Christine Chapel

Christine Chapel was a 23rd century Starfleet medical officer who served aboard the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701).

Early career
Sometime before 2266, Chapel abandoned a career in bio-research for a position in Starfleet, in the hopes that a deep-space assignment might reunite her with fiancé Dr. Roger Korby, a scientist incommunicado since his expedition to Exo III in 2261. By 2266, Chapel held a lieutenant junior grade commission, assigned to the USS Enterprise as head nurse under Enterprise chief medical officer Dr. Leonard McCoy. After finding Korby had perished, Chapel remained with the Enterprise throughout the five-year mission, despite initial doubts over whether she would stay on board.

In addition to a professional friendship with McCoy, Chapel was particularly close to Uhura. 

Relationship with Spock
Even while seeking Korby, Chapel was deeply infatuated with the Enterprise's half-Vulcan science officer, Spock. While her attraction never interfered with her professional duties, it was an ongoing source of tension and bemusement throughout the five-year mission. Chapel kept these feelings to herself, but when the Psi 2000 intoxication afflicted the Enterprise crew, Chapel admitted her love to Spock, who was shocked. 

Chapel's longing for Spock was well-known among crew members, and noted openly by Captain Kirk and Dr. McCoy on several occasions. During Spock's recovery after a near-death experience on Neural, fellow medical officer Dr. M'Benga caught Chapel tenderly holding Spock's hand while watching his recovery on the medical panel atop his bed. M'Benga was sympathetic, despite Chapel's attempt to hide her feeling. Chapel later proactively aided Spock by secretly holding his consciousness to keep him from being destroyed by Henoch. 

Three years after confessing her love to Spock, Chapel finally shared a kiss with him. Unfortunately, the situation was forced by powerful telekinetics, compelling Chapel to admit that, despite her long-standing desire to be close to him, all she wanted to do, given the humiliation of the situation, was "crawl away and die." 

2269-2270
By late 2269, Chapel had been promoted to the rank of lieutenant. Her Starfleet serial number was NI-596 MT21Z.

When Lieutenant Uhura assumed command of the Enterprise during the Taurus II incident, she assigned Chapel as acting chief medical officer. 

In 2269, Chapel obtained a love potion from Harry Mudd and used it on Spock, who temporarily longed for Chapel as a result. 

At some prior point, Chapel acquired a titanium bracelet made by the metalsmiths of Libra, which she wore occasionally on duty. 

After 2271
Following the Enterprise's five-year mission of exploration, Chapel completed her medical degree. She rejoined the Enterprise at the end of its refit as chief medical officer, although McCoy returned to resume that position. 
 * According to the TMP novelization, Chapel was to be the Enterprise's chief medical officer, but McCoy's arrival changed that. Chapel was pleased however that he was CMO instead of her.

By the latter 2280s, Chapel held a rank of Commander. In 2286, she was stationed at Starfleet Headquarters, where she coordinated relief efforts while Earth suffered an ecological "attack" from an orbiting space probe. 

Appearances

 * Star Trek (original series)
 * Star Trek (animated series)
 * Star Trek films

Background
Christine Chapel was played by, real-life wife of the late. She provided the character's voice in The Animated Series. In early draft scripts, the character was named Christine Baker and Christine Ducheaux.

Shannon Giles (or Shannon Quinlan) portrayed Chapel in.

Apocrypha
Little canon information exists about Chapel's life beyond her Starfleet career.

Simon and Schuster's Star Trek: Starship Creator interactive software, written by Mike Okuda, lists supplemental biographical details on Chapel. It mentions she is the child of Lauren Chapel and Patterson Chapel of New Orleans, Louisiana, Earth, and has an interest in ballet.

Other information includes a birth date in 2237, a Starfleet Medical Academy nursing degree in 2266 and doctorate by 2271. She graduated in the 98th percentile of her class, with degrees in bioresearch, medical archaeology and endocrinology.

It assigns her original rank as a "brevet" (provisional) ensign, rising to become the director of Starfleet Emergency Operations by the time of her Star Trek IV appearance.

Peter David's New Frontiers series posits that Chapel may have been an identity assumed by an immortal woman known in the 24th century as "Morgan Primus". Primus was the mother of Robin Lefler, and later became associated with the crew of the starship USS Excalibur (NCC-26517).

Dr. Chapel was the chief medical officer aboard the USS Excelsior (prototype) in the novel .