Shipper Manifesto: Christine Chapel/Leonard McCoy (Star Trek: Reboot)

Fandom: Star Trek (Reboot)
Pairing: Head Nurse Christine Chapel/ Dr. Leonard ‘Bones’ McCoy


Blurb: As was said in the previous manifesto for these two (written by the fabulous seren_ccd) the most amazing and coolest thing about this pairing is that it doesn’t really exist on screen, not even in The Original Series (TOS). Though she is mentioned in passing (‘Nurse Chapel!' as Bones like to bellow for her), we don’t actually see Chapel in the reboot.

But this fandom, being the wonderful thing that it is, has carved Christine Chapel into this kick-ass, smart-as-a-whip, talented, brilliant, competent, sassy, no-nonsense woman who is among the few people who can can put Leonard in line. She doesn’t back down from his seemingly grumpy exterior. Instead, she holds her own, and what ensues is the most wonderful banter and dialogue from fics I’ve read in a long time.

Leonard ‘Bones’ McCoy, the ‘grumpy-but-deep-DEEP-down-his-gruff-exterior-lies-a-soft-heart’ Chief Medical Officer, is such an amazing layered character. While at first brush he is nothing but gruff and makes rude comments about... everyone and everything (‘Dammit, man! I'm a doctor, not a *insert Jim’s choice of work that is out of Bones’ field of expertise*), he is, ultimately, a good man. A Southerner with Southern manners, he is, deep down just a big old softie. Especially when it comes to his daughter, Joanna.

The fans of this pairing, who mixes backstories created by fandom at large, and those from TOS, have produced such amazing fics. The back and forth banter, the witty and funny exchanges, the love/hate ‘you’re-so-frustrating-I-wanna-strangle-you-with-my-bare-hands-but-I-also-want-to-take-you-on-the-desk’ relationship they have, the seemless working relationship, the deep friendship and mutual respect and affection they have for each other, and the simmering UST (The YEARNING, it BURNS) and the scorching hot sex, are what makes this pairing great.

Since they don't really exist on-screen, have some lovely fan made things!



blueshirts by ~rinsler over @deviantart

My Christine Chapel fancasting of choice, Rosamund Pike:



by bigbardas over @tumblr

I love their stupid dorky faces.

P.S. I still blame the movie Doom for a lot of my McCoy/Chapel feelings

On to the recs!

Fic Rec #1: Tiny Little Fractures
Author: anr
Link: http://anr.livejournal.com/491521.html
Rating/Warning(s): PG

Why This Must Be Read: The sheer emotions and desperation this fic carries is amazing. A fic about how tired and sleepless they all feel with a job like this, but mostly McCoy and how much Chapel wants to help him. How Chapel solves this particular problem is what makes this fic so great.

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Fic Rec #2 When The Lights Go On Again
Author: miera_c
Link: Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI
Rating/Warning(s): PG-13

Why This Must Be Read: A World War II AU with Christine serving as a nurse, and McCoy serving as a doctor in Europe, this fic is all kinds of amazing. The stunning details of the war and all the experiences these people go through is so well written and brought out. Add to that, the slow, deep, yearning McCoy and Chapel find each other over years and years are what makes this story truly wonderful.

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Fic Rec #3: This Girl's A Silhouette
Author: silverlining_99
Link: http://silverlining-99.livejournal.com/47568.html#cutid1
Rating/Warning(s): NC-17

Why This Must Be Read: The banter and bickering in this are awesome. This is a prime example of that ‘you’re so frustrating I wanna strangle you but I also want to kiss you senseless’ relationship McCoy and Chapel share. Plus this is just really really hot.

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Fic Rec #4: You're My Picture on the Wall
Author: seren_ccd
Link: http://mccoy-chapel.livejournal.com/106979.html
Rating/Warning(s): PG-13

Why This Must Be Read: How Christine and Leonard met and eventually fell in love and all their adventures in between.

This fic traces when they first met, and all the adventures they had-- from their academy days, to the Narada incindent, to all the missions they went through aboard the Enterprise. Witty, funny, and sad all at the same time, the glimpses of the moments these two shared is what makes this paring seem so natural. seren_ccd writes these two so well. Honestly, I would just like to rec everything seren_ccd has written for this paring.

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Fic Rec #5: The Midwife
Author: melyanna
Link: Part I, Part II, Part III
Rating/Warning(s): PG-13

Why This Must Be Read: A beautiful western AU where a widowed McCoy arrives to the town of Enterprise as the new town doctor and meets the also widowed Chapel who is the town midwife.

This story is all kinds of awesome, the simmering UST, the looks and the drawn out courtship, plus a secret from Chapel’s past makes this fic such an enjoyable read.

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Fic Rec #6: Don't Do Nothing Just Relax
Author: izzyfics
Link: http://izzyfics.livejournal.com/44685.html#cutid1
Rating/Warning(s):NC-17, drugs, dubcon

Why This Must Be Read: One of the first McCoy/Chapel fics I ever read and still remains one of my favorites. It's hot and amazing and might very well be the fic that converted me into a McCoy/Chapel shipper.

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Fic Rec #7: Hearts From Iron, Minds From Steel
Author: pathstotread
Link: http://pathstotread.livejournal.com/534675.html
Rating/Warning(s): NC-17

Why This Must Be Read: This fic shows truthfully, and wonderfully, what a break-up between these two characters entail. They are both capable and independent people, wanting certain things and this fic explores what that means to them. Angst at its best, and McCoy and Chapel’s inability to let go of each other (as it should be), this fic is amazing and hits all the right places.

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Fic Rec #8: Switching Channels
Author: fringedweller
Link: Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI, Part VII, Part VIII, Part IX, Part X
Rating/Warning(s):R, but mostly for swear words

Why This Must Be Read: McCoy and Chapel playing ex-marrieds working in the same news station are such a delight. Chapel wanting to quit to start a new life with Jim Kirk while McCoy still pines for her and her going on what should be her last field work as a reporter, nothing really turns out the way you expect.

Such a delightful, fun and adventurous fic, this story is an adaptation of the movie Switching Channels with McCoy and Chapel playing the leads. I adore the way fringedweller writes these two-- the banter, the drawn out pining is really evident and amazing.

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Fic Rec #9: While You're Dancing
Author:circ_bamboo
Link: http://circ-bamboo.livejournal.com/7214.html
Rating/Warning(s):NC-17

Why This Must Be Read: I love love love this fic, mostly because I’m a sucker for fics where the other one teaches the other to dance. And to add to that, McCoy teaches Chapel retro dancing and this becomes one of my favorite fics ever. Plus there’s really hot sex. And hot dancing.

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Fic Rec #10: Treat You So Special
Author: mardia
Link: http://mardia.livejournal.com/227829.html#cutid1
Rating/Warning(s): NC-17, service kink

Why This Must Be Read: A fic where Chapel finds McCoy’s bluntness and appreciation for her abilities really attractive. Something shifts between them, and what results is something really hot.

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Fic Rec #11: Worth The Wait
Author: prgurly79
Link: Part I, Part II 
Rating/Warning(s): NC-17

Why This Must Be Read: I really love this fic mostly because it’s about how Chapel is waiting for him and McCoy is apparently doing the same. I love the kind of... awkward period this fic has in the beginning that just kind of blows over when McCoy does something to throw their routine off.

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Fic Rec #12: One Small Fraction of the Main Attraction
Author: seren_ccd
Link: http://mccoy-chapel.livejournal.com/84169.html#cutid1
Rating/Warning(s): PG-13

Why This Must Be Read:This is a Five times fic (+1) where Mccoy touches Chapel and leaves her unsettled, and one time he didn't.

I love all of seren_ccd’s McCoy/Chapel fics but this one in particular has an amazing Chapel voice. She’s fun, funny, witty and a bit insecure, and afraid of her attraction to McCoy (she has a rule! dammit) but in the end, who can really resist the good doctor?

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Fic Rec #13: Accidents
Author: falseeeyelashes
Link: http://falseeeyelashes.livejournal.com/245828.html
Rating/Warning(s): NC-17, AMTDI

Why This Must Be Read: A story about four ways McCoy and Chapel have sex, and how they deal with each other.

Oh god this fic. This fic is really just the greatest. I have uber amounts of love for this fic. This goes beyond your typical tropes and just turns them into something so magnificent and well thought out and there’s just so much emotion in this, and these two just end up in this inevitable but still surprising condition of ending up together.

I cannot rec this fic enough.

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Fic Rec #14: Sparks Fly
Author: circ_bamboo
Link: http://circ-bamboo.livejournal.com/21406.html
Rating/Warning(s): NC-17

Why This Must Be Read: There’s something really sexy about McCoy being a librarian and then Chapel being a principal. The attraction is there, and it’s just so subtle and buried underneath with all the little moments they share but it’s also so evident. I love the pull they have with each other, and I particularly love McCoy’s relationship with his daughter Joanna in this fic. This is a fabulous read.

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errrr, I noticed most of these are NC-17ish. ... yeah. Just going to leave it like that. Enjoy!