Question:
Can one rely on Chris in an Emergency? 

Answer:
In the most general sense of the question, Chris can always be relied on in an emergency. He is good at unarmed combat and keeps his end up in a fight which means his partner doesn't need to worry about him and can concentrate on his own situation. 

Evidence:
Back To Business (railyard scene: shoots the head Mafiosi in the arm, then takes on the second thug - Sam being occupied with the first)

Orbit (caravan fight scene)

Hostage (roof scene, when he takes out the two policemen).

In Choice Cuts he has the upper hand over the two masked men until he gets drugged - and Conroy (the policeman, an ex-Green Beret) states 'He sure can fight' in reference to Chris's performance.

Although Chris has had less opportunity than Sam ... to demonstrate his reliability in a crisis by coming to his partners aid, there have been one or two specific instances I could cite: In SAMURAI WIND when an injured Sam is pinned down by Shaw and Kessler, Chris disables Kessler and is aiming to shoot Shaw when Dane intervenes. 

In TUSK FORCE as they escape from Mavoy's, despite a fractured leg, Chris jumps up onto a wall to knock out the man who has Sam covered. Sam also trusts Chris to cover him despite his injuries - when he breaks into the gun cabinet he throws Chris the shotgun, but doesn't appear to take a gun for himself. 

In SOUVENIR, at the site where they dug up the box, Chris takes out the guy with the gun who gets the drop on Sam. 

And although not protecting Sam, in MISS HIT Chris puts himself between Franco and the hitman, despite having already taken a bullet in the chest (albeit with a bulletproof vest on - it must still have hurt). His first reaction is to turn back to Franco and keep him covered until the firing stops
jw 28. Februar 2000
 
 

Comment (by rg)
Doing things...acting fast...fighting...protecting without further thought...Here is Chris in an emergency. Straightforward guy. action-type. Fights as easy, as he would open a beer-bottle...The american par excellance - somehow. Is it an american way of life, to fight? Easy to read Chris Keel, you think. Easy-going...Then, here is this moment, where Chris is putting himself before Franco: protective...so dangerous for him. 

Another situation, Jill pointed out to me yesterday: "the fact that he managed to get the plane down without killing them both in Tusk Force, despite having no fuel, no altimeter and no visual indication of where the ground was. He was particularly calm and cool even when the plane was about to hit the ground - even the normally calm Sam was yelling at that point!" reliable...comes to my mind.

Okay. Perhaps like that: Fights to protect reliably

Further: Sam throws Chris the shotgun, without having one himself. Hmm. In a live-threatening situation, you give first your partner the weapon. Sam must really believe... ah... and not only believe, this is not enough in this situation - he must know, that he can absolutely rely on Chris... Also: Chris is badly injured and very handicapped with his broken leg - especially in this situation, where Mavoys people are ready to jump on both...physically, Chris cannot defense himself and his partner properly and only Sam is in a position to move efficently...so: Chris will have the gun, Sam will have to move - Sam relying completely on Chris ability, to protect his back, and Chris is exactly doing that. Fine with me...

rg 8. März 2000