Follow You Down - Bethyl Fanfiction

It Ain't If, It's Because

The dark attempted to invade the cell, however Dr S had set up lamps around the small room to keep a dim glow, just light enough so whoever was watching over Daryl would be able to see his chest rising and falling. Once the others had left, Beth stayed very still by the side of the bed for a while, unsure of how to begin. Daryl's eyes wandered to the top bunk, breathing heavily still, air dragging rasps out of his throat. Beth winced at the sound as if it was coming from herself. No she would not cry in front of him. She would be strong.

Taking a breath, the youngest Greene scooted the bowl closer and reached for the sponge that was floating in the sloshing water. Squeezing the sponge a few times and letting it re-soak, Beth debated where to begin. Finally deciding, she raised the sponge to his forearm, her other hand taking his to hold his arm out. Those cold fingers twitched around hers weakly before releasing, making Beth's eyes flutter. Moving gently but with purpose, she began cleaning the blood, mud and sweat from Daryl's arm, working her way around and over his hand, soaking him in the soapy suds. Looking up to check on his reaction, Beth saw his eyes had close and his lips tilt upwards a little as she continued, dropping the sponge an using her fingers to clean between his. Daryl's hands were rough, she already knew that. But when drenched they became softer, smoother, the dry skin hidden beneath the wetness. A quiet noise hummed from the archer and Beth looked up at him again, but his eyes were still closed and he said nothing. Maybe it was just from the pain. Maybe.

Beth started to hum quietly to herself as she worked up his arm to his shoulder, eyes trailing over the curvature of his large set bicep and did the same to his other arm, which he offered limply. It was a tune she remembered from before the end of the world, as most of them were. A classic song within her household. With both arms done, Beth rose onto her knees over him and moved his hair out the way. His eyes opened slightly again to look at her, but she didn't make eye contact with him, avoiding facing her emotions that she would see reflecting in his eyes.  Forehead downwards she instructed herself and started to clean Daryl's face. Those eyes closed again and Beth found herself singing the lyrics quietly as she worked.

"I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep my eyes wide open all the time
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds
And if  you're mine, I'll walk the line"

Beth ran the sponge over his chin and mouth, clearing away the blood and dirt. His tongue followed the motion of the sponge, running over his lips before taking another heavy breath. Beth let the sponge float in he water and dipped her thumbs in instead. Placing her hands on either side of Daryl's face, her thumbs rubbed over his eyelids, wiping them clean. She could feel him tense under her hands at the touch and bit her bottom lip, stopping her song for a moment to let his reaction sink in. The more Beth cleaned him, the calmer she felt. She began to accept his safety and his stable condition. He was really there, really alive and reacting to her cleaning him as if she was caressing him lovingly. It must be the sedation medication. He was just out of it, surely. Beth returned to the sponge and started on his neck working down to his collar bones.

"I find it very, very easy to be true
I find myself alone when each day is through
Yes, I'll admit that I'm a fool for you
And if you're mine, I'll walk the line"

Despite being feather light on Daryl's chest, the archer still creased his face in pain and let out sharp breaths, making Beth pull her hands back every time, stopping her song to apologise repeatedly. It was a slow process but eventually his chest and abdomen were clean and the bandages didn't look so out of place. Beth continued down, fingers trembling and cheeks reddening as she cleaned his stomach. Keeping her eyes on her work, the young woman flinched as the back of Daryl's hand found her arm, resting against it. She realised he was silently urging her on and that he must have sensed her nervousness. Beth was certain her face must have been glowing red, but she was turned away from him enough that even if he was looking, he wouldn't see. Beth ran the sponge over his hips, along his waist where the blanket rested. Her fingers followed the rise of his hips and the fall to his stomach, trailing after the sponge as it cleaned the dirt from the soft mousey hair that covered his torso. Beth's breathing hitched as she saw Daryl's stomach muscles tense at her touch and heard the resulting groan of pain.

"As sure as night is dark and day is light
I keep you on my mind both day and night
And happiness I've known proves that it's right
And if you're mine, I'll walk the line"

"Because you're mine." Daryl mumbled quietly. Beth sat back and turned to him. He was looking at her through half closed eyes. 
"What?" 
"It's Because you're mine. Ain't if you're mine."
"Oh." Beth murmured. Of course she already knew that. Beth sometimes changed lyrics so they suited her better. The uncertainty, the nervousness the if's. And Daryl had noticed. He then closed his eyes, gave her a small smile and sang quietly in his raspy low voice,

"Because you're mine, I walk the line."

Another chapter! Thank you for reading this far, there will be more coming. I had a mad few weeks but I'm back! The song used in this chapter was of course Johnny Cash's I Walk The Line, written by June Carter. See you in the next one.