Chuck Episode 2.11 Chuck Versus Santa Claus

As Emmett gleefully marks up holiday prices at the Buy More, Chuck drops in on Sarah to invite her to the annual Bartowski Christmas gathering: a gas firelog, eggnog and a Twilight Zone marathon on TV. Sarah's depressed by Christmas because she's reminded that it was always a day she worked a con with her dad.

Decked out in full Santa gear, Big Mike prepares his elf-clad troops for the war known as the Christmas Rush. He's hoping for a record sales day. But the team is distracted by a live car chase being shown on all the in-store televisions. Ellie and Awesome show up just before the store doors open, looking to beat the crowd and take advantage of Chuck's discount.

As the Buy More gang puts the finishing touches on the store displays, the car chase roars through Burbank. The criminal takes a turn into the Buy More parking lot -- and comes crashing through the glass doors! He's Ned Rhyerson, a down-and-out dad who's lost his job and was just looking for some presents for his kids when things got out of hand; he brandishes a pistol. Quickly taking control of the store, he asks who's in charge and everyone -- Big Mike and Emmett included -- say "Chuck!"

Ned forces Chuck to lock down all the doors and disable the security system. Cops swarm the building and establish a perimeter. The Burbank P.D. contingent is led by Al Powell, Bike Mike's cousin; Lt. Mauser is on hand from L.A.P.D.'s hostage negotiating unit. Meanwhile, at Castle, Casey and Sarah get instructions from General Beckman not to storm the store -- if they do, it will compromise Chuck's cover with his family. Instead, their job is to carefully infiltrate the store and carefully remove Chuck from danger, letting the LAPD take care of the gunman.

Hostage negotiator Mauser asks Ned to release one hostage as a sign of good faith. Emmett begs to be let go and Ned obliges. Outside, he is interviewed by a local reporter and immediately begins pitching the low prices at Buy More. Meanwhile the hostages inside the store watch it all live on the big screen TVs.

Casey and Sarah sneak into the Buy More break room through a secret entrance in an employee locker. They try to convince Chuck that he must come with them to safety, but he refuses, saying he won't leave his family and friends behind. As they're talking, Ned shows up and Chuck has to talk him down again, eventually convincing him to uncock his gun. Only problem is that Ned isn't familiar with his own gun and manages to shoot off Casey's toe while trying to uncock it.

Awesome gathers Big Mike, Morgan, and Lester to discuss a plan to take on the gunman. Someone needs to be a hero, he tells them -- only to be rebuked by Ellie, who explains that a real hero is someone who lives to take care of his family. Chuck agrees that it's far too dangerous and that they should all let the police handle it.

At Chuck's urging, Ned lets everyone make calls to their loved ones. Chuck calls Sarah over to the DVD section where he gives her a Christmas gift: his mom's charm bracelet. It's supposed to bring good luck, he tells her. Sarah feels uncomfortable accepting it, but Chuck insists. The tender moment is broken when the hostage negotiator calls the store again.

Ned explains to the Lt. Mauser that all he wants is to spend Christmas with his family. Mauser says that can be arranged and that Ned should let him come into the store, unarmed. With Mauser inside, Ned agrees to let two hostages go: Sarah and Casey. As Mauser is commending Chuck on his bravery so far, Chuck flashes: Mauser is FULCRUM!

Mauser and Ned are in cahoots. Mauser explains that FULCRUM knew that Casey and Sarah were agents protecting an important asset, so they hatched the hostage scheme to uncover who it was. When they discovered it was Chuck, they looked into his background and determined that Chuck must know where Bryce Larkin is. Chuck says he thinks Larkin is dead; Mauser doesn't believe him and threatens to have Ellie killed. Panicked, Chuck reveals to Mauser that he is the Intersect.

Elated at having found the Intersect, Mauser explains that he and Chuck will walk out together to a waiting ambulance where they'll be taken to a secure FULCRUM facility. Chuck, realizing that he may never see Ellie again, asks to say goodbye to her and Awesome. He tells Ellie he loves her and tells Awesome that this is the time to make a move. Awesome understands and gathers his strike team (Lester, Big Mike, Morgan, Jeff) and devises a game plan to take Ned down.

Back at Castle, Casey and Sarah figure out that Ned isn't who he seems to be. They arm themselves and return to go rescue Chuck. As the ambulance speeds off with Chuck and Mauser inside, Sarah shoots out its tires, causing it to crash into a Christmas tree lot. Chuck escapes out he back, with Mauser pursuing him through the tree lot.

Working as a decoy, Lester attacks Ned, who decks him with a side-kick. As he asks who's next, Ned is surprised by Morgan, who assaults him with a fake snow blower. Ned's temporarily blinded, long enough for Awesome and Big Mike to tackle him from two sides. They capture his gun and hold him at bay.

Back in the tree lot, Mauser is hunting Chuck. But Sarah comes to Chuck's rescue and sends him back to Castle on foot. Mauser finds Sarah and a viscous fight ensues. Sarah prevails, and recovers her gun. Captured but unfazed, Mauser tells Sarah he doesn't care. He's discovered the Intersect and he'll soon tell the rest of FULCRUM who will then pursue Chuck to the death. Sarah realizes Mauser's telling the truth and, after thinking about it for a moment, shoots Mauser dead. Hiding in the shadows, Chuck has seen it all.

The hostage crisis over, the Buy More begins to return to normal. There is love all around. Big Mike has a joyous reunion with his cousin, Big Al. Awesome hugs Ellie, Anna hugs Lester (and is then grossed out when he gets a little too frisky), and Sarah hugs Chuck. Chuck asks her what happened to the FULCRUM agent, Sarah lies that she arrested him and he'll be put away forever. Chuck is sad: not only is the girl he loves a cold blooded killer, she's liar too.