Disclaimer: I don't own the X-Men, X-Men:Evolution or any of its iterations

A quick one shot – Scott talks to Kurt right after the episode 'Bada Bing, Bada Boom' where Tabby leaves the X-Men (Season 2 – Episode 3 or overall episode 16).

The Blame Game – Chapter 2 – It's All Your Fault

Scott was walking back to his room when he noticed Kurt sitting on his balcony outside his room. In the distance, Scott could see the last of the carnival rides had been disassembled. Mother Nature had reclaimed their shore line view of Bayville.

Scott can tell by the droop in Kurt's tail that he was depressed. It didn't take a detective to figure out what about. Boom Boom had left the night before.

Scott tried to start a conversation, "Hey Kurt – what's up?" The German teen didn't bother to turn around, "Nothing. Nothing at all." An awkward silence followed.

Scott tried again, "So did you have a good time at the fair?" You know - the one you weren't supposed to go to?

"It started out ok, I guess." Again an awkward pause. Scott didn't need telepathy to see it in his friend's shoulders - but it ended with her leaving.

"Listen, nice job on the rescue of the money."

Kurt turned from the balcony and walked back into his room. "But I couldn't save what was important."

Her.

She had been teasing him for the past several days – returning his attention where Kitty never would. He needed to be careful – she was a user – someone who would walk all over you if you gave them a chance. He thrived on the challenge of sparring with her and he really liked showing her the ropes around the mansion. He wasn't the newbie any more – somebody else was. Somebody very pretty in his eyes.

Kurt finally turned to Scott, "Rumor has it Taryn has set her sights on you."

Whoa – where did that come from? "It was just a ferris wheel ride – nothing serious. Just some friendly conversation." Kurt kept talking as he looked away again. "But it was nice, wasn't it. Someone taking notice of you. Someone interested in you for a change."

Scott reluctantly had to agree, "Yeah – for a change."

Suddenly Kurt blurted out, "It's all my fault. I should have tried harder. If she thought somebody cared, somebody was watching out for her - maybe she would have stayed."

Scott was surprised at his friend's revelation. He knew he should say something – something better then 'That's what makes us X-Men.'

A thought occurred to Scott but he wasn't sure he should go with it. But anything had to be better then letting his friend stew in misguided self-pity. Maybe it would get him talking – and he wouldn't be so angry at himself.

Here goes nothing. "Maybe you're right. Maybe it's your fault." He waited but did not get a rise out of Kurt.

Scott went on,"Just like the flower that died in Ororo's garden. And my brake light burning out today. And Jamie's handheld game getting lost. And Rogue's bad hair day. All that is your fault too."

Kurt looked at Scott – wondering what the heck he was talking about.

Scott shrugged. "Sorry – my lame attempt at humor. What I'm trying to say is there are things you can control and things you can't. Sometimes it's hard to tell which is which."

Kurt showed no sign of being convinced.

Scott tried one last time. "I had a really long talk with the Professor about Tabby deciding to leave. I thought I was too hard on her. Her decision to leave us was a really hard one for her, but her not being here now had nothing to do with you or me. He could tell she had agonized over it before we tried to pick her up at the police station. She had trouble fitting into our rules, our routines. It was too outside what she thought was her normal lifestyle and she wasn't ready for that. She was afraid she was a danger to the rest of us."

Scott looked out at where the carnival was just a day ago. "That was the easy part for her to figure out. She had become used to skipping out of town when things got weird before she came here. What made it hard for her to leave us was that she did feel she had someone looking out for her here at the mansion, someone who thought of her before themselves, not about how much they could gain by using her powers. She did feel someone was trying to help her sort it out. And that I know is all your fault."

Scott walked out from the balcony and back towards his room. He didn't look back as he gave it one parting shot.

"Oh and one last thing. If she ever comes back – that will definitely be your fault."

Author's note: What would a trilogy of teen angst be without a depressed Kurt?

If you would be so kind as to slip in a review.