Jenna Dewan Shares Whether The Rookie’s Bailey and Nolan Still Aspire to Have Children

Bailey Nune and John Nolan have faced numerous challenges on The Rookie — but has their recent setback disrupted their future parenting aspirations?

Warning: Spoilers ahead for The Rookie season 7, episode 7.

“Currently, we’re concentrating on that — the healing and their love,” Jenna Dewan, who portrays firefighter Bailey on the ABC show, exclusively told Us Weekly regarding Bailey and Nolan’s future.

She emphasized that the television couple is also navigating the “complexities of their very intense life-threatening occupations that always present challenges for them to manage.”

In the episode aired on Tuesday, February 18, of The Rookie, Bailey came to terms with being a victim of domestic violence. This acknowledgment followed her conversation with another female survivor, who encouraged Bailey to identify as a “victim” after enduring years of abuse from her ex-husband, Jason (Steve Kazee).

Although Jason was killed earlier in the season, his impact lingered, affecting Bailey’s relationship with Nolan (Nathan Fillion). Tensions arose when Bailey maintained contact with the hitman who ultimately eliminated Jason, leading to a clash with Nolan, a law enforcement officer, who criticized her for breaking the law.

“Psychologically that’s not something you can just snap your fingers and overcome. Even with the physical threat of Jason gone, psychologically and emotionally he still lingers,” Dewan, 44, shared with Us. “It requires effort from Bailey to recover. Nolan plays a significant role in that by accepting her and showing her that he loves her unconditionally.”

She explained, “Unconditional love is one of the most profound healing forces.”

Dewan pointed out that Bailey’s acceptance of her status as a “victim” allowed her to open up completely to Nolan, which had been a challenge for them as a couple.

“That moment of vulnerability is monumental. It serves as the key unlocking the path to her future healing,” the actress remarked, adding that while the trauma is “not eliminated” and will require “some time” to process, Jason’s death propels Bailey forward.

Dewan noted, “There’s a sense of freedom without the physical presence of her nightmare.”

Nolan’s capacity to set aside his wounded pride — stemming from his dissatisfaction with Bailey’s secrecy about the hitman — and to regard her as a victim also aided in their healing journey together.

“He ultimately realizes, ‘The person I love has been a victim. And she has a justifiable reason for her nightmare no longer affecting our lives. The details of how that happened are complex, but I can empathize with her because I love her,’” Dewan shared.

In the episode’s conclusion, Nolan apologized for making Bailey feel unsupported in her quest to eliminate Jason from her life entirely. This dialogue signifies the conclusion of that dark chapter, as per Dewan.

“They are making a decision to move forward together in that moment,” she conveyed to Us, mentioning that while the couple’s trust issues still exist “a little,” their ability to acknowledge “each other’s vulnerabilities” helps them “progress and accept” their past.

This positive movement, however, doesn’t imply that they are ready to expand their family — at least not immediately.

“I wouldn’t say it’s completely off the table at the moment,” Dewan commented on Bailey and Nolan’s decision to pause their plans to have or adopt a child. “They understand that their lives are quite intense, and neither of them is really in a position to care for a baby. They don’t want to introduce something into their lives that they can’t responsibly manage.”

She added: “They have an awareness that ‘timing is everything,’ and perhaps now is not the right time.”

Dewan teased, “Still, they ultimately aspire to take that next step.”

The Rookie airs on ABC Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET.