NCIS Fic: Damage

[katekintail.livejournal.com]

Type of h/c: angst/emotional, rape/non-con, sexual abuse
Title: Damage
Author: Xanthe
Rating: NC-17
Fandom: NCIS
Pairing: Tony/various, Tony/Gibbs
Warnings: underage rape/non-con and sexual abuse... and an emotional recovery
Direct link to piece: http://xanthe.org/viewstory.php?sid=62&warning=2
Your thoughts: This is one of my favorite Xanthefics (though, to be honest, most of them are my favorite). It's a stand-alone novella-length story about Tony finally facing the demons of his past and trying to get through them. What works for me in this fic is how carefully it's constructed. It's not as simple as "I was raped, but now I'm in love!" Oh, no. It's slow and painfully realistic. And just when it seems it can't get worse, it does. Even so, Gibbs is there with strength and support. There are layers and cover-ups and all sorts of emotional discoveries. In fact, it works so well with Tony's character I had no trouble buying into it. I read it online (finished it on a train, actually). I loved it so much I bought it in zine form and I've read it again.