Title: Stay (4/4)
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Nothing that hasn't been in the story already.
Characters/pairings: Jon, "Stephen", Sam/Jason, Scarborough, Aasif
Disclaimer: All television shows, movies, books, and other copyrighted material referred to in this work, and the characters, settings, and events thereof, are the properties of their respective owners. As this work is an interpretation of the original material and not for-profit, it constitutes fair use. Reference to real persons, places, or events are made in a fictional context, and are not intended to be libelous, defamatory, or in any way factual.

Summary: Senateverse. Stephen comes home.

(See also the author's notes for research and commentary.)

( 'Look at this! Would I have let someone perpetuate this horror on my beautiful hair for anyone less than our soldiers?' )

Title: Stay (3/4)
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Gay stuff, more peril
Characters/pairings: Jon, "Stephen", Rob R., Sam/Jason, Scarborough, Aasif
Disclaimer: All television shows, movies, books, and other copyrighted material referred to in this work, and the characters, settings, and events thereof, are the properties of their respective owners. As this work is an interpretation of the original material and not for-profit, it constitutes fair use. Reference to real persons, places, or events are made in a fictional context, and are not intended to be libelous, defamatory, or in any way factual.

Summary: Senateverse. Morning Joe weighs in; Stephen makes a purchase; soldiers give nonanswers about DADT; Jason checks in from Tehran; Jon gives nonanswers about Stephen.

Note that this was written, and takes place, more than a week ago, before things fell apart in our!Iran. I would hold off on posting, but I don't know if there will ever be a "good time" to post it, so here it is. And please keep an eye on the news, if you aren't already.

(Yeah, I know, that may be a superfluous request to make of TDS fans. Still.)


( Okay, so it looked kind of like a muffler. But the local vendor he had bought it from assured him it was a gun. At least, that's what Stephen assumed the man had said. He just hoped Sweetness wouldn't be jealous. )

Title: Stay (2/4)
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Shocking haircuts, mortal peril
Characters/pairings: Jon, "Stephen", Rob R., Sam/Jason, Scarborough, Aasif
Disclaimer: All television shows, movies, books, and other copyrighted material referred to in this work, and the characters, settings, and events thereof, are the properties of their respective owners. As this work is an interpretation of the original material and not for-profit, it constitutes fair use. Reference to real persons, places, or events are made in a fictional context, and are not intended to be libelous, defamatory, or in any way factual.

Summary: Senateverse. While Jon follows along at home, Stephen embarks on a whirlwind tour of Iraq, complete with a haircut courtesy of Commanding General Rob Riggle.

Yes, I did put Senateverse!Rob in the Army instead of the Marines. Military readers, please don't kill me.


( 'You're not going to make me give up my exfoliating loofah, are you? Or my raspberry-scented hair gel?' )

Title: Stay (1/4)
Rating: PG
Warnings: Yelling, Googlebombs.
Characters/pairings: Jon, "Stephen", Rob R., Sam/Jason, Scarborough, Aasif
Disclaimer: All television shows, movies, books, and other copyrighted material referred to in this work, and the characters, settings, and events thereof, are the properties of their respective owners. As this work is an interpretation of the original material and not for-profit, it constitutes fair use. Reference to real persons, places, or events are made in a fictional context, and are not intended to be libelous, defamatory, or in any way factual.

Summary: Senateverse. The blogosphere loves how Jon carried himself in that hearing against CNBC. Stephen is less approving. But when Jon reacts by accusing him of not caring about anyone but himself, he'll have to take drastic measures to prove otherwise.

Carries on the Emmy Rossum song naming theme. (The lyrics don't match very well this time, but the title will keep coming up.)

( 'Have you really not Googled yourself in the past eight hours?' )

Title: The Gravitas Never Fails
Series: TDS/TCR
Characters/Pairings: Jon, "Stephen", BriWi
Rating: G
Disclaimer: See the index.

For sarcasticsra, who wanted "Jon and Stephen discover they have a mutual crush on Brian."

( 'Don't be ridiculous, Jon. This is not a slumber party.' )

Title: The Rainbow Agenda
Series: TDS/TCR, Death to Smoochy
Characters/Pairings: Jon, "Stephen", Sheldon
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: See the index.

For seagullsong, who wanted an AU where Jon and Stephen are on a popular children's show, preferably with ridiculous costumes. The crossover was inevitable. (Inspired by this Sesame Street clip.)

( 'Have you seen the lyrics?!' continued Stephen, while an intern zipped him into his bright orange eagle costume. )

Title: Campaign Strategy
Series: TDS/TCR
Characters/Pairings: Jon, "Stephen", shoutout to Rahm
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: See the index.

For zelkovaserrata, who wanted more of the Senateverse, and prompted "flirting lessons."

( 'Come on, Stephen, don't do this. You're endorsing my opponent. I know.' )

Title: Nice Red Uniforms
Series: TDS/TCR
Characters/Pairings: Jon, "Stephen"
Rating: G
Disclaimer: See the index.

For seagullsong, who prompted "NOBODY EXPECTS THE COLBERT INQUISITION!" (Depends on you having seen the sketch.)

( 'Angry, loud, unreasonable interrogation based on unflinchingly dogmatic beliefs is your whole schtick.' )

Title: Peachy Keen
Series: TDS/TCR
Characters/Pairings: Jon, "Stephen", cats
Rating: G
Disclaimer: See the index.

For anais_rhys, who wanted "tiny babies and/or furry animals." (I went with kittens.) Sequel to Anchor's Pet.

( 'I will take videos of the kittens being adorable, and use them to draw traffic to the Colbert Nation website. Once we have enough cute cat footage, we will crush YouTube, which will in turn destroy Google, which will then surrender its position as ruler of the world to the Nation.' )

Title: Truth Springs Eternal
Series: TDS/TCR; Ranma ½
Characters/Pairings: Jon, "Stephen", Tad
Rating: G
Disclaimer: See the index.

For biichan, who wanted "Stephen gets back from his vacation...at Juusenkyo."

( 'A...an eagle!' stammered Stephen. 'I fell into Spring of Drowned Very Fierce And Dangerous Bald Eagle.' )

Title: Score
Series: TDS/TCR
Characters/Pairings: Jon/"Stephen", family
Rating: G
Disclaimer: See the index.

For anais_rhys, who prompted "Jon takes Stephen to a baseball game."

( 'No shouting, no doping scandals, no minibar. What kind of boring game is this?' )

Title: Shock And Awe
Series: TDS/TCR
Characters/Pairings: Jon, "Stephen"
Rating: G
Disclaimer: See the index.

For punkishgrin, who wanted something involving Aaron Shock. Makes reference to this poll. (Senateverse, though it doesn't fit into the continuity at all. Oh well.)

( 'Why didn't you tell me earlier? I need to Twitter my constituents to vote for me, stat!' )

Title: Anchor's Pet
Series: TDS/TCR
Characters/Pairings: Jon, "Stephen", OCs
Rating: PG (one dead intern)
Disclaimer: See the index.

For stellar_dust, who prompted: "A kitten adopts the TDS studio. Stephen must, of course, do them one better." Prequel to Peachy Keen.

( Stephen stared wide-eyed at the little cat (calico, with a fluffy white front, white paws, and ears much too big for its head). )

Title: The Tour
Series: TDS/TCR
Characters/Pairings: Jon, "Stephen", OCs
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: See the index.

For canadian_plant, who wanted: "A story about the space under Stephen's desk! He's had two Starbucks, a gitmo-esque prison, Jews apparently building a pyramid, and 'his Asians'. There's definitey something fishy going on."

( 'It's like you've got the whole Bottle City of Kandor down here.' )

Title: Cutting It Fine
Series: TDS/TCR
Characters/Pairings: John-O, Jon, "Stephen"
Rating: PG (shameless teabagging puns)
Disclaimer: See the index.

For culf, who wanted "something about "Stephen" acquiring a replica samurai sword, just to spite John Oliver because they're illegal in the UK. (And because John claims to be of Samurai descent.)"

( The last time John had thought Stephen was doing him a favor, he had spent the day stuffed in a suitcase. )

Title: Bad Egg
Series: TDS/TCR
Characters/Pairings: Jon, "Stephen"
Rating: G
Disclaimer: See the index.

For kick_back_80s, who wanted "Stephen just wants to go on an easter egg hunt. Seriously. That's all he wants."

( 'You're oppressing me because I'm a white Christian male, aren't you?' )

Title: Bigger On The Underside
Series: TDS/TCR, Doctor Who
Characters/Pairings: Jon, "Stephen", Stephen's Jews, reference to Romana
Rating: G
Disclaimer: See the index.

For espreite, who wanted Jon as a Time Lord. Takes place shortly after this clip.

( 'It's not your desk, Stephen!' came the echoing reply. 'It's my TARDIS!' )

Title: Anger
Series: TDS/TCR
Rating: PG-13
( Two disclaimers, with love )

Summary: Another depressing ficlet. Jon's lucky he has a helpful friend like Stephen.

( Stephen can see the anger crackling beneath his skin, can see the fear behind his eyes as he begins to recognize that this thing will eat him alive if he doesn't stop it, and he has no idea how. )

Title: The Great Divide (1/3)
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Language, sexual harassment, epic skate-off
Characters/pairings: Jon/"Stephen" (preslash), references to ensemble, cameo by Rain (RAAAAIN!!!)
Disclaimer: All television shows, movies, books, and other copyrighted material referred to in this work, and the characters, settings, and events thereof, are the properties of their respective owners. As this work is an interpretation of the original material and not for-profit, it constitutes fair use. Reference to real persons, places, or events are made in a fictional context, and are not intended to be libelous, defamatory, or in any way factual.

Summary: Continuation of the Senateverse. Stephen Colbert (R-SC) has the worst record for bipartisanship in recent history. Jon Stewart (D-NY) did convince him to cross the aisle one time, but does that mean they'll be able to survive a three-week vacation together?

Title, again, is from an Emmy Rossum song [lyrics]. Rather than hire lots of OCs, Jon has borrowed his household staff from the Möders family.

( Reach across the great divide )

Title: Till It Be Morrow
Series: TDS/TCR
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Unspecified mental illness; unelaborated allusions to violence.
( Two disclaimers, with love )


Summary: A bit of angst. Stephen tries to piece his world back together.

(Title is of course snagged from the Bard.)

( Jon has visited him before; he is sure of that. His wife has visited too. He can't remember if he's seen his kids. He has taken a lot of pills; he can't remember what was in them. The nurses are nice. )