The lives of Will Halstead, played by Nick Gehlfuss, and Natalie Manning, portrayed by Torrey DeVitto, have always been anything but calm. As they make their return in Season 11 of “Chicago Med,” the drama is as intense as ever. The action kicks off with a bang in Episode 2, titled “A Game of Inches.” The hospital staff is taken by surprise when Natalie’s son, Owen, played by Frankie DeMaio, arrives seeking help for a stranger left injured on the sidewalk just outside the hospital. Will Halstead soon follows, assisting with the emergency treatment.
Once the patient is stabilized, Will, who is in Chicago with Owen for a football game, shares some thrilling news: he and Natalie are expecting a baby boy. However, Owen struggles with the arrival of his new brother, feeling sidelined in Will’s life. Advised to express his feelings in a journal, Owen tries to cope, but a dramatic twist occurs when a stray bullet hits him during a confrontation with a drug dealer in a nearby operating room.
The following episode, “Horseshoes and Hand Grenades,” sees Natalie rushing to Chicago. Dr. Dean Archer, played by Steven Weber, provides Owen with exceptional care, yet one of his kidneys is beyond repair and the other fails to function. In a courageous move, Natalie offers to donate one of her kidneys, despite the risks to her pregnancy. Both she and Owen pull through successfully, and the baby remains unharmed. In a touching moment, Will proposes the idea of adopting Owen, inspired by the heartfelt entries he read in Owen’s journal. It’s a rare and joyous resolution for the family, one that Torrey DeVitto hopes will endure.
In discussing the future for Natalie and Will, DeVitto expressed to NBC Insider her desire for a more serene chapter. “I think it’d be really great to see them happy,” she remarked. “Natalie has been through so much, losing her first husband, discovering her pregnancy, and navigating her relationship with Will. It’s time for her to have a peaceful life.”
Yet, with DeVitto and Gehlfuss no longer regulars on the series, fans might wonder if they’ll witness this calmer future unfold. DeVitto is open to returning for guest appearances, stating, “I would never say no. It’s like returning to family. I love being on that set and around those people.” Now residing in Michigan, not too far from the show’s Chicago location, it seems possible she might don Natalie’s lab coat again. Until then, viewers will have to keep tuning into “Chicago Med” for any updates on this beloved duo.
Torrey DeVitto hopes Will and Natalie have a simple, happy future
When asked what she hopes Natalie and Will’s future looks like after all of this hoopla, Torrey DeVitto told NBC Insider that she hopes it will be much more even-keeled. “I think it’d be really great to see them happy,” she said. “I feel like Natalie has been shooting for the stars for this happy ending. And she lost her first husband, saw she was pregnant, then all the things that happened with her and Will and this and that … It’s like, can she just have a calm life now? I think it’s time.”
But will fans of the couple ever get to see what that looks like? After all, DeVitto and Nick Gehlfuss are no longer series regulars. When asked, DeVitto added that she would be thrilled to return to the medical drama for a another guest spot. “I would never say no,” she explained. “To me, it’s like going back to your family. I enjoy being around those people so much. I enjoy being on that set so much.” The actor then noted that she lives in Michigan now — not far from the show’s Chicago set. Sounds like she might turn up one more time to put on Natalie’s labcoat, but until then fans should keep watching “Chicago Med” to find out when and where.