Supernatural (TV series)/Fanfic Recs

Proof that the remaining 10% is worth dying for here:

These are recommendations made by Tropers for Supernatural, all of which have been signed. After a few samples, you will be able to judge whether you might be interested in the 'fic, based on who recommended it. No-name recommendations will be Zapped (wiki). Nobody would back up the rec. Discussion of the recommendation is welcome on the discussion page. As such discussion is important, do remember to add the discussion page to the watchlist, if need be.

Do warn when a fanfic may head into non-canon territory, be it in pairings or plot. Some people just don't like it, and as we all know, Shipping is Serious Business.

Authors, and Websites
Silver & Salt Supernatural stories by B.Sterns (aka Gekizetsu/eighth_horizen)
 * Recommended by User:Caysha
 * She writes both gen/slash in an amazing range of genres. The Winchesters are always written in beautifully in character, despite some of the bizzare situations they encounter (including a v. hot genderswap series), B. Stern's style is engaging, flowing, and easy to read, one of the best fanfic authors out there. Cannot recommend her works highly enough!

PlatinumRoseLady on FF.net
 * Recommended by User:Mon Solo
 * A ton of short-but-sweet stories focusing on the Winchesters. By "short" I mean most of them are around 100 words; by "sweet" I mean she treats the characters much better than the writers on the show do. Despite being so brief, she really captures the characters' personalities. Currently writing about an alternate universe where the brothers adopt a cat named Lucky. Almost exclusively general fic; no Wincest.

entangled_now at Live Journal
 * Recommended by emilyperson
 * She writes both gen and pretty much every pairing you can think of, in a variety of genres and levels of age-appropriate. The stories (usually oneshots, though there are a few multiple-parters, like the Fourth Wall series linked to on our own Crack Fic page) are usually funny, often sad, sometimes creepy, and always beautiful. And the smut, when it comes up, is quite hot.

peroxidepest17
 * Recommended by jeun
 * peroxidepest17 has only recently joined the SPN fandom, but the things written so far are amusing. Most of it can be read as a stand alone oneshot, and Dean x Castiel seems to be this writers OTP. I suggest starting with the 'series' where Sam has the issues for Dean starting with Curvature of the Earth, the latest in this serie Flames of the Sun is currently one of my favorites. Love is a Battlefield is especially amusing but YMMV. All of these are Dean x Castiel.

General Fics
''Stories focused on the family and the friendly relationships of the cast. Plot-focused stories or light day-in-the-life stories. Pretty much anything that isn't focused on romance.''

Arctic Radar by MusesFool
 * Recommended by Lua
 * Synopsis: Sam knew there were lots of things he still didn't know about Dean. The past two and a half years had been full of startling revelations, and this was possibly the most startling of all. In short, Dean knits and Sam suffers the consequences.
 * Comments: Gen and fairly short, but dead funny. The author takes a rather cracky premise and makes it work.

Evernatural by b stearns
 * Recommended by User:Tinted
 * Synopsis: Disney purchases the rights to Supernatural and airs it on Tuesday nights on ABC at 7:30. The show is retitled to aim for a different audience. Eric Kripke sets fire to himself outside an ABC studio shortly after.
 * Comments: Gen (and far too short for this troper's taste) but with minor Sam/Dean if you want to see it.

The Simple Art Of Graverobbing by b stearns
 * Recommended by Polar Bear
 * Synopsis: Crossover between Supernatural and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Harry and Perry go hunt some graverobbers.
 * Comments: Narrated by Harry. Light, fun and as gen as a fic featuring Gay Perry will ever be.

I Am The Very Model by Vorpalblades
 * Recommended by Lua
 * Synopsis: Jake killed Sam, but Sam came back. Sam killed Jake, and Jake stayed dead. That means Sam won, and to the victor goes the spoils, right? Yeah, thatâ€™s what the rest of Hell thought too.  The demons want Sam to lead. Hilarity Ensues.
 * Comments: Lovely gen humour. It's got a bit of a Good Omens feel to it, which is always a good thing.

Not As We by tru_faith_lost
 * Recommended by emeriin.
 * Synopsis: It's in God's hands now. Literally. Dean has his orders and as much proof as he'll ever need that he's got no choice but to follow them.
 * Comments: A beautiful, heartbreaking look into Dean's head after 4x17 and also demonstrating the insanity of telling someone who has been to hell to stop whining.

The Pie!Fic Series by fandomatemylife
 * Recommended by Lua
 * Synopsis: Castiel pays Dean an unexpected visit with unexpected results.
 * Comments: A series in eight parts, all named after (and featuring) a different kind of pie, and Dean and Castiel (and eventually Sam) bonding over it. It's feel-good fic more than anything, with beautifully written characters.

Idle Hands by MissAnnThropic
 * Recommended by trkzsoup
 * Synopsis: During the chaos of Lucifer walking the earth, Castiel searches out Dean.
 * Comments: An all-too-brief story, with not a shred of hope or happiness. It's well-written, and more than a little heartbreaking. Not for anyone looking to read something funny or light-hearted.

In Excelsis by 1shot
 * Recommended by Rocket Happy
 * Synopsis: Dean is tired, and half-buzzed, and Sammy's gone and Lucifer is risen and he's going to get himself smited -- smote? -- by an angel in the world's scuzziest motel.
 * Comments: The first in a not-series (meaning that this fic has companion pieces, but each story can stand alone) that is wonderfully written with spot-on Dean characterization, even as he's drunk and concussed.

The Mountains in Reply by 1shot
 * Recommended by Rocket Happy
 * Synopsis: Castiel is standing six inches too far inside Dean's personal space, and the two of them are playing intenser-than-thou while Sam fidgets impatiently with the strap of his bag and thinks about how it's a hell of a lot drier inside the car.
 * Comments: Second in 1shot's not-series. Beautifully written, a great look at Sam and Castiel's friendship and its difficulties.

Angels We Have Heard by 1shot
 * Recommended by Rocket Happy
 * Synopsis: Castiel looks for God. It is a tiresome and thankless task, and he is running out of time.
 * Comments: Last in 1shot's not-series. An unusually heartbreaking look into Castiel's head as he desperately searches for God and tries to balance it with helping the Winchesters.

A Match Made in Heaven by incandescens (Crossover)
 * Recommended by User:S Noble Jr
 * Synopsis: "Dean meets the Transformers. He's met weirder."
 * Comments: A funny little ficlet in which Dean meets the Autobot Jazz. The two characters actually bounce off each other quite well (and quite entertainingly).

"The War" by Underneaththebunker
 * Recommended by Almostreal
 * Synopsis: What drove Sam to run away to Flagstaff? An unexpected turn of events on a hunt almost tears the family apart. WARNING: disturbing imagery.
 * Comments: Sad, well written and true to cannon. Emotionally wrenching but I really liked this.

The Missing Piece by Aecoris and its sequels, The Road to Confidence and More Than Meets the Eye
 * Recommended by Pom Rania
 * Synopsis: AU. Sam is paraplegic and grows up neglected in foster care, until he meets Dean in school and they become friends. The first story takes place around that time; the second two are set when they're both older and hunting. Some Sam/Jess in later parts.
 * Comments: Incredibly awesome stories. The Missing Piece is "merely" an awesome premise and good writing, but the author really hits their stride later on. It can get slightly Anvilicious at times, specifically with regards to the treatment of the disabled, but Some Anvils Need to Be Dropped. It takes an extremely interesting look at how the family dynamics would change if Sam had been gone from an early age and only rejoined the family later on, and how he'd do hunting in a wheelchair. This 'verse is in my top ten ongoing fanfics across all fandoms, and one of my two favourite A Us.

"No Refills" by minskmix
 * Recommended by User:Pippin Pips
 * Synopsis: John's kids don't like to be taken to the doctors office
 * Comments: This is adorable, has wee!chesters, and a caring John Winchester. In this Trophers opinion it's a nice look into the Winchester life with out angst and pre-series. The only problem for me was it didn't go on forever.

Sam's Drunk Letters
 * Recommended by emilyperson
 * Synopsis: Sam thinks Stephen King's a HACK who's IRREPARABLY HARMING the world with his incorrect suppositions about the dark forces that pervade this plane. He tells him so. Hilariously.
 * Comments: Pay attention to the hotel stationery and Dean's commentary, too.

When Hell Comes After You by Iryann
 * Recommended by Monoxide
 * Synopsis: AU Fic; Dean is a detective in a small town, Gabriel runs the local cafe, and Castiel is his brother, who Dean is forced to protect when their other psychotic brother Lucifer escapes from prison.
 * Comments: A well-written AU, one of the few I've found where Dean and Cas really do have quite a strong friendship without it being anywhere near slashy. The dysfunctional family containing all the canon angels (not angels in this 'verse) is also quite convincingly done, with Castiel and Gabriel distancing themselves from the rest of the family, Michael being rather indifferent and cold, and Lucifer and Uriel just generally being jerks. A bit of a long read, but totally worth it. Warning for weak stomachs: past rape and abuse are plot points (nothing explicit, just mentions and implications).

Folks Like Us (Do It In DeLoreans) by opalish
 * Recommended by Slow Mercury
 * Synopsis: Castiel has a cunning plan. It involves Ruby, time travel, and setting up house to raise the Boy King right. Yes. Gen crackfic of epic proportions, yo.
 * Comments: An utterly hilarious one shot, and a nice look at how things could have gone.

Ouroboros by gedry
 * Recommended by Coral542383
 * Synopsis: After Sam gets his soul back his relationship with Dean is rockier than ever. Secrets have piled up and tension is running high between the brothers. Their inability to get along causes problems for Bobby so he orders them to get help or get gone. Working through their problems is more complicated than they thought, and their therapist isn’t who she seems.
 * Comments: One of the most insightful stories (and possibly the most insightful) in regards to Sam and Dean. Some of it was lovelily obvious, some completely hilarious, and the rest just surprising. The effective therapy the boys need (without a licensed therapist).

Between the Lines of Fear and Blame by Faye_Dartmouth
 * Recommended by Alumina, seconded by Coral 542383
 * Synopsis: n the hunt for Lucifer, Sam is hurt and Dean has to embark on a quest to find his brother in more ways than one.
 * Comments: A heartbreaking insight to the events of season 4 and 5 in the point of view of the author. Could have easily been incorporated into the show. Very worth the read.

Shipping Fics
Stories focused on the romantic relationships between the cast.

Anything Worth Dying For by waldorph
 * Recommended by Lawrieclaws, seconded by User:Polaris
 * Synopsis: It's the Apocalypse, and this is the Book of Chuck
 * Comments: Beautifully written, this fic truly succeeds in describing the scope of the Apocalypse even as it focuses on and develops several core characters. The arc of the story is dramatic yet believable, and finishes on a note of wonder. There is slash of the Dean/Castiel flavor, but it's incorporated into the story without dominating it.
 * Additional Comments: Moved here because it does have an explicit sex scene, and the Dean/Castiel relationship is extremely important to the plot. As the first recommender noted, though, it is at heart an ensemble piece, and has many lovely scenes focusing on main characters, oneshot characters from various episodes, and even a few well-done OCs.

A Hole in the World by bauble
 * Recommended by greenmak
 * Pairings: Dean/Castiel
 * Synopsis: Dean says yes to Michael, and Castiel is left hurting. A different take on 5x04 "The End".
 * Comments: A quietly sad sort of fic with a tearjerker ending. The characterization, especially Michael's, is well-done. Also, it's not actually a shipping fic, but the tiny dose of slash within disqualifies it for the gen section.

Dating for Dummies by sevenfists
 * Recommended by Lua
 * Pairings: Sam/Dean
 * Synopsis: Sam and Dean early-relationship shenanigans. Dean is a gentleman out of habit and thus treats poor Sam kind of like a woman, Sam is equal parts confused, horrified and amused.
 * Comments: Snarky yet fluffy angst-free wincest, with some of the best one-liners I've ever seen. (The fic itself has no actual warnings section, but there's some sex.)

Evil!Sammy Universe by eboniorchid
 * Recommended by User:VAD
 * Pairings: Sam/Dean
 * Synopsis: Is an AU where the Big Secret was that Sam was part-demon. When Dean told Sam the secret, Sam freaked out and ran off, both so he could find answers that Dean didn't want to look for and so that he wouldn't endanger Dean if he went rogue. He got trained and brutalized so that he could give in to his demon side. After eight months, he was returned to Dean with a reasonable cover story but is more manipulative, rougher and crueller. Then there was a war, humanity lost and Sam made Dean his pet/whore/fuck-toy rather than killing him. Dean obviously is having rather a rough time of this but is slowly breaking and learning to submit. An Evil!Sam who is not a complete nutjob and a Slutty/Broken!Dean who is still smart... what's not to love?
 * Comments: A brilliantly dark and sexy (for the love of God, people, please read the warnings in every section) but very slowly updated verse. The main pairing is Sam/Dean but there are Dean/ OM Cs as well.

Indigo Blooms in the Kingdom of Hesperus by Leonidas
 * Recommended by User:Wandering Raccoon
 * Pairings: Sam/Dean
 * Synopsis: "Just a routine morning in Hell, but Dean is starting to think that Sam wants more than he has been taking ..." One-shot AU in which Sam becomes the new evil overlord of Hell, and drags Dean along for the ride.
 * Comments: Readers who liked the above story will probably love this one too. While shorter, this story does (in this troper's opinion) a better job of keeping both brothers in character: Sam is still recognizably Sam despite being evil, and is still horribly needy for his brother, while Dean is STILL trying to save Sam. Does have a Downer Ending, however.

The Consequences of Falling by Pandarus
 * Recommended by 20thcenturyvole
 * Pairing: Dean/Castiel
 * Synopsis: As the auther herself puts it: A story in fifteen parts, in which the angel Castiel finds himself put in an untenable position, and consequentially loses his grace. In which he goes on a roadtrip with a demon, discovers the delights of tequila and french fries and pie, plays a starring role in a virgin sacrifice, is deflowered by his favourite Winchester, and then gets some very unpleasant news indeed.
 * Comments: A really awesome take on the angels of the Supernatural 'verse, with a lot about doubt and ineffability and the awesomeness of pie. Much like the show, it takes the silly fluffy funny bits with the brutal, dark and wrenching bits. Unlike the show, there is a lot of smokin' porn. Goes a little AU after the Anna arc. 15 parts. Enjoy.

Punxsutawney by astolat
 * Recommended by User:Caysha
 * Pairing: Dean/Sam
 * Synopsis: A different take on Mystery Spot, this time with the Winchesters brothers stuck together in the time loop.
 * Comments: Characterization is spot on, and the story really delves into the angst inherent to both the situation and the brother's relationship. Beautifully written, and the slash... then Sam said thoughtfully, "It won't have happened tomorrow,"  Oh boys!

The Incestuous Courtship of the Antichrist's Bride by fleshflutter
 * Recommended by Lawrieclaws
 * Pairing: Sam/Dean
 * Synopsis: Sam is trying to become the Antichrist in order to save the world. He has a small army of angels and demons, he has an adoring cult, he has a work of prophecy by Jack Kerouac, and he has Dean. Things are going pretty well until he accidentally signs Dean up as his Beloved Consort, a role that requires sex with the Antichrist on an altar. And that's when things stop going pretty well. Also, the soundtrack to the Apocalypse sucks.
 * Comments: Ridiculously funny, with a Discworld-esque tone to it. The writer manages to keep everyone in character even as she drives deeper and deeper into the realm of crack humor.

In the Silence Afterward by ibroketuesday
 * Recommended by Lawrieclaws
 * Pairing: Dean/Castiel
 * Synopsis: After Lucifer rises, Dean goes mute.
 * Comments: I can't even begin to put into words what this story is like. Sufficed to say it's one of the best damn piece of SPN fic that I've ever read, and also one of the most heartbreaking. There is character death, and you will cry.

Stranger Than Fiction by thenyxie
 * Recommended by Berrigan
 * Pairing: Dean/Sam
 * Synopsis: Set immediately post-The Monster at the End of This Book. Dean can't stop wondering why people would write gay porn about him and Sam. Research takes him to interesting places; re-reading novels for subtext, visiting message boards, and a really freaky place called Live Journal.
 * Comments: Both sexy and funny, this story is very well-written and a good length, with cute art every chapter. Definitely one of the better Supernatural fics on the net.

Blessed is His Child by ameonna1 and kijikun
 * Pairing: Dean/Castiel, Sam/Gabriel, Crowley/Anna, OC/OC
 * Synopsis: "Dean and Cas end up with a daughter (no Mister Seahorse involved, thank the Gods. Hilarity Ensues
 * Comments: One of a grand total of three Kid Fic pieces I can tolerate, and manages to be both hilarious and heartbreaking sometimes in the course of a single chapter. There is a prequel entitled Foundlings and Empty Nests which I would also recommend - if you like the sound of it, give it a go, if you don't, give it a go anyway, because I swear, this fic is gold.

Songs of Love & Hate by amor_remanet
 * Recommended by trkzsoup
 * Pairing: Dean/Castiel, Sam/Gabriel(/demon!Bela), Becky/Lisa(Chuck), Bobby/Crowley, Cupid/OMC angel
 * Synopsis: Castiel is up in Heaven, miserable and making life hard for the other angels. Sam is out of Hell and can't get Crowley and Bela to stop treating him like King of the Demons. Dean is down on Earth, miserable and making life hard for everyone else — especially for Lisa and Becky, who might just be pregnant with Jesus. Gabriel and Cupid decide to stick their noses in and set everybody right. Too bad they can't make plans to save their lives.
 * Comments: Goes AU after "Swan Song." Absolutely, totally hilarious while still being dramatic. Every single character is spot-on; the whole thing is totally riveting, even for the mild crackiness of it all. I read it all in one day, it was so good. Seriously, one of the better humor/drama Supernatural fics I've read (and possibly one of the best Supernatural fics I've ever read, period).

Good Things Do Happen by trinityofone
 * Recommended by kph2pt0
 * Pairing: Dean/Castiel, Sam/Jessica, John/Mary
 * Synopsis: AKA, A Winchester Family Christmas, 2010. After successfully halting the Apocalypse, Sam and Dean are granted, in essence, a wish by God. Dean's wish? “How about bringing back to life every single person who died thanks to this stupid, pointless little squabble your kids started?" Thus, a Winchester family Christmas! Hilarity, and oh-my-god-my-family moments ensue.
 * Comments: Absolutely hilarious, on top of containing some great Winchester-family interaction. Also has bff!Dean/Victor.

To High Places by Narrow Roads by sansday
 * Recommended by kph2pt0 (new link by alisette11, it was taken off LJ)
 * Pairing: Dean/Castiel
 * Synopsis: Slave AU. Dean is a lonely businessman who buys an angel at auction. What was it the experts said about impulse buys?
 * Comments: Bittersweet in its realism, but somehow more satisfying for defying the Hollywood-happy-ending. This fic is amazingly well done, and highly recommended.

Wayward Sons by Break the Silence
 * Recommended by flamekitty
 * Pairing: Sam/Dean
 * Synopsis: The story takes place around 1997; Dean is 18 and Sam is 14. They're on the road with their father. The story falls under the same circumstances described in the television series except for all the Wincest.
 * Warning: Incestuous Slash, Demons, and lots and lots of Angst.
 * Comments: Bittersweet, beautifully written, wonderfully characterized. With over one hundred chapters (and counting), this is not a quest to embark on lightly, but it sure is a delightful ride.

Better Off This Way by Linda Atkinson
 * Recommended by GosuroriOtaku
 * Pairing: Yellow-Eyes/John
 * Synopsis: (From FF.net) John wakes after making a deal with the Yellow Eyed Demon to find that he might not be who he thought he was.
 * Warning: Slash with a fair bit of swearing and angst, implied sex.
 * Comments: At first, your average 'John is a nutcase' story. At the end, major twisty brilliance occurs. To say any more would be cheating you out of a great experience. One chapter, and my only complaint is that there really ought to be a couple of page breaks in there, just to avoid any confusion. Otherwise, utterly awesome.

300 Things by CautionZombies
 * Recommended by Castielxx
 * Pairing: Dean/Castiel
 * Synopsis: Dean's life at twenty-four makes him feel like he's forty--he works two jobs to help pay bills for his house and put his genius little brother through private school, and has spent six years (on and off, let's be honest) working on his mechanical engineering degree at KU. With so much of his life devoted to his family, Dean has little time in his schedule for class and no time for social interaction. Then, while getting his classes together for the fall, he finds himself in a do-or-die situation: He must take his last literature class now, his spring already filled with those left for his major...except that none of the English classes will fit his schedule. This is how Dean grovels and begs Dr. Castiel Milton to make a special arrangement for him, and Dr. Milton does.
 * Warning: Language, sexuality, alcoholism, real life AU
 * Comments: It seems, in general, people aren't huge fans of AU fics, but this is one of the biggest exceptions. The way Dean and Cas interact is amazing. Sam is an adorable high school student, and everyone is just trying to get by.

Middle School Never Ends by vampireluvr15
 * Recommended by Monoxide
 * Pairings: Destiel, Sabriel
 * Synopsis: Middle school AU. Dean and Sam are moving (again), and Sam's initial outrage at having to leave his friends behind is quickly subdued when he meets the mischevious Gabriel Novak, son of the school's principal, Michael. At the same time, Dean meets and quickly falls for Gabriel's older (but far more introverted) brother, Castiel. Soon after they meet, outside forces begin interfering with their relationships - controlling, domineering father Michael, the constant threat that the Winchesters will have to move away, and the secret kept by the Novak family and three other people (Jo, Becky and Chuck) - they're actually angels. Gabriel is the first to realize the biggest problem; John Winchester is the only man alive who knows how to kill angels. So between trying to survive school and trying to spill a secret without getting killed by either your father or your boyfriend's father (or even your boyfriend) for doing so, what is an angel to do?
 * Warnings: Slash (duh), much innuendo on the part of Gabriel. Also, child abuse (nothing explicit).
 * Comments: AU fic it may be, but it really is sweet, and watching the boys come to terms with their feelings is...interesting, to say the least. Adding in the oft-hilarious positions of canon characters (Bobby and Lucifer are teachers, Crowley is Jo's best friend, and a classmate of Sam, Gabe and Ruby, Rufus is the Phys-Ed teacher...must I say more?), this is a cute fic well worth a look (well, the first half's cute. Second half's a bit Darker and Edgier. That is not at all a bad thing).

Imitating Life by littlehollyleaf
 * Recommended by Miri
 * Pairings: Dean/Castiel, Dean/Misha, a bit of (mostly implied) Sam/Genevieve, some Gabriel/Balthazar and very very slight hints of Gabriel/Sam. Also Jensen/Dr Sexy.
 * Synopsis: (from the index page) Set in The French Mistake universe. To safeguard the angelic weapons he stole from Heaven, Balthazar has entrusted the keys to their hiding place to Sam and Dean and sent them into an alternative dimension. Unfortunately, Heavenly hitman Virgil followed them through and managed to swipe the keys during the ensuing confrontation. Now, the brothers need to find Virgil stat or their world is headed for a meltdown when he hands the keys over to Raphael who plans to use the weapons to re-start Armageddon. The problem is - how? Because if tracking down Virgil isn't hard enough they also have to keep up the pretence of being a couple of crappy TV stars, investigate the mysterious arrival of one Richard Speight Jr. and deal with a clingy Castiel-lookalike who can't seem to stop fawning over Dean.
 * Comments: Not nearly as cracky as the summary makes it sound, this is actually really heartrending and touching as well as funny in places. It takes the meta of the episode and runs with it, making fantastic comments on the fandom, the characters, and the direction of the show as a whole. Misha is adorable and gets more than a couple of Crowning Moments of Awesome, too. Absolutely worth the read.

The Soul Piece by cloudyjenn
 * Recommended by docjellybelly
 * Pairing: Dean/Castiel
 * Synopsis: (From FF.net) When a human child is born, their soul is shattered into bright gleaming pieces that scatter to the winds.
 * Comments: This fic works In Spite of a Nail in that the idea of soul pieces causes Castiel's presence for the majority of Dean’s life and all the situations the boys face throughout the canon series remain practically the same. Seriously, I couldn’t even begin to count the number of times I’ve teared up/‘awww’ed/giggled incessantly whilst reading this fic. It’s honestly one of the best fanfictions I’ve ever read.

In His Image by whit_merule
 * Recommended by KD Heart
 * Pairing: Sam/Gabriel, Dean/Castiel
 * Synopsis: Kali can breathe life back into a corpse, but what exactly is Gabriel now? Gabriel flits around various centuries trying to work that out, Dean has another powered-down angel and a little brother to look out for, Castiel has forgotten how to trust, and someone keeps sending Sam annoying little notes on his laptop. Oh, and Bobby would like to remind you all that there’s an Apocalypse still going on. Covers season 5 from Gabriel’s death to the finale.
 * Warnings: Some gore, similar levels to the show. Some swearing, in dialogue and in Dean’s narrative voice. Use of real historical characters.
 * Comments: One of those rare fics that succeeds in everything it tries - it's got a grand epic plot, the action scenes are very well done, the chapters set in the past are historically accurate (down to the author writing in the style of the age) and include illuminating footnotes, the shipping aspect is sweet and tender and turns scorching hot towards the ending.

The Voice of The Turtledove by obstinatrix
 * Recommended by Ariana
 * Pairing: Dean/Castiel
 * Synopsis: (From the LJ page) Castiel was eleven years old when he first felt there was something wrong with him. He's twenty-nine, a Roman Catholic priest in a small New England village, before Dean Winchester shows him that there isn't. AU, rated NC-17.
 * Warnings: (From the LJ page) Blasphemy. Theological posturing. Possible underage sex - although Dean is 17, which meets the age of consent where this story takes place. Human!Cas, obviously. Vague insinuations of sibling incest (Castiel/Jimmy, in thought only). Religiously based homophobia. Internalised homophobia in the narrative voice. Shredding of a number of tenets of the Roman Catholic church. Too many Biblical references. Priest!kink and all that comes with it, basically.
 * Comments: A beautiful, sad, wonderful, depressing, uplifting story, and excellently written.

Thursday's Child by strangeandcharm
 * Recommended by Ariana
 * Pairing: Dean/Castiel
 * Synopsis: AU. The apocalypse is over, but Thursday's child has far to go.
 * Warnings: Dean kills Lucifer!Sam pre-story, and there is mourning, drug use, alcohol abuse, porn, and very brief implied non-con.
 * Comments: Long and sad and beautiful, worth the read.

Crossover Fics
Stories that combine one or more series other than Supernatural.

When Summoning, Please Watch The Wording by Ryuuza Kochou
 * Recommended by User:Echo Garrote
 * Synopsis: A crossover between Supernatural and Good Omens. A capture, a ritual, and a small mistake in terms lets Sam and Dead become 'sacrifices' to another demon with yellow eyes. Things don't exactly end how you might expect them to.
 * Comments: Brilliantly written in a style that sounds just like Pratchett and Gaiman wrote it themselves. Everyone is character and it's absolutely hilarious.

Chuck vs The Fallen Angel and his friends by Sameuspegasus
 * Recommended by Yoyoddd
 * Status: Complete.
 * Pairings: Chuck/Sarah, slight Dean/Castiel.
 * Synopsis: When a new video game is released based on the book series Supernatural, Sam and Dean decide to put a stop to it. However, the game contains encoded information regarding the whereabouts of multiple weapons of mass destruction. It doesn't take long for Sam and Dean themselves to come under suspicion. To make matters worse, not only is there a nuclear arms dealer on the loose, but it seems he may have connections to something other otherworldly that makes the situation that much more dangerous.
 * Comments: A crossover that manages to meld both the universes of Chuck and Supernatural together perfectly, while keeping everyone from both respective properties completely in-character.

Arrangements-verse by icarus_chained (Good Omens crossover)
 * Recommended by User:Pan Boleyn
 * Pairings: Dean/Castiel, Sam/Gabriel, Aziraphale/Crowley
 * Synopsis: (from the series masterlist page) Team Free Will meets everyone's favourite angel and demon, and it all spirals from there.
 * Comments: The thing about this fic is the balance between scenes which are absolutely hilarious and utterly gut-wrenching, and no real sense of Mood Whiplash to be found. All of the characters have depth and sides to them which we maybe don't always get to see in their respective canons but still feel very much in step with what we do see canonically. The series is technically incomplete but the author posted a synopsis of what the conclusion would be since RL issues caused a problem in writing. So no one is left hanging, and the 'synopsis' is better done and more compelling than a fair number of proper fics I've read. (Also, I add my voice to the tropers on the Good Omens rec page, this series needs its own page and I'd start it myself except I'm not entirely sure how to.)
 * Seconded. This fic is THE best. The plot is so well-thought out that the author could write a book and not be sued. Original, funny, sweet, action-packed, depressing at times, and just all together smart. Really worth a read.

Strangers In Gilead by Corvus Imbrifer
 * Reccommended by Kari
 * Pairings: Sam/OFC, Dean/OFC
 * Synopsis: An outsider POV of Dean and Sam in the Wild West.
 * Comments: This fic is really, really good. The characters are well-portrayed, the language is natural and believable, the writing is extremely smooth, and the plot compelling.

Those Cambell Boys by l. marie benjamin
 * Reccommended by Leliel
 * Pairings:
 * Synopsis: When a Digitized Hacker demon attacks the BAU, the team find themselves in an impossible world, where a mother's secrets will change everything.
 * Comments: Recommended to me (Leliel) by a classmate in college, this was apparently good enough to the point where she felt confidentr it would impress an English teacher. and from what I've read, she wasn't wrong. Really builds a sublime sense of dread. Warning, post-fifth season spoilers for both shows.

Excerpts From Carver Edlund's Magnum Opus by twentysomething
 * Recommended by thoughtsickles
 * Pairings: Dean/Castiel
 * Synopsis: A Bones crossover with Dean as FBI Agent Winchester, Cas as the ever-logical anthropologist he's partnered with, and Sam as the psychologist who's fascinated by their working relationship
 * Comments: There really are a lot of parallels between Bones/Booth and Dean/Cas and the author manages to perfectly capture the essences of both pairings. A feel-good fic that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, as any good episode of Bones does.

Wolverines Wendigos and Winchesters by Sci Fi Nut TX
 * Reccomended by Patchgipper
 * Pairngs: Dean/OC, Sam/Jess
 * Synopsis: A beautifully written X-men crossover. Dean meets Wolverine during a solo hunt, which leads to friendship and a new job.
 * Comments: This really feels like it has actually happened. It portrays everyone realistically and gives the boys powers without overpowering them. It is almost 100 chapters and still going strong, so it's length may be intimidating, but it's worth it for this powerful story. Even the OC's feel like they were actually there. I had to do some research to make sure that they weren't. Overall, the only reason you'd be able to tell this wasn't an episode is because the X-men are there.

Damned Demented Demons by hell's_half_acre
 * Recommended by bettername2come
 * Synopsis: Harry Potter saves the Winchesters from a Dementor attack, but the Winchesters aren't the only ones that need protecting.
 * Comments: This is one of the best fanfics for Harry Potter or Supernatural around. It gives a great glimpse into the future of the Harry Potter characters while combining the Supernatural characters in a way that really doesn't contradict the canon of either series. It has another novel-length sequel ''Vile Violent Vacations, as well as several one-shots. Basically, if Harry were to meet Sam and Dean, this is exactly what it would be like.

Take A Long Line by Derry
 * Recommended by Pitac89
 * Synopsis: Winchester isn't stupid. Dangerous, unpredictable and often reckless. But definitely not stupid. So there has to be a good reason that, knowing full well that he's on the FBI's radar, Dean Winchester brazenly walked into the Federal Building on Wilshire Boulevard to collect a passport under the pseudonym of Ronald Belford Scott.
 * Comments: Supernatural/ Numb3rs crossover, told through the POV of the Eppes Family. My personal favorite parts are how Derry draws parallels between the Eppes and Winchester brothers. The Winchesters even use these parallels to manipulate both Don and Charlie in a way that doesn't feel forced, getting what they need and possibly acquiring some allies in the FBI.

"" Dust in the Wind by lyra-wing
 * Recommended by kunoichiko
 * "Synopsis" : Crossover between American Gods and Supernatural. A what could have been post Season 1, with the boys becoming the gods of hunters, old gezzer style.
 * "Comments" : Beautifully written and something that you almost wish had been canon.