sam and Dean are worried about the other on the walk back to the car. “That sheriff!” Dean said. “If she knew the price of these boots, she’d offer to carry me back to the police station.”
18. Never Forget by agt_spooky - post Benders - Yes, two fics from the same author, but see…there is some angst and melodrama and brotherly love set in the aftermath of the episode and it killed me. So I must share. The younger Winchester clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, his eyes like slits. As if sensing his thoughts, Dean lay a hand on Sam's shoulder. "He's already dead, Sam," Dean said softly.
19. Post Benders Coda by joyfulgirl41 - Post Benders - Yeah, yeah, this should just be expected because I love her codas and this one is no different. It’s short but manages to say so much about those Wincester boys. Dean has more stories than Sam, as he wears a fair amount of scars that should have been Sam's. He let Sam make up the stories for those ones, which is why the scar under his chin was from when he tripped over his untied shoe and hit his chin on the curb.
20. Dead Eyes by khohen1 - Post Benders - Dean is the one plagued by nightmares. The first time Dean wakes up sweating and breathing hard, Sam lets it pass. The second time Sam rolls over so Dean can’t see that he noticed. The third time he sits up on his elbows and looked at Dean but Dean just punched his fists into the covers and closed his eyes again.
21. Nemesis Mine by emmademarais - Post Shadow - There isn’t enough Papa fic out there and this one is quite potent for such a short piece. Definitely worthwhile read, especially if you love papa like I do. John just did the best he could and trusted that Sam had Dean to make up for anything he lacked.
22. The Way They Used to Be by lunarknightz - Post Shadow - a look into Dean’s perspective after the brother’s talk in the hotel that makes me achey. You doubt if Sam would have been a very good lawyer. Oh, he’s smart enough, but he’s not the most observant. He’s shuffling off all his own issues on you. You aren’t the one living in the past- he is.
Supernatural Recs (22 Recs)
1. The Things You Don’t Expect by alethialia - It’s adorable and funny and wonderful with the family of Winchesters and Sam asking about the birds and the bees. “You’re the father,” Dean pointed out, all helpful-tone and bright smile. Dad shot him a look that said he didn’t appreciate his firstborn abandoning him in his time of need, ungrateful traitor. If all that could be stuffed into a look, which it so could as far as Dean was concerned.
2. Somatic by stillane - This is a look at our favorite Winchester brothers from an outsider’s perspective. It’s clever and wonderful and truly requires two readings to fully appreciate the brilliance of the piece. There’s a considering pause. “He’s tough. Never lets anything stop him.” He snorts. “He’s a total marshmallow, though, under it all. Loves the kind of music that requires spandex and big hair. And his car. It’s really not healthy to be that attached to an inanimate object.” A breath. Then, quieter, “And me. He doesn’t say it, but I know.” That last holds an odd intensity.
3. Lost, Behind by thete1 - This is one of the best brotherly relationship stories I’ve read to date, and y’all know I read a lot in this fandom. I love that it's from Dean's perspective so we see what he's thinking, compared to what he allows himself to say. If Dad was here, Dean's pretty sure he'd do just what Dean's doing right now. That he'd just watch this, and listen to it, even though it's Sam, even though it's *Sam*, and he wakes up just like any of them when you touch him -- fast and perfect.
4. Freedom’s Just Another Word by koyote19 - vignettes, mostly set pre-season that allow the reader to catch a glimpse of the Dean we usually don’t see. If asked, Dean wouldn’t tell you that he died six months before his twenty-third birthday. That Sam leaving for Stanford had ripped a hole in his chest than no amount of time would ever heal.
5. All Out of Sight by whereupon - This is so beautifully written as Dean faces a battle on his own and tries to have faith that Sam will come for him. He wonders if Sam will know when he's gone, if he'll feel anything, psychic wonder that he is and all. He wonders if this is wishful thinking, if this is weakness. He always expected it would happen like this.
6. Things Sam Has Not Missed About This Life by cupiscent - Gah, this is good stuff that gives us a look into all the things that drive Sam crazy. Sleeping in the car. It was bearable for that (all too brief) period where Dad was driving a station wagon, but Sam was too tall to be sleeping in Dean's car before he left for college, and he hasn't fucking shrunk.
7. Someday Never Comes by traveller - It’s John backstory and it’s brilliant. John had been in Khe Sanh the day that his father died; he didn't get the telegram until it was past too late.
8. Haunted by mmarinov - This is a nice, long piece (10 Chapters of Goodness) with an interesting plot and it really manages to focus on the relationship between Sam and Dean. There is quite a bit of Dean getting hurt in the ten chapters and chock full of angst, to be warned, but it’s a good read if you like long pieces. So Sam told him. He probably shouldn’t have, and most likely wouldn’t have if Dean wasn’t being so stubborn. But as it is with brothers, sometimes better judgment isn’t an option. So Sam told him. About what he’d seen. About the figure leaning over the battered body. About…and here he faltered, but was somehow able to eventually dreg out the words…about believing the figure was Dean. And about the shotgun in his hand.
9. Roads to Horizons by berne - Short look at Dean and Sam’s different takes on the same situations. Loved it a whole lot. Dean loves his car, but it’s nothing compared to how he loves Sam. If the unthinkable were ever to happen and Sam dies, Dean thinks that he would quit hunting, take the Impala, and just drive, drive, drive.
10. Paradise Where You Choose It by scribblinlenore - I’m pretty sure Lenore is trying to kill me dead with the goodness, so how can I not rec it? It’s a wonderful piece - quite potent - involving Sam and possible paradise. It’s easy to forget everything else. Sam doesn’t even wonder where Dean is until the third day, and he feels kind of bad about that.
11. We, Who Are the Merciful by fryadvocate - Post Asylum - It has the boys fighting evil and the boys arguing and being brothers. For some reason, Dean's nightmares passed under Sam's radar, soft waves of emotion in a motionless sleep. Sam was not used to waking up to the sound of someone else screaming; it took him by surprise.
12. >The $ 24,000 Question by serenfics - post faith - There’s a little angst in this piece, but mostly I love the snark between the brothers. “Hey, Oprah, don’t you have other guests to interview? Doesn’t Cruise have any nutty relatives that want to weigh in on the whole Tom-Katie situation?” He hated that those words were what came out of his mouth.
13. Don’t Let Me Go by agt_spooky - Post Faith - This is the Gen version of the story and it’s aching and gut wrenching and wonderful to read. (For the Wincest folk, there is a wincest version - http://agt-spooky.livejournal.com/5498.html). His brother was down there alone with that thing, and only one taser left. He had to get back down there. Now. Every fiber of his being was screaming at him that something was wrong.
14. Fighters by wrenscribbles - Post Nightmare - A little ficlet with the brothers sparring and Sam getting pissed off. Hee. Sam surges up with a snarl, he is sick of this, sick of being knocked on his backside in what feels like every dirt lot between here and Saginaw.
15. Tiny A’s All in a Row by jwynn - Post Nightmare - This story bounces between present and past and creates this interesting look at how much Dean loves Sam, even though, in the end, he might not utter those words. When it comes for Dean, he’s not ready. Sam’s out for toothpaste and Dean walks into their room and it’s waiting for him there with a smile.
16. The Wild One by trollprincess - post Benders - an interesting look into Sam’s world at college, where his warrior upbringing still manages to catch up with him. Everything is a weapon if you look at it the right way, and when you're raised the way he was, you're creative in dangerous ways.
17. Midnight Confessions by raconter - post Benders - this is just cute and adorable and both Sam and Dean are worried about the other on the walk back to the car. “That sheriff!” Dean said. “If she knew the price of these boots, she’d offer to carry me back to the police station.”
18. Never Forget by agt_spooky - post Benders - Yes, two fics from the same author, but see…there is some angst and melodrama and brotherly love set in the aftermath of the episode and it killed me. So I must share. The younger Winchester clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, his eyes like slits. As if sensing his thoughts, Dean lay a hand on Sam's shoulder. "He's already dead, Sam," Dean said softly.
19. Post Benders Coda by joyfulgirl41 - Post Benders - Yeah, yeah, this should just be expected because I love her codas and this one is no different. It’s short but manages to say so much about those Wincester boys. Dean has more stories than Sam, as he wears a fair amount of scars that should have been Sam's. He let Sam make up the stories for those ones, which is why the scar under his chin was from when he tripped over his untied shoe and hit his chin on the curb.
20. Dead Eyes by khohen1 - Post Benders - Dean is the one plagued by nightmares. The first time Dean wakes up sweating and breathing hard, Sam lets it pass. The second time Sam rolls over so Dean can’t see that he noticed. The third time he sits up on his elbows and looked at Dean but Dean just punched his fists into the covers and closed his eyes again.
21. Nemesis Mine by emmademarais - Post Shadow - There isn’t enough Papa fic out there and this one is quite potent for such a short piece. Definitely worthwhile read, especially if you love papa like I do. John just did the best he could and trusted that Sam had Dean to make up for anything he lacked.
22. The Way They Used to Be by lunarknightz - Post Shadow - a look into Dean’s perspective after the brother’s talk in the hotel that makes me achey. You doubt if Sam would have been a very good lawyer. Oh, he’s smart enough, but he’s not the most observant. He’s shuffling off all his own issues on you. You aren’t the one living in the past- he is.