"Nancy!" Milt called out as he sat bolt upright in the bed. He looked around at the empty room and reached up to his forehead to wipe away the beads of sweat.

"My God, this is crazy," he whispered. "I'm not going back to sleep, I refuse to have another dream." So he threw off the covers and got up, determined to take charge of the rest of the night. He walked to the window and glanced out. It was a peaceful night, with a half moon. Nothing looked out of place. He sighed and tried to think about something other than what he'd been dreaming about. Fishing maybe… no, that had started the whole mess. Tommy and that fishing pole. He smiled as he remembered the past.

"You can't live in the past son," said a voice from across the room.

Milt took a step back, startled. "Who are you?" he asked.

"I think you know Milton."

"Dad?"

"I'm sorry you've been through so much, and that I wasn't here to help."

"You couldn't exactly help it Dad," Milt answered and smiled. "Are you here to show me something too?"

"Yes Milton, and it's time to go."

Suddenly they were in a cemetery. Three people stood around a newly dug grave. As they approached, the minister began to walk away.

Hardcastle hung back, suddenly afraid. "Who are you Dad?"

"I'm the ghost of Christmas Future."

"Who's being buried?"

"Why don't you get closer and see."

As Milt approached, he could see Frank Harper and McCormick, each looking quite a bit older, standing side by side.

"I'm surprised to see you here Mark, how did you even find out, aren't you living in Nevada now?"

"Yeah, but I try to keep tabs on him... I owe him a lot Frank. I wish he'd let me keep in touch after my parole was up."

"Yeah, he just kind of kicked you out didn't he?"

"He never let me get very close to him."

"He never really got over losing his family," Harper offered.

"I could've been his family Frank. If he would've just opened up a little, I know I could've" he paused, "well, it doesn't matter now anyway."

"I guess not."

"Was he alone at the end?" McCormick asked softly.

"Yeah, he was. The housekeeper found him slumped over his desk. He'd been dead for about a week."

"He deserved better than that."

"Yeah, he did. Hey, you wanna get a cup of coffee?" Frank asked.

"That'd be nice, thanks."

And the two walked away together.

"Not found for a week? Is that how it all ends?" Milt asked his father.

"Maybe, but it doesn't have to. You have a chance to change this. This does not have to be your future."

Silence.

"McCormick. He's my chance to have… something more, isn't he?"

"It's time for me to go, son."

And the apparition was gone.