Say it isn’t so. After a decade of heartbreak, near-death experiences, and one of the most complicated love stories in One Chicago history, fans are now facing the question they never wanted to ask: Are Kim Burgess (Marina Squerciati) and Adam Ruzek (Patrick John Flueger) leaving Chicago P.D.? The rumor mill is spinning out of control after this week’s shocking episode hinted at a possible “fresh start” for the fan-favorite couple — and the silence from NBC has only made things worse.
The episode in question seemed innocent enough at first — a tense but fairly typical case that pushed Intelligence to its limits. But it’s the quieter moments between Burgess and Ruzek that have everyone’s alarms blaring. After a long day, the two are seen back at their apartment, watching Makayla sleep, when Ruzek turns to Burgess and says, “Maybe it’s time we think about what’s next… for all of us.” The look on Burgess’s face said everything — fear, confusion, hope — and before fans could process what was happening, the camera cut to black. No closure. No confirmation. Just two people standing on the edge of a life-changing decision.
Within minutes, social media exploded. “WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?” one fan tweeted in all caps. “You can’t drop that line and just fade to black!” Another wrote, “If Burgess and Ruzek leave, I’m done. Like DONE done.” The phrase “BURZEK FOREVER” started trending across X (formerly Twitter) within the hour, and Reddit threads began dissecting every detail from the episode — from their dialogue to the music choice to the slightly packed-looking moving boxes in the background. “Those weren’t random props,” one eagle-eyed viewer insisted. “They’re moving out. I’m calling it now.”
Adding fuel to the fire, neither Marina Squerciati nor Patrick John Flueger has confirmed their return for the full upcoming season. When asked in a recent interview whether Burgess and Ruzek had finally found peace, Squerciati gave a cryptic smile and said, “Sometimes peace means walking away.” Flueger wasn’t any less mysterious, teasing, “They’ve both been through hell. Maybe they deserve a little happiness — even if that means something new.”
Of course, Chicago P.D. fans know better than to take things at face value. The show has a long history of teasing exits, only to twist the knife with a shocking fake-out or emotional twist later. Still, this one feels different. The tone of the last few episodes — slower, more reflective, almost nostalgic — has the fandom worried. “It feels like they’re saying goodbye,” one fan wrote. “Every scene lately has this weird finality to it. Like they’re wrapping up their story.”
And honestly, it wouldn’t be a stretch. After all, Burgess and Ruzek have been through everything imaginable — kidnappings, shootings, trauma, heartbreak, and reconciliation. Their love story has been one of the longest-running and most emotionally complex arcs in Chicago P.D. history. Watching them finally find their rhythm, only to walk away, would be both devastating and — in a strange way — fitting. “They’ve earned peace,” one longtime viewer said. “But please, not like this. Don’t take them away from us.”
Industry insiders aren’t helping calm anyone’s nerves. A behind-the-scenes source reportedly told TVLine that the writers have been “discussing new directions” for the upcoming season, possibly focusing on “fresh faces” in the Intelligence Unit. “The show has evolved,” the source said. “We might see some transitions — emotional, yes, but necessary for the next chapter.” That comment immediately sent fans spiraling. “Fresh faces = goodbye Burzek,” one post declared. “I can’t go through this again after Halstead and Upton.”
The rumor took on a life of its own when NBC’s official promo for the next episode dropped — and it didn’t feature a single frame of Burgess or Ruzek. Instead, the teaser focused on Voight (Jason Beghe) and Atwater (LaRoyce Hawkins), leading fans to wonder whether the network was intentionally hiding something. “They’re not in the promo because their storyline is the cliffhanger,” one theory suggested. “Either they leave together… or something terrible happens.”
And yet, for every fan in panic mode, there’s another holding onto hope. Some believe this could be a classic Chicago P.D. misdirection — the kind of emotional bait-and-switch that leaves you sobbing in the best possible way. “They’re not leaving,” one confident Redditor wrote. “They’re just taking Makayla on vacation. Watch — next episode, they’ll be back like nothing happened.” Another added, “This is Burzek. They don’t quit each other. Not now, not ever.”
Still, the emotional weight of the storyline can’t be ignored. In the final moments of the episode, Burgess stares out the window while Ruzek quietly packs a small bag behind her. “We’ve built something real,” she says softly. “But maybe real doesn’t have to be forever.” The camera lingers, no answers given — just a feeling. The kind of heavy, bittersweet tension that Chicago P.D. does better than any other show on television.
As of now, NBC has made no official statement about either actor’s future with the series. But fans are preparing for the worst — just in case. “I’ve been watching since Season 1,” one emotional fan wrote. “If this is really the end of Burgess and Ruzek, then I want them to go out together. No tragedy, no death. Just love.”
For many, the couple’s journey has been the emotional glue holding Chicago P.D. together. Their chemistry, resilience, and shared trauma turned what started as a workplace romance into one of television’s most authentic depictions of imperfect love. “They’re messy, they’re flawed, but they’re real,” one critic wrote. “And that’s why losing them would hurt so much.”
If this truly is the beginning of the end for Burgess and Ruzek, it’ll mark a seismic shift in the One Chicago universe — a goodbye that would echo as loudly as Halstead’s exit or Lindsay’s departure years ago. But if there’s one thing fans know for sure, it’s that P.D. loves a comeback. “You can’t count them out,” a hopeful viewer tweeted. “They’ve survived bullets, breakups, and Voight. They’ll survive this too.”
For now, we’re left with nothing but speculation, screenshots, and aching hearts. Maybe it’s the calm before the storm. Maybe it’s the peace they’ve always deserved. Or maybe — just maybe — it’s one last test before the show reminds us why we fell in love with Burzek in the first place. Because on Chicago P.D., love never truly leaves. It just goes undercover for a while. 💔🔥
