A/N: I do not own the character of Dr. Spencer Reid, I'm just borrowing him for a bit... Also, this is an "AU" story... Alternate Universe... What would Dr. Reid do after he got tired of the BAU? He'd get another doctorate, that's what!
* * * * * * * *
Melina was enjoying her short vacation. She'd checked into this resort that had hot pools and a spa and had already spent a few hours in the hot pool after checking in the night before and had just now finished a very relaxing massage.
"Miss?"
Melina turned around to face a tall slim man who looked like a geeky student.
"Hello, I am Dr. Spencer Reid. I was wondering if I could talk to you for a moment."
Seeing no harm in this, Melina nodded. She then followed him to a quieter area of the lobby.
"Dr. Reid, is it?"
"Yes."
"What kind of doctor are you?"
"Well, I hold doctorates in Mathematics, Chemistry and Engineering as well as Bachelors degrees in Psychology, Sociology and Philosophy."
"Wow."
"The reason I'm here is that I'm working on another doctorate."
"Really? In what this time?"
"Sexology."
"Really?"
"Yes. And as part of my research, well actually, it's a group research, there's 6 of us working on this research, we're updating the data acquired by researchers like Masters and Johnson and Hite. Would you mind participating in a survey?"
"How long will this take?"
"Well, that depends on you to a certain extent. See, there are four parts to this survey. If you agree to answer the verbal questions, it would take a little over an hour and then you'd get free lunch. If you agreed to the other three parts, it would take longer but the rewards also get bigger."
"What kind of rewards?"
"For participating in parts two and three, you'd get a night's stay free and if you agree to part four, you get two free nights as well as some gifts."
"Okay, I'm intrigued. If part one is a questionnaire, what are parts two, three and four?"
"Well, why don't we start with part one and then I'll tell you more. Would you follow me?"
Dr. Reid led Melina to a room where a computer was set up. He sat at the computer and motioned for her to sit in the recliner next to the computer table.
"Make yourself comfortable."
"But not to the point of falling asleep though, right?"
"That wouldn't be helping me fill out the questionnaire, indeed."
Melina sat and partially reclined. Dr. Reid moved the mouse and got his program started.
"Just to reassure you, this is not being recorded in any manner and all your answers will be kept confidential. If you noticed, I didn't even ask you your name and that is to keep this study as anonymous and confidential as possible. So you can feel free to answer truthfully and honestly. Shall we start?
"Sure!"
Over the next hour, Melina got to answer questions about her discovery of sex as a child, about her first kiss, her first sexual encounter, etc. She also answered questions about her current sexual habits. The questionnaire took a little more than an hour. Throughout the questionnaire, as Melina answered, Dr. Reid would tell her the percentage of women who'd answered the same as her in past studies and in the current study. Dr. Reid had a way about him that put Melina at ease and she ended up enjoying the morning.
Then, Dr. Reid took Melina to lunch in the restaurant at the spa. There, once they had picked their food, Dr. Reid proceeded to tell Melina about the other phases.
"Phase two involves a study of physiological responses to various visual stimuli. We would have you laying down on a bed in our lab and put some sensors on you. Then, with an overhead camera, we'd show you various images and record your responses. This is a lot like Masters and Johnson did back in the 60s only we've updated some of the images. Think you can handle that?"
"I think so."
"Phase three is a continuation of phase two but instead of visual stimuli, it's physical."
"What do you mean by physical?"
"Touch mostly. But that's what would get you the one night free accommodation."
"And phase four?"
"We'd discuss that only after phase three."
Seeing her disappointed look, Dr. Reid leaned in and said
"I'll let you in on it if you promise not to tell anyone I didn't follow all the rules..."
Melina leaned in and said "I promise"
"Phase four is where we get to test some products for various manufacturers."
"Products?"
"I've already told you more than I should."
Just then, their food came and Dr. Reid reverted to talk about the area and the spa. Melina smiled as Dr. Reid frequently quoted statistics about various things. It seemed to her that there was no subject that Dr. Reid didn't know about. He was amazing. Melina found herself quite taken by the doctor and enjoyed the meal a lot. They finished their meals and as promised, he took out his card to pay and then asked Melina if she was ready to continue.
Being a curious person, Melina accepted. After all, participating in a little research and getting a free night's stay out of it was worth it.
They made their way to the lab, a room without any windows. There was a bed, like a hospital bed as well as a series of instruments linked to a computer. There was also a corner with a privacy curtain and a robe.
"If you could go undress and put on the robe."
Melina did as she was told as Dr. Reid left the room for a few minutes. She heard him come back in and he spoke.
"We seem to have lost our research assistants for the afternoon. We had a nurse and an assistant set to work with us but they both left. I am fully capable of doing this without their help, I'm just wondering if you feel comfortable doing this without the presence of a female nurse."