A/N: So, the net result of the huge storm we had here last night and the fact that my dogs are terrified of storms is that I got no sleep at alland ended up writing... a lot, so this next installment is popping up a lot faster than I ever thought it would. My significant other is also on the verge of being murdered as well, as he spent all night blissfully snoring away and is annoyingly cheerful today. But that's neither here nor there, is it?

This is the fourth part of the series by the boring name "Birthday Traditions." It takes place, shockingly, during season 4 (coincidentally my favorite season of both Stargate and The X-Files.) You should probably read those first or this one won't make too much sense. Go ahead, it won't take long. Speaking of which, I noticed a huge error in Chapter 5 of Birthday Traditions 2, which has now been corrected. I somehow posted it with about two pages of missing dialogue at the front.

On with this show...

Birthday Traditions 4

Ch 1: The Dressing Room Conversation

Sam Carter sighed as she looked at herself critically in the mirror. "Cassie, I am not wearing this!" she called firmly.

"Let me see it!" Cassie called back in that bossy tone of voice that sounded so much like Janet it was freaky. Sam groaned and stepped out of her dressing room. "You look great, Sam! You're getting it."

"These jeans are so tight I can barely move!" Sam argued. "Plus they look like they've already been washed about a thousand times!"

"That's why they're so great," Cassie insisted. "Look, bend a little. Can you touch your toes in them?" Sam rolled her eyes and experimentally touched her toes and twisted around some. "There. Then they're not too tight," Cassie said matter-of-factly.

"This top is too short for these low pants," Sam argued, hugging the tiny half inch strip of skin that was exposed when she stood normally in the ridiculous outfit Cassie had picked out for her.

"Jack wants us all casual this year, this is definitely casual."

"Yeah, it looks like I borrowed this from you! Or a ten year old, Cassie, this tee-shirt is so small it's ridiculous, I'm thirt..."

"It looks good, Sam. And Jack's going to die, it's so funny..."

"Walking around with my CO's name plastered across my chest isn't my idea of funny, Cassandra Fraiser," Sam said firmly. "Whoever decided 'O'Neill' was a good brand name for this stuff should be shot," she grumbled, looking at herself in the mirror once more.

"Samantha Carter!" Cassie said, putting her hands on her hips and doing a perfect and conscious imitation of her mother. "If I hear one more word about that tee-shirt we are getting the tank top instead, young lady. You are getting that outfit AND you are wearing it tomorrow to your birthday party! Now move!" she said firmly, shoving Sam back towards the dressing room.

Grumbling, Sam started changing back into her own clothes, muttering, "Why the hell do I listen to you?"

"Because otherwise I might accidentally tell Mom and everyone else that last year at your birthday party I walked in on you and Jack making like bunnies in the ladies' toilet," Cassie called cheerfully.

"Right," Sam mumbled, pulling the way-too-small navy tee-shirt over her head and hoping she didn't get makeup on it in the process.

Cassie had manipulated both of them all year. She'd even got Jack to teach her to drive his truck, even though she was only fourteen and it was quite illegal. She'd also got Sam to take her to get her belly-button pierced, something Janet had thankfully not found out about yet.

Somehow, Sam still wasn't sure how, Cassie had also talked her into getting hers done as well. Not that she could wear a ring in it on base, it was completely against regulations and she wasn't about to get herself reprimanded for something like that, but still. It was there. Ninety-five percent of the time it had a clear plastic spacer in it to keep it from closing up rather than anything cute or decorative, but still. It was there.

And that wasn't it, by a long shot, but the belly-button thing had been the worst she'd done to Sam so far, and the truck thing had been the worst thing her CO had mentioned to her. "Don't forget," Cassie said as they headed to the cashier to pay for their purchases. "You're telling me everything that happens tonight," Cassie reminded her.

"I hope this amuses you," Sam said dryly.

"Oh, don't you worry your pretty little head about that, Sam. It does. Hey, look on the bright side," she suddenly added in a falsely bright tone. "Your dad and General Hammond won't be there this year, so you two can just drool over each other all night long."

"That's not how it is!" Sam insisted truthfully. It wasn't! Although Sam was relieved it was only going to be SG1 plus the Fraisers again this year. She just wasn't comfortable socializing with General Hammond. And Colonel O'Neill wasn't comfortable socializing with her dad, especially after the way last year's party had ended.

He still hadn't really told any of them what had happened in that meeting with General Hammond... and there had been a rumor going around base that her father had caught him up in the locker room before returning to the Tok'ra and there had been... words. He remained close-lipped about the whole thing. Not even Cassie had the guts to demand he fill her in on those two conversations. Yet.

Anyway, it was back to basics with the birthday traditions: a "quiet" evening at her CO's house. Nothing could be safer. She snorted in disbelief at her own thought. "Cassie this outfit is ridiculous," Sam tried once more. "I look like I just came from a car wash or something, I look like a..."

"Teenager?" Cassie supplied with a grin. "That's the idea, Sam. Besides, don't worry. You won't be wearing it long," she said innocently.

"Woa, what the hell does THAT mean?" Sam demanded.

"Oh, I happen to be the executive party consultant for tomorrow night's events is all. I know EXACTLY what's going to happen and believe me it is going to be a LOT of fun."

"Great," Sam muttered.

What could her CO possibly have needed Cassie's help with? This was going to be scary.