What does a tenant do when a landlord leaves the country for 3 months and does not give a backup to answer questions/fix things? I'm moving out before they return and have found out they never return security deposits! Need to be prepared for court?

How do you know the LL will be out of the country for 3 months? He/she told you this before leaving? You should have asked this question before he/she left.

A landlord is not obligated to be available to "answer questions". If in fact there is something which needs to be fixed, there are procedures for witholding the cost of doing so from the rent, in certain states and under certain circumstances.

With respect to security deposits, and again depending on your jurisdiction, there may be requirements regarding giving the tentant an itemized statement of charges against the deposit within a certain time frame. Check the laws in your state.