Yes, here it is boys and girls and whoever else is reading this! The big one. The angst, the drama filled and Sabine getting a big d'oh! moment. In this oneshot, Ezra gets shot pushing Sabine out of the way and is stuck (shirtless by the way) in a bacta tank, unconscious. Sabine can't do anything, can't eat or sleep, and feels helpless. She won't leave his side, and as she watches over him she gets a realisation that she did not expect....
Oooh! How was THAT for a summary?
So get ready, because this is the one you've all been waiting for. Der her der. Me with the bad puns. Please tell me what you think, and I'm sorry I won't be able to update for a week or two because I'm off to India! Yes, back to the motherland I go. But don't fret! I've been especially good with updates so far, and I will resume when I come back. So hope you enjoy the story and I'll see you guys when I get back.
Here we goooooooo!

Kanan walked over to where Hera was standing, watching over the bacta tank and the scruffy looking mandalorian girl slumped on the cushioned seat beside it.
"I'm worried about her, Kanan," Hera said, the twilek's green eyes filled with concern. Kanan put an arm around her as the observed, but didn't approach.

"She knows he's going to be okay, but she hasn't moved from that seat in three days." Hera confided, her lekku curling and uncurling in anxiousness. The Jedi spoke in a low voice, "I know. Even though it could have happened to any of us, she blames herself for it."
Hera's voice was pained.
"She hasn't eaten, she hasn't slept - I know I'm not her mom, but we have to help her!"

They carried on watching as Sabine went up to the tank and let out a low moan. Because there, submerged in the bacta, was Ezra.
Clothed only from the bottom, the scar in his side was deep, but rapidly healing. His bare chest was brown and lean, and little scratches showed on his abdomen. He had had a tough life on the streets, and had been through a lot, but Sabine remembered the events of three days ago as if it was a tape playing over and over and over again in her mind. And she blamed only herself.

It was an ordinary mission. Get some valuable intel for their new base, nothing bad about that. Nothing to signify any more danger than usual. But the Empire was prepared. And Sabine knew she should have seen it coming. But she didn't. Only Ezra, force-sensitive Ezra, could sense the blaster bolt coming towards her, shooting at her from the back. He acted before he thought. He pushed her away, landing on top of her when the pain seared into his side. His eyes rolled to the back of his head and he screamed an inhuman scream. Sabine yelled, putting on her back with almost superhuman strength and telling him to hold on, and how sorry she was. She felt as though she were the one who was shot.
The last thing he mumbled to her before blacking out was, "Guess you owe me twice," and she knew with a plummeting feeling that he was referring to the Inquisitors. And as she watched the med-bots take him away when they were safely inside the fleet, her heart felt like it would rip open.

Seeing him like this now, aqua breather in his mouth and unconscious, seemingly a shell of his former self - it nearly broke her. She hadn't seen his smile in three whole days. She hadn't heard him make a bad joke, hadn't witnessed him trip over himself. She hadn't bickered with him or teased him. She'd give anything to have him back.
And she thought it was all her fault. If only she'd been faster, looked behind her, made sure he was safe...
This was a painful reminder that it wasn't some movie or game. This was real - and it left people hurt. The last thing she would ever want, she realised, was to see him hurt like this.
And the worst part? The waiting.
Waiting for him to wake up, for him to be okay. She couldn't do anything to take her mind off of it. She couldn't even bring herself to paint, it was that bad. When she tried, all she could see was his smile, his laugh - and it was too much to bear. He was the only thing on her mind, and it hurt.

It was then she realised, like a bolt of lighting had gone through her, how much she truly cared for him. They'd been through so much in so little time. He was still the cocky street kid that flirted and smiled at her when she met him - but he was more sure of himself, happier and fuller.
He was her family now, as much as any of them. And she could finally admit it to herself - he was more than an ally or a friend. He was family, her best friend and partner in crime.
And, dare she say it, she loved him.
She didn't know what 'romance' felt like, but the way she felt about Ezra? The butterflies swooping in her stomach whenever he did something cute or funny, the way he looked at her when she laughed, the fact that he was on her mind more than she liked to say, and most secret of all - her dreams featured him, sometimes. Could that be it? She's never told anybody about that, ever, and that was why she couldn't sleep. For fear that she'd wake up and he'd still be in a coma, and the only time she'd see him again would be in her dreams. There was much more - little things every day that didn't count for much when you looked at them one a t a time, but for Sabine they all counted up, and when she looked back at them she woke up to how much he liked her, and how much she actually liked him. Maybe it was more than that.
There were a lot of maybes. And Sabine knew that it was all so confusing - but it was starting to clear up. It only took Ezra not being with her to see it. How blind she'd been.

She looked up at him again, pressing her fingers to the glass. If her were awake, she knew what he'd say.
"Didn't know you cared so much, Sabine. You don't need to cry over me - I'm a big boy. I can take care of myself. You get some sleep now, and try not to dream about me. Everything's going to be okay."
Sabine sighed, massaging her temples. She was not about to hallucinate Ezra being there. She decided to take Daydream Ezra's advice and get some sleep.

Zeb walked in, bringing in her favourite food, a blanket and pillow as well as her sketch pad. She wanted to throw her arms around him, but had no energy left.

"Stop punishing yourself, Sabine. You need to eat and rest. Relax. It's what he'd want." Zeb said kindly. She felt tears prickle her eyes and tried to blink them away.
"He'd tell me that stuff and brag about his war wounds," Sabine choked out, and Zeb's ears folded, his eyes becoming catlike and sad. He wrapped a hairy arm around her, and age couldn't help but start to cry. Odd, since she never cried in front of anyone, usually - not even when Chopper was around. She normally held it all in and only ever let it out when she was alone. But Zen was her big brother, and so similar to her - gruff the outside, soft on the inside. And everything that she'd been holding in crumbled and flowed out of her in tears. She wept onto his fur, sobbing now, and he patted her hair, comforting her as well as he could.

She finally managed to stop and get a grip of herself.
"Sorry about that, Zeb. And - and thank you," she said shakily. Zeb smiled a tender, brotherly smile and grunted, "S'alright. This fur's very absorbent. You get some rest now, okay?"
She nodded and Chopper came in, blarping comfortingly.
"Hey Chop. You okay?" She asked, her eyes still red. Chopper made a few disbelieving buzzes, like you're asking ME? And then beeped sadly. Sabine nodded. "Yeah, I miss him too. No, no, I'm alright. I feel better now. Kinda."
Chopper and Zeb both sat with her, and she was glad for the company. She got along with Chopper more than any other crew member did with him. The cantankerous little droid had a place in her heart. And she strongly suspected that Chopper loved Ezra too.
She didn't realise how tired she was until Chopper pointed out the bags under her eyes, and Zeb covered her with the blanket.
"Sleep tight. We'll be back in the morning with breakfast." Zeb said, and they left without arguing for once.
They knew that no matter what's they said to her she wouldn't budget from the med bay, as they saw how bad she felt and how much she needed to watch over Ezra.
Sabine was more exhausted than she had been in a long, long time. She finally gave in, and took Ezra with her into her dreams.

Morning

Sabine's eyes fluttered open, and her worst fears were realised - Ezra was gone from the bacta tank. She sprung out of the chair, breathing hard. Where was he? Why had no one woken her up? What had happened?
And then the last voice she expected to hear came from behind her.
"I'm right here, Sunshine," said the weary but light and very familiar voice. She whipped around, and there he was, grinning weakly at her.

He was resting in the patient's chair, medbot at his side. His wound had completely healed, and he was in a white med gown. Her eyes widened and her throat blocked up. She couldn't speak, couldn't move. Was this... Was this real?
"Morning, sleeping beauty. Miss me?" He asked teasingly. In that instant she lunged towards him and threw her arms around him, grinning crazily, much to the medbot's disapproving, "Careful! The patient is still delicate! You should know this!"
He only laughed, "Woah there!" But hugged her back, feeling like a million credits.
She smiled a wide smile, full of relief, and started tearing up. He traced her cheek, as if in a dream and seeing if it was real, and to his disbelief it was. He saw her eyes fill up and he started,
"Hey now - I'm all better, see? Not even that much of a scar. I have to say, it masked me even more badass that usual."
She looked right at him, guilt and sorrow coming back.
"Ezra I'm so - "
He cut her off, placing a finger to her lips and shushing her.
"Shushhh. Don't say it. Don't be so hard on yourself. I did it for you to live, not to neglect yourself over me. Besides, I knew I'd be okay. Somehow. And I figured you'd owe me another one. Amongst other her things. Point is, it's not your fault. If anything it's the Empire's. I did it to protect you."

She felt herself release of all the fears and guilt she'd had over the past three days, and he smiled up at her.
"Ezra Bridger," she said. Nothing else, just his name, as thought it were something magical.
"That's me," he said, his voice sounding ragged.
They gazed into each other's eyes for a moment longer.

"So, um, do you wanna get breakfast? Because, seeing as I haven't eaten in three days, I am especially hungry. In fact, I could probably eat Zeb!" he exclaimed. She snorted.
"I doubt he'd taste very nice - not that I would know. And, um, will your bodyguard here allow you to get up?"
The medbot seemed to be glaring at her, until Ezra put on a sad face and said, "C'mon, buddy. Please? I'm reeeeeeally hungry. It's not good for my health if I'm hungry! That should be on your protocol, at least."
Ezra pouted even more, and the medbot huffed. "Fine. I will return for you in one hour. You need some more rest before you can function properly."
Ezra whooped and sat up so fast Sabine had to prop him up before he collapsed again. "Ahem. I'll, uh, take him from here. Thank you." She said to the grumpy medbot and they walked away, Ezra struggling a little but allowing Sabine to hold him, and feeling more comfortable than he should. It wasn't often a pretty girl helped him walk to get breakfast.
"Wow," she said in a low voice, "He's grumpier than Chopper. And I have to say, you were laying it on pretty thick back there. I'm almost impressed."
Ezra staggered a little as he laughed, and then stretched himself out. "Hoo. It's been a while since I've been on my feet. And what are you talking about? My charm impresses everyone. Including you. I know you were watching over me, Wren. And I gotta say, I wasn't expecting that. So.. Thank you."

She scoffed, trying to hide her embarrassment and ducking her head. "You should have. It's the least I could do. And you, with charm? Please. You couldn't charm the life out of a dead nerf."
"Ouch. That hurts right inside. My pride is trashed."

They went to meet Hera, Zeb, Kanan and Chopper.
Zeb grabbed him into a bear hug as soon as he caught sight of him, lifting him into the air with a big grin.
"Good to have you back, kid!" He yelled, and Ezra smiled while wincing. "Thanks, big guy. Ouch, watch the ribs, the ribs!"
Even Chopper put a mechanical arm around his waist, while Kanan ruffled his hair. Sabine beamed at all of them.
Hera guided Ezra to the chair and kissed the top of his head. She was the first to hug and mother him, but couldn't resist again.
"Go ahead, eat whatever you want," she said to him and he grinned happily. Then she whispered, "I haven't seen her up from that chair or smiling in three days. You've made her come alive again."
Ezra smiled. "You know it, Hera. Thanks," and he swiped a roll on Zeb's plate. Zeb swatted his hand, but the roll was already down Ezra's throat.
"When she said anything you want, it did not mean what's on my plate," Zeb growled, but good naturedly. They sat, and while Ezra made a big show of eating as Hera fussed over him (to his immense satisfaction), Kanan nudged Sabine.
"I see you're feeling better," he said, and Sabine blushed a little. "Of course. He's back," she responded, and she laughed as Ezra called at her with his mouth full and balancing a spoon on his nose with the Force. Kanan let him get away with it, this time.
"Everything's back to normal," she said, feeling that nothing was wrong anymore.
And it was back to normal. Except for one thing. Sabine had finally accepted how she felt about him.

Well howdy do! How was THAT? Also, for our next one, if you haven't seen The Mystery of Chopper Base then YOU REALLY SHOULD before reading this: I am pissed there was no sabezra goodbye. Like, come on Filoni! So I've decided to write one. Yay! And also AHHHHH because SEASON FINALE AND EVERYTHING GAH! Go watch it people! In the meantime, namaste from Dehli!