NCIS fanfic recs - KIBBS
So a while ago I bitched about the fact that I couldn't find any decent NCIS fanfic and my flist came to the rescue. So I guess I'm sort of returning the favour. I'm going to start with KIBBS fic, cos there's so much of it out there, but there'll be other pairings I'll rec soon, plus gen|non-paired fic (although that is particularly hard to find in good quality!).
Sorry none of them are PWP-based or rated particularly highly, but while pure smut has its' place, the quality of writing in fics thusly rated generally excludes them from being recced ;)
So, here I offer
River - b_cavis
b_cavis does Kate Todd really well, in that she's still a strong character whilst being plagued by all the little insecurities and doubts that are hinted at in the show. The relationship the author creates between Kate and Gibbs is complex, dark and sometimes sweet ... but mostly it comes across as honest.
There are a few scenes that I found hard to picture, given the characters' personality, but for a KIBBSfic to have only one or two scenes like that is something of a glowing endorsement. I think KIBBS is very difficult to write believably, and b_cavis definitely succeeds.
Excerpt - Her lover cries in his sleep, clutches at the sheets, and she feels a little bit of herself glow at the sight of him. She will burn in hell, but she has done many things that she deserves to burn for, and this seems so petty in comparison.
One Man's Poison - sammie28
Now, this fic has its' rough points for sure, and if you're looking for smut, this is not your fic. However, it has something that fanfic in general often lacks, and NCIS fanfic is no exception - it has a really interesting plot. Yes, I am not kidding, this fic has an intriguing plot that actually makes sense. The story is heavily dialogue-based and it flows well.
Excerpt - "Hey!" Abby greeted as the team finally came to her lab, looking weary. "You've been gone for days. Director Morrow was starting to wonder."
"It's going to suck to be you," Cassie muttered. "They wired the whole town, including the fat pigeon sitting on the power line above the bar."
Witness - Mindy
This is short and sweet and from McGee's point of view - which is a nice take, I thought. There are some good insights into the Kate-Gibbs dynamic without the fic needing smut, and McGee's nervous humour comes through well. All in all, a great read and imho, one of Mindy's better stories, even though she does smut with the best of them, lol.
Excerpt -Gibbs is many things, not the least of which is elusive. He never lets his guard down, rarely sits completely still and many would say he hasn't a sensitive bone in his body. Which is why the sight of him at the present moment gives McGee pause; and throws at him yet another bizarre piece of the puzzle that is Gibbs' unpredictable personality.
A Dull Ache - Outside Edge
Another short one, again no smut (sorry for those hoping for it). A little look inside Gibbs' head with a very angsty edge. This whole fic works on the theory that Gibbs' only looks unaffected by everything - that his cool exterior is only that - a facade.
I couldn't read a long fic based around that premise, but a short one like this was interesting and provided a subtle take on KIBBS that I find I like a lot more than the tried and true Gibbs-jumps-Kate-in-the-[insert NCIS office location].
Excerpt -The sight of my own blood surprised me, I hadn't felt the shrapnel hit. I felt calm, in control, out to nail the bastard, no time for self-pity, no time to curl up in agony - Marines don't cry.
Last Night - Mindy
Mindy makes a second appearance! Not surprising since she's a very prolific fanficcer and especially taken with the KIBBS pairing. For smut-lovers there's something in here for you. I love Abby's sense of humour in this one, in fact, the rest of the team are unusually well-captured and play a nice part in this fic. Fun and a bit sexy - I quite enjoyed it.
Excerpt - He was wearing the blue shirt today that brought out his eyes, and despite her status as a taken woman, she wouldn’t be female if she did not notice it. As usual, he was all DNA-this and fingerprint-that, but there was something else going on underneath. He was totally business on the outside, but in his step there was a slight bounce and in his smile there was a tiny secret. Abby wanted in on the big mystery.
So, the list is far from exhaustive and there are probably three or four others that I could have included but chose not to because they were similar in tone or concept to those above. I'm sure the authors would love your feedback, and so would I - whether you agree with my recs or think I'm nuts, lol.
Sorry none of them are PWP-based or rated particularly highly, but while pure smut has its' place, the quality of writing in fics thusly rated generally excludes them from being recced ;)
So, here I offer
River - b_cavis
b_cavis does Kate Todd really well, in that she's still a strong character whilst being plagued by all the little insecurities and doubts that are hinted at in the show. The relationship the author creates between Kate and Gibbs is complex, dark and sometimes sweet ... but mostly it comes across as honest.
There are a few scenes that I found hard to picture, given the characters' personality, but for a KIBBSfic to have only one or two scenes like that is something of a glowing endorsement. I think KIBBS is very difficult to write believably, and b_cavis definitely succeeds.
Excerpt - Her lover cries in his sleep, clutches at the sheets, and she feels a little bit of herself glow at the sight of him. She will burn in hell, but she has done many things that she deserves to burn for, and this seems so petty in comparison.
One Man's Poison - sammie28
Now, this fic has its' rough points for sure, and if you're looking for smut, this is not your fic. However, it has something that fanfic in general often lacks, and NCIS fanfic is no exception - it has a really interesting plot. Yes, I am not kidding, this fic has an intriguing plot that actually makes sense. The story is heavily dialogue-based and it flows well.
Excerpt - "Hey!" Abby greeted as the team finally came to her lab, looking weary. "You've been gone for days. Director Morrow was starting to wonder."
"It's going to suck to be you," Cassie muttered. "They wired the whole town, including the fat pigeon sitting on the power line above the bar."
Witness - Mindy
This is short and sweet and from McGee's point of view - which is a nice take, I thought. There are some good insights into the Kate-Gibbs dynamic without the fic needing smut, and McGee's nervous humour comes through well. All in all, a great read and imho, one of Mindy's better stories, even though she does smut with the best of them, lol.
Excerpt -Gibbs is many things, not the least of which is elusive. He never lets his guard down, rarely sits completely still and many would say he hasn't a sensitive bone in his body. Which is why the sight of him at the present moment gives McGee pause; and throws at him yet another bizarre piece of the puzzle that is Gibbs' unpredictable personality.
A Dull Ache - Outside Edge
Another short one, again no smut (sorry for those hoping for it). A little look inside Gibbs' head with a very angsty edge. This whole fic works on the theory that Gibbs' only looks unaffected by everything - that his cool exterior is only that - a facade.
I couldn't read a long fic based around that premise, but a short one like this was interesting and provided a subtle take on KIBBS that I find I like a lot more than the tried and true Gibbs-jumps-Kate-in-the-[insert NCIS office location].
Excerpt -The sight of my own blood surprised me, I hadn't felt the shrapnel hit. I felt calm, in control, out to nail the bastard, no time for self-pity, no time to curl up in agony - Marines don't cry.
Last Night - Mindy
Mindy makes a second appearance! Not surprising since she's a very prolific fanficcer and especially taken with the KIBBS pairing. For smut-lovers there's something in here for you. I love Abby's sense of humour in this one, in fact, the rest of the team are unusually well-captured and play a nice part in this fic. Fun and a bit sexy - I quite enjoyed it.
Excerpt - He was wearing the blue shirt today that brought out his eyes, and despite her status as a taken woman, she wouldn’t be female if she did not notice it. As usual, he was all DNA-this and fingerprint-that, but there was something else going on underneath. He was totally business on the outside, but in his step there was a slight bounce and in his smile there was a tiny secret. Abby wanted in on the big mystery.
So, the list is far from exhaustive and there are probably three or four others that I could have included but chose not to because they were similar in tone or concept to those above. I'm sure the authors would love your feedback, and so would I - whether you agree with my recs or think I'm nuts, lol.