I hope this character returns in Chicago Fire Season 14 despite their exit from the story

Let's be real—Chicago Fire is not afraid to introduce characters who disappear after a single intense episode. So when a new character arrives and actually stays, forms deep bonds, and provides the main characters with an emotional arc we did not see coming? That's unprecedented. This time that honor belongs to Natalie Evans.

And although her storyline concluded in Season 13's finale, a part of me—all of me—wishes that wasn't the end we hear about her.

Natalie Evans formally joined the fray during Season 13, Episode 17, named "A Beast Like This," not as a one-off civilian who finds herself in the middle of a crisis, but as a regular character with an emotional history involving Stella Kidd.

Natalie Evans is introduced as a troubled teenager with a complicated past. We learn Stella saved Natalie as a kid from a traumatic house fire many years ago— and now, years on, Natalie's back, a problem teenager, trying to get her way through life. And oh, what a narrative they provided for her.

Her emotional journey with Kidd and Severide in Chicago Fire

What began as a random reunion of sorts soon became one of the most emotional arcs in Season 13. Natalie became a live-in with Kidd and Severide, and we were no longer simply observing them as firefighters—we were observing them become unlikely parents.

Natalie wasn't mere background noise. She was raw, guarded, emotional, and very real. Being around her made Kidd and Severide question who they are beyond the firehouse. In some respects, Natalie was a surrogate daughter, someone who pushed them to their limits but also opened their hearts.

The plot spanned several episodes, integrating Natalie's painful quest to find her birth mother, emotional drama with her sister Julia, and finally, a bittersweet reconciliation. It was the sort of slow-burning emotional progression that Chicago Fire excels at — and provided Kidd and Severide with one of their most complex arcs in years.

How her story ends in Chicago Fire season 13

By the Season 13 finale, Natalie's storyline came full circle. She reconciled with Julia, and Natalie departed Stella and Severide's house to move in with her sister. It was a low-key conclusion, one characterized by closure, but not necessarily one that was final. The door wasn't slammed shut. If anything, it was left ajar.

Because here's the thing: Natalie's case is closed, but her emotional attachment to Kidd and Severide isn't going anywhere. She left both of them with a lasting impression, particularly on Stella, who got a true taste of what it would be like to be a mother.

Could she return in Chicago Fire Season 14?

There isn't official word yet that Natalie Evans returns for Season 14, but many fans (me included) hope she does. Her relationship with Kidd was a big turning point—not only for Season 13's storyline but also for Kidd's personal development.

With Severide and Kidd repeatedly dealing with chaos on the job, Natalie provided something of an anchor to them. Resurrecting her—even for a brief story arc—might enrich the show's emotional center. Returning with new challenges, as a more grounded young adult, or merely as part of Kidd's larger narrative, her return would definitely count.

In a season full of dramatic rescues and burnout, Natalie Evans offered us something different—a subtle, soft arc that reminded us why Chicago Fire is about more than fireballs and sirens. Her plot wasn't exciting, but it was important. And in this series, sometimes that's enough to make a character stick.

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So if Season 14 really is all about new beginnings and development, I really do hope Natalie Evans returns. Because sometimes, family isn't about blood. It's about the people who rescued you and the ones you decide to stay for.

Also read: Will there be a Chicago Fire Season 14? Renewal status and other details explored

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