After years of heartbreak, lingering tension, and emotional farewells, Chicago P.D. fan favorites Detectives Jay Halstead (Jesse Lee Soffer) and Hailey Upton (Tracy Spiridakos) teamed up yet again during P.D.‘s mind-blowing crossover event with Chicago Med and Chicago Fire, and it didn’t take long for the longtime partners to fall back into their familiar groove.
P.D. fans rooted for the now-divorced “Upstead” across years of gripping Intelligence Unit cases, shocking swoons, and romantic moments. However, Chihards were ultimately left devastated after Halstead told his wife he was leaving Chicago to return to the army to accept an undercover position investigating drug cartels in Bolivia. Upton initially supported Halstead’s new lease on life, but after he refused to communicate or provide any update on a return, Upton made the tearful decision to file for a divorce.
After some soul-searching of her own, Upton turned in her badge in P.D.’s Season 11 finale, leaving Chicago after perusing various job openings elsewhere. While there was limited closure between the longtime couple, Chihards geared up for an emotional rollercoaster amid Spiridakos and Soffer’s guest appearances in the action-packed One Chicago crossover episode.
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“We’re very excited to get to be back,” Spiradakos told NBC Insider while chatting about her and Soffer’s triumphant return to the 21st Precinct. “We both, very excitedly, said yes right away.”
Spiradakos opens up about Upton and Halstead’s “effortless” team up
It was all hands on deck across the Windy City and beyond during P.D.‘s latest crossover with Chicago Fire and Chicago Med after a deadly nerve agent’s accidental release on a commercial flight leads to a city-wide panic and white-knuckling manhunt.
After catching wind of an undercover military operative being made during a Bolivia drug bust, Upton returned to Chicago to track the drug trafficker and follow up on what she strongly suspected was Halstead in trouble. Meanwhile, Halstead’s dealings in Bolivia brought him to Chicago and made him quite useful in the FBI and Intelligence Unit’s investigation.
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Of course, it wouldn’t be a proper P.D. reunion without suspense, so Chihards were screaming when Upton was nearly killed, only to be saved at the last second by her ex-husband.
“There’s so much empty space between, you know? How he left, and then the gap between it all,” Spiradakos told NBC Insider. “But then, at the same time, they step into the same situation, and they’re so used to being partners and working together in this environment that as soon as things happen, they start working together so effortlessly.”
While Upton refused to give Halstead a warm welcome, they teamed up on the case and proved to fall back into being an unbeatable dream team, despite the occasional bickering and passive aggression.
Jay Halstead and Hailey Upton finally got closure
After wrapping yet another case together, Halstead was eager to connect with Upton outside the mayhem of the investigation back at the 21st Precinct.
“Hailey, I stayed to work this case because you were here,” Halstead confessed, once again extending an olive branch.
“I came here because you were here,” Upton replied, silently reiterating the affection that landed her in Chicago again. With this confirmation, it was clear that Upton and Halstead both still cared for each other. However, Upton struggled to be vulnerable with her ex.
“Good luck, Jay. I wish you the best. I always do,” Upton told him earnestly before making to leave.
“Hailey, I’m sorry,” Halstead blurted, stopping Upton in her tracks.
“For what?” Upton asked while slowly turning, finally indulging Halstead after his many failed attempts to touch base.
“All of it… I lost myself here,” Halstead struggled out. “On this team, this city. And I’m sorry I couldn’t find my way back. Sorry for all the wrong I did. All of it. I’m sorry I lost you.”
After so much heartbreak, at long last, an apology alleviated the tension between the former P.D. lovebirds.
“I’m sorry, too,” Upton said with a resigned sigh. A weighted moment of silence passed between them before Upton asked Halstead about his own flight time.
“I don’t care,” Halstead shrugged, aware of where this was going as Upton’s longtime ride-or-die.
“Wanna get a drink?” Upton asked with a smile before Halstead wholeheartedly accepted.
Did Jay Halstead and Haley Upton get back together on Chicago P.D.?
So, does this mean Upstead could be headed toward a romantic rekindling in the future? While Upton and Halstead’s latest update is certainly no happily-ever-after for those crossing fingers for a romantic reunion, Spiradakos reveals that the make-or-break apology is a door-opener.
“For Hailey, I think it was a conversation that opened the door to further conversations for her,” Spiradakos shared. “She was quite hurt by how things were left off, but there is such a big history, even outside of the romantic relationship that they were in. They were partners for such a long time and very good friends. And so I think she was really hurt by how things were left off, but I think this last moment opened the door to more conversations.”
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As for Soffer, he feels that Halstead’s decision to stick around speaks volumes about his headspace surrounding his ex-wife. “I mean, the guy hung around Chicago, didn’t need to be there,” Soffer explained. “I feel like he probably just stuck around and was like, all right, let’s keep talking then.”
Watch Chicago P.D. on Wednesdays at 10/9c on NBC and the next day on Peacock.
Reporting by Stephanie Gomulka.
