Marissa gave Bull a smile as she handed over a file.
"What's this?" Bull asked.
"Not sure. The guy that dropped it off said it was private and for your eyes only. Cable asked me what to do about it, so I'm handing it to you," answered Marissa.
Bull nodded. He opened the file, looked at it for a moment, then went pale and dropped the file onto the ground. He swayed a little as his head started swimming with memories he had tried to forget, and almost fell to the ground himself.
"Bull? Are you alright?" Benny asked worriedly as he lifted Bull back onto his feet.
"Yeah, I'm okay," said Bull. "Sorry about that, guys."
"It's alright," said Danny. "What was in the file?"
"Nothing…" Bull sighed. He picked up the file and handed it to Benny. "Tell them," he said, before turning around and retreating to his office.
With Bull gone, Benny opened the file to read the contents. For a second, he was confused about Bull's reaction, but then he realised why his boss had had such a strong reaction. There were two photos and some documents in the file, and, without reading the papers, Benny knew that the file had been sent by Isabella. The small photo was actually an ultrasound picture of their unborn baby that they had lost to a miscarriage. That would have been hard on Bull, but not the reason for his reaction. The second photo was the one taken by police a year after the miscarriage- the same day that the courts finally granted their divorce. Isabella had readily agreed to let Bull get his belongings that afternoon. When Bull, who had been unaccompanied by police, had gone to the home he had shared with his now ex-wife, Isabella had been waiting with her old friend- a huge guy that was angry with Bull for 'hurting' Isabella. Bull hadn't stood a chance, and probably would have been killed by the guy if Benny hadn't turned up for a visit with his sister. Benny had walked in on the guy beating up Bull, and when Benny had scared the guy off, he had found Bull barely conscious and already bruising all over. Benny had been furious with his sister, and that was when the rift had begun between them- Benny had been so angry with Isabella for hurting the man he considered a brother.
"Benny? What does Bull want you to tell us?" Chunk asked, bringing Benny back to the present.
Benny sighed. He looked up at the team he considered as his family, his eyes showing his pain and worry. "It's a really long story," he said.
"We're listening," said Cable. "Bull is our friend. We want to help."
Benny nodded. "Okay." He looked at Bull's office for a second, then looked back. "Today is the fourth anniversary of Bull's divorce. It's hard on him- he still has feelings for Isabella."
"We figured he did," said Marissa.
"Well, he keeps trying to fix their non-existent relationship. Every year, on this day, he calls Bella and tries to get her to resume their relationship. It never ends well. Most times, Bull is left with more emotional scars to deal with. Trust me, you don't want to see Bull like that. It's heartbreaking. I know that she's my sister, but when I see Bull like that, I want to kill Isabella."
"Has he tried today?"
"No. He won't do it at work, and I highly doubt it'll happen this time." Benny held up the file. "Bella sent this to him. Look at it before I explain anything else. I'm going to go check on Bull."
Marissa took the file from Benny and opened it. She spread the contents on the conference table, gasping when she saw the police photos of Bull. Tears sprang to her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She'd cry later, in her office, where she was alone. Right then, Bull needed the team to help him, and crying was not helpful at all.
"Is that Bull?" asked Danny softly. She lifted the photo gingerly, as if she would cause more damage just by touching the picture. "Who the hell would do this to him?"
"Yeah. Bull is the most kind, sensitive, funny man anyone has ever known. He wouldn't have done anything to warrant this kind of attack," added Cable.
"I'm guessing this is what Benny will explain," said Chunk. "We're going to find out as soon as he checks on Bull."
"Jason? Are you alright?" Benny asked after closing the door behind him. He looked around. "Where are you?"
"Couch," came Bull's quiet voice.
Benny moved further into the office and sat in the armchair that Bull normally sat in to talk to people. "Are you sure you want them to know?"
"They'll find out eventually. May as well tell them now."
"As soon as I tell them, the girls, and possibly even Chunk, are going to storm in here and cuddle you for as long as they can. They're going to want to wrap you in cotton wool for the rest of your life."
"I know."
"I want to wrap you in cotton wool, actually," joked Benny.
"Shut up," said Bull, with the slightest hint of amusement in his voice.
"I'm going to go out there and tell them now. Do you want to come out with me?"
"No."
Benny nodded. "Alright. I'll see you in a bit."
Benny sighed as he left his boss' office. He was going to have a hard time explaining everything, especially since the memory of seeing his best friend lying in a bloody heap on his sister's living room floor still made him want to cry. But he had to do it. Bull had asked him to do it, and he couldn't do what his sister had always done- made promises with no intention of keeping them.
"Guys, sit down," said Benny.
The team had already taken seats, the file now neatly packed up and sitting in the middle of the table.
"I know you must have a lot of questions, and I'll answer them, but not until I'm done talking." Benny took a deep breath. "Five years ago, Bull and Isabella were pregnant. Everything was going great, then Bella found herself bleeding. Bull took her to the hospital and stayed with her during every test and check-up the doctors deemed necessary. He did everything he could to look after her, but it didn't make a difference. A week later, Bella had a miscarriage. They lost the baby…"
Marissa sniffled as she looked at Benny. "Isabella blamed Bull, didn't she?"