A/N: Takes place after the episode "Showdown". A goodbye to a recently lost veteran.

Curtain Call

You can go back home again, Brisco County Jr. thought to himself.

But that doesn't mean you can stay there. He was on a payroll, and even though he might not like the "Robber Barons" that paid his way, their aims and his were the same in one regard; bringing John Bly, criminal and killer of Brisco's own father, to justice. As he rode out of town he passed his old home again, one most recently owned by Mack Brackman until his departure in the custody of the U.S. Marshals.

Hideous wallpaper aside, it was the same house he had grown up in and known as home until he went back east to a university. As he sat atop his horse Comet, he thought how one thing hadn't changed from his childhood; the house still didn't have his father in it.

"I did the best I could" a voice said from his right. He turned and saw his father standing under a large oak nearby. He knew it wasn't solid, but the apparition was everything else that made up the man known as Brisco County, Sr. "Ruth was gone by then, and my work kept me away. Bob Cavendish did a good job taking care of you."

"I hardly remember mom."

"She was a helluva woman; she never complained about me being gone, although I know she didn't like it. She knew people like me had to make the country safe for families like ours. I think she'd be proud of you, boy."

"I hope so, dad. So are you popping in again with some hint about what I'll find next?" Jr. asked.

"Nope; came to say goodbye for the last time."

"The last time? I won't see you again?"

"You'll always have your memories of me, and I've tried to pass on everything I can. But memories are all you'll have now; I won't be making any more appearances, son."

"But dad, I already lost you once and I don't want to lose you again."

"Brisco!" the older man yelled.

"Sir!" the younger responded, sitting straight up in his saddle.

"I'm no Marine Sergeant but you need to man up, son. Now answer me this…what is the 'coming thing' you're so interested in?"

Jr. was confused; he had been looking to see what the next big thing was going to be and hadn't seen it yet. "How would I know, sir?"

"I already told you before not to answer a question with a question. Try again."

The younger man reconsidered and still didn't know, but at least he knew how to phrase the answer. "I don't know what the coming thing is."

"That's better. The answer is nobody does. Some people may make a good guess, but nobody knows for sure. That's why you can't lose focus on what the 'now thing' is. You got a chance here this past week to see what might be, but you've got something closer at hand. Dreaming is fine, but you have to be awake for what you're committed to doing. Now, what is that?"

"Bly."

"That's right. Now, I have to leave and you won't be seeing me again in your lifetime. That doesn't mean you won't be in my heart, and I hope the same can be said of you. Finish the job, and then move on to this 'coming thing' you are looking for. Find someone to help you look; you could do a lot worse than this Dixie girl or Annie. I love you, son."

"I love you to dad." Jr. blinked and the image vanished. "What did he mean my lifetime?" he thought.

The End

A/N: It occurred to me that we lost R. Lee Ermey recently, whose character also died in the series pilot. It seemed that he should have a final appearance in the episode where Brisco goes home and Memorial Day seemed like the perfect time.