Sam had gotten so deeply engrossed in researching the swords that he didn't hear dean enter the room. He started when a bottle of beer was thunked loudly on the table near his elbow.
"Dammit Dean!" Sam said settling back in the chair to send a completely new bitch face at his brother.
"Must be some really interesting reading there Sammy." Dean said "You didn't even hear me open the door and those hinges are screaming for a shot of WD-40."
"Yeah well it seems Michael's sword has surfaced before." Sam said taking a swig of the beer and clicking on one of the open tabs on the computer. "The first time anyone connected it to Michael, a shepherd by the name of David used it to cut of the head of the Philistines greatest Champion."
"David and Goliath?" Dean asked skeptically. "I thought David killed Goliath with a slingshot."
"Actually he just cold cocked him with a stone using the slingshot, then he cut off his head." Sam said. "The next time the sword surfaced it was in the hands of a Roman Officer by the name of Artorius Castus."
"Excalibur is Michael's sword?" Dean asked. That earned him another bitchface.
"Dean let's leave your choices in movies out of it. The texts call it the Sword of David, not Excalibur and nobody pulled it out of a rock. Okay?" Sam asked.
"The sword ended up in Constantinople after Christianity swept through the Roman Empire." Sam said clicking open another tab. "Unfortunately it can be used for evil too." Sam pointed to the page where a depiction of an armored man held a familiar looking sword. Under the picture was the name Vlad Tepes. "Vlad Tepes had it for a while. The Romanian people see him as a hero even though he was the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula. Vlad did unify his people and free them from Hungarian oppression while leaving a trail of impaled corpses in his wake. It remained hidden somewhere in Europe after Vlad's death until it was rumored to have been found during World War I by a young soldier in the Bavarian Army named Adolph Hitler."
"Wait are you telling me that Nazi asshat was one of Michael's Vessels? Bullshit!" Dean said.
"No, Hitler found another sword that he claimed was the Sword of David." Sam said touching the scabbard of Lucifer's sword. "This one."
"These swords have been involved in some of the most important events in history. They are at the center of history making events." Sam said. "I see why Gabriel left that warning to use them wisely. There's no telling how we might affect history if we're not careful."
"It's for your own protection Gabriel. Now stop whining." God said.
"Come on Dad. The Cage?!" Gabriel said. "I haven't done anything to deserve that!"
"Gabriel I'm not punishing you. You will retain your powers and it's temporary. Once Dagon has been dealt with I will release you." God said.
"And I have to put up with Mikey and Luci having their epic temper tantrum the whole time I'm there. That's a punishment." Gabriel said.
"Gabriel I know it hurts you to see them fighting. Maybe you should let them know that it hurts you." God said. "Or find a way to put a stop to it."
"Oh right, like they will listen to me." Gabriel said. "I tried talking to Lucifer and got stuck with my own blade for my trouble. He tried to kill me, I doubt he'll care about my feelings now."
"Gabriel, my mind will not be changed on this. Dagon has one option to find out about the cage, you. And he has already betrayed you after you defended him." God said then softened his voice. "You are the one who cast him into Purgatory. Do you think he will greet you with open arms, overflowing with brotherly love? He has had eons to fume and grow resentful."
"I know he's not gonna be happy about that." Gabriel said. "But to stick me with Tweedledee and Tweedledumb isn't fair either."
"I don't need to tell you that life is not fair, Gabriel. If it were all of Earth and Heaven would be a paradise. There would be no need for Hell. Castiel would never have fallen. The Winchesters would be living happy normal lives with white picket fences 2.5 kids and a family dog each. John and Mary would be doting on their grandchildren. All of those that have touched the lives of the Winchesters would be happy and healthy instead of dead and buried." God looked at his son. "No one is spared Gabriel. Not even me. If life was fair, I'd be a happy parent with children I could be proud of who didn't fight all the time."
God laid a palm on Gabriel's shoulder and the two entered the cage in a blinding flash that had Lucifer and Michael dropping to their knees at the presence of their father.
"I brought you some company." God said. "I trust you will behave yourselves."
"Gabriel! Father brought you back." Lucifer said. "I knew he would. After all we can't have an Apocalypse without little brother to fire the starting pistol."
"Gabriel, What did you do?" Michael asked giving Lucifer a glare. "Why is Father making you do penance?"
"I'm not doing penance, I'm in protective custody." Gabriel said snapping up a bag of Hershey's kisses. "Kemuel managed to get out of Purgatory. And since I'm the only one left walking around that knows anything about the cage Dad figures keeping me stuck in it will keep him from learning anything about it."
Lucifer let out a loud guffaw. "Karma's a bitch ain't little brother. Seems to me that you got your just desserts! After all who was it that told little Sammy Winchester how to open this damned thing?"
"Lucifer, for Father's sake, shut up!" Michael yelled. As he took a seat next to Gabriel.
"Why? I'm enjoying the fact that little brother finally tempted the bitch once too often?" Lucifer said. "Let him be just as miserable as we are."
"Don't blame him because you earned your spot in Club Dread here. That's all on you." Michael shot back.
"Will you two put a sock in it!" Gabriel yelled in his true voice causing the entire cage to tremble. "I'm so sick of your bullshit. Lucifer, Dad gave you an order and you disobeyed! And Michael you and your little God Squad decided to stage your own little private Apocalypse because you thought you could suck up to Daddy! I left Heaven because I was sick of all the freaking bullshit! No I'm stuck in here with you two morons for the foreseeable future and I'm not going to put up with it!"
Gabriel snapped his fingers producing two cages one on each side of the space occupied by one of his older brothers. "I'll let you out when you start acting your age!"
"That's rich coming from an Archangel who still acts like a toddler." Lucifer said.
"Gabriel, remove these bars immediately or so help me." Michael said.
"So help you what? You'll kick my ass?" Gabriel said. "Dad let me keep my powers down here so you two are going to have a cease fire whether you like it or not. This damned place is too small to put up with your massive egos."
"So you still have your powers?" Lucifer asked wheels turning in his head. "If I apologize for the whole stabbing you in the gut thing, can we get a TV? Maybe a little Cinemax After Dark?"
"I might be able to arrange a little something but...You have to swear an oath on your grace, no fighting." Gabriel said.
"Could we get Band of Brothers and maybe Platoon too?" Michael asked.
"The two of you swear the oath, and I'll make this place liveable for the duration." Gabriel said.
The two older Archangels glared at each other from across the room. After a moment or two they both swore that they would not fight at all while Gabriel was with them.
Gabriel looked around and snapped his fingers producing three very comfortable couches, a 90 inch LED TV with BluRay player and a bookcase full of BluRay movies and TV series. Lucifer and Michael each found themselves on the flanking couches while Gabriel was sprawled on the one in the center. Coffee tables appeared in front of the couches laden with snack foods, beer and wine.
Gabriel's face drew up into a frown. "Something's missing." He murmured before snapping his fingers and each of the brothers were flanked by two beautiful women. "That's better." He said biting into the Twinkie the woman on the left was holding up to his mouth.
"Gabriel!" Michael gasped scandalized by the cleavage now in his face.
"Lighten up Michael. For once in your prudish existence, live a little." Gabriel said.