I think I just destroyed my key

[stoned-kik]

Here's my ordeal...
Been outta town for like 10 days. Today I wanted to start the car and it didn't start. Called my technician, he said it's the battery. He came over and jumped the car.
So far so good...the key that I tried to start the car with is not working anymore. It unlocks the car and it turns into position 2, but it does not start the car. The technician said that this has happened to him before and that I "fried" or unprogrammed my key.
I used the second (working) key to start the car, then turned it off and then used the "broken" key right away to start it and it started. But, if I wait about 20 seconds or so, I guess the immobilzer kicks in or something and the car does not start with the "broken" key.
My question, is there a way to fix this or I just lost $200 (the cost of a new key from the $tealer)?