A/N: No wait for the end of this story, I've just finished it and I'm posting it all now because I'm not going to have any writing time over the next couple of weeks, so I thought it would be nicer to get it all in one chunk instead of possibly having to wait until the new year to read it. So here you are, the very last part of series 1 :D

Chapter Twelve

What We Do Best

Ashley had expressed her dislike for cold conditions while they were on Fanallasoratia and nothing much had changed since then. She screwed up her face against the bitter wind that swept around the room and that caused large goose pimples to raise on her arms. She squinted through the mounting blizzard for the Doctor, but he had vanished in the sea of confused and frightened soldiers. She started forward but was abruptly pushed to the side by a pair of soldiers that had resorted to fighting amongst themselves. With a grunt she slammed back into the wall and cursed.

She could see nothing against the brilliant white snow and the army of grey uniforms – it would have been like being in a black and white film if it wasn't for her vibrant red hair blowing around her head. She tried looking for the Doctor again and thought she saw the top of his head, but it was hard to tell for sure. Getting increasingly cold and repeatedly bashed by the struggling soldiers, she turned and pulled herself up on top of a large computer console that was already starting to form icicles along its edge. She stood up unsteadily and peered into the blizzard.

It was chaos. Dozens of soldiers were fighting among themselves, punching and kicking. A final fight between the loyalists and the rebels. Gunshots rang out sporadically, but it was hard to tell where from. Beyond them the rift gaped, and beyond the gate there was nothing but white. Ice was creeping out of the rift, travelling along the floor and the walls and the ceiling like fast growing moss. The ice took some soldiers by surprise and they slipped on it. A pile of confused bodies piled up in front of the gate.

'Doctor!' Ashley yelled, but her voice was useless against the yelling and the crackling sound from the rift. She looked around again, but the snow was getting heavier. She couldn't see a thing.

Finally she spotted him. She realised it had taken so long to find him because she had been looking for his suit – she had almost forgotten he was still in that black leather jacket. He was by one of the consoles, frantically working on it with the sonic screwdriver. Snow was gathering on his shoulders but it didn't seem to be fazing him one bit. Ashley was just about to climb down and head over when she spotted someone charging through the soldiers.

It was Crowe, and he was heading right for the Doctor. The Doctor couldn't see him coming.

'Doctor!' Ashley shrieked, but her voice was again lost in the mayhem. Her eyes widened as she saw Crowe raise the rifle and point it at the Doctor. She looked around frantically for inspiration. Without thinking she snatched a helmet off the head of a soldier beneath her and launched it towards Crowe.

The helmet hit its target, bouncing off the top of Crowe's reddy-blonde head. He stumbled, the rifle dropping from his hands. A pair of soldiers slammed into him and the gun was lost amongst the many feet. Crowe looked around, lip pulled back in a snarl. He saw Ashley. Ashley waved back with a smile. The danger was making her feel more like herself. Crowe scowled deeply and then continued on his way to the Doctor.

Knowing that she had to protect the Doctor while he shut down the rift, she jumped off the console. The ground beneath her was now just a sheet of ice and she skidded and stumbled as she pushed through the forest of soldiers. She could see Crowe out of the corner of one eye and the Doctor out of the other. She made a beeline for Crowe, ducking and weaving under rifle butts and fists.

Just when she thought she had reached Crowe she lost her footing on the ice and fell down. She landed hard on her side and cried out, feeling something in her shoulder crack. She tried to push herself back up but she was knocked back down by the people all around her. Someone stood on her leg and she yelled out angrily. Someone else stumbled over her. If she didn't get up soon she was going to be trampled to death.

It took a lot of effort – especially with her now out-of-action arm – but she managed to pull herself back to her feet. She looked for the Doctor and Crowe, but both of them were gone. She battled her way forward and finally got to the console. A firm hand grabbed hers and she cried out in surprise.

'We have to get out of here, now.' The Doctor told her with wild eyes. 'The rift won't close straight off, it takes seven minutes to power down. It won't spread far enough to affect Earth, but this place will be sucked in and I can guarantee you if we get sucked through there we'll turn into ice pops.'

'What about all these people?' Ashley asked.

The Doctor shook his head, obviously pained. 'There's… we can't help them. We have to get out of here or we're-' There was a dull clang. The Doctor blinked in bewilderment before staggering off to the right and slumping over the console. Ashley looked up in surprise to see Crowe standing in front of her gripping a fire extinguisher.

'You've ruined everything!' he roared at her, and then raised the fire extinguisher up above his head.

Ashley dodged it, mostly by fluke as she skidded on the ice and was bumped along by a passing soldier. She kicked out, catching Crowe on his thigh. He stumbled and dropped the fire extinguisher.

'You little bitch!' he wheezed, and charged towards her.

Ashley readied herself for the collision, but it didn't happen. The Doctor had returned to form and grabbed Crowe by his arm. They both twirled like professional ice skaters, actually looking quite graceful for a moment before they both tipped over the guard rail and tumbled the short distance onto the level the gateway stood on. Ashley moved to the rail and saw Crowe swinging balled fists as the Doctor. The Doctor ducked and bobbed and weaved, but didn't throw a punch back. Ashley started to climb over the rail, but she was bumped into by another soldier. She cursed and tried again, but her foot slipped on the icy rail.

She looked around, white condensation billowing from her nose and mouth. Her skin was practically numb, her hands blue. There was no way she could get to the Doctor. The injection Crowe had given her prevented her from using her powers to help and even if she hadn't been injected she would probably still be rendered useless. She hadn't been able to use her fire abilities on Fanallasoratia and it had been nowhere near as cold as it was now.

The Doctor might have thought she was brilliant, but she knew she wasn't. She was useless. She couldn't even climb over a rail to help him. She watched as they seemed to be engulfed by the battling soldiers.

There was nothing she could do here. The Doctor didn't need her help, but one person did. She turned on her heels and fought her way to the door.