Author's 2 cents: This whole bit here explains O'Conner's back story. Sorry if it's confusing but Jack confuses everyone.

Disclaimer: I'm a bit prettier than ol' Jerry Bruckheimer and the folks at Walt Disney Corp. so I don't own Jack or any of the characters from the movies but the made up ones in this story are all mine.

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Years before the Giant would force the Count to join his crew, very long before Tim's death and only moments before he would meet The Infamous Captain Jack Sparrow Tim O'Conner sat drinking in a pub in Tortuga. He was feeling uncharacteristically glum, more than glum he'd never be happy again. He'd just crawl into a rum bottle in Tortuga and never come out again. Grace was dead, why not.

His soft raven-haired angel was dead, but as terrible as that was it was not the worst part. Everything he'd done, every unbelievable feat had been for not. Tim had traded his ship 'The Moonless Knight' for her freedom from that awful cell.

They'd never admit it, no they'd captured it, along with it's Captain Grace O'Malley. She'd even changed her last name just to protect her honest sailor father. They'd spat her back to him sick and dying, he'd tried desperately to save her but nursing had been her mother's strength not his. His pirate princess, his only daughter was dead.

In hindsight this was perhaps the worst place for a depressed man to come for solace. All these happy drunk faces, men who'd come to spend what money they'd risked their necks for on drink and pleasurable company. They could hardly understand the pain a man felt after losing his reason for living, or so O'Conner thought.

Amid the sea of smiling faces sat a pathetic looking man with black hair in dreadlocks. It wasn't only the man's somber disposition that caught Tim's attention. He was most bizarre looking thing he'd seen in his life. The countless beads, gems, and general junk that hung from the man looked ridiculous, like he were carrying his home, his livelihood and half a jungle on his head alone.

The man sat staring at a dirty pint. His head hung low as though it couldn't bare the weight. Finally the weight apparently won out and his head hit the table with a loud thud.

"Oy" said O'Conner grabbing the skirt of one of the bar wenches and pulling her down into his lap. "Who's that fella over there?" he whispered in her ear, eyes locked on the dreadlock man. "The lad what looks like a strong wind could knock'em over."

"Why 'aven't ye 'eard?" squeaked the woman in a nasally voice. "That there's Jack Sparrow."

"Jack Sparrow?" Tim looked at the wench confused.

"gahhh!" said the woman with a laugh. "ain't you never heard of'em bit'uva legend round 'ere." She whispered in his ear. "ye never believe 'alf the stories I've 'eard 'bout. Mah cousin's friend's brother's said once 'e caught sight ah'im in Singapore causing all sorts ah' trouble." she winked with a crooked smile. "drunk wif' a smile on 'is face wif' a woman twice 'is height and 'alf 'is age." she giggled glancing at Sparrow. "not 'ard to see why, 'andsome man like that."

Tim gave the woman a few kisses on the neck. "Why's look like he's ready to keel over then?"

"Well," said the woman eager to talk more gossip. "way I 'eard man's lost everythin'. Ship was sunk, the crew along wif' it leaving 'im the lone survivor."

"Who sunk it?"

The woman shrugged. "Don't rightly know, the King's Royal Navy, or the Company most likely."

Tim stood up dropping the wench to the floor and walked over to the table where the strange man sat. The woman stood up and went back to serving the rest of the men in the pub.

Tim sat down in the chair across from Sparrow. The man's hair looked like black squid tentacles spread out across the greasy table; black squid tentacles wearing a hat. Tim shuddered a bit, anything that reminded him of squids was a very uncomfortable notion.

Tim sat there waiting for some response from the man. The black squid hair didn't move. Tim leaned over to see if the scrawny man was still alive. "Jack Sparrow?" Tim inquired to the man.

"Captain." came a muffled voice from beneath the mess of hair and beads. Then there was no response just a lump lying on the table as though the voice had come from somewhere else.

Tim's eyes looked around waiting for the man to lift his head. Finally Tim leaned close clearing his throat. "Captain Jack Sparrow?"

"Eh?" said Sparrow lifting his head up to look at O'Conner. Jack's dark kohl lined eyes widened and he leaned back in his chair as he looked at Tim. He looked back at the pint he was drinking from then at O'Conner, then at the pint, then at O'Conner. Slowly he moved the pint away as though there were something in it.

"I don't owe you money do I?" Jack said still slowly moving his chair away from the giant man.

Tim's fiery bushy brows came together. "No."

Jack's hands danced back off the table and his shoulders tightened as though waiting for a punch in the face. "I don't own anyone you're working for money do I?"

"No," Tim shook his head. "why?"

Jack's eyes darted over the man. "Because I really wouldn't want to."

Tim managed to smile, something he thought impossible a moment before. He then signaled for two drinks. The same bar wench came over and set down two pints of rum. Jack eyed the woman as she set down the drinks and flashed a smile at him. His eyes stayed locked on her as he spoke and reached for the pint. "To what do I owe such generosity?" He winked at the wench when she looked in his direction.

"Ye looked as though ye could use it, being the only man in'ere not grinnin' from ear to ear." Tim said taking a gulp.

"You're one to talk," Jack said gulping down the rum, setting the pint back down and wiping his mustache with the ratty sash he was wearing. "You look fairly glum yourself." Jack tilted his head down with an odd glint to his eyes. "for a pirate in Tortuga."

Tim sat up straight, setting the cup down a little harder than was necessary. "I'm no pirate."

Jack held his hands up in mocking surrender, He grinned, his mustache stretching and his gold teeth sparkling in the dim light of the tavern. "fine then an honest sailor." he made a face as he sipped the rum as though it tasted sour. "tastes bad even to say it though."

"I don't be that either." said Tim as though the idea of working for the Company or the Crown sickened him.

Sparrow took another sip as he spoke. "What 'be ye' then?" The bizarre looking string bean of a man was making O'Conner's sailor accent as though that proved it. Apparently Jack wasn't aware that he had one as well, though it tended more towards the slurring inaudible kind.

O'Conner didn't feel like much of anything at the moment. He leaned over huddling around the pint for warmth. "I be nothin' but the father of a dead daughter."

Jack had been drinking evidently not listening with his profile to Tim. His protruding Adam's apple stopped moving up and down, and the dark eye facing him turned to look at him as though independent of his head. Then his eye closed and he finished the rum. He set the pint down and looked at Tim his expression completely changed. "I'm sorry for your loss." He had an oddly sympathetic look about him, though as Tim would soon learn over the years it was the look Jack got when he was up to something.

Tim didn't bother to thank him he just nodded.

Jack's right hand absently drummed air as his eyes looked downward as though he'd dropped something. "I suppose that would make you The Giant Tim O'Conner eh?"

Tim looked up at him suddenly alarmed.

The strange man's face was calm as he held his hands up cajolingly in surrender, which now that he noticed it were adorned with some very unusual rings. "Don't fret mate, I've no qualms about you. I'm not the only man whose heard about Grace O'Malley's death or that her father was a giant." His quick eyes darted again about Tim's person. "Though I found the later to be a bit of a stretch."

"That's part the reason I came over here. Fig'red a man in your predicament would understand."

"My predicament?"

"Havin' lost your ship and crew to the company."
"Oh bugger." said Jack setting down his drink sticking out his leg absentmindedly and tripping a drunken man walking by. Jack's arm lunged out and pulled a watch from the man's pocket as the man went flying and yelling into a table, knocking over two men, one wench, and goat seated near it.

Jack looked at the watch moving it closer then further from his face hazily studying it. "It's been what? An hour since I got here, and already people are talkin' about it." he rolled his eyes tossing the watch over his shoulder. There was a small pause in the conversation as Jack once again wore that curious look. "Was it the EITC that took down O'Malley?"

Tim nodded solemnly. "Yes…. No… they released her but only well after the fever had taken hold a'er." O'Conner gripped the mug tightly in his hands. "But her blood's other their hands as much as is anyone's."

"Hmm." was Jack's only response. Tim was beginning to take great note in this man's character. He'd heard about Jack Sparrow, everyone had heard of Jack Sparrow but no one could believe anything they heard, no one with any sense anyway.

Tim was studying the bizarre dance the gold light was doing on the many glistening objects attached to the man when he spoke.

"She spoke about you, you know." Jack said casually running his finger along the edge of the pint. "ah' knew'er, good girl that one." Jack looked up at O'Conner. "You should be very proud."

"What would she say?"

"oh," Jack leaned back setting his feet on the table. "nothing much," he mused nonchalantly looking up at the ceiling. "Kids stuff really. The way all children talk about their fathers." He waved his hand dismissively. " 'Strongest man alive my dah'," Said Jack in a soft high pitch Irish voice. " 'some might call him a titan. Once scared off some pirates about to board his ship with not but a look.'" Jack leaned back more in his chair resting his hands on his stomach. "'Only man what can boast that he survived a run in with Davy Jones,'"

Tim's eyes darted over to Jack when he said this.

Jack held up a finger. "but it was here that I had to stop her." He said still staring at the ceiling, knowing full well that Tim was now staring at him. "and I'd say 'well of course, any man could survive that if he wanted to, but to stand before the mystic Tia Dalma, now that was something.'"

Tim sat up straight, he'd heard of Tia Dalma but she was scarce knowledge. Only Joshamee Gibbs and himself were two of the only people in the world who had heard of her, he thought. Even so, Tim didn't know where she was or if she was real and the way Josh told things he was certain she wasn't real. "and you have?" Tim responded with an arched brow.

Jack, who had been looking at his nails swung his legs off the table and sat up. "oh! Abslutatively." he beamed leaning in close with a smile. "She and I go way back." the smile seemed to be losing it's strength slightly. He cleared his throat and once again turned profile to Tim looking up at the ceiling.

Tim smiled a broad Buddha smile. "Surely ye don't believe every rumor ye hear, Jack."

Jack jerked his head back. "You ought not never believe a rumor lest it be true."

"Aye," said O'Conner glancing ruefully at the Sparrow tattoo peeking out of Jack's shirt sleeve. "But sometimes ye shouldn't believe a true rumor either."

Jack's hand twirled around in circles, this seemed all too obvious to him. "Naturally.--However!" Jack's hand struck at attention holding his index finger and thumb pinched together. "if I were so inclined to venture--purely for theoretical purposes mind you--I would be inclined to believe that we could be of great use to one another." Jack's black eyes moved mechanically to gauge O'Conner's reaction.

O'Conner still smiling leaned forward suspicious. "What do ye mean?"

Jack moved his wrist in elegant little half circle. "I mean my dear Mr. O'Conner that you have my Davy Jones and I have your Tia Dalma, both thoroughly valuable bits of information, of little use to ourselves."

Tim leaned back intrigued by the offer but still very suspicious of this man. "And what makes ye think I'm after your Tia Dalma?"

"No your Tia Dalma let us not get confused." Jack turned to face him completely. "And I have it on good intuition that Grace would rather see the 'Moonless Knight' at the bottom of the ocean than in the hands of the Company." He paused. "I also have it on good intuition that you'd rather sea a few Company ship captains with it, than to let them continue spreading the lies as they have."

Tim still sat back but now his face had turned stony as he mulled over the notion. Most of the time Tim's greatest advantage was that people over estimated his strength and underestimated him mind. This was different though, within minutes of their conversation Tim could tell Jack knew better. It was refreshing in an odd way, it made him like Jack, it also made him all the more suspicious of him. "And why would ye be so willin' to part with that tid-bit?"

"Out of respect and love of Grace O'Malley." Jack said mournfully.

O'Conner smiled a slightly bitter smile at Jack. "You're a good salesman Jack" he said in a sweet and calm tone. "but I'm not buyin'," he said standing up engulfing Jack in his own ominous shadow. "So ye best tell me what you're really after."

"Right then," Jack said quickly glancing for the nearest exit should need be to use one in a hurry. "you found me out," Jack very calmly looked in his pint for some lost rum then just as calmly almost arrogantly stared up at the mountain of a man looking for an excuse to do away with him and the trouble he was bound to bring (another trait that would mark their relationship for years to come). "I need a good ship, a very specific ship, a sunken ship in fact, one that can out run naval officers, the company, and old… acquaints, savvy?"

Tim's brows came together. Jack looked him up and down with his head. He hinted at what Tim was to do next by lifting his bejeweled hand flat, palm down, and slowly moved up and down. O'Conner as he rolled his eyes and sat back down.

Tim leaned back in the chair and signaled for another drink. "So why not simply get yer ship back from Tia Dalma if that's what yer suggesting I do?"

Jack eyed the wench as she served O'Conner his drink. "All this talking has me slightly parched."

Tim didn't even stop drinking to answer. "Don't push yer luck." He said into the cup with his index finger extended. " 'sides," he said wiping his mouth. "I need to be savin' me money for a funeral."

Jack tilted his head down and looked up at Tim like a newly reprimanded dog, though Tim doubted this had little to do with guilt over Gracie, as it was sorrow over a missed opportunity for free rum.

Jack straightened up and made a face signaling for another pint. When the woman set it down in front of him. He answered. "Aside from the fact that one of the only things she can't do is bring a ship back from Davy Jones Locker, she happens to be one of said acquaintceses." He gulped down the rum.

Tim pondered as he watched the man with a piece of eight hanging, from over his red bandana, and braids snaking in and out of his matted beaded hair. He was almost certain this was a mistake, no rhyme or reason suggested that this was possible, that there was a Tia Dalma, any ship to be gained, that this was the real Jack Sparrow, or that 'acquaintceses' and 'abslutatively' were real words. He did know one unbelievable thing for certain however, there was a Davy Jones, Tim could vouch for that.

And just like that Tim realized what was so strange about Jack, aside from the obvious it was that he was real. Captain Jack Sparrow was a man of flesh and blood, despite how outlandish the tales. here he was proof in his dreadlocks and beads, his rings and gold teeth, the countless unusual trinkets tied to him. Just by sitting here there was at least some truth to the tales.

Jack finally stopped drinking. And glanced coolly at O'Conner but now he had that glint to his eyes, though it could have simply been a trick of the light. No, even by this time Tim knew better. He could recognize that slight crinkling at the edges of Jack kohl eyes, the little tugs at his mustache and the ends of his lips. "Well since you've made it clear you will not buy what I'm selling," he set his pint down in satisfaction. He extended his hand across the table to Tim. "Can we settle on accord?"

Tim stared at the filthy hand stretched toward him wrapped around the palm in leather. The Giant man couldn't deny that part of him wasn't only a little concerned for his own skin but for Jack's, since it was clear the scrawny man didn't know what he was asking for. O'Conner reached into his boot and pulled out a small dagger and held it in plain sight for Jack to see.

Jack's fingers coiled when he saw the blade but he didn't retract his hand or his offer.

Tim glanced at the dagger then held it by the blade. "Shall we seal it in blood then?"

Jack moved his hand around by the wrist. "Sure why not."

Tim looked at Jack for a long moment debating. He finally decided. He reached over and grabbed Jack's hand.

Both men squeezed tightly round the blade until a drop of blood dripped on the table. O'Conner then grabbed the blade by the handle and yanked it out of their hands.

Jack winced as he let go. His hand was cut but only where the leather hadn't covered the leather was, surprisingly fine. He looked at it as he spoke. "we are in agreement then, we each give up the location of our respective other."

Tim looked at his bleeding hand. It was like some ominous thing, or a symbol of Jack's or worst his fate. He began to wrap the wound glancing up at Jack. "Aye…"

"Alright." Jack beamed pulling a small piece of leather out of his shirt and tossing it onto the table. "Lead ya straight to her, oh" Jack winced again this time had nothing to do with the cut. "When you see her feel free to leave me out if she asks how you came by that."

Tim reached for it, but Jack's wily hand snatched it away before he had the chance. "Well?"

Tim looked hesitantly at Jack. "There be no map that can lead to Davy Jones." Tim stared downward off into space. "Only a faint light among a sea of darkness will bring'em."

"that's terribly poetic mate but that still doesn't tell me how to find him."

Tim grabbed the map but Jack held tight. "You can't find him Jack, He'll find you." He stared eyes locked with Jack. "When all yer world is crumpling around ye, when no future is in sight, then when ye delude yerself into believin' there be a faint glimmer of hope to escape yer miserable fate, on the open water he comes for ye."

"so…. I'll need to be in the middle of the ocean at some point."

Tim sighed. "Aye," he took the last sip from his pint. "here's luck to you Jack Sparrow."

"hmm" said Jack thoughtfully as he let go of the little leather map. "I'll need some help then…" he said under his breathe as Tim walked away.

'more than you know Jack Sparrow' Tim stuffed the map in his pocket as he walked out of the pub.

Strange for the Caribbean the night felt icy cold. He felt like he'd just signed a death warrant and been had at the same time. One thing had been made certain despite all evidence to argue otherwise Jack had come into Tortuga but he'd been looking for Tim. And he'd found him cleverly too, to the point where O'Conner had even thought he had sought out Sparrow.

It didn't matter now, within a year or two when the men met again they would realize that they had both been swindled.

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Tim O'Conner looked the same as when Jack had last seen him as well. Rum bottle in hand, the over sized belt buckle, the wide Buddha smile occasionally peeking open to expose rotting teeth and in the far corner of his mouth a twinkle of a gold one were all as he remembered.

The Giant smiled contentedly at Jack as he sat down on the white stone. "Jack Sparrow."

"Captain." Jack corrected looking unimpressed at O'Conner.

Tim smiled and chuckled. "aye," he glanced up at the Black Pearl sitting bashfully behind Jack. "and no finer vessel there to be captain of." He said taking a swig of his rum bottle.

Jack looked longingly at the rum bottle wetting his lips.

Out of the corner of his eye O'Conner noticed this. He extended his meaty hand clasped round the rum bottle towards Jack.

Jack squinted at O'Conner suspiciously, as his hand slowly reached for the onion shaped bottle. When his fingers were touching the edge he grabbed hold of it and began vigorously drinking down it's contents. Suddenly Jack's face puffed up and he spat the liquid back and lurched about on the sand. "Agh! Ack!" he yelled wiping his tongue with both hands. He picked up the bottle and threw it back at O'Conner. "Water! Bloody water!"

"Well what do ye expect?" O'Conner shrugged raising his voice as he picked up the bottle. "Yer half way to hell."

Once he was done blowing on his tongue to get the awful flavor off he glanced back at O'Conner. He couldn't help but smile as he took off his hat and began to fan himself. It was still hot as Hades yet if it wasn't Jack's imagination it wasn't as bright as it was before, no, he was convinced it wasn't as bright. Not so bad, at least his eyes didn't sting as much. "Well now," He slapped his hat on the white sand which now seemed to have the faintest shade of blue to it. He still stared at Tim with an arrogant look on his face.

Tim folded his arms and smiled bitterly knowing exactly what Jack would say.

"Who," said Jack with a dramatic sway as he sat in the sand. "or what, managed to kill The Giant Captain Tim O'Conner." He spoke it like a campy dramatic speech rather than a question.

"Good to see ye too, Jack." Said O'Conner running a hand over his red hair.

"you have no idea how good it is to see you mate," Jack's eyes looked around at the blankness around him. "'specially in this little corner of paradise." Jack lifted his arms by the elbows and turned his wrists around in circles gesturing to their surroundings.

"I'd'a sent ye here sooner, for that little stunt ye pulled." O'Conner leaned forward, normally a very imposing sight, but Jack was hardly alarmed, after all what was he going to do? Kill him? He already missed that boat.

Jack fell back into a lounging position still very much wrapped in the great chain, but he was adjusting to it quite well he thought. "Don't take it so hard it was only self preservation, Tim." He toyed with some of the trinkets hanging from his second belt, particularly a chicken foot he got from… someplace. Dammit it was hard to think here. "You know as well as I do if you'd known about the reward the only difference is I would have been wearin' a bow when you handed me over."

O'Conner grabbed him by the shirt and jerked him upwards. Jack for the most part could have cared less he just stared off into space, tuning Tim out(like always). He was beginning to wonder what Amelia or Elizabeth were doing at that moment. Tease or not he was starting to miss Amelia's company compared to the one he was in now.

"oh ye cost me quite a bit that day Jack!" He said shaking Jack like a limp rag doll.

Jack stared half mast into space. "careful mate your tearin' the fabric."

O'Conner tossed him back on the ground. "but that's not why I'm as furious with you as I am."

Jack felt the wind being knocked out of him, not so very much from being thrown on the ground but from the heavy chain landing on his chest. Jack sat up suddenly coming to a revelation. His eyes ticked back and forth over the chain around him, the very heavy chain, which Tim had moved quite easy.

"It was that little white lie you told."

Jack's brow creased, but he didn't look up. "You'll have to be more specific mate."

"Ye never knew me daughter Jack." O'Conner said kneeling down staring him down.

"And what pray tell brought you to that absurd conclusion?" Jack said lifting his chin in defiance.

"Ye think that Davy Jones seeks ye out on a windless day, or when a whiff of fog comes into view, or if there's a shortage of rum?" He said his beat red face in Jack's

Jack shrugged sitting on his elbows. "no rum would certainly dampen my spirits quite a bit."

O'Conner hit Jack in the chest with a massive open hand. Jack felt like he was made of nothing but a hollow shell as he fell backwards coughing.

"Grace's death, that's what brought him to me." Tim's bushy knit brows tugged slightly in the middle with pain. He sat heavy back on the stone, as though his own weight exhausted him. "And how could she have bragged about my having survived the likes of Davy Jones when it was her death that brought it about!"

Jack dusted himself off. "No one forced you to agree to the bargain."

"I was forced, because one part of that story of yers was true I did survive a run in with'em and he never let me forget it either."

Jack looked around. "Now that does bring up an interesting topic. Where is the Iron Maiden? I thought certain you'd be lugging it around for the rest of time." Jack eyed Tim with a small smile peeking through. "Or did someone take said grand and glorious boulder from you?"

Tim leaned on his knee tired as he stared at Jack annoyed that his out burst had done nothing to shake the cheeky pirate.

Jack sat up cross legged. He picked up his hat and dusted off he sand that had accumulated on it from the scuffle. He restored it back to his hollow brow before looking at Tim with a sly glint in his eye. "You didn't answer my first question Tim." He paused then spoke barely above a whisper. "Who managed to take down the Giant Tim O'Conner?"

Tim looked at Jack for a long moment then chuckled and ran his hand over his hair once more. "An old friend of ours…."