Christine Chapel

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Disclaimer: This journal is intended for roleplaying purposes at hearts_andminds Christine Chapel, Majel Barrett, and Star Trek are NOT mine. No copyright infringement is intended.

Name: Christine Chapel

Character Fandom: Star Trek: TOS

Canonical Point of Entry: After the end of the series, prior to returning to medical school.

Mini Timeline:
2237 – born, New Orleans Louisiana, parents Patterson and Lauren
2259 – biological sciences degree, starts medical school – become engaged to Roger Korby - former professor
2261 - last transmission form Korby on EXO III
2262 – takes nursing degree based on credits, joins Starfleet
2265- assignment to USS Enterprise
2266 - Korby found
2270 – end of five year mission on USS Enterprise, returns to medical school

Physical Description: Fairly attractive, though admittedly not exotic, blonde (at the moment), blue eyed woman. She could be considered statuesque being five foot nine in stocking feet and is prone to wearing heels.

Background: Christine Chapel was born in New Orleans, Louisiana to Lauren and Patterson Chapel. Her mother was a teacher and her father an engineer – not a warp engineer but rather one specializing in medical equipment and technologies. She had a quiet childhood, enjoyed dancing and was a bright accomplished student.

She studied biology and biomedical research in school, meeting Dr. Roger Korby when he was her professor for a medical archeology lecture. After graduating she began medical school and became engaged to Roger not long before his expedition left for Exo III, after the disappearance of Roger and his team she knew she had to go looking for him and left her schooling and career to join Starfleet.

She took a nursing degree in lieu of finishing her medical studies, completed Starfleet training at the Academy and was posted to the U.S.S. Enterprise at the start of its five year mission as the head nurse. Chapel elected to remain with the starship even after Korby was found on Exo III, exploring and exploiting a sophisticated android manufacturing technology, the legacy of a long-dead civilization. When it was revealed that Korby himself had replaced his own damaged body, transplanting his personality into an android replica Christine realized that the man she’d loved was truly gone and aided Kirk in their attempted escape and destruction of the androids.

Despite her undisputed medical competence, Chapel's continued affection for Commander Spock was her emotional Achilles' heel, an ongoing issue which never interfered with her professional duties. Initially, she kept these feelings to herself however when the Psi 2000 intoxication afflicted the crew of the Enterprise, Chapel openly admitted her love for Spock, despite the Vulcan's confession of his inability to return her feelings.

She routinely exhibited medical competence often being on hand with exactly what McCoy needed before he asked (the Radar O’Reilly of the U.S.S. Enterprise medical staff), and more than once put herself in harms way to protect her patient or the ship.

At the end of the first five year mission she made plans to return to medical school and escape the electric pull of the Enterprise and Spock as well as getting back the life she was headed for before Roger disappeared.

Personality: She is deeply passionate about the things she cares for, protective and nurturing. She has an exemplary bedside manner, and a backbone of titanium that allowed her to stand up to and match wits with McCoy for years even gaining his respect.

In addition to a professional friendship with Dr. McCoy, Chapel was particularly close to Uhura having a long standing friendship with the other woman.

Chapel's longing to be close to Spock was well-known among crew members, and noted openly on a number of occasions. While her attraction never interfered with her professional duties, it was an ongoing source of tension and bemusement she was often embarrassed by the notoriety her own actions created but was drawn to him nonetheless.

Her reasons for choosing Spock of all people to fall for are complex; it allows her to feel great emotion without ever being forced to live it, allows her to dream without having her hopes dashed because deep down she knows it is futile.