A/N: This is a modern AU story! The Soviet Union still exists as well as the cold war but it has just been going on until present day. Characters are also gonna be AU with me changing, adding and not using certain facts about them. This is my warning. If you don't like the idea of me changing stuff then don't read. So instead of the 1980 Olympics they would have won the 2014 Olympics.

2009

On a damp rainy April night in a little green townhouse in Charlestown, Massachusetts a little 10 year old girl lay in her bed crying. It wasn't a bed but more of a mattress on top of another mattress with blankets and pillows thrown all across it. Her family didn't have a lot of money for real furniture. Whatever money was made went to her Dad for his alcohol or for her mother's heroine. So simple pleasures like a bed frame or a dresser were not found in this house. Food was also a thing that was sometimes forgotten by her parents because they were more worried about when their next beer or shot of heroine would come from instead of their next meal.

The girl sobbed harder as she heard more yelling and screaming from downstairs. She was scared. Whenever her daddy and mommy drank or did drugs they got very violent and would go after her, her brother or sometimes each other. The most common person to go after however was her older brother, Jack, who was 16 years old and who was downstairs with them right now. He always protected his little sister when their parents got violent sending her to her room and taking all the punches. He always likes to joke, "I'm a hockey player. I can take a punch or two." When Jack isn't home and mommy and daddy hit her and Jack turns red with anger and comforts her before going to pick a fight with them and how they should treat their daughter.

"I told you to watch your fucking mouth!" booms a loud and deep voice before she hears a really loud slap. A few seconds later she can hear scuffling and a fight break out downstairs.

"You show better listen to your father next time!" a shrilly woman's voice screams. The little girl didn't know why they were mad but she thinks it has something to do with her brother bringing some hockey friends over named Jimmy, Dave and Mike. Jack has had them over a bunch of times when their parents weren't home and they were very nice to her. They were kind of like brothers to her in a weird and strange way. They always let her hang out with them and brought her everywhere they went like the hockey rink or the diner down the street.

The little girl lies in bed for a little while and finally the screaming and banging stops and the house is left in a dead tense silence. The little girl sniffled not wanting to make any noise and draw attention to herself. She hears her door creak open and looks up as Jack walks in with bruises starting to form on his left cheek as well as a bloody nose.

"Shhhhh. Shhhhhh. Don't cry." Jack coos as he shuts the door and rushes over gathering his little sister in his arms. "It's alright Kacey. I'm here."

"You guys were fighting again and were very loud. I was scared they were gonna hurt you." the girl sniffled and rubbed her nose before returning her arm to its previous position around Jack's neck.

"I know but it's over now. I'm ok and it's over." he says softly slowly standing up cradling the girl in his arms before walking into the hall bathroom and wetting a wash cloth to wipe away the tear streaks on the girl's face.

"You need this more than me." she argues shoving the wash cloth away and pointing at her brother's bleeding nose.

Jack gives a light chuckle. "Oh do I?"

"Yes you do." the little girl responds stubbornly and takes the wash cloth from his hands and starts to wipe her brother's nose.

"Ok. Ok. I got it. Sheesh." Jack grumbles taking back the wash cloth and continuing wipe his face off using the cracked bathroom mirror. The little girl sits on the toilet silently and watches her older brother.

"Jack?"

"Hmm?"

"Why do you always have to get in fights with Mom and Dad?" she asks in a small voice.

Jack sighs putting down the wash cloth and gripping the edges on the sink. "Mom and Dad need to be reminded about some things sometimes and they don't like being reminded. They just get mad when I remind them that's all."

The little girl didn't believe this but didn't want to press her brother for more information. They sit in silence for a few moments before Jack starts moving.

"Ok little lady it is way past your bedtime." he informs her as he picks her up again and brings her back into her room which is also his room. Jack sets her down on her make shift bed tucking her in with old ratty blankets and handing her an old teddy bear she had gotten when she was 4.

"Go to sleep now." He says softly stroking the girl's head.

"Jack?"

"Yes Kacey?"

"Will we ever be safe from Mom and Dad?"

Jack pauses. "Yes. One day. As long as I'm around I'm not gonna let them lay a finger on you."

"But who is gonna protect you?" she asks in a small voice.

"Well, I don't need, uh protection. I'm a hockey player. I can take a punch or two." Jack responds trying to give her a little care free smirk.

"I'm being serious Jack." the girl argues in a serious tone.

"And I'm being serious too." Jack could tell by his younger sister's face that she wasn't buying it.

"You can't keep getting beaten like this. What if you get really hurt or worse?" Kacey's voice gets quiet and shaky on the last word.

"It's better me than you." Jack states simply. Kacey looks down and feels tears start to fill her eyes.

"It's not fair."

"Life is never fair." Jack tells her softly and then pauses. "Look no matter what happens in the next few days just know that I love you more than anything else and that you don't ever forget that."

"Why are you saying this? What are you going to do?" questions Kacey looking up at her older brother.

"I'm gonna run away. See if I can crash with a friend for a few days before trying to get on my feet somehow. As soon as I get on my feet I'm gonna come and get you." Jack tells the little girl while searching her face to see if she was understanding what he was saying to her.

Kacey is quiet for a few moments. "You will come back for me right?"

"Of course. I would never abandon you with these people." Jack answers reassuringly. "As soon as I can get us a safe place to live I will be coming right over here to get you. Now go to sleep. It's getting very late."

Jack stands up and shuts the light out before starting to make his way over to his own make shift bed.

"Jack?"

"Hm?"

"Can you stay with me for tonight?"

"Of course I can." he responds. "Now move over!" he whisper yells as he shuffles onto the bed with Kacey and gets under the blankets. They lay in silence for a few minutes before Kacey speaks.

"Jack, promise you will come and get me?"

"I promise."