Thanks for all the great comments! Sorry it took a little longer this time. Hope you enjoy!

Eren was wearing his pants under the infirmary gown when Levi returned. The younger soldier looked relieved to see him.

"Everything all right?" Levi asked.

"Yeah," Eren answered. "Doctor Bradford came back once. He showed me the lavatory and got me some water."

"Good. Armin and Mikasa know to be cautious, but I haven't told them the particulars of what happened. They won't allow anyone the opportunity to catch them unawares."

"Okay." Eren still looked concerned, but less so than before. "Just in case... would you check on them now and then?"

"I can probably do that. Erwin's given me leave to stay with you as long as nothing urgent comes up."

Eren sighed quietly. "I don't know what to do. I feel like I should go out with the others like usual..."

"That's not a good idea. You need rest to make sure you heal and don't strain yourself."

Eren looked down, blushing slightly. He was obviously thinking of what Bradford had told him about probable tearing inside, and how he needed to do his best to discourage infections. "I just feel kind of useless."

"I'm not sure I can help you with that." Levi sat beside Eren again. "If there's anything I can do, just ask."

After a short silence, Eren said, "Well, I do want to take a bath, or at least a shower. But I don't want to run into anyone..."

"The bathroom in the officers' quarters is a lot more private. You can bathe there."

"Really?"

"We won't broadcast it; if anyone finds out you're in there, I'll make an excuse."

"O-okay. Is now a good time?"

"As good as any." Levi got Eren's shirt and jacket off the shelf and handed them to him.

Eren got out of the gown and pulled his shirt over his head before shrugging on his jacket.

"Do you have everything?" Levi asked him.

"Yeah; I think so. Oh, but we need to remember to get my other clothes and sheets to Doctor Bradford."

"We can do that later."

Levi led Eren out of the infirmary and over to the main entrance to the officers' quarters, rather than through his own private door. People would be less curious this way, if they were noticed.

There was no one around inside, and they got down the hall to the bathroom without being spotted.

"Wow," Eren said, looking around. "You actually have individual tubs..."

"Yeah, we're damn spoiled over here," Levi said. "Sorry the tubs aren't curtained off."

"That's okay... as long as you're here, I'm not worried about it."

He had thought his presence was what would worry Eren, but apparently it was just the opposite. He started the water running in the tub furthest from the door. "There's soap here. I'll get you a towel and wash cloth. Anything else you need?"

"Just peace and quiet," Eren said. "Thank you... for all your help."

"There's no need to thank me. Do you want me to wait outside?"

"I'd rather you stayed in here... if that's okay."

"That's fine." Levi went to a shower stall and got out a low stool. Some of the men preferred to sit in the shower, which was understandable for the elderly or those with health problems, but for soldiers, Levi thought it was impractical. Knowing that it might not be completely sanitary, he spread an extra towel over it before sitting down in front of the tub, facing the door.

When the tub was full enough a few minutes later, Eren turned off the water and stepped into its comforting warmth. "I'm in... it's okay if you want to turn around."

Levi turned parallel to the tub so he could still keep an eye on the door.

"This is really nice... I don't think I've had a real bath for years; just showers."

"Like I said, the officers are spoiled."

"Well, I don't know how it is in other squads, but I know our officers work hard. You deserve it."

For a while, Eren's scrubbing the wash cloth over himself and the dripping and quiet sloshing of water were the only sounds. Then Eren said, "I'm going under the water, so... don't worry if I don't come up right away."

Levi glanced at him as he gripped the sides of the tub and moved forward, preparing to lie down. He put his hand over Eren's. "Take my hand."

Eren looked up in surprise.

"I want you to hold it tightly, as long as you're all right."

"C-Captain, I'm not going to try to drown myself."

"Humor me."

Eren let go of the tub and took Levi's hand, not looking at him. "Okay," he said quietly. He took a deep breath and sank back into the water.

Levi watched Eren's warm, damp hand, concentrating on the pressure Eren was maintaining. He began to count and got up to twenty before Eren tugged on his hand to help himself back up. Once he was upright, Levi let go.

Eren wiped at his eyes with his fingers until Levi offered him the dry towel he had laid out for him.

"Thanks," Eren said, pressing the corner of the towel to each eye in turn. He combed his hair back from his face and sighed. "Do I need to get out soon, or...?"

"You can stay in there as long as you want... just don't dissolve."

Eren smiled a little. "Okay."

It was a few minutes before Eren spoke again, tentatively. "Hey, Levi?"

"Hm?"

"Does this... kind of thing happen often?"

No. Not in our squad, at any rate... not that I'm aware of. Would any of those things make Eren feel better about his situation? Or worse?

"It's just that," Eren went on, "Doctor Bradford seemed like he'd done that procedure before. Maybe a few times."

"He has," Levi confirmed.

"For other men?"

"A couple of women. One other man. I wish it were unheard of in the Survey Corps, but to tell the truth, it probably happens more than we know because people are reluctant to report it."

"That makes sense."

"I've thought about taking some sort of preventive action, but I'm not sure what would be effective. I never thought... those men on loan to us-"

"It's not your fault, Captain."

Levi sighed. "I know," he said quietly. "Not directly, at any rate."

After another silence, Eren said, "I'm ready to get out."

"All right." Levi turned toward the door again while Eren got out of the tub, dried off and put his clothes back on.

Eren pulled the tub's plug. "Now what should I do?" he asked. "If I can't train today..."

"You should clean out the tub," Levi said emphatically. "Don't just leave it to drain like that. Do you know how disgusting it is to come along, ready to take a nice bath, and find a lot of residue in the tub?"

"Uh... no, sir. I mean, yes, I'll clean it up," Eren stammered.

Levi waited until Eren completed his task; then he inspected the tub. "I suppose it will do," he said. "It's nearly time for lunch. Come with me."

They ate in the officers' dining room. The inspectors were there, along with Erwin, Hanji and Mike. Levi and Erwin fielded most of the inspectors' questions and small talk, much as Levi despised chatter. At last, they finished and got away again, and Levi took Eren straight to his own sleeping quarters.

"This is... your room?" Eren asked, looking around with an expression of awe.

"This is it." Levi cast his eyes about. Everything was in its place, which was essential for such a small living space. He lived simply, but comfortably. "You can take a nap if you want. You should try to rest."

"I don't think I could sleep right now."

"I'll wager anything my bed is more comfortable than the bunk you've been sleeping in."

Eren smiled slightly again. "Yeah, probably... I'm just not sleepy."

Levi wasn't sure he was telling the truth; he probably hadn't gotten much sleep the night before; but he let it go. "Do you play chess?"

"Mm... not really. I kind of know how, but I'm no good at it."

"How about cards?"

He shook his head.

"Would you like to learn chess?"

"You'd teach me?"

"If you like."

"Okay."

Levi dragged his small table to the bedside. "You sit on the bed," he said, going back for a chair.

Eren pulled off his boots before sitting on the edge of the bed. He waited while Levi got out his board and set up the chessmen.

"Levi?"

"Yes?" Levi answered as he settled into his chair.

"What happened to that other guy... the man Doctor Bradford had to perform the exam on?"

Levi busied himself straightening the pieces so that they all faced front, perfectly in line. "He's still in the Corps," he said at last.

After a moment, Eren asked, "Is he okay?"

Am I okay? I haven't really thought about it lately. "He's taking one day at a time."

"Sounds like you know him."

"I do."

"I'm sorry."

"Yeah, me too." Levi looked up. "Ready to play?"

Eren nodded.

Yup, suspenseful angst. You're welcome.