Congratulations on your first hit and may you never get another
I guess one of the advantages of getting bent in civilised countries is that you get to go for a chopper ride! Out here, the best you get is a speed boat (if you are in range)
What seems strange is how you spread your deco time though. Normally for 24 minutes deco, I will have 12min from 21-9 and 12min. on 6-3.
What you described sound more like a profile where you would use oxygen on 6 meters.
Basically, it is great you got out fine and especially happy that nothing adverse happened to your buddy.
It seems that we can learn from this incident too by how you felt before and then during the dive! Very interesting note on your behalf.
I agree with Kev, as decompression illness is a serious medical condition, even slight bends can have after effects and a good old table 5 never hurt a sole. I am very glad, that you have not experianced any relapses.
Dive safe