Chuck Episode 4.02 Chuck vs. the Suitcase

On the side streets of Milan, a CIA spy chases a fashion model in a slinky dress. She turns a corner and evades him momentarily, then draws a pistol and fires. An iridescent bullet whooshes out of the gun's barrel. But instead of traveling straight, the blue bullet actually turns the corner on its own, dropping the CIA agent dead in his tracks.

Back in Encino, Chuck, Morgan, Sarah, Ellie and Awesome are hanging out. Father-to-be Captain Awesome is in a tizzy of over-protectiveness toward Ellie: massaging her shoulders, debating what type of childbirth they should choose, which stroller, and which second language they should pick for their unborn child. When speaking what everyone else is thinking, Chuck tells Awesome to relax a little. Awesome responds that Chuck and Sarah might just be next on the baby train. Morgan scoffs, explaining that Sarah would have to unpack her suitcase before she and Chuck would start thinking about a baby. The comment lands with an awkward thud.

Back at their apartment, Sarah asks Chuck if he's hurt that she hasn't really settled into their love nest. She explains she's been on missions practically the whole time they've been together. Chuck says he's not bothered, but clearly he is. At Buy More, he seeks counsel from Morgan, who claims to have discovered the relationship's Achilles' Heel. He advises Chuck not to give Sarah any reasons to leave.

Beckman briefs Sarah, Casey and Chuck on their next mission: tracking down the fashion model who killed the CIA agent. She's a supermodel named Sophia Stepanova who's a senior player in Volkoff's weapons dealing apparatus. She uses fashion shows to make her connections with customers. Their latest product: a "smart" bullet that uses microchips and GPS to guide itself to its target. Beckman assigns Chuck and Sarah to go to Milan and infiltrate Fashion Week, where Stepanova will be moving the bullets. As Casey helps Chuck gear up, they talk briefly about Chuck's Achilles' Heel. Casey tells Chuck he should feel lucky that Sarah's only baggage seems to be a suitcase.

Chuck and Sarah mingle at a high-fashion party in Milan, where they spot Stepanova. Chuck makes an awkward grab for her purse, his hand landing on her bottom. Stepanova dismisses Chuck, then deftly slips her purse to a bartender. Chuck and Sarah assume it's a weapons transfer and apprehend the bartender. He gives them the purse but it contains a bomb! As they rush to defuse it, Chuck blurts out to Sarah that he still loves her, despite her weird unpacking habits. Sarah snaps a wire, rendering the bomb harmless. But it's clear that some damage has been done to their relationship. Chuck tries to explain to a perturbed Sarah that her not unpacking really doesn't bother him; she's irritated and tells him to focus on the mission.

Back at Buy More, Awesome is flabbergasted by the bright, inviting store and uncharacteristically efficient, friendly service. He's used to poor service and rude salespeople. Morgan senses a problem. Buy More's cover will be blown if the old slovenly staff ways are gone: customers might start flocking to the store. He tells Beckman of the problem and suggests some rules for managing the Buy More.

Chuck and Sarah sneak into Stepanova's Milan hotel room and begin searching for the bullets. When the model suddenly returns to her room, Chuck and Sarah hide in her closet. Stepanova steps into the shower; her burly bodyguard stands watch in the foyer. Flashing on an in-room safe, Chuck opens it and discovers the clip. Sarah knocks out the bodyguard. As Chuck prepares to flee, he hears the unmistakable sound of a pistol being cocked. The dripping-wet model has gotten the drop on him. A shocked Sarah returns, prompting Stepanova to take Chuck hostage. Sarah fires a shot that shatters the shower stall door, creating a distraction. Sarah and Chuck escape over the balcony and return to Castle where Beckman informs that the chips in the bullets they brought back are fake: Stepanova is still a step ahead of them.

Morgan is challenged to recruit some incompetent team members who can help return Buy More to its former unattractive state. He and Casey stake out Jeff and Lester, who have been on the run since they were charged with burning down Buy More. The outlaws are huddled around a trash can fire when Casey and Morgan approach with good news: they're needed at their old jobs. Thinking they've got room to negotiate, Jeff and Lester begin making demands. They're quickly silenced by Casey and his tranquilizer gun.

Back at the apartment, Awesome questions Chuck about the new Buy More: it's just too efficient to be anything other than a spy base. Sarah explains that she and Casey are still spies, but Chuck is not. Still skeptical but placated, Awesome returns home and continues smothering Ellie with baby preparations. She sets him straight: he's overdoing it and they need to work on things together.

Sarah and Chuck are back at their apartment, where Sarah starts hanging up clothes. Chuck feels it's a forced gesture. He tells Sarah he understands settling down doesn't come naturally to her. But as they're talking, Chuck has a realization: the dress that Stepanova and other models were wearing could house the smart bullet chips. They bolt for Milan to steal the dress and stop Stepanova before she can slip the weapons out of the country during Fashion Week.

At the fashion show, Chuck tranquilizes two guards with special gloves and gains access to the dress storage area. Chuck finds the right dress and Sarah puts it on. But their getaway is thwarted as armed thugs burst in with guns ablazing. Chuck shoves Sarah away and locks the door behind her. He'll have to face off against five armed men. He summons a kung fu flash and makes quick work of four of the thugs. But Stepanova's brutish bodyguard won't go down. Chuck finds the tranquilizer-laced gloves and subdues him.

Meanwhile, Sarah's been made by Stepanova, who escorts Sarah through the models' dressing room, a gun firmly implanted in her back. When Sarah turns on the model, a nasty fight erupts. The catfight spills out onto the catwalk, where Stepanova pulls a knife. Sarah ultimately prevails, much to the delight of the crowd. She and Chuck return to Castle and kudos for a job well done from Beckman.

Awesome's flipping out: Ellie's headed down to Buy More to return one of the numerous baby sleep machines he bought. He's terrified she'll discover the CIA connection to the store, assume Chuck is a spy, and freak out. But there's no need to worry: Morgan has recruited Jeff, Lester, and a rogue's gallery of incompetents from Buy More's glory days. The deception is complete. Beckman is duly impressed: she officially names Morgan manager of the store.

As her awesome husband sleeps, Ellie goes to their closet and pores through a childhood photo album, reminiscing over early childhood shots when she, Chuck and their parents were still together. Her new life with Devon ahead of her, she can't help but think about how her own childhood began.

Sarah makes it official: she's moved in. She's shows Chuck the snapshot she's kept in her suitcase all this time: a beautiful shot of the two of them. "You're my home Chuck. You always have been," she tells him. As they cuddle, Chuck dismisses Morgan's notion that every relationship has its Achilles' Heel. As he drifts off to sleep he muses aloud that maybe Awesome was right: maybe they're next for marriage and a baby. Unseen by Chuck, Sarah looks terrified.