Yep. 3:38am.
Beep.
Aw, bugger. Did I really hear that? Maybe not. I'll just go back to...
Beep.
God-damned, mother-loving... I'm coming, I'm coming. Now, which one is it? Whose brilliant idea was it to have one of each on every floor? Oh yeah - that was me.
Beep.
AHA! Gotcha, you bastard. Now - read the directions... four rapid beeps for a warning, one beep every thirty seconds for low batteries...
Beep.
I know, I KNOW, gimme a sec, it's 3:30 in the goddamned morning... there - batteries are out. I should go downstairs and put new batteries in. Damn it, it's going to scream at me when I snap the last one in - I remember that from last time, I almost had a heart attack. And I'm going to have to turn on a bunch of lights to dig out three AA cells. And it's 3:30 in the bloody morning. Honest to God, I've got CO detectors all over this house. It can wait for tomorrow afternoon. I'm going back to bed.
Now ask me when I finally got back to sleep. Go on - ask me. That's right - 5:30. Right before Bob's alarm went off. Because I get a HUGE adreneline dump from that sound. Which I'll grant you IS the idea. Mind you - I'm the ONLY one in the family who does. Tonight I will put fresh batteries in everything, and maybe I'll get some sleep.