Trust The Rookie to leave things on an exciting cliffhanger. ABC's beloved police procedural will return with its ninth season on January 6, and fans are eager to know the fates of Tim (Eric Winter) and Lucy (Melissa O'Neil), who were abducted by Heath Everett's men in the Season 8 finale.To jog your memory, the eighth season of the procedural saw John Nolan (Nathan Fillion) tracking down the wealthy warlord Everett, who offered a $10M bribe to Tim to let him go. Winter's character naturally turned down the money, and Everett was eventually arrested after the team's impressive night operation. After things were settled, Tim popped the question to Lucy, and she agreed to marry him. Chenford's celebration lasted mere seconds as they were soon abducted by Everett's men, proving the warlord is just as dangerous even from prison.Speaking to TV Line at the New York Comic Con, The Rookie creator Alexi Hawley and cast teased Chenford's future after the shocking cliffhanger. When asked whether Tim and Lucy will be separated in the two-part Season 9 premiere, Hawley teased:"I think they might be physically in a similar location, but separated from each other."What's next for Chenford in The Rookie Season 9? View this post on Instagram Instagram PostThe recently released trailer for The Rookie Season 9 features John Nolan and the team setting up a rescue operation to save Tim and Lucy. Since teamwork has always been a strong suit in the procedural, Chenford will likely be rescued after the two-part premiere, but the situation is tough.The trailer showed glimpses of Lucy and Tim being held separately, as Hawley teased. While Lucy appears to be in a secluded cell, Tim is tied up and brutally beaten up. His bloody and battered body shows that Everett's men hold him responsible for his arrest, giving urgency to his revenge mission.Elsewhere, Nolan briefs his team about rescuing Chenford in time, as Detective Angela Lopez arrives with the big guns.In addition to a dangerous mission ahead, The Rookie Season 9 premiere will also test Chenford's communication skills. Separated and captured, Hawley teased that Tim and Lucy would have to rely on their communication skills to survive before Nolan and the team track them:"The joy of the first couple of episodes is seeing how they might manage to communicate with each other even though they're being separated. How hard it is and how ultimately romantic it is in a weird way."On a redo of Chenford's proposal, O'Neil seemed on board and excited. While Tim and Lucy are one of the most beloved couples on The Rookie, timing is not their strongest suit. Lucy dozed off before hearing Tim's confession in the Season 7 finale, and the couple was literally abducted after their perfect proposal in the Season 8 finale, which might suggest a pattern.In the interview with TV Line, Hawley weighed in on Chenford's proposal in the future:"I think you'd have a little PTSD if it [ Chenford's proposal] would happen again...It might be like okay, we're not doing that again."Like every season, The Rookie Season 9 promises to open with a bang, one that will see Nolan and team work to save two of their own agents, setting up an exciting premiere. The additional returning cast includes Alyssa Diaz as Angela Lopez, Mekia Cox as Nyla Harper, Shawn Ashmore as Wesley Evers, Jenna Dewan as Bailey Nune, Richard T. Jones as Wade Grey, Deric Augustine as Miles Penn, and Lisseth Chavez as Celina Juarez.According to TV Insider, The Rookie Season 9 has also added three new guest actors, namely Troian Bellisario as Stephanie Monroe, Dulé Hill as Lt. Hughes, and Molly Kunz as Quin.Tune in to The Rookie Season 9 premiere on ABC on January 6.For the latest scoops on your favorite TV shows and movies, follow SoapCentral.