"Lucifer, I'm not..." His cheeks began to color. He didn't now what to say, really. Yes, he would allow Gabriel to fight his own battles but... "It had been mine," the angel said quietly. "I pulled it from his body. I didn't want it to happen to him and I made the wrong assumptions about how to keep it from happening." Raphael looked up at him. "But it was still mine. It did not change the fact that I need to be able to protect my family. Because you are the Tempter and even though I see you as my brother and I love you, it does not change the fact that we are still fighting a war against each other."

Slowly inhaling, he continued. "I need it, Lucifer. I couldn't get Gabriel to understand and maybe nobody will, but it had been a part of me. A part of my subconsious that manifested that night. I want to be able to wield the dark power. Because you can't fight in the dark without seeing your battleground in the day."

He let him take it. "I realize I am asking you to give a weapon to your enemy, but as my brother, I ask you to please grant me this. As my brother. And I will do something for you. Please."