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It was in the middle of a trial. Jason, or Tony, depending on how you knew him tried to get the lawyer’s attention. He coughed to gain their attention, but even when he had their attention he couldn’t stop coughing.
He couldn’t breathe, he was coughing too hard for that. The judge was trying to get order in the court, but no one was paying attention they were all focused on him as he collapsed on the ground still coughing, still struggling to breathe.
Someone tried to give him the heimlich to no avail. He wasn’t choking, just coughing. He ended up on the floor. An emergency team was brought in and he was taken to the hospital.
Benny and Marissa rushed to the hospital as soon as they could. Fortunately, court had been called for the day due to the disturbance, so they weren’t far behind the ambulance. They heard a stentorian voice demanding, “Where is my husband? I know he was brought in here.”
A nurse took the man away as they entered the waiting room. “Dr. Bull, please,” Marissa asked the receptionist.
She nodded. “A nurse will be here to take you to his room shortly.”
Benny and Marissa exchanged glances as they realized that the man asking for his husband was seated right next to Dr. Bull’s bed and holding his hand. “Dr. Bull?”
“I’m fine,” Tony coughed. “Just an old injury.”
“Who’s this?” Benny asked, gesturing towards the man holding Tony’s hand.
“Gibbs,” The man grunted. “His husband.”
Marissa and Benny shot confused looks at Dr. Bull. “When did you get married?”
”Heh.” Jason looked over at Gibbs, his eyes shining with his love. “About ten years now?”
Benny blinked. “Is that why the marriage with my sister didn’t work out?”
“One reason among others.” Tony shrugged.
“Are you ok?”
“Yeah. I don’t need to be here, but Jethro’s a little over protective.”
“You had the plague, Tony. I have a right to be.”
“Tony?” Marissa furrowed her brow.
“An old name, from a lifetime ago.” Tony waved dismissively.
“Plague?” Benny interrupted. “How did I not know about this?”
“It happened a long time ago. Jethro’s just a worrywart.”
“You had a coughing fit in open court because of the scarring on your lungs, I think I’m allowed to worry, Tony.”
Tony squeezed Gibbs hand. “I’m fine, Jethro.”
”When will you be out?”
“Hopefully in a few hours.”
“Try a few days, DiNozzo,” Gibbs growled.
Tony sighed and shot Marissa a see what I have to put up with look.
“We’d better go make sure court is going fine.”
“Keep me updated.”
Marissa nodded. Chuck and Cable also visited Dr. Bull, but it was obvious that they’d been forewarned about Gibbs. Tony wondered what rumors were making their way around TAC, but that would be tomorrow’s problem. For now, he was just going to enjoy one of the few quiet moments he had with his husband these days, now that they worked different jobs.