Rookie Blue mega recs post
Nov. 29th, 2018 01:48 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
doranwenI got kind of obsessed with Rookie Blue this summer. (Some of my online friends might well ask "Kind of?" with great skepticism, and rightfully so.) The result was that I created a spreadsheet of all the fics I downloaded and saved from AO3, Fanfiction.net, and anywhere else (LJ comms, you name it). As I did so, I made notes of my favorite fanfics, and decided to create a recs post with all 181 of them.
Disclaimer: This is NOT a master list of all the well-written fics out there. Inclusion on this list does require a minimum level of writing quality (though a few on this list push that a bit), but more importantly to me, there has to be a certain something that grabs me, whether it be the wording, the intensity of the emotion, a plot element, something. Whatever it is, it makes me want to re-read the fic, so I figured it might prove interesting to someone else.
The fics below are organized into different groups, starting with episode-focused stories.
For each group, I've selected one fic as the "if you only read one fic for this group, read this one" choice, to be marked with this icon:
Fics chosen for this are as well-written as I could find, and exemplify the group/category as best as possible. Preference on this choice was also given to complete stories, unless a WIP was exceptionally good beyond the rest.
WIPs are marked with this icon, so you can avoid if you don't like reading unfinished stories:
(Icons come from the Icon pack by Icons8.)
So without further ado, I present the recs (along with my thoughts on why I love the fics):
General S1 fics
Annie Blythe - Kindness Falls Like Rain
Sam's thoughts over the course of S1.
carroussella - When It Matters: A Collection of McSwarek Moments
This one takes several eps from S1 and shows bits of them from Sam and Andy's POVs.
falling into heaven - Serve, Protect and don't do a 'McNally'
This one's set somewhere vaguely after The Big Nickel but before Takedown, and has a lovely view of the Sam / Andy / Luke triangle.
Mamihlapinatapai - sink me in the river at dawn
Set somewhere before the rookies are cut loose. The plot just started to get really interesting (all manner of drama and people in mortal danger!) when the updates ceased. If you can handle that going into it, what there is is really good. Alas for WIPs that are never finished!
Midnight Raptor - The Ways I Fell For You
Sam's POV of how he fell in love with Andy through the five senses, over the course of S1. Veers away from canon beautifully.
x.imagine.x - Death
This one I found an interesting plot and enjoyable read, despite the slightly OOCness and occasional details that stretched belief. (If the title didn't clue you in, a character dies early on and the rest of the fic is about that.)
1x01: Fresh Paint
Little Shoes - Cop Mode
This one has such a gleeful tone to it. I love the take on how Sam ended up as Andy's TO.
1x02: Mercury Retrograde
Cendari - Mercury Retrograde
A very NSFW ending to the episode that has them deciding to throw the rules out the window. What is so delightful about this fic is the sheer joy in it, and how much they bond so quickly.
krystalsteph - Rewritten
This fic not only goes with a different ending to 1x02, it continues on with the rest of the show plot—with the exception of Sam and Andy's relationship. Some things still end up the same way, but others turn out much better…
1x04: Signals Crossed
Nereemac - Making Noise So Restlessly
More of a several-days-after post-ep fic, this one cracks me up. I love how Andy is annoying Sam so much.
RookieGinge - punching bag
I really love that this deals with the guy searching her for a wire, and the hug, oh man. Love it. It reminds me of Missy Peregrym's comments on filming this ep:
"…when Andy gets into a tough situation…I didn't expect to feel so genuinely violated after filming the scenes. All of the actors were incredibly respectful and their performances were great so it wasn't because of them. It was the situation that really bothered me. When you film scenes, especially ones with stunts, it can take a long time to get through it. So even though you're acting, sometimes it feels very real when you live it out for hours on end."
RookieGinge - untouched scotch
I love the hug, and her opening up about her dad.
1x06: Bullet Proof
Arwendle - Not Here to Hold Your Hand
A retelling of the episode from Sam's POV - with a hug afterwards. :D
Greenstuff - Crash into Me
A bit of continuation, with Sam realizing his feelings for Andy.
RookieGinge - Rules Be Damned
I love the very McSwarek ending to this, and especially some of the discussion they have about getting used to things like what happened to Benny.
1x07: Hot and Bothered
Cendari - Hot and Bothered
This one might be very NSFW, but it also has surprising emotional depth, with a little wiser Sam and great insight into Andy's mental state at the time.
Copper's Mama - Feels Like I Can't Breathe
This one delves into Andy's thoughts just after she pulls the trigger, and really pulls you in.
snapple79 - Always There When It Matters
A slightly different turn of events in the episode and we get Sam/Andy happening a lot sooner than on the show. It's sweet and lovely.
tikvarn - Stay
This fic answers the question, "What if Andy didn't leave after the lights came on?" It jumps over Honor Roll (taking those events as canon), and then continues in a totally new direction. I love their relationship. :)
1x08: Honor Roll
Cendari - Honor Roll
This fic shows a Sam who comes to his senses a lot faster than on the show, and I love the bond between him and Andy. Definitely NSFW, though.
1x09: Girlfriend of the Year
laurzz - Half of Her Heart
I always felt Luke as a detective should've picked up on the signs of Sam/Andy, and this really shows his thought process well.
1x11: To Serve or Protect
tikvarn - Embrace
This one's beautifully sad, and I love the hug so so much.
1x13: Takedown
Cendari - Takedown
NSFW, but a lovely exploration of their relationship, and nice wrapping up of the Anton Hill storyline that was just abandoned (why did the show never use it? would've made a good follow-up ep in S2 or so).
Little Shoes - Confessions
This fic was marked as a WIP, but they intended to write a series of one-shots and never got back to it. The scene between Andy and Sam post-Takedown is complete (it's the only one there) and I wish it happened on the show. It's hard to see how she could be so blind to her own feelings for Sam vs. Luke as to agree to move in with Luke, especially after nearly getting killed trying to save Sam's life!
Little Shoes - Takedown
This fic was based on promos, so doesn't follow the episode plot. I love how Andy just has to see Sam is OK - and Luke really really doesn't matter when it comes down to it. :)
mustlovecat - Two AM / Seven AM / One PM / Six PM / Ten PM / Eight AM / Hold On
This one's a whole series - a bunch of oneshots, and then a longer fic that was never completed. You can enjoy the oneshots without needing to read the longer fic, so if you dislike WIPs, go for them! I like the direction this takes their relationship immediately after Takedown. Two AM is a close runner-up to the winning story in this group.
Post-S1 fics
BeginningEnding - Running on Empty
This one I really wish were finished - I love the plot so much! The escalating nightmares, Andy closing herself off… I love that it at least got to the mending part, and the relationship between her and Sam building up.
dcj - Keep Telling Yourself
A newly-single Andy running into Sam who's undercover in a nightclub… a great mix of A-plot and B-plot! Very entertaining and a decently long read.
margie311 - The Distance
A great long fic of Andy and Sam finding their way to each other, with a lot of running, both literally and figuratively.
SMchick - Out of Bounds
This one's definitely NSFW (and the characters are slightly OOC), but I found the scenario fascinating and the conversation afterwards very interesting. Definitely worth a read!
tikvarn - Falling Slowly
Not finished, but it gets far enough with Andy and Sam's relationship to be satisfying. I love Jerry and Noelle forcing each of them to realize the things they're lying to themselves about or just not facing. Really good!
tikvarn - Just for Tonight
A short but lovely fic where Andy is there for Sam when he needs her.
General S2 fics
ADI2DE - Clean Slate
I love the amnesia trope, and this one's a great one - Andy remembering only one day of her life - with Sam as her partner, and not a thing about Luke. I just wish the writer had finished it so we could see how they wrapped up the Sam / Andy / Luke triangle!
Annie Blythe - Words In My Memory
Sam's thoughts on Andy throughout S2. I love his realization that he hasn't really put himself out there like he thought.
crackers4jenn - oliver shaw: helping a bro out
Set sometime after Luke cheats on Andy, but before she and Sam get together, this is a funny fic (mostly because of some of the dialogue) wherein Andy is invited to a barbecue at the Shaws' place, which may or may not be a setup for a double date with… (who else?) Sam.
dcj - Betting on Us
I think this is the only fic I've seen that deals with how Andy knew so much about poker - and the McSwarek throughout is great. :D
Elamac - One Too Many
This one's just sweet - a hungover Andy and a caring Sam.
Lady Nikka - Figuring It Out
This is a fascinating take on the whole Brennan undercover - it covers several episodes in S2 but takes a totally new direction to it all. I really wish it were completed - the story leaves off just when things are getting really interesting!
xxliveforever17xx - Musings of a Completely Objective Third Party
An outsider POV on a ship can be hilarious or insightful, and this is both. I love how he's shocked that they're not married and how absolutely obvious Sam's feelings for Andy are. And the line about them being "tangled in each other" is so so true. Short but good!
2x01: Butterflies
BeginningEnding - All In
I like the insight into Sam's thoughts during this episode.
carroussella - Nothing Compares To You
A look at Jo's feelings towards Luke, with the backdrop of the events of 2x01.
surreallis - Fade Away
Andy is so conflicted, and this fic portrays it well. I particularly love Sam's telling her to come to him when other things don't work - and "I gave him one chance". :D
xxliveforever17xx - Methinks Thou Doth Protest too Much
I love how Sam blurts those lines out in the squad, with Oliver right there… which means Oliver has got to have something to say about the whole thing. This one cracks me up some.
2x02: Might Have Been
Nika Dixon - Get it Right
This one's short but zeroes in on a great little scene - the wrong coffee. Because you just know Sam had something to say about that, even if he can't actually say it out loud. I love the last couple lines in particular.
2x03: Bad Moon Rising
carroussella - The Scars that Silence Carved
This is an angsty fic of Sam's thoughts upon learning of Andy's engagement. I love how the writer used the words in this one.
Elamac - Take Your Time
I love how caring Sam is for Andy in this one. The ending is sweet.
Exuperance18 - Secrets don't come out all neat and tidy
This is such a great interaction between Sam and Jo. I like to think something like that might have happened on the show, beyond him just getting her a cup of coffee.
laurzz - Shoulder To Cry On
I love Sam's support for Andy in this fic. And Jo is perceptive, of course. :)
Mnara - Life Support
This is extremely well-written, and I love the direction it takes the shooting. I only wish it were completed - it's SO good.
2x04: Heart and Sparks
Graballz - I'm There When It Matters
This is a really sweet convo between Sam and Andy - feels like it fits right into canon.
nawlins79 - This Rookie's Life
This one's quite long - and 2x04 is only the beginning of where it diverges from canon. Gets to a McSwarek ending a lot faster and happier overall than the show did. I particularly like how it handled the Boyd & Brennan thing. NSFW at points.
surreallis - Radar Love
An episode tag that is full of conversation without talking.
waywardrenegades - there when it matters
This one mostly copies the locker room conversation near the end of the episode, with a little of Andy's thoughts afterwards.
waywardrenegades - trusting instincts
Sam's thoughts during and after the hose monkeys going in to free Andy and the victim's wife.
2x06: In Plain View
m7storyteller - Not Your Rebound Guy
A beautiful drabble that I wish were canon.
xxliveforever17xx - No Other Options
I really love the dialogue in this one, and the ending, the way Sam knows just how to handle her.
yellowdaisy58 - Tears and Laughter
A delightful longer fic that starts a day after 2x06; I just wish it were finished, but at least there's McSwarek in it.
2x07: The One That Got Away
Cendari - All of Your Life
This is SO much better than the way the episode actually went. I agreed with so much of their a/n on how frustrating everyone was behaving in it, from Luke to Andy to Sam to Jo.
Many Impossible Things - Save Me
While I'm not sure Sam could hear Andy over the radio like that, if one assumes that premise, I love some of the elements of this fic so much—Sam carrying Andy, bits of the conversation in the locker room later…
rookieD - Trust You Any Way
A lovely fic where Andy stays overnight with Sam and they rebuild some of the trust that was lost - a bit of a bridge between 2x07 and 2x08.
2x08: Monster
BellaSarah - Frite Nite
This takes the fighting scene at the end and continues it beautifully.
krystalsteph - Roommates
I love fics where Sam offers Andy the spare room or guest room, and this is a delightfully long (if incomplete) one. Warning: It gets rather NSFW by the last few chapters.
tikvarn - Spare Room
Another one where Andy stays in Sam's spare room. Even longer than the last one - and complete! A very enjoyable read.
Trapped in a Matchbox - On the Edge
This one doesn't have Andy staying with Sam, but their relationship is progressing and it's just a joy to read. Unfortunately, it's a WIP that ends on a cliffhanger, so beware before you begin!
treehugger18 - Fresh Start
This is the single longest complete fic I have saved for Rookie Blue (surpassed only by a 228k WIP) - partly because there are quite a few places where we see the same scene from both Andy and Sam's points of view successively - and it's very good. I really like the characterization for Sarah and her family—better than what we saw on the show.
waywardrenegades - stuck with me
A sweet continuation of the fighting scene - just lovely.
2x09: Brotherhood
deedee920 - Last First Kiss
Set soon after the episode, Andy tells Sam about the horse guy asking her out - which leads to a rather different start to their relationship than in canon. :D
xxliveforever17xx - Looking at the Person Next to You
Remember when Frank tells them to look at the person next to them? That scene is just great - and this fic does a good job of fleshing out both Andy and Sam's thoughts during that.
2x10: Best Laid Plans
dcj - Accidents Don't Just Happen
I absolutely love this take on the Brennan undercover - wish it had gone this way! This one was a very very close runner-up to the winning fic in this group.
krystalsteph - Pretend
I always wished Andy had gone undercover with Sam - how much better things might have turned out! And if they didn't use the boat, then there wouldn't be any torture. Love the way it ends!
LaFilmeMichelle - Intentions
This one barely got started before it ran out of updates, so be prepared to be frustrated at not knowing where the plot was going. The one area that wasn't uncertain, however, was the McSwarek - the Sam/Andy there was really sweet and well-written.
margie311 - The Witness
This is the single longest Rookie Blue fic I have (at 228k) - and it ends just before the best part of the story, so be warned! It is worth it, though. It goes with a rather different undercover assignment - and that quickly turns into a far more complicated plot. The Sam/Andy is full of angst in the best way. The author's LJ has some extras to go along with it - character list and a few snippets from later on in the story, parts that she never ended up writing to.
surreallis - Deep
This is an absolutely fantastic alternate undercover story - with an ending that goes so different from the show, and yet so good.
2x11: A Little Faith
threeguesses - Do Not (Pass Go, Collect $200)
Sam's thoughts before and after calling Andy to come over - very well-written.
2x12: On the Double
Annie Blythe - Heavy Hearts
This is a really powerful set of perspectives on the final scenes of 2x12 - from six different viewpoints.
2x13: God's Good Grace
PseudonymousMouse - The Nature of Water and Regret
A great what-if story that redoes the events of 2x13 with the premise, "What if Andy hadn't run into Sam at the Alpine?" I only wish it were finished.
Post-S2 fics
Annie Blythe - Countdown
A lovely fic set after the suspension is over (but assuming the three months' no-contact order never happened), of Sam and Andy at New Year's.
Annie Blythe - The Space Between
A beautiful fic showing just how their reunion post-suspension could've gone.
Annie Blythe - When Words Fail
A two-part set of reflections from each of Andy and Sam's POVs, culminating in small scenes set just after the end of the season.
kimmary - Doing what's right
I love Sam's point to Frank, and I think he had some excellent points that I wish had been dealt with on the show.
LouLaBelle13 - Making the Best of It
Has a nice bit post-suspension - and then a real plot starts developing. Sadly we never get to find out most of the details about it. What is there is quite enjoyable, at least!
Nereemac - Normal is the Watchword
I love the little touches like Sam's reaction to the water hitting the back of his throat. Sparse words but they pack a real punch!
surreallis - Winds At Rest
A great picture of their first shift back after being suspended for a period of time.
General S3 fics
Annie Blythe - A Room with a View
Five separate scenes from one of the observation rooms. A lot of different moods with Sam and Andy.
Annie Blythe - Color Me In
A beautiful angsty conversation between Andy and Sam, set somewhere in S3.
Annie Blythe - Corners and Crosswalks
A breakup and reunion set mid-S3. Painful but has a nice happy ending.
Annie Blythe - Rupture
What if Claire had left mid-S3? This is a short fic from Sam's POV as Andy tries to deal with that. Beautiful.
3x01: The First Day of the Rest of Your Life
dcj - Game Changer
What if Sam had gone after Andy to Temagami? This is a lovely short fic - I just wish I could see the next few scenes. :)
3x02: Class Dismissed
balladofbliss - Stronger
I really wish 3x02 had gone this way after the end credits - it might have made the rest of the season turn out better!
3x03: A Good Shoot
Annie Blythe - Constancy
A sweet tag to the episode, focusing on the act of holding hands.
3x05: Messy Houses
balladofbliss - Which Way Is Down
I wish Andy had opened up like this in the episode. A very well-written episode tag.
3x06: Coming Home
balladofbliss - Battle Cry
A very fluffy fic with what the food fight might have looked like had Claire never showed up. A very enjoyable read.
3x07: Leap of Faith
balladofbliss - Stand Back and Let It All Be
This is a beautiful episode tag from Sam's POV, and it makes me wish they could've built on that happiness and made it more solid instead of being ripped apart at the end of S3.
3x09: Out of Time
balladofbliss - The Ties We've Left Undone
I really really wish this were how things went between Andy and Sam, instead of just being stifled until they blew up like they did on the show. This is really well-written.
3x10: Cold Comforts
balladofbliss - After
IF the breakup had to happen, this is how I want it to be fixed. It's so in-character for Sam, such a great insight into his head. Beautifully written.
starmaterial83 - Lies as Truth and Truth as Lies
A shorter insight into Sam's mind but really well-done! I particularly love the last two sentences.
3x11: The Rules
potterwriter340237 - Good
We never got to see the final cry - but you know Andy would. This is it - so sad, yet so good.
riveroad - In The Tall Grass
This is a really good insight into Sam's thoughts - with a little wisdom from Luke, of all people.
3x12: Every Man
balladofbliss - Increment
I love Sam's emotions, Andy showing up like she does… it's really lovely, and the ending's much better than the show's was.
Meghannna - Flu Symptoms
This one's so full of sweetness, it's just wonderful, despite the sick bit.
Post-S3 fics
Annie Blythe - Haven
This fic has one of my favorite lines ever in a fic, and it's such a great picture of them struggling to come back to each other after all the wounds each inflicted.
balladofbliss - Icebreaker
I love the way Sam helps Andy and the ending is just the best.
balladofbliss - Meet You on the Other Side
This one's longer - wraps up the taskforce, fixes Sam and Andy's relationship, and sets them on a happy path for the future.
dcj - Might Have Been
This one starts mid-taskforce and sets up an interesting plot point. I wish it had been continued - would have liked to see where the author took it.
ridexc - Collateral Damage
This is short but beautifully painful in a good way. Love how Sam reacts when he notices her arms, and the ending is lovely.
General S4 fics
balladofbliss - Our Crooked Aim
A much shorter resolution to the mess that was S4 - and some really good insight into Andy and Sam's relationship.
dcj - Close Your Eyes and Make A Wish
A short fic that has a really good conversation between Gail and Sam, of all people. They have a lot in common, surprisingly.
DeadlineMaster - The Treachery of Images
This one takes the Sam/Marlo thing in a rather unusual direction, and has a happy ending along with a bit of A-plot.
DeadlineMaster - We're not broken, just bent
I love how this fic really goes into Sam's history, and uses it as a way to bring Sam and Andy back together again.
deedee920 - Scatter the Sky With My Blazing Heart
Fireworks as a means of breaking up Sam/Marlo and bringing Sam/Andy back together… works for me! :)
insomniabug - An Indelible Mark
This is super short and from Marlo's POV - and I love how it shows how much Sam/Andy are inevitable. (Plus, she's right!—Andy is gorgeous.)
insomniabug - Hope Is A Four Letter Word
Beyond the awesome title (best line from Counting Stars), I love how this fic has Gail, Marlo, and Luke all in a conversation together - and how much they have in common with regards to Andy.
MD14 - Life As We Know It
This one totally derails canon by having a childhood friend of Andy die and leave her a toddler to care for… The trajectory of her and Sam's story is very different and yet so good.
MegLynn - when you hold me like you do
An early S4 reunion of Sam/Andy, and it's so good.
neworldiscoverer - less than
A moment in the first few weeks after Andy gets back - in a world where Sam and Marlo broke up right after Project Dakota ended.
rookieD & dcj - Not Without A Fight
What might Fite Nite in S4 look like? Perhaps something like this—a great longer fic with a happy McSwarek ending. Can't get any better!
threeguesses & lowriseflare - most of the sound stays away
Very NSFW, but the parts that aren't are really good. I especially like the conversation with Gail. Set in an AU where Sam and Andy get back together (secretly) soon after she returns from Project Dakota, and Marlo doesn't appear to exist…
4x01: Surprises
ADI2DE - Red Light, Green Light
A Marlo-free beginning to S4 - very lovely and well-written.
balladofbliss - Stop Now the Speeding Clock
This one's got a lot of great insight into Sam and Andy's thoughts at this time.
Shippershape - One Day at a Time
A longer fic set after Andy returns from Project Dakota - much more plotty than the others in this category!
4x03: Different, Not Better
balladofbliss - An Easier Proposition
Sam's voice here is so clear and so in character - it's painful to read in a good way.
Graballz - The Other Side of Loving Her
An excellent fic of Sam's thoughts as Andy walks away in the parking lot.
4x05: Poison Pill
ADI2DE - Misunderstanding
I love the idea of putting Sam in the art gallery with Andy - and this is a great take on that idea!
4x08: For Better, For Worse
balladofbliss - Like Spying on Hope
This one takes that line of Sam's from 4x07 "If you don't know me, I don't know who does" and returns to that conversation after a slightly-altered 4x08, with well-thought-out handling of Nick and Marlo. Excellent writing!
4x12: Under Fire
Copycat - Is This What Trying Looks Like?
This is painfully good - an exploration of Sam's feelings and why he's still with Marlo. So much guilt…
4x13: You Can See the Stars
carroussella - Back to the Beginning
This is so angsty and painfully good - Nick's thoughts when he tells Andy to go, and Andy's thoughts during the same.
DragonandthePhoenix03 - Nick Collins is Not Stupid (Andy McNally is in Love with Sam Swarek)
I love the way the writer made the format really work, and worked in Nick's history with Gail and Andy.
only_more_love - Drowning or Waving
An angst-filled drabble set from Nick's POV when he tells Andy to go.
Post-S4 fics
ADI2DE - Finding Our Way
Trope-y, but amnesia is one of the best tropes, and this one mixes that with what happens after the end of S4 to create a super long, very good fic. Excellent read!
ADI2DE - The Things We Do
Another really good post-S4 story, with Andy trying to figure out what to do with Nick and Sam - and Sam trying to figure out what Andy's thinking.
Copycat - Never Gonna Be Over
A great little fic from Sam's POV while he's lying in the hospital bed recovering.
copycat & radleyboo - it's so long (that's what she said)
This one's f-locked but well worth messaging to be added in order to see it (hopefully it will get reposted on AO3 one of these days, but I suspect that requires radleyboo to get an AO3 account). A take on Sam's recovery in the hospital, in turns funny, poignant, heartwarming, and even some UST to boot.
insomniabug - Come to me my sweetest friend, this is where we start again
A beautiful friendship fic between Andy and Traci - with a twist. I wish I could see a long fic with this premise! Very good.
Kavi Leighanna (kleighanna) - in those dark hours your light shines through
A short but sweet fic from Sam's POV as he lies in the hospital recovering.
radleyboo - Some Partner-ly Advice
Traci giving Sam some much-needed advice - very lovely!
General S5 fics
balladofbliss - Good Enough to Keep You
I love the final paragraph of this, and the message it contains is fantastic.
balladofbliss - The Weight of Us Both
A fight between Sam and Andy set sometime in season 5 - and its resolution. Not too long, but satisfying.
lowriseflare and threeguesses - i was a believer in rome
NSFW, but very emotional as well - Andy and Sam, the first time after he was shot.
radleyboo - A Different Perspective
A lovely fic from Chloe's perspective on how happy Andy and Sam are with each other, with a little Dov/Chloe at the end.
5x03: Heart Breakers, Money Makers
berryfuls - Broken Streaks
Nick at the end of Fite Nite, thinking about Andy and his loss at Fite Nite. Sad but well-written.
5x06: Two Truths and a Lie
Shippershape - Two Truths
A continuation of the game from the episode reveals some surprises - very fluffy and delightful.
Post-S5 fics
balladofbliss - Whistleblower
This handles the corruption plot so much better than S6 did, in many ways. Plus I love the way the whole Marlo baby plot worked out!
ewells4 - Lemonade
This is one of the most interesting takes on the whole Marlo baby plot. Nicely done!
6x03: Uprising
ADI2DE - Time
A McSwarek version of the ultrasound scene - where Andy's the one pregnant and Marlo's not anywhere in the picture (and definitely not having Sam's baby). A much better twist on things! :)
AU fics
ADI2DE - Haunted
Fantastic long fic that has Andy as a runaway witness who's been through some major trauma. The relationship with Sam hadn't even gotten going yet, but it's really good. Sadly, the author has not updated in years despite promising to finish all their stories.
ADI2DE - Like a Drug
What if Andy had gotten into drugs as a teen? Sam as a young cop going to bat for her and helping her is just a great picture. Wish so badly that this one had been finished!
ADI2DE - Madness
This one's got a complicated A-plot that was never fully revealed by the point the author wrote the most recent chapter. Alas, no updates for three years means it's highly likely to remain that way permanently.
ADI2DE - Rewind, Restart
This version of Andy's background is a bit more depressing than on the show, and her life is spiraling downwards when Sam comes into it. The last chapter posted was one the author declared the "most depressing" they'd ever written, assuring readers things would go up from there. I wish I could see that, for it hasn't been updated in three years… :(
LixPix - Different Beginnings
I love the idea of Andy having been in the Army before joining 15 Division. The whole Sam-Andy-Luke triangle was only getting set up in the fic when it stopped. Wish they'd finished!
threeguesses & lowriseflare - so tough so early in the morning, part 1, part 2, and part 3
Very NSFW, as all their fics tend to be. This one makes use of the lower age of consent in Canada as opposed to here (16 currently - at the time Andy would have been a teenager, assuming show timeline matches up for when it aired, the age of consent would have been 14); if sex between a 16-year-old and a 21-year-old makes you uncomfortable, don't read. What I love about it is the way Sam finds himself drawn to her, unable to pull away. It makes me want to see where they would've ended up after a couple years.
threeguesses & lowriseflare - world lights up at its edges
Every fandom needs a high school AU. This one's well-written and sweet - but definitely NSFW!
tikvarn - Reluctant Acquaintances
What if Andy chose to go to 27 Division instead? And Sam was her next-door neighbor? And Luke worked out of 15 with Jo? Well, with a few more changes, the story might have turned out a little like this. Very long and excellent!
Future fics
Annie Blythe - Bruised
A short but very good fic set in the future with Sam and Andy. Angsty but the angst is not about their relationship, which is what helps them deal with the painful things. Lovely.
balladofbliss - Practically Inhuman
A beautiful story with Sam reassuring Andy. Was really hard to decide between this and the previous one!
balladofbliss - Steady Now
Set in a future where the latter half of S3 never happened, this fic has Andy going through a traumatic experience, and the healing process with her and Sam.
Multiple episodes/times
Annie Blythe - Firsts
Starting sometime after S2 ends, this follows Sam and Andy through a series of "firsts" in their lives. A whole lot of sweetness that's guaranteed to rot your metaphorical fanfic teeth.
Annie Blythe - Fifteen's Footnotes
Beautiful one-shots sprinkled throughout the series. Really, really good.
balladofbliss - Lexicon
Little glimpses of Sam and Andy's relationship, from before they're togther to afterwards. In canon to start, eventually goes AU. Beautifully done.
BeginningEnding - Rumours
Thoughts from Sam's POV throughout S1 and S2 - with a better take on the suspension thing, in my opinion.
Greenstuff - Drowning
Thoughts from Sam and Andy's POV (with occasional glimpses of another's thoughts) from 1x07 through 2x11. Sticks with canon.
krystalsteph - Collection of Thoughts
A bunch of one-shots spanning all over the place in canon. They are all independent of each other (there's more than one Sam/Andy marriage proposal among them, for instance).
No particular canon time setting
Annie Blythe - Double Bonus
I'm not a sports fan but the way this author writes the dialogue and movements of Andy and Sam just watching a game is very enjoyable and worth reading!
Annie Blythe - Remedy
A really sweet look into Valentine's Day with Sam and Andy.
Existinghook (The Slinkster) - So Into You
A great short fic set before Sam and Andy have gotten together - but Luke is never mentioned. No canon references to speak of, but you gotta love all the UST!
mmleadinglady - Warm Hands
This one's just sweet, set three weeks after Sam and Andy begin dating in some other version of the show. (Don't we wish they could've started that way?)
xxliveforever17xx - Illusions of Death
Gotta love the "faked death" trope - and this fic does it nicely.
xxliveforever17xx - Moments in the Locker Room
Oh, I wish things had gone this way in canon. An Andy who actually admits that she cares about Sam more than she should and that's not shutting off even though she's with Luke. (Also would've been nice for Luke to be a detective when it came to Andy's feelings for Sam, and realize that no matter what she said, she was in love with Sam, but that's another matter.)
Dov/Gail fics
JadeSelena - God help her
This is an incredible long fic, starting just after 2x09 and delving into Gail's insecurities and family history. Gail has serious problems with emotional intimacy, and this fic deals with them, and has Dov realizing how much she really needs someone to love her despite herself - and for him to prioritize her over his friendship with Chris. It made me fall in love with this ship so hard, if I hadn't already.
JadeSelena - Let No Man Put Asunder
The sequel to God help her, it's just getting started but the author is updating it and it's a great read so far! Excellent Dov/Gail interactions, and now Nick comes into the picture…
JadeSelena - To hell with it
A post-S2 fix-it fic for this ship! So wonderful. I love these two together.
redbrunja - Hold Your Love Hostage
Set somewhere after 2x09, this one is a short piece from Dov's POV with an ending that makes me go a little "aww". For anyone else those actions would not say a whole lot, but Gail says volumes in what she does and doesn't say, and it's lovely.
thorleesi - Second Time Around
This one barely got really going before it quits, so be warned! I would have loved to see them complete it. Gail really has a way of messing her life up with her kneejerk reactions to things, and people are too busy dealing with their own hurt at her actions to realize how much of a mess she is inside and why she's doing what she's doing - and if they did, they would have so much more sympathy for her, but she won't let them see that. I really <3 Gail, to be honest. And this ship in particular. :)
Dov/Gail/Chris fics
amathela - 31 Flavours
Feels almost like a sequel to the following fic with what would technically be called a vee relationship between the three, with Gail as the pivot, if I'm reading the definitions correctly.
amathela - A Series Of (Un)fortunate Events
I wish that Chris on the show was more like this Chris. It would be interesting to see someone write Chris reacting totally differently to the whole revelation at the end of 2x09.
Nick/Andy fics
m7storyteller - It's Their Thing
A sweet drabble set post-Dakota.
One author deserves special mention for having every single one of their stories in my favorites list: balladofbliss. You can't go wrong with any of their fics; they're all absolutely outstanding! Runner-ups (writers with high numbers or percentages of fics on the list) are Annie Blythe, ADI2DE, Cendari (Ff.n / AO3), and surreallis.
Disclaimer: This is NOT a master list of all the well-written fics out there. Inclusion on this list does require a minimum level of writing quality (though a few on this list push that a bit), but more importantly to me, there has to be a certain something that grabs me, whether it be the wording, the intensity of the emotion, a plot element, something. Whatever it is, it makes me want to re-read the fic, so I figured it might prove interesting to someone else.
The fics below are organized into different groups, starting with episode-focused stories.
For each group, I've selected one fic as the "if you only read one fic for this group, read this one" choice, to be marked with this icon:
Fics chosen for this are as well-written as I could find, and exemplify the group/category as best as possible. Preference on this choice was also given to complete stories, unless a WIP was exceptionally good beyond the rest.
WIPs are marked with this icon, so you can avoid if you don't like reading unfinished stories:
(Icons come from the Icon pack by Icons8.)
So without further ado, I present the recs (along with my thoughts on why I love the fics):
General S1 fics
Annie Blythe - Kindness Falls Like Rain
Sam's thoughts over the course of S1.
carroussella - When It Matters: A Collection of McSwarek Moments
This one takes several eps from S1 and shows bits of them from Sam and Andy's POVs.
falling into heaven - Serve, Protect and don't do a 'McNally'
This one's set somewhere vaguely after The Big Nickel but before Takedown, and has a lovely view of the Sam / Andy / Luke triangle.
Mamihlapinatapai - sink me in the river at dawnSet somewhere before the rookies are cut loose. The plot just started to get really interesting (all manner of drama and people in mortal danger!) when the updates ceased. If you can handle that going into it, what there is is really good. Alas for WIPs that are never finished!
Midnight Raptor - The Ways I Fell For YouSam's POV of how he fell in love with Andy through the five senses, over the course of S1. Veers away from canon beautifully.
x.imagine.x - Death
This one I found an interesting plot and enjoyable read, despite the slightly OOCness and occasional details that stretched belief. (If the title didn't clue you in, a character dies early on and the rest of the fic is about that.)
1x01: Fresh Paint
Little Shoes - Cop ModeThis one has such a gleeful tone to it. I love the take on how Sam ended up as Andy's TO.
1x02: Mercury Retrograde
Cendari - Mercury RetrogradeA very NSFW ending to the episode that has them deciding to throw the rules out the window. What is so delightful about this fic is the sheer joy in it, and how much they bond so quickly.
krystalsteph - RewrittenThis fic not only goes with a different ending to 1x02, it continues on with the rest of the show plot—with the exception of Sam and Andy's relationship. Some things still end up the same way, but others turn out much better…
1x04: Signals Crossed
Nereemac - Making Noise So Restlessly
More of a several-days-after post-ep fic, this one cracks me up. I love how Andy is annoying Sam so much.
RookieGinge - punching bagI really love that this deals with the guy searching her for a wire, and the hug, oh man. Love it. It reminds me of Missy Peregrym's comments on filming this ep:
"…when Andy gets into a tough situation…I didn't expect to feel so genuinely violated after filming the scenes. All of the actors were incredibly respectful and their performances were great so it wasn't because of them. It was the situation that really bothered me. When you film scenes, especially ones with stunts, it can take a long time to get through it. So even though you're acting, sometimes it feels very real when you live it out for hours on end."
RookieGinge - untouched scotch
I love the hug, and her opening up about her dad.
1x06: Bullet Proof
Arwendle - Not Here to Hold Your Hand
A retelling of the episode from Sam's POV - with a hug afterwards. :D
Greenstuff - Crash into Me
A bit of continuation, with Sam realizing his feelings for Andy.
RookieGinge - Rules Be DamnedI love the very McSwarek ending to this, and especially some of the discussion they have about getting used to things like what happened to Benny.
1x07: Hot and Bothered
Cendari - Hot and BotheredThis one might be very NSFW, but it also has surprising emotional depth, with a little wiser Sam and great insight into Andy's mental state at the time.
Copper's Mama - Feels Like I Can't Breathe
This one delves into Andy's thoughts just after she pulls the trigger, and really pulls you in.
snapple79 - Always There When It Matters
A slightly different turn of events in the episode and we get Sam/Andy happening a lot sooner than on the show. It's sweet and lovely.
tikvarn - Stay
This fic answers the question, "What if Andy didn't leave after the lights came on?" It jumps over Honor Roll (taking those events as canon), and then continues in a totally new direction. I love their relationship. :)
1x08: Honor Roll
Cendari - Honor RollThis fic shows a Sam who comes to his senses a lot faster than on the show, and I love the bond between him and Andy. Definitely NSFW, though.
1x09: Girlfriend of the Year
laurzz - Half of Her HeartI always felt Luke as a detective should've picked up on the signs of Sam/Andy, and this really shows his thought process well.
1x11: To Serve or Protect
tikvarn - EmbraceThis one's beautifully sad, and I love the hug so so much.
1x13: Takedown
Cendari - TakedownNSFW, but a lovely exploration of their relationship, and nice wrapping up of the Anton Hill storyline that was just abandoned (why did the show never use it? would've made a good follow-up ep in S2 or so).
Little Shoes - Confessions
This fic was marked as a WIP, but they intended to write a series of one-shots and never got back to it. The scene between Andy and Sam post-Takedown is complete (it's the only one there) and I wish it happened on the show. It's hard to see how she could be so blind to her own feelings for Sam vs. Luke as to agree to move in with Luke, especially after nearly getting killed trying to save Sam's life!
Little Shoes - Takedown
This fic was based on promos, so doesn't follow the episode plot. I love how Andy just has to see Sam is OK - and Luke really really doesn't matter when it comes down to it. :)
mustlovecat - Two AM / Seven AM / One PM / Six PM / Ten PM / Eight AM / Hold OnThis one's a whole series - a bunch of oneshots, and then a longer fic that was never completed. You can enjoy the oneshots without needing to read the longer fic, so if you dislike WIPs, go for them! I like the direction this takes their relationship immediately after Takedown. Two AM is a close runner-up to the winning story in this group.
Post-S1 fics
BeginningEnding - Running on EmptyThis one I really wish were finished - I love the plot so much! The escalating nightmares, Andy closing herself off… I love that it at least got to the mending part, and the relationship between her and Sam building up.
dcj - Keep Telling Yourself
A newly-single Andy running into Sam who's undercover in a nightclub… a great mix of A-plot and B-plot! Very entertaining and a decently long read.
margie311 - The Distance
A great long fic of Andy and Sam finding their way to each other, with a lot of running, both literally and figuratively.
SMchick - Out of Bounds
This one's definitely NSFW (and the characters are slightly OOC), but I found the scenario fascinating and the conversation afterwards very interesting. Definitely worth a read!
tikvarn - Falling SlowlyNot finished, but it gets far enough with Andy and Sam's relationship to be satisfying. I love Jerry and Noelle forcing each of them to realize the things they're lying to themselves about or just not facing. Really good!
tikvarn - Just for TonightA short but lovely fic where Andy is there for Sam when he needs her.
General S2 fics
ADI2DE - Clean SlateI love the amnesia trope, and this one's a great one - Andy remembering only one day of her life - with Sam as her partner, and not a thing about Luke. I just wish the writer had finished it so we could see how they wrapped up the Sam / Andy / Luke triangle!
Annie Blythe - Words In My Memory
Sam's thoughts on Andy throughout S2. I love his realization that he hasn't really put himself out there like he thought.
crackers4jenn - oliver shaw: helping a bro out
Set sometime after Luke cheats on Andy, but before she and Sam get together, this is a funny fic (mostly because of some of the dialogue) wherein Andy is invited to a barbecue at the Shaws' place, which may or may not be a setup for a double date with… (who else?) Sam.
dcj - Betting on UsI think this is the only fic I've seen that deals with how Andy knew so much about poker - and the McSwarek throughout is great. :D
Elamac - One Too Many
This one's just sweet - a hungover Andy and a caring Sam.
Lady Nikka - Figuring It OutThis is a fascinating take on the whole Brennan undercover - it covers several episodes in S2 but takes a totally new direction to it all. I really wish it were completed - the story leaves off just when things are getting really interesting!
xxliveforever17xx - Musings of a Completely Objective Third Party
An outsider POV on a ship can be hilarious or insightful, and this is both. I love how he's shocked that they're not married and how absolutely obvious Sam's feelings for Andy are. And the line about them being "tangled in each other" is so so true. Short but good!
2x01: Butterflies
BeginningEnding - All In
I like the insight into Sam's thoughts during this episode.
carroussella - Nothing Compares To You
A look at Jo's feelings towards Luke, with the backdrop of the events of 2x01.
surreallis - Fade AwayAndy is so conflicted, and this fic portrays it well. I particularly love Sam's telling her to come to him when other things don't work - and "I gave him one chance". :D
xxliveforever17xx - Methinks Thou Doth Protest too Much
I love how Sam blurts those lines out in the squad, with Oliver right there… which means Oliver has got to have something to say about the whole thing. This one cracks me up some.
2x02: Might Have Been
Nika Dixon - Get it RightThis one's short but zeroes in on a great little scene - the wrong coffee. Because you just know Sam had something to say about that, even if he can't actually say it out loud. I love the last couple lines in particular.
2x03: Bad Moon Rising
carroussella - The Scars that Silence Carved
This is an angsty fic of Sam's thoughts upon learning of Andy's engagement. I love how the writer used the words in this one.
Elamac - Take Your TimeI love how caring Sam is for Andy in this one. The ending is sweet.
Exuperance18 - Secrets don't come out all neat and tidy
This is such a great interaction between Sam and Jo. I like to think something like that might have happened on the show, beyond him just getting her a cup of coffee.
laurzz - Shoulder To Cry On
I love Sam's support for Andy in this fic. And Jo is perceptive, of course. :)
Mnara - Life SupportThis is extremely well-written, and I love the direction it takes the shooting. I only wish it were completed - it's SO good.
2x04: Heart and Sparks
Graballz - I'm There When It MattersThis is a really sweet convo between Sam and Andy - feels like it fits right into canon.
nawlins79 - This Rookie's Life
This one's quite long - and 2x04 is only the beginning of where it diverges from canon. Gets to a McSwarek ending a lot faster and happier overall than the show did. I particularly like how it handled the Boyd & Brennan thing. NSFW at points.
surreallis - Radar Love
An episode tag that is full of conversation without talking.
waywardrenegades - there when it matters
This one mostly copies the locker room conversation near the end of the episode, with a little of Andy's thoughts afterwards.
waywardrenegades - trusting instincts
Sam's thoughts during and after the hose monkeys going in to free Andy and the victim's wife.
2x06: In Plain View
m7storyteller - Not Your Rebound Guy
A beautiful drabble that I wish were canon.
xxliveforever17xx - No Other OptionsI really love the dialogue in this one, and the ending, the way Sam knows just how to handle her.
yellowdaisy58 - Tears and LaughterA delightful longer fic that starts a day after 2x06; I just wish it were finished, but at least there's McSwarek in it.
2x07: The One That Got Away
Cendari - All of Your LifeThis is SO much better than the way the episode actually went. I agreed with so much of their a/n on how frustrating everyone was behaving in it, from Luke to Andy to Sam to Jo.
Many Impossible Things - Save Me
While I'm not sure Sam could hear Andy over the radio like that, if one assumes that premise, I love some of the elements of this fic so much—Sam carrying Andy, bits of the conversation in the locker room later…
rookieD - Trust You Any Way
A lovely fic where Andy stays overnight with Sam and they rebuild some of the trust that was lost - a bit of a bridge between 2x07 and 2x08.
2x08: Monster
BellaSarah - Frite Nite
This takes the fighting scene at the end and continues it beautifully.
krystalsteph - RoommatesI love fics where Sam offers Andy the spare room or guest room, and this is a delightfully long (if incomplete) one. Warning: It gets rather NSFW by the last few chapters.
tikvarn - Spare RoomAnother one where Andy stays in Sam's spare room. Even longer than the last one - and complete! A very enjoyable read.
Trapped in a Matchbox - On the EdgeThis one doesn't have Andy staying with Sam, but their relationship is progressing and it's just a joy to read. Unfortunately, it's a WIP that ends on a cliffhanger, so beware before you begin!
treehugger18 - Fresh Start
This is the single longest complete fic I have saved for Rookie Blue (surpassed only by a 228k WIP) - partly because there are quite a few places where we see the same scene from both Andy and Sam's points of view successively - and it's very good. I really like the characterization for Sarah and her family—better than what we saw on the show.
waywardrenegades - stuck with me
A sweet continuation of the fighting scene - just lovely.
2x09: Brotherhood
deedee920 - Last First Kiss
Set soon after the episode, Andy tells Sam about the horse guy asking her out - which leads to a rather different start to their relationship than in canon. :D
xxliveforever17xx - Looking at the Person Next to YouRemember when Frank tells them to look at the person next to them? That scene is just great - and this fic does a good job of fleshing out both Andy and Sam's thoughts during that.
2x10: Best Laid Plans
dcj - Accidents Don't Just Happen
I absolutely love this take on the Brennan undercover - wish it had gone this way! This one was a very very close runner-up to the winning fic in this group.
krystalsteph - Pretend
I always wished Andy had gone undercover with Sam - how much better things might have turned out! And if they didn't use the boat, then there wouldn't be any torture. Love the way it ends!
LaFilmeMichelle - IntentionsThis one barely got started before it ran out of updates, so be prepared to be frustrated at not knowing where the plot was going. The one area that wasn't uncertain, however, was the McSwarek - the Sam/Andy there was really sweet and well-written.
margie311 - The WitnessThis is the single longest Rookie Blue fic I have (at 228k) - and it ends just before the best part of the story, so be warned! It is worth it, though. It goes with a rather different undercover assignment - and that quickly turns into a far more complicated plot. The Sam/Andy is full of angst in the best way. The author's LJ has some extras to go along with it - character list and a few snippets from later on in the story, parts that she never ended up writing to.
surreallis - DeepThis is an absolutely fantastic alternate undercover story - with an ending that goes so different from the show, and yet so good.
2x11: A Little Faith
threeguesses - Do Not (Pass Go, Collect $200)Sam's thoughts before and after calling Andy to come over - very well-written.
2x12: On the Double
Annie Blythe - Heavy HeartsThis is a really powerful set of perspectives on the final scenes of 2x12 - from six different viewpoints.
2x13: God's Good Grace
PseudonymousMouse - The Nature of Water and RegretA great what-if story that redoes the events of 2x13 with the premise, "What if Andy hadn't run into Sam at the Alpine?" I only wish it were finished.
Post-S2 fics
Annie Blythe - Countdown
A lovely fic set after the suspension is over (but assuming the three months' no-contact order never happened), of Sam and Andy at New Year's.
Annie Blythe - The Space BetweenA beautiful fic showing just how their reunion post-suspension could've gone.
Annie Blythe - When Words Fail
A two-part set of reflections from each of Andy and Sam's POVs, culminating in small scenes set just after the end of the season.
kimmary - Doing what's right
I love Sam's point to Frank, and I think he had some excellent points that I wish had been dealt with on the show.
LouLaBelle13 - Making the Best of ItHas a nice bit post-suspension - and then a real plot starts developing. Sadly we never get to find out most of the details about it. What is there is quite enjoyable, at least!
Nereemac - Normal is the Watchword
I love the little touches like Sam's reaction to the water hitting the back of his throat. Sparse words but they pack a real punch!
surreallis - Winds At Rest
A great picture of their first shift back after being suspended for a period of time.
General S3 fics
Annie Blythe - A Room with a View
Five separate scenes from one of the observation rooms. A lot of different moods with Sam and Andy.
Annie Blythe - Color Me InA beautiful angsty conversation between Andy and Sam, set somewhere in S3.
Annie Blythe - Corners and Crosswalks
A breakup and reunion set mid-S3. Painful but has a nice happy ending.
Annie Blythe - Rupture
What if Claire had left mid-S3? This is a short fic from Sam's POV as Andy tries to deal with that. Beautiful.
3x01: The First Day of the Rest of Your Life
dcj - Game ChangerWhat if Sam had gone after Andy to Temagami? This is a lovely short fic - I just wish I could see the next few scenes. :)
3x02: Class Dismissed
balladofbliss - StrongerI really wish 3x02 had gone this way after the end credits - it might have made the rest of the season turn out better!
3x03: A Good Shoot
Annie Blythe - ConstancyA sweet tag to the episode, focusing on the act of holding hands.
3x05: Messy Houses
balladofbliss - Which Way Is DownI wish Andy had opened up like this in the episode. A very well-written episode tag.
3x06: Coming Home
balladofbliss - Battle CryA very fluffy fic with what the food fight might have looked like had Claire never showed up. A very enjoyable read.
3x07: Leap of Faith
balladofbliss - Stand Back and Let It All BeThis is a beautiful episode tag from Sam's POV, and it makes me wish they could've built on that happiness and made it more solid instead of being ripped apart at the end of S3.
3x09: Out of Time
balladofbliss - The Ties We've Left UndoneI really really wish this were how things went between Andy and Sam, instead of just being stifled until they blew up like they did on the show. This is really well-written.
3x10: Cold Comforts
balladofbliss - AfterIF the breakup had to happen, this is how I want it to be fixed. It's so in-character for Sam, such a great insight into his head. Beautifully written.
starmaterial83 - Lies as Truth and Truth as Lies
A shorter insight into Sam's mind but really well-done! I particularly love the last two sentences.
3x11: The Rules
potterwriter340237 - Good
We never got to see the final cry - but you know Andy would. This is it - so sad, yet so good.
riveroad - In The Tall GrassThis is a really good insight into Sam's thoughts - with a little wisdom from Luke, of all people.
3x12: Every Man
balladofbliss - IncrementI love Sam's emotions, Andy showing up like she does… it's really lovely, and the ending's much better than the show's was.
Meghannna - Flu Symptoms
This one's so full of sweetness, it's just wonderful, despite the sick bit.
Post-S3 fics
Annie Blythe - Haven
This fic has one of my favorite lines ever in a fic, and it's such a great picture of them struggling to come back to each other after all the wounds each inflicted.
balladofbliss - Icebreaker
I love the way Sam helps Andy and the ending is just the best.
balladofbliss - Meet You on the Other SideThis one's longer - wraps up the taskforce, fixes Sam and Andy's relationship, and sets them on a happy path for the future.
dcj - Might Have BeenThis one starts mid-taskforce and sets up an interesting plot point. I wish it had been continued - would have liked to see where the author took it.
ridexc - Collateral Damage
This is short but beautifully painful in a good way. Love how Sam reacts when he notices her arms, and the ending is lovely.
General S4 fics
balladofbliss - Our Crooked Aim
A much shorter resolution to the mess that was S4 - and some really good insight into Andy and Sam's relationship.
dcj - Close Your Eyes and Make A Wish
A short fic that has a really good conversation between Gail and Sam, of all people. They have a lot in common, surprisingly.
DeadlineMaster - The Treachery of Images
This one takes the Sam/Marlo thing in a rather unusual direction, and has a happy ending along with a bit of A-plot.
DeadlineMaster - We're not broken, just bent
I love how this fic really goes into Sam's history, and uses it as a way to bring Sam and Andy back together again.
deedee920 - Scatter the Sky With My Blazing Heart
Fireworks as a means of breaking up Sam/Marlo and bringing Sam/Andy back together… works for me! :)
insomniabug - An Indelible Mark
This is super short and from Marlo's POV - and I love how it shows how much Sam/Andy are inevitable. (Plus, she's right!—Andy is gorgeous.)
insomniabug - Hope Is A Four Letter Word
Beyond the awesome title (best line from Counting Stars), I love how this fic has Gail, Marlo, and Luke all in a conversation together - and how much they have in common with regards to Andy.
MD14 - Life As We Know It
This one totally derails canon by having a childhood friend of Andy die and leave her a toddler to care for… The trajectory of her and Sam's story is very different and yet so good.
MegLynn - when you hold me like you do
An early S4 reunion of Sam/Andy, and it's so good.
neworldiscoverer - less than
A moment in the first few weeks after Andy gets back - in a world where Sam and Marlo broke up right after Project Dakota ended.
rookieD & dcj - Not Without A FightWhat might Fite Nite in S4 look like? Perhaps something like this—a great longer fic with a happy McSwarek ending. Can't get any better!
threeguesses & lowriseflare - most of the sound stays away
Very NSFW, but the parts that aren't are really good. I especially like the conversation with Gail. Set in an AU where Sam and Andy get back together (secretly) soon after she returns from Project Dakota, and Marlo doesn't appear to exist…
4x01: Surprises
ADI2DE - Red Light, Green Light
A Marlo-free beginning to S4 - very lovely and well-written.
balladofbliss - Stop Now the Speeding ClockThis one's got a lot of great insight into Sam and Andy's thoughts at this time.
Shippershape - One Day at a Time
A longer fic set after Andy returns from Project Dakota - much more plotty than the others in this category!
4x03: Different, Not Better
balladofbliss - An Easier PropositionSam's voice here is so clear and so in character - it's painful to read in a good way.
Graballz - The Other Side of Loving Her
An excellent fic of Sam's thoughts as Andy walks away in the parking lot.
4x05: Poison Pill
ADI2DE - MisunderstandingI love the idea of putting Sam in the art gallery with Andy - and this is a great take on that idea!
4x08: For Better, For Worse
balladofbliss - Like Spying on HopeThis one takes that line of Sam's from 4x07 "If you don't know me, I don't know who does" and returns to that conversation after a slightly-altered 4x08, with well-thought-out handling of Nick and Marlo. Excellent writing!
4x12: Under Fire
Copycat - Is This What Trying Looks Like?This is painfully good - an exploration of Sam's feelings and why he's still with Marlo. So much guilt…
4x13: You Can See the Stars
carroussella - Back to the BeginningThis is so angsty and painfully good - Nick's thoughts when he tells Andy to go, and Andy's thoughts during the same.
DragonandthePhoenix03 - Nick Collins is Not Stupid (Andy McNally is in Love with Sam Swarek)
I love the way the writer made the format really work, and worked in Nick's history with Gail and Andy.
only_more_love - Drowning or Waving
An angst-filled drabble set from Nick's POV when he tells Andy to go.
Post-S4 fics
ADI2DE - Finding Our WayTrope-y, but amnesia is one of the best tropes, and this one mixes that with what happens after the end of S4 to create a super long, very good fic. Excellent read!
ADI2DE - The Things We DoAnother really good post-S4 story, with Andy trying to figure out what to do with Nick and Sam - and Sam trying to figure out what Andy's thinking.
Copycat - Never Gonna Be Over
A great little fic from Sam's POV while he's lying in the hospital bed recovering.
copycat & radleyboo - it's so long (that's what she said)
This one's f-locked but well worth messaging to be added in order to see it (hopefully it will get reposted on AO3 one of these days, but I suspect that requires radleyboo to get an AO3 account). A take on Sam's recovery in the hospital, in turns funny, poignant, heartwarming, and even some UST to boot.
insomniabug - Come to me my sweetest friend, this is where we start again
A beautiful friendship fic between Andy and Traci - with a twist. I wish I could see a long fic with this premise! Very good.
Kavi Leighanna (kleighanna) - in those dark hours your light shines through
A short but sweet fic from Sam's POV as he lies in the hospital recovering.
radleyboo - Some Partner-ly Advice
Traci giving Sam some much-needed advice - very lovely!
General S5 fics
balladofbliss - Good Enough to Keep YouI love the final paragraph of this, and the message it contains is fantastic.
balladofbliss - The Weight of Us Both
A fight between Sam and Andy set sometime in season 5 - and its resolution. Not too long, but satisfying.
lowriseflare and threeguesses - i was a believer in rome
NSFW, but very emotional as well - Andy and Sam, the first time after he was shot.
radleyboo - A Different Perspective
A lovely fic from Chloe's perspective on how happy Andy and Sam are with each other, with a little Dov/Chloe at the end.
5x03: Heart Breakers, Money Makers
berryfuls - Broken StreaksNick at the end of Fite Nite, thinking about Andy and his loss at Fite Nite. Sad but well-written.
5x06: Two Truths and a Lie
Shippershape - Two TruthsA continuation of the game from the episode reveals some surprises - very fluffy and delightful.
Post-S5 fics
balladofbliss - WhistleblowerThis handles the corruption plot so much better than S6 did, in many ways. Plus I love the way the whole Marlo baby plot worked out!
ewells4 - Lemonade
This is one of the most interesting takes on the whole Marlo baby plot. Nicely done!
6x03: Uprising
ADI2DE - TimeA McSwarek version of the ultrasound scene - where Andy's the one pregnant and Marlo's not anywhere in the picture (and definitely not having Sam's baby). A much better twist on things! :)
AU fics
ADI2DE - HauntedFantastic long fic that has Andy as a runaway witness who's been through some major trauma. The relationship with Sam hadn't even gotten going yet, but it's really good. Sadly, the author has not updated in years despite promising to finish all their stories.
ADI2DE - Like a DrugWhat if Andy had gotten into drugs as a teen? Sam as a young cop going to bat for her and helping her is just a great picture. Wish so badly that this one had been finished!
ADI2DE - MadnessThis one's got a complicated A-plot that was never fully revealed by the point the author wrote the most recent chapter. Alas, no updates for three years means it's highly likely to remain that way permanently.
ADI2DE - Rewind, RestartThis version of Andy's background is a bit more depressing than on the show, and her life is spiraling downwards when Sam comes into it. The last chapter posted was one the author declared the "most depressing" they'd ever written, assuring readers things would go up from there. I wish I could see that, for it hasn't been updated in three years… :(
LixPix - Different BeginningsI love the idea of Andy having been in the Army before joining 15 Division. The whole Sam-Andy-Luke triangle was only getting set up in the fic when it stopped. Wish they'd finished!
threeguesses & lowriseflare - so tough so early in the morning, part 1, part 2, and part 3
Very NSFW, as all their fics tend to be. This one makes use of the lower age of consent in Canada as opposed to here (16 currently - at the time Andy would have been a teenager, assuming show timeline matches up for when it aired, the age of consent would have been 14); if sex between a 16-year-old and a 21-year-old makes you uncomfortable, don't read. What I love about it is the way Sam finds himself drawn to her, unable to pull away. It makes me want to see where they would've ended up after a couple years.
threeguesses & lowriseflare - world lights up at its edges
Every fandom needs a high school AU. This one's well-written and sweet - but definitely NSFW!
tikvarn - Reluctant AcquaintancesWhat if Andy chose to go to 27 Division instead? And Sam was her next-door neighbor? And Luke worked out of 15 with Jo? Well, with a few more changes, the story might have turned out a little like this. Very long and excellent!
Future fics
Annie Blythe - Bruised
A short but very good fic set in the future with Sam and Andy. Angsty but the angst is not about their relationship, which is what helps them deal with the painful things. Lovely.
balladofbliss - Practically InhumanA beautiful story with Sam reassuring Andy. Was really hard to decide between this and the previous one!
balladofbliss - Steady Now
Set in a future where the latter half of S3 never happened, this fic has Andy going through a traumatic experience, and the healing process with her and Sam.
Multiple episodes/times
Annie Blythe - Firsts
Starting sometime after S2 ends, this follows Sam and Andy through a series of "firsts" in their lives. A whole lot of sweetness that's guaranteed to rot your metaphorical fanfic teeth.
Annie Blythe - Fifteen's FootnotesBeautiful one-shots sprinkled throughout the series. Really, really good.
balladofbliss - Lexicon
Little glimpses of Sam and Andy's relationship, from before they're togther to afterwards. In canon to start, eventually goes AU. Beautifully done.
BeginningEnding - Rumours
Thoughts from Sam's POV throughout S1 and S2 - with a better take on the suspension thing, in my opinion.
Greenstuff - Drowning
Thoughts from Sam and Andy's POV (with occasional glimpses of another's thoughts) from 1x07 through 2x11. Sticks with canon.
krystalsteph - Collection of Thoughts
A bunch of one-shots spanning all over the place in canon. They are all independent of each other (there's more than one Sam/Andy marriage proposal among them, for instance).
No particular canon time setting
Annie Blythe - Double Bonus
I'm not a sports fan but the way this author writes the dialogue and movements of Andy and Sam just watching a game is very enjoyable and worth reading!
Annie Blythe - Remedy
A really sweet look into Valentine's Day with Sam and Andy.
Existinghook (The Slinkster) - So Into YouA great short fic set before Sam and Andy have gotten together - but Luke is never mentioned. No canon references to speak of, but you gotta love all the UST!
mmleadinglady - Warm Hands
This one's just sweet, set three weeks after Sam and Andy begin dating in some other version of the show. (Don't we wish they could've started that way?)
xxliveforever17xx - Illusions of Death
Gotta love the "faked death" trope - and this fic does it nicely.
xxliveforever17xx - Moments in the Locker Room
Oh, I wish things had gone this way in canon. An Andy who actually admits that she cares about Sam more than she should and that's not shutting off even though she's with Luke. (Also would've been nice for Luke to be a detective when it came to Andy's feelings for Sam, and realize that no matter what she said, she was in love with Sam, but that's another matter.)
Dov/Gail fics
JadeSelena - God help herThis is an incredible long fic, starting just after 2x09 and delving into Gail's insecurities and family history. Gail has serious problems with emotional intimacy, and this fic deals with them, and has Dov realizing how much she really needs someone to love her despite herself - and for him to prioritize her over his friendship with Chris. It made me fall in love with this ship so hard, if I hadn't already.
JadeSelena - Let No Man Put AsunderThe sequel to God help her, it's just getting started but the author is updating it and it's a great read so far! Excellent Dov/Gail interactions, and now Nick comes into the picture…
JadeSelena - To hell with it
A post-S2 fix-it fic for this ship! So wonderful. I love these two together.
redbrunja - Hold Your Love Hostage
Set somewhere after 2x09, this one is a short piece from Dov's POV with an ending that makes me go a little "aww". For anyone else those actions would not say a whole lot, but Gail says volumes in what she does and doesn't say, and it's lovely.
thorleesi - Second Time AroundThis one barely got really going before it quits, so be warned! I would have loved to see them complete it. Gail really has a way of messing her life up with her kneejerk reactions to things, and people are too busy dealing with their own hurt at her actions to realize how much of a mess she is inside and why she's doing what she's doing - and if they did, they would have so much more sympathy for her, but she won't let them see that. I really <3 Gail, to be honest. And this ship in particular. :)
Dov/Gail/Chris fics
amathela - 31 Flavours
Feels almost like a sequel to the following fic with what would technically be called a vee relationship between the three, with Gail as the pivot, if I'm reading the definitions correctly.
amathela - A Series Of (Un)fortunate EventsI wish that Chris on the show was more like this Chris. It would be interesting to see someone write Chris reacting totally differently to the whole revelation at the end of 2x09.
Nick/Andy fics
m7storyteller - It's Their ThingA sweet drabble set post-Dakota.
One author deserves special mention for having every single one of their stories in my favorites list: balladofbliss. You can't go wrong with any of their fics; they're all absolutely outstanding! Runner-ups (writers with high numbers or percentages of fics on the list) are Annie Blythe, ADI2DE, Cendari (Ff.n / AO3), and surreallis.
