Wanna Get Ficced?

Title: Mr. Disher's Little Secret
Author: Perpetual Motion
Fandom: Monk
Rating: G
Pairing: None
Summary: Why *does* Disher say such random stuff?

( For julianlee, as an early birthday pressie. )

Anyone who's ever dropped by my website or read just about any of my fic has seen a reference to Julian Lee. She started out as my proofreader, then became a sounding board, and now there really is no word to describe her but fab. She's got an lj, julianlee, which does not have any fic yet, but she promises some will be up soon. We can only hope. Until then, I'm reccing one of her absolute best stories (and I'm not biased just because I talked her into it. I'm just down right biased.).

Title: Mr Monk Gets Some Closure
Author: Julian Lee
Webpage: The Thwarted Invasion
Fandom: Monk
Pairing: Monk/Disher
Summary: In which the crimes of men named Ashley have far-reaching consequences, Monk has issues with houseplants, and everyone has Disher's number.

Why is this a great fic?

It answers the big question: What would happen if Adrian solved Trudy's murder? And Julian answers it in a very true-to-the-series fic.

Unlike most of the "Monk" fic I've run across, it doesn't...what's a nice word for 'suck'? The characters are realistic, the dialogue is wonderful, and the look into Randy's head is classic. She even nails Karen, Stottlemeyer's wife, and a character we don't see onscreen often, and does it beautifully.

The case is *so* "Monk". The ending is so very classic and if "Monk" fic ever becomes a big thing, I hope that readers and writers when asked their favorite piece will say, "Oh, Dude, have you read Julian Lee's piece? It is *the* fic to read." Because, well, it is.

Adrian's responses and nervous twitches are so very true to him. Take the following for a great example:

Even with the department's snazziest equipment at their disposal, the search had already taken almost two hours and still wasn't complete. Disher felt every second that passed in his veins. Monk couldn't contain his nervous energy; he alternated between pacing and standing stock still - except for the constant tremor that ran through his entire body. He had already lined up everything on Disher's desk - stapler parallel to tape dispenser parallel to three-hole punch; pencil cup and coffee mug turned so that their handles faced in exactly the same direction. He'd leveled the coffee pots, of course (Sharona slipped over to them five minutes later and taped 'out of order' signs to both machines to prevent anyone pouring themselves a cup, which would've forced Monk to start all over again). Now he had a pair of scissors and was headed with an expression of grim determination toward the three scraggly potted plants on the squad room window sill.

One of the hardest things to write, I think, is just how much a part of his character Monk's OCD is, and it's handled with great ease by Julian.

Randy's love from afar is so sweet, and he doesn't try to kid himself when it comes to what a relationship with Adrian would mean. I think sometimes the show's writers play him dumber than he should be. Lieutenants are not stupid people. To be a lieutenant, you must be intelligent. Julian shows him in that light. I like that.

The ending is sweet without being sappy, and it's *wonderful*.

So, go read now: Mr. Monk Gets Some Closure