#chapter 1x12

[whitedahlia13]

After that, Stiles must have moved closer, because when she finally inhaled...Lydia remembered being surrounded by the soothing scent of pine needles. Just like at the dance, when she had her head on his shoulder.

“Lydia... Lydia, hang on,” he whispered while his gentle hand brushed her hair away from her face. “You’re going to be okay. You have to be. Please, just keep breathing. Please, Lydia.”

Droplets were splashing on her cheeks. For a moment, she thought it had started to rain, but then she realized they were tears. His tears. Stiles was crying...for her. He cared about her that much. He had risked his life, put himself between her and the monster, and was still seeking to reassure her. His courage gave her the strength to open her eyes long enough to see him.

He was kneeling in front of her, tears sprinkling off the ends of his lashes, radiant gold in his eyes. It was beautiful – like being caught in a sun shower.

“Lydia, can you hear me? Please, don’t let go.”

She remembered the way his hand was clutching hers, anchoring her to life, to him.

Gradually, his warmth spread through her, and she didn’t hurt anymore. She remembered the calm that blanketed her.

She squeezed his hand and smiled.

And she was safe. There was music, slow and soulful. There were pretty lights all around her, swirling like her stomach...while she danced with her head nestled on the shoulder of a boy who held her like she was the most precious thing in the world. Stiles.

Read more: ao3 & ffnet

[bloodydeanwinchester]

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT - now posted

|| fic playlist ||

summary below:

There are two Dean Winchesters in hospital beds.

One, recently saved from hell, has just learned that he’s the one who jump-started the apocalypse and, because of this, he’s also the only one who can stop it.

The other, years earlier, has just learned he’s going to die.

******

It would have been nice to have had the angel’s healing mojo in the past. But when it comes down to it, it’s not them he wishes they’d had the angels around to save. It’s everyone else—all of the people they hadn’t been able to save. Or worse, the ones that they’d damned.

In particular, he can’t stop thinking about Layla. The girl who'd had more faith than Dean could ever dream of. He was chosen to be healed when she had deserved it so much more. Before the other night, he hadn’t thought about her in years. He’s been too much of a coward to look her up because he knows what he’ll find. She’d told him she only had six months, and that time was up long ago. There’s no way she’s still around to save now.

But angels can do a hell of a lot more than just heal people. They can travel back in time too.

or

What if season 4 Dean and Cas time-traveled back to 1x12 Faith to save Layla?

thank you liv @blue-eyed-cutiepatootie-art for making the graphic<333

[sunnydaleherald]

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Wednesday, July 31

WILLOW: Oh, hey, I have a name on my jacket. (takes off jacket to look) Harris. XANDER: Harris? That's my last name. Maybe I have a brother and you go out with him. (Willow looking uncertain) Or maybe you go out with me. WILLOW: Well, we did wake up all snuggly-wuggly. (walks closer to him) Maybe you're my boyfriend. XANDER: Either that, or I got one pissed-off brother out there somewhere. (both smile)

~~Tabula Rasa~~

[Drabbles & Short Fiction]

BtVS Triple Drabble: Special Guest by badly_knitted (Angel, Drusilla, PG)

experiments (of varying degrees of success) by eagle_eyes (Angel/Cordelia, M)

The Secrets We Keep by BlueZeroZeroOne (Willow/Tara, Buffy/Tara, T)

Ain't No Rest for the Wicked by MadeInGold (Buffy/Maggie Walsh, E)

Endgame by MadeInGold (Buffy/Riley, G)

Tears of Faith by Willow25 (Buffy/Spike, E)

Milestone Birthday by Kittenwritings (Fred/Spike, G)

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Sentence Meme - Tough Love [roleplay starter] by uptonogoodindiememes (unrated but worksafe)

The Secrets We Keep by BlueZeroZeroOne (Buffy, Willow, Tara, FR15)

[Chaptered Fiction]

Reflections of Reality - ch. 1 by KnightRanger (Willow, Xander, Buffy, Not Rated)

East of Nevada - ch. 8 by Blissymbolics (Buffy/Spike, R)

The Degradation of Duality [Series Part 2] - ch. 38 by Ragini (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Breaking Illusions - ch. 4 by RavenLove12 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Love Lives Here - ch. 91 by Passion4Spike (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Stab in the back - ch. 24 by MelG_2005 (Buffy/Spike, Adult Only)

Beer Bad, Spike Good - ch. 5 by Maxine Eden, ClowniestLivEver (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) COMPLETE!

Laid - ch. 5 by Holly (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) COMPLETE!

Wedding Belles - ch. 5 by buffy_loves_spike (Buffy/Spike, R) COMPLETE!

Itty Bitty Wiggy Piggy - ch. 5 by ClowniestLivEver (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) COMPLETE!

Buffy Summers and the Major Case of the Wiggins - ch. 5 by Soulburnt (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) COMPLETE!

I’ll Get You, My Pretty… - ch. 5 by CheekyKitten (Buffy/Spike, R) COMPLETE!

Embers and Ashes: The Fëanorians in a New World - ch. 1 by Luna (Dawn, LOTR xover, FR15)

The Stars to Hold Our Destiny - ch. 25 by Hermionetobe (Buffy, Star Trek xover, FR15)

Going Home (to a place we’ve never been before) - ch. 18 by curiouslywombat (Dawn, LOTR, FR15)

Where In The World Was Clint Barton? - ch. 40 by Beriaearwen (Buffy, Avengers xover, FR13)

The Buffybot Falls In Love - ch. 3 by Desicat (Buffy/Spike, PG)

Breaking Illusions - ch. 4 by RavenLove12 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Anarchy Tour - ch. 10 by Alyot (Buffy/Spike, R) COMPLETE!

Love Lives Here - ch. 91 by Passion4Spike (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Christina's new life. - ch. 1 by ILLYRIAN (Andrew, unrated)

[Images, Audio & Video]

Banner: 🔔 August Highlight — Two Spuffy Art Entries by veronyxk84 (Buffy/Spike, worksafe)

Artwork: Had to try my hand at sketching our girl by Areyoufilledwithair (Buffy, worksafe)

Moodboard: 365 characters; dawn summers... if you touch me, my sisters gonna kill you. by sylthrein (worksafe)

Artwork: "when he wakes up, tell him...I don't know - think of something cool. tell him I said it" - 1x12, 'prophecy girl' by mistyintherivers (Buffy, Scoobies, Angel, worksafe)

Lyrics: salma deera, letters from medea by dogmetaphors (Buffy/Spike, worksafe)

Manip / Wallpaper: I'm not wired that way by revello-drive-1630 (Buffy, ensemble, worksafe)

Gifset: [Oz and Angel] by starryeyesxx (Angel, Oz, worksafe)

Gifset: [Angel or star?] by ptieuca (Buffy/Angel, Joyce, worksafe)

Gifset: [is it casual now?] by nownow-noneofthat (Buffy/Spike, NSFW)

Gifset: He sort of admits himself that his motives are... spurious. by ladyverdance (Buffy/Spike, Buffy/Faith, worksafe)

Gifset: BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER | S05E18: "Intervention" // THE VAMPIRE DIARIES by dogmetaphors (Buffy, Spike, worksafe)

Gifset: Anya Jenkins + Outfits (Season 5) by clarkgriffon (Anya, Xander, worksafe)

Gifset: BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER (1997 - 2003) ⏤ 5.09, "Listening to Fear" ⏤ 5.22, "The Gift" by andremichaux (Buffy, Joyce, Dawn, Scoobies, Spike, worksafe)

[Reviews & Recaps]

I don't know why I waited so long [first time ATS watcher almost done] by withywoodwitch

Would love to hear your general thoughts on Buffy! [ask answered] by umgirldog

End of season summary! [S2] by agirlinsearchof

PODCAST: Episode 67: Pangs by Gym Was Cancelled: A Buffy Podcast

[Recs & In Search Of]

Recs: 💡 Spuffy Fic Recs — July by veronyxk84

Recs: Spuffy Fic Recs [list of 5 fanfics with reviews] — July by veronyxk84

Recs: [2 Spike x reader fanfic recs] by courtneyraeblogs1221

ISO: Rules and Q&A [for your BTVS head canon requests] by urheadcanongirl

ISO: umgirldog seeks what CD willow was holding in Hush (4x10) when Giles was explaining what the gentlemen were in the lecture hall

[Fandom Discussions]

angel was forced to be good... by williamprattz

Buffy... could've absolutely charged for doing odd jobs in the supernatural...[headcanon] by therulerofallpotatos

Welcome to the Hellmouth Fashion Part Two by theoverlookedoneedits1997

The Harvest Fashion Part One by theoverlookedoneedits1997

[Faith in 3x15 consequences] by redhatmeg

It’s weird to me how confidently and definitively people will say that Tara and Willow weren’t paying Buffy rent. by nicnacsnonsense

What your favorite BtVS character says about you... by housedyke

POLL: Could Xander Harris Survive Danganronpa? by couldtheysurvivedanganronpa

POLL: Vampire Media Guys Round 22: Spike or Elijah Mikaelson? (TVD) by vampirewrestlinglover

What unsettles you still about BTVS? by silvermoon and November

What If: Xander was shot? [in S6] by nightshade and others

Buffy and Faith are still unique slayers [post Chosen] by LightBlueSky55

Which 12 characters would you choose to complete the 12 tasks of Asterix? by MonsterTournament

Don’t you just hate turning invisible because your teacher passed you over in class? [and Clea praise] by nowlan101

What are your favorite or least favorite Giles moments? by AxelNoir

Layout of upstairs of Buffy's house by Tuxedo_Mark

Buffy game Xbox [tips for playing video games on hardware] by Dynalynk

Why James Spader? by Robosl0b

[what are your podcast recommendations? with discussion in the comments] by Working_Original_200

Buffy Content [what formats do you like for podcasts?] by Working_Original_200

Opinions on After The Fall? [Angel comic book series] by Hungry_Walrus7562

Do the writers forget about Angel's curse? [in ATS S3] by foreseethefuture

[Angel's curse made zero sense] by audjenkins41

[Articles, Interviews, and Other News]

[Links to Juliet Landau new podcast Slayin' It!] via dontkillspike

Amber Benson is set to attend Fanboy Expo Convention in Orlando This September. [Sept 6-8 in FL, USA] via amberbenson.tv

Submit a link to be included in the newsletter!

Join the editor team :)

[bronx-bomber87]

Happy Saturday everyone :) The next stop in our S1 rewatch is episode 12.

1x12 Heartbreak

Oooh man is the name accurate on this one. The final chapter in the Tim/Isabel saga for s1 and it’s a doozy. Stab right to the heart emotionally. We had a Lucy forward ep earlier with the Capt. This is our Tim centered one. A very important one at that. I’m excited to delve into this one. This review will mainly focus on him. Love me some Tim Bradford.

Right off the bat this man is killing me. He seems so damn hopeful when he arrives. Hesitant still but a hopeful look in his eyes. Telling Isabel she looks like herself again. He seems so thrilled she actually went through with rehab. To see her look like his wife. Something I'm sure he was worried he would never see again. Its written all over his face. Eric CRUSHES this ep. Always in awe of his performance. He's a treasure.

Isabel tells him she wanted to leave every day, but something made her stay. Tim asks what? She tells him she wanted to make sure Tim got to see her sober. *heart clutch* Then we get to see that gorgeous smile of his. He makes a joke saying his job here is done and pretends to leave. Isabel laughs at him being a goober. This the least stressed/broken he’s looked around her the entire season. It’s wonderful to witness after all the hurt.

Isabel starts off by trying to make amends with Tim. Because of all the people in her life she cut him the deepest. She wants to be honest with him so he can start to trust her again someday. Classic S1 Tim just wants to put it in a box and never open that box ever again. The opposite of what Isabel is trying to achieve. Just wants it to be black and white. That Isabel only did the things she did cause she was an addict. Poor Tim is denying the fact that it’s so much deeper than that. He’s dreading/avoiding the outcome of it not being neatly tied up.

What that’ll mean for them and their marriage. Saying addicts have it hard wired in their DNA to lie, steal and cheat. That he knows she couldn't have helped all that. The way he lays it out for her makes it sound like he can never trust her again. Isabel addresses this right away.

She stops Tim tells him she’ll always be an addict. Tim once again is trying to put it into a box he can comprehend. Which is it wasn’t Isabel that hurt him it was the drugs. To him now that she’s clean she won’t do that again. You can see how her replies are in massive conflict with his. He doesn't want to re-live it all again where she is trying to do so in order to heal. Tim just wants to put to behind him and forget. Where as she wants to confront it and have him face what she did to him. Driving her crazy that he wont do so.

She is wanting atonement for her sins and he’s saying it wasn’t her. Oh Tim. He loves her so much he refuses to let her fault herself for what she did. Much easier for him to have something to blame it on. She gets mad and tells him his black and white outlook is maddening. Where as to Tim he sees comfort in his logic, his ability to just strip something down and put it away. You can see how its frustrating her. His avoidance is because he knows if he faces this what the outcome will be...Its why he's trying to downplay this whole visit.

Kills me the way she tells him she couldn’t live up to his standards. That she only felt like she failed him. This I feel was more on Isabel than it ever was on Tim IMO. If she had just told him he could’ve listened to her. Worked on it together. Tim couldn't fix what he didn't know about. He loved her so much he would’ve done anything for her. All she had to do was communicate how she was feeling. Instead she let it fester and become such a problem that she turned to drugs for a release. That to me seemed to be the root of her addiction. In her mind she couldn’t live up so she had to numb herself. Find a escape from that constant feeling of failure.

What sucks is while she is unburdening her soul she’s adding to Tim's. The look on his face above shows me he had no idea she thought this. Not a damn clue. By off loading her demons she's given him an insecurity. One about himself that he will carry for years to come. It rears its ugly head in 5x21 with Lucy. (Where she shuts it down. Refuses to let him live in those fears and makes him confront them. Forces that communication he never had with Isabel. Or with anyone before her really. More proof why she’s his person ❤️) But that is MUCH further down the road . What this shows though is what an impact Isabel's words had on him even years later. It just laid dormant. Like an emotional time bomb.

Isabel is telling him it’s ok to be mad at her. That he’s supposed to be. This is the way it works. Except he can’t....Tim is having this internal battle. Fighting against his loyal nature about being mad. I relate to this so very much. I too am a deeply loyal person. When you’re as loyal as Tim is it’s so hard to see fault in those you love. Almost like you’re betraying them by doing so. He’s struggling so hard with the idea that she hurt him and it wasn’t all the drugs.

He’s so tired from this whole ordeal. Even though he should be angry all he wants is his wife back. That has to be the saddest part of this whole situation. It’s why he’s dismissing everything. He thinks if he does he will get his life with her back. He wants to erase the past year and a half. To just have it go back to the way it was before. As they near end the of their convo the tragic look in his eyes destroys me. He knows it’s over. Tim's hope for recovery/reconciliation is gone.

His body is defeated and he’s started to retreat emotionally. Tim tells her as his final piece, how everyone told him to give up on her. That she was lost. His reply breaks my heart. ‘What kind of husband would I be if I left you while you were lost?’ That deep love and loyalty coming into play strong. Killing me softly sir. Telling her she wasn't lost anymore, his role in her life was now over.

This portion what makes me the saddest. Tim being Tim is going to take the entire blame. If it’s going to lessen Isabel's pain/guilt he will burden himself with it. Take on the extra load emotionally. If him removing himself from her life makes her recovery better that’s what he will do. Because that’s Tim Bradford. He will always do what’s best for those he loves even if it destroys him. Makes him feel less than and second place to those people.

Absolutely kills me how he thinks he’s the problem. The reason she’ll never move on. When he’s the reason she’s even alive right now. But being the noble good man he is, Tim removes himself from the situation. Realizes there is nothing left to save. He’s the one who makes the call that it’s the end for them. That is growth for him that he can see this. Something Tim had been chasing for a year. Trying to get her to get clean and then back to the way they were. A dream now gone.

He came into his visit so hopeful and happy. Everything about him Is crushed when he leaves her side. That hug is the most depressing hug. Because it’s goodbye. They both know it. It’s goodbye to their marriage, to who they were before this and to what Tim had hoped would happen when he came to visit her. Sadly life can't be tied up neatly with a bow. There is an unrecoverable loss to this and its harsh reality for them both. More so for Tim IMO.

They both crush this scene. The way she fidgets before he leaves. Then makes sure to tell him thank you. They’re both on the verge of tears. Tim asks her what she’s thanking him for? Her reply is ‘Never giving up on me.’ He can't even muster up a small smile after. That is a sad and broken man that walks away from Isabel. I am crushed. Someday you’ll be loved properly Tim I promise. ❤️

Tim is so damn defeated in every way when we see him back at the station. Nell catches him and can see he isn’t ok. He tries to brush it off and go bury himself in paperwork. She takes him at his word and starts to leave. Then he does something he probably wouldn’t have done in his pre-Lucy days. He asks Nell if he could have a friend tonight. This is such a huge step towards who he becomes later. Finally just asking for some comfort and help.

Instead of being alone drowning in sadness and probably some self loathing, he chose to ask for help from someone he knew he could trust. To have someone to be there for him. I’m so proud of Tim. The growth he’s had already in this season been immense. His character arc along with Lucy’s is just so damn satisfying to watch. It’s slow but steady af. Love this man.

~~~~~

Side Notes- Non Chenford/Tim. Not really much TBH this ep all consuming for Tim for me. Got some good Wopez in the ep their first break and all before getting back together.

Jackson and the Nurse super cute to watch. His first romance of the series.

Thank you all for reading per usual. Your likes/comments (which i LOVE) and reblogs mean the world to me. Shall see you all in 1x13!

[afaims100arrowversefavs]

My 250 Favorite Arrowverse Episodes: Part 6: 125-101

Taken from „Arrow“, „The Flash“, „Supergirl“, „Legends of Tomorrow“, „Constantine“, „Black Lightning“, „Batwoman“, „Stargirl“ and Season 1-3 of „Superman & Lois“:

In honor of Seaosn 4 of "Superman & Lois" being the end of the Arrrowverse, the end of DCTV like we knew it and the end of The CW like we knew it, a final time before the final season all Seasons ends of all the 250 best Arrowverse Episodes (according to me):

I did include "Stargirl" this time, since it has as much connection as "Superman & Lois" to the rest of the Arrowverse, but One Hit Shows like "Gotham Knights" and "Naomi" (anyone still remember this one?) are not on this list, neither are Arrowverse unrelated DC shows:

125 .Reign (Supergirl 3x9)

The One in which: Reign beats Kara up at Christmas.

51, Written by: Paula Yoo, Caitlin Parrish, Directed by: Glen Winter

124. Turncoat (Legends of Tomorrow 2x11)

The One in which: Rip is brainwashed and terrorised Jax and Sara.

27, Written by: Grainne Godfree, Matthew Maala, Directed by: Alice Troughton

123. Running to Standstill (The Flash 2x9)

The One in which: The Trickster teams up with Weather Wizard.

32, Written by: Andrew Kreisberg, Directed by: Kevin Tancharoen

122. The Book of Apokalypse: Chapter 2: The Omega (Black Lightning 2x16)

The One in which: Jace tries to shoot Black Lightning and Jen comes into her own.

29, Written by: Charles D. Holland, Directed by: Salim Akil

121. Lawanda: The Book of Burial (Black Lighting 1x3)

The One in which: Anissa searches for herself and Kahlil gets shoot.

3, Written by: Jan Nash, Directed by: Mark Tonderai

120. The Book of Markovia: Chapter 4 (Black Lightning 3x13)

The One in which: Black Lightning and his team infiltrate Markovia.

42, Written by: Charles D. Holland, Asheleigh O. Conley, Directed by: Salim Akil

119. Dead to the Rights (Arrow 1x16)

The One in which: Tommy finds out the truth.

16, Written by:Geoff Johns, Directed by: Glen Winter

118. Star City 2046 (Legends of Tomorrow 1x6)

The One in which: Old Man Oliver meets the Legends.

6, Written by: Marc Guggenheim, Ray Utarnachitt, Directed by: Steve Shill

117. It’s a Super Life (Supergirl 5x13)

The One in which: Kara sees „What if?“-Episodes of her own life.

100, Written by: Robert Rovner, Jessica Queller, Derek Simon, Nicki Holcomb, Directed by: Jesse Warn

116. Truth and Consequences (Superman & Lois 2x11)

The One in which: Jon-El makes trouble.

26, Written by: Andrew N. Wong, Directed by: David Ramsey

115. Lowest Common Demoninator (Legends of Tomorrow 7x9)

The One in which: The Legends are stuck in an Reality-Show.

106, Written by: James Eagan, Emily Cheever, Directed by: Eric Dean Seaton

114. Broken Trust (Superman & Lois 1x6)

The One in which: Lois gains a new partner and Tag Harris is a new man.

6, Written by: Katie Aldrin, Directed by: Sudz Sutherland

113. Take your Choice (Batwoman 1x12)

The One in which: There can only be one.

8, Written by: Ebony Gilbert, Directed by: Tara Miele

112. An Un-Birthday Present (Batwoman 1x11)

The One in which: Kate gets her wish, but other than she expected.

11, Written by: Chad Fiveash, James Stoteraux, Directed by: Mairzee Almas

111. Deathstroke Returns/Promise Kept (Arrow 6x5-6)

The Ones in which: Slade asks Oliver for help concerning his son.

120/121, Written by: Ben Sokolowski, Spiro Skentos, Oscar Balderrama, Rebecca Belotto, Directed by:  Joel Novoa,  Antonio Negret

110. The Magnificent Eight (Legends of Tomorrow 1x11)

The One in which: The Legends meet Jonah Hex.

11, Written by: Marc Guggenheim, Greg Berlanti, Directed by: Thor Freudenthal

109. Back from the Future 1-2 (Supergirl 5x11-12)

The Ones in which: Winn is back, more than once.

98-99, Written by: Dana Horgan, Katie Rose Rogers; Rob Wright, J. Holtman, Directed by: David Harewood, Alexis Ostrander

108. Girls Night Out (The Flash 4x5)

The One in which: Iris‘ bachelorette party goes south.

74, Written by: Lauren Certo, Kristen Kim, Directed by: Laura Belsey

107. The Ex-Factor (Legends of Tomorrow 6x3)

The One in which: Zari fights for the throne.

85, Written by: Grainne Godfree, Tyron B. Carter, Directed by: David Geddes

106. A Girl Named Sue (The Flash 6x12)

The One in which: We meet Sue Dearborn.

126, Written by: Thomas Pound, Lauren Certo, Directed by: Chris Peppe

105. Impulsive Exessive Disorder (The Flash 8x6)

The One in which: Nora and Bart stumble in the Pilot.

157, Written by: Thomas Pound, Directed by: David McWhirter

104. The Satanist’s Apprentice (Legends of Tomorrow 6x5)

The One in which: Astras goes Disney Princess.

87, Written by: Keto Shimizu, Ray Utarnachitt, Directed by: Caity Lotz

103. Cause and XS (The Flash 5x14)

The One in which: Nora is stuck in a time loop.

106, Written By: Todd Helbing, Jeff Hersh, Directed By: Rachel Talalay

102. Cause and Effect (The Flash 3x21)

The One in which: Barry can’t remember anything.

67, Written by: Judalina Neira, Lauren Certo, Directed by: David McWhirter

101. Armageddon Part 4 (The Flash 8x4)

The One in which: Barry lives a nightmare.

155, Written by: Lauren Barnett, Directed by: Chad Lowe

[mokkkki]

Sleeping With The Enemy - Act 1 Premise & Chapter Titles

Premise

The Black family is known for controlling Greyscar Co, the biggest media and entertainment conglomerate in the American wizarding world; for years, their title has been unchallenged and their influence has been extensive, shaping the collective consciousness of witches and wizards nationally. But with their patriarch's impending retirement and a formidable rival on the horizon, the family's grip on power weakens- then threatens to slip away entirely.

Chapter Titles

1x01, "Breakfast in Tiffany"

1x02, "The Siege of Mytilene"

1x03, "Trojans"

1x04, "Fashion Killa"

1x05, "The First Triumvirate"

1x06, "Cocaine"

1x07, "Satisfaction Brought It Back"

1x08, "Dynasty"

1x09, "Caesar"

1x10, "I Am Landed"

1x11, "A Foul-Mouthed, Sociopathic F**"

1x12, "Trick ± Treat"

1x13, "Mostly A Bottle Episode"

1x14, "Diamonds I"

1x15, "Diamonds II"

1x16 (Season Finale), "Alea Iacta Est"

read it here!

[shrinkthisviolet]

🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹

Iris, unfortunately, didn’t intend to make it easy for him—after figuring out the source of his good mood that day (getting to see his dad face-to-face with no glass in between), she started in on her own questioning. “So. Morgan’s been down in the dumps lately, and it’s not hard to guess that it’s because of you. So what’s up? What did you do this time?”

Barry groaned. “Iris, please drop it.”

~Barry POV fic

In the previous fic, between 1x11 and 1x12 (chapter 7), Iris found out Morgan was Sentry. She also promised to try to smooth things over with Barry (despite Morgan’s insistence that she stay out of it). Here, we get to see that!

send me a “🌹” and I’ll post a sentence of a WIP I’m writing!

[devonsrugbyexgirlfriend]

Jess Watches // Wed 25 Oct // Day 36 Synopses & Favourite Scenes

Lupin (avec maman) 3x05 Chapter 5

Increasingly suspicious, Claire launches an investigation of her own. Guédira gets the surprise - and opportunity - of a literature lover's lifetime.

Guédira was living his best detective life helping Assane. Did he really not backup the confession video? It was cute that Assane played matchmaker though lol. And Claire was very clever to trick Ben like that. I hope he safely gets out.

Derry Girls (rewatching with mum) 1x05 Episode 5

The Quinn family rush to get out of Derry before the Orange Parades start, but Aunt Sarah's tarot cards predict a disaster for this trip and, for once, she might be right.

James not wanting responsibility for the tent but not getting the blame when it's taken, as it was obviously Gerry's fault,. Jesus. Jim's second-best tent. How am I gonna tell him?

Business Proposal (with friend) Ep 2

Tae Moo lies about having a girlfriend to stop the endless barrage of blind dates, with the perfect person in mind to play the part.

This is so silly and fun. I love it so much already. The sandal hitting him in slow motion, the stunned disbelief on his face, the chase after her lmaooo

Van Helsing 1x12 He's Coming

Sam hunts for Vannesa and Mohammad. A confrontation occurs Julius and Dmitri. The resistance plans a last counterattack.

Me at the beginning thinking it was dumb of Mohamad to leave the marked map out for Sam to see. Me at the end disbelieving he betrayed Vanessa because of Dan Scott.

Our Flag Means Death 2x07 Man on Fire

As Blackbeard reevaluates his life, Stede revels in his newfound infamy. With some help from Jim, Oluwande reunites with a hesitant Zheng.

The Swede & Spanish Jackie and Zheng & Auntie all returning for an explosive episode. It was so sweet of Jim to want Olu to be happy, and even want to join Zheng so they aren't separated from their bestie-with-benefits (they fucked).

[makaientjluvdaprince]

I just watched Freakazoid! 1x12 "Lawn Gnomes Chapter IV: Fun in the Sun"

[zepskies]

Ooh I'm glad I could surprise you!! 😘

And I'm also glad you thought the time jump worked! I wanted to get the plot of 1x12 in without having to write out the whole episode lol.

I knew Charlie was going to get dragged into something bad and it seems like it's gotten even worse based on that ending (I could blame you for that tease but as a fellow writer I love the cliffhanger choice 😂).

Ahhh yep, damn it, Charlie loll. It's def going to get worse before it gets better. And LOL yeah, sorry about that. I love me a good cliffhanger! 🤣🤣

(And there may be more "cliffs" in store.)

I got to say, I really like how you've brought in all of the Shaw siblings for this effort. Colter would be the obvious call but there's something sweet about how she went to Russell first even though Colter might be better at this sort of thing.

Aw thank you, my friend!! That's exactly what I was going for when she called Russell first. 💕

Also I really love this family moment. You really nailed Colter to me and how this is his version of being really happy to have his brother and sister back.

I really tried my best to get Colter's stoic, taciturn nature right, even in this family moment lol. Like you said, this is his version of actually being very happy.

I said it last part too but I'm really liking how Russell was down for having the reader join them at the museum, like when she punched the guy at the bar before, he knows she's tough enough to handle coming along and hearing maybe some not so great things about her brother.

Ahh yep, he's game to let her come to the museum, especially since she used to work there herself. But he does draw the line when it comes to pursuing Eddie.

Colter's teasing of Russell and that moment with giving back the knife were really nice too, a very subtle moment of healing that bond a bit more between the boys. 🥰

Aww I'm so glad you thought so!! I thought they needed that broment with the pocketknife, also putting a pin on the 1x12 events. 💜

And I really liked the questioning of the guard between the boys and the reader. Everybody felt in character, especially with making sure the reader left when the danger started to elevate since the brothers know what happened last time with Doug.

Yeah that sequence took some tweaking, but I'm glad you liked how it came out! I'm trying my best to keep the bros in character while balancing the reader in all of this.

Aaaaand why do I sense Russell losing his shit when he realizes what happened to the reader? Ugh, boy never catches a break with the people he cares about. 😭

Oh God yeah. 😭😭 I debated putting part of his reaction as the teaser, but then I thought it would be better to let you guys find that out when Part 3 comes out. 😜 And he really doesn't lol. Not unlike someone else we know...

Oh yeah and the way he answered the phone sweetheart to her when she first called? And she was completely fine with it? Yeah, y'all need to talk through some feelings when this whole situation is resolved please and thank you.

He's the one "sweethearting man" she'll allow. 💓 Oh and believe me they will be having some "words" eventually lol. 😂

Thank you so much for your lovely review on this chapter!! Reading them put a huge smile on my face. Can't wait to bring you Part 3 soon!!

Every Second Counts - Part 2

Pairing: Russell Shaw x F. Reader

Summary: One date with your best friend’s brother leaves you wanting more, even though his questionable job and vagabond lifestyle make you want to guard your heart. When your brother falls into trouble, however, Russell is the one you trust to help you find him. 

AN: I decided to put this chapter out a bit early due to some Father's Day stuff tomorrow. I was blown away by the response from you guys on Part 1!! Thank you so much. 🥰 I had some trepidation writing a new character, but I'm so glad you guys seem to enjoy where this little series is going so far. It makes me even more excited to bring you the next chapter of ESC! 💜

Song Inspo: “Too Late” by The Paper Kites

Word Count: 5.3K

Tags/Warnings: Shaw family feels, a bit of mystery, tinge of fluff and mutual pining, and a twist…

💜 Series Masterlist

Part 2: “Family Reunion”

The next day after he left, you finally managed to get Charlie on the phone. He implored you not to try and find him.

He claimed he was staying with a friend for now, and was picking up some odd jobs through a connection at the museum—another security guard who knew how to get extra work. 

“What kind of extra work?” you asked. You sunk back into the couch in your living room and held a hand to your aching head. You had already lost sleep over this, worrying about where he was and what the hell he was doing.

“It’s better that you don’t know,” Charlie said.

He really knew how to frustrate you to the nth degree.

“Charlie, just come home. Please,” you said. Tears burned in your eyes, choking your words. “I’m sorry for what I said, okay? We’ll figure this out together, I promise.”

You heard him sigh.

“You had a right to be mad,” he said. “I’m the big brother, remember? But I’m…I’m a fucking mess. You shouldn’t have to take care of me.”

“We take care of each other, and you know that,” you said sharply, wiping at your eyes in frustration.

“Listen, I’ll come home when I can, okay? Be good.”

“Charlie! Ch—” The call ended, and you nearly tossed your phone in aggravation.

“That stubborn fucking idiot,” you muttered.

Four months later, your worry was eating you alive.

Charlie refused to come home or tell you where he was staying. The only time you got to see him was when you visited him on his night shift at the museum. You tried to talk him into coming home, but your brother remained stubborn.

“You get that from Dad,” you’d told him once, while watching him eat some leftover meatloaf you’d made for him. The two of you stood outside the museum on his break.

Charlie had smirked at you. “Yeah, well, you share the disease.”

You’d rolled your eyes at that.

But just when you thought you were starting to get through to him, now, he’d stopped answering your calls. For that matter, the museum hadn’t even seen or heard from him in a week or so.

So here you sat, in the living room of Dory’s apartment, crying into a jar of Nutella that you’d long ago stopped spreading over the strawberries she’d laid out. You had a chocolate-covered butterknife in one hand and a used Kleenex in the other.

Dory was sat next to you on the couch, rubbing your back with sympathy and concern in her own eyes.

“You should call the police,” she advised.

You’d thought of that, but if Charlie was doing something he wasn’t supposed to, then depending on what it was, you didn’t want necessarily want him locked up in a cell. He wasn’t a bad person, he was just…lost. You wanted him to get help.

You set down the butterknife beside the jar and turned to her, after drying your eyes the best you could.

“Do you think your brother would be willing to come back to Wyoming?” you said. After a beat of hesitation, you specified:

“Colter, the tracker.”

You hadn’t had a chance to meet him when he dropped in a couple of months ago, but she’d told you about his brief visit to find a graduate student who had been kidnapped, and nearly killed by a professor in the Sciences department for uncovering a flaw in the man’s research. That flaw would have costed him his entire grant, and possibly his career and reputation. 

The terrible incident had caused an uproar on campus. Students were released from their classes for an entire day after the professor was arrested. 

Now, Dory considered your question with a thoughtful nod. “I’ll call him.”

You were grateful, but your face became pained as something occurred to you. You held up a hand.

“Wait, I just realized I can’t pay him,” you said. You didn’t have more than a thousand dollars in your savings account, and that was for emergencies. Like the time Charlie nearly burned the house down after a lighting mishap with his bong.

“Oh, sweetie, don’t worry about that,” Dory said. She laid a comforting hand on your arm. “He’d do this as a favor to me.”

“I don’t know,” you replied, your brows furrowing. “That’s a pretty big favor.”

She’d told you what some of Colter’s fees could run up to, but she tried to quell your reservations and promised to call him regardless.

However, the more you thought about it, you already had a phone number in your cell…for the one person who would understand the part of your brother that you might never be able to. 

After you left Dory’s apartment, you debated the idea in your head for the entire drive home. 

And when you got to the house, you picked up your cell, and you called him. Your nerves had you pacing back and forth across the living room as it rang. 

“Hey, sweetheart.”

You couldn’t help smiling just at the sound of his voice, smooth and pleased, and a hint surprised.

“Hey,” you replied, biting your lip. “How are you?”

“I’m good. You’ve got good timing too. I just came off a job,” he said.

“Oh really? Where are you?”

“Well, I’m states-side now. Just got back from South America.”

“Oh, wow,” you said, blinking incredulously.

What the hell was he doing there? you had to wonder. Maybe he was protecting some Latin American emissary. Or maybe, he was doing things you didn’t want to think about. Your brother had filled you in a bit about civilian contract jobs in recent weeks, as he’d considered going after those himself.

“They can pay very well, from what I hear,” Charlie had said. “The problem with that is, it kind of defeats the purpose of leaving the military.”

Despite that mildly troubling thought, you tried to focus on the fact that you had this man on the phone at all.

A smile formed across your lips. “Did you get yourself a nice tan?”

“Eh, not really. Was more of a night job,” he said. “But uh…how are you doing? Not gonna lie, I’m surprised to hear from you.”

“Yeah, I’m…I’m not all that good, if I’m honest,” you said.

“What’s wrong?” he asked. You heard the concern in his voice. You steeled yourself before you answered.

“Russell, I’m sorry, but I need to ask you for a big favor.”

“Hmm, this sounds serious,” he said.

“Yeah, it is,” you agreed. When you next took a breath, it came out unsteady. “My brother’s missing.”

It was a bright Saturday morning when you welcomed Russell Shaw into your house. He looked around, finding family pictures, bookshelves, paintings, candles, all things that began to shade in who you were in the comfort of your home.

“It’s nice,” he said. “It’s uh, homey.”

You smiled and closed the door behind him.

“Well, it’s the house we grew up in,” you replied.

You and Charlie had of course inherited it after your parents’ passing. Their life insurance policies had helped pay off the three-bedroom house while you two were still in school. Your grandparents helped a lot back then too, and had even moved in for a time. Now they each had plots beside your parents at Grandview Cemetery.

“You want some coffee? I know you had a long drive,” you asked.

“Sure,” Russell agreed. He followed you to the kitchen, where you put on the coffee pot. You made a discreet glance at him. He looked virtually the same, with that familiar green jacket, jeans, boots, and a Jimi Hendrix shirt. You'd had a feeling he was a classic rock guy.

“Look, not that I wasn’t glad to get your call,” Russell said, “but you do know that I’m not the tracker in the family, right?”

“Dory did offer to call Colter, but I can’t afford to pay him,” you said.

“I could help with that,” said Russell. You raised up a hand to stop him there.

“I don’t want that kind of help from you,” you said firmly. “I didn’t call you for money, Russell. I called you because you’ll probably understand where Charlie’s head’s at. Better than me, anyway.”

He hesitated, but nodded in understanding. When the coffeemaker dinged, finished percolating, you turned to make him a mug with cream and sugar, as per his request.

While he waited for the coffee to cool, he admired you for a moment. Even in a plain V-neck shirt and a pair of jeans, your hair swung up in a ponytail, you were still a sight. (Your lipstick did match your shirt though. That made him smile.)

And Russell could admit, it was good to see you again.

“Me and Colter reconnected recently. Did Dory tell you?” he said.

Your brows raised high in surprise. “Oh yeah?”

The two of you found your way back to the living room with your mugs.

“Yeah. We talked for the first time in…shit, over twenty years,” Russell laughed, raking a hand through his hair.

Not only had he been able to say his piece to Colter about their…family issues, they’d also solved a case of their own, with Colter agreeing to help him find his friend Doug, who worked for the same black ops contract agency as Russell. The Horizon Group.

The aftermath of that still left Russell with a bitter taste in his mouth when he thought of how Horizon would’ve left Doug to rot, if it hadn’t been for him and Colter pressing their luck and digging deeper into who’d taken his friend.

That whole mess had also made Russell begin to wonder if maybe he needed a new line of work after all. But, because the money was just that good, he’d ended up on a new job by the end of the month.

Your voice soon broke him from his thoughts.

“I’m glad to hear that,” you said. You reached over and touched his arm, with warmth in your eyes. 

Russell gave you a smile. The closeness between you brought up memories of that dusty bar, and the taste of lime and tequila on your soft, supple lips. But you subtly cleared your throat and took your hand back. He hid a twinge of disappointment.

“So what’s going on with your brother?” Russell asked.

Get back on track, he reminded himself.

You sighed. “Damn Charlie.”

Over coffee, you explained that Charlie took off a few months ago, the night you got back from the bar. You had seen him only briefly, whenever you were able to catch him at the museum after work. He’d been keeping in touch with you on a weekly basis, but now, he hadn’t called in almost two weeks. You couldn’t get ahold of him on any of the numbers you had. They all seemed to be burner phones. Plus, he’d been let go from his job at the museum after not showing up for the past week. 

“What’s he into, extracurricular-wise?” Russell asked.

“I don’t know. He wouldn’t tell me,” you said in frustration. Tears prickled at your eyes, and your lower lip trembled. “He said it was safer that way.”

Russell laid a supportive hand over yours, earning your watery gaze.

“And you haven’t gone to the police?” he asked.

“I think he’s gotten into something…dangerous. I don’t want to get him in more trouble than he might be already,” you said. “I just want him to get help for his problems. Physically and mentally.”

Russell nodded. He understood that you wanted to protect your brother. Sometimes though, getting into “trouble” was the rock bottom someone needed in order to face their problems.

“Does he have friends?” he asked. “Some kinda crowd he hangs around with?”

“Not anymore. I think he’s lost touch with his Air Force buddies,” you said, though you tried to think. Your brows furrowed as something occurred to you. “He knew someone at work, at the museum. Another security guard on his same shift. After they cut his hours down to part-time, Charlie said the guy knew how to get extra work.”

“Okay, that’s definitely where we start,” said Russell. “Let me just give Dory a call. If I don’t let her know I’m in town, I don’t even wanna know the consequences.”

You laughed through your tears and tried to brush them away. 

“Yeah, do that. I wouldn’t want to get you in trouble.”

Russell took one look at you, and he tightened his hold on your hand.

“Hey,” he said.

You glanced up at him, as tears clung to your lashes. His heart couldn’t help but clench for you. He really didn’t like to see you like this.

“We’re gonna find him. You’ve got my word,” he said. 

You were desperate to believe him. So you nodded, sniffling as you tried and failed to keep yourself together. You were scared, for the first time in a long time. 

“All right, come ‘ere,” Russell said. When he guided you into his arms, you went willingly. You pressed your face into his chest to hide your weeping. His hold was warm and strong enough to make you feel secure. Just for this moment, you didn’t have to pretend you had everything handled.

“He’s the only family I have,” you reminded him. He nodded.

“I hear ya. We’ll get him home,” he said. “And I am going to call Colter. Don’t worry about the rest. I’ll square it up with him.”

“Russell—” you protested, but he just squeezed you playfully. 

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll pull big brother rank. He’s got no choice,” he joked. 

You shook your head, but you allowed him to comfort you for a bit longer. Because all too soon, you’d have to steel yourself again. You’d have to be the version of yourself that you always had to be, ever since you were fourteen years old.

You invited Dory over to your house, where the three of you were soon joined by the last of the Shaw siblings: the one you had yet to meet.

Colter made it in time for dinner that afternoon. The tall blonde took up your doorway with his broad shoulders and offered you a polite smile, along with his hand. 

“Hi, I’m Colter,” he said. 

You mentally tripped up a bit as you shook his hand and gave him your name. Did all the Shaw siblings have to be so damn attractive?

“Uh, yes, please come in.” You ushered him into your home and led him into the living room, where Russell stood from the couch. 

“Ahh, there he is,” Russell grinned, slapping his younger brother on the shoulder. 

“Here you are,” Colter gestured at him. “Where the hell did you take off to after last time?”

“Ah, you know. Argentina was fun.”

“I’m sure it was.”

You paused in the doorway, just watching the brothers in mystification. Dory shot you a questioning look as she came over from the kitchen. You met her with raised brows. 

“What?” Dory asked. A smile played on her lips.

“Do all of you have to be so unbelievably pretty?” you whispered over to her. Dory smirked and bumped your shoulder, nodding at Colter. 

“What, you wanna make out with him too?” she teased. 

Your mouth dropped open in disbelief. Dory just laughed and moved on to say hello to the other blonde. She pulled him down into a hug, and he reciprocated warmly.  

Russell then laid a hand on Colter’s shoulder, as well as Dory’s. He wore a big, proud grin.

“Hey. Look at us, huh?” he said. 

Dory sniffed as tears welled up in her eyes, looking up at both of her brothers. Colter wore a more reserved smile, but he did wrap an arm around his sister and thump his older brother on the back.

You smiled. You were lingering by the kitchen doorway. If nothing else, you were glad that this whole mess had been able to bring Dory back together with her family. 

You decided to give them a moment, and you wandered back into the kitchen. There you took a beat for yourself, mainly to breathe.  

When you again thought of Charlie, you had to wonder just what the hell he’d gotten himself into.

Later, the four of you sat in the living room so you could explain everything you knew so far to Colter. He took all the information in with a pensive expression that didn’t reveal much to you. 

“So you said he was struggling?” he said. 

“Yes, after he got out of the military,” you confessed. “He had a hard time figuring himself out. I got him the job at the museum, but I don’t think it was enough for him.”

“Why is that?” Colter asked. He saw that you were reluctant to explain. “I need to know the full picture of who Charlie is if I’m going to be able to figure out his probable moves.”

You sighed. “Well, he was seeing a VA psychiatrist for a while. They wanted to put him on antidepressants, but he stopped going. He…started self-medicating instead.”

That part was hard to admit, but it was the truth. You couldn’t pretend it wasn’t any longer. 

“What substances?” Colter asked. 

“Alcohol, mainly,” you replied. “At his worst, there were hard drugs, but I got him to tone it down just to weed every now and then.”

You bit at your thumbnail out of habit, but you forced yourself to stop, folding your hands in your lap. You didn’t see judgment in Colter’s eyes, just him taking in the information. You couldn’t help but glance at Dory, where you found her sympathy. She knew enough about what you’d been dealing with for the past few years. Russell seemed understanding as well. 

“Anything else I should know?” Colter asked. You shook your head. You felt bad about revealing Charlie’s business like this, but you knew it was the only way to help him. Still, you felt you had to defend him a little.

“Look, my brother has his problems, but he’s a good man,” you said. “He, um…he basically half raised me, after our parents died.”

Dory also knew this story. She rested a hand on your back, and you gave her what smile you could. 

“How old were you?” Russell asked. He earned your attention, and you met his sympathetic gaze.

“Fourteen,” you answered. “It was a car accident.”

He took that in, nodding slowly. “I’m sorry.”

The way he met your eyes when he said it, you believed him. You subtly cleared your throat and directed the conversation back.   

“So, I don’t have a lot of money. But I can give you something for your services,” you said to Colter. Both Russell and Dory met you with similar looks. 

“I’ve got it,” Dory says, before Russell had the chance. Colter waved her off though.

“In this case, it’s not necessary,” he said, focusing on you again. “So Charlie was working at the local museum?”

You breathed a note of relief at his generosity. Dory, Russell, and now Colter…they were all good people in their own way. You felt emotion rise in your throat.

“Yes, it’s about ten minutes away,” you managed to reply. “It’s closed now, but his coworker could be on shift. They always have security in place.”

You grabbed your purse to go with them when Colter and Russell stood, but the former raised a placating hand. 

“It’s best if you stayed here,” Colter said.

Your brows rose. “I don’t think so.”

Colter’s mouth parted, and he blinked, like he hadn’t expected you to push back quite like that; calm and matter of fact.

“Ah, well, it’s really for your safety—”

“I’m not going to sit and wait,” you said. “That’s all I’ve been doing for months. I may not be an expert tracker, or have been in the army, but I do know my brother. And we are going to find him.”

Behind you, Dory was giving Colter a warning shake of her head. She knew just how stubborn you could be. Meanwhile, Russell came up on your other side with a smile.

“What’s the harm in her coming along to the museum?” he said, sliding his brother a teasing look. “Unless the T. rex wakes up all the mummies, Ben Stiller style.”

You wanted to point out that that wasn’t exactly the plot of Night at the Museum, but you held it in with a smile. You gave Colter an expectant look.

He sighed at Russell’s antics, but he turned to you with a nod.

“Okay, let’s go,” he said. 

“I’ll head home then,” said Dory. “Call me if you need anything.” 

You gave her a hug after she gathered up her purse. 

“Thank you,” you whispered.

“It’s going to be okay,” she said, rubbing your back. “Colter’s the best.” 

“All right, fine. And what am I? Chopped liver?” Russell remarked, gesturing wide with his hands. You all filtered out of your house, and you locked the door behind you.  

“Oh, you’re special, all right,” Dory quipped back, but she gave her eldest brother a warm hug as well, then patted Colter on the arm before she left.

Russell shot Colter a playful smirk. “I got the hug.”

Colter rolled his eyes and pointed over to his big pickup truck. 

“Just get in the car, please.”

You had to smile at all their sibling teasing. It reminded you of how you and Charlie used to cut up, when things were good. On your way down the driveway, you hesitated by the Chevy Chevelle parked next to your own car. She was still black and sleek and beautiful.

You happened to glance up, and there was Russell, getting into his brother’s pickup. He winked at you across the driveway. You turned your face to hide your smile (and your blush) as you climbed into your car.

Colter noted the exchange when he buckled up into the driver’s seat. He watched Russell do the same on the passenger side, all while wearing a certain smile on his face. When he noticed how Colter was looking at him, his brows raised.

“What?” said Russell.

“What was that?” Colter asked.

“Nothing.”

“Yeah, right,” Colter chuckled. He began to pull the car out of the driveway after you in your car, so he could follow you. “What, do you two have a thing or something? Is that why she called you before me?”

Russell shrugged, but his smile was telling. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Mhmm. Convincing,” Colter said, but his lips tugged upward as well. His good humor diminished though, when he considered the last time he saw his brother. “How’s the arm?”

Russell gave a thumbs up with his left arm—the one that previously had a bullet run through it. It was still healing, even now.

“It’s good,” he said.

“Did you see a doctor?”

“Sure did.”

Riiiight. Another thing Colter wasn’t sure was the truth, but he’d give Russell that one.

“And that unfinished business?” Colter asked.

Russell’s smile faded, but he nodded. “Finished.”

After a moment, Colter nodded as well. 

“Okay,” he said. 

Something occured to him then. He paused, and he reached into his pocket. He held up a small, closed pocketknife with a wooden handle, and he gave it back to Russell. It had the man's name carved on the side.

Russell's smile returned as he flipped the old keepsake through his fingers.

"Thanks for keeping it safe for me," he said.

Colter smiled back. "Thanks for trusting me with it."

Colter parked next to you at the museum. It was closed, but the security guard, Jimmy, did know your brother. 

“I haven’t seen Charlie since he quit last week,” Jimmy claimed.

“He quit?” you said. “They told me he just never came back.”

“Yeah, well, same thing,” he said.

The front doors of the museum opened, and out came Dr. Feinman, your former boss, and the Head Manager. You left Jimmy’s questioning up to Russell and Colter with a meaningful look, and you went to intercept Feinman.

“Hi, sir, how’re you doing?” you asked. Your name fell from his lips in surprise. 

“My dear, it’s good to see you, but why are you here after hours?” he asked, his British accent lilting.

“I’m trying to find Charlie. He’s been missing, well, officially for about a week,” you said. “I was actually surprised to see you here so late.”

The man cleared his throat. He smoothed a hand over his tie and suit jacket.

“Yes, well, we could’ve used Charlie’s help. We’ve had to double our security efforts,” he said. “We’re currently dealing with a sensitive issue, so the museum will be closed until it is resolved.”

“You’re doubling your security efforts… Was something stolen?” you asked. 

Feinman clearly didn’t want to tell you this, but you knew you’d hit the nail on the head by the look on his face.

“Please, keep that information to yourself,” he said. 

“What was stolen?” you asked in concern. 

“I’m afraid I cannot disclose that information. Not even for you, dear,” he said. “I do hope you find your brother though.”

“Thank you. I appreciate that, and as a matter of fact,” you began, but Feinman waved an apologetic hand.

“I’m sorry, I’m afraid I’m in a terrible rush just now. But call my office tomorrow and Brenda will help you with whatever you may need,” he said. “Good evening.”

“Wait, Dr. Feinman,” you tried, but he was already breezing past you and heading toward his Mercedes in the parking lot.

Meanwhile, Colter and Russell weren’t having much better luck with Jimmy. 

“Look, I really don’t know where Charlie is,” he said. “Haven’t seen or heard from him since he took off.”

“He said you connected him with someone who could give him some work on the sly,” Russell said, leveling a hand at the man’s chest. “Who did you connect him with, and what kind of work are we talking?”

Jimmy blew out a breath, like this was really inconveniencing his day. (Or night, at this point.)

“What, you’ve got somewhere to be?” Colter said. “You’re getting paid to stand right here, and we have no problem sharing your shift all night. You might as well just tell us what we want to know.”

Jimmy rubbed the back of his neck in annoyance.

“All right,” he snapped. “I hooked him up with this guy I knew through a mutual acquaintance, who just needed some muscle. I guess you could call it private security.”

“A mutual acquaintance?” Colter repeated. 

“What’re you, James Bond? Who did you connect him with?” Russell pressed.

Jimmy was reluctant to talk. You came back over to join them, and the security guard became even more tight-lipped.

“You guys should go. I don’t have to talk to you, and I’ve got a job to do,” he said.

When he tried to continue his patrol around the museum, you stepped deliberately in his way. You didn’t have the patience for this, and you would no longer be a doormat, letting the Goldsteins and the Feinmans of this world push past you.

“Look, Jimmy, if you don’t give us something we can go on to find my brother, you know where I’m going to go?” you asked. But you spoke before he could respond. “To the police. And your name is the only one I have to give them. Now, if you don’t want that to be you, then give me a different name.”

Jimmy looked down at you, and then over at your intimidating shadows, Russell and Colter. Jimmy sighed.

“Eddie,” he gave, finally.

Russell raised his hands, as if to say, Is that it?

“What, Eddie Vedder? Eddie who? Come on,” Russell said.

“Eddie Mendez,” Jimmy replied in a lowered voice. “I don’t know where he lives. I don’t have his number. And that 'mutual acquaintance' is doing some time in lockup. But Eddie hangs out at a bar called Howley’s.”

You and Russell shared a meaningful look at that. You turned back to Jimmy. 

“Okay. What was stolen here at the museum?” you said. “That’s why it’s been closed, right?” 

“I don’t know,” Jimmy said. “I wasn’t on shift, and Dr. Feinman keeps a tight lid on that kind of thing.”

“We’ll need to get into his office then,” Colter said. 

You blinked wider at Colter. Wait, was he really suggesting you guys break into the museum?

Jimmy pointed to the black device attached to the ceiling above them. 

“See the cameras?” he said. “That's not happening on my dime.”

Colter looked up, and he saw the cameras strategically installed across the front of the museum. 

“Then take us where the cameras don’t see,” he said.

You, Colter, and Russell were able to break into the museum via a storage unit door, thanks to Jimmy’s texted instructions. You couldn’t believe you were actually doing this, but it was for Charlie, you reminded yourself.

You remembered where to find Feinman’s office. You paid for a lot of your undergrad expenses, namely your books and tuition, by working full-time as an office assistant here, and the occasional tour guide. 

You led them to the room where the inventory records were kept. Colter gave you his gloves so you didn’t leave prints, and you were able to pinpoint what was labelled as missing from the latest shipment. 

“Oh great,” you muttered. 

“What was taken?” Colter asked.

“A collection of Native American weapons. Dated almost eight hundred years old,” you said, shaking your head. “The collection is valued at $1.5 million dollars.”

Russell and Colter shared a look. 

“That’s some big motive,” Russell said. 

“When did they go missing?” Colter asked. 

“Almost two weeks ago,” you said. Your brows furrowed the more you read, as you realized something. “Just a few days before Charlie left the museum…” 

The timing wasn’t lost on anyone. But if Charlie was a suspect, Feinman hadn’t let on to that at all. You checked the exact date the artifacts went missing again: a Tuesday night. Charlie didn’t typically work on Mondays or Tuesdays, you realized. And he’d left after the artifacts went missing. So maybe they hadn’t thought to question him yet. One small blessing.  

You sighed. With that information gathered, the three of you put back everything you uncovered and left the building the same way you came in. Jimmy was nowhere in sight, probably patrolling the other end of the museum on purpose.

When you all made it back to the parking lot, you turned to Colter and Russell.

“Okay, what’s next?” you asked. “Howley’s right? To find Eddie.”

“Actually, I think it’s best Russell and I take it from here,” Colter said. “We don’t know what kind of character Eddie Mendez is, but from how reluctant Jimmy was to tell us, it doesn’t sound good.”

You opened your mouth to argue, but Russell drew closer and touched your arm. You could see in his face that he agreed with his brother, even though he hadn’t said anything yet.

“Look, you’ve been a huge help,” he said. “But let us work on this, okay? We’ll call you when we find something.”

Still, your lips pursed. “Russell, he’s my brother.”

“I know. Punching out drunks is one thing, but this might be a little different,” he said, grasping your arms gently. “Will you give me some peace of mind, knowing you’re home safe?”

He brushed one of his thumbs along your skin. Already you had goosebumps. From the cold chill on the air, or from him, you weren’t sure. But that simple touch, along with his earnest, imploring gaze broke you down.

“All right. I get it. I’m not the Special Ops guy,” you said. “But call me afterward so I know how it went.”

“Okay, will do,” Russell agreed. He let you go so you could go to your car. You shot the brothers one last look before you climbed in and peeled out of the parking lot.

Russell expelled a sigh of relief. He got into the passenger side of his brother’s pickup while Colter started it up.

Thanks to the late hour, and how little traffic there was on the road, it didn’t take you long to get home.

You’d debated whether you should just go to Howley’s anyway, but you didn’t want to get in the way, or make Russell worry for that matter. You smiled, despite yourself.

His touch had tingled across your arms, and whenever he absently laid a hand on the small of your back, supportive or guiding.

Thinking about him just made your heart ache. Because after this was over, he’d be gone again—on a new mysterious job, perhaps on the other side of the world.

You’d been regretting how you left things with him at the bar for months, but now you were glad you hadn’t gone any further with him that night. Your heart was too easily ensnared, it seemed, and Russell didn’t seem to be a “strings attached” kind of guy.

When you parked in front of your house, you let out a tense breath. Russell and Colter would find Charlie. You believed in them. You just hoped your brother was all right, wherever he was.

You pulled your cell out of your purse to call Dory as you headed for the front door. You wanted to give her an update and let her know that you were back at home.

The call began to ring just as you slipped your key into the lock. Unfortunately, you never got a chance to open it.

A strong pair of arms wrapped around you from behind and yanked you back, and a firm hand over your mouth smothered your scream.

AN: 🫣 *Whispers* Sorryyy. But hey! What did you think of the reader's reunion with Russell, as well as the little Shaw Family Reunion? Plus, we got a bit of the reader working with Russell and Colter on the case.

Now, the real timer starts...

Next Time:

You were led into what sounded like a warehouse. You couldn’t know for sure with this musty bag over your head and your wrists bound together with zip ties, but you clenched your teeth and tried to stop sniffling. Your fear made your heart pump fast and loud in your ears.

Voices echoed around you, arguing, yelling about shipments. You were shoved hard to the ground, and you gasped, instinctively throwing your hands out when your knees hit the hard cement. 

“No…” 

That voice was all too familiar. 

Series Masterlist

Ko-Fi Me ☕

Russell Shaw Masterlist

Main Masterlist

Russell S. Tag List:

@kazsrm67 @letheatheodore @agothwithheavysetmakeup @jacklesbrainworms @foxyjwls007

@wincastifer @ades106 @iamsapphine @simpforbuckyb @roseblue373

@brianochka @branj19 @hazel-eye-coffee-shop-girl-blog @globetrotter28 @charmed-asylum

@waywardxwords @deanwinchestersgirl87 @this-is-me19 @rachiem4-blog @sweettimelady

@leigh70 @clinicallydepresso @xiphoidbones @skoveu @nyotamalfoy

@kmc1989 @jackles010378 @emily-winchester @waynes-multiverse @jessjad

@my-stories-vault @deans-spinster-witch @syrma-sensei @stellasfictionalworld @ultimatecin73

@jesllianaquilesrolonsworld @pieandmonsters @lhymer1995 @taehyungxjungkookistaekook @lovelystoriesaj

@nicksalchemy1 @spnwoman @onlyangel-444 @sexyvixen7 @illicithallways

@wolkenprinzessin007 @alwaystiredandconfused @carpenterswife @cheynovak @grilledcheeseandtomato

[nightmarebees]

Camila Mendes as Veronica Lodge

RIVERDALE S01E12 “Chapter Twelve: Anatomy of a Murder”

[highfunctioningflailgirl]

I was down with the flu for almost a week, and it threw a wrench in my writing. Picked it back up today, so here’s the status update.

300 words into an Athos whump one-shot for Febuwhump. I’ve missed putting my favorite Musketeer through hell. Sorry not sorry. ☺️

Nope, not planning on really doing Febuwhump. Work and RL will intensify as of next week, so no time. I will try to fill the occasional prompt for different fandoms, though. No promises

650 words into my 7th installment for my Spn Damage Control series. Remember Dean getting hit in the face with a rifle butt in 1x12 Scarecrow? Turns out he didn’t simply walk that off. At least not in my ficlet.

The next Damage Control chapter (for 1x10 Asylum) will go up tomorrow. Want to be tagged? Let me know!

Concussion counter: Sam - 2; Dean - 2 🤕

How’s everyone’s writing week been going? Are you doing Febuwhump? Is the muse with you?

[sunnydaleherald]

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Friday, July 5

Faith: You gotta give me something to do. There's no way I'm sleeping. Don't you need anyone dead? Or maimed? I can settle for maimed. Mayor: (chuckles) You little firecracker. Faith: My mom used to call me that when I was little. I was always running around. She falls silent. The Mayor observes her with a look of concern.

~~Graduation Day Part 1~~

[Drabbles & Short Fiction]

Nursemaid Cordelia by DanaNick82 (Cordelia, Angel, Doyle, T)

The Crappartment by DanaNick82 (Angel, Cordelia, G)

Тёмное, белое и розовое [translation into Русский by B_E_S] (Buffy/Angel, T)

What if? by DanaNick82 (Buffy/Angel, T)

How to lure the Xander by DanaNick82 (Buffy/Xander, T)

One moment to give him what he wanted by DanaNick82 (Cordelia/Jesse, T)

and multiple other BTVS stories posted by DanaNick82 (various)

[Chaptered Fiction]

Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Shadowed Suspicion Chapter 432 by madimpossibledreamer (Jojo's Bizarre Adventure xover, T)

Free to a Good Home - Ch. 1 by though_you_try (Buffy/Spike, R)

Wedding Belles - Ch. 1 by buffy_loves_spike (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

There Is a Season - Ch. 1 by Inevitablethief (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Night Carnival - Ch. 1 by tbd (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

Tale as Old as Time - Ch. 3 by honeygirl51885 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

The Degradation of Duality [Series Part 2] - Ch. 2 by Ragini (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

The Devil's Trill - Ch. 20 by Murray (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Stranger in her Body - Ch. 8 by Desicat (Buffy/Spike, Adult Only) COMPLETE!

Come Hell or High Water - Ch. 2 by Rea (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

Tale as Old as Time - Ch. 3 by honeygirl51885 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

To All We Guard - Ch. 18 by simmony (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

[Images, Audio & Video]

Artwork: Spander Fanart (2) by foundatlantis (Xander/Spike, NSFW)

Fanvid: bad quality spuffy silver cross edit i made at 2am last night ! by simulationgrac3 (Buffy/Spike, mildly NSFW)

Manip / Wallpaper: Halloween by revello-drive-1630 (Spike, Scoobies, worksafe)

Artwork: in which spike shares his cringe poetry by tubesock86 (Buffy/Spike, worksafe)

Artwork: Sketch I did forever ago of Buffy in her cheerleader outfit, she’s so cute by pocketsizedann (Buffy, worksafe)

Textpost: I don't know what to do with these. I just need them off my phone. by k0nstantly-tragic (Spike, Buffy, Willow, Faith, Angel, worksafe)

Gifset: The Slayer slays. The Watcher… watches? by onegirlinallthewrld (Wesley, Faith, Buffy, Giles, Kendra, worksafe)

Gifset: Buffy Waking In Her Worst Nightmare ↳ Nightmares (1.10) // Bargaining (6.1 & 6.2) by ladyverdance (Buffy, worksafe)

Gifset: Willow Rosenberg + Outfits (Season 6) by clarkgriffon (Willow, worksafe)

Gifset: Blonde... short... strong for a human... and massively rude! by andremichaux (Glory, worksafe)

Gifset: Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003) || 1x12 - Prophecy Girl, 7x20 - Touched, 3x07 - Revelations, 7x22 - Chosen... by truemoondust (Buffy, Willow, Spike, Faith, worksafe)

Gifset: i saw the tv glow + buffy the vampire slayer references by zabriskies (I Saw the TV Glow xover, worksafe)

[Reviews & Recaps]

[is there] any merit in watching buffy for the first time in the year 2024? [answered yes] by yellowocaballero

Book Review: Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Portal Through Time by georgelthomas

PODCAST: Buffy 2.8 The Dark Age by Once More: A Rewatch Podcast

[Recs & In Search Of]

ISO: hellsmouthhq seeks roleplay: i would kill for some more buffyverse muses🏻

ISO: blazinwolve seeks cute fuffy moments from the comic!!

ISO: Usernamelesses seeks list of Missing/Cut Scenes on Streaming Services [specifically HULU in USA]

ISO: defaaago seeks the name of the beautiful painting behind Giles?

ISO: mbfan4077 is Trying to remember fic [where Willow botched a spell]

[Fandom Discussions]

spike in who are you is so funny. by tootiredforaname

I think Buffy was being ridiculous with the whole “don’t kill Warren thing”. by theredpharaoah

[you know what’s happening with certain characters based on the colors they are wearing? - Spike] by spuffybot

[idea for Buffy x Riley fans on how to tag positive stuff] by riley-summers [also more in tags and replies]

i do find it interesting how the show starts to minimize the spike and dawn relationship... by greensaplinggrace

Obviously the primary reason the Scooby Gang don't think to exhume Buffy's body in Season 6's Bargaining... by coraniaid

OTPs you only BroTP?* Faith and Buffy. by annarowyn

[Asks answered] by annarowyn

What was the best season of BTVS? updated by multiple posters

How was soulless Spike different from Angelus updated by multiple posters

Riley Finn and Tim Duncan?! by Imonlyalittleweird

Angels curse... by Ulquiorra1312

What was the beginning of the fallout for Buffy and Riley? by foreseethefuture

Do you think Buffy would have been an even more acclaimed show if they had not done "Angel"? by speashasha

[Faith in Who Are You?] by Sarah_Reddit_Here

[that scene in Passions is] heart-wrenching and cruel. by Randy_Giles1880

Wesley's transformation from Buffy to Angel is [very] well written by AxelNoir

Why did they ignore Pike's character from the movie? by jdpm1991

If Buffy and Angel can't be together... [question by new viewer] by OriginalNo9300

The Girl in Question bothers me... Buffy couldn't date the Immortal? byjdpm1991

GAME: [every show has one] by Kindly-Accident8437

[Articles, Interviews, and Other News]

PUBLICATION: Variety article: Sarah Michelle Gellar Joins 'Dexter' Prequel Series as Dexter's Boss

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Join the editor team :)

[love-music-fashion-flawless]

Katy Keene 1.12:Chapter Twelve: Chain of Fools

[random-fandom-whump]

Riverdale S01E12

All the Jughead Whump, Part Three