In a show filled with danger, drama, and high-stakes choices, Chicago P.D. has always balanced its action with deeply human stories. Among the most enduring relationships in the Intelligence Unit is the bond between Officer Kevin Atwater and Officer Kim Burgess. For over a decade, their connection has been defined by trust, loyalty, and mutual respect. Yet for many fans, that closeness has always carried a lingering question: could it have been something more?
From the earliest seasons, Atwater and Burgess worked side by side, often finding themselves partnered in the field. Their chemistry was clear—not in the romantic sense that immediately sparks between some characters, but in the natural, easy rhythm of two people who just “get” each other. Atwater, steady and grounded, was often the voice of reason. Burgess, passionate and fiercely loyal, matched his intensity with her own determination. Together, they became one of the most reliable duos in Intelligence, a partnership that fans could always count on when the bullets started flying.
But even in a partnership rooted in friendship, there were moments—subtle glances, quiet conversations, shared vulnerabilities—that gave fans the impression that something more might be possible. Especially in the early years, before Burgess’s long-term involvement with Adam Ruzek became a central storyline, viewers speculated about whether the writers might explore a romantic arc between her and Atwater.
It never came to pass. Burgess’s relationship with Ruzek took center stage, complete with its ups, downs, and heartbreaking twists. Atwater, meanwhile, became the steadfast friend—always there to support Burgess through her personal struggles, but never written as her love interest. For some fans, that choice preserved the integrity of their friendship. For others, it felt like a missed opportunity, a “what if” that lingered season after season.
There’s an argument to be made that Chicago P.D. chose deliberately to keep Atwater and Burgess platonic. In a show where so many relationships are complicated by romance, betrayal, and heartbreak, theirs stands out as a rare example of pure camaraderie. Their story is proof that men and women in the unit can care deeply for one another without romantic entanglement, and that kind of friendship is every bit as valuable as love.
Still, for viewers who sensed the potential for romance, the decision can feel bittersweet. Atwater and Burgess had the foundation: trust built under fire, mutual admiration, and years of shared experience. It’s the stuff most TV romances are made of—yet here, it remained forever unexplored.
Today, as Chicago P.D. continues to evolve, the Atwater-Burgess bond endures as one of the show’s strongest. Their moments together may not carry the heat of romance, but they have something else: consistency, loyalty, and an emotional honesty that grounds the Intelligence Unit.
Perhaps that is the real beauty of their relationship. Atwater and Burgess show us that love stories in Chicago P.D. don’t always have to be romantic to matter. Still, for fans who once wondered if the spark between them might ignite, there will always be a quiet sense of longing—for the Chicago P.D. romance that never was.
