Calufrax

Story: That First Night
Author: whispersecho
Rating: All Ages
Word Count: 100
Author's Summary: Sometimes a thing becomes so familiar you don't notice it until it's missing.
Characters/Pairings: Susan Foreman
Warnings: None

Recced because: This drabble is a well-written coda to The Dalek Invasion of Earth. In just 100 words, whispersecho captures this moment in Susan's life and presents in it a way that makes the situation easy to relate to and its poignancy keenly felt. If I said anything more I'd give too much away; just go read it and enjoy!

Hello! I'm stellastars and I'm excited to be reccing here at calufrax again this week. I'll be sharing some of the stories that have caught my attention, including a mixture of Classic and New Who, Torchwood, and SJA. To get us started this week, here's a bit of humor to brighten your Monday!

Story: Possibilities, or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bananas
Author: rosa_acicularis / rosa_acicularis
Rating: Teen
Word Count: 13,660
Author's Summary: Rose Tyler lives the life fantastic, her feet on the ground and her head in the stars. A Pete's World fic. With bananas.
Characters/Pairings: Jackie Tyler, Jake Simmonds, Mickey Smith, Pete Tyler, Rose Tyler, OC, The Doctor (10th), Rose/Ten, Jake/Mickey
Warnings: None
Note: Though finished recently, this fic was begun before Series 4 aired. It contains spoilers and canon only through The Runaway Bride.

Recced because: This fic is LOL-funny and laughter makes the start of any week better. The premise of the story is hilarious, there's a fun Jake/Mickey subplot, and Rose's younger brother (author-created and named "Reggie") adds humor that only an eight-year old could bring. Plus, with phrases like The mysterious bananary continued the language itself will put smiles on faces. (Just try saying the word "bananary" and see if it doesn't make you grin!) But this story is more than laughs, too. As the tale progresses and the culprit behind the bananary revealed, the reader sees a Rose who has matured as an individual: she's built a life for herself without the Doctor and has a firm sense of her place in Pete's world. This well-developed characterization gives the story substance and (combined with the humor) makes for an incredibly satisfying read. I hope it will brighten your day as much as it did mine!

Story: The Trouble With Harry
Author: Azar
Rating: All Ages
Word Count: 26,386
Author's Summary: "Abby's past and present collide when she and the missing Admiral Sullivan they're searching for turn out to have a mutual friend--the Doctor. Crossover with NCIS."
Characters/Pairings: Harry Sullivan, The Doctor (10th), The Doctor (8th), Martha Jones, Abby Sciuto, Gibbs, Tony DiNozzo, Ziva David, Tim McGee, Ducky, Director Shepard, Original Characters
Warnings: Spoilers: Doctor Who - Robot through Terror of the Zygons, 1996 Movie, and Season 3 through Blink. NCIS - through 5x14.

Recced because: This is story is just plain fun to read. Azar writes Harry, Ten, Eight, Martha and the entire cast of NCIS brilliantly. The plot is fast-paced, clever, and features some cool aliens. Each time I read this story, it makes me smile. (And if you're not familiar with NCIS, don't worry -- you'll still enjoy it!)

Story: Friends of a Friend
Author: MinervaFan
Rating: All Ages
Word Count: 1796
Author's Summary: "AU: Josh Townsend and Natalie Redfern deal with tragedy. Spoilers for the DW episode Turn Left."
Characters/Pairings: Josh Townsend, Natalie Redfern, Sarah Jane Smith, Luke Smith, Maria Jackson, Clyde Langer
Warnings: Spoilers for Turn Left.

Recced because: In Friends of a Friend, MinervaFan takes the AU "right turn" scenario and uses it as an opportunity to explore Josh Townsend, Sarah Jane Smith, and the very-Sarah-Jane-theme of picking up the pieces when one's world has changed. The result is a unique and seamless melding of the Sarah Jane Adventures and the Sarah Jane Smith Audio Stories, with excellent characterizations throughout.