Chapter 4 – All is Not Right

Olivia had to admit that she was a little concerned with the things that Elizabeth had been telling her, about why she was feeling so blue. Elizabeth had just confessed that she had been told by the nanny that her father wasn't coming home for a few more days, even though she'd told the kids originally that he'd be home tomorrow night. Elizabeth had also confessed that she didn't even get to speak with her father, because the babysitter had said that she hadn't been good, yet she wasn't given an explanation on what she had done wrong at the time.

"Well, that's not nice. Did you try asking Dani about what you did wrong?" Olivia asked, wanting to try and get more information about what was going on from the little girl's perspective.
"Yeah and she not tell me bout it...She doesn't talk to me much and makes me work" Elizabeth explained and Olivia just wanted to hug this precious little girl, because everything sounds truly horrible. There was definitely signs here to point out that things at home were not good but Olivia was currently trying to work out where the line was to make sure she didn't cross it in this situation. But there was also a part of Olivia that just wanted to find out what had gone on and what she could do to make things better in this situation, Elizabeth was usually such a bright and bubbly little girl.
"Hmm, well that doesn't sound very nice at all. But I'm sure it's not really as bad as you think" Olivia replied, and Elizabeth wasn't going to agree in this situation.
"It is! Dani reads with Dickie every night and she gives him dessert when he doesn't even finish his dinner. But she doesn't help me with my reading and she never gets me dessert, even when I finish all my dinner and extras. I too small to get it myself from the fridge" Elizabeth complained.
"Maybe I'll have a talk with Dani this afternoon, is she picking you up?" Olivia asked and Elizabeth nodded. Olivia finished noting down what had happened during the discussion and would make a mental note to see if there was an email or something that she could use to contact Elliot on again rather than sending another letter. It really sounded like his daughter was wanting to speak with him sooner rather than later.

During the lunch break, Olivia provided Elizabeth with the opportunity to write a letter to her dad or simply draw him a picture and make a card. Olivia had found an email address that was actually listed in the school systems for the Stabler children and so she planned to get in contact with Elliot and attaching the card or letter to the email which she sent to Elliot. She would also then ensure to keep it safely in the classroom till Elliot was home again. Olivia felt something was really wrong with Dani and but she didn't have enough evidence to prove it or really wasn't sure if it was something too major going on. Whilst she hated that there were definite signs of favoritism from Dani, there wasn't a lot that Olivia could do about it at this stage. Favoritism, as much as it was horrible and Olivia wished it wasn't, was part of life and Dani wasn't completely neglecting Elizabeth. However, Olivia definitely intended to keep an eye on it for a while though and try to check in with Elizabeth each day to see how she's going, more so whilst her father is away like this than when he's around. Elizabeth was such a lovely little girl and Olivia honestly adored her but she hated that she was feeling so blue at the moment with everything.


Clara had been in charge of the dismissal of all the students, so that gave Olivia the chance to try and talk with Elizabeth's nanny. She walked over to Dani with Elizabeth, who was much better than this morning and that was soley down to the work of Clara and Olivia with checking in on her. Olivia had the beautiful card which Elizabeth had created at lunch, sitting in her top drawer of her desk, she would keep it there until Elliot was definitely back, as Elizabeth thought that was the best thing, she didn't want Dani to get it.
"Miss Benson" Dickie called out as he spotted Olivia and Elizabeth walking up, he rushed right over to give her a hug and then walked back to Dani with Elizabeth and Olivia. Dani was standing, looking rather bored out of her mind but waiting for the kids.
"How are you Dickie? Mrs Taylor told me that you got almost all of your sight words right this week on the first try. Good work buddy" Olivia encouraged.
"Thanks, Dani and me been working really hard on dem"
"Well it is definitely showing, so keep it up" Olivia replied, she had a good rapport with both twins and often found herself talking to Dickie as well as Elizabeth during the day at school. Both were great kids and adored their father to bits.

"You must be Dani, the nanny?" Olivia asked the woman.
"I am" Dani responded, giving a look of question to Olivia but also of lack of care.
"Elizabeth has told me so much about you" Olivia continued.
"Really? Whatever she said isn't true, the little girl likes to lie – a lot" Dani responded, and Olivia knew this was not the case. Elizabeth had a personal belief in telling the truth and Olivia didn't want the girl hearing what was needed to be said.
"No I don't!" Elizabeth tried to argue back but Dani gave her a firm look.
"Hey Lizzie, Dickie, why don't you go and play for a bit whilst I have a talk with Dani. We won't be long" Olivia replied, she knew she would never get anything out of Dani when the twins were around and so she knew she had to get them away and she could properly investigate.

"Is something wrong?" Dani asked, once the twins were out of hearing distance.
"How's it going with those two at home? Elizabeth told me that you were the one in charge of looking after them whilst their father is away?' Olivia started the conversation, wanting to take things almost a step at a time to see what she could find out from Dani right now.
"It's good, it's almost normal for me to be there with them all the time now, considering I do it so often. They know me and I know them very well and then I report back to Mr Stabler regularly about them both. He really likes to check in whilst he's away on business, it's kind of like he depends on me" Dani replied to which Olivia just smiled.
"Have they spoken to their dad whilst he's been away? I know they must be missing him and if he's calling them, maybe they've spoken to him" Olivia asked.
"Richard has, Elizabeth was already asleep when he called the other night, and we've not been able to have a time where she's spoken to him just yet but I've always told her what Mr Stabler has asked me to pass on. He has extended his trip a couple of days though, so he won't be back till the end of the week" Dani explained and Olivia nodded. There was some very interesting underlying information being shared here that she was sure Dani didn't know she already knew about.

"Well I suppose I better be getting them home, we've got to get some stuff done this afternoon before Elizabeth's dance lessons" Dani continued, as if she was making a move to end the conversation, which she really had every right to do.
"Alright, well thank you for talking with me. Can you do me a favour though? Make sure to keep up the reading at home with Elizabeth as she is really starting to make progress and we wouldn't want her to suffer before her dad's not here at the moment" Olivia said before she turned back towards the school building, she had an email to write.


The next morning, Elliot was sitting at the hotel breakfast restaurant, finishing off his buffet breakfast selection whilst reviewing emails on his phone. He saw he had a new email from an Olivia Benson. The only Benson that he knew was Elizabeth's teacher and from the subject line 'Elizabeth Stabler Concerns', it was clear that this was the same person and there was something going on back home. He quickly opened the email and started to read.

Dear Mr Stabler,
This is Elizabeth's teacher, Miss Benson writing to you. I found your email address in the school records and it was the only method of contact, but what I have to discuss is urgent. I understand that you are a very busy man and you are currently away on a business trip but there is a matter of urgency that I have to bring to your attention. It involves your daughter, Elizabeth and your current nanny, who I believe is called Dani. Elizabeth came into school today, rather upset and nothing like her usual bubbly personality that we absolutely adore in the classroom. She was very distant from everyone, and not the usual bright and cheery little class member that we see. This raised a few concerns by people about what was going on as it was unusual to see such a big change in her. I had a takl with her before lunch today and she mentioned that she had been told by Dani that you have extended your business trip for several days, which made her feel sad. She also informed me that whilst you had called them, Dani had not let her speak to you, as apparently she didn't deserve to, which made her quite upset. She also has apparently not done any reading at home whilst you have been away, Dani only reads with Richard and she never gets dessert either. Now, some of these things, I may be crossing a line with in regards to discussing it with you like this but the reading is where I'm most concern as she has been trying so hard and made such progress recently.

Elizabeth made you a card today, as a way to help process how she was feeling, she made it with our teaching student Clara at lunch and I've kept this in the classroom. Elizabeth was concerned it would be taken by Dani if she brought it home when you weren't there. But I have taken a photo and you can see it as an attachment to this email. I apologise again for this email if it's an inconvenience but I wanted to bring this to your attention as soon as possible and I apologise if I have in any way crossed the line. But as your daughter's teacher, her education and wellbeing are my concern.

I hope you enjoy the remainder of your trip and thanks for your time,
Olivia Benson

Elliot was shocked, he couldn't quite believe the things that he was currently reading within this email and what apparently Elizabeth had confided in Olivia. When he called the other day to speak with Elizabeth and Richard, he was told by Dani that Elizabeth was not currently home, he had no idea that she had in fact been there the entire time. He also had only extended his trip by one day, he would be home the following day and it was looking like he would need to be the one to pick the twins up from school then. He was going to have quite the chat with Elizabeth then about what was going on, he wanted to hear from his daughter what had happened before he took it any further.

He knew that Elizabeth knew the difference between right and wrong, so she wouldn't just tell a lie, but he wanted to find out what was going on behind all of this. If there were serious issues with the nanny then he would simply find them a new one, he wanted his children to be as happy as they could be and he had placed that as the most important thing to him. Elliot wasn't sure if he should respond to the email or wait to discuss this further with Olivia in person when he got home. But after careful consideration, Elliot figured it would be better to respond to the email, to at least let Olivia know that he had read it and he was definitely going to be taking follow up action on it. He didn't want to be seen as an 'absentee parent' anymore, he wanted to take an influence over his kids' lives now, he wanted to make sure that they were getting the best opportunities where possible. Elliot knew now that if he didn't make a stand for them, no one else really would and he had sat by just expecting someone else to look out for his children, for too long.

Dear Olivia,
Thank you for your email and for bringing this matter to my attention. I had no idea that all of this was going on at home. You are correct in the mention that I have extended my trip to Florida for work, but not for multiple days, only for 1 more day and I will be home early tomorrow afternoon. I will make sure to be the one to pick up my kids from school then too. You are also correct in the fact that I had called my children to speak with them about extending the trip slightly and just checking in with them, however when I did I was told that Elizabeth was out at a friends place. I had no idea that she was there all along and simply hadn't been allowed to talk to me. I will definitely be investigating this further when I get home from this trip and I really look forward to seeing this card in person when I return as I love this photo of it.
Thank you for taking such an interest in the welfare and well-being of my children, I am very grateful for the extra eyes in this situation.

Kindest Regards,
Elliot Stabler

Elliot clicked send to the email, closed his phone and made his way to the conference rooms in the ground floor of the building. He would be spending the next several hours in meetings which he had to have about this new hotel development they were currently in the process of commencing to build, which was the whole reason for his trip now.

A/N: Well looks like Elliot has been brought into the situation now? Maybe all is not right with the Nanny? Or maybe it's just Elizabeth being overly jealous of her twin brother? Hmmm so many questions. But you'll have to wait for the next chapter to see where this heads next.
I just want to say thank you for all of you who are reading this story and leave reviews, i value all of your feedback and everything you say about the story or my writing. Often the feedback you give, can bring to my attention things that i didn't even know i was/ wasn't doing so I do take all of it on board and try and make changes where i might need to.
Let me know what you thought of this chapter in the reviews and hopefully, i'll have another update for you soon :)
Until Next Time ;)