And now...she'd saved his life, had stuck out her hand in the nick of time and kept him from being blown away by the violent winds of that horrific storm. She'd saved him, and in turn, he'd made the shot that had begun the chain reaction, which had ultimately saved them all.

Then, afterwards, when he couldn't stop thanking Sabine over and over, she'd made him feel as though what she'd done didn't give him any reason to treat her any differently. Surely, he would have done the same for her.

He wasn't satisfied with just his simple, 'thanks.' How was he supposed to make it up to her? Ezra had no idea. As if exactly on cue, Chopper rolled into the youth's quarters, thinking he was just the one to give the kid advice, having overheard Ezra voicing his predicament aloud. As if the spunky droid knew all about such things.

"Sure, I could save her, would in a heartbeat. She knows I'm always looking out for her," Ezra let out uneasily. "We're always looking out for each other. Having each other's backs. That's what this crew is about!" Throwing up his hands at the machine, who studied him, Ezra glowered. "I so want to save her from getting killed." He gasped. His willy-nilly thoughts ahead of thinking rationally. "But that would mean I want something bad to happen so I can save her. I don't ever want anything bad happening to Sabine. I-" He shut his mouth, almost blurting how much he loved his bouncy, vivacious Mandalorian beauty. Of course, if he broadcasted mushy stuff like that to her, she'd just think he'd been hanging upside down too long. He'd shown her what he liked doing, when he was bored, and ever since, Sabine would give him sideway looks, hinting that too much blood had gotten to his head.

He shook his head, tossing himself into his bunk. Into his pillow, he confessed, "I love Sabine so much, it hurts." Then he groaned, hearing how that sounded.

Impossible...

Knowing what to say, just how to say it, and when, had him tied up in knots, all 'shook up.' If his feelings had been visible, they would have appeared as throbbing, messy smack-gel that glowed. The kind of gunk Asorians loved throwing at one another in a sloppy food fight. Not that anyone other than an Asorian could eat the stuff. If a human did, it could kill him or her. The graveled Asorians couldn't get enough of the plentiful food.

Ezra had bought her those art supplies, but having done that, it wasn't enough, not nearly enough. A life debt was one of those things one never forget they owed.

Chopper waved his wands, adamantly aware that the kid was no longer paying him any mind. Typical. This had always been a private one-sided conversation anyway. Not actually taking great offense, the droid wheeled himself out of Ezra's place, not so much offended as resigned. Who really took him seriously unless there was something that needed fixing? Then it was 'Chopper, tend to this!' Or, "Chopper, straigthen that out! Less yapping, more fixing-and be quick about it!'

Scooting his way to his recharging chamber, a little off from the spacious common room, the droid stopped short. He couldn't help noticing another crew member was babbling to herself, all alone. What had come over some of them? Carrying on conversations and no one anywhere nearby. Chopper peeked into Sabine's room, making himself as inconspicuous as was 'droidly' possible, listening closely. What was she saying?

Pacing, she muttered, "I could have lost him, in that moment. If I hadn't latched onto him." Her voice shook worse; Chopper didn't recognize it, the way it sounded, anxious, full of fear. "I don't know what I'll do if I lose him. He's the best friend, best guy friend I've ever had. He's genuine, sincere, and really cute. The cutest guy I've ever known. But, it's not just 'cause he's cute. Ezra Bridger gets me. He really understands what I'm about. He accepts me for who I am. How great is that?"

Chopper yearned to spill what he knew about how Ezra felt, but for once, he kept as quiet as a Datooine mouse, the kind that if the the pesky varmint got under foot, they would sneak into one's clothes and proceed to construct a nest. They were tiny creatures, nearly impossible to spot with the naked eye. Plentiful in grasslands, they thrived by rivers and lakes. They reproduced like flies. It wasn't long before they had adapted to living close to life forms unknowingly supplying them food they didn't have to forage. They were expert pilferers. No one was aware, except Chopper, that there were several of them aboard the Ghost.

Sabine renewed her heartfelt monologue with a sigh. "Knowing Ezra, he feels indebted. Naturally. But, that doesn't mean he owes me anything. If he wants to talk about it, 'cause he loves talking to me about everything, I'll make sure he understands that we're even. He doesn't owe me, but I owe him. I owe him my gratitude. Since he's come into my life, nothing's been the same. I don't know if we'll ever be in a lasting relationship, but what we have is good for right now. That's all I can commit to, coming from where I've been."

When Sabine shot her gaze over to where she'd thought she'd heard something, Chopper, having made himself scarse on the double, was gone.

His circuits humming, like they were about to fry, he continued on his clanking way, his electrical thought process going great guns. Keeping it low, he chirped...'It's a wonder those two haven't gotten killed sooner, the way they are. What's their problem? Tell each other already-or I will.'

But then the barrel-shaped droid knew better. What did a machine know about organic emotions? A machine had no heart. Chopper made what passed for a sigh close to his destination. The sound of running feet dragged him from his reverie and he spun around to face his pursurer.

"Hey, Chopper." Ezra's behavior and appearance gave the impression that he'd just gone a round with an Inquisitor. "I need your help!"

'No rest for the wired,' the droid internally considered, whistling sharply then at Ezra, who threw him a broken look that screamed, "now!"

Chopper thought: If it's adjusting a weapon, running a system check on a unit, troubleshooting the shields, I'm on it. Your struggles with Sabine-kid, you're on your own!