1979 (#16) - Nikki's attempted rape and Nick's death

Casey, worried about her father's situation and her relationship with Nikki, and realizing that Nick hasn't changed at all, decides she can no longer remain silent for long, and feels she warns Nikki and reveals how the man had abused her in the past. But Nikki refuses to believe her sister's words, convinced that Casey, jealous of the good relationship between her and Nick, is trying to make her father the scapegoat for her inability to relate to men. That is, until Nikki comes face-to-face with the terrible truth. Nick, back home drunk, tries to rape a distraught Nikki who asks for help in vain. The woman tries to get away from the attentions of her father and, in the heat of the moment, hits him on the head with a sharp object. Casey and Brock, very concerned, rushed immediately to the hospital and they are informed of the whole situation by Nikki. A now dying Nick, so, asks forgiveness to both daughters declaring that he never intended to hurt them, and before dying, tells them that he loves them. Then, in front of the cops, Casey and Nikki confess their truth. Luckily, the officers believe their testimony, informing the girls that Nick had a long history of rapes, which will prevent Nikki from being charged with murder and that she will be exonerated in self-defense. Nick's funeral ends one of the saddest events in Genoa City that everyone wants to put behind them as quickly as possible.

1979 (#13) - Nikki's interest in Greg and Nick's possessive jealousy

Despite all odds, things in the family between Casey, Nikki and Nick seem to be going well. Casey is happy to have their father back in the house and notes with pleasure the improvement of the man, who actually proves that he has changed. Nikki also notes that their father is no longer the angry man he used to be and soon a relationship is established between them that goes beyond the simple father-daughter relationship, a relationship of complicity and friendship. This faint balance in the Reed household, however, is not likely to last long and it doesn't take too much to break it up dramatically. It all starts when Nick notices that Nikki has returned home accompanied by Greg, who has recently stopped dating Casey. At first curious and then increasingly insistent questions about Nick, the girl answers more and more annoyed until she admits that she is dating the man she met at the clinic where Casey works. Casey confirms that she had met Greg a few months earlier and, after briefly dating him without a spark, introduced him to Nikki. Casey immediately notices that Nikki's relationship with their father had cooled as soon as he heard about her sister's flirtation with Greg. Nick, meanwhile, starts drinking again and his mood rapidly deteriorates. Casey once again glimpses their father's possessiveness and dangerousness when they were girls; Nick, on the other hand, feels all those old forbidden feelings reborn inside him, feeling that he can't hold back in any way: the only certainty inside his head is that no man, except him, could and should have touched his daughters.

1979 (#8) - Casey's memories of the violence and forgiveness of her father Nick

As soon as Brock returns to Genoa City with Nick, Brock decides to arrange a meeting between Nick and Nikki. The much desired reunion is not the happiest, however, since the young girl is not at all happy to have her father back in her life. Brock's attempts to calm Nikki down are in vain, and the woman first accuses her father of ruining her father's life, then leaves in rage. Brock is sorry for the situation that he has created, and agrees with Nick when he, fearing a new fight, asks him to wait some time before meeting Casey. In the meantime, Nikki informs her sister about their father's return to the city; Casey, however, doesn't seem reluctant at all and, unlike Nikki, seems anxious to see the man again, being much more receptive and willing to forgive him for his past mistakes. Although Nikki tries to dissuade her, Casey goes to Brock to meet her father. The girl, however, at Nick's sight, remains frozen and immobilized, and soon runs away without apparent reason. Brock is astonished by Casey's reaction and chases her asking for explanations; it is at this point that Casey confesses to Brock that she sees everything clearer: it is her own father that used to abuse her when she was a teenager, now, finally, the man of her nightmares has finally a face. Realizing Nick's danger, Casey fears that his father will hurt them again. However, Nick tries to defend himself, first apologizing to the woman and then begging her to give him a new chance, as he has changed. Casey, however, has a hard time believing him and threatens to reveal the truth to Nikki if he hadn't left town immediately, which would have destroyed his hopes of reconnecting with the youngest daughter forever. But Nick is convincing towards Casey, soon she sees a sincere repentance in his father's eyes and convince herself to keep . After all, Nick proves to his eldest daughter that he has overcome his problems with both alcohol and sexual obsessions.

1979 (#4) - Margareth's fatal accident, Casey's grief and Nick's return

Nikki and Casey's family life is suddenly upset by the tragic news of the death, in a car accident, of their mother Margareth Hughes. For years the two sisters had no relationship with their mother, precisely since they decided to leave their home to start a new life, finally free from the oppression of their parents. However, even though they have no happy memories of Margareth, they both grieve for the death of the woman. Brock decides to stand next to the two young girls when they are called to recognize Margareth's corpse and personal affections, who is later buried in a intimate but very touching ceremony. On the very day of the funeral, moreover, a letter from Casey and Nikki's father, Nick Reed, is delivered to Brock in which the man asks his wife's forgiveness for having caused their family grief. Despite Nikki's disapproval, who has always had a conflictual relationship with her father, Brock reads the letter during the ceremony. Seeing Casey's desperate eyes, Brock decides to contact and bring the man back to Genoa City, convinced that it would be good for Casey and especially for Nikki, who has evidently always lacked the impact of a paternal figure. Some time later, Brock goes to Nick, urging him to go back to their daughters who obviously need him. Despite some initial hesitation, Brock finally succeeds and both return to the city.