Don't Be Dead

Title: Don't Be Dead
Author: JayEz
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John/Sherlock, Lestrade
Warning: PG-13, injury(Lestrade)
Length: Medium
Status: Ongoing



After the Fall, John tries to deal. It takes him a while to figure out that Sherlock is still alive. Though once he is certain, he sets out to clear his best friend’s name and bring him back.


John and Sherlock are not talking about the Moment. So, when Lestrade asks Sherlock to help them find the Gravedigger, a kidnapper who buries his victims alive and leaves them to die if the ransom isn’t paid, the consulting detective is glad to have a distraction.
But then, Sherlock wakes up in a car several feet underground with an unconscious Lestrade in the backseat and approximately 12 hours of air left.


AO3

This is utterly brilliant - Sherlock's utterly brilliant. I liked the second part and have to admit that Johnlock was more of a side bonus.

A Case of Identity

Title: A Case of Identity
Author: suzie_shooter
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: Lestrade/Sherlock
Warning: NC-17, slash
Length: Medium
Status: Completed


Sherlock's exhausted after a case; Lestrade looks after him.


At LJ


Well, there's a lot of sleeping in there. Um, peaceful sleeping. And lying around on the sofa.
It's very fluffy, in a way. Lestrade slowly falls for Sherlock, and then there's Sherlock's asexuality.
Basically, this is a story about asexuality and how a relationship is possible but which obstacles are lined up on the way to happiness.

Fire and Ice

Title: Fire and Ice
Author: kazvl
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: Lestrade/Mycroft, Sherlock
Warning: NC-17, slash, injury (Lestrade), drug abuse (Sherlock)
Length: Novel
Status: Ongoing

"Afraid I'll embarrass you?" mocked Sherlock, looking up suddenly, his stare spearing Mycroft where he sat.

Sherlock was too thin, too dirty - it was always a bad sign when he neglected personal hygiene - and he looked as if he hadn't slept for a week.

"Oh, that ship sailed some years ago. You've been vocal enough about what you don't want. So tell me, brother dear, what is it you dowant?"

"You to leave me the fuck alone," said Sherlock venomously.

Several heads turned. Mycroft ignored them. He took such incidents for granted when he was with Sherlock and had never cared what strangers thought - unless required to do so by his job.

At AO3


Yes, I actually read a true Mystrade Story. And I liked it :)
Took me three tries, the others weren't to my liking. This one, though, has got a healthy amount of jaded Lestrade and too worried about his brother to care for much else Mycroft. Yes. Perfect mixture for lots of drama and an unhealthy relationship. Along with lots of bumps in the road to marital bliss. Or well, bliss.

The Hollow Woman

Title: The Hollow Woman

Author: ScopesMonkey
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John/Sherlock, Harry, Mary
Warning: R, character death (Mrs Hudson)
Length: Novella
Status: Completed


Forced to return to London sooner than expected, Sherlock falls into a case too close to home.



At AO3



Oh, this is painful, and joyful, and delightful, and.... you get the picture. XD
I really understand John's pain.
I really understand Sherlock's sudden sense of loneliness.
And that's the most painful constellation ever. Usually, I have a preference - either Sherlock's an ass, or Sherlock's an ass but doesn't deserve the violent anger John basically throws at him. This story combines both sides, and is very considerate of their mindsets. It is only natural that John needs time. It is only natural that while he is mad, he still protects Sherlock from harm. But he also does not forget his own side, he begins to empathize, to realize, but even then he doesn't lose himself in pitying Sherlock. That's why this work is great. I think they are well-depicted.
And thus, I couldn't resist to offer a sneak peak.

"You wanted me to come back," Sherlock commented, and John bristled at the undertone of cool, calculated assessment. Like he was another variable in another case. A reaction that was all too easily understood.
"Yeah, actually, I did," he snapped.
"And now that I'm here, you want me gone."

The Rules Are Wrong

Title: The Rules Are Wrong
Author: JibberingThoughtsOfFle
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John, Mycroft
Warning: PG-13, character death (Sherlock)
Length: Medium
Status: Completed


Set immediately after The Reichenbach Fall. Sherlock's phone was recovered from the roof - the first breadcrumb in a trail of clues to help John prove that he was innocent. John needs help from those he trusts, and from those he doesn't know. But will anyone try to stop him? And more importantly, will they succeed?



AO3


Definitely a good work but I kind of disagree with the end. It doesn't seem likely that Sherlock would have survived without Mycroft's help. And Mycroft as the big bad guy irks me out... I just consider his love for Sherlock too great to truly let him down in that manner. I can't see him as ruthless as the author paints him in here. My headcanon just says that Sherlock is his one true weakness. Just like Irene Adler proved, to be honest. If Sherlock hadn't solved the riddle in the very last minute, he'd have taken the fall. He was ready. Angry, as seen on the plane, but the man who was talking to Irene a scene later wasn't one that was trying to get out of this situation. He was trying to reduce damage,

To Everything, There Is a Season

Title: To Everything, There Is a Season
Author: shadowed_sunsets
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: Sherlock, Mycroft, Mommy Holmes, Lestrade
Warning: R, drug abuse
Length: Medium
Status: Completed

Act I: This is the story of Sherlock and Mycroft's childhood together, back when Sherlock still looked up to and his world revolved around his brother. When Sherlock lived like he wanted to and only his brother understood.
Of course, it couldn't last forever; no matter how much he wanted.

A take on Mycroft and Sherlock's childhood, written pre- series 2, in vignette's from Mycroft's POV.

Act II: Having decided he doesn't need anyone and can survive perfectly well on his own, Sherlock strikes out into the world. He hits a few bumps and lows before finally finding the one person he's really been looking for all along.

Sherlock's journey through uni, meeting Greg Lestrade, and then stumbling upon John Watson.

AO3



This is Sherlock's journey from childhood to, well, John. It's not detailed, but the author shows us the scenes that changed his life for the worse. And better, at times. It's a roller coaster ride and I love it. I just do.

To Belong

Title: To Belong
Author: TheGoodThings
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John/Sherlock
Warning: NC-17, slash, omegaverse
Length: Medium
Status: Ongoing


John’s gaze turned to look back to the man on the ground. Sherlock. Sherlock was trying to remove his coat with little success. God, maybe he was high. “No.” He said slowly, proud that his voice didn’t waver, “Sorry, Sherlock’s in a bit of trouble.”


At AO3


A different take-on on the series. It's actually very close to the original but for the addition of omegaverse characteristics. Sherlock is a very eccentric omega, John a rather protective but cheerful alpha. He is swapped into this strange world by Sherlock's enthusiasm - just like in the series. I believe this is a very good beginning for people interesting in omegaverse but uncertain where to start. I consider this a light-hearted version of omegaverse, with a very story-centered setting.

Eclipse

Title: Eclipse
Author: Mijan
Fandom: Harry Potter
Characters: Draco/Harry, Voldemort
Warning: PG-13
Length: Novel
Status: Completed

"You're dead, Potter... I'm going to make you pay..."

Draco swore his revenge on Harry for Lucius's imprisonment, and Harry all but laughed at him. But Draco is planning more than schoolyard pranks this time. The old rivalry turns deadly when Draco abducts Harry for Voldemort. It's the perfect plan, guaranteeing revenge, power, and prestige, all in one blow. But when Draco's world turns upside down, the fight to save himself and Harry begins, and the battle will take them both through hell and back. If they come back.

At AO3
Also on FF


Has been some time since I read this.
The characters could have been stronger in attitude but the main plot is good and rather solid. The structure itself, too. I consider this a perfectly fine Drarry story, and if you haven't read it yet, go for it.

Meeting Mary

Title: Meeting Mary
Author: Snommis
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John/Sherlock, John/Mary, Lestrade
Warning: PG, illness(Sherlock), drug abuse (John - unwanted)
Length: Medium
Status: Completed

Sherlock gets himself hospitalised, John meets Mary and more than one case turns out to be depressingly simple. Contains some references to several ACD stories, among these ‘The Sign of the Four’. No one will gain a wife from this, though.

“I think it’s time you accepted the fact that he’s more than just your best friend,” Lestrade interrupted.
“Please, not you as well,” John sighed heavily. “We’re –“
“No, no. Hang on. That’s not what I meant,” Lestrade immediately cut him off, holding his hands up in a placating gesture.
“What do you mean, then?”
“You love him.”
John did not even think about arguing the point – it would only defeat the purpose of seeking advice. “And?”
“And I think you need to sit down and figure out whether or not you have anything left to give that isn’t already Sherlock’s.”
John felt his shoulders tensing in protest, but damn it if that did not hit close to home.

At AO3



This is so beautiful, I just have to quote something:

Would you kindly consider never leaving my sight? Why? Oh, because I'm a possessive, obsessive and arrogant addict who has decided that I need you a lot like oxygen and puzzles. So if you wouldn't mind terribly I'll just go ahead and deprive you of any semblance of a normal life. In fact, of any kind of life that doesn't revolve so entirely and exclusively around me that I'm allowed to take anything I feel like, whenever I feel like it without ever offering anything in return. Problem?

(Sherlock on his feelings for John)

“If I were to stay here for the rest of my life, would you… would it be with you? Or would I one day wake up and find you gone because you’ve grown bored with London or something?”

(John propositioning - in other words: Won't you get bored with me?)

“It wasn’t supposed to do that. It was not supposed to do that. Uh… John? You might want to open the windows. It’s uh – slightly toxic,"

(Sherlock, when one of his experiments explodes)

This story unites two things I consider very essential in Sherlock fiction:
John accepts himself. John Watson in the series is struggling between the normalcy (girlfriends) and living, breathing, in a way. I am not saying that John is gay or any of that sorts. That's wishful thinking. But he keeps on entangling with women while he does not really want a relationship himself. He likes the idea of relationships, though. I believe that the ultimate step for him will be accept that truth. That he doesn't have to hide behind masks. Because that's not who he is. 
And the second aspect I consider essential is Sherlock's acceptance of his own faults. Sherlock in the series is aware of his short-comings (e.g. with Irene, or when he asks whether his behavior was 'not good') but he does not accept them. It's not a matter of improving, god beware, no. That'd be out of character. It's a matter of coming to terms with himself. Which he hasn't. Sherlock's quirky, he's arrogant, rude. John has introduced self-consciousness into his life. And I believe that the ultimate step resulting out of this will be acceptance of his short-comings and kindness. Not always. Most often not. But the ability to respect other people's mistakes (sometimes). Right now, he doesn't have the ability yet. But he's scraped at the surface, e.g. when he saved Irene. 
I put these two aspects out there as an expectation. As a fellow author, I read characters differently than others might do. To me, Sherlock's story will be "over" when this happens. Good fanfiction depict these two traits. The authors picked up the essential role they play in each other's life.

This story includes both aspects.
Okay, I'll never become BFF with Mary. She wasn't annoying in here, so I guess that'll be the nearest to a love confession she'll ever get from me. To me, she's just another of John's boring girlfriends. Where's the difference between Jeanette and Mary? Just because she's canon doesn't make her special. Or more understanding. Or more interesting. Not to me. And I am glad that this author did not insist on describing her as such a wonderful person, and so on. Yes, Sherlock put up with her. Because she was slightly more agreeable than others before her. But she had her flaws, too, and didn't push. That's why I can respect her in this fiction. I can respect her as a woman.

The Baker Street Nativity

Title: The Baker Street Nativity
Author: SwissMiss
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John/Sherlock, Lestrade, Jim
Warning: R, slash, violence, AU
Length: Novel
Status: Completed


Sherlock is a primary school teacher and John is assigned to be his classroom assistant. Together, they are charged with putting on the school's Nativity play. What could possibly go wrong?


At AO3

Hilarious, insightful story with a very good John. He's patient, kind, good with children, good with and for Sherlock... god. I finally got some of the high esteem in which I once held him back. I have to admit that the Mary thing has shaken me, just as much as many of those fics that I began to read and discontinued reading. I hate stories where the author put him as some faithful husband that just doesn't want to hurt any party. I like him better when he knows that he should either lay in the bed he's made himself or admit that it was a mistake and set it right. John's decisive - and in this story, while he wants to please, he is decisive.
Finally. I love him.
Sherlock's actually rather self-conscious in this story. Don't know if I have read something similiar as of yet. Usually, when he's self-conscious, he's often depicted more mental (not in a degrading way!). Sherlock here is brilliant but not overly sociopathic. Just self-conscious and he has had some pretty rough experiences which shaped him.
To me, one of the most surprising stories I've read in the past weeks. It restored my faith in John, and that makes it one of my favorite stories ever right now.

A Matter of...

Title: A Matter of...
Author: Ariana
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters: John/Sherlock, once Sherlock/John
Warning: R, slash
Length: Medium
Status: Ongoing

Sherlock catches John watching gay porn. So he naturally assumes John wants to have sex with him.

At AO3

Easy to read through all three parts. Sherlock's bottom through and through here, though they once try it the other way round, so to speak. Wouldn't classify it as especially heart-warming or a must-read, but it's nice and easy on the eyes, easy on the mind. A good story for inbetween.