Maybe honesty wasn't so great. It hurt to hear what his son thought, but Sam pushed it aside. He couldn't worry about his hurt when Sean's was so clear.
Sam got up and stepped between Sean and the door. He put his hands on Sean's shoulder. "No, we're going to talk about this, Sean. Your mother has been playing mediator for too long, but she's not here, and I-"
He squeezed Sean's shoulder. "No one is more important than you and Jenna," he said, slowly, trying to start again. "I kept this from you, because I never thought you should deal with my problems. I tried to protect you from things that shouldn't be your concern, and maybe I was wrong, but it was never about being good enough."
He was afraid to let go, afraid that Sean would bolt, so he stayed where he was. "We can be a family, because we are together, Sean. I could never bring you with me when I was in the NAVY and later- My job is classified. Keeping you with me would have put your life in danger. We've lost an agent for just being part of my team. We get shot at on a weekly basis. I would never bring you into that. I would never put your or your sister in danger, because I want you around. I won't risk your lives like that. It wasn't an easy decision, but it was the best I could do. I've done my job, and it's taken me away from you, but you were always, and will always be my family. I've always tried to be involved with your life, whether through phone calls and trips, but never, not once did I think that you were less important than my job."
Sam finally let go. "These people are my team, and in a way, they are a family, I'm not going to lie about that, but you- They need to be good enough to be part of my team; you are my family no matter what. You don't have to prove anything. Sean, please, just... sit down and talk to me."